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2 of 5 Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports Commence the Gregg Berhalter era in Columbus. The former U.S. men's national team defender was announced as the seventh head coach in club history last November. After spending the last two years overseas, Berhalter returns to the league he called home during the twilight years of his career. His enrollment in the MLS coaching ranks, however, is not the first time he's held the reins at a professional level. After retiring as a player in 2011, Berhalter was named head coach of Swedish club Hammarby IF. His appointment was a historic one. The New Jersey native became the first American to ever manage a professional football club in Europe. He was fired after 19 months due to lack of productive play from the offensive side. Ironically enough, that's exactly what Berhalter expressed he'd like to bring to Columbus in his introductory press conference last year: My ideas about soccer are attacking minded views, that [involve] a dynamic team that can get forward very quickly - that can move the ball quickly. I believe in a possession-based game and I would say that the defensive side of it has to do with organization. I want to organize defensively. I wouldn't necessarily make that link though to the team being defensive minded. My ideas about soccer are very offensive and I want the team to play nice and attack the football. But all coaches say that on day one. What all coaches don't say—or at least aren't supposed to say, according to Portland Timbers owner Merritt Paulson—are the reasons one decides to turn down a proposed transaction. That's exactly what Berhalter did when he publicly expressed why the Crew opted not to accept a loan for Toronto FC midfielder Matias Laba. That's exactly what Paulson took issue with on his Twitter account. Well, indirectly: "If coach thumps his chest to media about specific trades he has rejected, he ain't getting more trade offers. Amazing that happens." Rule of thumb: Don't subtweet. A ball hasn't even been rolled yet and Berhatler is already ruffling a few feathers. These aren't exactly the type of headlines a blue-collared club like the Columbus Crew typically garnish. So, yes, commence said era.

In fashion as in life, Kristen Stewart has always challenged gender norms with her androgynous beauty – which makes her the perfect face of Chanel's new fragrance, Gabrielle, inspired by the legendary founder of the couture house. But she is also very much her own woman, as independent-spirited when it comes to fame and feminism as she has been in facing down Donald Trump. Kristen wears Chanel on the newsstand cover Read highlights from the interview below: On being in love: "I've been deeply in love with everyone I've dated. Did you think I was faking it? I've always really embraced a duality. And really, truly, believed in it and never felt confused or struggling. I just didn't like getting made fun of." On dating men again: "Yeah, totally. Definitely… Some people aren't like that. Some people know that they like grilled cheese and they'll eat it every day for the rest of their lives. I want to try everything. If I have grilled cheese once I'm like, 'That was cool, what's next?'" Kristen with then-boyfriend Robert Pattinson in 2011, and with current girlfriend Stella Maxwell in June 2017. Getty Images On fame: "Fame is valued quite ridiculously. So then there's this idea that you're beholden in some way, and I resent that. And it comes across like I'm ungrateful or something but, actually, I just find it weird to talk to the general public as a whole. Like, you can relate to a person, you can relate to an individual, but addressing the world at large is something that just perplexes me." On whether she suffers from 'Resting Bitch Face': "Completely. I'm really not introverted - I'm just not acting all the time, which is what it would take to look like how people expect famous people to behave." "Men cannot say bitch anymore, I'm sorry. Say something different. Say, 'You're rude,' say, 'You're a dick,' whatever. Just to say, 'Oh that bitch.' You can't say that because there's nothing I could say to you, there's no retort that would be equal to that, therefore it's demeaning and literally on par with... something homophobic or something racist." On life as a woman in the United States, post Trump: "It's obviously terrible what's happening but at the same time, it feels good to be part of a wider female community that is finally standing up for itself. I've never felt such a strong sense of community. So it's brought us together. The catalyst for this is regrettable, obviously, it's shitty. But at the same time I think that you need something to stir things up in order to get people to come together and define their opinions and force them to be heard." Kristen wears Chanel, photographed by Tom Craig On her tomboy style: She used to dress as "a total tomboy" and it was only at school that she realised it was "not the most normal thing. Not all little girls are that way. And it actually really hurt my feelings, like badly. Like, I remember being in the sixth grade [aged 11] and [people would say] 'Kristen looks like a man. You're a boy', or whatever, and I was so offended, horrified and embarrassed. Now I look back on it and I'm like, 'Girl, be proud of that!'" Everything shifted when Stewart hit puberty and grew her hair long. Suddenly she was accepted as one of the pretty girls "and I was like, 'Fuck all of you!'" Watch below as Kristen explores Coco Chanel's apartment following her cover shoot: The September issue of Harper's Bazaar is available on newsstands from 4 August.

The latest victim of Deflategate? A New York City courtroom sketch artist named Jane Rosenberg. Her rendering of the Tom Brady/NFL hearing (see above) went viral earlier on Wednesday -- and not in a good way. When VICE Sports reached Rosenberg for comment, she was apologetic: "Tell Tom Brady I'm sorry. He's a very good looking guy, and if I didn't make him look good enough, I'll try harder next time." But in an interview with The Boston Globe, Rosenberg was a bit more direct: "I don't tend to flatter people and make them look beautiful," adding that Brady was often checking his cell phone during the hearing. "He hardly looked up at all." Courtesy Jane Rosenberg More from Rosenberg's interview with VICE: "I'm working very quickly. Obviously I have a lot of pressure on me, and it's time pressure. It's lucky if I have a few minutes. So I'm just trying to grab onto something, just as quick as I can. Now, this Tom Brady thing, I did this whole wide shot with a million people in it. And everybody's focusing on that one little fraction of the whole picture, of Tom Brady." All fair points. Now we await a potential sketch encore, as Brady & Co. will be back in court on Aug. 19. Rosenberg would be wise to call in sick, lest she get engulfed by #deflategatetwitter once again.

Many of us have assumed that the relative media silence over the ongoing genocide of pygmies in Africa is due to a desire to avoid, whenever possible, depicting black Africans in a negative light. While there is definitely some truth to this, there might be another, more sinister, motivation behind this neglect. The leftist establishment assumes, as a matter of faith, that race is not a meaningful biological concept. That racial differences are superficial. Mathilda writes (in a comment): http://216.239.59.104/search?q=cache:8YUaBabaYWIJ:genomebiology.com/2002/3/7/comment/2007+neil+risch+race+skin+deep&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=uk And other world renowned geneticists and physical anthropoligists are behind race as a valid descriptive term. It’s about a 50-50 split. Look up Niell Risch. The pro-race ones aren’t as noisy though, as people like you automatically have a hissy if someone observes one of the many racial non-cosmetic differences between human poopulations. Such as… http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2007/03/black-and-asian-babies-at-increased.html Age of menopause Height Lung capacity Life span Muscle and bone density Pregnancy duration.Age of menopauseHeightLung capacityLife spanMuscle and bone density http://www.physorg.com/news117456722.html To name but a few. If you don’t believe me, have a root through this blog. Pygmies hit the menopause at 24, I’d hardly call that ‘no difference’. They are geriatric in their fifties. They seem to age nearly twice as fast as average humans. http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-09-03-dna-differences_N.htm We are 99% the same as each other (revised by Venter recently). Not the 99.9% the same you see touted about so often. This is a fair amount of differences, as we are 98.4% the same as a chimp, so a small amount of DNA can make a lot of difference. Contrary to what is commonly reported in thn Media, we are not ‘unusually closely related’ to each other compared to other mammals. We are fairly average. BTW, the 4% variation in human only DNA that defines us as races… in other species the same amount can easily define a new species, let alone a sub species. Read up on Chichlid fishes.

Healthy aging is accompanied by a decline in spatial working memory that is related to functional cerebral changes within the spatial working memory network. In the last decade, important findings were presented concerning the location (e.g., prefrontal), kind (e.g., ‘underactivation,’ ‘overactivation’), and meaning (e.g., functional deficits, compensation) of these changes. Less is known about how functional connections between specific brain regions are affected by age and how these changes are related to behavioral performance. To address these issues, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine retrieval-related brain activation and functional connectivity in 18 younger individuals and 18 older individuals. We assessed working memory with a modified version of the Corsi Block-Tapping test, which requires the storage and reproduction of spatial target sequences. Analyses of group differences in brain activation and functional connectivity included comparisons between younger individuals, older individuals, older high-performers, and older low-performers. In addition, we conducted a functional connectivity analysis by using a seed region approach. In comparison to younger individuals, older individuals showed lower right-hemispheric dorsolateral prefrontal activation and lower functional connectivity between the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the bilateral orbitofrontal cortex. Older high-performers showed higher right dorsolateral and anterior prefrontal cortex activation than older low-performers, as well as higher functional connectivity between these brain regions. The present results suggest age-related reductions of prefrontal activation during spatial working memory retrieval. Moreover, task-related functional connectivity appears to be lower in older adults. Performance accuracy in older adults is associated with right dorsolateral and anterior prefrontal cortex activation, and with the functional connection between these regions.

I originally wanted to recreate the final fight between the Barbatos and Graze Ein from the anime for my first diarama. Didn’t feel like buying the 6th form HG Barbatos but I had the HG Barbatos that came with the Long Distance Booster. Looked into how much model buildings cost (they are expensive) and didn’t want to scratch build them so I went with a forest fight. From there I came up with a concept that had the Graze Ein win the fight by drill kick and thought I would try using a motor to to have it drilling. Started off with a 16″ x 10″ wood base and used cork board to build up the cliff sides. That was a bad idea since the layers are so thin and cork is not that easy to cut. I’ll definitely go with Styrofoam next time. Added a large sheet of cork to put on the base so i can lift the terrain part and run wires through the base. Forgot to take pics of the final cork cliff layout. Used plaster cloth to cover the ground and cliff areas. Once that dried, I added rock plaster castings and hid the edges with more plaster cloth. I used the Outcropping, surface and boulder rock molds from woodland scenics. Once that layer dried I added more plaster to the ground to remove some of the flatness. I used the kits to leave inpressions in the plaster to make my life easier later on. The Painting I used woodland scenics leopard spotting technique (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SfP4RpcDYw) to paint the rocks. Used burnt umber, slate and black for the colors. Used earth undercoat to paint the rest of the base. This took several layer to get the look I wanted. The Plants I masked off the areas that i wanted to keep as dirt and started adding layers of Woodland scenics fine and course turf (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQBDf6vQ_v8) Removed masking tape and checked the kits to make sure they still fit in the exposed areas. Once the base layer of grass was down, I added bushes, vines and trees.

