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Many businesses live in fear of having their systems hacked. After all, who wants their customers’ data to spill out onto the internet or have their confidential plans and intellectual property stolen by online criminals?
But more and more organizations like Google, Facebook, and Amazon are actually welcoming attempts to test their security in the hope that researchers will report vulnerabilities to them responsibly before a malicious hacker exploits a weakness to inflict damage.
Of course, the devil is in the details.
The likes of the US Army and the Pentagon, which have previously announced competitions to test the security of their networks, websites and applications, don’t want to encourage attacks on mission-critical systems, and they require participating hackers to be pre-registered and approved to take part.
After all, they’re unlikely to look kindly upon uninvited hackers based in China and Russia probing their systems….
All the same, inviting so-called “ethical” hackers to test systems in the search for bugs and vulnerabilities in exchange for a bug bounty seems a very sensible step to take, that is, rather than waiting for a maliciously-minded hacker to gain unauthorised access or steal data.
So it’s actually not such a surprise to read on CNN that two US senators have introduced a bill establishing a formal bug bounty program for the Department of Homeland Security, a government agency which is responsible for securing government websites and critical infrastructure.
In a press release, Senators Maggie Hassan and Rob Portman described the bill, which they have given the attention-grabbing name of the “Hack Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Act”. As Portman put it:
“The networks and systems at DHS are vital to our nation’s security. It’s imperative that we take every step to protect DHS from the many cyber attacks they face every day. One step to do that is using an important tool from the private sector: incentivizing ethical hackers to find vulnerabilities before others do. I look forward to working with Senator Hassan to move this bipartisan bill forward and helping protect DHS from cyber threats.”
As with the “Hack the Pentagon” and “Hack the Army” initiatives, white-hat hackers interested in participating in any future DHS bug bounty program must first pre-register and submit to a background check as well as agree to a number of other strict conditions to avoid the initiative causing more harm than good.
Obviously, the ideal scenario would be to find flaws and security holes before a website or online service went live, but we all know that in the real world that’s not always possible.
My expectation is that we will see more and more public sector organizations and private companies recognize the benefits of working closely with ethical hackers and penetration testers
The message is clear: hack yourself (or get help from ethical hackers to do it for you) rather than wait for a malicious actor to exploit put your organization in peril.
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this guest author article are solely those of the contributor, and do not necessarily reflect those of Tripwire, Inc.
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Crypto exchange LGO is taking what it views as a more traditional route to assure users that its exchange and token are secure. The company claims it is the first Eurozone crypto company to be audited by Big Four auditing firm PwC.
PwC’s French branch reviewed the company’s financial statements for several months, establishing ownership of cryptocurrencies and tokens the company received and created during its ICO.
LGO's journey, which was long and marked by the difficulties proving ownership of assets during the audit period, reflects the difficulties auditors face in examining cryptocurrency firms. PwC’s Halo tool, released late June of this year, solved that problem by corroborating private keys to public access. It also corroborates information on blockchain transactions and balances through “interrogating” the ledger.
Indeed, crypto auditing is known to present further problems, according to Jeremy Nau, a manager of accounting firm Armanino’s blockchain practice. It can be challenging to convince regulators that funds on an exchange even exist. Nau’s firm does so by corroborating on-chain transactions as money moves from place to place.
Unreliable data and fake volumes also introduce headaches. In a crypto to crypto transaction, there isn't a U.S. dollar amount applied, so an auditor needs to apply a price, but with large and often faked volumes that can be challenging, according to Nau. He said an auditor relying on blockchain evidence can utilize some tools, but that it's still a challenge given the sheer variety of blockchains in existence. In some cases, auditors must run their own nodes to obtain reliable data, which can be difficult for those who come from an accounting background rather than crypto or computer science.
“The tools surrounding these pretty immature blockchains are very hard to use and you have to basically be a computer scientist to use it,” he said. “The skill set is completely changing from understanding numbers and financial statements to needing to be an auditor as well as really good with computers.”
Indeed, Nau said the accounting industry is moving to a place where it's seeking to hire both skillsets. Many firms have a blockchain unit, according to Nau, and some are actively hiring those with blockchain or computer technology skills.
LGO CEO Hugo Renaudin said partnering with a Big Four audit firm like PwC gives the exchange an institutional stamp of approval, positioning them as an institutional grade partner for both traditional and crypto clients. But that might be marketing spin. Nau said an audit isn’t completed just to go the extra mile, it’s required for certain money transmitter licenses. Nau said for the most part, no one does an audit just for fun.
“Most of these companies are getting an audit because they need to, either by a legal, regulatory, investor or user demand,” he said.
Renaudin said he thinks other crypto companies will soon follow suit, and some already have. U.S.-based exchange Gemini announced it completed a SOC2, a security and privacy focused test, with Big Four player Deloitte at the start of this year.
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Rwandan billionnaire investor Ashish Thakkar said he had created 200 long-term skilled jobs and he hoped that his investment led to the creation of a further 1,500 indirect jobs in the long-term, with the opening of South Africa’s first fully-fledged cellphone manufacturing plant in Durban.
DURBAN - Rwandan billionaire investor Ashish Thakkar said despite the problems that South Africa faced - including power blackouts – the country remained an attractive investment destination for the manufacturing sector.
Thakkar addressed journalists on the sidelines of the opening of South Africa’s first fully-fledged cellphone manufacturing plant in Durban.
Thakkar – who owns the R1.5 billion facility - said he had created 200 long-term skilled jobs and he hoped that his investment led to the creation of a further 1,500 indirect jobs in the long-term.
For the first time ever, a smartphone will have a logo saying "Made in South Africa".
This followed the launch of the Mara cellphone manufacturing plant in Durban.
The Mara cellphone is the first to be developed and manufactured in Africa.
Mara Group founder and CEO Ashish Thakkar explained why Durban was the perfect choice.
"Durban became very strategic in terms of how to get across the country, how to also export out of. Durban was very strategic and frankly its been a fantastic decision."
Thakkar said that he was not deterred by the latest power cuts.
"Load shedding is obviously not an ideal scenario for any investor in any country, however, like I said, this is a long term investment, this isn't an investment for the short term, for the now. With the long term mindset, this is not going to be the case forever."
While it was a first for South Africa, the Durban plant was the second of its kind in Africa.
The Mara Group recently opened the continent’s first cellphone manufacturing plant in its home country of Rwanda.
WATCH: Ramaphosa attends launch of SA's first smartphone factory
AP Now Warns Writers Away From Noting a Transgender Is In Fact a Transgender They're forbidding noting that a trans-woman was born a boy, or that a trans-man was born a girl. Already among "woke" media types there is a taboo against "dead-naming" transgendered people. It is verboten to remind readers that Chelsea Manning was once named Bradley (there, I did it).... Now comes the AP's gender rewrite. In a series of tweets on Tuesday explaining the changes first promulgated earlier this year, the AP's editors contended that "gender refers to a person's social identity, while sex refers to biological characteristics" and admonished writers to "avoid references to being born a boy or girl." The venerable news agency also endorsed the language- and prose-disfiguring use of "they/them" as a singular pronoun. It even left open the door to more exotic made-up pronouns such as "ze" and "zir." Tuesday also saw the AP introduce a new rule: Instead of the expressions "sex change" or "transition," writers are to use "gender confirmation." This was a deep kowtow to the transgender movement, which believes that physicians don't alter anything essential or fundamental when they perform a sex-change operation: Caitlyn Jenner was always Caitlyn Jenner. The operation merely confirmed this ontological fact. Literal magical thinking: The words you say in a magic spell call a new reality into being. Likewise, the language-obsessed left thinks they can summon a new reality by demanding we all chant the same magic words of Social Justice power. Literal magical thinking: The words you say in a magic spell call a new reality into being. Likewise, the language-obsessed left thinks they can summon a new reality by demanding we all chant the same magic words of Social Justice power. Posted by: Ace at 05:39 PM
MuNuvians MeeNuvians Polls! Polls! Polls! Frequently Asked Questions The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick Top Top Tens Greatest Hitjobs News/Chat
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"Let's look at what's happened: The Cubs choked, the Bears [stink], the Bulls go in the tank... it becomes monotonous," he said. "You can't keep spanking [Bulls general manager] John Paxson every week. You can't get on [Bears coach] Lovie Smith every day. [Bears GM] Jerry Angelo still doesn't have a quarterback. I'm going to keep writing that from now to kingdom come?"
"Because I'm going to be covering all these major events that involve championships, I'm probably writing more positive, upbeat, triumphant stories," Mariotti said. "You're not sitting back and analyzing, scrutinizing the same five teams over and over and over again.
There will still be shots at, say, Charles Barkley for his recent arrest, but the columnist expects to benefit from more variety.
A long-standing critic of local sports franchises, owners, management, athletes and anyone who accommodated them, Mariotti, 49, said by phone Sunday that "the overall tone of the column probably changes" as a national columnist compared to when his focus was primarily on Chicago.
Jay Mariotti, who declared the future of sports writing "sadly is not in newspapers" when he resigned from the Chicago Sun-Times after 17 years in August, is joining AOL Sports as a full-time national columnist and commentator on a variety of its platforms.
Scott Ridge, director of AOL Sports, said Mariotti’s hire is part of an initiative to ramp up its original content in advance of a redesign and official re-launch this month.
Other recent additions include the hiring of former New York Daily columnist Lisa Olson and Chicago-based blogger Michael David Smith, as well as an increased role for former Dallas Morning News columnist Kevin Blackistone.
“We're thrilled to bring a powerful voice such as Jay's to the site,” Ridge said by e-mail. “He's an independent thinker with strong opinions and immense writing talent.”
Mariotti abruptly left the Sun-Times this summer shortly after returning from the Beijing Olympics, just weeks after it was announced he had agreed to a three-year contract extension.
Just as stunning as the timing of his exit was how it was celebrated by his former Sun-Times colleagues in print in the days that followed with the sort of invectives usually reserved for prison-bound politicians and last-place ballclubs, not someone whose work the paper had showcased for years.
"What the hell kind of serious newspaper does that? The National Enquirer?" Mariotti said, noting his first column would address his Sun-Times departure. "It was almost a backhanded compliment that they would sink to such levels.
"One of the reasons I wrote this column tomorrow for AOL is I felt a need to connect the dots," he said. "There was such a disconnect. I needed to clarify what happened. It doesn't slam the Sun-Times. It explains why I left and why I'm thrilled to join this organization."
If nothing else, Mariotti won't have to concern himself with when presses need to start rolling Thursday when he's in Miami covering the Bowl Championship Series title game between Oklahoma and Florida.
"For the first time I won't have to worry about a third-quarter plugger column or something as inane," Mariotti said. "I can watch the whole game, a four-hour game, go downstairs [from the press box] and come back up, spend two hours writing and have it appear on a post at 3 in the morning, which is four hours before the newspaper comes. It's the future."
Of his time at the Sun-Times, Mariotti said he "had one of the best jobs in the country until about three years ago when it became obvious the paper was going to die."
The Sun-Times, of course, is still kicking, although it eliminated Mariotti's position with his departure as part of its ongoing efforts to cut costs. It is, however, dealing with a fight for control of its board as part of a larger debate over the best strategy for survival at a time when all traditional media companies are struggling economically.
Mariotti wouldn't rule out perhaps writing a Chicago column again, at least on an occasional basis and online, but he said "at this stage in my career" the opportunity to expand his purview was welcome.
"If I there was one wish I had about Chicago sports fans, it would be to be more open-minded," he said. "It's a great sports world out there with all kinds of amazing stories every day.... I was working in a city with a bubble around it. Yeah, sometimes they care about Tiger Woods or Michael Phelps. But I would be hard-pressed to find any metropolitan
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Roseanne Barr Joins Andrew Dice Clay for "Mr. and Mrs. America" Comedy Tour
"When people ask about what she said, I say, 'She's a comic!' We got to stop policing comedians. This is America," Clay told Fox News about embarking on a tour with his longtime friend.
Roseanne Barr is hitting the road with her friend and fellow comedian Andrew Dice Clay.
Speaking about their upcoming comedic venture, Clay told Fox News that the "Mr. and Mrs. America" tour was inspired by the national obsession with political discourse and the alleged policing of comedians' language.
"She's a comic because she's wacky. I've known her since we were kids," Clay told the news channel. "When people ask about what she said, I say, 'She's a comic!' We got to stop policing comedians. This is America!"
ABC canceled the Roseanne reboot in May 2018 following the 66-year-old actress' controversial tweet comparing former President Barack Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett to both the Muslim Brotherhood and Planet of the Apes. Barr had blamed her remark on the sedative Ambien. ABC proceeded to launch a spinoff, The Conners, which ultimately killed off Barr's character from the original series.
With Barr being no stranger to criticism for her comment, Clay urged America to "lighten up."
"America really needs to lighten up and not worry about the words comedians use, because it's all we have. There's clean stuff and there's street stuff. I'm a street guy because I tell it like it is," he said. "I'm living it more now than I have for a really long time. My shows have been longer, my material is fresher. With these shows, I can do as long as I want because it's one show a night."
Clay then proceeded to defend his friend of "30 years" for being an "original" like himself and encouraged people to "stop reading Twitter."
"Calm down with your political conversations," he said. "Whoever is running the country, nobody else's life changes. We still gotta go out there and make a living. Enjoy your family, enjoy your friends, bang your chicks and make your money."
Though Barr has a controversial reputation, Clay said the duo are unfazed by the negative comments.
"We're both excited because we both don't give a shit what anybody thinks about anything," he explained. "I decided not to run for president because it would be embarrassing for everybody else losing. It would be too easy."
Barr and Clay's "Mr. and Mrs. America" Tour is set to kick off Sept. 19 at the Paramount Theater in Long Island, New York, followed on Sept. 20 with a show at the Hard Rock in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Tickets for the Long Island and Atlantic City dates go on sale Friday.
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200 Years Ago, The Word's First Rollercoaster Debuted In Paris
The first rollercoaster in the world made its debut 200 years ago today. It was "The Promenades-Aériennes" or "The Aerial Walk" in Paris. Passengers walked up a set of stairs to ride a bench down the 600-foot track at 40 mph. Today, the tallest coaster is 456 feet tall.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
Two-hundred years ago, humans decided to make their already stressful and scary lives a little bit more terrifying.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: (Screaming).
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
We're talking about the dawn of the roller coaster. It was in Paris in 1817. The first was basically a cart on tracks at the top of a simple ramp. Gravity did the rest.
SHAPIRO: The French roller coaster got its inspiration from Russia where thrill-seekers did the same thing with sleds on hills made of ice. Unfortunately, 2017 does not mark the 200th anniversary of roller coaster safety technology.
JOEL BULLOCK: Roller coasters really used to be actually dangerous, not so much perceived danger.
CORNISH: That's Joel Bullock. He writes coastercritic.com.
BULLOCK: People would be beat up, but they would say, hey, that was a different kind of thrill, almost like a "Fight Club" thrill (laughter) back in those days.
CORNISH: Over the years, it seemed like a good idea not to kill or injure your customers, so safer rides were built. At the same time, they only got higher, faster and more complex with twists and flips added. That's the way coaster critic Joel Bullock likes them - fast and scary.
BULLOCK: I've got a 10-point rating scale that goes from horrible all the way up to excellent, even a transcendental for the really impressive rides.
CORNISH: According to his rating scale, two coasters qualify as transcendental, both found at Six Flags amusement parks - one in Massachusetts called Superman the Ride. The other is El Toro in New Jersey.
SHAPIRO: You know, from that first Parisian coaster that rolled down a gentle hill to the monsters we have today, you could say roller coasters have had a lot of ups and downs in the last 200 years. Sorry.
(SOUNDBITE OF THE BACKTRACK PLAYERS SONG, "BROCCOLI")
Copyright © 2017 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
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One afternoon, working at home in Portland, Oregon, I took a break to check my email and found a new message:
To: Susan C Faludi
Date: 7/7/2004
Subject: Changes.
It was from my father. “Dear Susan,” it began, “I’ve got some interesting news for you. I have decided that I have had enough of impersonating a macho aggressive man that I have never been inside.”
Attached was a series of snapshots. In the first, my 76-year-old father is standing in a hospital lobby in a sheer, sleeveless chemise and red skirt. The caption read: “I look tired after the surgery.” In another, taken before “the surgery”, my father is perched amid a copse of trees, modelling a henna wig with bangs and a pale ruffled blouse. The caption read, “Stefánie in Vienna garden.” The email was signed, “Love from your parent, Stefánie.”
My father and I had barely spoken in a quarter-century. As a child, I had resented and, later, feared him, and when I was a teenager he had left the family – or, rather, been forced to leave by the police – after a season of escalating violence. Despite our long alienation, I thought I understood enough of his character to have had some inkling of an inclination this profound. I had none.
My father had seemed invested – insistently, inflexibly – in being the household despot
As a child, in the suburban town of Yorktown Heights, an hour’s drive north of Manhattan, I had always known my father to assert the male prerogative. He had seemed invested – insistently, inflexibly – in being the household despot. We ate what he wanted to eat, travelled where he wanted to go, wore what he wanted us to wear. There was no escape.
Early one August morning when I was 14, I was lacing my sneakers in the front hall, preparing for a run (I’d joined the junior varsity girls’ track team), when I sensed a subtle atmospheric change, like the drop in barometric pressure as a cold front approaches, which signalled to my aggrieved adolescent mind the arrival of my father. His pale, thin frame emerged from the gloom at the bend of the stairs. He was wearing jogging shorts and tennis sneakers. “I am running also,” he said, his thick Hungarian accent stretching out the first syllable: “aaaalso”. It was an insistence, not an offer. I pushed through the screen door, my father shadowing my heels. The air was fat with humidity. Tar bubbles blistered the blacktop.
By the lake, we picked up a narrow footpath. We ran without speaking, single file. Minutes into the ascent, he picked up his pace. So did I. He pulled ahead, then I did. We both gasped for breath. My stomach was heaving and my vision had blurred. My father broke into a furious stride. I tried to match it. It was, after all, the early 1970s; I Am Woman (Hear Me Roar) played on the mental soundtrack of my morning jogs. But neither my ardour for women’s lib nor my youth nor all my training could compete with his determination.
Something about my father became palpable in that moment, but what? Was I witnessing raw aggression or a performance of it? Was he competing with his daughter or outracing someone, or something, else? These weren’t questions I’d have formulated that morning. At the time, I was trying not to retch. But I remember the thought, troubling to my budding feminism, that flickered through my mind: it’s easier to be a woman.
And with it, I let my legs slow. My father’s back receded down the road.
***
In September 2004, two months after receiving my father’s email, I boarded a plane to Hungary. In my luggage were a tape recorder, a jumbo pack of AA batteries, two dozen microcassettes, a stack of reporter’s notebooks and a single-spaced 10-page list of questions. She had asked me to write her story.
I was setting out to investigate someone I scarcely knew. I was largely ignorant of the life my father had led since my parents’ divorce in 1977, when he’d moved to a loft in Manhattan that doubled as his commercial photographer’s studio, and subsequently repatriated to Hungary. Since then, I had seen him only occasionally, once at a graduation, again at a family wedding, and once when
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at least in part – reevaluating this view, with CE-linked publications like Kavkaz Center beginning to report positively on Chechen fighters in Syria. As one analyst has argued, this move was likely, at least in part, an attempt to assert authority over Chechen jihadis in Syria, who appeared to be gaining in power and prestige.
While the Caucasus Emirate hardly expressed its full support for North Caucasians going to Syria to wage jihad, via its media outlets it moved toward the admission that this was permissible, if only for those who were not in a position to wage jihad back home. In other words, jihad in the North Caucasus should take priority over that in Syria, but the North Caucasian and Syrian jihads were part of the same global struggle of Islam against the kuffar.
Kavkaz Center hinted at this new position in July 2013 through a “letter to the editor” (purportedly) written by one Umm Sayfullah of Uruz Marten:
“The issue I want to discuss is jihad in Syria and the Caucasus. And even though several articles and fatwas have been published on this matter, the situation has not been clarified.
Jihad in Syria started after the jihad in the Caucasus, in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, where the Holy Al-Quds has for several decades been occupied by the kuffar, but it’s the jihad in Syria that has become most popular among Russian-speaking followers of Islam, and even Caucasian Muslims, who are going to Syria in entire jamaats.
In connection with this, I want to raise the question — is it not a priority for Caucasian Muslims to wage jihad in the Caucasus? Allah is my witness, I’m not against brothers going to Sham. But isn’t fighting the kuffar in the Caucasus more important for Muslims from this area?
In Syria, as we know, Muslims are coming from all Arab countries, and also from Turkey, Pakistan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and America… So what about the Caucasus? It is right for Muslims to leave the fight at home and go to another area?
I understand that the jihad in Syria needs Mujahideen. We see how the kuffar, Shi’ites from all over the globe are joining in the war against Sham and this is a serious issue. But for Caucasians, in my view, the priority has to be jihad in their native home. After all, the hardest jihad is in the Caucasus today! …
I think that Emirs in the Caucasus and in Syria need to explain to people, that those Caucasian brothers who can join the jihad in the Caucasus must in the first instance try to go there. And in the event that there is no way for them to get there or if there is some major reason — then they can go elsewhere.
Those brothers from Syria, who ask for help, must absolutely explain that they are talking about those who cannot wage jihad for the Caucasus Emirate. And that for Caucasians, jihad at home is more important and the first priority over jihad in any other place.”
Two weeks later, on July 30, 2013, this message was further reinforced in a a video address — also published on Kavkaz Center — by a Chechen fighter named Salahuddin Shishani, at the time the commander of a group named az-Zubеyr. Salahuddin, who had been named the “official representative of the Caucasus Emirate in Syria” was therefore presumably also speaking in that faction’s name when he addressed “the Muslims of the Caucasus, Crimea, and other Muslim lands occupied by the Russian kuffar”. In other words, this is not an address intended for Muslims or Mujahideen in general, but for those under the ideological sway of the Caucasus Emirate.
In the video, Salahuddin – whose affiliation to the Caucasus Emirate further emphasized by his sartorial choice of an “Imarat Kavkaz” logoed t-shirt – repeats the message given in Umm Sayfulla’s letter, but goes beyond this by placing the issue of where North Caucasians should wage jihad in the context of a more global cause. It is understandable, he notes, that Muslims from countries where there is no jihad or where it is not possible to wage jihad should come to Syria. However, he cautions, such a move is “not correct” for those in places where there is already jihad, such as Libya, Kashmir “or our Caucasus”. Notably, Salahuddin also refers clearly to Dokku Umarov’s authority by noting that the CE leader gave an explicit order for North Caucasians to wage jihad against the Sochi Olympics, an order which must take priority to the jihad in Syria, at least for those able to fulfill it.
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Messi doesn’t sound like the best of first names. It’s actually become quite popular when it comes to naming dogs where I come from. Back to the point, Lionel Messi is so big that people are naming some of their kids after his last name. In the city of Rosario in Argentina, his hometown, it’s now prohibited to name a child after the best footballer in the world.
One Argentine man named his son Messi Varela, and that caused the city council to prohibit further use of Messi’s name as a first name. It makes a bit of sense because this might create a Messi Messi situation, because this is the city where Messi’s come from. It might also create something of a confusing situation in a classroom, as quite a few people wouldn’t mind naming their child after their idol.
To Hector Varela, who managed to squeeze his son in just before the prohibition, it doesn’t matter: I’m proud of being ‘the first Argentine to put your baby to name the best player in the world’ according to Mundo Deportivo.
While teams around the world in a lot of different sports retire a number or jersey, prohibiting it from ever being used again by someone on that team, the city of Rosario, where Lionel Messi grew up until going overseas to play for Barcelona at the age of 13, retired his name, which might be an even bigger honor.
- written by Nwolf written by Nwolf written by Greenshell written by Raiden written by Alwaysyukaz written by Nwolf written by komasy written by Backfire written by Raiden written by -Kazu- written by Greenshell written by Nepuri written by Alwaysyukaz written by Raiden written by Nwolf written by Greenshell written by Raiden written by Nwolf written by Raiden written by -Kazu- written by Alwaysyukaz written by komasy written by Alwaysyukaz written by Nwolf written by hikiko- written by Alwaysyukaz written by BabySnakes written by Nepuri written by Raiden written by Nwolf written by -Kazu- written by Alwaysyukaz written by -Kazu- written by komasy written by Greenshell written by komasy written by -Kazu- written by -Kazu- written by Raiden written by Greenshell written by Raiden written by Nwolf written by Greenshell written by Nwolf written by Nwolf written by -Kazu- written by Greenshell written by Raiden written by hikiko- written by Nepuri written by Raiden written by Raiden written by Greenshell written by Raiden written by Nepuri written by Backfire written by Nepuri written by hikiko- written by Raiden written by komasy written by Raiden written by Greenshell written by Greenshell written by Nepuri written by BabySnakes
The unintended consequences of a money-printed, credit-fueled, mal-investment-boom in commodities (prices – as opposed to physical demand per se) and the downstream signals that sent to any and all industries are starting to bite. The Baltic Dry Index has plunged once again to new record lows and the collapse of the non-financialized ‘clean’ indicator of the imbalances between global trade demand and freight transport supply has the real-world effects are starting to be felt, as Reuters reports the third dry-bulk shipper this month has filed for bankruptcy… in what shippers call “the worst market conditions since the ’80s.”
Perhaps you do see things coming.
Perhaps you do want to get prepared.
If you are new to all of this, and you don’t quite know how to get started preparing, please see my previous article entitled “89 Tips That Will Help You Prepare For The Coming Economic Depression“. It will give you some basic tips that you can start implementing right away.
And of course one of the most important things is something that I talked about at the top of this article.
If at all possible, you have got to have an emergency fund. When the coming economic storm strikes, your family is going to need something to fall back on.
If you are trusting in the government to save you when things fall apart, you will be severely disappointed.
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Last Week Tonight host John Oliver tackled Apple and the FBI's duel over encryption as the main segment on his show last night. He played out cases for both sides before siding with Apple and creating a comical ad for the Cupertino company in its signature style explaining why encryption is important.
Oliver starts the segment by explaining what encryption is, what it protects and how it can be hacked before diving into the debate between Apple and the FBI, which centers around San Bernardino shooter Syed Farook's iPhone. The segment first lays out the case for law enforcement, touching on Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump's proposed Apple boycott, before spending a significant amount of time explaining why creating a backdoor for the government would be a bad idea.
The Last Week Tonight host explains that many critics of Apple's stance on encryption don't seem to understand how modern technology works and that Apple creating a key for this one case is a slippery slope, allowing government officials to approach Apple for other cases. Oliver notes that the encryption debate was waged two decades ago with the Clipper Chip, which allowed for encrypted communication with a backdoor for authorities. The project was abandoned after hacker Matt Blaze figured out how to shut down the authorities' backdoor. "But decades later [authorities] seem to have convinced themselves that it can be done," Oliver said.
Oliver then takes on Apple critics who say the company can figure it out due to its success at innovation, noting they may feel that way about "Apple's magic powers" due to the way the Cupertino company markets it products. He points out that thinking Apple could create a backdoor and then have the ability to police that backdoor is unrealistic, mentioning that the company has had trouble with hackers in the past. Additionally, he says that Apple bending their encryption standards doesn't matter due to the numerous third-party encryption alternatives that exist.
The host closes by saying that other countries, like Russia and China, are watching the debate play out, hoping that they, too, would be allowed a similar level of access to devices. Oliver says that the "legal tenuousness" of the FBI's argument, the security risks, the impossibility of Apple enforcing backdoor-equipped encryption, the international fallout and the existence of third-party encryption apps is enough to "sway the most strident opinion." Oliver then closes by showing a comical encryption ad the show made for Apple in the style of the company's iPhone 6s ads.
Last Week Tonight's segment comes the week after the feud between Apple and the FBI stepped up a notch, with the FBI accusing Apple of "deliberately" raising barriers to prevent law enforcement to access data on Apple devices. Apple lawyer Bruce Sewell called the claim an "unsupported, unsubstantiated effort to vilify Apple." On Friday, President Barack Obama cautioned against taking an "absolutist" view on encryption.
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Yes, and here we are.
Why are independent central banks a good thing?
If we’re clear about it, really, we’re in a position to provide a stable macroeconomic environment, and that’s about it. And inflation is the main way to do that. And if you think about that, well, there’s nothing much to argue about there. Central banks were created because there was a presumption that governments would always prefer more inflation, especially toward election times. They would goose the economy. And so central banks were created to guard against that, and it’s the independence that makes sure that that line doesn’t get crossed.
But independence is kind of a relative concept. In Canada we are accountable to Parliament. And yesterday I had to explain everything in a press conference, and that’s all part of the accountability to the public.
I’ll tell you one last thing on independence. When was the last time you were in a Chinese restaurant and you got a fortune cookie that actually meant something to you?
Not nearly often enough.
Okay, so I’m going to show you something. Six weeks ago, I got this at the Mandarin Ogilvie just down the road, and you can read it out to the folks.
“You are independent politically.”
I thought that was quite a stroke of luck, actually. I keep it in my wallet—for a while anyway.
It used to be that the Bank didn’t explain when it wasn’t changing rates.
A governor who I won’t name told me, “Steve, I do all my best writing between the lines.” We don’t do that anymore. We’re trying to be straightforward and clear.
A few weeks ago in Iqaluit you gave a speech that talked about the extent to which services and sophisticated human interaction is a huge chunk of the Canadian economy.
Yes.
It’s common because of frustration over pipelines to say that Canada’s becoming a bad investment risk because big projects don’t get anywhere. And yet the argument you made is that those sorts of projects are not where the growth is, and they’re not the only consideration when we talk about the Canadian economy.
Oil is our biggest export, and it’s not going to change. But on top of that, where is the new growth coming from? It’s coming from the service side of the economy. We’re talking an economy that’s growing around seven to eight per cent per year. Our economy is over 80 per cent services.
You’re not sure natural resource growth is there in the future, even if we get a pipeline built?
Oh, no, no, no. The growth is more organic growth. The global oil market grows perhaps two per cent per year. And with extra pipeline capacity, we could bump to a higher output level, that’s true.
But on the resource side, the food sector has extraordinary promise. The planet is still growing, and food is a key issue. Simple things like fertilizer, potash, these are big growth opportunities for Canada.
You’re in your last year as the central bank governor?
My mandate ends about a year from now, yeah.
Are you expecting smooth sailing from here to the exit door?
Well, according to our forecast, the answer’s yes.
MORE ABOUT STEPHEN POLOZ:
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The Shenley Park races are the the only vintage races run in the United States that take place on a public street. The streets in question run through the beautiful, tree-lined park in a setting reminiscent of the places these cars raced when they were new. The road is bumpy and twisty and at times the cars look to be on the edge of disaster, with nothing but driver skill and stack of hay bales between them and some immovable obstacle like a fire hydrant or a light pole. If the drivers are lucky, there’s a rock wall between them and whatever could hurt them most.
Michael Recine in a 1969 Alfa Romeo GTV
Joe Parlanti in a 1959 Abarth Zagato 750 GT
Charlie Dolan in a 1957 MG A
The field for PVGP mostly consists of smaller-engined cars from the 50s and 60s. I’m not a racing driver, but I would imagine that owners of vintage Trans Am cars with massive V8s or classic Le Mans cars with screaming V-12s probably stay away from this event because their cars are just too big and too fast for this kind of track. A tossable little Mini or Formula Junior is probably more suitable for Shenley Park than a 500-horsepower monster.
Speaking of Minis, Dennis Racine and Robert Hoemke in their Minis put on a fantastic show. They blitzed the rest of their field and fought closely with each other for their entire race. At times they were cornering so quickly they their cars were lifting a rear tire. Truly epic stuff that proves you don’t need massive horsepower to be quick.
Robert Hoemke in a 1965 Mini Cooper
Robert Hoemke in a 1965 Mini Cooper leads Dennis Racine in a 1966 Austin Mini Cooper S
My favorite spectator position in Shenley Park is on the downhill right-left-right complex called The Serpentine. To make the turn, drivers need to get as close as possible to the rock wall on the inside and then the outside of turn, but the track drops away so sharply that they usually have their inside front wheel off the ground for part of it. That means understeer and locked brakes, a really test of driver skill. Then they get to the next turn and do the same thing again (but spectators can’t see that part of the track because it’s hidden by trees.
Mitch McCullogh in an ex-Alan Mann Racing 1965 Lotus Cortina
Randy Evans in a 1969 Porsche 911 leads Don Wannagat in a 1973 Alfa Romeo GTV
James Dolan in a 1972 Triumph GT6
Betsy Wisbon in a 1976 BMW 2002
Peter McCarthy in a 1962 Austin Healey Ashley Sprite1
Bonus: video of the entrance to the first turn in the Serpentine. (Sorry for the bouncy video, but it was hand-held at 70 mm.)
You really can’t go wrong with PVGP. The racing is great, the track is spectacular, and cost of admission is... zero (but you should donate some money to The Autism Society of Pittsburgh). And if you want a break from the racing, you can check out the acres and acres of car show that takes place in the park as well.
Denny Wilson in a 1962 Lotus Super 77
Alan Patterson Sr in a 1956 Elva Mk I
For some picture of PVGPs past, click here.
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The realities of doing business today often require that employees and their managers work from different locations. When you’re not co-located with your boss — often separated by large distances and time zones — a different set of considerations comes into play, as you’ll never casually run into each other in the office hallway or by the water cooler. You’ve got to change your approach to work with and adapt to the realities of having a virtual boss.
Here’s the good news: As long as you and your virtual boss can develop trust, keep the communication channels open, and establish clear lines of accountability, there’s a good chance that you can work smoothly together. According to research from our Greenlight Research Institute, the following best practices will help you successfully manage the relationship with your virtual boss:
1. Create a virtual contract. First, acknowledge that making your interactions with each other as productive and efficient as possible is going to require a proactive approach. You need to establish the ground rules. How? Start with an email to your boss. Try something like this: “I’ve attached an article that describes how virtual teams can work best together. Can we discuss it in our upcoming call to see if it’s how we want to work together?” What you’re doing is setting up a virtual contract that you can both agree on.
2. Establish rules for communication. People on virtual teams misguidedly assume that connecting more often — via more teleconferences, WebEx meetings, emails and the like — is the answer to the problems of distance. But the result is usually an acute case of information overload. The real key to managing the relationship with your boss is setting an appropriate cadence of communications so you’re aligned on outcomes. Is it a daily call, or a weekly call? Set the frequency that works best for you and your boss, and have your boss confirm that cadence, keeping these two rules in mind:
Specify how quickly you both need to respond to emails and calls
Determine what follow-up steps should be taken so you never let important issues slip through the cracks
There are other rules to consider as well. Michael Watkins, professor, author and cofounder of Genesis Advisers, conducted research that found that having regular meetings helped set a rhythm in virtual team work. Here’s what also worked:
Sharing meeting agendas ahead of time
Starting and finishing meetings on schedule
Rotating meeting times so people in different time zones could share the load fairly
You and Your Team Managing Up Best practices for interacting with your boss.
3. Set clear goals and expectations. Think through your personal goals for your work: What would “hitting it out of the park” mean in one month, six months or a year? Spend some time reflecting and write down your performance goals and targets. Then, send them to your boss and have her sign off on them.
Next, in the cadence of meetings that you established in step 2, be sure to have frequent discussions with your boss to make sure you’re both checking in on your progress on a regular basis. It’s important to establish clear lines of accountability from the start. This means holding yourself accountable to what you said you’re going to do by when, and getting your boss’s confirmation from the beginning. Let your boss know that you believe feedback along the way is a gift.
4. Get personal. Next, build interpersonal trust. What binds virtual teams of any size together are the personal details — the similarities that lead us to trust the people around us — even when they’re far away. You can do two things to get personal:
Send an email to your boss that shares more about who you are. Human beings are social by nature — something that can’t be ignored in your virtual relationship. Use the email to tell her about what gives you energy inside and outside the workplace, your hobbies, etc. Ask your boss to reciprocate. Maybe you’ll find some interest that you could participate in together, such as a nonprofit you could volunteer for, or even a “World of Warcraft” game session to build teamwork and strategy skills in the off-hours.
Have regular, personal-professional check-ins at the start of meetings. Take no more than 30 seconds to share what’s going on personally and professionally in your life, including the happy events (e.g., family and career milestones) and challenges you’re facing. Don’t dismiss any opportunities to do check-ins; make them important and don’t be afraid to show some vulnerability: “Hey, let’s do a quick check-in. What’s going on?” This simple storytelling and social bonding builds empathy, trust, and camaraderie.
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Meet the 'chimeric' monkeys made from the cells of SIX different animals
Monkeys created from genetic material from six animals
Will help research into stem cells and fertility, say scientists
Research is 'deeply disturbing' say animal rights groups - and will cause suffering
They may look like any other baby monkeys, but these two are scientific breakthroughs.
Roku and Hex are the world’s first chimeric monkeys – created with genetic material from six ‘parents’.
But their birth has caused an ethical storm, with critics accusing scientists of disregarding the welfare of the animals.
Scientists at the Oregon Primate Centre have created monkeys which each contain a cocktail of cells from other embryos. Scientists say they could help stem cell research - but animal campaigners are horrified
Roku and Hex: Named after the fire-breathing creature in Greek mythology composed of parts of multiple animals, chimeras are organisms made up of cells from two or more genetically distinct sources.
Named after the fire-breathing creature in Greek mythology composed of parts of multiple animals, chimeras are organisms made up of cells from two or more genetically distinct sources.
Twins Roku and Hex, whose respective names come from the Japanese and Greek for ‘six’, have been created with genetic material from six monkeys.
Researchers from Oregon Health and Science University in the U.S. extracted cells from six macaque embryos and combined them into a single embryo in a laboratory before implanting it into a surrogate mother monkey.
Roku: The monkeys were created by 'gluing together' cells from several other embryos
Three male babies were born using this process – Roku and Hex, who are twins, and Chimero.
However, to reach this stage, dozens more embryos were experimented on, and some surrogate pregnancies were aborted.
While most animals only contain cells in which the genetic material from their two parents has mixed together, the chimeric monkeys’ bodies contain six different types of cell – holding distinct DNA from each biological parent.
A 'chimeric' blastocyst cell: The monkeys were created from cells of six other embryos
Although many mice and some rabbits, rats and farm animals have been born this way, no one has created chimeric monkeys before.
The researchers say that Roku and Hex are healthy and that their birth opens up ‘enormous’ possibilities for science because of monkeys’ intelligence and close biological links to humans.
They say the technique could help us learn more about IVF and contraception, and growing human organs from scratch.
But critics of the study, published in the journal Cell, say that techniques such as these take a high toll on animal welfare and question what sort of experiments the monkeys will be put through in future.
Scientists at the Oregon Primate Centre have created monkeys which each contain a cocktail of cells from other embryos. Scientists say they could help stem cell research - but animal campaigners are horrified.
The British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection (BUAV) called the research 'deeply disturbing.'
Dr Jarrod Bailey, the organisation’s scientific consultant, said: 'Using such highly sentient animals in this research raises enormous ethical concerns and imposes a heavy welfare burden, resulting in severe suffering to many animals.'
'As few genetically modified animals show the ‘desired’ characteristics, many will be killed even before any research can take place, while others will die of severe and unrelated malformations caused by the genetic modifications. '
'The monkeys who do exhibit characteristics of ‘interest’ are destined to suffer greatly by their very nature, and via the experiments to which they will be subjected.'
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Celebrating Families. Who is the Evil Empire Now?
By Eric Ross, Ph.D.
When Harry Crouch, NCFM President, asked NCFM members to find examples of celebration of family, men, and parenthood, I replied almost immediately with a rather sarcastic note. It was about what many American fathers know as their sad reality:
“Good luck finding celebration of families, let alone men, in the Good Ole’ USA. It is so off-the-scale politically incorrect to praise families, let alone fathers, that I would be surprised if any such celebrations were officially recognized or acknowledged at the town level, let alone county or state. The opposite is true: It is quite all right in the USA to bash the institution of the family, and to malign, humiliate and denigrate fathers in particular.”
In contrast, if we were to turn our attention to Russia, which emerged in 1993 from the defunct Soviet Union, you will notice that general attitudes and morays there towards parenthood and children are quite refreshingly different. In its struggles to embrace again its democratic traditions, forgotten during the 76 years of Soviet Power, Russia has established several holidays, when the entire country celebrates families. Thus, Russia celebrates July 8 as a National Holiday, the Day of Family, Love, and Faithfulness, a day when people of Russia spend time with their extended family – parents, grandparents, children and grandchildren.
“A family is not just husband and wife, but also Granddad and Grandma and, most importantly, kids,” said President Dmitry Medvedev via his Twitter account, from Kremlin, Russia in July 2010. [Fn-1]
Compare this with Barack Obama’s speech on Fathers Day in 2008: “… We’ll admit that what [sic] too many fathers also are is [sic] missing – missing from too many lives and too many homes. They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men.”[Fn-2] – Really? Or with his phony “folksy” quip on 2010 Fathers Day: “Too many of our men brag about doing the stuff they’re supposed to do. They say, ‘I’m not in jail!’ Well, you’re not supposed to be in jail!’” [Fn-3]
Just when President Barack Obama got to chastising America’s fathers in 2008, Russia established its Day of Family, Love, and Faithfulness, as a national holiday, which follows the old Russian religious tradition of St. Peter and St. Fevronia of Murom, the patron saints of family and marriage. The Russian Orthodox Church sanctified this ancient Russian couple into Sainthood in the 16th Century. The two reportedly had their arguments and a share of differences, he – a prince, she – a peasant girl, but when they wed in the 13th century, it was on the condition of being equals in marriage. The legend has it that the couple’s love was so strong that the two died on the same day and were found in the same grave, even despite being buried in separate plots. Even death could not part them. [Fn-5]
In establishing this holiday, the Russian government wished to revive traditional moral values, and to emphasize the importance of the family, especially for the upbringing of healthy and happy children. [Fn-5a] At the annual official ceremony in Kremlin on the Day of Family, Love, and Faithfulness, Russia’s then first lady, Svetlana Medvedeva, awarded Love and Fidelity Medals to couples who have stayed married for 25 years or longer. About 5,000 medals were awarded to Russian citizens and 400 medals – to couples all over the world: Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, France, Poland, Germany and Great Britain. [Fn-6]
Vladimir Putin declared 2008 the Year of the Family. But his zeal to promote family (and higher birth rates) went perhaps too far when a new holiday called “Family Contact Day”, celebrated on September 12, encouraged Russians to stay home and engage in marital intimacy in the hope of producing babies by Russia Day − June 12.
See RT TV’s clip titled “Russia celebrates day of love, family and fidelity” here.
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCmJaRA4840
Sure, we can crack jokes about Russia’s Family Contact Day, when the nation is given a day off work to get busy making babies. But think about it: While we crack jokes on comparing medals for the vicissitudes of twenty five (25) years of marriage to those awarded for gallantry in war, the mere existence of such a medal shows at least the intent by the government
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I used to dream of taking over my dad’s jewelry business. I would spend summer vacations in his Los Angeles office taking orders, weighing sparkly loose diamonds no larger than specks of dust, oohing and aahing over cases of bejeweled rings the size of my nose as he prepared for sales trips, and often being reminded that if I wanted to be paid that week, for the last time, food was not allowed to be eaten on the diamond desk. This was back in the '90s, and while some part of these fond memories can be chalked up to youthful revisionist history, it does seem—even now—like the phone never stopped ringing. There was always one more order to fill, always one more ring to be picked up from the setter to polish and send off to a nervous groom-to-be.
A large part of the charm in ascending to the head of the family business was the glamour. Sure, some people’s parents might have corner offices in high-rise buildings, but spreadsheets never set anyone’s world on fire. But diamonds... everyone loves diamonds. Shah Jewel Inc. wasn’t just in the business of making sales; it was in the business of making memories, one fancy piece of jewelry at a time.
Those diamond earrings are a classic, sure, but a future purchase may not hold up in the trend department in the same way. An eternity band isn’t like an iPhone—there’s no trade-in plan after every two years.
I spent those childhood years imagining myself taking the diamond market by storm, spending my days luxuriously covered in a fistful of rings and an armful of bracelets. But things didn’t quite pan out as such. When you come from a line of jewelers, friends tend to expect you to be dripping in diamonds worthy of a Harry Winston catalog. So when one of them finds out that I’ve been wearing the same quarter carat white gold studs for half a decade, they’re less than impressed. My lack of ice doesn’t stem from my parent’s concern over my penchant to misplace things (though that’s up there, to be sure)—it’s that as a single woman in her mid-20s in 2015, what do I need fine jewelry for?
I understand fine jewelry’s appeal. There are pieces in my mother’s collection I’d go to the mat with my sister over. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want someone to peer at my future engagement ring and make that clichéd joke, “You can’t even see where the Titanic hit it!” But with rapidly innovating technology bringing out shiny new gadgets in droves to spend my money on (or have gifted to me!), buying something that can’t be upgraded to the latest model down the road seems foolish. Those diamond earrings are a classic, sure, but a future purchase may not hold up in the trend department in the same way. An eternity band isn’t like an iPhone—there’s no trade-in plan after every two years.
What changed? It used to be that the precursor to the engagement ring was the fancy anniversary necklace or the tear-drop earrings. By the time the engagement ring purchase rolled around, men had a fairly cursory understanding of the 4 C’s (cut, clarity, color, and carat). But now, even post-recession, the jewelry retail industry remains sluggish after a precipitous decline. Millennials, meanwhile, are spending more money than ever on tech and travel. A diamond may be forever, but in a generation that values impermanence, the one-time slogan of the century is looking more and more like an outdated mantra.
Nowadays, the only time my friends are impressed by the fact that my dad is a jeweler tends to be when one of them is inching closer to getting engaged—usually accompanied by a wink and a nudge of, “Can I get a friends and family discount?” And to be sure, many a friend has come to the Shah Jewel office, looking for a ring to propose to his fiancée with, or a pair of earrings to add to her collection. But as my dad points out, those repeat customers are fewer and further between (and when they do show up, they often don’t know much about the jewelry market), because, just like me, my friends have outgrown the idea of jewelry—even if we never fully grew into it to begin with.
It’s no secret in the jewelry industry that retail demand for fine jewelry is slipping. As Forbes reports, the demand for gold jewelry has dropped 30 percent since last year, and continues to fall. Even diamond behemoth De
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on over-eager officials, he ordered a slowdown of the collectivization drive. But when peasants took advantage of the lull to resume their resistance, Stalin ordered the secret police, the GPU, to strike hard with more mass arrests. Collectivization continued until there was not a private farm left in the Soviet Union: All of agriculture was brought under the government’s control. Before collectivization, there were 25 million individual farms; after, there were 250,000 kolkhozes. Eventually, peasants were permitted to own small private plots of land on which they could grow a few fruits and vegetables, and they could keep poultry and pigs. But everything produced by the kolkhozes belonged to the state; the collective farms were allowed to keep only enough for their members’ own consumption.
In the countryside, the peasants were not the only targets of government repression. Stalin took advantage of the warlike atmosphere to attack a whole range of what were classified as “socially dangerous elements.” These included priests, rabbis, monks and nuns, Nepmen (entrepreneurs who had been permitted to engage in trading and small-scale manufacturing under the NEP), and small-business owners. Some were jailed or sent to labor camps, others were simply stripped of their citizenship—which meant they could not receive housing, medical care, or food rations. The Russian Orthodox Church was particularly hard hit. Most of its higher clergy were arrested. Some of its churches were turned into museums or clubhouses, but most were simply demolished. The same fate struck the Soviet Union’s other major religions—Islam, Roman Catholicism, and Judaism3—though to a lesser degree.
Collectivization, then, was achieved at a terrible cost in human suffering. About two million peasants, classified as kulaks, were deported, most of them to places thousands of miles from their homes, where they had to work at forced labor under horrendous conditions. Others managed to escape amid the chaos and confusion, and since they could not return to their villages, they drifted into the new industrial centers and found jobs in factories and construction projects. Back on the collective farms, the peasants had no incentive to work hard, apart from fear of punishment. The destruction of livestock meant that there was a shortage of horses to pull the plows when the tractors didn’t work, and of manure to fertilize the fields. As a result, agricultural production actually fell during the first Five-Year Plan.
The fall in Russia’s farm output posed a serious threat to the other part of the Five-Year Plan: rapid industrialization. Stalin needed to export grain—and other raw materials—to the West in order to acquire foreign currency with which to purchase industrial machinery. The problem was compounded by the fact that the start of the Five-Year Plan coincided with the onset of the Great Depression in Europe and the United States. The prices of Soviet export goods dropped 50 percent and more. Stalin was not to be dissuaded, however, and his determination to pursue industrialization at all costs led him to commit one of the worst atrocities in history.
The harvest of 1932 was a good one. There was enough grain to feed the Soviet population and provide an exportable surplus as well. But it was not enough for Stalin. So in the fall the brigades that went out every year to collect the surplus were instructed to take all the grain, including the peasants’ own share. Quite simply, millions were thus condemned to die of starvation. From the fall of 1932 through the winter, spring, and summer of 1933, peasants died in their homes, in the fields, on the roads. There were cases of cannibalism. Many tried to go to the cities, hoping to find food there, but Stalin ordered the army to stop them. When peasants somehow managed to elude the patrols and slip into urban areas, they found that food was scarce there too. Soon the streets, squares, and especially the train stations of cities in the Soviet Union’s agricultural heartland—Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, and others—were littered with the emaciated bodies of peasant refugees. Those in the last stages of starvation were rounded up by the army, carted several miles outside the city limits, and dumped on the ground to die, out of sight, so as not to demoralize city dwellers.4
There is no accounting of how many died in the famine of 1932-1933, but the best estimate is around six million people. While the main reason Stalin brought it about was his relentless obsession with industrialization and his indifference—in this as in everything else—to the human costs, the famine also had the effect of finally breaking the resistance of the peasantry to collectivization. And there was another dimension. Ukraine was one of the country’s most fertile and productive grain-growing regions, and it was there that the death toll was highest. Perhaps four million
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The desire for ever more extreme selfies has so far resulted in 259 deaths, says a new report cited by the US National Library of Medicine …
A global study published in the the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care collated worldwide reports of selfie deaths between 2011 and 2017, reports BBC News.
Drowning, transport accidents and falling were found to be the most common cause of death. But death by animals, electrocution, fire and firearms also appeared frequently in reports from around the world.
Most of the fatal extreme selfies occurred on the tops of mountains, tall buildings and in lakes, says the report.
The report’s authors analysed news stories to identify how deaths happened, cross-referencing these to eliminate spurious ones.
Selfie-related death was defined as any accidental death that occurs while doing self-photography or clicking selfies. Initially, we made an exhaustive list of the English newspapers of various countries using Wikipedia or Ministry of broadcasting of respective countries. We performed a Google search for keywords such as “selfie deaths; selfie accidents; selfie mortality; self photography deaths; koolfie deaths; mobile death/accidents.” The web link addresses of the news from search results were cross-matched with the web links of list of prepared English newspapers of various countries. The results that did not match were excluded from the study.
The report recommends establishing ‘no selfie zones’ at dangerous locations, but given the diversity of locations and the stupidity of many of the acts, it’s hard to see this as a practical solution. The majority of the transport-related deaths, for example, resulted from attempting to take a selfie while standing on rail tracks in front of an approaching train.
The authors acknowledge that the estimate of 259 deaths from extreme selfies is almost certainly an underestimate.
Although our study has enlisted the largest number of selfie deaths and incidents till date, this is just the tip of iceberg. Many cases are not reported. The limitation of our study was that we included news reports only in English language. Therefore, news reports in local language have been missed. There is no reporting of cases as selfie-related deaths in India. Thus, certain deaths due to selfies may be reported as road traffic accidents or others, which leads to underreporting of a large number of cases.
Perhaps those seeking dramatic selfies should stick to taking them at home …
Photo: Shutterstock
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The Weimar Republic’s well-intentioned gun registry became a tool for evil.
The perennial gun-control debate in America did not begin here. The same arguments for and against were made in the 1920s in the chaos of Germany’s Weimar Republic, which opted for gun registration. Law-abiding persons complied with the law, but the Communists and Nazis committing acts of political violence did not.
In 1931, Weimar authorities discovered plans for a Nazi takeover in which Jews would be denied food and persons refusing to surrender their guns within 24 hours would be executed. They were written by Werner Best, a future Gestapo official. In reaction to such threats, the government authorized the registration of all firearms and the confiscation thereof, if required for “public safety.” The interior minister warned that the records must not fall into the hands of any extremist group.
In 1933, the ultimate extremist group, led by Adolf Hitler, seized power and used the records to identify, disarm, and attack political opponents and Jews. Constitutional rights were suspended, and mass searches for and seizures of guns and dissident publications ensued. Police revoked gun licenses of Social Democrats and others who were not “politically reliable.”
During the five years of repression that followed, society was “cleansed” by the National Socialist regime. Undesirables were placed in camps where labor made them “free,” and normal rights of citizenship were taken from Jews. The Gestapo banned independent gun clubs and arrested their leaders. Gestapo counsel Werner Best issued a directive to the police forbidding issuance of firearm permits to Jews.
In 1938, Hitler signed a new Gun Control Act. Now that many “enemies of the state” had been removed from society, some restrictions could be slightly liberalized, especially for Nazi Party members. But Jews were prohibited from working in the firearms industry, and.22 caliber hollow-point ammunition was banned.
The time had come to launch a decisive blow to the Jewish community, to render it defenseless so that its “ill-gotten” property could be redistributed as an entitlement to the German “Volk.” The German Jews were ordered to surrender all their weapons, and the police had the records on all who had registered them. Even those who gave up their weapons voluntarily were turned over to the Gestapo.
This took place in the weeks before what became known as the Night of the Broken Glass, or Kristallnacht, occurred in November 1938. That the Jews were disarmed before it, minimizing any risk of resistance, is the strongest evidence that the pogrom was planned in advance. An incident was needed to justify unleashing the attack.
That incident would be the shooting of a German diplomat in Paris by a teenage Polish Jew. Hitler directed propaganda minister Josef Goebbels to orchestrate the Night of the Broken Glass. This massive operation, allegedly conducted as a search for weapons, entailed the ransacking of homes and businesses, and the arson of synagogues.
SS chief Heinrich Himmler decreed that 20 years be served in a concentration camp by any Jew possessing a firearm. Rusty revolvers and bayonets from the Great War were confiscated from Jewish veterans who had served with distinction. Twenty thousand Jewish men were thrown into concentration camps, and had to pay ransoms to get released.
The U.S. media covered the above events. And when France fell to Nazi invasion in 1940, the New York Times reported that the French were deprived of rights such as free speech and firearm possession just as the Germans had been. Frenchmen who failed to surrender their firearms within 24 hours were subject to the death penalty.
No wonder that in 1941, just days before the Pearl Harbor attack, Congress reaffirmed Second Amendment rights and prohibited gun registration. In 1968, bills to register guns were debated, with opponents recalling the Nazi experience and supporters denying that the Nazis ever used registration records to confiscate guns. The bills were defeated, as every such proposal has been ever since, including recent “universal background check” bills.
As in Weimar Germany, some well-meaning people today advocate severe restrictions, including bans and registration, on gun ownership by law-abiding persons. Such proponents are in no sense “Nazis,” any more than were the Weimar officials who promoted similar restrictions. And it would be a travesty to compare today’s situation to the horrors of Nazi Germany.
Still, as history teaches, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.
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Reuters reported today that trade associations representing Internet service providers "are expected to take the lead in suing the Federal Communications Commission" over its new net neutrality rules.
Verizon sued after the FCC issued net neutrality regulations in 2010. The company ultimately won its case, but the victory backfired because the federal appeals court ruling paved the way for the FCC to impose even stronger rules.
"[A]t least some companies, including Verizon Communications Inc, are currently not planning to bring individual lawsuits and instead aim to participate through trade groups," Reuters reported, citing "several people familiar with the plan."
"We believe there will be a lot of litigation, which will probably be led by industry associations," Verizon CFO Fran Shammo told Reuters.
Suing through trade groups "would allow companies to streamline their litigation efforts and could help firms avoid drawing any fire individually, as Verizon did after it challenged the previous version of net neutrality rules on its own in 2010," the report said. The National Cable & Telecommunications Association, CTIA-The Wireless Association, and USTelecom are the most likely to sue, according to Reuters.
FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has said he expects lawsuits from the industry, and that's one reason the FCC issued the rules using its strongest authority, the common carrier provisions in Title II of the Communications Act. The court ruling vacating the 2010 rules said prohibitions on blocking and discrimination were "per se common carrier obligations" and thus could not be imposed unless the FCC reclassified broadband providers as common carriers. "We have addressed that issue" by reclassifying broadband providers, Wheeler said after last month's vote.
Bethesda announced two virtual reality spinoffs at its E3 press conference this evening, including one for its survival sci-fi horror game Prey and the Nazi-killing extravaganza Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus.
Typhon Hunter is a competitive game mode for Prey that pits you against the game’s crafty shape-shifting alien combatants in what’s described as a “deadly game of cat and mouse, except in this instance the cat is sometimes a trashcan or a bottle of cleaning supplies and the mouse has a shotgun.” The mode will be available both in VR and in standard 2D, and it’s being bundled with the game’s upcoming Mooncrash expansion coming out later this summer. (You can also get your hands on Typhon Hunter in the new Prey digital deluxe edition.)
You asked, we listened. Story Mode, Survival Mode, and New Game+ are available now in a free update to #Prey. #BE3https://t.co/DzKvEVP7uy pic.twitter.com/oaYNDbGUvf — Bethesda (@bethesda) June 11, 2018
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot is a new VR experience set in the series’s revisionist history universe where you’ll control a fire-breathing Panzerhund, the game’s fearsome Nazi robotic hounds, as you fight help the French resistance fight off the Germans in Paris. Unlike Typhon Hunter, Cyberpilot is a standalone game and looks to be VR-only.
n 9162 / N2T) takes the theme of blending into the background one step further, by adding what on first glance seems to be an overall camouflage scheme. Look closer though and you’ll see it’s a pictorial representation of a map, albeit with continents moved around to fit the aircraft.
9. Brazilian Challenger 300
Captured departing Montreal on its delivery flight, this Brazilian Challenger 300 (msn 20325 / PR-ADB) takes the theme of using black, red and silver together in a scheme, but swaps the usual order by using silver as the predominant colour. The addition of the red and black flashes make this Challenger 300 really stand out.
10. A very bold-looking Global Express
The Kohler Company, based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is best known for manufacturing plumbing products, but in business aviation it is known for operating a Bombardier Global Express (XRS msn 9290 / N797KK) in a gorgeous scheme that stylishly mixes red, black and silver and includes the company strap line ‘The Bold Look’ painted on the tail. As well as the Global, Kohler also operates Gulfstream IVSP (msn 1429 / N777KK) in the same scheme.
Disagree? We thought you might. If you think we have missed out a far better jet or totally disagree, please let us know and we will publish the best suggestions in a follow-up article.
For more business aviation insights from Alud, we highly recommend checking-out the BizJetBlogger archive on Corporate Jet Investor.
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A group of about 50 students and alumni stood in protest Thursday while Mike Huckabee, former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate, spoke at John Brown University’s chapel service. - Photo by Janelle Jessen
SILOAM SPRINGS -- Protesters and supporters greeted former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee when he visited John Brown University on Thursday.
Huckabee addressed students during chapel as part of the Ray and Laurine Barnett Civic Leadership series. His speech was followed by a question and answer session with students at Simmons Great Hall.
About 50 demonstrators, including students and alumni, stood along the wall of the chapel while Huckabee spoke. Some demonstrators wore T-shirts that collectively spelled out "We Stand for Love." Others wore shirts that said "No Ban No Wall No Hate" and "Minority Rights are Human Rights."
A group of students on the other side of the chapel held a large banner with the words "Welcome," as Huckabee took the stage to thunderous applause.
University President Chip Pollard said the university set up a question and answer session after the chapel service so Huckabee could talk with students.
Huckabee, a former Baptist minister and presidential candidate, spoke about being the salt and light of the world, no matter the profession students decide to pursue.
He told students it isn't unusual for him to be protested and he enjoys talking with demonstrators. He thanked the demonstrators for their respectful demeanor and said he was grateful Americans have the right to express themselves.
A group of students and alumni planned the demonstration, said Matt Feyerabend, a leader of the alumni protesters.
Almost 600 people joined the Facebook group "JBU Direct Action: Stand Up to Huckabee" by Thursday morning, and 364 supporters signed a Change.org petition.
The petition said the group was concerned about Huckabee's support of President Donald Trump's vision for America. They also objected to Huckabee's Twitter messages the group said promote Islamaphobia, homophobia, nationalist Christianity, police brutality, racial injustice and neglect for refugees.
"I'm so proud of the students who chose to stand for love," Feyerabend said.
"Their ability to remain peaceful and respectful was very inspiring. Everyone listened, laughed and I believe clapped for him when he was done. The civil display of opposition to his divisive rhetoric was beautiful. I think we all realize, more than ever, that we must stand for love."
NW News on 02/03/2017
Moby Dick: The Radio Play Adapted by Phil Hall was an idea offered by Phil Hall in July 2018 and through tenacity and determination, the concept became a reality, airing December 1st, 2019. Through many rehearsals and rewrites and multiple recording sessions throughout 2019. The first draft of the first section of the story written by Hall in October 2018 with a subsequent rewrite that December. After the April Nutmeg Junction celebration, more focus was placed on Moby Dick. A second draft was submitted in July 2019 and then after more rewrites, the third version was ready in August and the majority of the show was recorded in September. After Nutmeg Junction performed two more live shows (one in October, one November), the editing process commenced.
LISTEN HERE
New Bedford, MA New Bedford, MA New Bedford, MA
New Bedford, MA New Bedford, MA New Bedford, MA
Mystic Mystic Mystic
More information on whaling can be found in locations like New Bedford, MA and Mystic, Connecticut.
editors note: It took 14 hours to produce this half hour first half of Moby Dick.
“Moby Dick: The Radio Play.” Part One.
This production is based on the Herman Melville novel and has been adapted for radio by Phil Hall. The original music score and sound effects are the work of Bob Eccleston. Additional music was performed by Robert C. Fullerton.
Moby Dick stars Rich Cyr as Ishmael and Phil Hall as Captain Ahab.
And features, in order of appearance, the voices of
Danny Saed as Queequeg and Daggoo.
Jandi Hanna as Mrs. Coffin and voice in the church
Jeff Savage as Father Mapple and Starbuck,
Olivia Wadsworth as Pip and voice in the church
Lana Peck as Elijah and voice in the church
Robert C. Fullerton as Stubb,
Kurt Boucher as Flask and the Carpenter,
Jack Sheedy as both Tashtego and the Captain of the Rachel,
Jerry Crystal as Captain DeVere,
J. Timothy Quirk as Peleg
The production of this radio play, was directed and produced by J. Timothy Quirk and recorded WAPJ, Torrington Community Radio in Torrington, Connection.
This is a presentation of “Nutmeg Junction.”
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Getty Images
Trick question: They're actually drinking a secret Monster product, and collectors are desperate to get their hands on it.
How Do Warped Tour Bands Chug Energy Drinks In The Sun All Day Long?
If you check out the artists on this summer's Warped Tour, you might notice them drinking a LOT of Monster Energy Drink -- like, more caffeine than most of us could handle in 90-degree heat -- and perhaps even bathing in it:
But you can't always believe your eyes, because Reddit user SmackyRichardson noticed a slight difference in the bands' Monster cans versus the ones distributed to fans:
Imgur: SmackyRichardson
It's called Monster Tour Water, and it's only available backstage -- a Monster employee tells us "it's never been sold anywhere" -- thus making it a highly sought-after collector's item. (Right now it's going for $13.99 on eBay.) But SmackyRichardson feels it's a health hazard:
"Kind of dangerous in a way, as anyone who was actually chugging that many Monsters in 100 degree heat would more than likely kick the bucket. Warped tour is full of impressionable tweens who want to look as cool as their idols onstage."
Not everybody agreed with her theory, and this is actually nothing new -- Warped Tour has had branded water for at least a decade:
Kyles Monster Energy Collection
As one Reddit user explained, it's not worth getting THAT excited about:
"I work for Monster and we drink tour water at most events we do. If people do notice, they are so intrigued and want one. Its just water in a can, man..."
But if you don't read the fine print, it may come as a shock:
"I remember discovering that accidentally when I worked my first Warped Tour. Popped one open backstage and went to enjoy a sweet sip... Even when the resulting taste is not a strong one, it's always shocking when you expect one flavor and something very different hits your mouth. Spit it out and freaked out, then read the can."
Some people are calling it a marketing conspiracy:
But the fans and bands seem pretty cool with it:
Old-school political punks might be turned off by the caffeinated sponsorship, but hey, at least H20 is healthier than most of the stuff Sid Vicious put into his body, right?
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The list of viable challengers for Floyd Mayweather has narrowed, after Mayweather so handily dismantled Canelo Alvarez on Saturday, at times toying with the 23-year-old Mexican en route to winning a majority decision at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Alvarez was younger (by 13 years) and stronger, a natural junior middleweight. But those elements proved immaterial, as Mayweather's hand speed, reflexes, ring smarts and all-around skill set had Alvarez unable to adapt to things he's never seen, and never will again.
The fight was scored a majority decision because an arbiter named CJ Ross scored the scrap 114-114, a draw -- a scorecard which drew immense scorn on social media, including a hashtag of #BanCJRoss on Twitter.
Mayweather certainly looked fit and fast at age 36, with no evidence of slippage. Fight fans looked left, right and center ring, actually, for who could conceivably test Mayweather next. One candidate is Danny Garcia, the 140-pound ace from Philadelphia who came in Saturday as the underdog, as usual, but exited the ring right before Mayweather entered it with a new pile of admirers after the way he boxed Argentine bomber Lucas Matthysse. Garcia was smart, using movement, combo punching and a Teflon chin to get the W.
On Twitter, there was also talk of middleweight ace Gennady Golovkin, the Kazakh mauler who fights on Nov. 2 in New York against Curtis Stevens in a 160-pound tangle. Golovkin has expressed willingness to fight anywhere from 154 to 175 pounds; would he be keen to test himself against Mayweather, who is chipping away at doubters who scoff when he deems himself an all-time great?
"Gennady would fight Floyd at 154 pounds," Golovkin's promoter, K2's Tom Loeffler, told ESPNNewYork.com on Sunday morning. "Whether it's doable is another story."
Mayweather does business with Showtime and Golden Boy, and Golovkin is an HBO fighter -- HBO doesn't buy fights from Golden Boy now, so to get all those entities on the same page would be a task. "Gennady's trainer Abel Sanchez says that Gennady is the only guy who can beat Floyd at 154," said Loeffler. "I don't want to give the wrong impression, I think Floyd has proven over and over that he is the best pound for pound fighter in the world today. But Floyd would clearly be the most compelling fight for Gennady out there. Golovkin is, though, completely focused on Curtis Stevens."
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comes from the DC Comics world, where Bizarro was a sort of anti-Superman. He was supposed to be a clone of the iconic hero, but something went hideously wrong with his creation. He turned out more like a childish, funhouse-mirror Superman. He peppered his primitive speech with words that meant the opposite of what they really mean, wreaked havoc thinking that he was doing heroic deeds, and caused all manner of problems that the real Superman then had to deal with.
So when I see the weird funhouse-mirror world that fundagelicals inhabit, it’s natural for me to reach for the name of that misbegotten anti-hero to describe it.
Their worldview is not just bizarre. It’s a lot worse than that.
It’s bizarro.
If you were hanging out in the comments on the last post, you probably saw a long discussion about a post elsewhere concerning why Christians shouldn’t ditch their churches. The Christian who wrote that post filled it with exactly this kind of thinking:
While writing off the church passes as sophisticated thinking, it’s actually the opposite. Maybe What Bothers You Should Actually Amaze You [This was a subheading title.] The Ultimate Consumerism Isn’t Going To Church…It’s Walking Away From It [Another subheading.]
These contradictory statements are a bit like Zen koans–questions without answers that are meant to make people quit thinking so they’ll be more suggestible. But they’re also an insight into a world where everything works the opposite of reality.
Christian Urban Legends.
Nowhere do we see Bizarro World thinking better than in Christian urban legends:
Two people who have no business whatsoever being in a relationship suddenly decide (or are told) that “God” wants them to marry each other. A guy gets a burr up his butt about going to a faraway country he’s never visited before then, a place where he can’t speak the local language and maybe even hates the food, with little to no practical preparation, all because he thinks “God” told him he’ll convert millions of people there. A person with no leadership skills at all is (apparently) divinely-chosen to lead a church.
Christian folklore is absolutely thick with these sorts of stories. Christians are just enchanted with the idea of their deity choosing, for his little projects, humans who seem totally unsuited for the task at hand–and yet somehow everything turns out perfectly!
The couple told to marry live happily ever after. The missionary converts millions indeed. The novice pastor’s new church overflows with congregants.
At least, that’s how it works in the folklore.
You can probably guess the reality.
But nobody’s allowed to remember or mention the many times that exactly these scenarios turn out completely disastrously. Yes, that person seems completely unsuited to the proposed project–but gosh, ain’t that just like that silly-billy ol’ Jesus to set up a situation that’ll glorify him all the more when the project succeeds?!?
(When one of these mismatched ventures inevitably fails catastrophically, the whole incident is swept under the rug and never mentioned again.)
Just as they use the argument from embarrassment in other contexts, Christians apply bizarro thinking to a lot of other situations.
The more mismatched a person is to a venture, the less intuitively successful and coherent the idea is, and the more obviously doomed to failure the whole proposal is, then the more Christians find themselves drawn to it and rooting for it–and they only remember the successes.
The Sky is Falling!
That’s why, when you hear Christian leaders bad-mouthing their own religion or predicting its total downfall, or sharing some other bad news, tread very carefully before taking it onboard. They might just be overstating something to make their flocks panic.
We’re long used to Christians overstating good news or quote-mining data to find anything possible they can point to as a good sign of divine favor or potential turnaround of decline. That’s nothing new. I’m going to treat y’all to a fisking of You’ve Lost Me once I’m finished digesting it, and you’ll see a lot of that. Talk about an exercise in looking on the bright side of life while you’re hanging on a crucifix!
But we sometimes forget that Christians also overstate bad news–news that is unflattering to their religion, news which should rightly embarrass them.
To people in the non-Christian world, we know that when risks and problems are
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Phenomena Reflections floating in the atmosphere
Fata Morgana A mirage beyond imagination. mitti attar aged 15 years. organic Indian Sandalwood in jojoba. premium limited edition
Fogbow Earth's breath at first light. hawthorn, osmanthus, cedarwood, magnolia, black tea, sandalwood
Halo Beauty suspended. organic Hawaiian coffee blossom extract, tuberose absolute in jojoba. premium limited edition
Iridescence Under a liquid sky. bamboo, oakmoss, water lily, bergamot, ozone, black pepper
Parhelion Luminous euphoria. lemonade, loganberry, heliotrope, rose, almond
Red Skies Fire drifts at sunset. cantaloupe, red apple, moss, mulberry, peach blossom, pear
Tiaré Magnificent enfleurage of organic Tahitian gardenia in jojoba. premium limited edition
Iridescence, Parhelion and Red Skies are available in Lustre Hair Serum, Glow Body Oil and a limited supply of Cream Soap. Fata Morgana and Tiaré are bottled in 3.7mL'minis'. Halo is available in both mini and full size. LE perfumes are not guaranteed thru Summer as they are extremely limited in quantity.
Looking forward to sharing the Phenomena collection with you on May 1st!
Leilani
Chicago Machine is excited to announce that we will be scrimmaging Italy's CUSB La Fotta men's ultimate team on Monday, July 31st. The game will be played with USAU rules, to 15, with observers (if available). Spectators are encouraged to attend.
What : Scrimmage between Chicago Machine and CUSB La Fotta Open to the public and free
: Scrimmage between Chicago Machine and CUSB La Fotta Where : Schiller Park Woods N East River Rd, Chicago, IL 60634 Field Map (Targeting Field 1)
: Schiller Park Woods Date : Monday, July 31st 2017
: Monday, July 31st 2017 Time: 7:00pm
CUSB La Fotta, one of Italy's top men's ultimate teams, will be in Chicago for two days on their way to Minnesota for the US Open taking place later next week. CUSB La Fotta, founded in 1988, is based out of Bologna, and is one of the most well traveled and decorated teams in Italian history. If your Italian is strong, you can read more about them, and their team history here: http://www.bodisc.it/cusb-la-fotta/
Otherwise, follow along on Machine's Facebook & Twitter for updates as we get closer to the scrimmage!
Follow CUSB La Fotta on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CusBolognaUltimate/
CUSB La Fotta 2016 Video Highlights:
Parking in The Bishop Arts District is a headache to say the least. Free, on street parking is rarely available and paying a parking valet is a pain.
Well, Bike Friendly Oak Cliff has a solution! Ride your bike!!!
Bike parking is free, traffic is a breeze and the businesses even offer DISCOUNTS to customers that ride their bikes!
From now until the weekend of October 17th & 18th, BFOC will provide Guerrilla Bike Parking at various locations in Oak Cliff, including the North Oak Cliff Library, the Oak Cliff Cultural Center and culminate with a surprise location in Bishop Arts that weekend.
After the weekend, the rack will be donated to a local elementary school. Reagan Elementary in the Bishop Arts Neighborhood, Hogg Elementary in Kidd Springs and Bowie Elementary in Lake Cliff will all compete for the rack.
The bicycle rack is painted the colors of the three different schools and we ask the community to help STICKERBOMB the rack. After the 18th, the winning school will be the most prominent color remaining.
So hop on your bike and get a jump-start on the competition. The rack is currently at the North Oak Cliff Library!
Show your neighborhood and community spirit. PURPLE represents the Lake Cliff Neighborhood and Bowie Elementary. GREEN is for Kidd Springs and Hogg Elementary. And BLUE is for Bishop Arts and Reagan Elementary.
Updates and event information can be found on our facebook event page. Please RSVP, INVITE and SHARE here.
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About a year ago, we first reported about the Kúla Deeper, an accessory that attaches to your DSLR’s lens and turns it into a 3D camera. The device couldn’t be simpler by design, featuring little more than four mirrors that project two slightly offset images onto the camera’s sensor in order to create a 3D photograph or video. Via special software, the resulting images or video clips can then be turned into various 3D formats, for example for a stereo viewer, anaglyph glasses, or for cross-eyed viewing.
Its designers originally tried to fund the Kúla Deeper via Karolina Fund, but only made it to 69 percent of their $70,000. Now the Kúla is back, and this time it’s on the much more popular crowdfunding platform, Kickstarter. But what’s more, its makers have also created a smaller version of the Kúla, called the Bebe, which brings the same 3D photography capabilities to smartphones.
The Kúla Bebe truly deserves this name, as it looks like a baby version of the larger Deeper. Internally, it works similarly, by creating two slightly offset images using four mirrors, that can later be turned into a number of 3D formats using Kúla’s proprietary software. One way to experience your 3D photos and videos is Kúla’s own CinemaBox, which attaches right to the display of your smartphone. Another easy way is to create an image for cross-eyed view that you can either view on your screen or print out.
Related: Now your iPhone 6 can take even better photos with Olloclip’s 4-in-1 lens
The Kúla Bebe will be available for Apple’s iPhone 4S, 5S, 6, and 6 Plus; Apple’s iPad Mini and iPad Air; and Samsung’s Galaxy S4, S5 and Note 3, as well as a universal version that should fit most other smartphones. The Kúla Deeper comes with a 77mm thread and screws directly into the filter thread of your lens. The DSLR version of the Kúla starts at $98 for early-bird backers, while the Kúla Bebe can be yours for as little as $35.
This time around, Kúla’s makers seek a funding goal of just $40,000, which makes it much more probable that the project will finally be funded, especially now with the addition of the smartphone version. However, we must add that 3D isn’t exactly a must-have feature that consumers are scrambling for. TVs with 3D (which can display the content made with the Kúla accessories) have never truly taken off, and neither have the few smartphones with 3D, like the HTC Evo 3D. Still, a novelty accessory might find more appeal with folks who would like the feature.
If you’d like to support the Kúla Deeper and Bebe project, or would like to own one (or both), you can pledge any sum from $1 upward over at the project’s Kickstarter page.