The New England Patriots don't have a first round pick, but they are in a position to acquire a first round talent- without having to trade to trade up. MMQB's Peter King spoke with ten high ranking personnel decision makers around the league and they all pointed towards the equal level of talent in this draft that could benefit the Patriots with their two picks at the bottom of the second round. "Twenty-five to 55 is the same player, to me," one said. "Eleven to 40 is the same guy," echoed another. "To us, 18 to 48 you can get the same player," said yet another decision maker. "Load me up with twos and threes in this draft," a fourth agreed. "That's where I'd want a lot of picks." "It's the kind of draft where the 50th player on some team's board will be the 17th player on another team," draft evaluator Gil Brandt said. "And the 17th player on the first team could be the 50th on that other team." This isn't to say that the players available at the end of the first round in this draft would be the equivalent to players at the end of the first in any other draft. The 2016 draft class is incredibly short on top tier talent, but the depth in the next tier of players is outstanding. One evaluator told King that he thinks there are 90 immediate impact players on defense in the draft, versus just 40 impact offensive players. It's easy to agree with this evaluation, and it points towards the Patriots likely having to use an earlier draft pick on the offensive side of the ball if they want to leave with one of the top players. The Patriots currently have the 60th and 61st picks in the draft, both at the end of the 2nd round. New England wasn't expecting 2015 first round pick defensive tackle Malcom Brown to be available last year because Brown was projected to be a top 20 selection. If any player slips down the board this year, the Patriots will be in position to pounce. The following players are fringe first round candidates that could interest the Patriots and could be available towards the end of the second round: Running back: Alabama's Derrick Henry Wide receiver: Ohio State's Michael Thomas, Rutgers' Leonte Carroo, Oklahoma's Sterling Shepard, Pittsburgh's Tyler Boyd Tight end: Arkansas' Hunter Henry Offensive tackle: Unfortunately this is a weak offensive tackle class outside of the top five prospects. Edge defender: Florida's Jonathan Bullard, Michigan State's Shilique Calhoun, Georgia's Leonard Floyd Defensive tackle: Penn State's Austin Johnson, Mississippi State's Chris Jones, Louisiana Tech's Vernon Butler, UCLA's Kenny Clark, Ohio State's Adolphus Washington Cornerback: Virginia Tech's Kendall Fuller If any of these players are still on the board after the 50th pick, don't be surprised if the Patriots start making some phone calls to potentially move up the draft board.

Yazidi's wait for medical assistance from doctors at Al-Tun Kopri health centre, located half way between the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk and Arbil (AFP Photo/Safin Hamed) ALTUN KOPRI (Iraq) (AFP) - The Islamic State (IS) group released more than 200 mostly elderly members of northern Iraq's Yazidi minority Saturday who had been held for months, officials and activists said. The Yazidis were freed on the front line southwest of the city of Kirkuk and met by Kurdish peshmerga forces who brought them to a health centre in Altun Kopri, on the road to the Kurdish regional capital of Arbil. "These men and women had been held in Mosul," Khodr Domli, a leading Yazidi rights activist told AFP at the centre. "We already have names for 196 and there could be some more." "Some are wounded, some have disabilities and many are suffering from mental and psychological problems," he said. According to officials from Kirkuk and Arbil, the group was moved from Mosul via Hawija and freed at the Khaled entrance to Kirkuk on Saturday. Dozens of Kurdish doctors and nurses provided emergency care at the Altun Kopri health centre, where Yazidis who had heard the news started to mass at the gates, hoping to be reunited with missing relatives. "We have dispatched laboratory teams to check their blood, to control for things such as polio and possible contagious diseases," said Saman Barzanji, director general of the Arbil health department. "Another team is here to handle the people's immediate health needs. We have also deployed ambulance teams to dispatch emergency cases to hospital," he said. Those freed, some in wheelchairs, others leaning on walking sticks, looked tired and distraught as they waited to give blood samples. One of them told how they had been moved from one place to another in northern Iraq since being captured in early August. "It was so hard, not only because of the lack of food but also because I spent so much time worrying," said an old Yazidi man in a rickety wheelchair, wearing a red and white headscarf. - 'They were a burden' - IS spearheaded a June offensive that began in Mosul and overran much of Iraq's Sunni Arab heartland north and west of Baghdad, sweeping security forces aside. After driving south toward Baghdad, IS again turned its attention to the north, pushing Kurdish forces back, killing and capturing thousands of Yazidis and twice besieging others on Mount Sinjar. Officials told AFP the mass release, the largest of its kind, took them by surprise and said there had been no coordination with IS. "IS must have decided that they could no longer feed them, look after them. They were a burden," said Domli. "IS saw that there was no benefit for them in keeping these old people," said Vian Dakhil, a Yazidi member of the Iraqi parliament who made a poignant appeal to the international community for assistance in August. Days later, US President Barack Obama announced an air campaign and said the threat of a genocide against the Yazidis was one of the main justifications. Peshmerga and other Iraqi forces, backed by a multinational campaign of air strikes, may have turned the tide against the jihadists. "The fact that the peshmerga are regaining ground every day must have played a part in the release. IS is under pressure and is having to reorganise constantly," Dakhil told AFP. Hundreds and possibly thousands of Yazidi women and girls have been forced to marry or been sold into sexual slavery by the jihadists, according to Amnesty International. Dakhil said she thought around 3,000 women and children were still in IS captivity. Most of the survivors at the health centre said they had recently been held at the Shallalat resort on the outskirts of Mosul. A peshmerga officer said one survivor had told him there were 3,070 of them held there before Saturday's mass release. "He told me he knew the figure because he overheard IS militants mentioning it when discussing the number of meals they had to serve," the officer said.

A short public service announcement: you might think you don't need Cabal. Oh, you might be just whipping up a tiny throw-away script, or a small application that you never intend on distributing. Cabal? Isn't that what you do if you're planning on sticking your package on Hackage? But the Cabal always knows. The Cabal is always there. And you should embrace the Cabal, even if you think you're too small to care. Here's why: Writing a cabal file forces you to document what modules and what versions your script worked with when you were originally writing it. If you ever decide you want to run or build your script on another environment, the cabal file will make it dramatically easier to get your dependencies and get running faster. If you ever update your modules, the cabal file will partially insulate you against API changes (assuming that the package follows Hackage's PVP). This is far more palatable than GHC's package-qualified imports. You might have cringed about writing up a Makefile or ant file to build your projects in another language; as long as it is just one or two files, the pain associated with these build languages seems to outweight the cost of just running gcc foo.c -o foo . Cabal files are drop-dead easy to write. There even is a cabal init to do the scaffolding for you. Toss out the dinky shell script that you've kept to run ghc --make and use cabal configure && cabal build . It gives you nice things, for free! Do you want Haddock documentation? A traditional GNU-style Makefile? Colourised code? Cabal can do all of these things for you, with minimal effort after you have your cabal file.

Ridley Scott’s 2015 sci-fi blockbuster, The Martian, is considered a return to form for the legendary director. This week, you’ll be able to enter the world of the movie with a new VR experience. You may have heard of The Martian VR Experience before. Developed at 20th Century Fox’s Fox Innovation Lab along with RSA Films and The Virtual Reality Company, the cinematic piece has been shown at a handful of events throughout the year but, tomorrow, you’ll get to experience it at home on both the HTC Vive and PlayStation VR. This isn’t a simple 360 degree experience like other Fox VR projects such as Wild; it’s a full VR production that uses position-tracked controls. You take on the role of astronaut Mark Watney, played by Matt Damon in the movie, and experience key scenes like driving a rover across the surface of the red planet, and flying through space. While it’s not necessarily a VR movie, it might be closer to something like Batman: Arkham VR, as a shorter experiential piece in which you won’t have to worry about failure. It’s built in Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4. This likely isn’t the first time HTC Vive owners will have visited Mars, and nor will it have been the last. Experiences like Mars Odyssey are already available and others like Mars 2030 are still on the way. We’ll also be seeing more of Ridley Scott’s worlds in VR; the upcoming Blade Runner sequel will have VR tie-in content, as announced back at Oculus Connect 3 last month. It may be a promotional experience, but Fox certainly thinks it’s worth a price; The Martian VR Experience will cost $19.99. We’ll be interested to see the difference between the Vive and PS VR versions. We’ve also asked after the possibility of an Oculus Rift version, though it would likely arrive once Oculus Touch releases in early December. Would you pay for an experience like this? Tagged with: Mars, ridley scott, sci-fi, The Martian VR Experience

APRIL 27--For the first time ever, a defendant has been charged in connection with a xylophone rage incident, records show. According to investigators, Floridian April Encarnacion, 43, was collared earlier this month on a domestic battery charge after police responded to a residence in Fort Walton Beach. Encarnacion, cops say, was in the kitchen with the male victim, who “was playing a xylophone” around 9:20 PM. Encarnacion--apparently not enjoying the Friday evening musical performance--“asked him to stop,” according to a court filing. When the man refused, Encarnacion, seen above, “dumped a pot of cold cooking grease on him.” An officer who responded to a 911 call noted that the victim had wet spots on his shirt and shorts, and that “there was a puddle of liquid on the ground where the victim was sitting near the xylophone.” During police questioning, Encarnacion--who is jailed in lieu of $3000 bond--reportedly confessed to the April 14 attack. Charged with misdemeanor battery, Encarnacion is next scheduled for a May 2 court appearance. Encarnacion, an unemployed housekeeper, is already serving a probation sentence in connection with a 2015 no contest plea to a felony charge of battery on a police officer. An arrest report does not reveal whether the xylophone was of the Fisher Price variety or more like the instrument pictured below. (2 pages)

As an outcome from the continuous hybrid renewable energy research, an innovative outdoor lighting system powered by a shroud-augmented wind turbine and a solar panel was installed in the Kuala Lumpur campus of University of Malaya (UM). As an outcome from the continuous hybrid renewable energy research, an innovative outdoor lighting system powered by a shroud-augmented wind turbine and a solar panel was installed in the KL campus of University of Malaya (UM). This hybrid green energy system is a compact design that harmoniously integrates a vertical-axis-wind-turbine (VAWT) with the novel omni-direction-guide-vane (ODGV), solar panel and LED lighting system. Consisting of several guide vanes, the ODGV is carefully designed and placed to surround the VAWT for wind power augmentation where the oncoming wind is guided through the ODGV. This will create a venturi effect that increases the wind speed before the wind-stream interacts with the turbine blades. Furthermore, the unique design of the ODGV that shrouds the wind turbine rotor provides a safer and more secure environment for maintenance workers and the public. Ultimately, the ODGV overcomes the low wind speed challenge in the tropics by guiding and increasing the speed of the wind from all directions radially through the guide-vanes before entering the VAWT at center portion. To harness power from the sun, a photovoltaic panel is mounted on the top surface of the ODGV for solar energy generation. The green energy generated from this wind-solar hybrid system is utilized to power the outdoor lighting system. The team led by Dr. Chong Wen Tong was awarded a Pre-commercialized Prototype Fund to develop and install the product at suitable locations in the campus. The fund was provided by UM via UM Center of Innovation and Commercialization (UMCIC). The first unit was installed next to the outdoor gymnasium, opposite 1st Residential College. This unit will serve as the first full-scale trial and as a showcase unit of the product. Improvements on the design and features will be included in the next units. For the commercialization of this product, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between UM and a private company, Master Shanghai Turnparts Sdn. Bhd. (MSTSB). MSTSB has provided great assistance in enhancing the product. The second unit of the product is currently in the final stages of fabrication and testing. The product is protected by three intellectual properties and a trademark, all of which is owned by UM. It also has won several awards in local and international exhibitions. With a motto 'Lighting-up UM', the team aims to provide a sustainable solution for energy efficient and quality lighting powered by wind-solar hybrid renewable energy sources. Summary of the product The product is a part of an UMRG project led by Dr. Chong Wen Tong. The product is called "Eco-GreenergyTM Wind-Solar Outdoor Lighting System" and it is self-sustained, i.e. powered by the shrouded vertical-axis-wind-turbine generator and solar PV panel. The novelty of the product is achieved through the wind power augmentation of the guide-vanes assembly known as the omni-direction-guide-vane (ODGV). The guide-vanes can be made from clear and translucent material to act as light-plates. Moreover, logos or symbols can be engraved on these plates for showcasing purposes. The solar PV is positioned at the top portion of the ODGV to avoid interference resulting from shadow. The batteries and the controller are stored at the top of the pole and below the ODGV to avoid vandalism or flash floods. The overall "clean" impression of the product compared to other conventional wind-solar lamp posts serves as an added advantage for this product.