Editors' Recommendations
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The accused and the lawyers were informed on the results of the forensic examination
Russia pressed charges against 18 Ukrainian sailors whom Russia captured in November, 2018, as the coordinator of lawyers group Mykola Polozov reported on Facebook.
It was noted that on July 3 Russian Security Service was conducting an investigation, and pressured charges against four more Ukrainian POWs: Viktor Bespalchenko, Volodymyr Varymez, Vyacheslav Zinchenko and Yuriy Bezyazychny. The accused and the lawyers were informed on the results of the forensic examination.
“In total, charges were pressed against 18 Ukrainian POWs,” Polozov stressed.
Besides, he noted that the question on the rest six POWs will be decided o July 4,5,9.
As it was reported, on May 25, the International Maritime Tribunal demanded that Russia immediately release the Ukrainian sailors and ships and ensure their return to Ukraine. Ukraine is counting on Russia’s immediate implementation of the decision.
Earlier, on November 25, 2018, Russian border guards seized the Ukrainian Yany Kapu raid tug and small armored artillery boats Berdyansk and Nikopol of the Naval Forces of Ukraine in the Kerch Strait area, using weapons.
As a result of the incident, 24 Ukrainian sailors were detained and arrested. They were transported from Crimea to the Moscow Lefortovo detention facility. In addition, three Ukrainian sailors wounded during the shelling by the Russians were transferred to the prison hospital.
Humans are social animals; we spend much of our time with others in groups. We are also wise. It is not our size, speed, or strength that distinguishes us from other mammals, but our intelligence. How might these two features -- being social and being smart -- go together?
Article lead author Oscar Ybarra* and his colleagues at the University of Michigan explored the possibility that social interaction improves mental functioning. In a series of related studies, they tested the participants' level of cognitive functioning, comparing it to the frequency of participants' social interactions.
They found that people who engaged in social interaction displayed higher levels of cognitive performance than the control group. Social interaction aided intellectual performance.
"Social interaction," the authors suggest, "helps to exercise people's minds. People reap cognitive benefits from socializing," They speculate that social interaction "exercises" cognitive processes that are measured on intellectual tasks. "It is possible," the authors conclude, "that as people engage socially and mentally with others, they receive relatively immediate cognitive boosts."
*The article, "Mental Exercising Through Simple Socializing: Social Interaction Promotes General Cognitive Functioning," written by Oscar Ybarra, Eugene Burnstein, Piotr Winkielman, Matthew C. Keller, Melvin Manis, Emily Chan, and Joel Rodriguez of the University of Michigan, and published by SAGE in the February issue of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. http://psp.sagepub.com/cgi/reprint/34/2/248
TORONTO — According to TSN’s Matthew Scianitti, injured Toronto Argonauts running back Anthony Coombs will undergo shoulder surgery.
Argos head coach Marc Trestman added that he’s hopeful Coombs can return before the end of the season.
Marc Trestman says Anthony Coombs will have surgery on his shoulder, but coach is confident Coombs can return this season #CFL #Argos — Matthew Scianitti (@TSNScianitti) August 21, 2017
A former first round pick now in his fourth CFL season, Coombs was enjoying a career year with the Argos, hauling in 47 passes for 426 yards and a touchdown in nine games.
Three of those receptions came during Saturday’s 38-6 win over the Montreal Alouettes before the 24-year-old sustained the injury and was forced to leave the game.
While Coombs’ injury is a setback for the Argos’ offence, they could be close to getting a key defensive cog back on the field. Trestman added Monday that CFL sack leader Victor Butler is working out after being sidelined since Week 5 — although he remains day to day.
Cleyon Laing and Akwasi Owusu-Ansah are also considered day to day with knee injuries.
The Argos, who lead the CFL East Division with a 4-5 record, are back in action on Saturday night when they visit Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
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in Heyman’s face. Then he threw a punch that landed on Heyman’s face. Before Heyman could respond, Donnie Walsh (a future NBA executive) jumped off the UNC bench and slugged Heyman from behind.
From that point, it devolved into the wildest brawl in ACC history. Heyman threw a punch at Brown then turned to chase Walsh, who delivered his dastardly blow, then turned and sprinted away like a coward. Heyman’s chase was impeded by first dozens and then hundreds of students, who poured onto the floor and began fighting each other. It took more than 10 minutes to clear the floor and play out the finals seconds of the game (an 81-77 Duke win).
The officials, in their game report, blamed Heyman for starting the fight. Bubas was so outraged by that report that he had his game-film developed in record time and convened an extraordinary press conference to show reporters that Heyman was the victim, not the instigator.
Commissioner Bob James, who had been struggling to crack down on brawling at ACC games (most of it precipitated by McGuire’s teams), came down hard on everybody involved – Heyman, Brown and Walsh were all suspended for the remainder of the ACC season.
In my mind, that game launched Duke-UNC basketball toward the stratosphere of sports rivalries. It didn’t happen overnight – even after that memorable night – but the sustained excellence of the two programs has made Duke-Carolina the greatest rivalry in college basketball.
I sometimes quibble with the Duke SID people over one remarkable stat. They are fond of pointing out that either Duke or UNC have been ranked in every matchup since Feb. 27, 1960 – a week the ’60 Tar Heels temporarily dropped out of the AP poll. Beating Duke by 25 in Durham was enough to lift UNC back to No. 16 in time for the next meeting six days later in Raleigh. One or the other has been ranked for every meeting since.
That’s correct as far as it goes.
But the AP poll – the writers’ poll – was not the only poll. The rival United Press International polled the coaches’ and that poll was every bit as authoritative as the writers’ rankings.
And North Carolina never dropped out of the UPI coaches’ poll that season. The Tar Heels were No. 12 the night they faced Duke in Durham.
That means that the last time neither school was ranked was Feb. 25, 1955 – that’s 62 years and 157 straight meetings in which one or the other (but usually both) are ranked. Can anybody cite another rivalry that’s even close to that number when it comes to national relevance?
The two programs have remarkably similar accomplishments – both have five NCAA titles; UNC had 19 Final Fours to 16 for Duke; Duke has 19 ACC championships to 18 for UNC; they are third and fourth in all-time wins – second and third when it comes to NCAA Tournament wins.
ESPN recently ran a story mentioning that over the last 96 Duke-Carolina games, both teams are 48-48 and both teams have scored EXACTLY 7,437 points in that span.
That’s parity.
Of course, Barry Jacobs pointed out Wednesday that dominance in the rivalry does swing back in forth. It all depends on what time frame you are going to choose. For instance, over the entire history of the rivalry, UNC has a substantial 134-108 edge.
But look at just this century and Duke has the edge – 25-13.
Coach K is 43-39 vs. UNC.
Coach K is 16-10 against Roy Williams at UNC (he was 4-1 vs. Roy when Williams was at Kansas, so 20-11 overall).
Since UNC swept Duke in 2009, Duke has pretty much dominated the series, winning 11 of 15 matchups this decade. Barry pointed out that Duke has a much better record in recent years in the first matchup of the year than in the second … and also a slightly better record against UNC in the Smith Center than in Cameron.
All in all, a wonderful rivalry.
***
Now for the elephant in the room.
There was a time when Duke-Carolina was thought to represent the best in college sports.
Duke was perceived as the great private institution, playing basketball at a high level while maintaining the highest academic standards. UNC was the “public ivy” maintaining similarly high standards at one of the nation’s best public schools.
And after the 1961 ugliness, the rivalry was conducted on a very collegial level. Duke and Carolina recruited the same players; those players often scrimmaged against one another; players from both schools hung out at the same Durham barber
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It’s no secret that the Trump administration is into optics, appearances, and the way things look on the outside, and that is why they have hired a full-time Trump White House makeup artist to make sure the communications staff (primarily Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kellyanne Conway) looks up to snuff. Ironically, it was Anthony Scaramucci who made the call that the communications staff could use a little help, and so a Trump White House makeup artist/stylist was hired, paid for with taxpayer money.
It Was Anthony Scaramucci That Suggested A White House Staff Makeup Artist
The Cut reported that Anthony Scaramucci gave Katie Price, who ran a bridal business called NOVAbelles out of Northern Virginia, a shout-out on CNN, suggesting that Sarah Huckabee Sanders needed to hire her.
“The only thing I ask Sarah — Sarah, if you’re watching, I loved the hair and makeup person we had on Friday, so I’d like to continue to use the hair and makeup person.”
So Katie Price was given her own desk in the Trump White House press office where she needs to be on call for hair, makeup, and styling emergencies. Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that hiring Katie Price for hair and makeup has made her life easier because before she was paying a Trump White House makeup artist and stylist out of pocket.
“She’s definitely made my life easier.”
For the record, Price said she had only done Sean Spicer’s makeup once as he usually applied his own makeup before White House press conferences.
The Trump team, including Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kelly Conway, have a full-time makeup artist funded by taxpayer dollars on staff https://t.co/UjQ1KL2ITN — The Cut (@TheCut) January 9, 2018
The White House Makeup Artist And Stylist Works With Sarah Huckabee Sanders And Press Staff
Politico said that before working full-time at the White House, Katie Price did freelance styling for some networks in addition to working with Virginia brides. Price said she primarily did work for CNN and Russia Today. The Trump White House made it clear that even though Price’s hair, makeup, and styling skills are available to any on-camera staff, she doesn’t work with any members of the Trump family who each have their own team for which they are said to pay out of pocket.
Melania Trump’s spokesperson confirmed that Melania Trump is styled by her longterm makeup artist. A White House source said that at this time Price works with Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Kellyanne Conway in addition to minor communications staff.
“Price most often works with the communications team, including Raj Shah, Mercedes Schlapp, and Hogan Gidley. She has glossed up the vice president on at least one occasion.”
Sarah Huckabee Sanders says that Katie Price is a great addition to the communications staff.
“Katie is a great addition to the team. It’s a combination of her talent and her support of what we’re doing. You don’t want someone who doesn’t support what we’re doing or want to be here.”
Dem strategist links Sarah Huckabee Sanders' makeup artist to Russia conspiracy https://t.co/cZFDWLF1VZ — Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) January 8, 2018
Many In The Know Say That A White House Stylist And Makeup Artist Are Necessary
But Refinery29 said that some people took the on-air suggestion from Scaramucci that Sarah Huckabee Sanders should call a stylist and makeup artist as sexist and demeaning. When asked if he intended to criticize Sanders’ appearance, Scaramucci said no, and that a great stylist is a beautiful thing.
“For the record, I was referring to my hair and makeup and the fact that I like the makeup artist. I need all the help I can get! #humor.”
But while nobody would argue that a stylist and hair and makeup person isn’t amazing, should the taxpayers be paying for it? Anita McBride, a former chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush and a former director of White House personnel during the Reagan and H.W. Bush presidencies, said that an administration would have to determine whether the services of a stylist and makeup artist are necessary.
But Should Taxpayers Pay For A White House Makeup Artist And Stylist For Sanders And Staff?
“You have to ask if it’s a taxpayer-funded need if it’s a legitimate function, and look at it through the lens of essential versus non-essential personnel.”
But McBride added that in
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A million-dollar question. If we could answer this, we could get finally be free of the wretched things. In fact, this would be priceless information.
Buddha did answer this. The whole of Buddhism, or “Dharma”, is supposedly a method to solve all our daily problems, and not just temporarily but FOREVER! This might seem a bit far-fetched. Unless … unless we realize what our problems actually are and where they are all coming from. At which point the Dharma method suddenly make a lot of sense. And if we gain some actual experience of how this works by trying it out in practice, it makes increasingly more sense. At least, that has been my experience over the past 33 years. I think Buddhism is supercharged common sense.
In his Medicine Buddha teachings of 2004, my teacher Geshe Kelsang said:
Buddha’s teachings are the actual method to solve human problems. To understand this, firstly we think, “What is the real nature of our problems?” Secondly we think, “What is the main cause of our problems?”
The nature of our problems
Have you already had a problem today perchance? What was it? A work problem, a relationship problem, a health problem, a family problem, a computer problem, an ageing problem, an existential problem?
Whichever it was, there were two things going on if we check. For example, if someone said something to us like, “You are not a priority in my life,” and we felt disappointed, there was the outer problem presenting as the thing they said and the inner (actual) problem of our unwished for sad response to that. These are not the same. If that person had said the same words and we hadn’t given a monkeys, we wouldn’t have had an actual problem. And in some cases, like if you happen to be a celebrity and that person a stalker (and I don’t know who reads this blog), those same words might even be a source of relief.
Our problems do not exist outside our mind. Their real nature is our unpleasant feelings, which are part of our mind. Normally we conflate outer and inner problems. Yesterday during a phone call my friend cursed, “Oh darn, I have a problem,” when Avast antivirus disabled his Yahoo toolbar. To be fair he got over it right away – his own unpleasant feeling, his actual problem, passed quickly. Then he sorted out the outer problem by fiddling about with his computer. (Or maybe he didn’t, I didn’t check.)
No unpleasant feeling = no problem. As my teacher says:
“The computer’s problem exists outside. Our problem exists inside.”
We can solve external problems as and when necessary by external means, eg, taking the computer to a computer whizz who understands the causes of the problem and can therefore fix it. To fix our inner problems, however, we need to understand their causes, which are not the same at all.
The cause of our problems
Geshe Kelsang continues:
Now, what is the main cause of our problems? The delusions. All our problems, our unpleasant feelings, come from the delusions of our attachment and ignorance. Therefore, these delusions are the main causes of our problems.
To show how this works, he goes onto explain the role that uncontrolled desire or attachment to our own wishes plays, and you can read about this in How to Solve our Human Problems pages 3-4. (I recommend having that book on your bedside table and dipping into it every day or whenever you are having a problem — it is a treasury of practical advice.) I have also written several articles on delusions here.
So I won’t go into more detail here — I just wanted to share the simple logic of figuring out (1) what is the nature of our problems ie, unpleasant feelings, and (2) what is the cause of our problems ie, delusions. Once we can see this, problems becomes so much more easy to handle.
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it’s complete manage to finish it compared to those who start after every episode is already available. It’s just so damn easy to lose the plot, the controls, and the interest when there’s a forced break between each session. Consequently the best time to get in on a Telltale (or Telltale-style) game that interests you might be right after the final episode comes out, not engaging with the format at all and instead treating it like a whole. The exact opposite is true of Hitman. With every chapter available, it’s always going to be tempting to hop from one to the next without taking the time to savour its massively detailed maps and the buffet of goals and objectives provided within them. Spaced out, Hitman feels like a vastly larger, more substantial game; it expands like an accordion where other episodic games only break apart.
There are huge advantages to employing an episodic format and release schedule; sales can help fund continued development, developers can more easily respond to player feedback going forward, and a drip-fed release schedule can extend publicity and press coverage dramatically just to name a few. But there are also some massive disadvantages, too, and the difficulty of maintaining player interest and momentum is at the very top of that list.
Hitman’s foray into episodic action was a big risk, but the end result teaches us a lot about what it takes to keep games delivered in this manner fresh and exciting for players, from start to finish. One issue that remains, however, is just how much of that freshness and excitement should be preserved for those playing through it in the future. Those of us playing now likely have many more elusive targets to look forward to, but will people coming back to the first season a year or two from now have the same option? The problem with live content (as is specifically the case with the elusive targets) is that it inevitably has to dry up. Eventually the people creating, dispatching and supporting that content get assigned elsewhere, and just like that a big piece of what makes this game unique will vanish. Collecting the targets as DLC or repeating them on a calendar schedule could undermine the urgency of past (and upcoming) elusive target events. Yet if it means preserving the experience in some way for future players—or encouraging them to explore and savour each of the maps just as those who played concurrent with the releases could—then walking that exclusivity back would be worth the heat.
Janine Hawkins is a games critic based in sunny Canada who enjoys Style Savvy and third-person shooters with equal gusto. You can find her on Twitter @bleatingheart, or catch her on video at streamfriends.tv.
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While the proposed Westside subway extension is expected to provide substantial benefits to transit riders, the multibillion-dollar project -- contrary to one of its selling points -- will do little to relieve traffic congestion in West Los Angeles, a new environmental review shows.
Released Friday, the subway’s draft environmental impact report states that the project will give transit users more options and allow them to travel across town much faster than the municipal buses that serve the densely populated Wilshire corridor.
Transit officials estimate that a one-way subway trip from downtown Los Angeles to Westwood would take about 25 minutes, something that is now difficult to do in a car at rush hour. Buses make the trip in at least 50 minutes, a time that will only lengthen as Wilshire Boulevard and parallel thoroughfares become increasingly choked with traffic.
The report shows, however, that in 2035 the subway extension will only result in a tiny reduction in autombile use -- around 1% -- and that the San Diego Freeway, the Santa Monica Freeway and major streets along the line will remain heavily congested due to population growth.
“Remarks that transit relieves traffic congestion are common, but they are without a factual basis,” said Tom Rubin, a transportation consultant and former transit agency executive in Southern California. “The roads in Los Angeles are so far over capacity, it is difficult to get improvement from new transit projects.”
Traffic relief has been one of the goals of the light rail and subway projects planned and built by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Elected officials and MTA board members, including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, have repeatedly said that the Westside subway extension as well as other proposed rail projects are needed to alleviate congestion and gridlock.
Though traffic congestion will remain a vexing problem, MTA officials say the Westside subway extension will provide a large incentive for motorists to break their automobile dependency because of shorter travel times and a longer route with stops at job centers, tourist attractions, cultural institutions and UCLA.
“We have shown that when we give the public new options, people get out of their cars,” said David Mieger, the project manager for the Westside extension. “The subway will be a good alternative to the automobile. Why would you continue to drive?”
Insigne: 'More difficult as a Neapolitan'
By Football Italia staff
Lorenzo Insigne wants to “repay the faith” shown in him by Italy Coach Roberto Mancini and discusses the pressure of being Napoli captain.
The Euro 2020 qualifier against Greece kicks off tonight at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
“Mancini has always shown faith in me, even when I was coming back from an injury and he started me in both games,” Insigne told Rai Sport.
“I am proud of the way the Coach is putting his faith in everyone in the squad and we all want to repay him for that.”
Despite recent reports, Insigne also insists he has a good rapport with Napoli boss Ancelotti.
“It’s all just gossip, the Coach has always said I am an important player for the team, but some misunderstandings are only normal. Someone in the Italy squad asked me how I could possibly argue with Ancelotti. I told him it’s not an argument, there are just misunderstandings every now and then, but we also joke around and hope to win something together.
“If I get something wrong at Napoli, it all gets inflated out of all proportion. It’s more difficult to be a Napoli captain and a Neapolitan, and yet it probably ought to be the other way around.
“I’ve been struggling with this situation for a couple of years now, but I hope it’s just a sign of the extreme affection these fans have for the team, so they feel as bad as I do when things go badly.
“I might seem arrogant at times, but it’s a false impression. I appreciate those who support me and hope to one day change the minds of the others.
“As long as I wear the captain’s armband, I will die for the Napoli jersey. Wearing it has always been my dream.”
Watch Serie A live in the UK on Premier Sports for just £9.99 per month including live LaLiga, Eredivisie, Scottish Cup Football and more. Visit: https://www.premiersports.com/subscribenow
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THE University of the Philippines has expressed “deep concern” over the intrusion of military agents who reportedly conducted surveillance inside the Diliman campus in Quezon City.
“The University of the Philippines Diliman administration expressed deep concern over an incident that violates an agreement between the university and the Department of National Defense (DND), date June 30, 1989 and signed by UP President Jose V. Abueva and the Department of National Defense Secretary Fidel Ramos,” UP Chancellor Michael Tan said in statement on Thursday.
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Tan was referring to the incident on Wednesday where six men believed to be military agents onboard two motorcycles, a Toyota Innova and another vehicle were apprehended inside the campus by UP Diliman Police and the university’s Special Services Brigade for “suspicious activities.”
“Our SSB and UP Diliman police were able to question the men and one of them introduced himself as an AFP officer. He refused to divulge any more information and the other five men remain unidentified John Does,” Tan said.
“The UP security personnel accompanied the six men to the Quezon City Police Department and the case is now considered to be under the QCPD,” he added.
The Philippine Collegian, UP Diliman’s official student publication, earlier reported that the agents were allegedly doing surveillance work inside the campus.
The Collegian said they got the information from three eyewitnesses who were members of a workers’ group involved in organizing a solidarity camp in the campus scheduled on October 26 that will host some 700 lumads.
The Collegian quoted Senior Police Officer 2 Pedro Walawala of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) who confirmed that “their station took custody of the agents and verified that they were on an authorized operation to locate a target who was allegedly on campus.”
But Tan said the university is concerned for a possible violation of a provision in the agreement between the university and the DND.
“Our concern is that there has been a violation of a provision in the agreement between the university and the DND requiring prior notification of the university of any military operations in any of our campuses. No such request was received by UP Diliman,” Tan said.
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CNN primetime host Chris Cuomo gave an impassioned monologue at the open of his show Tuesday evening after testing positive for the coronavirus – stating that our only defense against COVID-19 is all people working together.
“Tonight’s show is going be a little different. But the priority remains, reality set in all the way to the president. Brace yourself, not for a hoax, but for the next few weeks of scary and painful realities. The government is saying we need to keep doing what we are doing. The data shows our mitigation efforts are working. The reality, we are our best and, perhaps, only defense. If you need a death toll, you will get it every day, and it will frighten you. 4,000 already. Maybe 100,000. 250,000. ‘Trumped-up’ today by this president, potentially saying it could have been millions.”
The host continued, “My suggestion, don’t get caught in the numbers. Why? They’re just scary and out of context. We do not have the testing data to make real sense of our reality beyond what we know is the face of it for an overwhelming number who get sick.”
“And that face is mine. I tested positive. Scary. Yes. As you might imagine, but better me than you,” Cuomo stated.
Cuomo then expressed concern over what he could have done to his family – while having the coronavirus.
“My concern is what I may have put on my family. Just like you would. That is hurting me way more than anything the virus can do. So, let’s focus, let’s use this example of me having it as proof that you can get it, too.”
“God forbid, we have to do everything we can to avoid being sick. We have to do it for ourselves, our families, and for those on the front lines, who are saving the lives of people like me and many of you.”
“Together as ever as one. That is our remedy. What do you say? Let’s get after it,” Cuomo concluded.
Watch above, via CNN.
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Kenyan app Ushahidi monitoring US elections Published duration 8 November 2016 Related Topics US election 2016
image copyright AFP image caption Millions of Americans are voting today to elect leaders in the federal and state levels
An election mapping platform built by Kenyan developers is being used to track possible voter intimidation and violence in the US election.
A team in Kenya and the US are working on the project, Ushahidi's innovation manager has told the BBC.
The platform is being used to collect and verify information which can be shared to affiliated groups for action.
Republican candidate Donald Trump has said he believes the election will be rigged.
Some fear his call for his supporters to monitor the voting process could lead to intimidation.
His opponent, Hillary Clinton, has dismissed the voter fraud allegations.
Millions of Americans are voting to elect a president and leaders in federal and state levels. Other states are also running ballot measures to get the public to vote on local issues.
"The team is currently combing through social media and dealing with messages sent directly to its platform, verifying the content before escalating to the right people," Ushahidi's innovation manager Chris Mukuria told the BBC.
A statement on Ushahidi's website says that it has partnered with several institutions including the Election Protection Committee, "who run one of the largest non-partisan election monitoring organizations in the USA".
"Our honest hope is that all of this is for naught, and that end of the day Tuesday we look at all the reports and that 99.9% of reports say: 'Everything went great!'" Ushahidi's chief operating officer Nathaniel Manning said in a statement.
Ushahidi around the world
Ushahidi was launched in 2008 by a group of activists and developers to monitor and map the violence in Kenya after a disputed election.
The platform has been used in several countries and in different projects, from monitoring sexual harassment in Egypt and to respond to the needs during the earthquake Haiti in 2012.
The application that has been deployed to monitor the US elections has also been used in Mexico and Nigeria, Mr Mukuria said.
"The team plans to continue monitoring the elections until polls close," he added.
A momentous election
Mrs Clinton is the Democratic candidate for the presidential race and is aiming to become the first woman president of the United States.
The news comes a month after the network announced it was developing a new take on the John Travolta feature.
Fox is moving forward with its Urban Cowboy remake.
The network has ordered the modern remake to pilot, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
Hustle & Flow's Craig Brewer — who wrote and directed the 2011 Footloose remake — is attached to write, direct and executive produce the drama, which has received a script commitment at the network. Robert Evans, who produced the original feature, and HBO alum Sue Naegle also will executive produce the co-production between Paramount TV and 20th Century Fox Television. James Sikura will oversee for the Robert Evans Co. and co-executive produce. Chris Levinson also is attached to executive produce.
See more Broadcast TV's New Shows 2015-16
Fox's Urban Cowboy is a modern reimagining of the classic 1980 Paramount romantic drama starring Debra Winger and John Travolta. Fueled with energetic music, it follows Kyle and Gaby, two star-crossed young lovers, as they pursue their dreams and passions through the sweat of line-dancing in honky-tonks, the grime of the oil refineries and the glamour of modern Texas. It's about family legacies, starting over, finding true love and the American dream.
The original feature was released in June 1980 and grossed $47 million domestically. Fox has been high on soapy fare and recently passed over the dramedy Studio City, which many insiders had expected to go to series and serve as a companion piece for Empire.
"In the 35 years since I made the original Urban Cowboy, country music and the influence of Texas has gone stratospheric," Evans said. "The timing could not be better to continue this story in the television world... And what an ace team of collaborators we have on board to make it happen."
TV remakes have been high on broadcasters' wish lists heading into the fall, as increased competition from streaming and cable networks have crowded the marketplace. Remakes come with known titles, built-in brand recognition and fan bases, making breaking through the clutter easier — and coming in with a leg up in terms of marketing. Key to a reboot is having the original producers involved, which Fox has with Paramount and Evans. For its part, Fox also has a reboot of Minority Report set to debut this fall.
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Introduction
Correction, Dec. 12, 2014: The budget graphic has been updated to include revised amounts from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
The U.S. military’s budget request now pending on Capitol Hill includes a particularly notable oddity inside the special fund meant to support combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan: a new $810 million U.S. defense initiative to “reassure” Europeans of their security in the wake of Vladimir Putin’s Crimean land grab.
This is not how America’s war budget – otherwise known as the Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund – is supposed to work. The White House in 2011 reaffirmed that the OCO, originally established in 2001 under a different name, was for “temporary and emergency requirements” associated with U.S. combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, many experts say its continued use is emblematic of a five-year collapse in Washington’s fiscal discipline.
The OCO budget isn’t subject to spending limits that cap the rest of the defense budget for the next seven years; it’s often omitted altogether from tallies of how much the military spends each year; and as an “emergency” fund, it’s subject to much less scrutiny than other military spending requests.
This sort of special war funding was supposed to decline and then disappear as combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan wound down. But that target has receded, if not disappeared altogether, as the OCO fund has become a larger catchall — a slush fund used by the military services, by lawmakers, and by the White House to escape budgetary constraints, officials and independent experts say.
War budget bulge
*Note: 2015 amounts authorized in the FY15 National Defense Authorization Act
Source: Todd Harrison, analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
Although President Barack Obama promised as a candidate in 2008 to “end the abuse” of wartime emergency spending, it’s now clear he will not do so before leaving office in 2016, these experts agree. This year, the main defense authorization budget is likely to come in at a cool $521.3 billion, snugly within the legal limits for federal spending in 2015. But the OCO includes an additional $63 billion. As a result, more than a tenth of all Pentagon spending will remain uncapped and subject to much less scrutiny than the remainder.
The European initiative is just one of many programs in the OCO budget that have little or nothing to do with the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. The new Defense Authorization Act for 2015, which may be signed by the president in coming days, includes $55 million to retain the “air superiority presence” of the U.S. Air Force. Another $351 million of OCO funds would go to Israel for its Iron Dome missile defense system.
In the OCO portion of the separate omnibus appropriations bill for 2015, which Congress is trying to pass before the holidays, another $1.2 billion is set aside for the military’s reserve components to buy “miscellaneous equipment” the Pentagon didn’t even seek. And $3.3 billion is allocated for classified Air Force equipment purchases.
The OCO budget — which is higher than the entire budgets for most federal departments — as a result has become one of those Washington abominations that makes advocates of fiscal discipline inside and outside the Beltway shake their heads in dismay, even as they forecast its continued existence as a supposedly necessary adjunct to the main, or so-called “base” Pentagon budget. It’s valued because the OCO fund is able to absorb costs that would otherwise push the base budget over its limit, an event that by law would trigger a variety of punishing mew spending cuts for the Pentagon.
“We figure there’s about — well, there’s a lot of money in the OCO that should probably be in base. It’s not because we didn’t want it to be in the base; it’s just happened over twelve years,” said Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work in September at a Washington meeting of the Council on Foreign Relations. Going forward, he said, the government has three choices: remove the spending caps on the base budget, combine OCO and base funding without removing the caps, or agree that OCO will continue into the future. He predicted the third option.
“With the crisis in Ebola, with all of these things, the European reassurance initiative, we’re going to have to have overseas contingency operations funding for some time,” Work said.
It’s not much of a secret anymore that OCO spending is only occasionally for emergency military tasks. Todd Harrison, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budget
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The top staffer’s peeps aside, for the growing ranks of nonreligious voters in this country, the biggest question isn’t how the DNC could so clearly favor one candidate over another in the primaries. Instead, it’s “What’s so bad about being an atheist?”
The most disturbing of the leaked e-mails from the Democratic National Committee is the one suggesting that Bernie Sanders’s supposed atheism could be used to Hillary Clinton’s advantage. “Does [Sanders] believe in a God,” a DNC executive asks. “He had skated on saying he has a Jewish heritage. I think I read he is an atheist. This could make several points difference with my peeps.”
While millions of people across the United States have left their faith traditions behind, our political displays still seem stuck in a time when people were afraid to confess that they don’t believe in God or go to church.
Every political candidate has to run the tired “How religious are you?” gantlet. Sanders, a non-practicing Jew who in the past has told reporters that he doesn’t care for organized religion, had to clarify his position once his presidential campaign gained traction, saying his faith was a “guiding principle” of his life and that he had “very strong religious and spiritual feelings.” Clinton is known to confirm her Methodist street cred, tossing out references to John Wesley to assure voters she’s a practicing Christian. Even Donald Trump has professed his religiosity, prompting evangelical leader James Dobson to dub him a “baby Christian.”
But such “come-to-Jesus” moments on the campaign trail have begun to feel pro forma, a vestige of presidential campaigns in which “owing it all to Jesus” (and it has always been Jesus, since we’ve never had president who wasn’t steeped in Christianity, regardless of whether or not he wholly embraced it) was one of the main requirements to gaining entry to the Oval Office. And yet, this time, Americans chose three primary candidates who don’t seem all that comfortable being outwardly religious, a sign of how the voters — if not their politicians — are beginning to move away from all that.
This makes perfect sense. Fewer and fewer Americans identify with a particular religion or vote with religion in mind. There’s an expanding group of “Nones” — a shorthand term for those who check the box that reads, essentially, “None of the Above” when asked their religious affiliation — and a big question this year is how many of them will turn out to vote. The group is made up of atheists, agnostics, lapsed Jews and Catholics, spiritual-but-not-religious types, and people who just don’t care. The Nones make up 23 percent of adults in this country, and with a whopping 35 percent of millennials, their ranks are likely to expand. They are an increasing share of both the Democratic and Republican parties — 28 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Some argue that it was the Nones’ support of Barack Obama that led him to victory twice, and yet their relatively low engagement in the political process means they haven’t yet lived up to their true voting potential.
One reason so many people have left religion is the mingling of church and state in the first place. Robert Putnam, author of Bowling Alone and coauthor of American Grace, and others have explained that the widespread exodus from organized religion we’re now seeing across the country began with the introduction of politics into the pulpit — and vice versa. According to this theory, the counterculture of the 1960s, during which institutional mores were challenged, created a backlash in the form of the Moral Majority, which eventually gave rise to the religious right and today’s culture wars. It was then, when religion started to be more about conservative politics, that many began to flee the pews.
There are now 36.1 million of us Nones in the United States, and while most say they are Democrats, many are also disaffiliated from politics. Just as Nones are hesitant to participate in organized religion, they’re also less likely to participate in the political process. Take the disappointing turnout in the 2014 election, in which only 12 percent of voters were Nones, compared with 26 percent for white evangelicals, despite the fact that Nones and evangelicals make up about an equal share of the US population. (One reason for that low turnout may be because Nones are a relatively young group, and Bernie supporters aside, voters skew older. )
It may be that the true force of our country’s secular groundswell has yet to be felt, and that beneath the veneer of religiosity — including our candidates�
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The latest German electric motorcycle company NOVUS has just unveiled their new model at CES 2019 in Las Vegas. The bike sports one of the most innovative carbon fiber frames ever seen on a production electric motorcycle. However, the price puts this electric motorcycle into the top-tier of luxury two-wheeled EVs.
NOVUS electric motorcycle
$39,500. Plus VAT.
That’s the price, and let’s get it out of the way right now. Because even though this bike is going to be unobtainium for most people, there’s still a lot to appreciate in the design.
So let’s forget about the fact that you and I will probably never ride or touch one of these. Instead, let’s take a look at what happens when you give engineers and designers the ability to create an electric motorcycle without the confines of pesky limitations like budgets.
The most visually striking component of the NOVUS electric motorcycle is the frame. A carbon monocoque, it performs doubly duty as both the structural exoskeleton and elegant body of the bike. It is also much lighter than steel, aluminum or any exotic frame material.
The rear motor is a direct-drive hub motor that the company claims puts out 200 Nm of torque. If true, that would make it one of the torquiest electric motorcycles ever. For reference, the Curtiss Zeus has only 196 Nm of torque, which provides it a 0-60 mph time of 2.1 seconds. So 200 Nm might be a bit of a stretch here, as noted on Electric Motorcycle News.
Even so, at 14 kW peak power, the NOVUS motor packs quite a punch as it powers the 85 lb (39 kg) bike up to its maximum speed of 60 mph (97 km/h). That top speed means the NOVUS electric motorcycle is best employed as an urban assault bike or for cruising on winding back country roads. Highway capable, it is not.
But honestly, with a bike that looks this wild, you want to be going slow enough for people to see it anyways.
The Li-ion battery is mounted low on the bike to reduce the center of gravity and improve handling.
It is rated for 60 miles of range and can be recharged to 80% in 1 hour. With such a small battery compartment though, that 60 mile (97 km) range is almost certainly not measured at its 60 mph (97 km/h) top speed.
The NOVUS electric motorcycle incorporates front suspension into a single strut in the fork below the headset. The specially developed carbon fiber front fork matches the unique design of the bike and the hardness of the damper is adjustable.
NOVUS hasn’t indicated how much travel that unique suspension fork is capable of, but claims that it has “enough suspension travel ensure a comfortable ride with precise response.”
The bike’s rear suspension is nearly invisible, hidden just above the rear swingarm in a recess in the carbon frame.
As NOVUS claims:
“The deflected air damper is adjustable in both rebound and compression and can be adapted to the road conditions at any time.”
Braking is accomplished with dual hydraulic floating caliper disc brakes. In keeping with the bike’s central theme, even the brake levers are made from carbon fiber.
Those carbon levers engage the ultra-light monoblock calipers to grip the dual 230 mm brake discs.
While the headlight plays a prominent design role in most electric motorcycles, it is nearly hidden on the NOVUS. Integrated directly into the stem, the LED light turns with the handlebars. However, it appears to have an oddly steep angle that doesn’t seem to throw the light sufficiently forward.
With a similarly hidden style, the tail light integrates into the carbon fiber monocoque frame. Sitting flush, it is visible when illuminated but nearly hidden when not in use.
The seat incorporates stitched leather that continues tip-to-tail, all the way forwards through where a gas tank would be located on a conventional motorcycle. The leather on-button is integrated directly into the forward portion – a nice touch.
The display appears to be removed entirely, instead replaced by a smartphone.
As described by NOVUS:
“The benefits of the connected, digital world make it possible to integrate the smartphone not only as a control and display instrument, but also as a digital key. By eliminating unnecessary hardware, new ideas can be made instantly available.”
Elegant design or cop out? You decide.
Electrek’s Take
It’s out there, but I actually like the design. While so many electric motorcycle designers are sticking with conventional setups and fake gas tanks, you have to give NOV
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We test five of Australia's favourite fast food fixes for nutrition: KFC, Domino's, McDonald's, Zambrero and Subway. The results might surprise you.
Nutrition showdown: which fast food is the healthiest?
There’s was a time when there was no such thing as “healthy” at McDonald’s.
Back in 2011, former McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson told investors there wasn’t a demand for veggie burgers at their restaurants, which is why they didn’t stick around on the menu.
But the moment McDonald’s in Singapore rolled out the veggie burger in 2016, health-conscious Aussies hoped for it to land on menus across the country.
And Australia did have it on the menu for sometime, but there wasn’t enough love to keep it on.
It was trialled in five restaurants across the country.
“We have had a vegetarian burger on the menu before but unfortunately they don’t stay on the menu when demand falls away,” a spokesperson for McDonald’s told news.com.au back in 2016
But the landscape and demand has changed, and a vegetarian’s place is no longer on the backburner.
THE ALL-NEW 2019 MCVEGGIE BURGER
2019 is a new year, with new health trends and demands — and because of that, the McVeggie burger has made a comeback.
South Australia will be the first state to trial it — and this time Macca’s will wait on feedback before officially rolling it out across the country.
However, a McDonald’s spokesperson confirmed it was a new type of veggie burger.
The crumb-coated patty is made up of a mixed vegetable blend (potato, peas, corn, carrot, onion), with cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise and McDonald’s iconic pickles.
Jo Feeney, marketing director at McDonald’s Australia, said: “We understand there’s a rising demand for vegetarian options, and we always look to give our customers more of what they want.
“We’re excited to be trialling the McVeggie burger in South Australia so our customers can give us feedback on it before we look to serve it up across the country.”
While they may have given veggie lovers what they want, vegans are still waiting for their meat-free options.
In March, the fast-food giant officially introduced vegan “chicken” nuggets to its menu in Norway, and Aussies want in too.
Taking to Twitter, fans begged Macca’s to roll out the creation to everyone.
“Those look SO good,” one person posted.
“Bring us the vegan nuggets,” another said.