0 SHARES Facebook Twitter Google Whatsapp Pinterest Print Mail Flipboard Donald Trump has some serious issues that are absolutely getting in the way of his ability to function on any kind of expected, adult level. This was never cute. But now President Trump is whining about the media not covering his “enthusiastic supporters” while Russian smokes threatens to bring this country down thanks to him and his administration. This is more than pathetic. It’s deeply troubling. Just leaving Florida. Big crowds of enthusiastic supporters lining the road that the FAKE NEWS media refuses to mention. Very dishonest! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2017 Donald Trump’s National Security adviser was busted Thursday and Friday for having talks with the Russian ambassador about the sanctions imposed in retaliation for Russia interfering with our election. He had some of these talks before the election. Before Donald Trump won the election. On Friday, a top aide to Trump’s NSA was denied security clearance. Friday and Saturday, Democrats called for Trump to fire his National Security adviser. Friday evening, Trump pretended he knew nothing of the explosive report that his NSA was talking to Russia even before the election. Sunday, Trump adviser Stephen Miller refused to comment on this matter saying the White House hadn’t given him anything to say on it. On Sunday, a former national security expert quoted a Senior Pentagon intelligence official as saying, “Since January 20, we’ve assumed that the Kremlin has ears inside the Situation Room… There’s not much the Russians don’t know at this point.” On Sunday evening, Michael Flynn was on Air Force One with President Trump, returning to D.C. So basically D.C. is on fire with Russian flames encroaching our most vital national security and Donald Trump is whining about crowds and the media. Senator Al Franken said today that a few Republicans are worried about Trump’s mental health. Just a few? That says a lot. If you’re ready to read more from the unbossed and unbought Politicus team, sign up for our newsletter here! Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human:

Information on Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition release (ENG/GER) Hey there - please find a message from my colleague, Philipp, below - you are for sure keen on more information on the Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition releaseThis is a message from Philipp, PR and Marketing guy from Nordic Games.Introducing the Nordic Franchise Loyalty Program (if you’re into acronyms: NFLP) for DarksidersWith the release of the Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition on November 5th 2015, I am very excited to give you all the dirty little details on behalf of Nordic Games, and the introduction of our NFLP for the Darksiders franchise.The following post explains the 3 different tiers of said NFLP for Darksiders on Steam. In other words: these are applicable for anybody who bought a Steam version, i.e. on Steam itself, as a boxed PC Steam key version or on any other digital platform selling Steam keys.Our original plan was to have the free copy unlocked for everyone owning Darksiders II and ALL DLCs, but unfortunately this was not possible from a purely technical point of view (on Steam). Therefore we chose to give our loyal fans the closest possible option to this original plan:• Tier 1: Owners of the Darksiders Franchise Pack ( http://store.steampowered.com/sub/18777/ ), purchased or activated through Steam before November 5th, will receive Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition for PC completely• Tier 2: Owners of the original Darksiders II, purchased or activated through Steam before November 5th, will be able to pick up Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition for PC at an 80% discount for the first week of release.Edition on November 5th 2015 will get an 80% discount during the first release week• Tier 3: All newcomers to the series will be able to get Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition for PC at a 20% discount for the first week of release.“But how does this black magic work?!?!” you may wonder…If you are a Tier 1, you will find the Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition automatically as a game in your Steam library once it releases on November 5th 2015.If you are a Tier 2, you will have an 80% discount usable on your purchase of Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition during the first release week.If you are a Tier 3, you will have a 20% discount usable on your purchase of Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition during the first release week.Thank you for playing Darksiders, and I hope you thoroughly enjoy the Deathinitive Edition of Darksiders II on PC.Best regards,Philipp (PR Nordic Games)Liebe STEAM Community, hier eine Info von meinem Kollegen, Philipp, ihr seid sicher schon gespannt auf mehr Informationen zum Darksiders II Deathinitive Release:Dies ist eine Nachricht von Philipp, dem PR- und Marketingverantwortlichen von Nordic Games.Hiermit will ich euch mit dem Nordic Franchise Treue-Programm (für diejenigen von euch, die auf Abkürzungen stehen: NFTP) für Darksiders bekannt machen.Mit dem Release der Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition am 5. November 2015, freue ich mich, euch all die schmutzigen Details über Nordic Games und die Einführung des NFTP für das Darksiders Franchise zu verraten.Der folgende Post erklärt die 3 verschiedenen Stufen der besagten NFTP für Darksiders auf Steam und für alle Plattformen, die auf Steam Keys basieren. In anderen Worten: Sie betreffen jeden, der eine Steam Version gekauft hat, entweder auf Steam selbst, als Box-Version, oder jeder anderen digitalen Plattform, die auf Basis von Steam Keys handelt.Unser ursprünglicher Plan war es, jedem, der Darksiders II und ALLE DLCs besitzt, die Gratisversion (Rang 1) anzubieten - leider wurde uns dies von einem rein technischen Standpunkt auf Steam verwehrt. Also haben wir uns für die an diesem Plan naheliegenste Möglichkeit entschieden:• Rang 1: Jeder, der zum Release der Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition am 5. November 2015 das Darksiders Franchise Pack ( http://store.steampowered.com/sub/18777/ - diese Version wird mit dem Release von Deathinitive offline gehen) besitzt, das entweder direkt auf Steam, oder aber auch durch einen Steam Key (boxed und/oder digital) aktiviert wurde, bekommt die Deathinitive Edition(freebie, gratuit, gratuito, for free, gratuito).• Rang 2: Jeder, der bis zum Release der Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition am 5. November 2015 das originale Darksiders II (auf Steam selbst oder durch einen Steam Key aktiviert, Box- und digitale Versionen) besitzt, bekommt einen Rabatt von 80% während der ersten Releasewoche.• Rang 3: Für alle Nicht-Besitzer wird es in der 1. Veröffentlichungswoche einen Rabatt von 20% geben.„Aber wie funktioniert diese schwarze Magie?!?“ wird sich vielleicht der ein oder die andere wundern…Diejenigen, die den Kriterien des 1. Rangs entsprechen, werden die Darksiders Deathinitive Edition automatisch als Spiel in ihrer Steam Bibliothek finden, sobald es am 5. November 2015 veröffentlicht wurde.Diejenigen, die den Kriterien der 2. Rangs entsprechen, werden das Spiel mit einem 80% Rabatt angeboten bekommen, der für den Kauf einer Darksiders II Deathinitive Edition verwendbar ist.Für diejenigen, auf die Rang 3 zutrifft, wird es einen Rabatt von 20% geben, der für den Kauf einer Darksiders II Deathinitive verwendbar ist.Danke für das Spielen von Darksiders, ich hoffe, dass euch die Deathinitive Edition von Darksiders II gefallen wird.Liebe GrüßePhilipp (PR Nordic Games)

I review a few dozen speakers each year, and listen to a bunch more. Most are pretty decent, a few are dreadful, and fewer still are truly remarkable. This year the ELAC Debut B6 bookshelf and Magnepan .7 panel speakers topped my list as terrific values, but the Harbeth 40.2 is the one I'll remember 10 years from now. It's that good. I favorably reviewed Harbeth's Super HL5Plus speakers earlier this year, so when the US importer Fidelis AV offered the new Harbeth 40.2 top-of-the-line speaker for review, I jumped at the chance. The 40.2 is unabashedly big, it's 29.5 x 17 x 15.3 inches (750 x 432 x 388mm), and weighs a rather substantial 83.8 pounds (38 kg). The speaker has twin bass ports on its front baffle, and all-metal cable binding posts on its backside. It's big for a reason, there's no way a smaller speaker could present music's unrestrained dynamics, scale and power that come so easily from the 40.2. That's why I couldn't resist playing the 40.2s louder than usual, they sounded better and better the louder I played them. Jim Holden When I chatted with Harbeth's owner and designer Alan Shaw, he told me his biggest export market is Japan. I was taken aback by that factoid, Japanese homes are usually rather small, but those guys love the big Harbeth speakers. Japanese audiophiles are also among the world's most demanding of build and sound quality, and the fact that Harbeth does so well there says a lot about the company. The 40.2 speakers sell for $14,990 per pair in Cherry in the US, $15,990 for Rosewood, Eucalyptus and Tiger Ebony 40.2s. My samples' real Rosewood finish was impeccable. UK prices start at £9,995 and AU$21,190 in Australia. Behind its removable black cloth grille the 40.2's front baffle hosts a 12-inch (300 mm) Radial woofer, 8-inch (200 mm) Radial midrange, and 1-inch (25 mm) soft dome tweeter. The woofer and midrange drivers are proprietary designs, made in Harbeth's factory in Sussex, England (the tweeter is made by SEAS in Europe). The 40.2's impedance is listed as 6-8 ohms. I used Resonant Woods 16 inch (406mm) tall floor stands with the speakers. Shaw's top priority for all of his speakers is proper reproduction of the sound of the human voice. Seems straightforward, but a lot of otherwise excellent speakers either add too much "chest" that makes voices sound deeper than they really are, or thinner than they do in real life. So when I played Rosanne Cash's "10 Song Demo" CD, the 40.2 brought new life to the sound of her voice and guitar. I've played this music on hundreds of speakers over the years, but the 40.2 was the most lifelike. Most speakers shrink, contain and limit the sound of singers, at least that's what I felt after spending time with the 40.2. I can't say the sound was perfect when I first set the speakers up, I found the 40.2s rather finicky about placement: the distance from the wall behind them, from me and from each other. I spent weeks moving them to and fro, before I found the best spots in my room. I put tape marks on the floor to mark each position, before I settled on their final resting places. I used my Pass XP-20 preamp, Pass XA100.5 power amp, dCS Puccini CD player, and VPI Classic turntable for most of my listening tests. I also substituted a VPI 299D tube integrated amp (review in the works) for the Pass amps a few times, and felt the 40.2 speakers also worked quite well with tube electronics. Listening to Miles Davis playing trumpet, I'm noticing more of the way he plays his horn, his breath, his dynamics and the way he holds onto some notes. With the 40.2 speakers, I'm hearing a lot deeper into Davis' music. There was more soul-stirring life to the sound of his music, that's what really grabbed me. With "Punk 45: Extermination Nights In the Sixth City," a collection of Cleveland-based punk tunes from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, amply demonstrated the 40.2s' stamina when cranked nice and loud. The onslaught of raucous guitars, gutsy bass and impassioned vocals plastered a big, fat smile on my face. Picasa Late in the review process I hooked up the VPI 299D tube integrated amp to the 40.2 speakers. The sound from this 38 watt per channel amp was even more vivid and sensually developed than the solid-state amps. The sound really moved something in me, I was enjoying the sound so much it was hard to stop listening. Familiar recordings all sounded better than I thought they were. Summing up: The Harbeth 40.2's effortless treble clarity, full-bodied midrange, as well as its robust, visceral and finely tuned bass are all magnificent. The 40.2 speakers are expensive, but the best stuff always is. I won't soon forget the 40.2 speakers' sound, but I've felt that way about all of the other, less expensive Harbeths I've tested, including the terrific little P3ESR.