The nuggets too are from chickpeas, onions, carrots and corn and coated in breadcrumbs, then fried until crispy.
Currently, Macca’s vegan options are limited to french fries and hash browns.
While it’s not lobbying for nuggets, a petition has been circulating online to “Tell McDonald’s to bring a meat-free burger to Australia”.
Market research firm Euromonitor International predicts that by 2020, Australia’s packaged vegan food market would be worth $215 million.
It also found Australia was the third fastest growing vegan market in the world after the United Arab Emirates and China.
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Self Psychology Psychoanalysis Welcome to the Self Psychology Psychoanalysis website, sponsored by The New York Institute for Psychoanalytic Self Psychology. It is committed to the study and advancement of the work of Heinz Kohut, the founder of self psychology, whose work has opened the door to endless discoveries of the mental life of patients. Kohut's concepts were born out of psychoanalytic treatment, and he was clear that the central focus of self psychology was its attention to the development and analysis of the transferences: "Self psychology does not advocate a change in the essence of analytic technique. The transferences are allowed to unfold and their analysis - the understanding of the transference reactions, their explanation in dynamic and genetic terms - occupies, now as before, the center of the analyst's attention" ("How Does Analysis Cure", 1984, p. 208). This web site will act as a forum for those who are interested in the study of Kohut's work. Papers will be presented by guest authors in the Papers section. Relevant questions and comments will be welcomed and published. The web site will also act as an educational membership listing so that participants may identify themselves as those interested in Kohut's contributions. Untitled
PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. – A Port St. John man is facing charges in connection with the shooting death of his brother-in-law, according to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies said 26-year-old Daniel Diemer shot his brother-in-law, 45-year-old Kyle Zepeda III, who was trying to calm him down.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Diemer was reportedly causing a disturbance Thursday afternoon at a home on Camberly Street.
Zepeda and his wife, Diemer’s sister, arrived at the home in an attempt to diffuse the situation, but when Zepeda entered through a side garage door, Diemer opened fire on him, deputies said.
Zepeda was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he later died, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Diemer was arrested and booked into the Brevard County Jail, where he is being held without bail on a second-degree murder charge.
No other details were immediately available.
Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates on this story.
“As such, we continue to regard Nielsen’s data with some skepticism due to the frequency of Nielsen’s data revisions and the magnitude by which Nielsen often underestimates volumes in many key categories.”
The volume decline is partially caused by a recent 11-cent per pack price increase and by electronic cigarettes being increasingly adopted as a viable nicotine alternative.
Part of the decline also can be attributed to wholesalers and retailers stocking up on inventory ahead of the price increase in February.
Those groups typically pass along list price increases to consumers.
“There is on-going debate about how accurate these numbers are, given the rapid (and possibly increasing) rate of decline in cigarette sales,” said David Sweanor, an adjunct law professor at the University of Ottawa and the author of several e-cigarette and health studies.
“There is a reluctance to accept that Nielsen data showing sales falling by around 10% could be correct, even when the rapid rise in the sale of vaping and other non-combustible alternatives lends credence to the idea that cigarette sales are, in the historic sense of the term, being decimated.”
What makes a cluster of cells become a liver or a muscle? How do our genes give rise to proteins, then proteins to cells and then cells to tissues and organs?
MORE FROM THE LAB: Subscribe to our weekly newsletter
A pair of mathematicians has introduced a new way of thinking about the incredible complexity of how these biological systems interact, which may help set the stage for better understanding of our bodies and other living things.
Writing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the pair from the University of Michigan Medical School and University of California, Berkeley, explain a framework for using math to understand how genetic information and interactions between cells give rise to the actual function of a particular type of tissue.
They note it’s a highly idealized framework, and not one that takes into account every detail of this process, called “emergence of function.”
But by stepping back and making a simplified mathematics model, they hope to create a basis for scientists to understand the changes that happen over time within and among cells to make living tissues possible. It could also help with understanding how diseases such as cancer can arise when things don’t go as planned.
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industry. The government estimates the worth of the illicit gold trade to be as much as $2.5 billion, money that has led to a proliferation of illegal mines across the country. San Lucas one of the most affected regions in the country.
Last year, in a raid that shut down five illegal mines, four heavy diggers were confiscated alongside weapons such as AK-47s. The mines were run by Éjercito de Liberación Nacional, an insurgent group that has been fighting the Colombian government for over 50 years and maintains San Lucas as their stronghold.
But not all the miners are illegal nor is all the mining necessarily bad, says Gonzalez-Maya. Some of those in San Lucas are classed as traditional miners and carry out their livelihood as a means of survival. Estimates are uncertain, but sources say there as many as 30,000 miners working in the area, some illegally and others not.
Sections of Serranía de San Lucas have already been given over to legally operating mining companies, but development has been delayed until recently by a combination of instability and bans on new permits. A ban on further mining permits has been in place for two years and was recently extended for a further year, stopping any legal large-scale developments. However, this hasn’t had stopped the illegal practice. Many mines continue to operate without the proper licenses says Gonzalez-Maya, and others haven’t conducted environmental impact assessments to ensure they aren’t causing harm. One study from 2013 conducted by Colombia’s University of Rosario found that only three percent of mines in the country were working with environmental licenses.
As the FARC demobilizes and relative peace comes to Colombia, there are worries that previous no-go areas, like the inner reaches of the San Lucas forest, could become a free-for-all for unconstrained development. Gonzalez-Maya warns that last year saw Colombia’s highest deforestation rate in 20 years, most of it occurring in lands that were previously held by insurgents.
Poison in the water
Mercury is commonly used in illegal and small-scale mining as a quick and easy way to separate gold from other metals and sediment. But as much as nine-tenths of mercury used in mining escapes or is discarded into rivers where it then “biomagnifies” up the food chain as it’s ingested by aquatic wildlife. In 2012, a surprising study (available only in Spanish) published in Revista Latinoamericana de Conservación found two jaguar canines collected in Colombia’s Paramillo Natural Park possessed traceable amounts of mercury.
For Payan, such discoveries are only the “tip of the iceberg.” For him it’s not a case of feeling sorry for the “poor jaguar” that found itself ingesting mercury. Rather, he wondered “how on earth does a jaguar get mercury into its system?”
It’s not unusual for jaguars to eat a couple of turtles or caiman a month, species that can accumulate mercury and pass it up the food chain. But they don’t usually eat much more than this, so jaguars tend not to be exposed to high levels of mercury frequently enough to accumulate significant amounts in their tissue. While the amount the researchers detected in the tooth aren’t high enough to be toxic, their discovery suggests contamination may be more widespread in the ecosystem than previously thought.
Elevated levels of mercury have also been found in humans who live in communities downstream from mining sites.
“Imagine what the people have… humans eat fish every day there,” Payan said.
Mercury contamination isn’t the only problem illegal mining has introduced to both people and wildlife. An influx of workers has brought with it other illegal activities like sex trafficking and poaching. Salaman says that species like the Magdalena tapir has largely been wiped out in the area.
Diseases like malaria and leishmaniasis also appear to be on the increase. In the first two months of this year, there were 27 cases of malaria and 8 of leishmaniasis reported in mining areas around San Lucas. Mining has been linked to an increase in malaria because the activity creates stagnant pools of water that are perfect nurseries for the mosquitoes that transmit the disease.
The rush to establish a park
The fight to protect San Lucas by turning it into a national park has been a seven-year battle waged largely by a group of NGOs and Nacional Parques Colombia, and Payan hopes that the process will be completed within a year. But this is far from assured. San Lucas’s situation became more perilous in July of this year when the Colombian government announced budget cuts for 2018 that could slash the Nacional Parques budget by 30 percent according to El Espectador
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remained the law in the Ninth Circuit and also constituted persuasive authority nationwide, until it was gutted by the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas, which I discuss below.
In the watershed case Romer v. Evans, decided in 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that an amendment to the state constitution of Colorado violated the federal Constitution’s equal protection guarantee because it singled out individuals on the basis of a single trait—sexual orientation—and denied only that specific group protection from discrimination. Applying the rational basis test, the Court held that such a classification bore no rational relationship to any legitimate government interest. The Court did not need to rule on whether heightened scrutiny was appropriate (and, indeed, did not rule on the issue) because the proposed amendment could not even pass the lowest level of scrutiny, as it lacked even a rational basis.
In 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Lawrence v. Texas that the government has no legitimate interest in regulating—let alone criminalizing—consensual conduct between two adults that occurs in private. The decision expressly overruled Bowers, and in doing so, invalidated the body of laws that had relied upon the holding in Bowers, including High Tech Gays. The decisions were surely the right ones, but after they were handed down, the question of what is the appropriate level of scrutiny for laws classifying individuals based on sexual orientation was once again unsettled.
A series of recent lower-court cases, including a bankruptcy court ruling, have strongly suggested that heightened scrutiny is the appropriate level for these types of classifications. In Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management, Judge Jeffrey White of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that DOMA was unconstitutional under both intermediate scrutiny and the rational basis test. In Gill v. Office of Personnel Management, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held that Section 3 of DOMA could not survive the rational basis test, but did not address whether a heightened level of scrutiny was appropriate. Finally, in Windsor v. United States, the case decided last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit unequivocally held that classifications based on sexual orientation are subject to heightened scrutiny and that under this level of scrutiny, DOMA cannot stand.
Setting the Stage for Supreme Court Review
Among the many cases challenging the constitutionality of DOMA, five are the subject of certiorari petitions. Four of the five are based on equal protection challenges:
Gill v. Office of Personnel Management (appeals court applying rational basis test only)
Pedersen v. Office of Personnel Management (district court applying rational basis test only)
Golinski v. Office of Personnel Management (district court applying heightened scrutiny and rational basis test)
Windsor v. United States (appeals court applying heightened scrutiny only)
A fifth case, Hollingsworth v. Perry, is also pending, but that case does not involve DOMA directly; rather, it challenges a state constitutional amendment purporting to define marriage in California as being exclusively between one man and one woman. However, the resolution in this fifth case could determine how the DOMA cases will be decided.
Despite the fact that several courts, including a federal appeals court, have ruled that DOMA cannot pass even the least stringent rational basis test, commentators have suggested that the Supreme Court might split on that issue, with the ultimate result difficult to predict.
The Windsor case is significant, however, for if the Supreme Court accepts its holding that classifications based on sexual orientation merit heightened scrutiny, then the Court is much more likely to strike down DOMA using that more demanding test. Based on the language of the opinion in Windsor and the meticulousness with which the Windsor majority addresses the requirements for identifying whether a class of individuals is quasi-suspect for equal protection purposes, it seems eminently plausible that the Supreme Court will accept the application of heightened scrutiny to DOMA and other laws that classify on the basis of sexual orientation.
In conjunction with the case challenging California’s Proposition 8—where the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held unconstitutional a state constitutional amendment purporting to define marriage in California as between one man and one woman—the cases that I have described above all but guarantee that the Supreme Court will take up the issue.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger and newly elected French President Emmanuel Macron poked fun at President Trump on Friday in a video snippet shared on social media.
The “Terminator” star-turned-California governor posted a 10-second video clip Friday afternoon flanked by Mr. Macron, the winner of last month’s French presidential election, seemingly mocking Mr. Trump’s former campaign slogan and catchphrase, “Make America great again.”
“I’m here with President Macron, we’re talking about environmental issues and a green future,” Mr. Schwarzenegger says in the video.
“And now we will deliver together to make the planet great again,” adds Mr. Macron.
The video was captioned “With President Macron, a great leader!” and shared across Mr. Schwarzenegger’s social media accounts. Mr. Schwarzenegger’s tweet containing the clip was shared over 11,000 times within a day of being posted, and a copy of the video posted to his public Facebook page has garnered more than 1.6 million views as of Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, replaced Mr. Trump last year as the host of the president’s reality television show, “The Apprentice,” but refused to support Mr. Trump’s GOP campaign. He’s since spoken critically of the president’s agenda, and released a nearly three-minute-long video earlier this month taking aim at Mr. Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the 2015 Paris Climate accord.
“One man cannot destroy our progress,” Mr. Schwarzenegger said in the video. “One man can’t stop our clean energy revolution. And one man can’t go back in time. Only I can do that.”
Mr. Macron, meanwhile, has vowed to pursue international efforts aimed at reversing the effects of climate change, notwithstanding Mr. Trump’s recent withdrawal from the non-binding environmental agreement.
“We will not renegotiate a less ambitious accord. There is no way. Don’t be mistaken on climate; there is no plan B because there is no planet B,” Mr. Macron said.
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MUNCIE, Ind. – Authorities early Monday were continuing their investigation of three deaths – apparently two murders committed by a person who then took their own life – in a home in the 5000 block of West Timothy Way.
Shortly before midnight, Delaware County authorities released the names of the three people found shot to death in the home. They were members of the family that lived there – Casey L. Ritchie, 58; Denise E. MIles, 45, and Rylee Ritchie, 14.
Further details about the case were expected to be released later Monday.
►UPDATE: Sheriff: Probe into family's shooting deaths 'ongoing'
Emergency dispatchers received a report of a shooting at the house, in the Farmington neighborhood north of Muncie’s city limits, at 4:04 p.m.
Neighbors who spoke to The Star Press said the home was occupied by parents and a school-aged daughter.
Delaware County Sheriff Tony Skinner said at that time the identities of three gunshot victims in the house had not yet been confirmed.
However, Skinner’s chief deputy, Jeff Stanley, said family members of the home’s occupants were aware of the situation.
Late Sunday, the bodies were removed from the house and taken to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital's morgue, Stanley said.
Officials at the scene shortly after 6 p.m. included the sheriff, Stanley and Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman. Stanley said Muncie police and Indiana State Police had been asked to come to the house to assist in the investigation.
Muncie police brought their department’s new tripod-mounted FARO Laser Scanner to map the crime scene.
No neighbors near the scene who talked to The Star Press professed to have heard anything like gunfire, and a few believed the tragedy being investigated took place before Sunday.
The neighbors interviewed indicated they did not know members of the Ritchie family well. Records reflect the family had lived in the home for several years.
About 8 p.m., however, an upset young person was standing not far from the house in the arms of an adult woman, perhaps someone aware they had likely lost a friend.
Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at [email protected].
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Annie Proulx got ficced. In a recent interview in the Paris Review, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author confessed that she wishes she’d never written her most famous work, the short story “Brokeback Mountain,”about the star-crossed romance between two cowboys. Having fans is a good thing, especially for authors of quiet, spare realism — not exactly a cohort with a healthy surplus of readers. But in the last few years, writers, filmmakers, and other artists have seen fans seize control of their creations and reimagine them as fanfiction, or fic, as its aficionados like to call it. Proulx first got ficced when a whole new audience came to “Brokeback” after the Academy Award–winning film adaptation was released in 2005. Less reverent than her typical reader, these fans have busily set themselves to producing what Proulx has termed “pornish” fiction based on her story’s two main characters, Jack Twist and Ennis Del Mar. “Unfortunately,” she said, “the audience that ‘Brokeback’ reached most strongly … can’t bear the way it ends — they just can’t stand it. So they rewrite the story, including all kinds of boyfriends and new lovers and so forth after Jack is killed.” The resulting stories, Proulx grumbled, “just drive me wild.”
Proulx is far from the only mainstream artist being dragged unwillingly into a new, fan-dominated world. Once exiled to obscure corners of the internet, fanfiction — amateur fiction based on characters from preexisting works or real-life celebrities — has lately become a force driving popular culture. As Proulx realized, fans these days aren’t satisfied to just sit back and consume. They want to participate. They want to create. And they don’t want to wait for anyone else’s permission to do it. Millions of fanfiction stories have been uploaded onto vast online archives where other fans read, rate, and comment on them. Romances, often torrid, between ostensibly straight male characters like Harry Potter and his onetime nemesis Draco Malfoy are especially popular, and there’s an entire category of fanfiction, called mpreg, in which beloved male characters and celebrities (e.g., One Direction singer Harry Styles) are able, bizarrely, to get pregnant. Fandom’s untrammeled imagination is also colonizing the wider world. E L James’s Fifty Shades of Grey started as Twilight fic. And what are J. J. Abrams’s Star Trek and Star Warsreboots — which take the original source materials (called “canon” in fic circles) and shape them to new ends — if not examples of the fanfiction spirit when enabled by hundreds of millions of dollars?
Although human beings have been stealing and reworking each other’s stories for millennia, fanfiction as we now know it began back in the days of Star Trek fanzines, on whose mimeographed pages female Trekkers wrote of Mr. Spock swooning in the arms of an ardent Captain Kirk. For decades, fanfiction communities — soon to migrate en masse to the web — functioned as a subset of science-fiction and fantasy fandom, where they were treated, by the mostly male nerds who ran things, like a younger sister best banished to her room whenever company came by. The internet changed all that by ushering in the era of the networked fan, often a girl who sampled her first taste of fic in Harry Potter fandom. Like it or not, the once-Olympian creators of the canon — known among fic writers as TPTB, or “the powers that be” — now have little choice but to listen to them. Robust, established online networks of Harry Potter and Twilightfans played a significant role in making The Hunger Games books into best sellers and, after that, blockbuster films.
Continue reading the essay below fanmade stats Harry Styles Rules the World Fanfiction by the numbers. By david marchese Fanfiction’s great allure is its lack of boundaries. If you can think it, you can share it. But this stuff doesn’t bubble up out of nowhere, and what’s popular on the screens of fanfiction readers is a pretty accurate mirror of what’s popular in real life, too. Here, with data supplied by online fic clearinghouse Wattpad, is what fans are reading and writing about. “Casting” Making a celebrity or character the protagonist in a piece of fanfiction. Top 25 Celebrity Fanfiction “Castings” Winter 2015 - scroll for more - “fandom” A given fanfiction subject.
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【5月28日 AFP】（一部更新）インドで1週間以上にわたり続く猛烈な熱波により、これまでに1700人以上が死亡した。各地の病院は、暑さにより体調を崩した大量の患者への対応に追われている。
インドでは例年、真夏の暑さで最貧困層を中心に数百人単位の人々が死亡しているが、今年の死者数は異例の多さだ。
最も被害の大きいアンドラプラデシュ（Andhra Pradesh）州では5月18日以降、1334人が死亡。これは、昨年1年間の熱波による死者数の2倍以上に当たる。
週末に気温が48度に達した隣のテランガナ（Telangana）州では、これまでに340人が死亡。一方、昨年1年間を通した熱波による死者数は31人だった。
地元メディアによると、首都ニューデリー（New Delhi）で2人、東部のオリッサ（Orissa）州では43人が死亡。また、東部の西ベンガル（West Bengal）州では13人、西部マハラシュトラ（Maharashtra）州で2人が死亡した。
ニューデリー最大規模の国営病院、全インド医学研究所（All India Institute of Medical Sciences）の前では28日、水入りのペットボトルなどを手にした女性が長蛇の列を作っていた。中には、強烈な日差しから身を守るためのハンカチを頭に巻かれ泣き叫ぶ赤ちゃんをなだめようとする母親もいた。
冷房で電力需要が急増したためニューデリーの一部地域では電力供給が止められた。4歳の息子に診察を受けさせようとニューデリーの病院前に並んでいた31歳の主婦は、前夜は5時間近くにわたって停電して息子は眠らずに泣き続け、ついに高熱を出したと語った。
インドの気象当局は、同国北部の熱波はあと4～5日は続くとして警戒を呼び掛けている。(c)AFP/Abhaya SRIVASTAVA
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Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerCruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish Senate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' MORE (D-N.Y.) blasted President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's suggestion that Russia should be allowed to rejoin the Group of Seven, saying his foreign policy is becoming a "joke" and "erratic."
“President Trump is turning our foreign policy into an international joke, doing lasting damage to our country, without any rhyme or reason,” Schumer said in a statement.
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The Senate Democratic leader added in a separate tweet that allowing Russia to rejoin the group of major industrial powers would reward Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Readmitting Russia to the G-7 would reward Vladimir Putin for actions the U.S. and its allies have condemned, and would clearly be contrary to America’s interests. The president’s foreign policy decision making seems to become more erratic every day,” Schumer tweeted.
Trump raised eyebrows when he told reporters earlier Friday that Russia should be reinstated into the Group of Seven major economies.
“With that being said, Russia should be in this meeting,” he said. "Why are we having a meeting without Russia being in the meeting?"
The move is likely to spark further anger from U.S. allies and drew an immediate backlash from lawmakers, who have been wary for years over Trump's warmer tone toward Moscow.
“We need the president to be able to distinguish between our allies and adversaries, and to treat each accordingly. On issue after issue, he’s failed to do that," Schumer said in his statement.
He added that trying to reinstate Russia back into the G-7 in the wake of Moscow's meddling in the 2016 presidential election "will leave millions of Americans with serious questions and suspicions.”
GOP Sens. Ben Sasse Benjamin (Ben) Eric SasseTrump says he'll sign order aimed at protecting premature babies in appeal to religious voters Government watchdog recommends creation of White House cyber director position Chamber of Commerce endorses McSally for reelection MORE (Neb.) and Jeff Flake Jeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeHow fast population growth made Arizona a swing state Jeff Flake: Republicans'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Republican former Michigan governor says he's voting for Biden MORE (Ariz.), who have both been openly critical of Trump, both panned Trump's suggestion on Friday.
“This is weak,” Sasse said in a statement. “Putin is not our friend and he is not the president's buddy.”
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18:33
Fact check: Trump acted quickly
“People were shocked I acted so quickly” on coronavirus, Trump said. “And everybody thought I was wrong because I did act so quickly as you know with respect to closing the borders.”
In fact, it was almost six weeks after the first case of coronavirus was confirmed in the country that the Trump administration moved to ramp up coronavirus testing, allowing laboratories and hospitals to finally conduct their own Covid-19 tests to speed up the process.”
Donald Trump may not have been expecting this, but a lot of other people in the government were – they just couldn’t get him to do anything about it,” an unnamed government official told the Washington Post. “The system was blinking red.”
Over the weekend, CNN’s Fareed Zakaria discussed the recent terrorist attacks in Paris with former extremist Maajid Nawaz, who shed light on the mindset of the radical Muslims who committed the.horrific acts:
Best line from Nawaz: “We cannot shoot our way out of this problem. We are in the midst of a global jihadist insurgency and we have to render the appeal of this Islamist ideology as unattractive as Soviet Communism has now become for young people today.”
Nawaz also talked about how to talk people out of the ideology, though he freely admits that’s not an easy thing to do. The best hope, he says, is to prevent young people from ever joining these groups and accepting the beliefs in the first place.
(Thanks to Dustin for the link)
Some photos of the Sony Jolie Prototype
Posted on 08-16-13 02:31 pm
A fellow by the name of NikolaiDc sent these to me. He somehow has his hands on one of the Sony Jolie prototypes, and unfortunately for him, the device is stuck on pre-release version 6327. He really wants it on 7.8, but something tells me there's slim to no chance of getting the proper update files from Microsoft.
I have to say, though: this phone doesn't look half bad. Wonder why Sony scrapped it.
If anyone has any pointers or wants to help NikolaiDc out, drop me a line.
P.S. Seems the cookie-monster WLID setup program has been around for a while now. Reminds me of this guy.
. The company has been always emphasizing quality management improvement, and was successively granted with ISO9001,CCC and ISO/TS16949 quality management system certificate,which indicates the company has become integrated into the global automobile market.
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2020 Statistics 0 Countries 0 Virtual Racers 0 Kids 0 Participants 0 Miles
What is Global Running Day?
Global Running Day is a worldwide celebration of running that encourages everyone to get moving. This day plays an important role, reminding us of the positives that running can offer and the power of unification. It's mission seems more important than ever right now, as people everywhere attempt to stay active and healthy. During these challenging times, many people are turning to running as a solution to help release anxiety, gain perspective, cope with cabin fever, and keep up wellbeing.
Our physical Global Running Day events may be paused, but it’s important that we all keep active in a safe and responsible way. This year, Global Running Day 2020 will be digitally uniting people across the world in a global effort to encourage physical wellness and strengthen community.
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show looked vastly different from other American cartoons,” he said. “I was really captivated by the art and and didn’t know that this was an export from Japan.” After picking up some issues of the now defunct Animerica magazine, he was hooked on all sorts of anime. He would watch Toonami, a two hour block of anime shows on Cartoon Network, every day. Even when he branched out into other series, Dragon Ball Z was something he stuck with.
“I loved that there was an ongoing narrative. It has story arcs that can be super intense and filled with dope ass fights,” Kirkland said. “Or on the flip side, they can be super introspective, and focus on complicated feelings or situations.”
“Some of the themes are a little more mature,” Jones said. “The sacrifice, the characters throughout the show dying, things like that.”
Dragon Ball Z is a show about fights, super powers and overpowering your enemies through brute force. It’s also a show where you watch Goku fall in love and raise a family, or where friends will fall out with each and have to repair their relationships. Those emotional challenges are in the forefront as much as the punching is.
“Goku loves his son so much,” Kirkland said. “And while he’s kind of an idiot when it comes to ChiChi sometimes, he’s a good dad. … When I was super young, I didn’t really think about it too much, but as I got older, seeing how much Goku cared for [his son] Gohan was something you didn’t really see very often.” Kirkland is now engaged and says he wants to become a father.
Emotional intimacy is something that men struggle with, black men arguably moreso than others. “So many black men live as if our lives are tombs,” Cassius editor at large Darnelle Moore wrote in an article for Ebony. “Our emotions, aspirations, longings, anxieties, complexities, mistakes, failures and imaginations are buried along with our truest selves. We are denied the ability to heal, to lead healthy relationships, to make amends for our errors, to be intimate, to be fully human, to be alive.” Although Dragon Ball Z may attract young black boys because of the flashy fights, it can also help them learn more about how to process their feelings.
“Especially as a black queer person, I never knew how to embrace my feelings,” Edwards said. He remembers turning to Dragon Ball Z when he lost a relative at a young age. In the show, characters die all the time, even Goku. They’re grieved by their loved ones, and then usually come back via some convenient plot device. In a weird way, this helped Edwards cope. He didn’t think that his dead relatives were going to come back, but he understood that death was a part of life and didn’t negate the good memories he had with them while they were alive. Two years ago, when his father died, Dragon Ball Z and its sequel series Dragon Ball Super helped him to process his grief. “It really helped me better understand how to better deal with those kinds of things. It just helped me become a better person. … Wherever my dad is, he would be proud of me and all of my hard work.”
“It’s some crazy stuff,” Jones said, “but there’s a life lesson in there too.”
For Kirkland, Dragon Ball Z helped him reach out to friends for help when he needed it. “I always think of calling on my friends to send good vibes for stuff like that—like a spirit bomb,” he said. Spirit bombs are ultra powerful attacks that need a lot of energy to pull off. The most advanced version of this move requires the energy of other people giving you their support. It’s a little like clapping for Tinkerbell, if Tinkerbell would then shoot an energy beam out of her hands to kill Captain Hook.
Jones was inspired by the characters’ work ethic. Many black people hear growing up that you must work twice as hard to get half as much. It’s something my parents told me, they told it to my brother, and years later it ended up in an episode of Scandal. Dragon Ball Z characters embody this attitude.
“The first thing that Goku did while he’s dead and in hell was he started this crazy ass journey to go and try to get stronger again,” Jones said. “Even when this fool’s dead he’s like, ‘No days off.’�
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Last week we reported on news of Lecrae being announced to perform on BET’s popular weekly countdown show, 106 & Park. Just recently, a photo was posted of Lecrae on the 106 stage performing with usual backup from Reflection Music Group artist Canon, DJ PDOGG on the ones and twos, and Reach in-house drummer Nate “TheBeatbreaker” Robinson. We have been informed that the episode featuring Lecrae’s appearance is scheduled to air tomorrow (June 4th) at 6PM EST/5PM CST, so make sure to tune in! More photos after the jump…
UPDATE: Lecrae will not only be performing during this episode, but also appearing as a special guest with an interview by the hosts (Angela Simmons, Bow Wow).
Do you think this will create opportunity for more Christian hip hop artist to be invited on to 106 & Park, and if so who would you like to see next?
MOGO, Australia — The lawns were always green in Mogo, a former gold-mining town in southeastern Australia where water from natural springs bubbled just beneath the surface. The lush oasis had never burned as far as anyone could remember.
But Mogo, like much of the country, is facing a new reality.
Last week, strong winds swept through the town, bringing a terrifying firestorm that razed half of the main street. Many now are asking: If a swampy garden spot can burn, is anywhere safe in rural Australia?
The Australian bush has always burned. But the higher temperatures that come with climate change, as well as the three years of drought and the expansion of communities deeper into wild-land areas, have put more people at much higher risk.
“We’ve had townships completely under threat that were never threatened before,” Gladys Berejiklian, the premier of New South Wales, said on Sunday.
For 'Superman' Bendis Title Push
DC Entertainment is planning an advertising campaign to support Superman titles by Brian Michael Bendis and is making ads available for comic retailers to run on a co-op basis.The TV ad (see below) is available in a 30-second and 15 second version. DC will be running the ads throughout July on major networks including TBS, TNT, Adult Swim, CNN, and Nickelodeon. It will run on CNN’s Airport Network in 48 airports, as well as on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.DC is partnering with National CineMedia (NCM) to support retailers to run the ads at local movie theaters using their co-op funds. DC ran a similar campaign for its Rebirth collections at the end of 2016 (see “ DC Plans TV Ad Campaign ”).Last year, Marvel ran a marketing campaign in theaters and TV to promote current content at comic stores to new readers (see " Marvel Marketing Drive Targets New Readers ").
[ENDED] Mosaic contest
Winners. Thank you all for participating!
[duckduckgo.com], beads [duckduckgo.com], glass [duckduckgo.com], rocks [duckduckgo.com], random objects, etc., or even a [duckduckgo.com] (including digitally drawn)! Create a mosaic of any Ace Team game or anything Ace Team related. Use any materials you see fit, whether it be out of construction paper, random objects, etc., or even a drawn mosaic (including digitally drawn)!
One picture per contestant.
Hey everyone,Post your pictures in the comments below for a chance to win ACE Team games, includingThe contest will last until the end of the month. There will be: one will receive a Steam key for, the othercan choose a SteamThis contest is brought to you by XERQ GRANITE, one of the winners in the contest ideas contest
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that the techniques used to obtain the results were seriously flawed.
More surprises on radiocarbon
Another dramatic breakthrough concerns radiocarbon. It’s long been known that radiocarbon (i.e. carbon-14, or 14C) keeps popping up reliably in samples (of coal, oil, gas, etc.) which are supposed to be ‘millions of years’ old. However, with the short half-life of 14C it should decay to zero in only some tens of thousands of years at the most.5 For instance, CMI has, over the years, commissioned and funded the radiocarbon testing of a number of wood samples from ‘old’ sites (e.g. samples with Jurassic fossils, samples inside Triassic sandstone, and samples burnt by Tertiary basalt) and these were published (by then staff geologist Dr Andrew Snelling) in Creation magazine and Journal of Creation. In each case, with contamination eliminated, the result has been in the thousands of years, i.e. 14C was present when it ‘shouldn’t have been’. These results encouraged the rest of the RATE team to investigate 14C further, building on the literature reviews of creationist physician Dr Paul Giem.
In another very important paper, scientists from the RATE group summarized the pertinent facts and presented further experimental data.6 The bottom line is that virtually all biological specimens, no matter how ‘old’ they are supposed to be, show measurable 14C levels. This effectively limits the age of all buried biota to less than (at most) 250,000 years. (When one takes into account the probability that before the Flood the ratio of radioactive to ‘normal’ carbon was much lower,7 the calculated age comes right down into the biblical ‘ballpark’.)
Interestingly, specimens which appear to definitely be pre-Flood seem to have 14C present, too, and importantly, these cluster around a lower relative amount of 14C. This suggests that some 14C was primordial (existing from the very beginning), and not produced by cosmic rays—thus limiting the age of the entire earth to only a few thousand years.
This appears to have been somewhat spectacularly supported when Dr Baumgardner sent five diamonds to be analyzed for 14C. It was the first time this had been attempted, and the answer came back positive—14C was present. The diamonds, formed deep inside the earth, are assumed by evolutionists to be over a billion years old. Nevertheless they contained radioactive carbon, even though, if the billion-year age were correct, they ‘shouldn’t have’.
This is exceptionally striking evidence, because a diamond has remarkably strong lattice bonds (that’s why it’s the hardest substance known), so subsequent atmospheric or biological contamination should not find its way into the interior.
This is exceptionally striking evidence, because a diamond has remarkably strong lattice bonds (that’s why it’s the hardest substance known), so subsequent atmospheric or biological contamination should not find its way into the interior.
The diamonds’ carbon-dated ‘age’ of about 58,000 years is thus an upper limit for the age of the whole earth. Again, this is entirely consistent with helium diffusion results reported above, which indicate the upper limit is in fact substantially less.8,9
14C workers have no real answer to this problem, namely that all the ‘vast-age’ specimens they measure still have 14C. Labelling this detectable 14C with such words as ‘contamination’ and ‘background’ is completely unhelpful in explaining its source, as the RATE group’s careful analyses and discussions have shown. But it is no problem or mystery at all if the uniformitarian/long-age assumptions are laid to one side and the real history of the world, given in Scripture, is taken seriously. The 14C is there, quite simply, because it hasn’t had time to decay yet. The world just isn’t that old!
The 14C results are an independent but powerful confirmation of the stunning helium-diffusion results. It looks like 2003 was a bad year for megachronophiles (lovers of long ages), but a good year for lovers of the Word of God.
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these powers at any time.
Another executive order, EO 13618, would potentially give Obama power over all communication resources in the United States.
So does that mean that Obama could potentially pull the plug on the Internet during a crisis?
That is a very good question.
Overall, Obama has issued 130 executive orders during his time as president. The amount of power that he now claims to possess is absolutely mind blowing.
So will he ever actually attempt to use the powers that he has granted himself under these executive orders?
Let’s hope not.
In addition, it appears that the Department of Homeland Security is gearing up for something.
An article posted on RT the other day entitled “DHS gears up for civil unrest prior to presidential elections” detailed some of the purchases that the Department of Homeland Security is looking to make….
The DHS submitted a rushed solicitation to the Federal Business Opportunities site on Wednesday, which is a portal for Federal government procurement requisitions over $25,000. The request gave the potential suppliers only one day to submit their proposals and a 15-day delivery requirement to Alexandria, Virginia. As the brief explains, “the objective of this effort is to procure riot gear to prepare for the 2012 Democratic and Republican National Conventions, the 2013 Presidential Inauguration and other future similar activities.” The total amount ordered is about 150 sets of riot helmets, thigh and groin protectors, hard-shell shin guards and other riot gear. Specifically, DHS is looking to obtain: – “147 riot helmets” with “adjustable tactical face shield with liquid seal” – “147 sets of upper body and shoulder protection” – “152 sets of thigh and groin protection” – “147 hard-shell shin guards” with “substantial protection from flying debris, non-ballistic weapons, and blows to the leg” and “optimized protective design for severe riot control or tactical situations.” – “156 forearm protectors” – “147 pairs of tactical gloves” The riot gear will be worn by Federal Protective Service agents who are tasked with protecting property, grounds and buildings owned by the federal government.
You can find the DHS solicitation right here.
Also, as I have written about previously, earlier this month FEMA posted a solicitation for a large number of pre-packaged meals. According to the solicitation, the maximum number of meals that would be provided to FEMA under the contract would be 17.5 million meals. The following is from the FEMA solicitation document….
As referred to in paragraph (b) of FAR Clause 52.216-22, “Indefinite Quantity” of this contract, the guaranteed contract minimum is 21,000 packaged meals to include the base and option periods. The contract ceiling amount shall not exceed 17,500,000 packaged meals.
So do those solicitations mean anything special or are they just part of normal government operations?
That is a good question.
But what we do know is that U.S. military personnel are going to be deployed at the Democratic and Republican national conventions in support of U.S. Secret Service personnel. The following is from a recent Stars and Stripes article….
“During the Democratic/Republican National Conventions, Department of Defense personnel will support the U.S. Secret Service,” a Northern Command spokesman said in an email. “For operational security reasons we do not discuss the numbers of military personnel and resources that are involved,” U.S. Navy Lt. Cdr. William G. Lewis said. “Additionally, we do not share our operational plans.”
Could the same forces be deployed to quell civil unrest sparked by a controversial election result in November?
Let us hope that this upcoming election season is not as bitter and divisive as many are projecting and let us hope that there is a clear winner in November.
The conditions are definitely right for America to be absolutely torn apart if the “perfect controversy” comes rolling along.
At this moment, Americans are incredibly frustrated. Our economy has been in the dumps for quite a few years, and now it look like another recession is starting. The patience of the American people is running out.
Over much of the western United States things are so hot and dry right now that just a single spark is often enough to set off a forest fire that can burn for weeks. Well, the same thing can be said for the political climate in the United States right now.
The American people are so hot and so angry that it would not take much to set off a raging political fire.
Let us hope that cooler heads prevail, because a single spark could set this country ablaze.
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The Ministry of Defence has been ordered to hand over any reports by British troops where they suspected US forces in Iraq were mistreating detainees.
The instruction to search for allegations of US military abuse has been authorised by Mr Justice Turner at the high court in London as the bitter legacy of the conflict continues to work its way through the courts.
The latest development could prove highly embarrassing for future US/UK military cooperation if any documents contain critical comments by British soldiers of their American allies.
The order follows two court hearings before the judge in late October that dealt with claims brought by the law firm Leigh Day on behalf of two, unnamed Iraqi suspects who were arrested in 2008 in Basra, southern Iraq, and handed over to US custody.
Both men, identified only as HTF and ZMS, allege they suffered repeated beatings and had hoods put over their heads so they could not breathe properly at a US facility known as Camp Harper within a British base in Basra.
Leigh Day, which says it is acting for about 45 Iraqis with similar claims, say the suspects were then flown to Baghdad International airport where they were handed over to US forces.
In US custody, it is alleged, detainees were subjected to hooding, excessive sensory and sleep deprivation, loud noise and solitary confinement as well as sexual and physical assaults by male and female US officers. Many were held for long periods. ZMS was not released for more than a year.
The men were detained on the grounds that they posed a threat to security. Their lawyers argue that the UK government knew or should have known that they would be exposed to inhuman and degrading treatment by US forces. British forces may therefore have been complicit in the mistreatment, it is claimed.
At a high court hearing in mid-October, the judge told the MoD that it must search its records and databases for any reports by British servicemen of alleged abuse or mistreatment of detainees by US personnel in Iraq between 2004 and 2008. At a later hearing he ordered disclosure of those reports by 26 November.
The court order specifies the types of internal records the MoD must disclose, including those known as SOI 990A reports, which cover the “procedure for assisting with the movement of high-value individuals into US detention”.
Part of the court order states: “The parties will co-operate in the formulation of appropriate searches by the [MoD]” relating to whether it “knew or ought to have known that, if transferred to the custody of [US] forces … the claimants would be exposed to a risk of unlawful detention [and] other unlawful acts.”
A preliminary search by the MoD is understood to have turned up 509 references but it is not yet clear how many, if any, are reports of suspicious incidents recorded by UK troops or whether they are merely policy files relating to the protocol for reporting such suspicions.
The MoD has maintained that because British forces were accompanied by a US custodial officer and were processed at Camp Harper the suspects were always under “the effective control of the US” and should not have been categorised as UK detainees. All of the men were eventually released from US custody without charge.
According to Leigh Day’s lawyers, there has been controversy over similar allegations involving Danish and Australian coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq over liability for subsequent mistreatment of detainees.
Benjamin Croft, the solicitor at Leigh Day handling the case, said: “Almost a decade on from the departure of British troops from Iraq, and despite three separate investigations, there remains a question mark over the extent of British complicity in the US mistreatment of civilians in Iraq.
“It is high time the government opened itself up to scrutiny on this issue and, hopefully, these cases will go some way towards answering those outstanding questions.”
“In-theatre” transfers of detainees from UK to US forces within Iraq and Afghanistan have not been investigated by previous inquiries.
An MoD spokesperson said: “As legal proceedings are ongoing we are unable to comment.” The US embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The UK government has been criticised for failing to meet its own deadline to decide whether to hold a judge-led inquiry into Britain’s involvement in post-9/11 human rights abuses and the use of torture.
Three months ago, Theresa May offered an apology for MI6’s role in the kidnap and torture of a Libyan dissident, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, and his wife in 2004.
In a separate development, the Solicitors Regulation Authority has confirmed it will not appeal against a high court ruling last month that cleared Leigh Day lawyers of wrongdoing over its pursuit of torture and murder claims against British troops in Iraq.
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When the future of one of the world’s most advanced economies and democratic success stories hangs in the balance, you wouldn’t think its pension officials would stand in the way of progress. But votes cast in shareholders’ meetings in Seoul today indicate that they are buttressing an all-powerful business status quo that presidents have been vowing to reform for decades.
As the third-largest sovereign pension fund in the world, managing a portfolio of more than $550 billion, South Korea’s National Pension Service (NPS) often casts the deciding shareholder vote in proposals by the chaebol, or family-run corporate empires like Samsung and Hyundai – and by extension, Korea Inc’s future.
The NPS owns from 5% to 10% of the largest chaebol affiliates, making it one of the most influential guarantors of South Korea’s economic health. Its mandate: To guard and grow the retirement savings of a rapidly aging population, which should give it a stake in improving the notoriously poor corporate governance of the companies it’s invested in.
But on Friday March 22, the NPS revived its role as guardian of the country’s scandal-ridden chaebol when it voted in favor of all of Hyundai’s controversial proposals in two crucial shareholder meetings.
In doing so, it rejected proposals by activist hedge fund Elliott Management. These proposals included a demand for a $6 billion payout —Hyundai Motor Corp and affiliate Hyundai Mobis pay alarmingly low dividends, critical components of the so-called the “Korea Discount” — and for new directors who would act as a check on managerial excesses.
Prudent shareholders mighty reasonably mix their “yes” votes between some of Hyundai’s proposals and some of Elliott’s proposals, as shareholder advisory group Institutional Shareholder Service (ISS) recommended last week.
It seems less prudent to offer unwavering and total loyalty to Hyundai, as the NPS signaled in the vote on Friday. Favorable shareholder votes like these are paving the way for the conglomerate’s third generation of leaders to ascend to chairmanships, despite spotty records in business, and a notorious lack of transparency.
For decades, Korean fund managers have balked at “interfering in management.” Even so, you’d think the NPS would have learned its lesson by now.
Presidents fall, chairmen don’t
The last time the NPS acted friendly toward a chaebol, it set off a seismic sequence of events that concluded two years later in public furor, massive street protests, multiple arrests, and the downfall of the business and political establishment.
In summer 2015, the NPS voted – in murky circumstances – in favor of a vexing merger of two Samsung affiliates that would usher in the electronic giant’s third-generation heir, Vice Chairman Jay Y. Lee, as leader of the group.
The proposal to merge two affiliates in disparate industries made little business sense. The pension body predicted internally that it would lose money, but voted “yes” anyway, under pressure from politicians. Cozy mergers between two affiliates of the same chaebol group are usually not a business decision, but a troubled mechanism for passing control of public companies to family heirs who benefit from labyrinthine ownership structures.
For her role in the scandal, then-President Park Geun-hye was impeached, removed from office and sentenced to 24 (later extended to 33) years in prison. Although the scandal was multi-faceted, her extortion of millions of dollars from chaebol groups in exchange for political favors – like the NPS vote in favor of Samsung management – was the key element in her downfall.
Yet the party who benefited – Lee, Samsung’s third-generation heir – got a five-year sentence for bribery, embezzlement and perjury. A judge later reduced that to two and a half years. Then, after scarcely a year behind bars, he was released early from prison, even though the judge upheld part of his bribery conviction.
South Korea’s former Minister of Health and Welfare and the NPS’s Chief Investment Officer, meanwhile, were hauled off to prison cells in June 2017.
The NPS, battered and shamed, has since been subject to modest reforms under South Korea’s new president, Moon Jae-in.
Shareholders vs dynasties
The pension body adopted a promising stewardship code that was premised on careful decision-making and increased transparency. One plan was to name and shame company stocks it had invested in that would probably lose money.
So on Friday, all eyes were on the king-making NPS. By voting in the interests of Hyundai’s ruling dynasty, and not the future of its fund, it’s
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SRI LANKA WOMEN'S TOUR OF SOUTH AFRICA, 2019
Bowlers star as South Africa complete whitewash
by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on
Stand-in skipper Sune Luus picked up four wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 139. © Getty
The South African men's team might have had issues in polishing off Sri Lanka in the first Test but the women's side continued their domination against their counterparts as they completed a whitewash in the ODI series on Sunday (February 17). Sri Lanka Women made only 139 after opting to bat first and the target was eventually chased down with more than 11 overs to spare.
Sri Lanka were handed a massive blow in the very first over of the game when Shabnim Ismail got rid of skipper Chamari Athapaththu for a first-ball duck. Ismail bowled a terrific opening spell with the new ball and even though she didn't add to her wickets tally, she ended up bowling four maidens out of the seven overs she bowled. Following Prasadani Weerakkody's dismissal in the eighth over, Anushka Sanjeewani and Hasini Perera added 43 for the third wicket to resurrect the innings.
The hosts came back strong immediately striking thrice inside five overs to peg back Sri Lanka. Stand-in skipper Sune Luus accounted for two of those wickets and then added two more to finish with figures of 4 for 30. The lower eventually managed to drag Sri Lanka's score past the three figure mark as they registered their lowest score of the series.
The chase of 140 was not a walk in the park for the South Africans though. Openers Andrie Steyn and Laura Wolvaardt were dismissed by Inoka Ranaweera inside the powerplay before Mignon du Preez ensured there was no collapse. She added 50 for the third wicket with Lara Goodall before the visitors struck twice in two overs to cause some panic in the South African dressing room.
Du Preez then took charge and batted with caution alongside Nadine de Klerk when the hosts still needed 57 for victory. Du Preez calmed the nerves and managed to fetch a half-century to remain unbeaten alongside de Klerk and polish off the chase.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka Women 139 in 44.2 overs (Anushka Sanjeewani 28; Sune Luus 4-30, Nadine de Klerk 2-30) lost to South Africa Women 141/4 in 38.2 overs (Mignon du Preez 61*; Inoka Ranaweera 3-23) by six wickets.
© Cricbuzz
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Critical Race Studies Logic: Milk is white; White is racist; ergo milk is racist!!1!
Yup, milk is considered a symbol of White Supremacy due to 4chan memes and the fact that Northern Europeans are one of three or four global populations with lactase persistence, which is one of the fastest spreading evolutionary adaptations.
Despite the fact that we are all mammals, the academic Left has pushed “Post-Colonial Milk Studies” because White people invented functional mammary glands that are utilized to feed mammalian young or something…
This has percolated down to student newspapers, which double down on the dumb, as evidence by an article in the “Daily 49er“, from CSU Long Beach.
Let the fisking begin!
“When you think of milk, what first comes to your mind? If you’re a millennial, you probably think of strong bones, Got Milk? commercials, or maybe eating your favorite cereal while watching cartoons on a Saturday morning. “What about racism? White nationalism? If you’re having trouble finding the connection between these institutions and milk, you’re not alone. You, along with the rest of the nation, have been so accustomed to hearing the benefits of milk that you probably didn’t even realize the subtle racism hidden in our health facts.”
Maybe the reason that no one who is sane connects milk with racism is because milk isn’t racist.
“It may not surprise you that the United States was founded on racism. That every institution we uphold has racist roots that are sometimes difficult to catch and even harder to fight against. This phenomenon affects our voter ID laws, state testing and, yes, even our federal dietary guidelines. But how can our health guidelines, a system meant to be built upon scientific fact alone, have racist messages? Where there is a deep-rooted tradition to suppress an entire race’s existence, there’s a way. “The federal endorsement of milk in American diets contributes to the problem by uncritically pushing people to drink milk, despite the potential detriment it has on non-white people’s health.”
Lactase persistence was a beneficial evolutionary adaptation which allowed people to metabolize and utilize lactose from milk. America was founded by English colonists, and most of the early non-English were from Northern Europe. Even when more Southern Europeans came, America was still heavily Northern European. Even today, most people in America have ancestry from lands that had high or at least significant lactase persistence. This isn’t racism, this is an accurate reflection of historical reality.
“Our current federal dietary guidelines urge people to drink three cups of milk a day, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The main health benefit of milk is to guard against osteoporosis, a disease that weakens your bones — hence the “stronger bones” rhetoric. While this is a very practical health benefit, osteoporosis affects Africans at a significantly lower rate than it does most Americans, according to an article on Mother Jones. “These facts about milk were brought to attention by a scientific magazine that got trickled down into the world of 4chan, where the facts were distorted and exaggerated to fit a racist rhetoric for white supremacy. The online trollers decided to take their milk jugs to the public using Shia LaBeouf’s social experiment livestream project, “He Will Not Divide Us,” which began as a protest against President Donald Trump. The installation has since been shut down by the host, The Museum of Moving Images, for being being “a serious and ongoing public safety hazard,” according to a February article by USA Today.”
So, the basis for this “insightful” piece of writing comes from MoJo and 4chan…
*catches breath*
“This is the basis that white supremacist milk chuggers used for their bring-your-own-milk-jug party using Shia LaBeouf’s camera to advance their hateful message. In an effort to prove their masculinity, a dozen middle-aged white men showed up shirtless, shouting about how they need to “secure the future of our diet and the future for milk drinking.” One man proudly displayed his neo-Nazi tattoo while spitting milk into the livestream camera. “This odd form of white supremacy also received cinematic attention through Jordan Peele’s horror movie “Get Out,” a movie that highlights racism in a post-racial America. Peele artistically addresses the new medium of hate with one of the film’s most eerie scenes, which shows a white woman meticulously sipping milk from a bendy straw. The scene would have gone unnoticed in the movie, but audiences were forced to notice the long, drawn-out frame of
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How can any free-thinking person ever again trust the media, the FBI, or the intelligence community after the debunking of this two-year Russia Collusion Hoax?
This thing was not only a total hoax, a total lie, and total fabrication based on absolutely nothing, and not only a total hoax, a total lie, and total fabrication based on lies, it was also something that everyone knew was a total hoax, a total lie, and total fabrication.
Hoping Dirty Cop Robert Mueller would find something-anything, or that President Trump’s approval rating would dive to where he’d be easy to impeach, the media lied-lied-lied; the Dirty Cops in the FBI leaked-leaked-leaked, and the elders and veterans of the intelligence community infested our TVs screaming about treason and indictments as they swore up and down the Trump campaign had never been spied on or wiretapped — when they knew damn well it had.
That was an actual conspiracy, an actual act of collusion to overturn a legal and constitutional presidential election — which means it was a conspiracy to screw the American people. Even if you didn’t vote for Trump, even if you hate Trump, it was still a crime against your God-given right to choose your own leaders.
And this attempted coup against We the People is only the latest outrageous hoax committed by these three corrupt institutions.
Look at the media’s history over the last five or so years….
Trayvon Martin Murdered By Racist White Man
Michael Brown Yelled “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot!” Before Racist Cop Murdered Him
Brett Kavanaugh: Serial Rapist
The Racist White Boys from Covington High School
Trump Can’t Defeat Hillary
Trump Is a Russian Manchurian Candidate
As for the FBI, even before those Dirty Cops began a series of criminal leaks and acts of perjury and the leaking of classified documents, they had already disgraced themselves by letting a true criminal, Hillary Clinton, off the hook as they played footsie with Obama’s corrupt Department of Justice.
And we have probably not heard the last of the outrages committed by a gang of Dirty Cop Rogues we call James Comey, Andrew McCabe, Peter Strzok, Lisa Page, etc…
People who dish the kind of dirt they did to protect Hillary and to fabricate an “insurance policy” to overturn a presidential election are dirty people — period, bad guys, villains — and never when it comes to just one thing. There is almost certainly more to come. If I was a defense attorney representing a client convicted of anything having to do with James Comey and his merry band of traitors, I would be filing a flurry of appeals right now.
As far as the intelligence community, perjurer and liar James Clapper was our Director of National Intelligence; perjurer and liar John Brennan was the director of our CIA. My God — think about that!
Clapper not only perjured himself in front of the U.S. Congress, he sat on Meet the Press and lied to the world by flatly denying the Obama administration spied on the Trump campaign when he knew that wasn’t true.
Brennan not only perjured himself in front of the U.S. Congress, he regularly appeared on TV screaming ad hominem attacks about treason and the Trump family’s imminent arrest.
At the very least you could argue the WMD fiasco was an intelligence failure, and a widespread one throughout the Western world. There was no deliberate attempt to mislead the American people that we know of. But…
It was still a massive and tragic failure that led us into a disastrous war and now, with RussiaGate, the intelligence community *did* deliberately lie, *did* deliberately deceive the American people, *did* seek to overturn a presidential election.
The media, the FBI, the intelligence community — a den of thieves and liars, a hiding place for unelected, power-hungry bureaucrats and peacocks.
These institutions are irredeemable and can never-ever-ever-ever again be trusted.
Follow John Nolte on Twitter @NolteNC. Follow his Facebook Page here.
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FILE PHOTO: A charging cable is seen hooked to a car at a State Grid Corporation of China charging point for electric vehicles in Beijing, China March 3, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer
BEIJING/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China hopes new energy vehicle (NEV) sales can reach around a quarter of all car sales in 2025, up from a target of “over 20%” laid out in a 2017 planning document, the industry ministry said on Tuesday in a draft plan for development of the NEV sector.
China’s market for NEVs - which include plug-in hybrids, battery-only electric vehicles and those powered by hydrogen fuel cells - has been a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster car market, with sales jumping 62% last year, versus a 2.8% drop in all car sales.
But a steep cut in subsidies this year has dented NEV sales in recent months. In October, NEV sales fell 45.6% from a year earlier.
China sold a total of 28.1 million cars in 2018, including 1.3 million NEVs, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, so NEV sales were 4.6% of the overall market.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology’s draft proposal on NEVs noted that China would keep developing electric vehicle battery technologies, and improve infrastructure for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and connected vehicles.
The proposal, covering NEV development from 2021 to 2035, did not include sales forecasts or targets for 2030 or 2035.
China is also discussing introducing stricter green car quotas in coming years that would require carmakers to produce a certain amount of NEVs.
India’s citizens are now able to make unrestricted cash withdrawals, ending the period of cash rationing imposed on the country by Prime Minister Modi.
From Monday 13 March 2017, all cash withdrawal limits from Savings Bank accounts were withdrawn, allowing the citizens of India to withdraw cash freely.
The country has been through a period of demonetisation whereby the ₹500 and ₹1,000 banknotes where suddenly withdrawn from circulation, a move that wiped out 86% of India’s cash in circulation overnight. It was a move by the country’s Prime Minister as part of a crackdown on corruption and illegal cash holdings.
Though the restrictions have now been lifted, analysts do not expect a repeat of the cash crisis which saw hundreds of people queuing at banks and ATMs trying to withdraw cash. Since the demonetisation began on 8 November 2016, new ₹500 and ₹2,000 banknote denominations have been supplied back into the economy, resulting in the value of cash in circulation rising to around $158bn, according to an article by the Financial Times.
Even so, a number of banks have applied new fees to cash withdrawal and deposit transactions, believed to be part of continuing efforts to curb the demand for cash withdrawals made in the country.
Digital payments have sharply risen since the demonetisation began last November, peaking at Rs104 trillion in value and almost 1 billion in volume in December. Though the numbers have reduced slightly, today they still remain high. PM Modi has encouraged the use of digital payments in what was a largely cash dependent country.
Read the Reserve Bank of India’s Frequently Asked Questions regarding the demonetisation process.
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Three nurses were caring for 31 mothers at Cork University Maternity Hospital last Monday on Marie Downey’s ward when she was found dead in her single room and her newborn son Darragh lay critically injured under her.
The staffing on the overnight shift included one permanent nurse, one agency nurse and one newly qualified nurse, according to sources. Nurses at the hospital, who have repeatedly complained of understaffing in recent years, are said to be upset and angered at this week’s events and have again raised staffing issues in a meeting with union representatives during the week. Minister for Health Simon Harris announced yesterday that an independent review of the death of Ms Downey and her baby would take place. This is separate from the hospital’s investigation.
Had epilepsy
In addition to staffing levels, the investigations are likely to examine why Ms Downey, who had epilepsy and had come through a difficult labour, was placed in a single room. As a private patient, she was entitled to be put in a single room if one was available.
The investigations are also likely to examine what checks were made on her while she was in the room, and whether cot sides on her bed – fitted to stop the occupant from falling out – were raised.
It is understood Ms Downey suffered blood loss during labour and was admitted to the high-dependency unit in the hospital thereafter. She was then moved to a regular ward at the weekend.
Nurses took her baby for care on Sunday night to allow her some uninterrupted sleep and returned him early on Monday morning for feeding. Less than two hours later, medical staff arrived on a ward round to find Ms Downey dead on the floor and her baby critically injured beneath her.
It is thought she got out of bed and then suffered a medical episode, which caused her to fall and suffer fatal injuries.
Baby Darragh received extensive resuscitation and was placed on life support but died the following day.
Guidelines
Stress and sleep deprivation, possibly caused by breastfeeding, are known triggers for seizures among lactating women with epilepsy.
Health Service Executive guidelines on the management of women with epilepsy say staff must ensure a “safe environment” for women and their babies while in hospital.
The guidelines also state that women with the condition should have a birth plan to cover “personal and baby safety (to include not to be left alone with baby in the bed)”.
Mr Harris said the HSE review would be conducted under the auspices of Dr Peter McKenna, head of the HSE women and infants health programme.
“The review team will include necessary external expertise in order to allow it to conduct a full and independent examination of the circumstances surrounding this incident,” a spokeswoman said. “This is line with the procedures that are in place with regard to the review of maternal deaths.”
The funeral of Ms Downey, from Kildorrery, Co Cork, takes place on Saturday. Darragh is expected to be buried with his mother.
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passionate love-letters. ‘Oh Juliette … life without love is but a long sleep. … Happy the moral who shall become the friend of your heart!!! … Well, Juliette, Romeo submits himself to the fate you reserve for him; but do not scorn him.'”[6]
Juliette Récamier was lauded for her beauty and her image was captured by many artists. In addition, she had many other admirers besides Lucien. To deal with the many men that found her fascinating she supposedly assumed an attitude of pity followed by indifference. However, she was not cold or heartless. Her admirers thought of her as possessing some sort of magical charm and once they became friends, they remained friends for life, like the friendships she had with Pierre-Simon Ballanche, Jean-Jacques Ampère, or Mathieu de Montmorency.
In 1803, Madame de Staël was exiled. Juliette was horrified and began to oppose Napoleon. She also refused to act as lady-in-waiting to the Empress, which created more problems for her with Napoleon. Moreover, many people who visited Juliette’s salon were former royalists unhappy with Napoleon’s government. These affronts soon resulted in Napoleon ordering her salon closed.
Juliette’s resolve against Napoleon did not lessen, and the closure of her salon was not her last tangle with him. He exiled her in 1805, around the same time her husband suffered extensive financial losses and she went into exile with her adopted daughter. Juliette also traveled to Lyon and from there she went to visit her dear friend Madame de Staël, who, at the time, was exiled and living at Coppet in Switzerland. While visiting her, Juliette met the Prince Augustus of Prussia, nephew of Frederick the Great, and the two fell madly in love. He swore:
“[B]y honor and by love to preserve in all purity the sentiment that attaches me to Juliette Recamier, to do all that duty permits me to bind myself to her by ties of marriage, and to take no other woman, as long as I shall have the hope of uniting my destiny to hers.”[7]
Juliette thought about marrying the Prince and though Jacques-Rose was willing to give her a divorce, she ultimately decided against it because her husband had taken good care of her. Moreover, he was poor and old and needed her more than ever. He had been ruined in 1807, partly because of Juliette’s rancor towards Napoleon. All the pressure about deciding whether to leave Jacques-Rose or not caused her to temporarily think about suicide, but instead, she decided to make the Prince a friend and that ended any talk of marriage to him.
Madame de Staël had been sick for a time and died in 1817. While at her bedside, Juliette meet François-René de Chateaubriand for a second time. He came from an aristocratic family, suffered a somewhat difficult childhood, and was also the person credited with founding Romanticism in French literature. Before long, Juliette was in love with him and he was likewise attached to her. To the chagrin of other her admirers, Chateaubriand became foremost in her affections and attentions. An intimate relationship began around 1819, when she installed herself at the Abbaye-aux-Bois. There her little salon became the literary center of Paris once again and she received several impassioned love letters from him.
Jacques-Rose died on 29 March 1830 in Paris. Years, earlier, due to extreme pressure from his family, Chateaubriand had married a young aristocratic woman who died in 1847. With Juliette widowed and Chateaubriand wife’s dead, Chateaubriand, who could barely walk, suggested that he and Juliette marry. At the time Juliette was going blind and though she temporarily considered marrying him, she was ultimately dissuaded. Thus, Chateaubriand’s final years were spent with him living as recluse and only leaving his Parisian abode only to visit her at the Abbaye-aux-Bois.
Chateaubriand died on 4 July 1848 in Paris, about two years before the wax sculptor Madame Tussaud died in London. As requested, Chateaubriand was buried on the tidal island Grand Bé near Saint-Malo, which is accessible only when the tide is out. Juliette lived less than a year. She died on 11 May 1849 of cholera at the age of 71. She was buried in the village Montmartre, north of Paris, in the cemetery known as Cimetière de Montmartre. One literary critic
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," said Banerjee.
But does this carry over to financial health? “Earlier there would be only a few restaurants to choose from and one would have to make the trip to eat at them, so there was more thought going into it. Now you have the choice of different restaurants, it’s easy to order everything from breakfast to snacks. But the expense of eating out and ordering from restaurants can add up really fast. Often people don’t notice and end up spending as much as they would on a car or bike EMI," said Piyush Khatri, founder, Sahastha Financial Consultants.
Beriwal was shocked to learn how much she was spending on her “occasional" treats. “I wasn’t saving anything at all, so I decided to draw up a budget. I realised that I was spending ₹2,000- 4,000 a week on ordering food. I had no idea it was adding up to that much," she said. Some delivery services also levy a small delivery charge. While it might seem negligible, this too can add up. Say you pay a delivery charge of ₹30 on each order, and order five times a week, you’d be paying ₹600 a month just as delivery charges. Over a year, it can add up to ₹7,200 or more, depending on how often you order.
It might be too difficult to resist the temptation to treat yourself to that chocolate fudge after a bad day, but there is a way to protect your finances. And the best way to do that is to follow a simple rule: keep non-disretionary spends like house rent, utility bills on top; savings next; and then the leftover pie is for you to have it and eat it too!
“If you’re a young professional living alone or with flatmates, and you don’t like cooking, it’s better to hire a cook. Paying a cook and buying all the groceries you need will be cheaper than ordering out regularly," he said. In most metros, you will spend around ₹7,000-8,000 a month on buying groceries, and another ₹2,000-4,000 as salary for your cook. It can vary depending on what you eat and where you live. If, on the other hand, you decide to order three meals every day for a month, even with a relatively low bill of ₹250 for each meal, you would end up spending around ₹22,500, about twice the expense of organising food at home, with a possible health issue thrown in.
Whether it’s driven by necessity or the desire to sample a new cuisine, the outcome of overspending on food is the same. It can snowball and put a significant dent in your finances over a period of time. Draw up a budget and track your spends to keep a tab on it.
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Curt Schilling weighs in on Boston giving five-time All-Star David Price a seven-year, $217 million deal and how that will impact the free agent market. (2:09)
David Price has reached an agreement on a seven-year, $217 million deal with the Boston Red Sox, sources confirmed to ESPN.
The Boston Globe first reported the agreement, citing a source.
The $31 million average annual value of the contract is the most ever for a pitcher and matches that of Detroit Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Prior to Price's deal, the most the Red Sox had paid a pitcher, in annual value and overall cost, was the four-year, $82.5 million extension signed by Rick Porcello in April. Max Scherzer signed a seven-year, $210 million deal with the Nationals last winter, and Clayton Kershaw's contract extension with the Dodgers was for $215 million.
Price's standing as the highest-paid pitcher might not last long, as Zack Greinke could pick between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants by the end of this week, a source told ESPN's Jim Bowden. One person close to the situation told ESPN's Buster Olney that Greinke could wind up with a deal in the range of $165 million over five years, which would represent a $33 million average.
Price, 30, was 18-5 with an AL-leading 2.45 ERA last season with the Tigers and Toronto Blue Jays. He was second in the AL in pitching WAR at 6.0 in 2015.
The five-time All-Star has an opt-out after three years with no deferred money. The yearly payout for Price is $30 million, $30 million, $30 million, $31 million, $32 million, $32 million and $32 million.
Price is Right? The Red Sox are banking ($217 million) that David Price will anchor a starting rotation that struggled last season. Here is how Red Sox starters performed in 2015 compared to the ace left-hander: Red Sox SP David Price Win pct.481.783 ERA 4.39 2.45<< WHIP 1.33 1.08 K pct 19% 26% >> Best in AL
--ESPN Stats & Info
Acquired by the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, Price went 9-1 with a 2.30 ERA in the regular season for Toronto. The postseason was a different story, however, as a ghastly 6.17 ERA was coupled with a 1-2 mark in the Blue Jays' first playoff appearance since 1993.
Price spent the first six seasons of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, including a Cy Young year in 2012. He posted an 82-47 record with a 3.18 ERA during his time with the Rays, before being dealt to Detroit in 2014. At that time, current Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski was the general manager of the Tigers.
Price went 13-8 in 32 regular-season starts with the Tigers over parts of two seasons, but he failed to be the final piece in bringing a World Series title to Detroit.
The Red Sox are banking on Price being the ace the team has lacked since left-hander Jon Lester was traded to Oakland at the 2014 trade deadline. The Red Sox tried to reacquire Lester as a free agent prior to last season, but he ultimately signed with the Cubs.
Price's 1.95 ERA at Fenway Park is the best of any ballpark he has visited at least 10 times and the lowest among any player since Price debuted in 2008.
The Red Sox are banking on David Price improving on his rough postseason numbers, as he is 2-7 with a 5.12 ERA in 14 career playoff games. Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports
Last season, the Red Sox finished 78-84 and in last place in the AL East for the second time in three years. The starting rotation was a major factor in the team's struggles. The Red Sox used 12 different starting pitchers, and that group's combined ERA of 4.39 ranked 13th in the AL. None of the starters reached 200 innings, and the team's de facto ace coming out of spring training, Clay Buchholz, made just 18 starts.
With Price aboard, the 2016 rotation also figures to include Porcello, Buchholz, Wade Miley and Eduardo Rodriguez. The team has rotation depth with Joe Kelly, Henry Owens and Brian Johnson.
The Price news comes on the heels of the Red Sox reaching an agreement on a two-year, $13 million contract with free-agent outfielder Chris Young on Monday, a source confirmed to ESPN. Earlier this offseason, the Red Sox made a splash by acquiring four-time All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel from the San Diego Padres for four prospects to bolster the back
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There were two sides to Wendell Watters, the prominent Hamilton psychiatrist, family and sex therapist, academic and keen amateur photographer. As an intellectual, he was ferocious. A contrarian and a committed humanist, Watters thrived on fervent arguments about the importance of a woman's right to choose, the psychological damage organized religion could cause in the name of God, and the "human obscenity" of people killing each other in warfare.
About six feet tall with a shock of wavy grey hair, he was a bear-like man with a loud voice, a booming laugh and a belly that grew larger with the decades. Back in the days when he was frequently writing letters to the editor demanding a repeal of the abortion laws, his wife, Lena, who regularly took her three children to church, received a visit from her minister.
"I'm really sorry for you that your husband is the way he is," the clergyman said, perhaps anticipating a tearful confession about her wifely burdens. Ever gracious, she responded politely before showing him the door, and never crossed the threshold of a church again.
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Underneath Watters's tough, often curmudgeonly, exterior beat a generous and empathetic heart. "He was a contrarian but a loving contrarian. There wasn't a hateful thing about him," said psychiatrist Bernard (Bernie) Trossman, describing his former colleague as "very helpful to students, an excellent mentor and a feminist."
Born into poverty and raised as an Anglican in paternalistic and colonial Canada in a community riven with sectarian strife, Watters had taken the smart boy's route to a better life – attending medical school on a veteran's allowance – but he never forgot where he had come from and how lives could be beaten down by repressive cultural and religious attitudes.
After Watters died at 88 of complications from diabetes on Aug. 17 in Penticton, B.C., his family received letters from relatives detailing how he had quietly and effectively intervened at moments of crisis or hardship, resolving difficult situations without ever claiming credit or recompense.
Thirty-five years ago, when Watters published his best known book, Compulsory Parenthood: The Truth about Abortion, the sentence for performing an abortion in Canada was life in prison, with the patient facing up to two years behind bars. The only legal way a woman could terminate an unwanted pregnancy was to present herself before an abortion committee at an accredited hospital – no matter how distant from her home or how philosophically opposed the institution might be to the procedure – and persuade a majority of the members that continuing the pregnancy would endanger her life or her sanity. Even getting a hearing within the first trimester was like winning a telephone lottery.
"He was a wonderful man," said Morris Manning, the criminal lawyer who called Watters as a defence witness in abortion provider Dr. Henry Morgentaler's criminal trials in Ontario in the 1980s and later used that testimony as the basis for his successful constitutional challenge of the abortion law before the Supreme Court in 1988.
"He had an in-depth knowledge of the system as it was working or, shall I say, not working," said Manning, "and he had impeccable credentials based on his knowledge not only of psychiatry but also of the desperate situation that women [with unwanted pregnancies] were in… and he did his best to see that the committee system provision of the criminal code was done away with because he believed that it was causing psychological harm to the women and putting tremendous pressure on the hospitals and the physicians."
Manning knew Watters as a founding member of Doctors for the Repeal of the Abortion Law (DRAL) and a key player in its broader-based affiliate, Canadians for the Repeal of the Abortion Law, but the two men also became friends and talked about their personal lives. "Like many people who have rough beginnings, he did his best to see that other people didn't go through the same kinds of trauma," said Manning, adding that "almost everybody I met during the time I was working on the [Morgentaler] case had a story to tell about a sister or a mother or a daughter who was affected by what I called the terrorism of the system. He was a very compassionate man.
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Wendell Wallace Watters was born Oct. 1, 1923, near Fredericton. One of three children of Herbert and Ola (née Regina) Watters, he grew up in a treacherous era spiked with alarming newspaper accounts from the Spanish Civil War, Italy's invasion of Abyssinia and Nazi Germany's takeover of Austria and Czechoslovakia. Religion and war – both of which he would come to abhor – collided for him when he was not quite 16. He was attending a provincial conference of the Anglican Young Person's Association early in September, 1939, and about to go into a church service when another participant, who had been listening
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Introduction
Home security is important to all of us but why should we pay someone to monitor our home when we can do it ourselves (for free)? I mean, imagine if it were possible to just receive a text message on your phone when your alarm has been set off. Imagine if you could check to see if you armed the alarm this morning before you left for work. If you had forgotten, wouldn’t it offer you a peace of mind to be able to arm it from wherever you are?
Some great reasons why one would choose to monitor their home themselves:
Hundreds of Dollars in Yearly Savings: Think of how much money you invest in a 3rd party company that does nothing unless your alarm goes off. Even if you’re just paying $25 (before tax) a month for home security, we’re talking about a $300+ in yearly savings that you can pocket! Faster Emergency Response Time: Consider the scenario where a thief has broken into your home and has begun loading up his van with all of your valuables. Regardless of whether you’re paying for home monitoring or doing it yourself, the first thing that will happen is: Your alarm will sound within a 30+ seconds of the perpetrator’s entry; a very loud ear piercing siren I might add. If you’re paying for a monitoring station service : They will call your home line to see if the threat is real or not (meanwhile your home is still being robbed). If they don’t receive an answer or get a busy signal, only then will they call the police. We’re easily a few minutes into the robbery before the authorities are even notified. The police will eventually arrive, they’ll file a report and you’re left to deal with insurance because the crime is long over and the criminals are long gone.
: They will call your home line to see if the threat is real or not (meanwhile your home is still being robbed). If they don’t receive an answer or get a busy signal, only then will they call the police. We’re easily a few minutes into the robbery before the authorities are even notified. The police will eventually arrive, they’ll file a report and you’re left to deal with insurance because the crime is long over and the criminals are long gone. If you’re monitoring the home yourself : Well then your cell phone has already alerted you the second the alarm was set off. It’s a no brainer at this point, you can take action right then and there and call the police or 911 depending on if you’re home or not. You just immediately reduced the time the thief has to accomplish his crime in. Remote Control: Ensure the alarm is armed at any time. Change the alarm keycode remotely or disarm it from a distance to let a construction worker in. You can even arm/disarm your alarm from the comfort of your bed via your tablet, laptop or cell phone.
This blog focuses on the amazing hard work of Alarm Decoder and their team. It specifically focuses on their AD2USB device which allows you to connect a virtual keypad to your existing alarm system.
It’s also worth noting that I specifically focus on the Honeywell Vista 15p/20p models because that’s what I have. But I’m sure you could use the content of this blog and the other supported alarm systems Alarm Decoders AD2USB supports and follow along.
The Goal
The goal of this blog is to share with you my success, but more importantly:
To show you how easy it is to tap into an existing (pre-wired) alarm system without paying for a monitoring service.
Receive SMS (text) messages, emails or other notification services when your alarm is ever set off.
To be able to control the (security) keypad in your house from anywhere and at anytime.
To provide you all of this in a cookie cutter solution that works out of the box. I spent several hours packaging everything into self installing RPMs residing on my repository.
This blog will assume you’re both familiar with and have access to either CentOS (or Red Hat) 6.x or 7.x.
I’ll also assume you don’t have much experience with alarm systems (as I certainly didn’t at the start). I’ll try to save you as much research as I can and provide everything to you here. As a result, this blog is probably a bit longer then it needs to be since I get wordy trying to explain it.
Prerequisites
There are a few things you’ll need to be able to pull this feat off:
An Ademco/Honeywell Vista 15p or 20p alarm system, but it doesn’
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creed, race or religion, it is poisonous."
Campaigns suspended
Northern-born Cox was a Cambridge University graduate and aid worker before becoming Labour lawmaker for the constituency of Batley and Spen in 2015. Known for her work on women's issues, Cox has worked with several charities.
She made finding a solution to the Syrian civil war a top priority and was critical of Britain's reluctance to deepen its military involvement against the extremist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria as part of that effort.
In recent weeks, she campaigned for Britain to remain in the 28-member European Union ahead of the country's June 23 referendum, and last week published an op-ed in the Yorkshire Post, in which she said leaving the EU is no answer to the "real concerns" surrounding the country's immigration policy.
British lawmakers are currently not in Parliament ahead of next week's referendum.
Groups on both sides of the referendum have suspended their campaigns following the attack.
Prime Minister David Cameron said "this is absolutely tragic and dreadful news."
"We have lost a great star," he said." She was a great campaigning MP with huge compassion and a big heart."
The death of Jo Cox is a tragedy. She was a committed and caring MP. My thoughts are with her husband Brendan and her two young children. —@David_Cameron
Shocked to hear terrible news about brilliant MP and friend Jo Cox. Thinking of her and praying for her and family. —@SadiqKhan
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said "the whole of the Labour Party and Labour family — and indeed the whole country — will be in shock at the horrific murder of Jo Cox today."
No serving U.K. member of Parliament has been killed since 1990, when the Irish Republican Army killed Conservative lawmaker Ian Gow with a booby-trap bomb placed under his car outside his English home. A former lawmaker, Donald Kaberry, was injured in an IRA bombing in 1990 and died the next year.
British security officials said Cox's shooting didn't appear to be related to international terrorism. Domestic terrorism, however, has not been ruled out.
Both the Vote Leave and Britain Stronger in Europe campaigns have been suspended.
The rival sides in the referendum have been canvassing feverishly ahead of what is expected to be a close vote.
International reaction
Cox's death also brought international reaction, including a moment of silence in Ottawa during question period in the House of Commons following an emotional tribute from NDP MP Nathan Cullen.
Gabrielle Giffords, the former member of the U.S. House of Representatives who survived being shot in the head in 2011, tweeted her condolences.
"Absolutely sickened to hear of the assassination of Jo Cox. She was young, courageous, and hardworking. A rising star, mother, and wife."