November is National Blog Posting Month, so we're celebrating with some of our favorite blogs for the bibliophile. In fact, we've rounded up enough blogs that you could read a different one every day of the month. Get your bookmarks ready. You won't want to miss a single post. Literary Hub For literary event reports, a daily literary newsletter, and exciting book excerpts The Guardian Books Blog For the best of book takes of the UK and beyond Largehearted Boy For the musically-inclined reader Vol. 1 Brooklyn For the reader who wants an online literary borough Electric Literature For electrifying book lists, op-eds, and more The Offing For those who like their reading that "challenges, experiments, provokes" The Rumpus For comics, advice, interviews, and pilgrimages to the origin of Dear Sugar I Love Typography For the font afficionado The Scofield For "dialogue, for nuance, for ambiguity, for negative capability" Paris Review Daily For your daily dose of cultural observation Jacket Copy For book world news, opinions, and more Triple Canopy For triple the thought-provoking Poets & Writers Theater For the reader who wants more videos with their books LRB Blog For the reader who can't wait two weeks for the next copy of the London Review of Books Flavorwire Books For biblio-news and biblio-lists Bookforum.com For reviews, "syllabi" of great reads, and more Page-Turner For the New Yorker who can't get enough books The Millions For essays, reviews, and thoughts on fiction The Margins For exploring Asian-American lit The Review Review For reviews of literary journals Lapham's Quarterly Roundtable For tiding you over between the quarters Buzzfeed Books For laugh-out-loud lit GIFs and more Catapult For everything from how-tos to community fiction "How to Tell You're If You're in a Novel" For bookish laughs Grammar Girl For the punctuation perfectionist Lambda Literary Blog For literary Pride Book Cover Archive For the reader who knows it's what inside that counts but that a pretty exterior never hurt NYPL Blog For the Library Lion in all of us And a few for younger readers: Read, Breathe, Relax For YA book reviews and recommendations Recovering Potter Addict For all things Harry Good Comics for Kids For the kid who likes images with her words Do you have a favorite bookish, brainy, beautiful blog for readers? Share it with us in the comments section below.

WHAT on earth is happen-PING here? Firefighters had to rescue a bungling Black Country prankster after he 'cemented' his head in ... a MICROWAVE. The YouTube joker decided to make a mould of his head using Polyfilla – but his plans went disastrously wrong. Because, when the mixture set faster than they expected, he was trapped in the oven. His friends tried for 90 minutes to free the Wolverhampton man, but in vain. They kept him from suffocating by feeding an air tube into the 22-year-old’s mouth. Then, fearing the worst, they finally raised the alarm, and called for an ambulance. Paramedics alerted the fire service, and a crew spent an hour trying to free the trickster. Firefighters found him with the microwave still firmly stuck on his head, in the garage of a house in Fordhouses. But it proved a mission impossible. In the end, they had to call colleagues from Technical Rescue for specialist advice. The five-man crew then had to use a screwdriver to dislodge the Pollyfilla close to his head, eventually freeing him. Watch Commander Shaun Dakin, who responded to the incident, said: “As funny as this sounds, this young man could quite easily have suffocated or have been seriously injured. “He and a group of friends had mixed seven bags of Polyfilla which they then poured around his head, which was protected by a plastic bag inside the microwave. “The oven was being used as a mould, and wasn’t plugged in, but the mixture quickly set hard. “By the time we were called, they’d already been trying to free him for an hour and a half.” Watch Commander Dakin added: “Taking the microwave apart was tricky, because a lot of it was welded. We video-called our Technical Rescue colleagues for advice and eventually managed to get him unstuck. You are viewing an Accelerated Mobile Page. This embedded content is not currently supported. See it here “He was very relieved when we removed a large chunk of the Polyfilla with a screwdriver, allowing him to breathe more easily. But we had to be extremely careful with the screwdriver, working so closely to his head. “It took us nearly an hour to free him. All of the group involved were very apologetic, but this was clearly a call-out which might have prevented us from helping someone else in genuine, accidental need.”

An internal document issued by IT experts working for the German federal government warned national agencies and companies not to use Windows 8. The reason? An alleged backdoor exploit has been discovered, and the details were obtained and published by German site Zeit Online. The leaked message suggests that the NSA likely has access to a hidden feature which apparently can’t be shut off and allows Microsoft to remotely control any computer running the software. The Windows 8 feature under scrutiny by the German government is called Trusted Computing, a backdoor setting established ten years ago by a number of American tech giants including Microsoft, HP and IBM. Trusted Computing is supposed to protect computers from being manipulated by malicious third parties using viruses or other methods. The chip used to install Trusted Computing on Windows 8 computers allegedly offers Microsoft backdoor access, though the implication appears to be that the American company will extend that power to the U.S. government as well. A second leaked report also notes that Windows 7 can “be safely operated until 2020,” implying that the German government may revert to the now-outdated operating system until the current security holes are plugged. However, in response to Zeit Online’s report, the Reichstag issued a statement partially denying claims it would downgrade its software.

Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey was seen on crutches at the funeral of former college teammate Aaron Hernandez on Monday. According to an NFL source, Pouncey had a stem cell procedure within the past few weeks, but he is not expected to be on crutches for much longer. Pouncey continues to rehabilitate a hip injury but and another league source indicated there has not been a setback and his recovery is on track. At the NFL owner’s meetings, coach Adam Gase made it clear there is a plan in place for Pouncey which may include “bubble wrap.” Pouncey will be protected as needed — meaning preseason practice and even preseason games are not likely a priority — with the only goal to ensure he is eligible to play 16-plus games in 2017. Mike Pouncey on crutches at Hernandez funeral… 😩 pic.twitter.com/prkyc53Wn8 — Brad Timmons (@PhinsUpMT) April 24, 2017 Gase called Pouncey the team’s best offensive lineman, but the former Florida standout played only five games last season. Still, Gase suggested he believes Pouncey will return to dominant form. “I’m going to have a lot of confidence, because of who it is,” Gase said. “I’m not going to just turn my back on I think the best center in football. I’ll roll the dice with him for as long as I can because that’s how good he is. That’s how much he means to our organization.” Due to injuries, including hip surgeries, Pouncey also missed two games in 2013, four games in 2014 and two games in 2015. The Dolphins shut Pouncey down at the end of the last season, when he wanted to play, with a look ahead to this season and more. Veteran guard Ted Larsen is also capable of playing center. Kraig Urbik and Anthony Steen have also played center for Miami. The Dolphins seem likely to consider drafting a player who can play guard and/or center in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft this Thursday or Friday night. Why Miami Dolphins lineman Jermon Bushrod wants 11th season NFL Draft 2017: Miami Dolphins QB Brandon Doughty endorses OL Forrest Lamp 2017 NFL Mock Draft: Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad | Version 2.0 NFL Draft 2017: Reshad Jones hopes Miami Dolphins go defense ‘Trader’ Mike Tannenbaum open to Miami Dolphins draft-day trades How many players are on the Miami Dolphins ‘Big Board’? What Adam Gase told Miami Dolphins in first 2017 meeting

Remy has dropped diss tracks "ShETHER" and "Another One," which were aimed at the Barb. Now, she finally decided to speak her piece about the feud. The fact that Remy dressed like she was going to a funeral was also hilarious! During the interview, Remy didn't hold back when she was talking about why she ethered Nicki not once, but twice. She admitted that she didn't care about the subliminal shots Nicki took of her on songs. It was actually the "behind the scenes things that you people will never know about." Remy said: "As far as trying to keep me off of red carpets, trying to make sure awards don't go to me or she's not going to be in attendance, trying to get people to make bad reports about my album sales-- just anything that I'm doing to make me look less and make her look better." That's when the BX MC said, straight up, "When you're trying to stop my bag, when you're trying to stop me from taking care of my children, I have a problem with that."

Andrew Newbold has today stepped down as president of the Hawthorn Football Club. ANDREW Newbold today announced he has stepped down from his position as president of the Hawthorn Football Club, with his resignation effective from today. Current Vice-President Richard Garvey will replace Newbold as acting president until a formal election is held at the Annual General meeting in December 2016. Newbold, a lifelong Hawthorn supporter, has served on the Board since 2003 and was elected as president in 2011. Key club achievements overseen by Newbold include: Taking the club to four consecutive grand final appearances since 2012 including three premierships Overseen four years of collective club profit (total $11m +) Developed the club into a major AFL business that has revenue in excess of $70m Been instrumental in the development of the club’s 2013 – 2017 ‘All for One’ strategic plan and a long-term facilities strategy to future proof the club A key player in negotiating the club's move to Waverley Park (as a Board member) Hawthorn CEO Stuart Fox said Newbold has been a key factor in the continued growth and success of the club over his 13 years as a president and director. “Andrew has played a significant role in the stability and growth of the Hawthorn Football Club since joining the Board in 2003,” Fox said. “Through his passion, dedication and drive Andrew has provided leadership and direction across various areas of the business. He was key in negotiating the club’s move to Waverley Park, has played a vital role in the current facilities strategy and has developed Hawthorn into a major AFL business over his tenure.” “Not only does Andrew leave Hawthorn in a strong position commercially but he has also overseen a historic period in the club’s history, achieving four consecutive grand final appearances including three premierships as president.” Newbold said timing was important to his departure. “I started at Hawthorn as a board member when my second daughter was starting school. This year, 2016, marks her final year. It has been a rewarding 13 years for myself and my family but my motto has always been to leave two days earlier rather than a day late and now is the time,” Newbold said. “Throughout my tenure the club has been transformed into a powerful organisation, both on and off the field, and I always wanted to be able to step down when I was still enjoying the role. More importantly I wanted to leave at a time when my successor had a great opportunity to create their own vision. “On the back of multiple premierships and with the club in good shape, now feels like the right time to hand over the reins. “The club is also on the verge of a possible shift to a new home in Dingley. This is a five to ten-year project and possibly the biggest decision the club will make in its history. I feel my decision to step aside will allow my successor to own and live this next chapter. “The Board, club and I have always made well thought out counter intuitive decisions and I see this as another of those. “I am proud of the many achievements the Hawthorn Football Club has made under my leadership and I would like to sincerely thank the Board, all of the administration staff for their dedication and hard work, the football department and players for their drive and determination and the loyal Hawks members for whom the club exists. “I look forward to the continued evolution of the club under the direction of Richard Garvey and wish him all the best in his endeavours.” Acting President Richard Garvey said he is honoured and ready to lead the Hawthorn Football Club. “I feel privileged to have the support and backing of the board in taking on the acting presidency position,” Garvey said. “Andrew has done an outstanding job over a long period of time, as a director and president, and I hope to be able to build on the legacy he has created by continuing to develop the Hawthorn Football Club as a strong AFL business.” The club, as part of its governance process, had committed to a succession plan given Newbold was in his final term. A sub-committee of three directors and two independents undertook a thorough process to identify potential president candidates. The search concluded that Garvey was the strongest candidate and he has the unanimous support of the Hawthorn Board. Garvey first became associated with the club in 1997 as the lead auditing partner from KPMG. He retained this role until his retirement from the firm in early 2008 and was appointed a director of the club in October 2010 and vice-president in 2015. He has been an integral member of the clubs Training and Administration Facility Committee, was chairman of the club’s Finance and Risk Management Committee and chairman of the club’s joint venture in Caroline Springs where he has overseen sustained business growth and strong financial results. Outside of Hawthorn, Garvey is a consultant, financial adviser and a member of several advisory boards. He was a Board member of the Australian Institute of Management - Victoria and Tasmania for 11 years until December 2011 including four years as president and a national Board member.