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and you can do more actions per minute. And, just by virtue of having that, there’s going to be a lot more to do and learn. A lot of people say defense is bad in Ultimate. I disagree – I think it’s underdeveloped. Sometimes your best offense is a good defense but sometimes your one directional airdodge feels like it neuters defense at first and the bad shield feels like it neuters defense but people just aren’t figuring out how to use them yet. I don’t think anyone is playing optimal neutral in Ultimate yet. I don’t think any of the clips you’re seeing on the internet now aren’t going to be considered “good clips” by the time this game actually gets the ball rolling – maybe in a few months to a year. In two years, we’ll look back at Genesis 6 and say “man, I can beat these guys”. And that’s exactly how you want a game to develop. And I think Ultimate is a game that can develop like that. As for me developing in the next few months – I want to go with the flow. Whatever the ruleset around me is, I’m going to work with it. I’m going to continue to work on my character because the two things that aren’t going to change are characters and matchups. I’m going to continue to pursue Smash and hope to take things really really far. I would like to make Smash a priority and go as hard as I physically can in 2019. I want to attend majors and be relevant in competitive play. I want to push the game forward.
Kelly: That’s actually really well said. And what I find to be so unique about you is that you’re right there like you are on the cusp of being in the thick of things. You’ve been knocking on the door for so long and finally everything is culminating for you. You’ve gained so much traction in the past few months.
Akashic: I’m gaining traction like nobody’s business.
Kelly: Exactly. It feels like everything is coming to a head and this is the climax of a really long storyline. Your entire career has led up to this weekend. I’m not sure if you realize that or not.
Akashic: I agree. I shake with anticipation whenever anyone says that I’m on the cusp. Like, I can feel that I’m on the cusp. I am so close to the breakthrough that people dream of and I just need to follow through.
Kelly: It’s definitely not “now or never”, but it’s more like “now and especially now”. The window is wide open for you.
Akashic: Yes! That doesn’t mean there won’t be another chance. But I will regret it if I let this chance go.
Photo Credit: Nintendo, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Follow Akashic on Social Media: Twitter, Twitch
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principle issue — gives up and decides that you’re incompatible to serve. You can also take the easier way and ask to see a mental health deputy. You’ll have to prove to him that you are mentally not suitable to serve in the army.
Vardi: That’s assuming you show up to your draft date. People who are less aware of the consequences just don’t show up. Then, legally, they become deserters, which is a criminal offense for a certain amount of time. Military police do these raids, where they go to find deserters. Also, civilian police — if they pull you over and check your license — can arrest you. So, that is a much more severe process: You go straight to prison if you get caught.
How has the movement of conscientious objectors in Israel been changing in light of recent right-wing escalation and the Gaza invasion of 2014? What kind of developments in the movement have you seen since?
Yablonko: There was a lot of campaigning due to the war in Gaza. You saw a lot of different refusal groups and movements starting to work, and from different departments: for reserves, for ground service, and also people who have been trying to get out of the military because they don’t want to serve that specific war. That was something that was really interesting to watch. Following that experience we started our network [Mesarvot] in order to give activists more space to work, not just around wars. We wanted something that would be more continuous and combine our efforts with many different groups working separately. Now, the refusers we support actually do come from many different backgrounds and geographical places in Israel. The people who are the face of refusal are changing.
Farrag: Our organization [Urfod] started a couple of years ago, at the end of 2013. We started gathering a group of activists, former refusers and Druze. But we knew, first and foremost, this is a Palestinian issue — it’s not just a Druze issue. The Druze community and population in Palestine are isolated from each other. We thought that was wrong and that’s why we decided to launch. It’s been going on as a campaign for two years now. The idea is that Druze have always been Palestinians in Palestine and should connect back with their identity. That’s the greater goal. To achieve that, first, we have to get rid of the imposed army service on the Druze male teenagers. Throughout the past two years, we also saw some sort of awakening — even though it’s not felt in large numbers — in the Druze community. The awakening is more about realizing how Druze can serve their duty, but still not get their full rights. They are discriminated against just as any other Palestinian in Israel. They face racism just like any other Arab there. That’s why we decided to also work in the Druze community: to say that army service is not just ruining your history or identity or your Arab and Palestinian identity, but that it’s also not giving us any benefits as a community.
So we’ve started promoting refusing as a first step and provide psychological and legal support to go through refusal, trying to provide incentives for alternatives like scholarships and so on. There has been a growing bad image of the Druze in the Palestinian community since the start of the occupation, where they see them only as soldiers, those who beat them at checkpoints and so on. This is why we decided this is a Palestinian issue. The other side of our work is in Palestinian communities in the West Bank and Gaza, in refugee camps, showing that not all Druze go to the army and many of them still consider themselves Palestinians and work within Palestinian frameworks for rights and liberation and so on.
Have your groups formed any partnerships or solidarities that are working against the occupation? Have you formed partnerships particularly with Palestinian rights groups?
Farrag: For us, on the Palestinian side, it was an easy job because we say we are Palestinians. For Palestinians to see such a movement in the Druze community, in some places, is surprising because they’re not aware that there is political engagement and organizing in the Druze community in a radical way. We were engaged with the Palestinian Authority and had endorsements from them. The same is true of the radical left in Israel, even though we worked less there. We collaborated with Yasmin’s network and New Profile, which is an organization that is older and very experienced in supporting refusers. So, together with them, for example, we translated their manual into Arabic to make it accessible to the Druze community. Basically whoever we expected to get support from, we got their support.
Yablonko: Most of our activists are engaged in solidarity activity with Palestinians. As a group we try to make most of our connections in Israeli society because
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Ann “Betsy” Howard nee Collier, was in fact born in Virginia. Here’s his information from a historical marker: “Isaac Collier, June 6, 1769 – Sept. 4, 1848. Pioneer settler of Upson County. Born in Brunswick Co., VA, removed from VA to Wilkes (now Oglethorpe) Co., GA with his father CA 1780. Served as Clerk of Court for Oglethorpe Co. Elected to Georgia Legislature 1830-1833. Brought his family to Upson County, GA about 1835. The large mound of stones marks his grave. Isaac was one of the thirteen children of Vines Collier, a veteran of the French & Indian War and a Patriot of the American Revolution, and Elizabeth Williamson Collier. The children of Vines & Elizabeth were pioneers and prominent citizens throughout Georgia.” Here Howard must be referring to the only great-great grandfather he has left on the Howard side, and that would be David Walser. Someone on Ancestry.com has done a fairly extensive Walser family tree, and it has Walser born not in Denmark, but in North Carolina. My minimal excursions into this have only verified that location. In fact, not only was David Walser not born in Denmark, neither was his father (Pennsylvania), nor his father (Switzerland).
Letter: REH to HPL, circa early October 1930
My branch of the Howards came to America with Oglethorpe 1733 and lived in various parts of Georgia for over a hundred years.[8] In ’49 three brothers started for California. On the Arkansas River they split up, one went on to California where he lived the rest of his life,[9] one went back to Georgia[10] and one, William Benjamin Howard, went to Mississippi[11] where he became an overseer on the plantations of Squire James Harrison [sic.] Henry, whose daughter he married. In 1858 he moved, with the Henrys, to southwestern Arkansas where he lived until 1885, when he moved to Texas. He was my grandfather.
Again, as far as I can determine, REH’s line of Howards came to Georgia from Virginia in the early 1800s. His great-great grandfather (Mordecai Howard) appears on Georgia land auction records as early as 1813; and one of his daughters, Nancy Howard, was married there in 1808. Isaac Mordecai Howard (REH’s grand uncle, not father), is established in Sonora, California, by 1866. Most likely John Hubbard Howard, Henry Howard’s fourth oldest son. The earliest I can place him there is 1855; neither he, nor the brothers mentioned above, have been found on an 1850 Census. William B. is mentioned in an Upson County, Georgia, “Indenture,” dated January 30, 1855, as being “of the State of Mississippi.”
And that’s about it. Luckily, we no longer have to rely solely on what REH has to tell us. Thanks to court documents, transcriptions of records found online, scans of books at Google Books, and various records available on Ancesry.com and other genealogical websites, we can now paint a slightly fuller picture of those early Howards.
Part Two.
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, there was the now well-known and awful remark a few weeks ago by Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade after viewing the video of Ray Rice in the elevator punching his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in the face. Kilmeade responded to the horrific image with the joke: “I think the message is, take the stairs.”
While Kilmeade walked back the comment the next day after an uproar, he did not apologize. Instead, he said, “Some people feel like we were taking this situation too lightly. We are not.” No, you did—you told a joke about it. That’s the very definition of taking something lightly!
And the second remark came during the Japanese internment conversation. While Hoenig apologized for seeing the upside to internment, no one thought it was important to apologize for advocating that we should tear up the U.S. Constitution and treat American Muslims differently simply because of our faith.
Not that I expected a Fox News anchor to apologize for that comment—after all, this is the same network that not only trashes Muslims almost daily, it gives the nation’s biggest anti-Muslim bigots a platform to spew hate.
So what have we learned? Fox News is a special, almost magical place. It’s a world where jokes about sexism are apologized for but ones about domestic violence are not. It's a place where minorities are degraded and maligned for fun. And it’s the highest-rated cable news channel in the nation.
Hundreds of cyclists will be getting their kit off for the Manchester leg of The World Naked Bike Ride 2017, which takes places on Friday, June 9.
Starting at 6pm at All Saints Park, the group invites people to come as 'bare as you dare' for the mass ride across the city centre.
The annual event takes place in more than 70 cities across the world, and hopes to draw attention to the vulnerability of cyclists on the road while protesting against the dangers of the car-centric culture in the city.
(Image: Sean Hansford)
Last year, organisers said: "The WNBR is a fun way to show that cycling is inclusive and is suitable for all, while also highlighting cyclist’s fragility and that when a cyclist is hit by a vehicle they have little protection from the impact and might as well be naked.
“It has always got an amazing reception from the people of Manchester with cheers from people watching, with many people wishing they had taken part."
(Image: Sean Hansford)
This year the event will provide the option of a protected area for undressing at All Saints Park, away from 'intrusive and unwelcome photographers'.
From there, the ride will take over major roads of Manchester such as Oxford Road and organisers encourage cyclists to paint their bodies with pro-cycling messages.
Last year nearly 300 stripped off and hopped on the saddle, undeterred by the drizzly Manchester weather. Hundreds of spectators turned out to see them off, with many posing for photos at the starting line.
Noted fan of musicals Joe Scarborough hosts a morning talk show on MSNBC that played a huge role in facilitating and promoting the rise of Donald Trump. If you've ever felt like our current political climate suffers from its addiction to pro wrestling-like turns instead of thoughtful, nuanced discussion, then Joe "I'd like to go on Colbert so I can publicly announce that I'm a Democrat now" Scarborough probably makes your blood boil. (I get it. He drives me crazy too. But in the spirit of nuanced discussion, let's examine his most recent annoying statement with a generous eye.)
This morning, Joe (heh) tweeted a reader letter from The American Conservative about the effects that isolation and porn are having on young men.
Now Joe's statement is not inherently incorrect. I do think it's fair to say that the misogyny that permeates many online spaces does a number on the minds of young men and hurts young women in the process. Look no further than the Gamergate situation or the toxicity of many corners of Reddit, to see that isolated male-dominated online spaces can be scary things. I would say that calling this "smartphone culture" is hilariously dumb and reductive to the point of nonsensical, but there's a real point there.
The first problem arises when you actually click on the link. The reader email is depressing but not because "smartphone culture" has done a number on its sender. No, the reader is a 23-year-old devout Christian man who rails against people calling themselves "introverts" and judges his fellow young Christian men for watching Internet porn.
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TL;DR: In this article, you’ll learn how to add an Auth0 login and logout experience to an Ionic Angular mobile app using Ionic’s Auth Connect plugin. To see a complete working example, take a look at this GitHub repo.
What is Ionic Framework?
Ionic Framework is an open-source UI toolkit for building performant, high-quality mobile and desktop apps using web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript). It’s focused on the frontend user experience, providing out-of-the-box UI interactions (controls, interactions, gestures, animations) so developers can focus on building the unique aspects of their apps. It’s easy to learn and integrates nicely with other frameworks, such as Angular, React, or Vue.
What is Ionic Auth Connect?
Ionic Auth Connect makes it easy to add secure authentication to any Ionic app running on iOS, Android, or the web. Using a simple, powerful API, it handles user authentication and registration with an authentication provider (such as Auth0) using industry-standard OAuth or OpenID Connect.
Note: Auth Connect requires an Ionic Native key in order to install and use the Ionic Auth Connect plugin. Ionic Native includes a reliable set of Native APIs and functionality that you can use in your Ionic app, quality controlled and maintained by the Ionic Team. If you are interested in acquiring a key or learning more, please contact Ionic.
What Will You Build?
In this tutorial, you’ll use the Ionic Framework’s UI components to create a Login page and a Home page within an Ionic Angular app. With just a few lines of code, you’ll secure the Home page by adding Auth0 login/logout functionality using the Auth Connect native plugin. Here’s what the complete app looks like in action:
Prerequisites
In order to follow this tutorial, the following tools are required:
npm and Node: As Ionic projects are built using modern web technologies, download and install Node and npm, the popular JavaScript package manager.
Xcode and/or Android Studio, along with a mobile device: You’ll be deploying the app to your mobile device of choice, so iOS and Android native tooling is required. Xcode is downloaded from the Mac App Store and Android Studio can be downloaded from the official Android Studio site.
Code editor: Visual Studio Code is a great choice.
Configuring Auth0
Before creating the Ionic app, you’ll get Auth0 up and running. If you don’t have one already, create a free Auth0 account here then head over to the Applications page and click the “Create Application” button. Give your new app a name, then choose “Native” for the application type. You will then click on "Create".
Note: The Domain and Client ID can be found under the "Settings" tab.
Next, choose your globally unique App Id, which is used both in Auth0 configuration as well as Cordova/Capacitor as well. Typically, this takes the form of “company-AppName” or reverse DNS style - “com.company.app.”
With that in hand, set the Allowed Callback URLs. After the app user signs into Auth0, this tells Auth Connect which page to redirect to in your app. Use the formula “uniqueId://page”, such as “company-AppName://callback.”
Similarly, set the Allowed Logout URLs, which tell Auth Connect where to redirect to after the user logs out of Auth0. Again, use the “uniqueId://page” format. Usually, the app would redirect the user to a login page, so consider using “company-AppName://login.”
Auth0 is now ready to use in your Ionic app.
Creating a New Ionic app
With an Auth0 application set up, it’s time to create an Ionic app using a terminal:
# Install the Ionic CLI npm install -g ionic # Create a new app named ‘ac-auth0’ using the ‘blank’ Ionic starter template ionic start ac-auth0 blank
Next, change into the new project directory, then run ionic serve to spin up a local development server which launches in your browser. It makes app development easier, as it automatically reloads the app when changes to your source files are detected.
cd ac-auth0 ionic serve
The app loads in a web browser, automatically displaying the Home page.
Design the Login Page
Open your code editor then navigate to home.page.html under src/app
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Puck Yeah has been one of Trulieve’s defining flower strains for the year of 2019. It was originally released in their flower vape cups (review here).
There really isn’t a lot of information available about this strain online, and the searches that I see in my website statistics each week show it. I’ll do my best to provide a comprehensive overview of this strain, which I feel is one of the best value products available at Trulieve.
Quick Facts:
Puck Yeah (Indica)
Price at time of review: $33/eighth
Lineage: Super Skelly Hash Plant x Northern Lights #1
Batch/Harvest Number: DUFLBLDI15PK1
707.0 mg THC/3.5g
0.0 mg CBD/3.5g
20.2% THC
0.40% THCV
1.10% CBG
21.7% Total Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids
THC: 20.2%
CBD: 0.0%
THCV: 0.4%
CBG: 1.1%
Total Cannabinoids: 21.7%
Terpenes
“*” denotes the two dominant terpenes in this strain
Beta-Myrcene: 0.242%
*Trans-Carophyllene: 0.497%
Humulene: 0.172%
Alpha-Bisabolol: 0.102%
Fenchol: 0.145%
*R-Limonene: 0.248%
Linalool: 0.137%
Guaiol: 0.109%
Total Terpenes: 1.652%
Appearance/Cure
One thing I’ve noticed that’s consistent about Puck Yeah after trying several batches of this strain: it is always incredibly sticky. This is an outstanding cure by Trulieve, and is among the best flower I’ve ever seen from them.
I purchased two eighths, and both were filled with several extremely dense, almost rock-hard nugs. The moisture of both batches is nearly perfect by my standards.
As you can see from the images above, this is a medium to dark green strain that is covered in burnt orange pistils. Cannabinoid crystals are very evident; this is a very resinous strain.
If Trulieve could get every single cure of their various flower strains to be of this quality or better, they could be widely regarded to have the best flower in the state.
Rating: 8.80/10.00
Smell/Taste
I really enjoy both the taste and smell of this strain. Puck Yeah is very pungent, musky, and sour, with hints of both fuel and sweet citrus. When I was extremely medicated one night, I thought of this terpene profile as being akin to a “dark” Sour Diesel. It will smell up your living area if you leave the jar open.
Now that I’ve had experience with more strains, this is one of the few strains that Trulieve offers that I feel has a somewhat “exotic” terpene profile, like Duct Tape from VidaCann.
When smoked, the sour, sweet, musky, and citrus terpenes all come through nicely for a pleasant smoke.
Rating: 8.40/10.00
Effects/Medical Use
I find Puck Yeah to be among the “heavier” indica strains I’ve tried. With that being said, it takes higher doses for me to feel any appreciable sedation or relief of insomnia. Lighter doses of this strain will be more cerebral, but a relaxed and somewhat warm body feeling become apparent not long after the initial inhalation.
My best description of Puck Yeah would probably label it around a 65/35% indica-dominant strain, with the ability to be sedative in higher doses. For me personally, this is definitely an evening strain. However, patients with higher tolerances might find it good for use at any time of the day. In lighter doses, I feel that it can bring relief of anxiety and minor aches and pains without being so sedative that it stops the patient from being able to function and get things done during the day.
Possibly good for treating:
Anxiety
Moderate aches and pains
Moderate nausea/gastrointestinal issues
General Relaxation
Insomnia (especially in higher doses)
I’m definitely no medical doctor, so please take the preceding conditions only
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By Nicholas Samuilov, notifight.com
The interim-junior welterweight champion of the World Boxing Association (WBA), Argentine's Marcos "El Chino" Maidana, is training with his team in Puerto Rico prepare for his next challenge, which takes place on August 27 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California against Robert "The Ghost" Guerrero, who is also interim lightweight titlist or the Wolrd Boxing Organization (WBO) and the WBA.
While both Maidana and Guerrero were ready and always interested in fighting, there were issues that delayed the contract signing for about ten days. Maidana's team was waiting for a resolution to their complaint, which demands a unification bout with the WBA's full champion at 140-pounds, English Amir Khan, who a few weeks ago announced a July 23 unification against the holder of title from the International Boxing Federation (IBF), Zab Judah. Team Maidana, being aware of the time being wasted waiting around, decided to take the fight with Guerrero.
"A small legal battle is brewing between Khan and Maidana. Khan is the regular champion. Maidana and Erik Morales fought for the interim title and Marcos won. Now he is the mandatory challenger. Golden Boy Promotions, which handles both [fighters], and each team, were notified by WBA to face each other before September 11. And so, 60 days before that, [starting] from July 11, neither [fighter] could participate in another fight. But Khan did what he wanted and arranged a unification with Judah while ignoring the rules," said Sebastián Contursi, Maidana's adviser, to BoxingScene.com's Carlos Irusta.
"We made a protest to WBA for a solution. We asked them to remove the title from Khan. Now we are waiting for a resolution. But we were forced to take this fight because we can not wait around for Khan or anyone else. Maidana's career does not depend on Khan. So we accepted the fight with Guerrero."
, we cannot but participate in government in some way for the purposes of reforming it or at least protecting ourselves. To reject government altogether instead of endeavoring to improve it is to hide from the real, pressing problems of our time.
Perhaps the anarcho-capitalist ideal will be realizable in some distant future time, once human beings have progressed morally and technologically to such an extent that the initiation of force is no longer lucrative to anybody. I even suggested that this would happen in my short story, “The Fate of War.” In that enlightened time, violence would altogether not be within the realm of human consideration, and a viable anarcho-capitalism would be the natural corollary to that state of affairs.
Meanwhile, however, we are alive today – and if we do not have that which we consider good within our lifetimes, we shall not have it at all. If it is liberty we want – and the anarcho-capitalists have not come up with a viable way to have it without government – then we must have liberty with government. This endeavor will require working through government as well as through private channels; it will require not rejecting the existing system, but modifying it incrementally to move it toward more liberty and less violence. At the same time, a revolution against government is the least desirable course of action, because it would devastate our current levels of prosperity, health, and stability. Individuals who are wealthy, productive, and in control of their lives will come, over time, to civilly demand increasing amounts of independence from centralized control. On the other hand, individuals whose livelihoods have been ruined and whose prospects for upward mobility have been thwarted by an unstable macroeconomic and political climate – which inevitably accompanies revolutions – are easy prey for demagogues and would-be tyrants. Advocates of freedom must be patient, civil, and cautious. While challenging abuses of government authority as such abuses occur, freedom-loving people ought never to do anything that would undermine the standard of living or the safety and comfort of people in the Western world.
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and suicide.
Other chestnuts abound, but adopting a more scientificky tone, Browne explains how it is that we carry the marks of our past lives into our current life. It’s all down to cell memory. Browne explains:
The cells that make up our physical bodies are living, thinking, feeling organisms, which react with literal precision to the information they receive from our subconscious minds, where our spirit minds live and hold every moment and every memory of every one of our past lives.6
Who was Browne’s high school biology teacher I wonder? I’m thinking Richard Dawkins might want a word. Maybe bio classes were different in Kansas City back in the 1950s—or maybe there’s a clue in Browne’s book that explains her tendency to disregard reality and slip off to Cloud Cuckooland.
I would often sit in my classes trying not to doze off and thinking, “What on earth do square roots, or the primary export of Brazil, or the number of teeth in the mouth of the average frog have to do with preparing me for my future?”7
In other words, What do math, solid information about objective reality, and actual knowledge of the natural world have to do with anything? Browne goes on to ask another truly unfortunate, leading question: “Am I psychic, or nuts, or both?”8 she wonders, and I think many of us are biting our tongues right now, desperate to hazard a guess. Browne answers her own question, saying that, “The answer, of course, [is] neither. My Spirit Guide, Francine, gave me the in-depth explanation….”9 This woman hands these gems to her critics on a silver platter, and I think it’s fair to say that Browne’s response only lends weight to the second answer (nuts)—but once again, am I really being fair?
Because, let’s face it: there are lots of questions that science just can’t answer. What’s the difference between a duck? Why are cakes? How is a raven like a writing desk?10 Browne herself wrestles science to the mat by asking some pretty pointed questions, like how do you explain a three-year-old child born and raised in Alaska (Alaska!!!) who develops a lifelong, passionate curiosity about the American Civil War? How is it that you were born with preferences? Why are you afraid of things? And perhaps most devastatingly of all, why would a six-year-old thank his mother for breakfast, saying, “You’re the best of all twelve moms I’ve ever had?”11
Browne tells us that if you pose these questions to scientists, theologians, psychologists, and other experts, “[t]hey’re likely to reply with either a blank stare, some double-talk that makes no sense at all, or that common, meaningless response, ‘It just happens.’” This is truly shocking, but one has to wonder what class of expert Browne is engaging, and if they majored in Sack of Hammers when they got their credentials from Lenny’s Half-Baked Drive-Through University And Lube. “Oh my god!” Browne is hoping we’ll say in response to her questions. “I can’t imagine any explanation other than reincarnation!” but I think I’ve got some alternative answers for Browne and I’m guessing you do too—and crazily enough, not even one of them involves postulating Life Charts written on parchment scrolls. (Scrolls? Parchment? They haven’t heard of computers in the Great Beyond? What’s Steve Jobs doing with his afterlife anyway?)
Now—rather than just being a skeptical wet blanket, I had intended to include some of Browne’s accounts of the past lives of the rich and famous. But as I read them, I noticed that all of the stories had a blandly sensational quality that made them sound like the plot summaries of a bunch of made-for-TV-movies. Anwar Sadat was chief advisor to King Tut, Katherine Hepburn was a dancer in King Solomon’s court, Steve McQueen was a Knight Templar, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Junior were brothers in 6th century China, Marilyn Monroe was sold to a travelling band of gypsies but rescued by her uncle who became her husband in her next life (Ew!), and so on. Plus, there were confusing plot holes in many of them—Lana Turner, for example, was born Mary Somebody-Or-Other (Francine doesn’t usually supply surnames)12 in about 1860 and lived to be 83—but the most recent Lana Turner was born in 1921, thereby creating an overlap of around
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Bible translator killed in horrific attack by militants in Cameroon
A Bible translator in Cameroon was butchered to death on Sunday morning during an overnight attack while his wife's arm was cut off, according to a ministry source.
Bible translator Angus Abraham Fung was among seven people said to have been killed during an attack carried out by suspected Fulani herdsmen sometime during the early hours of Sunday morning in the town of Wum, according to Efi Tembon, who leads a ministry called Oasis Network for Community Transformation.
Located in Cameroon's violence-ridden Anglophone region where separatists are fighting for independence, Wum is among several localities where youth from the nomadic Fulani herding community are being encouraged by government actors to carry out attacks against local farming communities that support the separatist rebels, Tembon said.
Tembon, who at times worked on projects in Wum before he was forced to flee the country after speaking to the U.S. Congress about the conflict in June 2018, said he was told by sources in the town that Fulani herders stormed five homes Saturday night into Sunday morning.
"They went into houses and pulled out the people," Tembon explained to The Christian Post. "They attacked in the night and nobody was expecting. They just went into the home, pulled them out and slaughtered them."
Tembon said that he was not informed as to how many people were injured in the attack, but only that Fung's wife, Eveline Fung, had her arm cut off and is receiving a blood transfusion at a local hospital.
As for the Bible translator, Tembon was told that Fung was cut to death with a machete.
"I don't know what prompted the attack. They just came in and killed people at the home," Tembon added, stating that most of the victims were older men.
Fung was in his 60s and served for years with Wycliffe Bible Translators working on a New Testament translation in the Aghem language, a project that was completed in 2016.
"He was one of the key community leaders in the whole tribe and he was part of the translation services and also coordinated literacy efforts," Tembon explained. "So, he was a huge part of the literacy work because their language had never been written before. So, he was the one coordinating it and teaching the language. So many people now can read and write the language as a result of Angus' work."
Although the New Testament translation for the Aghem language was completed and over 3,000 copies have been published, Tembon said that distribution has not happened because of the war in the region.
"This war is a complete disruption of what has been going on," Tembon stated. "We haven't been able to dedicate it because of the war. We are doing what we call listening groups. We have done the recording and started listening groups where people come and listen to scriptures together in the community."
According to Tembon, Wum is a rural town of no more than 5,000 people. About 90 percent of the town's people consider themselves to be Christian but also practice traditional religions. While the local people live and farm in the town, Muslim Fulani herders live and graze their cattle on a hill outside the town.
But because the area is controlled by separatists, he claimed the government has encouraged and even armed Fulani to carry out attacks against the separatist-supporting communities as a way of pushing a "religious twist" to the conflict.
"The government knows that the local people are supporting the local forces," he explained. "The Fulani are Muslim and they are a minority in the area. And they always have a farmer-grazer problem between the local people and the Fulani. The government uses that now to get the Fulani on their side as an ally to fight the local people. So they have been armed and protected by the government and terrorize the local people."
Tembon noted that not all Fulanis are a party to such attacks, adding that some Fulani have even joined the separatist rebels and some Fulani live in the town with the rest of the local community.
Tembon stressed that Sunday's attack is not the first to have happened in Wum. In June, villagers in Wum were reportedly attacked and several homes were burned down, including the palace of the local chief.
"They have burned churches and have killed people in several areas," he said. "The local people have killed their cows as revenge."
In May, Pastor Keloh Elijah, a graduate of Cameroon Baptist Theological Seminary in Ndu and served at Bitu Baptist Church, was reported to have been among many people killed during a military invasion in the Mfumte area.
"Many other people were killed in the area," Tembon said at the time. "The military has
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ola.com profits to advocacy causes which benefit his business.
Affiliated organizations:
MHR Management Co
Mercola Foundation – 501c3 non-profit run solely by Mercola. The Mercola Foundation was liquidated in 2009, transferring all remaining assets to Mercola’s Natural Health Research Foundation.
Natural Health Research Foundation (NHRF) – 501c3 is also run solely by Mercola and Mercola.com is the sole contributor (EIN: 22-3936343, ruling year 2007). In 2008 Mercola transferred nearly $700,000 from the Mercola Foundation to NHRF as an unrestricted grant.[6] IN 2012 Mercola.com “contributed” nearly $1 million to NHRF. NHRF then distributed that money to various causes supported by Mercola including:
Organic Consumers Association $505,000 (25 percent of budget)
National Vaccine Information Center $300,000 (34 percent of budget)
Consumer for Dental Choice $103,000 (34 percent of budget)
Institute for Responsible Technology ( ) $10,000 (Mercola is an annual contributor to Smith’s IFRT campaigns.)
American Environmental Health Studies PR (Canton, NY) $10,000
Citizens for Health ( ) $2,500
Mercola’s Natural Health Clinic, Mercola.com LLC – for profit private corporation run solely by Mercola
Bright Hope International (Hoffman Estates, IL) – evangelical NGO to which Mercola foundation directs unrestricted grants
Foundation for Health Choice (Washington, DC) – an alternative health advocacy group to which Mercola directs unrestricted grants. Mercola content is cross-linked with FHC and vice-a-versa.
Right to Know GMOs
Mercola runs the “Right to Know GMO” website registered through a privacy domain registration service but hosted on Mercola.com’s dedicated servers and programmed using the Mercola.com website HTML templates. The campaign demands transparency and the inclusion of warning labels on foods containing GMOs; however, nowhere on the the GMO Right to Know site is Mercola’s involvement or his benefiting business selling non-GMO foods and products noted. Mercola contributed more than $1.1 million to the California GMO labeling campaign in 2012 and was one of their largest individual financial supporters.[7]
Consumers for Dental Choice
Like GMO Right to Know, Mercola hosts ToxicTeeth.org, the website for the “Consumers for Dental Choice” a “non-profit” organization housed within the Turner & Swankin Law Firm in Washington, DC[8] that lobbies against the use of mercury amalgam fillings. The Consumers for Dental Choice uses numerous references to Mercola articles attacking conventional dentistry and the use of mercury fillings, but makes no reference to Mercola’s hosting of the group’s website. The organization is affiliated with the law firm of Turner & Swankin and supplements and alternative health industry lawyer and lobbyist James Turner; however, like GMO Right to Know, none of the organization’s formal 501c3 tax filings nor the website disclose either the Mercola or Turner relationship.
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Founded in 1996 Consumers for Dental Choice is a formally registered 501c3 (EIN:52-2257385; ruling year 2005) with an annual listed budget of approximately $400,000 (2011) one-quarter to one-third of which is contributed directly by Joe Mercola annually. The group is led by Charles “Charlie” Brown (Washington, DC) and claims to be an initiative of the “World Alliance for Mercury-free Dentistry” led by Silvia Dove (Washington, DC), Dominque Bally (Abidjan, Cote d’Ivore), Shahriar Hossain (Dhaka, Qatar) and Maria Carcamo (Montevideo). Their listed campaign NGO allies include the Pesticide Action Network, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Consumers Association of Penang (Third World Network), Friends of the Earth, and Citizens for Health (led by Jim Turner).[9] Other directors listed with CDC include: Al Blackman, Mark A. Breiner, Patrick Sullivan, Jr., Ward Eccles, Johann Wehrle, Sue Ann Taylore, and Charles Brown.
Drugs and supplements
Mercola opposes the use of most prescription drugs and immunizations, favoring better food choices, especially unprocessed, organic produce and elimination of most sugar and grains from our diet; lifestyle modifications, especially regular exercise, better sleep, and removing household toxins from cleaning supplies and cosmetics, and energy psychology tools to address emotional challenges. He promotes
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Normally, we lament the loss of a baby by saying things like, "It's so unfair that he never had the chance to accomplish anything or live a meaningful human life." Not so in this case. For while Charlie was obviously deprived of the opportunity to fully experience life – and I mean deprived by his illness, not just by a ghoulish British health care system – his brief time on this Earth has done tremendous good for all of us.
Charlie, with the help of his heroic parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, has brought the true nature of socialized medicine, and of progressive government in general, to the attention of the world, in the clearest and most emotionally straightforward way.
At its base, the meaning of this case, having been played out so bluntly and loudly in the British and European courts, in the British Parliament, and through the international news media, could not be made any clearer to anyone who wishes to see: the socialist State owns the individual human being and may dispose of his life whenever it sees fit. There is nothing anyone – not parents, not popes, not presidents, not thousands of generous donors – can do to override the decision of the State to forcibly shorten the life of a baby who the State's medical slaves have decided is no longer "viable" or worth the government's effort or expense.
Socialized medicine is, in principle and by intention, State ownership of life – the official, legal elimination of individual liberty – which is why all communist, socialist, and fascist theorists have regarded it as an essential apparatus of any good progressive tyranny. This is not new or shocking information to anyone who examines the history of progressivism or the statements and plans of its leaders. The Charlie Gard case merely brought the fact and its full implications into bold relief, a supremely valuable service in a time when, thanks to the ubiquity of progressive education and a complicit media and entertainment industry, the true bloodthirsty essence of "progress" has been obscured and prettified with social justice pap about "caring" and "compassion."
Kidnapping is not caring. Slavery is not compassion. Stealing sick babies from their parents' arms and killing them at will, without the parents having any say in the matter, or even being allowed to take the babies home to die, is a criminal enterprise, and it violates everything modern civilization ever stood for.
If you can't understand that, it's too late for you. If you are thinking through these matters deeply for the first time, then you can thank a tiny baby, Charlie Gard, and his magnificent and courageous parents, Chris Gard and Connie Yates, for setting you on the path to spiritual freedom.
God bless all three of them.
Daren Jonescu writes about politics, philosophy, education, and the decline of civilization at http://darenjonescu.com.
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If you asked me back in the year 2000, what 2012 was going to be like, I'm not sure I could have gave you a good answer. So you could imagine how wrong people back in 1899 were about the year 2000. They thought there were going to be flying firemen!
It's funny to see people's vision of the future mostly because it's ridiculous but also because it's constrained by the reality of their present. People in 1899 didn't know that touch screens and tablets would be a thing, the just imagined more complicated and automated versions of what they already had. They weren't completely wrong though, they knew we would figure out a way to find an electric floor scrubber and invent awesome bathtubs.
The pictures were made by Jean-Marc Côté and other artists in France in 1899, 1900, 1901 and 1910. The first series of these pictures were produced for the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. [Public Domain Review via Explore]
Barbers aren't quite there yet.
Roomba!
Now we do it with LASERS.
This cracks me up so much.
I think every generation dreams of flying cars.
Rest, relaxation and robots.
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Over at the Facebook Data Science blog, Winter Mason shows us how personal likes and dislikes line up with political ideology. Democrats like Maya Angelou, The Color Purple, and The Colbert Report. Republicans like Ben Carson, Atlas Shrugged, and Duck Dynasty. It’s all good fun, though I’m a little mystified about why the Empire State Building is such a Democratic-leaning tourist destination. Maybe Republicans just dislike anything related to New York City.
But it’s music that I want some help on. I get that country tends to be right-leaning and Springsteen is left-leaning. But what’s up with the Beatles being so distinctively associated with liberals? It’s no secret that I know squat about music, so help me out here. No snark. I thought the Beatles had long since ascended into a sort of free-floating state of pop elder statehood where they were beloved of all baby boomers equally—and pretty much everyone else too. What do I not know that accounts for continuing Republican antipathy toward the moptops?
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia donated more than $10 million. Through a foundation, so did the son-in-law of a former Ukrainian president whose government was widely criticized for corruption and the murder of journalists. A Lebanese-Nigerian developer with vast business interests contributed as much as $5 million.
For years the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation thrived largely on the generosity of foreign donors and individuals who gave hundreds of millions of dollars to the global charity. But now, as Mrs. Clinton seeks the White House, the funding of the sprawling philanthropy has become an Achilles’ heel for her campaign and, if she is victorious, potentially her administration as well.
With Mrs. Clinton facing accusations of favoritism toward Clinton Foundation donors during her time as secretary of state, former President Bill Clinton told foundation employees on Thursday that the organization would no longer accept foreign or corporate donations should Mrs. Clinton win in November.
But while the move could avoid the awkwardness of Mr. Clinton jetting around the world asking for money while his wife is president, it did not resolve a more pressing question: how her administration would handle longtime donors seeking help from the United States, or whose interests might conflict with the country’s own.
india
Updated: Jun 19, 2019 11:53 IST
The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Election Commission by June 24 on a plea of the Gujarat Congress, challenging the poll panel’s decision to hold separate bypolls to two Rajya Sabha seats in the state.
A vacation bench of justices Deepak Gupta and Surya Kant listed the matter for hearing on June 25, saying the issue required to be heard.
The bench said, “It is not an issue which can be taken up through an election petition and therefore, requires to be heard.”Senior advocate Vivek Tankha, appearing for the Gujarat Congress, said there were judgments of the Delhi High court which were in their favour.
To this, the bench said, “We are not saying anything for now. We need to decide whether it is a casual vacancy or a statutory vacancy. This matter requires hearing.”The Rajya Sabha seats fell vacant following the election of BJP chief Amit Shah and Union minister Smriti Irani to the Lok Sabha from Gandhinagar and Amethi respectively.
Also Read: Congress moves SC over separate bypolls to 2 Rajya Sabha seats in Gujarat
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1280 1390 1420 1650 720 725 730 750 +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 9" 74.250 1920 2448 2492 2640 1080 1082 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync interlace Modeline "Mode 10" 74.250 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1082 1087 1125 +hsync +vsync interlace Modeline "Mode 11" 74.250 1920 2448 2492 2640 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 12" 148.500 1920 2448 2492 2640 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 13" 74.250 1920 2558 2602 2750 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 14" 74.250 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 15" 148.500 1920 2008 2052 2200 1080 1084 1089 1125 +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 17" +hsync +vsync Modeline "Mode 18" +hsync +vsync interlace Modeline "Mode 19" -hsync -vsync Option "PreferredMode" "Mode 16" EndSection The model name confirms we have the right EDID. Note the # EDID version 2.0 string that parse-edid reports, which agrees with what the kernel complains about. Also note that parse-edid found an extension block as well, one specifying the timings and resolutions supported by the TV. Let's have a look at the raw data now: # hd /tmp/edid.bin 00000000 00 ff ff ff ff ff ff 00 1e 6d f0 75 01 01 01 01 |.........m.u....| 00000010 09 12 02 00 80 46 27 78 ea d9 b0 a3 57 49 9c 25 |.....F'x....WI.%| 00000020 11 49 4b a5 6e 00 31 40 45 40 61 40 d1 c0 01 01 |.IK.n.1@E@a@....| 00000030 01 01 01 01 01 01 26 36 80 a0 70 38 1f 40 50 20 |......&6..p8.@P | 00000040 85 00 bc 86 21 00 00 18 1b 21 50 a0 51 00 1e 30 |....!....!P.Q..0| 00000050 48 88 35 00 bc 86 21 00 00 1c 00 00 00 fc 00 33 |H.5...!........3| 00000060 32 4c 47 35 30 30 30 0a 20 20 20 20 00 00 00 fd |2LG5000.....| 00000070 00 32 4b 1c 43 0f 00 0a 20 20 20 20 20 20 01 f9 |.2K.C.....| 00000080 02 03 21 f1 4e 02 11 01 03 12 13 04 14 05 21 1f |..!.N.........!.| 00000090 20 22 10 23 09 07 07 83 01 00 00 65 03 0c 00 30 | ".#.......e...0| 000000a0 00 01 1d 00 bc 52 d0 1e 20 b8 28 55 40 c4 8e 21 |.....R...(U@..!| 000000b0 00 00 1e 01 1d 00 72 51 d0 1e 20 6e 28 55 00 c4 |......rQ.. n(U..| 000000c0 8e 21 00 00 1e 01 1d 80 d0 72 1c 16 20 10 2c 25 |.!.......r...,%| 000000d0 80 c4 8e 21 00 00 9e 8c 0a d0 90 20 40 31 20 0c |...!....... @1.| 000000e0 40 55 00 c4 8e 21 00 00 18 4e 1f 00 80 51 00 1e |@U...!...N...Q..| 000000f0 30 40 80 37 00 bc 88 21 00 00 18 00 00 00 00 ac |[email protected]...!........| 00000100 The raw EDID data comprises two sections, 128 bytes each (remember, this is an EDID 1.3 blob, incorrectly labeled as 2.0). The first section is the main one and the second one is the extension, an EIA/CEA-861 extension block containing the native resolutions and timings. Using the Wikipedia article as a reference, we quickly find out that bytes 0x12 and 0x13 are the EDID version (with values 0x02 and 0x00 in our case) and the checksum byte 0xf7 (with a value of 0xf9 ).
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“Artificial” producer Bernie Su will receive an Emmy award for the groundbreaking interactive science fiction series “Artificial” on September 14 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. You may remember we covered the Twitch series (which is reminiscent of Humans) here on The Story Fix a couple weeks back.
“Artificial” follows Dr. Matt Lin (Tohoru Masamune) and his artificial human Sophie Lin (Tiffany Chu) who, as the story progresses, tries to become a real human. The bi-weekly sci-fi series streams live, starting with a scripted story that shifts depending on live audience feedback. That must be some kind of logistical nightmare!
Audience members interact with the characters and Twitch viewers affect the story by voting in real-time polls, submitting questions, sharing input with fan mail etc. The show’s season 2 finale aired on August 29.
This win mark’s Twitch’s first Emmy and third for Su who won his first for his YouTube webseries “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries”, a re-imagining of Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice” and his second for “Emma Approved”, an adaptation of Austen’s “Emma”.
Twitch celebrated the win on Twitter
It's official– we've won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Innovation in Interactive Media! Thank you to our audience members, who help us make Artificial great every week, and thanks to @Twitch for their support!
Check out Tubefilter's write up below ⬇️ https://t.co/QQ8MQcefbH — Artificial: A Twitch Sci-Fi Series (@ArtificialNext) August 23, 2019
Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin praised “Artificial” for devising next-level entertainment.
“What we love about Artificial is that its audience can truly evolve the story both during and outside of the live broadcast over the course of the series to take full direction of the show,” Lin told Deadline in an interview earlier this year. “In the many alternate universes that the creators of the series have envisioned and developed, the audience gets to see only one, but their impact, through the many polls and clever interactive prompts, is what makes every episode exciting.”
Check out the trailer + recap below:
________________
Our interactive adventure The Pulse is out now!
StoryFix Media produces interactive fiction games and novels. Our adventure novels New Horizons and The Blue Moon are available now.
Follow StoryFix Media on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
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Show at National Trust’s Wordsworth House and Garden in Cumbria to mark 250th anniversary of poet’s birth
This article is more than 6 months old
This article is more than 6 months old
More than two centuries ago there was cruel and rude gossip about how startlingly close the relationship between William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy was.
“The rumour mill has continued,” admitted Zoe Gilbert, visitor experience manager at Wordsworth’s childhood home in Cumbria. “We still get asked that question today.”
A new exhibition will, in part, explore the true nature of the siblings’ relationship, suggesting it was unusually close but not sexual.
It was, said the Wordsworth expert Kathleen Jones, an “amazingly close bond” founded on the deep psychological trauma of being split up as young children and then reunited in their late teens.
The National Trust is staging the exhibition at its property Wordsworth House and Garden in Cockermouth, Cumbria, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the poet’s birth.
It explores Wordsworth’s childhood and how his life and poetry was shaped by the wild, outdoor upbringing he and his sister enjoyed at the house on the banks of the River Derwent.
Among the exhibits will be Dorothy’s tiny baby bonnet, handsewn most likely by their mother Ann. It is the only item from their childhood to survive.
Wordsworth treasures donated to poet's Lake District home Read more
William was eight and Dorothy was seven when their mother died and they were split up. She was sent to relatives in Yorkshire and five years later they became orphans when their father died. Dorothy did not reunite with her brother for nine years.
“Dorothy was passed around like a parcel,” said Jones. “It had a deep psychological impact.
“For someone like Dorothy who was very sensitive, very emotional – what we’d now call highly strung – that childhood bond with her brother was all she could remember of security and love, everything to do with family.”
When they finally met again a syndrome called “genetic attraction” happened, said Jones.
“They looked into each other’s eyes and they saw a similar person with similar feelings … this is what happens when you fall in love with someone. You meet someone and think wow this person is so like me, all that empathy, everything. They had shared so much.”
When William married his wife Mary, Dorothy went through a type of grief which led him to giving his sister his wedding ring to wear before the big day. “An extraordinary thing to do,” said Jones.
Dorothy then lived with William and Mary for the rest of her life. “His wife must have been very patient,” said Gilbert. “There were always three in the relationship.”
The childhood of William and Dorothy and its effect on their lives is explored in a series of films at the exhibition featuring Jones and the poet Helen Mort.
Jones argues that Dorothy was an astute judge of her brother’s poetry and played an important part in his wellbeing. He was “a man who needed a lot of positive reinforcement and Dorothy gave him that”.
The exhibition title, The Child is Father of the Man, comes from a line in Wordsworth’s 1802 poem My Heart Leaps Up. He is suggesting that childhood experiences help form an adult’s character, but also that people should hold on to their childhood sense of wonder in the natural beauty of the world.
The bonnet is a remarkable survivor, with no one knowing quite how it came to be passed down over 250 years to its current owners, the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere.
Gilbert said: “Anybody visiting this year will see how events from childhood, objects which have survived or been lost, and other memories can connect them to their own past.
“Dorothy’s baby bonnet, as the sole item to remain from the siblings’ childhood, is especially precious and evocative.”
The exhibition also features objects from William’s later life, including his ice skates and his tinted spectacles, which shine a light on the poet’s lifelong anxieties about health and his fear of going blind.
• The Child is Father of the Man is at Wordsworth House and Garden, 14 March-8 November.
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. Name Dracula (Final Form) Dracula Location Block A
Dracula will teleport anywhere on screen, not limiting himself to the floor, and fire rotating circles of fireballs. Only his head is vulnerable.
As soon as you enter Dracula’s chamber in Super Castlevania IV, an earthquake will take place, while bolts of lightning reach every corner of the room. Count Dracula finally makes his apparition. Dracula first attacks by teleporting around the room and opening his cape to shoot a fireball. This fireball will split into larger clusters when they come near Simon or when they are hit.
After ¼ of his health bar has been depleted, he will send out an erratic-moving fireball which, if hit, will first produce a circular spray of smaller fireballs, and then will turn into a small pork chop.
Dracula will then summon two fireballs in the air, and a flame column will emerge below each one of these, similar to how he attacked in Dracula's Curse. The fireballs will grow in size and develop a ghostly face. At this point, they will home into Simon, trying to make contact with him. Hitting these elemental heads will make them drop to the ground and burst in a little column of flames.
When ¾ of the Count's health bar has been depleted, he will send out another erratic-moving fireball. Again, hitting this fireball will make it burst into a circular spray of smaller fireballs, and then turn into another Small Pork Chop.
The chamber will suddenly turn red. Many bolts of lightning will reach every corner of the room. The Theme of Simon Belmont will play, and Dracula’s final form will appear. Dracula's human-like face will be replaced by a more vampiresque one. He will teleport quickly around the room and summon four columns of lightning on the screen. However, unlike in other games, his health won't be replenished when he changes forms, so it will take just a few more hits to defeat him. Again, only his head is vulnerable. Due to him teleporting quickly around the room, leaving only a few moments to strike at him, the best strategy is to bring the Cross sub-weapon with the Triple Shot power-up. Start throwing many Crosses around the chamber at Dracula's head height. They will hit him repeatedly while going on their way forward and backward.
The night ends during the battle and the rays of the morning sun will break through one of the chamber's windows, consuming Dracula in a burst of flames.
Name JPN HP EXP ATK Dracula ドラキュラ 42 - 2-5 Location Stage B
In the original Sharp X68000 version of Chronicles, Dracula will teleport around the room, firing clusters of three fireballs that, unlike in previous games, are specifically directed to Simon's position on-screen. Once Simon has brought Dracula down to half health, not only does the count's head begin to take on a more demonic appearance, but he will also begin to shoot five-fireball patterns. In the updated PlayStation version of Chronicles, Dracula fights in exactly the same way as he did in the Sharp X68000 version; only his in-game sprite has been modified to concur with Japanese illustrator Ayami Kojima's new design.
(original/arranged) Name JPN HP EXP Dracula 63 0 Location Dracula's Keep
Dracula's second form is mostly the same as in the original Castlevania, except with a few differences. He will leap at Simon and fire waves of fireballs, but will also claw-swipe at him, as well as leaping high up and out of the screen to release fireballs downward and ground waves on the floor. Holy water is very effective against him.
Name JPN HP EXP Dracula (Second Form) 126 50,005 Location Dracula's Keep
Dracula will again teleporting around the room and fire waves of three fireballs. He has also incorporated a new attack, in which he sends out two slower-moving meteors at different heights. His head is his only vulnerable point again.
Dracula's second form behaves almost exactly as he did in the original Castlevania. However, he jumps higher, and upon landing will breathe massive waves of large fireballs from his mouth. He can also stop to shoot a wide wave of electric energy.
In this game, Dracula will teleport around the room and shoot fireballs, first in a spreading pattern of three, two homing fireballs, and then a fireball in a rotating formation. His head is again his only weak point.
After the first battle, he will transform in a ghoul-like second form. In this form, he will shoot two fireballs that go down and then home toward the player. He can also make four copies of himself which create large fire pillars from the ground, except for the real one. It's implied that this
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Abstract The kings of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty (1516–1700) frequently married close relatives in such a way that uncle-niece, first cousins and other consanguineous unions were prevalent in that dynasty. In the historical literature, it has been suggested that inbreeding was a major cause responsible for the extinction of the dynasty when the king Charles II, physically and mentally disabled, died in 1700 and no children were born from his two marriages, but this hypothesis has not been examined from a genetic perspective. In this article, this hypothesis is checked by computing the inbreeding coefficient (F) of the Spanish Habsburg kings from an extended pedigree up to 16 generations in depth and involving more than 3,000 individuals. The inbreeding coefficient of the Spanish Habsburg kings increased strongly along generations from 0.025 for king Philip I, the founder of the dynasty, to 0.254 for Charles II and several members of the dynasty had inbreeding coefficients higher than 0.20. In addition to inbreeding due to unions between close relatives, ancestral inbreeding from multiple remote ancestors makes a substantial contribution to the inbreeding coefficient of most kings. A statistically significant inbreeding depression for survival to 10 years is detected in the progenies of the Spanish Habsburg kings. The results indicate that inbreeding at the level of first cousin (F = 0.0625) exerted an adverse effect on survival of 17.8%±12.3. It is speculated that the simultaneous occurrence in Charles II (F = 0.254) of two different genetic disorders: combined pituitary hormone deficiency and distal renal tubular acidosis, determined by recessive alleles at two unlinked loci, could explain most of the complex clinical profile of this king, including his impotence/infertility which in last instance led to the extinction of the dynasty.
Citation: Alvarez G, Ceballos FC, Quinteiro C (2009) The Role of Inbreeding in the Extinction of a European Royal Dynasty. PLoS ONE 4(4): e5174. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0005174 Editor: Marc Bauchet, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Germany Received: December 4, 2008; Accepted: March 13, 2009; Published: April 15, 2009 Copyright: © 2009 Alvarez et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Funding: The authors have no support or funding to report. Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Introduction The Habsburg dynasty (also known as the House of Austria) was one of the sovereign dynasties of Europe. The Spanish branch of this dynasty ruled over the Spanish kingdoms from 1516 to 1700. Under Habsburg rule, Spain reached the zenith of its influence and power in Europe and the world-wide Spanish Empire reached its apogee. The last king of the Spanish Habsburg dynasty was Charles II. He was physically disabled, mentally retarded and disfigured. He proved impotent since no children were born from his two marriages. When Charles II died in 1700 the line of the Spanish Habsburgs died with him and a new dynasty- the French Bourbons- was installed in Spain. In the historical literature it is frequently speculated that strong preference for consanguineous marriages within the Spanish Habsburg line contributed to its extinction. In order to keep their heritage in their own hands, the Spanish Habsburgs began to intermarry more and more frequently among themselves and the result, in a few generations, was a fatal inbreeding that brought the male line of the Spanish Habsburgs to extinction [1]–[5]. This hypothesis of inbreeding, the consequence of the mating of relatives, as a major factor responsible for the extinction of the Spanish dynasty is very suggestive but is based on historical data which have not been examined from a genetic perspective. This is precisely the main goal of the present study. Three lines of evidence support the inbreeding hypothesis. First of all, the incidence of consanguineous marriages in the Spanish Habsburgs was remarkable (Table 1). The Spanish Habsburg dynasty was founded by Philip the Fair (Philip I), son of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I, by marrying Joanna the Mad (Joanna I of Castile and Aragon) daughter of the Catholic kings, Ferdinand of Aragon and Elizabeth of Castile and during a period of approximately two hundred years a total of 11 marriages were contracted by the Spanish Habsburg kings. Most of these marriages were consanguineous unions: two uncle-niece marriages (Philip II with his niece Anna of Austria and Philip IV with his niece Mariana of Austria), one double first cousin marriage (Philip II with his first wife Mary of
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Peter Lee The Key to Arctic Survival: Improvised Implements of Excrement
In recent days the Internet has been justifiably besotted by a magnificent 1947 photo (see below) of Peter Freuchen and his wife. Freuchen was one of the great Arctic explorers, celebrity adventurer, and author of the pre-World War II period. Among his many other achievements, in 1910 he helped found–and named–the outpost at Thule in northern Greenland, now the site of an immense US military base.
Freuchen’s autobiography, Vagrant Viking (full text available on-line here), vividly describes his life, starting when he was a restless, unhappy youth driven to get out of the ordinary world into the wide open spaces of the north. Perhaps the most memorable anecdote in the book concerns his harrowing escape from a coffin-sized tomb of ice and snow that had immobilized him as he sheltered in a snowbank to wait out a storm.
After hours of struggle, which included Freuchen’s futile attempts to claw his way out with his bare hands and with a frozen bearskin, and tearing out much of his beard as it froze to the runners of the sled that formed the roof of his prison.
“What a way to die…I gave up once more and let the hours pass without another move. But I recovered my strength while I rested and my morale improved. I was alive after all. I had not eaten for hours, but my digestion felt all right. I got a new idea! I had often seen dog’s dung in the sled track and had noticed that it would freeze as solid as a rock. Would not the cold have the same effect on human discharge? Repulsive as the thought was, I decided to try the experiment. I moved my bowels and from the excrement I managed to fashion a chisel-like instrument which I left to freeze…I was patient. I did not want to risk breaking my new tool by using it too soon…At last I decided to try my chisel and it worked!”
Long story short, Freuchen extricates himself with the help of his improvised chisel after about thirty hours of confinement, and crawls three hours back to camp. Crawling, because his feet are frostbitten. After he gets back to camp, gangrene sets in on one foot. The standard Eskimo remedy—a poultice of bloody lemming skin—stops the gangrene by peeling all the flesh and muscle off his toes. Freuchen is understandably dismayed by the skeletal appearance of his ravaged foot. Less understandably, he decides to do something about it, amputating his toes himself with a big pair of pincers and a hammer. Freuchen was a teetotaler, so no anesthetic was apparently involved.
Polar Vortex sufferers, take note. The episode is a perfect illustration of the impulsiveness, determination, and McGyveresque ingenuity that drove Freuchen to adventure and survive in Greenland.
Hollywood came calling in the early 1930s and Freuchen served as advisor and castmember for Eskimo, which was shot on location over two years in the native Inuit language (thankfully supplemented by English-language intertitles) spoken by a largely indigenous cast. This colorful but rather clumsy poster does not clearly convey the fact that the solicitous-looking Freuchen is the designated villain of the piece.
The movie failed to find an audience, even when salaciously repackaged as Eskimo Wife Traders. The charismatic Freuchen made his mark in Hollywood, however, befriending Jean Harlow and, on one memorable occasion, lifting the Platinum Bombshell up over his head in a two-arm press and twirling her over a Hollywood party to the delight of Harlow herself, and guests and photographers. The following Monday, Louis Mayer personally called Freuchen on the carpet to castigate him for imperiling Harlow’s reputation and career. Freuchen is too much of a gentleman to mention it, but apparently the photographs on Mayer’s desk persuasively documented Harlow’s lifelong disinterest in wearing underwear.
Lifting attractive women over his head was part of the 6’7” Freuchen’s modus operandi. He incensed Leni Reifenstahl’s Nazi minder by giving Hitler’s favorite filmmaker a toss for a photo-op at Eskimo’s Berlin premier. (Parenthetically, Freuchen, a resolute anti-Nazi, distinguished himself in the Danish resistance during WWII.)
Here’s a nice post on Freuchen, the photo, and the woman he’s with (his third wife, Dagmar Freuchen-Gale, a noted artist) at kottke.org. It
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for a household size equal to the number of bedrooms in the home plus one (a three bedroom home would use the income limit of a family of four). 35% of this amount is then decreased for anticipated home ownership costs, including homeowner association dues, utility expenses, property insurance, maintenance expenses, and property taxes. The income remaining is the amount a homeowner would be expected to be able to pay on
their mortgage.
The interest rate used will be the lowest Fannie Mae 30-year, fixed yld-90day mortgage rate, as published in the finanicals.com for the three months immediately proceeding the proposed home purchase.
Owning and Selling an "Affordable" Home The Office of Business Development monitors the various affordable housing communities to ensure compliance with program requirements. These requirements include the following: Homes must be owner-occupied.
Homes may not be rented.
Home mortgage refinances and second liens must be approved by the City.
Home re-sales must be approved by the City. Affordable homes are covenanted by the City for up to 60 years. These covenants enable the City to enforce the various program requirements. If you are interested in selling your home, you will need to obtain an Inclusionary Housing Program packet from the Office of Business Development. Complete and return the Request for Sales Price Determination. Your maximum sales price will be calculated, and your property will be added to the list of homes for sale. This packet will include material for the buyer you select. It is your responsibility to find an eligible buyer and to direct the buyer to the City for approval. When the buyer's eligibility is confirmed and your negotiated sales price is found to be within the affordable limit, your sale will be approved. Many people ask if affordable homes can build equity. As with any home, building equity depends on various factors, such as the status of the real estate market. Unlike unrestricted homes, equity growth in affordable homes is not solely market driven and may be limited due to program restrictions. Developments There are several housing developments in Huntington Beach that have affordable housing covenants: Name Built Units Income Eligible Location PHOTO Ash Street condos 2002 6 Units Median Ash St. Brisas
Del Mar 1993 44 Units Low &
Moderate Delaware St.
& Utica Ave. Cape Ann 1999 146 Units Moderate Breezy Lane &
Sea Gate Drive Greystone
Keys 1998 23 Affordable
150 Total Moderate Promenade
Parkway &
Sea Gate Pacific Park
Villas 1996 25 Units Moderate Joyful Lane &
Happy Drive Pacific Shores 2011 21 Affordable 123 Total Low & Median Newland & Atlanta The Promenade 1999 80 Units Moderate Main Street &
Promenade Parkway The Tides 2004 12 Affordable
77 Total Moderate Goldenwest &
Summit Drive Tuscany 2007 5 Affordable
28 Total Moderate Gothard & Garfield Villas at Seacliff 2008 4 Affordable
19 Total Moderate Gothard & Garfield
Forms and Brochures Want more information about the Inclusionary Housing Program?
Get list of Inclusionary Homes for Sale
Get the Inclusionary Housing Program Brochure
Frequently Asked Questions
Inclusionary Housing Income Limits
Interest rate used to calculate Sale Price: 4.18% (10/1//2018) Published lowest interest rate of preceding 3 months. July 2, 2018 - 4.08% August 1, 2018 - 4.17% September 4, 2018 - 4.18% Please Note: Interest rates used to calculate maximum sale prices may have a significant effect on the maximum sale price outcome. When interest rates are lower, the maximum sales price will increase in price. When interest rates are higher, the maximum sales price lowers in price.
(10/1//2018) Please Note: Interest rates used to calculate maximum sale prices may have a significant effect on the maximum sale price outcome. When interest rates are lower, the maximum sales price will increase in price. When interest rates are higher, the maximum sales price lowers in price.
Interested in buying an Inclusionary Housing Program home?
Form for current homeowners
Regulations
.
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For added visual effect, he displayed falsified charts created by Purdue that had claimed “smooth and sustained blood levels” and “fewer peaks and valleys” for patients on OxyContin. The ginned-up graphs were meant to buttress the drugmaker’s claim that OxyContin had less potential for abuse. An adjacent easel featured actual clinical data that the prosecutors had culled from Purdue’s own studies. The real data looked like a map of steep mountains, the faked data like a single gentle slope.
In the end, the settlement made little difference in the actual sales practices of OxyContin, with the company’s reps largely continuing to downplay the dangers of opioids while focusing on the prevalence of chronic pain. Between 2006 and 2015, Purdue and other opioid-makers spent $900 million on lobbyists and political contributions—eight times more than what the gun lobby spent, according to a recent series by the Associated Press and the Center for Public Integrity. The company didn’t reformulate the drug to be abuse-resistant until 2010—and, many believe, only because the original OxyContin patent was about to expire, in an end run designed to block competition from generic drugs. By then, it was too late. OxyContin’s chemical cousin, heroin, and, later, fentanyl fueled epidemics of their own the moment OxyContin became harder to get and to abuse. Today, Americans, who make up just over 4 percent of the world’s population, consume almost a third of its opioids.
Two months after the news conference announcing the terms of the settlement, the Purdue executives flew to Abingdon for their sentencing hearing. The RAPP parents congregated there, too, marching outside the federal courthouse in the rain and clutching posters of their dead children. They took turns on the witness stand, trying to convey to the judge the depth of their losses and their ongoing grief, as well as their concern for an epidemic unleashed.
Lee Nuss, who’d even brought along a mini-urn containing some of her son’s ashes, shook it at the executives as she stepped down from the stand. “Illegal drug pushers get jail time, and so should you,” she told them. Years later she would end up becoming a foster mom, largely to the children of opioid-addicted parents, and even adopting one as her son.
She wanted the men to apologize, to admit that they had understood all along that OxyContin wasn’t a novel way of fighting pain but simply a different and more potent way of dispensing nature’s oldest drug. If the Sacklers’ lieutenants had legitimately not known about the flood of pills unleashed by sales reps toting around bad data and OxyContin beach hats 25 rungs down the corporate ladder from them, maybe it was because they had not cared to look.
Following the 2007 settlement, most of the parents were too worn out to fight Purdue any longer. “After Abingdon, most of us thought it was a moral victory, but the money [Purdue had to pay] was a joke,” Ed Bisch told me last year. “After so many years, I had to back off because it was destroying me. You get beaten down, and for your own health, you have to let it go.”
Bisch believes today, he wrote in an email, that if the Purdue executives had gotten jail time as part of the 2007 settlement, it would have “changed history and saved thousand[s] of lives.”
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and other dirty tricks.
At Blue Jersey, Talaiporia writes—Let’s Get Real: Why Our Money Matters in the Democratic Primary:
I just donated to the Bernie Sanders campaign. I support his run for President, so I am happy to donate. But I donated now because of an email from Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Hillary’s campaign sounded an alarm today – not for an issue I care about — not for any issue at all actually. She sent out an email with the subject, “We could be outraised by Bernie Sanders”. That is the hook – that ever important subject line – to motivate potential donors. Her email emphasizes the scare she is facing: “With just three days left in 2015, we’ve had a very good year — but we also have to face the very real possibility that we could be outraised by our Democratic challenger this quarter. We’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $2 million online this week to close the gap, but unless more people step up, we’re not going to reach that goal.” What a compelling message. We should rush to donate to the Wall Street connected Hillary campaign because she is suddenly scared Bernie will out raise her. More to the point, the popularity Bernie gets for raising his campaign money from regular people—and not corporations and millionaires—is threatening her desired image as the people’s choice for president.
At Capital & Main of California, Peter Dreier writes—Washington Post Sacks Columnist Harold Meyerson:
Fred Hiatt, the Washington Post’s editorial page editor, has fired columnist Harold Meyerson, one of the nation’s finest journalists and perhaps the only self-proclaimed socialist to write a weekly column for a major American newspaper during the past decade or two. At a time when America is experiencing an upsurge of progressive organizing and activism — from Occupy Wall Street, to Black Lives Matter, to the growing movement among low-wage workers demanding higher minimum wages, to Bernie Sanders’ campaign for president — we need a regular columnist who can explain what’s going on, why it’s happening, and what it means. More than any other columnist for a major U.S. newspaper, Meyerson provided ongoing coverage and incisive analysis of the nation’s labor movement and other progressive causes as well as the changing economy and the increasing aggressiveness of big business in American politics. He was one of the few columnists in the country who knew labor leaders and grassroots activists by name, and who could write sympathetically and knowledgeably about working people’s experiences in their workplaces and communities. Since Steve Greenhouse retired last year as the New York Times’ brilliant labor reporter, no other major paper has a reporter who covers unions and working people on a full-time basis. Now with Meyerson’s firing, there’s not one weekly columnist who understands the ins and outs of organized (and disorganized) labor.
At Bluestem Prairie of Minnesota, Sally Jo Sorensen writes—Houston Co commissioners' move to ignore planning board term limits roils SE MN:
In 2013, the Houston County Board voted that anyone who serves three consecutive 3-year term on the planning and zoning board must sit out for one term at the end of that service. In short: term limits. Now the move by three Houston County board members to ignore those limits in re-appointing a board member to his fourth consecutive term is receiving sharp criticism in the largely rural county in Minnesota's southeastern corner. Many critics believe the action illustrates a pro-frac sand mining bias on a county board that flouts its own rules. Last week, the Caledonia Argus, the local paper, reported the news in Two appointed to Planning and Zoning Board: Now the rest of the story. But the Argus editor didn't stop with reportage. On the op-ed page, Daniel McGonigle wrote in It’s beyond time for us to be represented by someone who governs fairly and doesn’t bend the rules for their own agendas.
At Better Georgia, Bryan Long writes—Brian Kemp hires Nathan Deal crony with no-bid contract:
The conservative lock on power in Georgia has created a zero accountability zone for state government. One piece of evidence to prove this is Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s brazen decision to hire one of Gov. Nathan Deal’s top cronies using a no-bid contract. Kemp is clearly in crisis mode. He’s still reeling from a massive data breach where he shared personal information, including Social Security numbers, of every Georgia voter with a “no compromise” gun lobby, a neo-Confederate political party and others. But crisis or no crisis, Georgia’s no-bid contract law is clear. When the state government spends money on a contract
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Contents show]
History
And the last thing I need... the very last thing... is a lawyer everyone knows is Daredevil gettin' in my business! -- "Big" Ben Donovan src
Early Life
Benjamin "Big Ben" Donovan was a resident in Harlem, New York City. Due to his large size he regularly got into trouble. He studied Law and became a local lawyer to the people of Harlem. Mrs. Jenks hired Donovan to settle the last of her late husband's affairs. The two went on a date, but he got drunk and when he made his advances, she fled.[1]
Luke Cage
She ran to the Gem Theater to find Luke Cage for help. While intoxicated Ben Donavan angrily attacked LCage mistakenly thinking the "Hero for Hire" was involved with Mrs. Jenks. He held his own against cage knocking him down a few times but eventually Cage took him out with a single punch.[1]
Afterwards, when he sobered up the two became friends and Donavan served as a competent lawyer to Cage. To repay Cage, Donovan performed legal services for him. At Cage's request, Donovan put a "tail" on the Hero for Hire that brought authorities onto the scene to help him subdue Billy Bob Rackham, Shades, and Comanche. [2]
Donovan took the job of Claire Temple's lawyer, clearing her of a murder charge.[3]
Maggia
Donovan later became involved in drug trafficking with the Maggia. Donovan had become bitter in life, even hiring a sniper to successfully assassinate a policeman who had previously arrested him. When he tried to steal a massive shipment of drugs from the cartel, he tried to enlist Cage to help him. However, Big Ben quickly betrayed Cage to the the Maggia organization. The Maggia, with Ben Donovan in tow, defeated Cage, chained him, placed him in a coffin and briefly buried him in at Resthaven Cemetery. Iron Fist and Thunderbolt arrived just in time to save Donovan from his gangland execution by the Maggia. After defeating the crime thugs, Donovan repaid the two heroes by immediately turning his pistol on the pair. Cage literally emerged from his grave to stop Donovan. The speedster Thunderbolt shot and quickly disabled Donavan right before the hero died of his lethal radiation poisoning. The policeman Ben Donovan had killed was the brother of Wiliam Carver (Thunderbolt). It was the dying wish of William Carver to bring his brother's killer to justice.[4]
Tombstone
Donovan started working for Tombstone, who had deals with the Serbian; Black Maria gang. The Marvel Knights were investigating their operations and Lincoln sent Donovan, Bullet and Bengal to stop them.[5] He battled Daredevil and Black Widow who took him down using her Widow's Sting. Donovan and the other were swallowed up into Cloak's Darkforce Dimension and taken away.[6]
Powers and Abilities
Abilities
Donovan uses his natural large girth and substantial stength in combative situations. He also is sometimes equipped with 6 inch iron stack shoes.
Discover and Discuss
Search this site for:
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October 1, 1989: High temperatures across central and southern Minnesota reach the 80's. Later in the day, a cold front would come through and drop the mercury to the 40's.
THURSDAY: Chilly, few showers. Winds: NW 10-20. High: 53
FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, winds ease. Winds: NW 8-13. Wake-up: 37. High: 49
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy, stray shower possible. Winds: NW 5-10. Wake-up: 38. High: 52
SUNDAY: Partly sunny, a little nicer. Winds: NW 7-12. Wake-up: 36. High: 57
MONDAY: Intervals of sun, a milder breeze. Winds: S 10-20. Wake-up: 44. High: 62
TUESDAY: Milder with a passing T-shower. Winds: W 8-13. Wake-up: 49. High: 68
WEDNESDAY: Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. Winds: NW 15-25. Wake-up: 46. High: 59
Photo credit : Susan Marmot.
Climate Stories...
Trump, Biden Spar Over Climate Change at Debate. TheHill reports: "President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden sparred over climate change and their respective records on the issue during Tuesday night's presidential debate. Moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump during one segment of the debate whether he believed that human greenhouse gas emissions contribute to warming of the planet. “I think a lot of things do but I think to an extent yes,” the president said, later adding in reference to current wildfires blazing in the West that “we have to do better management of our forests..."
Young Evangelicals Are Defying Their Elders's Politics. An Op-Ed at CNN.com from YECA (I am on the board of parent non-profit EEN, Evangelical Environmental Network) caught my eye; here's an excerpt: "...Among this growing throng of youth climate activists are some you might not expect: young evangelical Christians. The organization I work with, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, educates and mobilizes young evangelical Christians across the country to take action to address the climate crisis. Over the last several years, I have had hundreds of conversations with young Christians about how our faith should inform our pursuit of climate justice. A common narrative runs through almost every story I hear..."
How Overlooking Climate Change Could Be a Personal Liability. GC Capital Ideas has the post; here's the intro: "Reinsurers are well-placed to advise clients on responding to climate change risk. As climate change and the associated increase in natural catastrophe events alters the contemporary risk landscape, there is now an opportunity for companies to partner with the (re)insurance market and put its expertise to work. Climate change is complicating two of the most important board responsibilities — its duties to protect long-term shareholder value and oversee risk management, according to Rob Bailey, Director of Climate Resilience at Marsh & McLennan Advantage and Jack Flug, Managing Director, FINPRO at Guy Carpenter-affiliate Marsh U.S. Investors and regulators are paying more attention to how companies are managing climate risks as concerns grow about the risk that climate change poses to shareholder value, with implications for directors..."
File image : Citizen's Committee for Flood Relief.
Climate Change is Increasing the Likelihood of Extreme Autumn Wildfire Conditions Across California. Here's an excerpt of a paper at IOPScience: "...We show that state-wide increases in autumn temperature (~1 °C) and decreases in autumn precipitation (~30%) over the past four decades have contributed to increases in aggregate fire weather indices (+20%). As a result, the observed frequency of autumn days with extreme (95th percentile) fire weather—which we show are preferentially associated with extreme autumn wildfires—has more than doubled in California since the early 1980s. We further find an increase in the climate model-estimated probability of these extreme autumn conditions since ~1950, including a long-term trend toward increased same-season co-occurrence of extreme fire weather conditions in northern and southern California. Our climate model analyses suggest that continued climate change will further amplify the number of days with extreme fire weather..."
Antarctica Could Melt "Irreversibly" Due to Climate Change, Study Warns. Here's a clip from Live Science: " Antarctica contains more than half of the world's freshwater in its sprawling, frozen ice sheet, but humanity's decisions over the next century could send that water irreversibly into the sea. If global warming is allowed to continue unchecked, Antarctica will soon pass a "point of no return" that could reduce the continent to a barren, ice-free mass for the first time in more than 30 million years, according to
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Captain Marvel held a few surprises for fans, but one of the biggest ones revolved around the identity of Mar-Vell. In the film, it is revealed that Annette Bening is actually Mar-Vell, a mentor to Carol Danvers in several ways. We hear about how she rebelled against the Kree after being sent to Earth, but we don't get to really see her in action before Carol's origin kicks in. There's still plenty to explore in Mar-Velland what she did prior to her time in Captain Marvel, and according to Marvel Studios Chief Kevin Feige, it seems we will get more of her legacy down the line.
"Will we see it lived through more? Yeah. I mean, I think one of the things that's fun to us about the timeline of this film and the potential of future stories with these characters is there's a great past, not just of Mar-Vell, but of the entire Skrull/Kree conflict and also this gap of history between when Carol Danvers flew off with Talos at the end, spoiler, and when she arrives with the Avengers," Feige told ScreenRant.
That suggests that Marvel wants to explore more of the timeline between Captain Marvel and Iron Man, and since it would likely involve the Kree (she did send them a message after all), that would be the perfect opportunity to explore more of Mar-Vell's heroic exploits while also continuing to show why Mar-Vell meant so much to Carol.
"We wanted to give her her own corner of the universe, her own mythology," Feige said. "While we're not specific about this in the movie, there's potential to understand where has she been this whole time? Why haven't we seen her yet? The answer is revealed and hinted at in this movie as she was dealing with a colossal, universal conflict in another section of the MCU."
We would love to see more of Mar-Vell in future films, and we hope we get the chance to see her sooner rather than later.
Captain Marvel stars Academy Award® winner Brie Larson (Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), Ben Mendelsohn, Djimon Hounsou (Korath), Lee Pace (Ronan), Lashana Lynch, Gemma Chan (Minn-Erva), Algenis Perez Soto, Rune Temte, McKenna Grace, Kenneth Mitchell (Joseph Danvers), with Clark Gregg (Phil Coulson), and Jude Law.
Captain Marvel is in theaters now.
What else do you want to see from Mar-Vell? Let us know in the comments and hit me up @MattMuellerCB on Twitter for all things Captain Marvel!
-----
Have you subscribed to ComicBook Nation, the official Podcast of ComicBook.com yet? Check it out by clicking here or listen below.
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Last year, for reasons beyond my understanding, the news media became intrigued by our story. Specifically, our memorial video, which shows footage of our boys’ remains shortly after their passing. We were interviewed by The Daily Beast, BBC World Update and Good Morning America about our story. It was a great opportunity to talk about the pain that parents of stillborn children experience.
Our interview with Dan Damon of BBC World Update:
From time to time, I’ll take part in open mic events at a coffee house in Long Beach. In the past, I’ve read a story inspired by the boys and, last week, I mentioned them in a presentation I gave about my personal passion-issue, which is gun violence in the United States. Amid true-life anecdotes, statistics and a brief history of firearms, I spoke about the Sandy Hook tragedy, recalling the blessing it was to have the opportunity to comfort my children as they passed, a privilege taken from many parents whose children are victims of shootings.