I have a friend named Whitney (name changed) who was once a cube-dweller. And I do not mean she lived in a modern ergonomic-style home. On the contrary, her house was beautiful and vibrant. But each day she left the comfort of her home and drove to her miserable, gray cubicle at work. Cube-land was her reality, and many of you have been there too. Who thought working in spaces with no windows was a good idea? Just add a few thousand portable, plastic walls, some bad fluorescent lighting, and you have an accurate picture of life for many cube-dwellers. First invented in 1968, cubicles are a standard feature in offices everywhere. They were designed as an alternative to the wide-open office and meant to offer employees some semblance of privacy. They also give employers an easy, inexpensive way to maximize limited office space. But cubicles can be a raw deal for cube-dwellers, like my friend Whitney. They must contend with loud talkers and other inescapable distractions, as well as co-workers who barge in unexpectedly. And you know what happens when one person gets sick. Not to mention the average person spends almost an hour each day driving to and from their cube. That translates into plenty of frustration and lost productivity. Like many of you, I served time in a cubicle, but I discovered it did not have to be that way. After my last company was acquired by Citrix, I had the opportunity to lead product and strategy for a significant product line while working remotely. That experience opened my eyes to the possibilities outside of a cubicle. I found that with a responsive team, we could accomplish so much more working remotely than if we were holed up in an office somewhere. When my co-founder and I started Aha! we wanted to give employees this same freedom. The freedom to work from anywhere in the U.S. and be happy. Remote work is not a fad; it is now a way of life for an estimated 3.2 million employees in the U.S. alone. Here is why so many employees are finding out that remote work beats out cubicle life any day: Productivity Work in an office is commonly measured by the number of hours an employee is at their desk. When you work remotely, you do not have the ability (or any reason) to fake productivity. There is no point in looking busy when you are the only one in the room. Remote employees are measured by what they accomplish each day, not how busy they look. Accountability There is no hand-holding for remote employees. When you work from home, your team is trusting you to meet your goals without much added help. That might sound intimidating. But the most productive employees thrive on autonomy, and remote work often inspires high performers to work even harder. Happiness Remote work is a great option for anyone who has a family or simply wishes to get the most out of life. Many of our team members have children. Others want to travel and work from different places in the country. They are able to accomplish their work and be more available for what is most important to their lives. Freedom Once geography is no longer an issue, new team members can be found anywhere. That means you do not have to settle for a job based on proximity, and companies do not have to settle for an employee who lives close to the office. You are free to go for that dream job — even if the headquarters is a thousand miles away. Harmony Do not assume that having your own cubicle is the same as having your own space. When you work remotely, you have total control over your workspace — no more gray walls inside or spending ten minutes to find a parking spot outside. Having a say over your work environment helps you achieve a sense of peace that empowers you to achieve top performance. Unity You may be working from the kitchen table, but you are not alone in the work you are accomplishing. Remote work requires all team members to be on the same page. To do that, you must narrow your focus, eliminate distractions, and be intentional about the work you are doing. The result is that you work with a sense of a shared purpose with your team. This is not to say that everyone immediately adjusts to working remotely. It takes a sense of adventure, patience with technology, and resourcefulness to succeed in an environment of your own making. But being CEO of a great distributed company has proven to me that it is possible to pursue your goals and realize sustainable happiness at the same time. I see remote work as a real gift for every employee. If you are looking to make some real lasting life changes, I encourage you to consider what work might look like outside the cubicle walls. How has remote work changed the way you work?

SAN DIEGO -- The Padres figure if they're going to plop a basketball court onto the field at Petco Park, they better have Bill Walton involved somehow. The Padres and the Hall of Famer on Tuesday announced the Bill Walton Basketball Festival beginning Nov. 30 and culminating with a game between San Diego and San Diego State on Dec. 5. The court will be set up between third base and home plate. The festival will consist of youth clinics led by Walton, charity games, community league games and high school games, plus whatever else Walton might think up. "Anything that's basketball in this community that's big-time, should bear Bill Walton's name," Padres president Mike Dee said. "He's the best. He's a community treasure." Walton, an ESPN college basketball analyst, said it will be "an absolutely thrilling week. And I am proud, privileged, honored and humbled to be a volunteer for this incredible situation where people are going to come together in our city and play basketball in Petco Park." The game Dec. 5 will be the first time the major league park has hosted hoops. The preceding week will be "basketball 24-7," Dee said at a news conference. Said Walton: "We're going to make it fun. That's the goal of sports." Walton was born in San Diego and said his family lived downtown for a while before moving to suburban La Mesa. "I've done things on this site before Petco Park was here," said Walton, who was wearing a "Walton 32" Padres jersey. "I love San Diego, I love Petco Park, I love the Padres and I love basketball." Walton starred at La Mesa's Helix High before playing for John Wooden at UCLA. Walton helped the Bruins win two NCAA titles, and then won NBA championships with Portland in 1977 and Boston in 1986. He even played with his hometown Clippers, who moved to Los Angeles in 1984. The Padres are expanding the use of Petco Park, including hosting concerts by Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones and Taylor Swift in the last year, and a first-round Davis Cup match between Britain and the United States in early 2014. "They've done their job. The rest is up to me," Walton said. Walton even suggested matchups for a Petco Park hoops double-header in 2017: San Diego State against Arizona and USD against Gonzaga. All four of Walton's sons played college basketball, including Luke at Arizona and Chris at SDSU. The full schedule of the Bill Walton Basketball Festival will be announced later. There no doubt will be additions. "Mike, what are we looking at for a postgame concert and party celebration?" Walton asked. "We're counting on you and your many friends in the music industry and we're ready to go," Dee replied to Walton, believed to be the world's tallest Deadhead. "Only if I can sing and play the drums," Walton said. Asked about the threat of rain, Walton replied: "It'll be fine. That's a promise. It'll be fine." The public sale of tickets for the USD-SDSU game begins Wednesday morning. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

November 6, 2013 By Mark Jaquith Amazon Verified Purchase 9392 out of 9650 found this helpful I gingerly climbed on top of the plastic contraption now ringing my porcelain throne. It soon became apparent that I couldn't keep my britches at my ankles as I normally did. No, they had to go entirely, along with my underthings. And if there is anything more ridiculous on this planet than the sight of a human man wearing a t-shirt and nothing else, I have yet to experience it. So in the interest of saving myself this unfortunate view, I doffed the shirt as well. Now entirely naked, I again attempted to step onto the device. I was unsure, but it seemed to hold. I settled down to the seat, with only the extremities of my posterior touching. My knees were up at my chest. This, plus my complete nakedness, felt very primal. It felt third-world and adventurous. It felt... RIGHT. I concentrated on the task at hand. I had felt a slight urge to go, and had been eager to try out the new purchase. I had been intrigued by the promise that my business would henceforth require substantially less effort on my part, because of the wild beast–man position it forced upon me. But I was still skeptical. It sounded too good to be true. Surely the difference couldn't be that dras— HOLY HELL I'M POOPING. Well, let me clarify. It wasn’t so much that I was dropping a deuce. Oh, it was being dropped; that much was undeniable. But I couldn't really claim agency on said descent. Gravity was doing the work. I was merely the meaty husk from which it made its hasty escape. Used to more of a segmented approach to waste disposal, I was quite surprised that the creature making its egress from my nethers had more the appearance of a python. Smooth, and consistent in width, it coiled luxuriously in a pool of toilet water that is (or at least was) cleaner than the water that most of the people on this planet drink. As it continued to coil, my emotional state flowed from one of surprise, to horror, to amazement, and then again to horror as the snake coiled higher and higher, like soft serve ice cream at an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet. It was now surfacing above the water line. But still, the snake showed no signs that it was anywhere near finished with its journey. In a panic, I pawed at the flusher. The poor toilet strained, but eventually sent things on their way. But I wasn’t done yet. As the toilet flushed the waste away, more came to replace it. As the flush subsided, the coil started anew. And then I was done. I tried to catch my breath as the toilet flushed a second time. I felt my liver shift and expand, unsure what to do with all the extra space now afforded to it. I cleaned up and stood, almost dizzy after the affair. “Wow. A+++”, I thought to myself. “Would poop again.” “Very well,” my bowels seemed to answer, “let’s have another go!” “Surely you’re joking”, I thought, scrambling to once again work myself into proper Tarzanic stance. There couldn’t possibly be anything left inside of me. I genuinely began to worry that what would come out next might be some vital organ, brought to a freedom-seeking frenzy by all the commotion. But no, it was yet another perfectly formed tube of human excrement. I sat, mouth agape, as number two (round two) breached the water line and came to a graceful finish, leaving an improbable conical shape below me. As I flushed the toilet for the third time in what had astoundingly only been about 70 seconds I wondered if life would ever be the same again. Search

As many writers have tried to point out, mainstream economists understand neither the cause of nor the solution to the financial crisis. As an article this week in the Boston Globe notes: Many [economists] frankly admit that they are not sure how to prevent things from getting worse.*** “Everyone that I know in economics, and particularly in the worlds of academic finance and academic macroeconomics, is going back to the drawing board,” said David Laibson, a Harvard economist. “There are very, very, very few economists who can be proud.” A few suggest, as well, that there are deeper problems in the discipline. U.S. economists are asking aloud whether the field has grown too specialized, too abstract and too divorced from the way real-world economies actually function. They argue that many models used to predict the dynamics of financial markets or national economies have been scrubbed clean, in the interest of theoretical elegance, of the inevitable erraticism of human behavior. As a result, the analytical tools of the trade offer little help in a crisis and have little to say about the sort of collapses that led to this one. “You can’t just say, ‘I have a model for tremors that works great – I just can’t explain earthquakes,”‘ said Kenneth Rogoff, an economist at Harvard who has studied financial crises.*** The models used by macroeconomists do a poor job of describing the messiness of an actual market in flux. (ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW) As a result, economists end up oversimplifying such situations when they model them – or simply avoid studying them at all. “We have a very restrictive set of language and tools, and we tend to work on the problems that are easily addressed with those tools,” said Jeremy Stein, a financial economist at Harvard. “Sometimes that means we focus on silly questions and ignore greater ones.” Derivatives is a prime example of what economists totally missed. The mathematical models predicted that the entire financial system would be stabilized by derivatives. But the models did not account for anything going wrong like – oh, I don’t know – home prices going down, hedge fund asset values declining, or currency or interest rate relations substantially changing. Will Obama straighten things out? Well, as the above-quoted Boston Globe article notes: For years, leading economic figures like Lawrence Summers and Alan Greenspan argued that the United States had more or less brought the business cycle to heel. Summers is a key Obama economic advisor. And most of Obama’s advisors have profited handsomely from derivatives and other toxic investments. So they are not likely to challenge the status quo. Unfortunately, economists – no less than lawyers, scientists, and just about every other class of professionals in the U.S. – have sold their soul to the powers-that-be.