In general, whether it’s home decor or small life decisions, we gravitate toward ‘three’. It’s subtle, but visitors will see triads and triptychs of flowers, artwork and other odds and ends around our house. It’s subtle, but it’s our way of remembering.
We did join a support group. In fact, we participated in two of them. Easily the most helpful was New Hope, which offers grief support programs and services. In fact, it introduced us to some of our closest friends.
And finally, each year, on June 4, Carey and I take the day off. I’m a guy who, though I’m loathe to admit it, isn’t always above working on Christmas. But, for us, June 4 is sacred. No clients, no freelance, no popping into the office to make sure my art director is meeting his deadlines. We design the day specifically to make sure absolutely nothing is going on. On the minute of each of their births, we light a candle to remember. And we then proceed to do whatever we want, which is often very little.
If your’e a grieving parent reading these words, understand that none of the above are obligations. Three years in, Carey and I are winging it, just like you are. If you’re worried you’re going to make the wrong choice, don’t. Your grief is yours and you get to decide how to live in it and through it.
That said, one piece of “don’t” advice for those who have experienced recent loss: don’t put it off. You’ll be tempted to delay decisions about burials and memorials and other things that require fast attention until your head is clearer, but trust me when I say it won’t be easier later. Allow yourself the freedom to choose something less than perfect. Less Than Perfect is going to be the status quo for awhile and you’ll need to find a way to work within that.
Also, one last thing to the newly-grieving parent. It’s been said so many times to Carey and me that we’re in full-blown cliché territory, but it bears repeating, so, begging your forgiveness:
It will always be hard. But it won’t always be this hard.
Today, if you’ve lost a child, you’re in my prayers and my heart is full for you. I’m sorry for your loss. But I’m overjoyed you’re with me, with us, in the world.
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NPF News
CEREMONY TO BE BROADCAST NATIONALLY ON PUBLIC TELEVISION THROUGHOUT DECEMBER
WASHINGTON – Today, the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation announced that pop phenomenon Fifth Harmony, Grammy-winning legend Patti LaBelle, pop world duo Nico & Vinz, and award-winning vocal group The Tenors will all perform at the 2014 National Christmas Tree Lighting. Additional performers and special guests for the event will be announced in the upcoming weeks. Follow @TheNationalTree on Twitter and visit www.thenationaltree.org for the most up-to-date information.
This year’s National Christmas Tree Lighting will take place on Thursday, December 4 on the White House Ellipse at President’s Park, one of America’s 401 national parks, in Washington, D.C. The ceremony begins at 4:30 p.m. ET with the exclusive National Christmas Tree Lighting pre-show, co-hosted by 94.7 FRESH FM’s Tommy McFLY and ABC7/WJLA-TV’s Jummy Olabanji. The event can be seen on public television throughout the month of December. Broadcast times can be found by checking local listings or visiting www.thenationaltree.org.
Presented by the National Park Service and the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, and produced by Bounce AEG, the National Christmas Tree Lighting kicks off a four-week holiday celebration at President’s Park. This year’s ceremony marks the 92nd annual National Christmas Tree Lighting, an American holiday tradition started by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.
Thanks to Google’s Made with Code, the premier sponsor of the 2014 National Christmas Tree Lighting, girls across the country will experience the beauty of code by lighting up holiday trees at President’s Park. Beginning on December 2, girls can head to madewithcode.com to code a design for one of the 56 state and territory trees. Girls can select the shape, size, and color of the lights, and animate different patterns using introductory programming language and their designs will appear live on the trees. Other event supporters include GE Lighting, Amtrak, Guest Services Inc., Hargrove, Hudler Carolina Tree Farms, Loews Madison, and Nicolas Holiday.
For more information about the event and its history, please visit www.thenationaltree.org and follow the National Christmas Tree on Twitter at @TheNationalTree. Join the conversation online using the hashtag #NCTL2014.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President’s Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961.
Visit us at: www.nps.gov, on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice, Twitter: www.twitter.com/natlparkservice, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATION
The National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org
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baseball has to "The Natural" story: Signed by a scout who found him on a diamond "literally carved out of the cane fields" in Louisiana. Six-foot-six, "cut like marble," hitting homers from both sides of the plate and throwing 95 with a curveball that "broke straight into the ground."
The Delmon Young Trade Tree How the Tampa Bay Rays flipped a bust for 15 years of talent. Sam Miller »
The Rays' GM at the time, Chuck LaMar: "How good will he be? No one knows. But with his power and his arm, he has an unlimited ceiling as a hitter or as a pitcher. I'd watch him playing against and holding his own with college players four or five years his senior in the Instructional League, and think 'This kid hasn't been to school since the seventh grade or played organized ball since Little League... I must be dreaming.' You couldn't make this up."
He ended up playing 47 games in the very low minors, and he was OK. "Legal problems" -- a series of criminal charges and convictions, including some violent crimes -- ended his career very shortly after that. I've still never even seen footage of him.
Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson kills a bird (March 24, 2001)
My favorite fun fact is this: If you take a deck of cards and shuffle it a few times, it is most likely in an order that no deck of cards has ever been in before. The number of possible combinations is something like a billion times a billion times a billion times a billion times a billion times a billion times a billion. None of the orders is any more special than any others. The shuffle that delivers you the ace you need is no more likely or unlikely than the one that deals you a quack.
Something in that notion is how I feel about Randy Johnson throwing a pitch that killed a passing bird, an absolutely mind-boggling moment made perfect by the fact -- irrelevant to the bird, but not to the narrative -- that the pitch was thrown by the greatest fireballer in baseball history. It is *so* unlikely. On the other hand, it's just atoms moving around, continually being shuffled into orders that will only happen once, no more unlikely than my existence or yours. It almost brings me to tears.
Twins: Matt LeCroy eats a beetle (July 18, 2004)
As Matt LeCroy remembered it years later, the Twins were slumping and he just wanted to loosen things up. So when he saw a black beetle trudging through the clubhouse, he asked his teammates how much they would pay him to eat it alive. He goaded them to up their bids -- the first was just $100 -- and, when they reached $550, he accepted. "As reliever Juan Rincon got out the video camera to film the events, LeCroy danced around the middle of the room like a boxer psyching himself up for a big bout. With the beetle's legs squirming, LeCroy inserted it into his mouth and munched down on the poor victim. After swallowing it, he opened his mouth wide and stuck out his tongue to prove the deed."
If that happened today, we'd have the video.
"Sure enough, we won about seven in a row after that," LeCroy later said. Which isn't quite right: They lost that day's game, a brutal walk-off defeat that kept them out of first place. But they did win the next five, and nine of the next 10, which helped put them five games into first place by the trade deadline, and the Twins would end up running away with the division. LeCroy, meanwhile, fell into a terrible slump, hitting just.183/.242/.250 over the next 50 days.
Tigers: The near-perfect perfect game (June 2, 2010)
Armando Galarraga pitched a perfect game. You know it. We know. Even first base umpire Jim Joyce now knows it. But he didn't then. AP Photo/Paul Sancya
The meme infrastructure wasn't really established yet in 2010. If it had been 10 years later, the Armando Galarraga Can't Believe It face probably would have been baseball's version of LeBron Yelling At J.R. Smith or McKayla Maroney Not Impressed. (But not up to the level of Crying Jordan.) As it was, Galarraga's effort -- a totally out-of-nowhere perfect game disrupted by an egregious blown call on the 27th out -- got a shoutout from the White House press briefing, a song by the Dylanesque songwriter Dan Bern, and instant replay in baseball.
Blue Jays: Bautista's bat flip (Oct. 14, 2015)
All right, so Twitter existed for Jose Bautista's bat flip heard 'round the world
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The years steam past, the comics pile up, and the canon for any single moment of time soon collapses to a ridiculously over-simplified, back-of-a-Trivial-Pursuit-card answer. The facts of the Marvel Revolution of the Sixties have long-since contracted, for all but the historically minded, to a MCQ answer of Lee, Kirby, and – perhaps, for extra points – Ditko. Few recall the regrettably brief months when the Pop-Holy Trinity became a Quartet, when Wally Wood took charge of the plotting and the art for Daredevil for 5 successive issues in 1964-5.
Yet Wood’s short High Sixties tenure at Marvel produced some of the most quietly remarkable superhero comics of the period. It’s both fascinating and a touch melancholic to dwell for a moment on the unique qualities which Wood brought to the company just at the moment at which Marvel was first beginning to slip almost imperceptibly from revolt into style, from energetic iconoclasts to peddlers of more-of-almost-the-same. What might have happened if Wood’s style and sensibility had become enmeshed in Marvel’s creative DNA to the degree that Jack Kirby and Steve Lee’s did? Perhaps Wood’s influence would have become another occasionally-manifesting ghost in the machine, just as Steve Ditko’s became, the spirit of an innovator too quirky and forcefully individual to anchor a corporate storytelling approach. But perhaps Wood’s graceful, comics-realistic, meticulously clear approach might have served to moderate Marvel’s slow decline into bombastic facsimiles of what had once been a genuinely radical, constantly-innovating enterprise.
Of the few stories which Wood fleshed out from Stan Lee’s bare-bones plot-points, it’s Daredevil #7 which is best remembered, and quite rightly so. Any collection of the finest dozen Marvel stories from the company’s half-century and more of trash and diamonds which fails to contain In Mortal Combat With … Sub-Mariner! simply isn’t doing its job. Not only is it an exquisitely told super-brawl, as we’ll come to in a moment, it’s also the very finest tale ever told of the superhero who cannot possibly win, and who doesn’t. As if he were Jacob wrestling with the Angel, Daredevil refuses to abandon his pursuit of the effortlessly more powerful Namor, rolling with the Prince’s contemptuous blows until he inevitably collapses into “complete exhaustion”, pleading as he does to the Sub-Mariner to show mercy to “the others —! They’re innocent – - mustn’t be harmed – - mustn’t –!” Though Murdock fails even to maintain the contest as Jacob did, he’s similarly blessed for his skill and courage. Rather than continuing to swat the soldiers sent against him from one end of Manhattan to another, the Sub-Mariner’s inspired to peacefully return to Atlantis in recognition of Daredevil’s apparently-futile sacrifice. His practically inconsequential opponent is, Namor declares, both the “most vulnerable” and the most “courageous” of all the super-people he’s ever fought. It’s a character-defining moment, establishing Daredevil as the superhero whose worth counter-intuitively lies in his lack of physical power matched with his excess of bravery. Just like his father Battlin’ Jack Murdock, Daredevil’s ultimately defined not by who he defeats so much as by his stubborn refusal to bow down to the most overwhelmingly fearsome of opponents. Most of the very best of the character’s adventures ever since have reflected that, including the McKenzie/Miller tale from Daredevil #163, which effectively re-ran Wood and Lee’s classic tale with the Hulk standing in for the Sub-Mariner.
Marvel Comics had shown heroes nobly failing before, of course, but rarely like this, and never so movingly. This wasn’t a defeat placed in the context of an ultimately hard-won victory, or a noble sacrifice for the team which set up a rousingly forceful final achievement. It wasn’t a defeat such as that suffered by Peter Parker’s being flattened by a cold before he took on Dr Octopus, or the beating taken by Thor from the Absorbing Man because All-Father Odin has taken away half of his son’s power. It was nothing other than an unconditional defeat, and Namor’s final retreat from New York City is one which he chooses to make entirely of his own free will. Wood’s art takes the beats of Lee’s tale and wrings every bit of emotion out of the situation without ever sacrificing the fundamental
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it ruled that revenue from the Greater Sunrise oil and gas field would be split evenly between the two countries.
"Civil society could potentially perceive this as a 'form' of collusion between the Government of Australia and Darwin LNG Partners and/or the Sunrise J," Mr Gusmao said.
East Timor will sign the maritime boundary treaty in New York, and will continue working towards a deal with Australia.
But there is a very plain bottom line for the Timorese — they want the pipeline in East Timor.
The country is under some pressure because its existing oil and gas fields are expected to run dry by the end of the decade, and observers predict the country could run out of money in less than a decade at current rates of spending.
It could take up to 10 years for Greater Sunrise development to get underway once the deal is struck.
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Just for fans who've been wondering where f(x) have been, Luna updated a few photos from behind the scenes at their practice for 'f(x) the 1st concert DIMENSION 4 Docking Station'.
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On January 26, Luna posted the above photo to Instagram and the message, "There's not much time until the concert, and so many thoughts are going through my head. Let's gain strength for a little longer, my members. I love you <3." Judging from the selfie, Luna definitely looks a little wiped out from practice.
She also posted the photo below of Amber�and Krystal�with the message, "Dimension 4. f(x) enthusiastic performance practice."
f(x) will be holding their 'Dimension 4' concert on January 30-31 at the Olympic Hall in Seoul.
ensler, who chairs the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and Phil Murphy, U.S. ambassador to Germany. But in its zeal to build its case against Obama, American Future Fund strains credibility by padding its list of “Obama’s Wall Street Inner Circle” with a majority of people who don’t belong.
— Eugene Kiely, with Scott Blackburn, Lalita Clozel and Dave Bloom
Correction, March 1: In our original report, we misidentified the position Adam Storch holds in the SEC. His title is managing executive of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. He reports to Robert Khuzami, the director of the division. We also originally said the ad was from a political action committee, but it is sponsored by American Future Fund, a 501(c)(4), not the group’s PAC.
Grant High presents 'The 39 Steps' this weekend
Grant Community High School presents "The 39 Steps" with special arrangement by Samuel French Inc. this weekend.
With a cast of 17, the production is a two-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning show with nonstop laughs, that includes an onstage plane crash, handcuffs, missing fingers and romance.
The play will be presented Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 23, at 2 p.m. in the Grant High School Auditorium. The school is at 285 E Grand Ave., Fox Lake.
Contact [email protected] for advance ticketing.
Same day ticket sales at the door start one hour before the performance.
Prices are $7 adults; $5 seniors and students.
Note: I may earn money or products from the companies, products, or links mentioned in this post.
I’ve been asked so many times, “How do you make money with your blog? I didn’t even know that was possible!” But when I set a goal for my blog in 2015, I never in a million years expected to make almost triple that!
Since so many people and other bloggers like to know how I do it, I like to do 1-2 posts a year with a detailed look at what exactly I did to make money. I’ve been told people love how detailed my reports are so I hope this helps YOU too!
How I Made Money on my Blog in 2015
Check it Out Here:
MAKE $30,000 IN A YEAR BLOGGING {BLOG INCOME REPORT}
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Dependencies: zlib = http://zlib.net/zlib-1.2.11.tar.gz
Now, there is an issue of duplication currently between the package file and the build system. As the dependencies would need to be requested again in the build script. Hopefully, in the future, build systems could read the same package file to know what dependencies to search for. This integration could be very likely if this were able to be standardized.
Toolchain specification
Now with the package file, a package manager can know where to go get the dependencies. The next step is for the package manager to build and install the package. We could try to create a standard build script, but some builds are just too complicated to deal with every build requirement out there. CMake tries to be high-level build script that generates other build scripts, but even this sometimes is not sufficient, and authors go to other build tools.
Rather than focus on trying to standardized some all-encompassing build scripts, instead we can focus on standardizing how build systems are invoked, which is much simpler. The common way a build is invoked is with configure, build, and install. This is pretty easy to standardized. However, the key part for a package manager is to communicate the build “environment” or toolchain to the build system. Currently every build system has a different format. CMake uses a toolchain file, Meson has a cross file and environment variables, boost build has a user-config.jam file, and makefile or autotools use a set of environment variables.
So there needs to be a standardized format to describe the toolchain. This can include:
Compilers
Compiler flags
Linker flags
System
Cross compiling
Build type such as debug or release
Library type such as shared or static
Include directories
Preprocessor definitions
Options to be used for compiling
Options to be used when linking for shared, static, or executable
List of paths to find dependencies
Root paths(aka sysroots) to use when cross-compiling
This could be a simple format such as variable assignment. Furthermore, each variable should be accessible in the package file, so optional dependencies could be decided based on the toolchain.
This standardized toolchain can help make building and installing consistent across toolchains and build systems. It can also help ensure that build systems are mature enough to handle the build scenarios that a package manager needs.
A sample toolchain for mingw file might look like this:
system = windows cross_compile = true c_compiler = x86_64-w64-mingw32-gcc cxx_compiler = x86_64-w64-mingw32-g++ rc_compiler = x86_64-w64-mingw32-windres root_path = /usr/x86_64-w64-mingw32 emulator = wine install_prefix = ~/packages prefix_path = ~/packages
Until build systems support the toolchain file, it would be fairly easy to write wrappers that can convert this format to the native build tools. Of course, not all build tools may understand every option, so a warning to the user that the option is not supported would be helpful.
Final thoughts
As an author of a package manager(ie cget), I have my own format to describe a package’s dependencies, but having a standardized C++ package specification will help collaboration and interoperability across different build and package tools. Furthermore, trying to build a universal build tool and package manager(like with build2) is very much an uphill battle, and will have very slow adoption. Instead, we should focus on standardizing over existing practice as much as possible so users will not have to rewrite their build scripts.
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On this day in history, 13th August 1514, Henry VIII’s youngest sister, Mary, married King Louis XII of France by proxy at Greenwich Palace.
Henry VIII wrote to Pope Leo X on 12th August 1514 regarding the peace treaty agreed between France and England, which included the marriage of Mary and Louis, and mentioning her previous betrothal to Charles of Castile, the future Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor:
“The Princess Mary is to be given in marriage to France. She had been betrothed at thirteen years of age to the Prince of Castile, then nine years old, on the stipulation that when he was fourteen he should send his proxies to England, and solemnly espouse her per verba de prœsenti. His governors neglected it, and last year when the King was at Lisle, [and again] on the 15th May last he impressed this matter frequently on their attention without effect. Taking the advice of his Council, his sister solemnly annulled the engagement, and was betrothed to the King of France. Thinks their alliance will be of great importance to the weal of Christendom, and they can now turn their arms against its common enemies.”
The eighteen-year-old Mary was present at the wedding ceremony, but fifty-two-year-old Louis was represented by the Duke of Longueville. Here is the record of the marriage from Letters & Papers:
“Notarial instrument stating that, 13 Aug. 1514, at the royal manor of Greenwich, present Henry VIII., Queen Katharine, the Abp. of Canterbury, Thomas postulate of York, the Dukes of Buckingham, Norfolk and Suffolk, the Bishops of Winchester and Durham, the Marquis of Dorset, the Earls of Shrewsbury, Surrey, Essex and Worcester, John de Selva and Thomas Bohier, appeared the Princess Mary and the Duke of Longueville, and after a Latin speech by the Archbishop and John de Selva, and the reading of the French King’s letters patent by the Bp. of Durham, the Duke of Longueville, taking with his right the right hand of the Princess Mary, read the French King’s words of espousal (recited) in French. Then the Princess, taking the right hand of the Duke of Longueville, read her part of the contract (recited) in the same tongue. Then the Duke of Longueville signed the schedule and delivered it for signature to the Princess Mary, who signed Marye; after which the Duke delivered the Princess a gold ring, which the Princess placed on the fourth finger of her right hand. Louis XII.’s commission recited (dated St. Germain en Laye 8 Aug. 1514). Attested by Robert Toneys and William Edwardis.”
The real wedding took place on 9th October 1514 at Abbeville in France. Anne Boleyn was recalled from Margaret of Austria’s court to serve Mary in France, which she did until Mary returned to England following Louis’ death. Anne was retained by the new French queen, Queen Claude, wife of Francis I.
Notes and Sources
‘Henry VIII: August 1514, 1-15’, in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, Volume 1, 1509-1514, ed. J S Brewer (London, 1920), pp. 1331-1347, 3139 and 3146. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/letters-papers-hen8/vol1/pp1331-1347.
Categories: Tudor Characters, Tudor Events
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In an effort to pack in more tennis and eat up less time for players, Jon Messick elected to mix things up.
First, he cut the Debbie Boose Memorial Tennis Tournament from a seven-day event to just four, starting Thursday and ending with finals Sunday. Then Messick changed the format of the charity tournament to a round robin, meaning a few more matches could be played by participants.
The two major modifications for the annual event’s 16th year are ones the director hopes will keep the Debbie Boose a more engaging and worthwhile pursuit for tennis players around Northern Colorado on the court.
“What we’re trying do is shorten the time commitment people would have to make and we’ll kind of see after the tournament is over how people liked that,” Messick said.
To accommodate more matches in a smaller time frame, Messick also split earlier matches to another location, utilizing seven new courts at Mehaffey Park on 29th street. All finals Sunday will remain at the traditional site of North Lake Park near Loveland High School.
Unlike many similar charity events, the Debbie Boose simply refuses to lose steam. Sure, the numbers have fluctuated over the years for a variety of factors, but Messick is expecting roughly 145 participants in this year’s edition, essentially the same figure as last year.
The Debbie Boose includes everyone from kids to players more than 60 years old, a feature they added three tournaments back. Also included are men’s and women’s singles and doubles as well as mixed competition. A youth clinic hosted by Amazing Athletes and Free After School Tennis (FAST) will take place Saturday to teach a new generation of tennis enthusiasts.
Included in the registration fee is a dinner catered by Loveland’s Cactus Grill Friday night, and professional exhibitions, with pro wheelchair tennis exhibitions Saturday. There are also silent auction items available throughout the week, including original artwork.
“This is the 16th year of the tournament and at some point you figure it’s going to struggle, but we still have strong numbers,” Messick said. “Not what they were at the peak, but they’re holding in there pretty strong, which I think is pretty significant for a tournament like this to still be going strong this many years.”
Messick’s guidance and commitment to ensuring a fun tournament, as well as the work of the event’s committee, has certainly factored into the Debbie Boose’s sustained, thriving existence, however, it’s the cause that truly keeps people coming back.
The event will once again donate all proceeds to the Pathway’s Hospice floor at the McKee Medical Center as well as the McKee Cancer center, a passion of the tournament’s namesake, who tragically lost her life in a car accident in 2001.
Every year the tournament keeps going is a sense of pride for those involved, none more so than Boose’s husband John and their daughters Kristy Harris and Amy Black.
“It’s really incredible, the support we’ve had over the years and how many people are involved. We’ve had pretty much the same committee a majority of the past years, which shows their dedication to it,” Black said. “It’s just a really neat way for us to honor my mom.”
Black played mixed doubles with her father for the first time in years at last year’s tournament, and as a player, likes the alterations Messick’s made. The weather is expected to be beautiful and clear as well, just another bonus.
Last year saw more than $16,000 raised and the Debbie Boose generally ranges anywhere between $20,000-30,000, according to Messick. That’s something Black is positive her mother would smile about.
“She would be really, really proud and honored that this has been going on so long and that so much money has been raised to help the people in our community,” she said. “It’s a great tribute to my mom, because she helped a lot of people when she was alive and now she’s continued to help people.”
Cris Tiller: 970-669-5401, [email protected] or twitter.com/cristiller
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If you were expecting a wholly different Justin Trudeau to appear on Wednesday, a day after Canadian voters returned 27 fewer Liberal MPs to the House of Commons than they elected in 2015, you were perhaps disappointed.
He did not turn up to the National Press Theatre looking dishevelled and broken. He has not grown a beard. Nor does he seem to have changed his mind entirely about the major issues of the day.
But he did acknowledge that Monday's result cannot go unacknowledged. And there were hints of possible changes in approach.
Dispensing with a long preamble, the prime minister proceeded quickly to questions and then rattled off responses to 41 queries in just under 34 minutes. Several responses were even fairly straightforward.
When will there be a new cabinet? Nov. 20.
Will the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project proceed? Yes.
Is he going to pursue a coalition agreement with one of the smaller parties? No.
Is he still interested in amending the Parliament of Canada Act to entrench his Senate reforms? Yes.
'Canadians gave me a lot to think about'
There were still moments of something like speechifying (a political leader can't afford to ever fully disengage from the arguments of the day) but this was a slightly more succinct version of Justin Trudeau. A bit less interested in floating above the questions asked, a bit more focused on confronting the issues in front of him.
His central message was the contention that Canadians want the federal parties to work together to address the cost of living and climate change. But as reporters poked and prodded, Trudeau eventually acknowledged a cause for reflection.
"Canadians gave me a lot to think about on Monday night, as they returned us in government but with a clear requirement to work with other parties on the priorities that Canadians spoke clearly to during the election campaign, particularly affordability and the fight against climate change," he said.
"And I'm going to take the time necessary to really reflect on how best to serve Canadians and how to work with those other parties. I think that's what the people who voted for me, and the people who didn't,... expect."
Maybe he'll share the results of his reflections in the not-too-distant future. That alone would show a degree of change.
In the meantime, there is a Parliament to navigate, a sizeable portion of the country to reach out to, and an election to make peace with.
A modest mea culpa
He conceded that the federal campaign of 2019 was not this country's best hour, and assigned some responsibility for that to himself.
"I think there were a lot of issues that weren't properly addressed," he said. "I think there were big substantive ideas that weren't fully debated in this election campaign and I regret that and I recognize that much of this campaign tended to be around me, and I do hold a bit of responsibility for that."
He said he would be more deliberate about reaching out to Canadians in Alberta and Saskatchewan. He cited by name the leaders in those two provinces he's contacted over the last two days. He acknowledged that he and his team are thinking about the cabinet and how to deal with his government's lack of representatives from the Prairies.
Trudeau has not always excelled at exposition and introspection in his public comments, but he seemed to show a bit more of both in these 34 minutes.
There was also a bit of feistiness. Asked about compromising with the other parties, Trudeau noted that the progressive parties hadn't voted in favour of measures like the Canada Child Benefit in the last Parliament and that he hoped they would be more willing to support progressive policies in the upcoming session.
Crisis and creativity
Forty-seven years ago, a disappointing election result compelled Pierre Trudeau to approach things differently. Eight years later, after another electoral setback, he returned from a brief exile with a new determination to make the most of his time.
That victory in 1980 included precisely zero Liberal MPs west of Manitoba. Worried about that lack of representation, Trudeau reached out to NDP Leader Ed Broadbent to ask if the New Democrats, with their representation in the West, might be interested in joining a coalition government.
Broadbent declined — and Justin Trudeau has now ruled out any such arrangement (Jagmeet Singh's NDP doesn't exactly have a lot of western representation to offer). But the point is this: difficult situations are a good excuse to get creative.
The situation for Trudeau in late October 2019 is noticeably different from the situation he faced in late October 2015. Trudeau's words and tone acknowledged as much on Wednesday.
But Wednesday was just day two of the post-2019 Trudeau. How different he'll be, and how he'll be different, are questions that will be answered by his actions in the days ahead.
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As the NHL lockout continues to deprive fans of the ability to witness the highest level of professional hockey, several Blackhawks are honing their skills overseas for lesser-known teams in less visible leagues.
Patrick Kane
As one of the most notable Blackhawks and NHL players playing internationally, Kane has teamed with Boston Bruins young center Tyler Seguin to provide an impressive scoring duo for EHC Biel in the Swiss Elite League. In his first three games with his temporary team, Kane has registered two goals and five assists, putting him in a tie for eighth on the team, despite playing in far fewer games than most of the roster.
Seguin, the team’s leading scorer, has notched 23 points in 15 games and has already developed remarkable chemistry with his NHL colleague. The two offensively gifted forwards have taken advantage of the larger ice surface and continue to use the extra open space to exhibit their skills.
At 2:28 of the video below, one can see the Blackhawks forward elegantly dance his way around a pair of opposing defenders to find a wide-open Seguin in the slot, who was able to finish the play.
Kane, who was extremely hesitant to head overseas before the impending lockout, is hoping that his exodus from North America, along with many of the league’s other superstars, will accelerate negotiations and force owners to rethink the hard stance they’ve taken to this point.
Despite his original reluctance to risk injury by playing internationally, Kane acknowledges the need for him to continue getting meaningful playing time and participate in a competitive league.
“It’s something where I feel I have to play games,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “If this keeps going on, I will be [in Switzerland] playing. It’s kind of like a safety valve.”
After his troublesome offseason, Kane’s decision to join Biel in Switzerland should help him regain his focus and demonstrates a clear desire by the young forward to grow in maturity and accountability.
There probably isn’t a person on the planet who would do a better job of ensuring that Kane keeps his off-ice personality in check than his mother, who he brought along with him to Europe.
Kane waited until after the “Champs for Charity” game in Chicago had concluded before leaving, showing a continued devotion to his city and the community. The pickup game, featuring a number of names from 2010 Stanley Cup winning roster, as well as other stars from around the league, eventually raised $323,000 for the Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.
Once the lockout finally ends, it will be exciting to see the kind of season that Kane is able to put together. He’s always had the talent, as the video above would indicate, and appears to be doing everything in his power to put his troublesome past behind him.
Viktor Stalberg
Stalberg returned home to Sweden to play for Vastra Frolünda HC of the Swedish Elite League and is averaging over a point per game early in the season. It’s extremely important for Stalberg, who possesses incredible speed and a hard shot but has been somewhat inconsistent in his time with the Blackhawks, to get as much playing time as possible.
Teaming with Colorado’s Matt Duchene, Stalberg has six goals and five assists in just eight games and owns the highest points per game average on the team. The Swedish wing, who put up 43 points (22 goals, 21 assists) in 79 games last season, is exactly the type of player who doesn’t need an extended break right now.
At 26 years old (almost 27), Stalberg is entering the prime years of his career and needs to find a level of consistency that will allow him to stick on one of the Blackhawks’ top two lines. With great size and skating ability he has the potential to be an impact player, but to date has found himself drowned in trade rumors due to his tendency to disappear.
Returning from the lockout at the top of his game and becoming a reliable contributor to the ‘Hawks should allow Stalberg to cement himself as an important member of the roster.
Michael Frolik
Frolik, like Stalberg, is another player with exceptional talent who just hasn’t seemed to be able to put it all together. Once a first-round pick by the Florida Panthers after two strong seasons in the QMJHL, Frolik’s scoring numbers have dropped each season he has been in the NHL.
As one of the first ‘Hawks to head overseas when news of the lockout broke, Frolik has 13 points in 14 games for his Comutov Pirati team in the Czech Extraliga, the top-tier league in the Czech Republic. He currently
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IV applicants.”
Related: 'Attack We Will': Trump Vows Victory in Afghanistan, Stays Silent on Troop Levels
Zeller, Shiner and Akhtari, however, have witnessed the agonizing process drag on for years. They have also experienced the elation when an interpreter finally comes home.
"Ecstatic to just have him in America"
“I’ve been to every type of VA therapy,” Zeller said. “I have PTSD and a traumatic brain injury. I did get back from war with a significant injury. I tried everything. The most therapeutic thing I’ve ever done with my injury is picking people up from the airport.”
Shiner hadn’t seen Akhtari for nearly a decade when his former interpreter walked off the plane at Dulles International Airport with his family. A group of veterans had been waiting patiently at the airport for their brother in arms to come home.
Fraidoon Akhtari sits in his kitchen at his apartment in Millard, Nebraska on Aug. 29, 2017. Andrew Dickinson / for NBC News
“It was pretty awesome — the second he walked through the door, being able to yell his name after 10 years, and seeing his family, and just being around him was just a very happy feeling," Shiner recalled. "It was just happiness everywhere. I think all of us were ecstatic to just have him in America.”
Shiner said he often thought about the interpreters back in Afghanistan who were still fighting for America despite the danger they put themselves in.
"To know the work we did got him here was just indescribable."
“Over there is so dangerous and you hear all the time people are killed and just knowing your friends have to deal with that, it’s a shame,” Shiner said. “People really take safety for granted in America, I believe.”
With money Shiner raised through a GoFundMe page, Akhtari was able to pay the State Department back for his flight to America. Akhtari and his family now live in Omaha, Nebraska, where the local No One Left Behind chapter has assisted in helping them settle into their new life in America.
“The whole thing — I don’t have words to describe that either,” Shiner said. “To know the work we did got him here was just indescribable.”
But Zeller's work is unfinished. He continues fighting to keep the SIV program alive, but said one day he hopes to be out of business.
“I’m an optimist at heart,” Zeller said. "There’s a unified government. There’s one part in control. Conceivably, you’d think you only need to convince a few people, but I don’t think this gets resolved unless American people demand it."
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Guerilla Games' reveal of Horizon: Zero Dawn immediately grabbed our attention with its gorgeous world, massive mechanical beasts, and intense combat scenarios. But in a behind-closed-doors demo of the game at E3 2015, the studio delved much deeper into Horizon's mechanics, flow, and backstory, all of which helped vault it to the top of my list of most exciting games of 2016.
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The project, which began back in 2011 and really ramped up production after the launch of Killzone: Shadow Fall, looks to be the most ambitious game Guerrilla has ever worked on. According to the studio, the single-player, completely open-world (meaning that anywhere you see, you can go) action-RPG falls halfway on the spectrum between the action-oriented open world games that Ubisoft has been producing for the past 7 years, and the most RPG-focused adventures that Bethesda works on.You play as Aloy, the woman who was featured front and center in the reveal footage. Looking like something ripped straight out of Pixar’s Brave, she has a special bond with the mechanical beasts that she hunts. Guerrilla stressed that Aloy isn’t just a murderer – the way she connects with the raptor-esque Watcher when she performs a stealth kill shows the sort of relationship she has with the inhabitants of the crumbled world around her.Throughout Horizon, you’ll be leveling up Aloy, crafting new items with the various materials you scavenge across the world, and visiting a King’s Landing-looking city that seems to be a safe haven from the machines that roam the wild. Guerrilla showed us a piece of concept art that featured a sun-baked city filled with a bustling marketplace and even some robo dogs that were just hanging around and not eating anybody. I can imagine collecting contracts, meeting other characters, and trading in my loot back at this hub.Of course, as far as the core combat goes, Horizon seems to deliver an incredibly intense experience. Watching Aloy set up a series of tripwires across two tall rocks, scaring a group of Grazers into running off, and seeing them set off the bombs and get completely blown apart showcased the neat sandbox elements that Guerrilla promised throughout Horizon. When it came to fighting the big hulking dino at the end of the demo, watching her target specific armor plates, shoot them off with her armor-piercing arrows, and attack the weaker core with a barrage of fire arrows cued us in to just how deep each of these massive encounters could be.Before the end of our demo, we asked the folks at Guerrilla if Horizon takes place on Earth, or some other weirdo planet. They definitely wanted to keep story spoilers to a minimum, but they told us that our Rewind Theater of the reveal footage highlighted some very interesting points. Take that for what you will, but we’ll definitely be following Horizon: Zero Dawn For all things E3, bookmark our E3 Hub
Marty Sliva is a Senior Editor at IGN. He once ate a whole blueberry. Follow him on Twitter @McBiggitty
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approached the fallen Viking watching him suffer. He was badly hurt and bleeding almost all over his chest. She then lowered herself down to his level and grabbed his throat, choking him as she lifted him up off the ground.
The Raider watched as his ally was about to be killed by the demon his people feared so much. He felt weak but with the last bit of his strength he got to his feet and tried to hurry over to save the Berserker. As all of this went down the Shaman haven't moved from her spot. She still stood where she has been the moment they arrived just staring at the reminder of her victory...and her soon downfall. As the Raider got closer he saw Apollyon doing something he could not see from his point of view. Until she turned around to face the tired Raider. He was left exhausted and terrified at what he was now seeing. His friend beheaded by the hands of the demon. Apollyon tossed the head down in front of the Raider. All he could do was endlessly stare at the head of his friend in terror. The feeling of loss overwhelmed him entirely. That soon ended as Apollyon got behind him then using both of her hands to twist and snap the neck of the Raider. His body dropped to the ground and lay still as his life faded instantly. Apollyon let out a relieved sigh then turned to the last person alive, the Shaman.
"Both of them. Sheep. The usage of wild dogs as help. Sheep. You standing there all dumb and in terror. SHEEP!" Apollyon shouted at the Shaman. She stood in front of the Shaman who then fell to her knees from her yelling. She did not understand anything being said to her but she thought the sight of submission would give her a chance of mercy.
"How could someone so helpless, nameless, weak, and afraid survive this long and yet able to kill...him," Apollyon said then pointing at Bonifaas body. "You killed a very high skilled warrior yet you don't even put up a guard when facing me?! Pathetic!" Apollyon continued to shout at the Shaman. She roughly takes ahold of the Shaman's bottom jaw then forces the Shaman's face to meet hers. "If you think that I'm going to kill you- then no you're wrong. I'm going to make sure you know how it feels to lose everything you ever loved. I will make sure I wipe out the very existence of your kind and make you watch each and every one of them dies slowly!" She said angrily.
Then from the corner of her eye, she saw a silhouette appear. Looking over she saw Holden return to her. "Ah! Holden. I'd like to introduce you to our new friend. The Black Sheep is what we'll call her from now on." She said gesturing to the Shaman on the floor. Holden saw the Shaman that was in fear for her life.
"Why call her the Black Sheep?" Holden asked confused before continuing, "Why not just sheep as all the others?"
"Because Holden, this one is an imposter, a liar to her own kind. She did not even try to fight me or with the others, she brought with her to their own slaughter. That is why of all the sheep-ish warriors I have faced she has proven to be the worst of them all. She's a rare special kind of sheep that should be punished and pushed to their limit." Apollyon explained.
"That bad huh?" Holden asked but not seeming to care. "So what do you plan to do with her then?" He asked.
"We take her back with us and make her a prime example of what I have been trying to show you all," Apollyon answered.
"Alright then," Holden said and without a moment to think he took hold of the Shamans arm before being stopped by his master.
"No. Carry Bonifaas body. She won't try to run after seeing what I can do." Apollyon said then nudging the Shaman with her foot to stand.
The Shaman stood thinking that's what she wanted from her and waited for another command. She then saw Apollyon point in the direction they wanted to go. Then like an obedient child, she walked in that same direction. Apollyon watched her shiveringly do as she was told. Then looking back for Holden she saw him approach from behind her carrying Bonifaas over his shoulder. Apollyon then walked on in the direction leading back to their small camp followed by Holden Cross and the Shaman.
Somewhere Dark and Empty….
Bonifaas wakes up gasping for air as he clenches his chest with his bare hand. He slowed the breathing and calmed down. He then realized he was somewhere he has never seen or been before. It was dark and empty. An endless void it seemed. He was confused and saw he was in nothing
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