Michael Moore is taking aim at Donald Trump from a Broadway stage, bringing his solo show, “Michael Moore on Broadway: The Terms of My Surrender” to the Belasco Theater. Michael Mayer, the director behind Tony-winning productions of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “Spring Awakening,” will direct the show, set to begin previews in July. Moore described “Terms of My Surrender” as a entirely new piece, separate from the live show that was the subject of his film “Michael Moore in Trumpland.” He’ll respond to the news of the day during the show, and sometime incorporate guest appearances. The goal is to destabilize Trump and his administration through satire. “We need an army of satirists,” he said. “His Achilles heel is his very, very thin skin.” The director-performer added that the production would reserve the presidential box at the Belasco for Trump at every performance. “It will sit empty until he sits there. I hope he comes to see it, or his family. Or Mike Pence. We won’t boo him!” he joked, referring to an incident last fall when Pence’s attendance at “Hamilton” elicited Bronx cheers. “It’s a 12 week limited run. I would like Trump to have the same thing,” Moore continued. “I really am in a take-no-prisoners mode right now.” Although contemporary politics is relatively common in smaller-scale Off Broadway productions, its extremely rare for large-scale stage shows to tackle sitting presidents. The closest Broadway has come in recent years is Will Ferrell’s George W. Bush comedy “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night With George W Bush,” which began previews the day his successor, Barack Obama, was inaugurated in early 2009. “The Terms of My Surrender” starts performances July 28 prior to an Aug. 10 opening.

[1] Sobers held the record for the second highest number of centuries in Test cricket at the time of his retirement. Sir Garfield Sobers (also known as Gary Sobers) is a former international cricketer who represented the West Indies cricket team between 1954 and 1974. He scored centuries (100 or more runs in an innings) on 26 occasions. Widely acknowledged as the "greatest all-rounder",[1][2][3] he was described by Australian cricketer Don Bradman as a "five-in-one cricketer".[N 1] Sobers played 93 Tests, aggregating 8,032 runs at a batting average of 57.78, and claimed 235 wickets as a bowler.[3] He held the record for most runs in a career in Test cricket until 1981.[N 2] Sobers was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1964, and one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century in 2000.[6] He entered into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame when the International Cricket Council (ICC) formally inducted him alongside 55 initial inductees in 2009.[7] Sobers made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1954, and scored his first century against the same team four years later. He became the youngest player to complete a triple century when he made 365 not out in that match.[8] It remained the highest individual score in Test cricket for 36 years until transcended by Brian Lara in 1994.[9] The innings is also the highest maiden century by a batsman in Tests.[10] In the fourth Test of the same series Sobers went on to score centuries in both the innings, ending the series with 824 runs at an average of 137.33.[11] He was most successful against England, scoring 10 centuries.[12] Sobers made scores of 150 or more in a Test match innings on thirteen occasions, and was dismissed five times between scores of 90 and 99.[13] As of January 2013, he is fourteenth in the all-time century-makers in Test cricket, and third in the equivalent list for the West Indies.[14] Sobers made his solitary One Day International (ODI) appearance in a match against England in September 1973;[15] he was dismissed for a duck.[15] Key [ edit ] Key Symbol Meaning * Remained not out Captained the West Indies cricket team Pos. Position in the batting order Inn. The innings of the match Test The number of the Test match played in that series H/A/N Venue was at home (West Indies), away or neutral Date Date the match was held, or the starting date of match for Test matches Lost The match was lost by West Indies. Won The match was won by West Indies. Drawn The match was drawn. Tied The match was tied. Test cricket centuries [ edit ] Notes [ edit ]

GLENDALE – Our team has been on a long break since our last game so we’re all ready for Thursday’s game against Colorado to get here. We had a rough schedule in October with so many back-to-back games and a lot of flying, so it’s been nice to be home in Arizona for a week or so. Obviously, we lost the Vancouver game last Friday, so we want to get back to business and back to our winning ways right away. I think we came out of the gate well this season. Everybody played fast and strong in the first 11 games. We’ve just got to keep that up and play even better moving forward. As for me, some people are saying I struggled the first five games or so and that’s true. But I hadn’t played an NHL game in almost 10 months so I was expecting to struggle a little bit at the beginning of the season. That comes with not playing for so long. The first couple of games weren’t easy for me and I had to find my way again. But lately I feel I’ve made some progress and I’m starting to find my confidence again. I’m excited to get back into the games. We’ve had a lot of days off recently and we’ve been able squeeze in some fun around our practices. On Monday, we all played in the Arizona Coyotes Foundation’s annual golf tournament on a beautiful sunny day. It was really enjoyable. The foundation did an outstanding job once again, and we’re always happy to support them. I played OK. The guys in my group were guys who only play golf a few times a year so I was sort of the go-to-guy and it wasn’t pretty. We made even par in a scramble, which is a little embarrassing, but we had a really good time and it was all about raising money for the foundation so nobody really cared too much about the scores. Over the weekend, I had a really good time at our team’s Halloween party. I went dressed as Ted the bear from the movie by Seth Macfarlane. It was a pretty good costume but I was really hot inside it and I didn’t realize how many people liked bears so I was giving high fives all night. In my opinion, Mike Smith and his wife had the best costumes at the party. He came dressed as Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s Tinder profile and she came dressed as mine. It was very creative and very clever. There were many other good costumes at the party and we all had a lot of fun. It’s always cool to hear about the different ideas people come up with for Halloween costumes and to see how they make some of them work. Thanks for reading.

Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Er… did you know that May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?Well, now you do. And I hope you have a happy one. All over cyberspace, folks are celebrating in all sorts of ways. Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Yang (no relation) kicked things off with an article that asks if the APA community is one or many (and graphically compares it to Voltron). CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) launched a campaign of YouTube videos with several prominent APA entertainers talking about their career paths. I’m doing my part by sharing with you my Top Ten Favorite APA characters in comics. They aren’t listed in any specific order, but they all meet these requirements: They’re in comics, they’re of Asian or Pacific Islander descent, they’re American, and they make my heart happy. 1. Amadeus Cho. Amadeus is the brainchild of superstar writer Greg Pak, and he explodes the stereotype of the Asian American teenage super-genius by pushing it past its most ridiculous limits. Amadeus is a skinny Korean American kid who’s so smart, they call him Mastermind Excello. And he’s partnered up with the Hulk and Hercules, two of the Marvel Universe’s toughest heroes. 2. Jimmy. Jimmy’s the protagonist of Jason Shiga’s many graphic novels. He and his creator are proof you can be nerdy and badass at the same time. In Fleep, Jimmy wields his math skills like a weapon to escape a phone booth encased in concrete. In Bookhunter, Jimmy chases down overdue books, armed with not much more than a pistol and a heart full of tenacity. In Meanwhile, Jimmy eats ice cream, time travels, and fools around with the Kill-o-tron, a machine that will kill either the person standing inside of it or the rest of humanity depending on a coin flip. Like I said. Nerdy. Badass. At the same time. 3. Jubilee. Jubilation Lee seems like someone I would’ve hung out with in high school, except for the part where she shoots fireworks out of her fingertips. A So Cal native, she joined the X-Men after discovering she was a mutant. Her fashion sense is proudly stuck in the 90s and she’s spent much of her superhero career palling around with Wolverine. Quick-witted and resourceful, she would’ve been a riot in my Saturday morning Chinese language class. 4. Quick Kick. When I was a kid, GI Joe was probably the only American franchise that regularly featured Asian Americans. This was because most of the Joe comics and many of the cartoons were written by Japanese American Larry Hama. Hama’s Asian Americans are complex and three-dimensional—in other words, human. That’s not to say they weren’t goofy in that 80s cartoon sort of way. Quick Kick, a Joe of Japanese and Korean descent, is a martial arts expert. He never wears a shirt or shoes, even when the Joes and Cobra are duking it out in the snow. As Angry Asian Man blogger Phil Yu likes to point out, apparently being a super-hardcore martial arts master renders you impervious to cold. But Quick Kick is also a ladies’ man, maybe the only Asian American ladies’ man I saw as a kid. 5. Tony Chu. Man, Chinese people will eat anything. Tony Chu, the leading man of the popular series Chew, turns this stereotype on its head. Tony’s a cibopath. When he eats, he has psychic visions of his meal’s past. He sees where the tomatoes in his pasta sauce were grown, how the cow in his burger was butchered. He’s an officer of the law, so naturally he solves murder cases by eating cadavers. Writer John Layman and artist Rob Guillory turn your stomach in the most awesome way possible. 6. Nancy Kim. In Derek Kirk Kim’s masterful graphic novel Same Difference, twenty-something Korean American Nancy smokes, curses, farts, and relentlessly cracks on her best friend Simon. When letters arrive for her apartment’s previous tenant, she not only opens them but also answers them, writing in the voice of their intended recipient. She and her friends remind me of me and my friends when we were in our twenties, though we never committed mail fraud. (Honest.) 7. Batgirl. For about a decade starting in 1999, the Batgirl mantle belonged to a Eurasian teenager named Cassandra Cain. Raised by assassins, Cassandra’s a broken soul who is eventually adopted into the Bat Family, at which point (I would argue) she becomes an Asian American. Her costume borrows a little too heavily from Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman, but I have a soft spot for her. Weirdest fun fact about Cassandra Cain: She’s an English-as-a-second-language learner because her first language was body language. No joke. She has yet to show up in the newly rebooted DC Universe, but I imagine she will soon. 8. Secret Asian Man. Tak Toyoshima’s been tackling Asian American issues in his popular comics strip for well over a decade now. Main character Osamu Takahashi (who is basically a cartoon version of Tak) and his friends have graced the pages of influential newspapers like the San Jose Mercury and Boston’s Weekly Dig. Osamu’s an immensely likeable dude. Who knew a bowl haircut could be so endearing? 9. Lynda Barry. Because she does autobiographical comics—or as she describes them, autobifictionalography—cartoonist Lynda Barry is both a character and a creator. Her comics are raw, delightful, and often uncomfortable. She explores every corner of her life with a disarming honesty, including her relationship with her Filipina mother. If you haven’t read her stuff yet, please do. Right now. My favorite of hers is One Hundred Demons. What It Is is a close second. 10. Green Turtle. Okay. This one’s self-serving, I admit. But if I didn’t genuinely love the Green Turtle, I wouldn’t have teamed up with Sonny Liew to revive him in our graphic novel The Shadow Hero. The Green Turtle was created in the 1940s by Chu Hing, one of the first Asian Americans in the industry. Though the evidence concerning his ethnicity is murky, the Green Turtle just might be the very first Asian American superhero. And that’s why I’m so into him. His existence shows that at the beginning of superheroes, this quintessentially American genre, Asian Americans were there. Did I leave off your favorite Asian Pacific American comics character? I bet I did. And that’s kind of cool isn’t it? It means there are now enough APA characters in comics that they won’t all fit onto a single top ten list. When I started reading comics in the 80s, I would’ve struggled to come up with a list half as long So do me a favor. Fill in the gaps I left. Tell me your favorite Asian Pacific American comics character in the comments below, and have a great APA Heritage Month. Gene Luen Yang’s first book with First Second, American Born Chinese, is now in print in over ten languages and was a National Book Award finalist and winner of the Printz Award. Yang’s other works include the popular comics adaptation ofAvatar: The Last Airbender, and the New York Times Best-Selling graphic novel diptych Boxers & Saints.The Shadow Hero, the story of the first Asian-American superhero is his most recent graphic novel. It is being published in six e-issues, starting in February, 2014; the fourth will be available on May 20th.

CTV Toronto More than 100 seniors have been given eviction notices as their homes in a complex north of Toronto are scheduled to be bulldozed to create a new condo. The Heritage Village complex in Markham, Ont., which is part of the Unionville Home Society, was sold to regional municipality of York. The municipality later teamed up with Canadian developer Minto Group to build a new seniors' condo on the property. The sale means that the 110 seniors who currently live in the quiet complex will be out of a home by 2016. Some of the seniors are over the age of 90, and have lived in the complex for decades. "The thought of having to go is devastating," one resident told CTV Toronto on Thursday. "These are my sisters. We do everything together." According to the Village's tenants’ association chair, many of the residents learned of the news during a Canada Day tea-and-cake gathering. "After the cake was served, then the CEO told us that our homes will be gone and we would be displaced," Jeannine Harpell said. The residents have been promised help with finding a new home and they've also been guaranteed units in the new building. But many are still devastated by the news. "They have no idea where they are going to live," Harpell said. She says instead of evicting the residents, they should be able to stay until the new condo is move-in ready. "If in fact they are building another building here on the campus, build it first, move the seniors in and then demolish these residences." According to the Unionville Home Society, many of the units in the complex require updating and have become too expensive to maintain. The residents are expected to move out no later than Dec. 31, 2016. In the meantime, many of the seniors have been given a transition package. They are also fighting the eviction notice. A meeting was scheduled at the complex's community centre for Thursday afternoon. A member of York Region was expected to attend. With a report from CTV Toronto's Zuraidah Alman

Photo credit: Woke_Pill | Know Your Meme What do we know about the Democratic National Committee in 2017? For starters it's completely in shambles. Patriots to the right of the spectrum have complete and utter hatred towards the cultural marxist mantra of corruption in which the DNC wears upon their sleeves like a badge of honor. Anarcho-Communists to the left of the spectrum have an undying flame of spite and anger towards the corrupt and failed platform of cheating and lies in which the DNC wears atop their heads proudly like a crown of thorns. Everyone and their mother realizes that the DNC is a structural failure which has resulted in the collapse of one of the tallest skyscrapers in the land. Democrats, those whom still remain; likely never supported Hillary Clinton to begin with. She was one of the historically most corrupt candidates to ever receive a nomination by a major political party. We're now understanding more about the corruption which helped crack the walls around the Democratic Party, since the compulsively horrendous liar known as Donna Brazile is now beginning to turn on her own. In a new Thursday column, Interim Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile trashed both failed President Barack Hussein Obama and corrupt Florida Representative Debbie Wasserman-Schultz for what she described as “handing complete control of the DNC to Hillary Clinton”, who never had a chance at winning due to her scandals. While it's amusing to hear Donna Brazile completely slam the 44th President and DWS; both of which are correct interpretations of the type of corruption which brought down the Democratic Party; she's far from being a saint and actually helped lie and cheat for Hillary Clinton herself. Let's go there first, before we follow up on Brazile’s column. Remember that on October the 31st of 2016, right before the election, Democratic National Committee Interim Chair Donna Brazile was fired from her position as a political commentator at the fake news outlet CNN over email leaks suggested she had improperly supplied Hillary Clinton’s campaign with advanced knowledge of questions to be posed to her during Democratic campaign events hosted by the Communist News Network, CNN. This prompted then CNN spokeswoman Lauren Pratapas <a href="https://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2016/10/cnn-severs-ties-with-donna-brazile-230534"> (as reported per Politico)</a> to release the following statement which said that on October 14th of 2016, the propaganda network CNN accepted Brazile’s resignation: <blockquote>“On October 14th, CNN accepted Donna Brazile’s resignation as a CNN contributor. [Her deal had previously been suspended in July when she became the interim head of the DNC.] CNN never gave Brazile access to any questions, prep material, attendee list, background information or meetings in advance of a town hall or debate. We are completely uncomfortable with what we have learned about her interactions with the Clinton campaign while she was a CNN contributor.”</blockquote> Now, we're all aware that Donna Brazile helped cheat for Hillary Clinton against Bernie Sanders (who actually was the voice of the people, whether or not you support him which I do not for obvious philosophical and ideological indifference); so let's discuss what Brazile had to say whilst throwing stones at a glass house. Brazile says that during her position upgrade to interim chair, that she had began to find out that the DNC was in “serious financial peril”. She then realized that due to those financial problems, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s former position of DNC Chair was forced to handover complete control of the DNC to the Clinton Campaign; which they did through subversion and behind a veil of secrecy. The Clinton Campaign began filling the ranks with their own loyalists, to which gave her an unfair advantage against any and all opposition for the Presidential Nomination during the primaries. To most of us, this is common knowledge. The Clinton family can be sat beside that of a Mafia crime family and you're likely not going to notice a difference in the pair; outside of a small elderly woman wearing a pantsuit in the front of the pack. The DNC lap dog of Hillary Clinton, Debbie Wasserman Schultz is one of the targets of Brazile who tore into DWS with harsh rhetoric. “Debbie was not a good manager. She hadn’t been very interested in controlling the party; she let Clinton’s headquarters in Brooklyn do as it desired so she didn’t have to inform the party officers how bad the situation was,” wrote Brazile in her opinion column on <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/02/clinton-brazile-hacks-2016-215774">Politico Magazine</a>. Brazile unironically claimed that she believed from the get go that the DNC cheated for Hillary (this is hilarious considering Brazile was fired for the same thing), but claims she was working for Bernie to uncover the corruption now. <blockquote>”Before I called Bernie Sanders, I lit a candle in my living room and put on some gospel music. I wanted to center myself for what I knew would be an emotional phone call.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”I had promised Bernie when I took the helm of the Democratic National Committee after the convention that I would get to the bottom of whether Hillary Clinton’s team had rigged the nomination process, as a cache of emails stolen by Russian hackers and posted online had suggested. I’d had my suspicions from the moment I walked in the door of the DNC a month or so earlier, based on the leaked emails. But who knew if some of them might have been forged? I needed to have solid proof, and so did Bernie.”</blockquote> I have to stop for a second and clean up the coffee I just spit out while reading the words of Donna Brazile here, who somehow writes that in her mind she took the moral high ground in order to defend impartiality and fairness. Absolutely hilarious. Donna, you're a liar, a cheater, and even though I'm to the right if the fold as a strong supporter of President Trump; you helped screw Bernie and we all know it. Bernie Sanders while never having a platform I would support with traditional Christian social values, and conservative principles on the economy, as well as an Isolationism per Nationalist foreign policy platform; I believe that in America any and every person running for office deserves a fair chance and the people must decide. That never happened for Bernie. He had massive rallies, a strong grassroots campaign, and in his heart actually believed the Communist nonsense he was spewing. While it's not favorable for me, the Democrats supported it and he was their Champion. People like Donna Brazile, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the DNC, and every media outlet which worshipped Barack Hussein Obama helped cheat and lie to give Hillary Clinton an overwhelming advantage over Crazy Bernie. Those are just the facts. Brazile, of whom I have very little respect for however is telling some truths about the corruption; in saying now that the trail of Clinton Cash leads to, well… Obviously the Clintons. Going further into explaining how Hillary Clinton was able to take over complete control of what should have been an impartial and unbiased DNC; Donna Brazile wrote: <blockquote>”So I followed the money. My predecessor, Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, had not been the most active chair in fundraising at a time when President Barack Obama’s neglect had left the party in significant debt. As Hillary’s campaign gained momentum, she resolved the party’s debt and put it on a starvation diet. It had become dependent on her campaign for survival, for which she expected to wield control of its operations.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”By September 7, the day I called Bernie, I had found my proof and it broke my heart. The Saturday morning after the convention in July, I called Gary Gensler, the chief financial officer of Hillary’s campaign. He wasted no words. He told me the Democratic Party was broke and $2 million in debt.”</blockquote> I find this appalling to say the least, that Brazile is here lying suggesting the Democratic Party was somehow “broke”. The Democratic Party not only has the support of billionaire globalists including Bill Gates and his ilk, <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/6469-Governor-McAuliffe-Refuses-to-Condemn-Antifa-on-Behalf-of-Haim-Saban">George Soros and Haim Saban (two people who are both Nazis and Communists, playing both sides)</a>, as well as those same billionaires’ supposed philanthropic organizations also using trickle down slush funds to finance violent activism such as Black Lives Matter and Antifa. It's sort of the <i>“golem”</i> of the international Communists, those groups, which assist in controlling their hand picked puppets by applying pressures in order to ensure they can pull the strings once their candidate(s) take office. According to Donna Brazile however, Barack Obama had crippled the Democratic Party financially, which I suppose is possible considering we now have some shred of evidence Obama was involved in some very subversive planning including his own movement which exists to turn the public against the current Trump Administration, in Organizing For Action (OFA). <blockquote>”“What?” I screamed. “I am an officer of the party and they’ve been telling us everything is fine and they were raising money with no problems.””</blockquote> <blockquote>”That wasn’t true, he said. Officials from Hillary’s campaign had taken a look at the DNC’s books. Obama left the party $24 million in debt—$15 million in bank debt and more than $8 million owed to vendors after the 2012 campaign—and had been paying that off very slowly. Obama’s campaign was not scheduled to pay it off until 2016. Hillary for America (the campaign) and the Hillary Victory Fund (its joint fundraising vehicle with the DNC) had taken care of 80 percent of the remaining debt in 2016, about $10 million, and had placed the party on an allowance.”</blockquote> Brazile claims that Gary Gensler, who was the Chief Financial Officer of Hillary’s Campaign was fully aware of the DNC being “broke”, which is shocking considering not that they were allegedly broke, but that the Clinton Campaign was more aware of the financial disclosure of the DNC than even Brazile. Stop and think about that for a moment, if you will. The Clinton Campaign knew every penny the DNC had in its coffers. There's absolutely no reason the Clinton Campaign should have known this if the DNC was impartial and a separate entity, considering Bernie was clobbering Hillary in the polls. This means, without a shadow of a doubt, that the DNC was assisting and communicating with the Clinton Campaign. Again most people knew this, including Democrats who have long since claimed that the DNC cheated for Hillary; but if they're to take this unscrupulous truth at face value from Brazile, they now have even more proof. Brazile goes on to discuss her apparent shock in regards to this realization, whether or not the shock was fake is another debate. <blockquote>”If I didn’t know about this, I assumed that none of the other officers knew about it, either. That was just Debbie’s way. In my experience she didn’t come to the officers of the DNC for advice and counsel. She seemed to make decisions on her own and let us know at the last minute what she had decided, as she had done when she told us about the hacking only minutes before the Washington Post broke the news. ”</blockquote> What she's implying here only underscores that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s position wasn't answering to the people, or the DNC, but directly to the Clinton Campaign. <blockquote>”On the phone Gary told me the DNC had needed a $2 million loan, which the campaign had arranged.”</blockquote> <blockquote>“No! That can’t be true!” I said. “The party cannot take out a loan without the unanimous agreement of all of the officers.””</blockquote> <blockquote>“Gary, how did they do this without me knowing?” I asked. “I don’t know how Debbie relates to the officers,” Gary said. He described the party as fully under the control of Hillary’s campaign, which seemed to confirm the suspicions of the Bernie camp. The campaign had the DNC on life support, giving it money every month to meet its basic expenses, while the campaign was using the party as a fund-raising clearinghouse. Under FEC law, an individual can contribute a maximum of $2,700 directly to a presidential campaign. But the limits are much higher for contributions to state parties and a party’s national committee.”</blockquote> So the DNC, and Donna Brazile; weren't even in control of the Party. In fact this sort of means that the Democratic Party in itself is a fraud and the people don't have any say at all. Democrats, your party is a front organization controlled by Globalists, who select the candidates, put them up on a podium after dressing them in makeup and forcing them to remember their scripted lines, and the Billionaire puppet masters pull the strings from the shadows. Even Donna Brazile is now acknowledging this fact, in suggesting the DNC was being managed from outside forces to her dismay without her even being aware of the decision making process. That epiphany of sorts is something Brazile goes on to expose, showing how the billionaires use individuals to finance their subversion and manipulate current laws around campaign contributions. <blockquote>”Individuals who had maxed out their $2,700 contribution limit to the campaign could write an additional check for $353,400 to the Hillary Victory Fund—that figure represented $10,000 to each of the 32 states’ parties who were part of the Victory Fund agreement—$320,000—and $33,400 to the DNC. The money would be deposited in the State's first, and transferred to the DNC shortly after that. Money in the battleground states usually stayed in that state, but all the other states funneled that money directly to the DNC, which quickly transferred the money to Brooklyn.”</blockquote> <h2>Do you understand what this means folks?</h2> This is a crime of epic proportions, first and foremost. No I'm not talking about just Hillary Clinton here; I'm talking about the bankers and international Communists who organized this manipulation of the election laws. I've always said this is happening, that the $2,700 max contribution limit is being manipulated. How? It's simple. Let's go with a hypothetical in order to explain how it's done. The billionaire puppet masters will take say, a million people, who each have a maximum of $2,700 they can contribute. On behalf of those people (many who have donated ten, twenty, fifty bucks or what have you), the puppet master will max out their contributions without them even knowing. If for example one million people gave $2,700 it would equal $2,700,000,000. Now again those numbers are just an example, we have no idea what amounts were actually given (but the Department of Justice and the FBI cronies as well as the Federal Elections Commission should be investigating this). This is how the elites, a handful of powerful individuals, control politicians and their platforms. It's not a coincidence that President Donald Trump who literally self financed and took small amounts from Trump Supporters didn't have but a fraction of the money available for Hillary Clinton. Donna Brazile, despite what you think of her clearly realized this was occurring to. <blockquote>“Wait,” I said. “That victory fund was supposed to be for whoever was the nominee, and the state party races. You’re telling me that Hillary has been controlling it since before she got the nomination?”</blockquote> <blockquote>”Gary said the campaign had to do it or the party would collapse.”</blockquote> <blockquote>“That was the deal that Robby struck with Debbie,” he explained, referring to campaign manager Robby Mook. “It was to sustain the DNC. We sent the party nearly $20 million from September until the convention, and more to prepare for the election.”</blockquote> Hold up. <i>”That was the deal that Robby struck with Debbie”</i>? Wew. There's an admission of collusion between Hillary Campaign Manager Robby Mook and the DNC as per Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s betrayal of Democrats. Again while this story is being ran by everyone, there are the points that aren't being realized (or maybe they are and they're avoiding the discussion) by the Mainstream Media. This is when Donna Brazile goes on to suggest she (whom was supposed to be the Chair of the DNC) was literally asking someone from the Clinton Campaign for answers about their own available finances and expenses. <blockquote>”“What’s the burn rate, Gary?” I asked. “How much money do we need every month to fund the party?”</blockquote> <blockquote>”The burn rate was $3.5 million to $4 million a month, he said.</blockquote> <blockquote>”I gasped. I had a pretty good sense of the DNC’s operations after having served as interim chair five years earlier. Back then the monthly expenses were half that. What had happened? The party chair usually shrinks the staff between presidential election campaigns, but Debbie had chosen not to do that. She had stuck lots of consultants on the DNC payroll, and Obama’s consultants were being financed by the DNC, too.”</blockquote> Imagine if Bernie’s campaign had this sort of proof during the primaries that there was such control over the DNC from Hillary Clinton and her campaign cronies. Even Brazile here, who obviously doesn't realize what she's saying, is admitting to discussing financial planning with one campaign (Hillary’s) and not another (Bernie’s) which implies Hillary was the chosen candidate and the primary in itself was a dog show to fool the masses. What do we make of this, and what can be done about it? Well first and foremost I'm not a Democrat, so it has little interest to me outside if believing this destroys the integrity of the United States of America and our elections. It does exactly that, completely and utterly removing the sense that the people have a voice at all. Even more so uninspiring is what Brazile said next regarding the “mess she had inherited”. <blockquote>”When we hung up, I was livid. Not at Gary, but at this mess I had inherited. I knew that Debbie had outsourced a lot of the management of the party and had not been the greatest at fundraising. I would not be that kind of chair, even if I was only an interim chair. Did they think I would just be a surrogate for them, get on the road and rouse up the crowds? I was going to manage this party the best I could and try to make it better, even if Brooklyn did not like this. It would be weeks before I would fully understand the financial shenanigans that were keeping the party on life support.”</blockquote> What exactly was the point of continuing the road campaign then during the primaries? It was already decided by the <i>powers that be</i> that Hillary Clinton was the chosen candidate. It clearly was all a fraud. Brazile seemingly understands this, yet didn't expose it? She continues ranting as if she somehow was doing the right thing (which is preposterous). <blockquote>”Right around the time of the convention, the leaked emails revealed Hillary’s campaign was grabbing money from the state parties for its own purposes, leaving the states with very little to support down-ballot races. A Politico story published on May 2nd, 2016 described the big fund-raising vehicle she had launched through the states the summer before, quoting a vow she had made to rebuild “the party from the ground up… when our state parties are strong, we win. That’s what will happen.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”Yet the states kept less than half of 1 percent of the $82 million they had amassed from the extravagant fund-raisers Hillary’s campaign was holding, just as Gary had described to me when he and I talked in August. When the Politico story described this arrangement as “essentially… money laundering” for the Clinton campaign, Hillary’s people were outraged at being accused of doing something shady. Bernie’s people were angry for their own reasons, saying this was part of a calculated strategy to throw the nomination to Hillary.”</blockquote> So Brazile was fully aware, that Hillary Clinton had not only seized power of the DNC but was burglarizing, literally stealing, money which belonged to individual States in order to benefit the Clinton Campaign? Where the hell is the investigation into this? We have Donna Brazile outright admitting knowledge of crimes committed by the Clinton Campaign. Of course, Brazile doesn't realize what she just admitted and she goes on to suggest that she was somehow surprised by these facts. <blockquote>”I wanted to believe Hillary, who made campaign finance reform part of her platform, but I had made this pledge to Bernie and did not want to disappoint him. I kept asking the party lawyers and the DNC staff to show me the agreements that the party had made for sharing the money they raised, but there was a lot of shuffling of feet and looking the other way.”</blockquote> So wait Donna, you didn't <i>want to disappoint Bernie</i>, yet you had evidence of cheating and were even complicit in it since you were aware Robby Mook had made a deal with the Clinton Campaign as per Debbie Wasserman Schultz and you didn't go public with it? No Donna, you're a traitor to the United States of America. You were complicit fully in allowing any integrity in our elections to be thrown out the window. Surprisingly Brazile goes on to imply even more damning evidence against the DNC and the Clinton Campaign. <blockquote>”When I got back from a vacation in Martha’s Vineyard, I at last found the document that described it all: the Joint Fund-Raising Agreement between the DNC, the Hillary Victory Fund, and Hillary for America.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”The agreement—signed by Amy Dacey, the former CEO of the DNC, and Robby Mook with a copy to Marc Elias—specified that in exchange for raising money and investing in the DNC, Hillary would control the party’s finances, strategy, and all the money raised. Her campaign had the right of refusal of who would be the party communications director, and it would make final decisions on all the other staff. The DNC also was required to consult with the campaign about all other staffing, budgeting, data, analytics, and mailings.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”I had been wondering why it was that I couldn’t write a press release without passing it by Brooklyn. Well, here was the answer.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”When the party chooses the nominee, the custom is that the candidate’s team starts to exercise more control over the party. If the party has an incumbent candidate, as was the case with Clinton in 1996 or Obama in 2012, this kind of arrangement is seamless because the party already is under the control of the president. When you have an open contest without an incumbent and competitive primaries, the party comes under the candidate’s control only after the nominee is certain. When I was manager of Al Gore’s campaign in 2000, we started inserting our people into the DNC in June. This victory fund agreement, however, had been signed in August 2015, just four months after Hillary announced her candidacy and nearly a year before she officially had the nomination.”</blockquote> There it is, the smoking gun for Democrats. An agreement for the “victory fund” was signed just four months after Hillary announced her candidacy and a year prior to her officially winning the nomination. It was rigged from day one. Funny though, Brazile implies she sought evidence of corruption after this. <blockquote>”I had tried to search out any other evidence of internal corruption that would show that the DNC was rigging the system to throw the primary to Hillary, but I could not find any in party affairs or among the staff. I had gone department by department, investigating individual conduct for evidence of skewed decisions, and I was happy to see that I had found none. Then I found this agreement.”</blockquote> I'm not sure if she's blind, deaf, or playing dumb here but she had evidence of internal corruption, from herself the moment she spoke with Gary Gensler, who was working for the Clinton Campaign, about the finances of the DNC. That's collusion with intent to manipulate from that day forth in my opinion. Thus rendering the rest of the primaries useless. However Brazile states that there was nothing wrong with this agreement, but I bet Bernie supporters would disagree. <blockquote>”The funding arrangement with HFA and the victory fund agreement was not illegal, but it sure looked unethical. If the fight had been fair, one campaign would not have control of the party before the voters had decided which one they wanted to lead. This was not a criminal act, but as I saw it, it compromised the party’s integrity.”</blockquote> The Federal Election Commission should decide this Donna, not you who is clearly a suspect in any such investigation. <blockquote>”I had to keep my promise to Bernie. I was in agony as I dialed him. Keeping this secret was against everything that I stood for, all that I valued as a woman and as a public servant.”</blockquote> Knowingly misleading Bernie Sanders, she has just admitted. Wow. Just wow. <blockquote>”“Hello, senator. I’ve completed my review of the DNC and I did find the cancer,” I said. “But I will not kill the patient.” ”</blockquote> Donna, you were never a surgeon, or a doctor, but playing the role of a murder trial; as in you were the defense attorney, the prosecution, the jury, the Judge, and the executioner. You kept the truth from the public and had the entire case in your hands, and decided to end it in the fashion you did which killed Bernie Sanders’ chances at a fair and balanced primary. She goes on to suggest that she continued to keep the lie exactly that; a secret which benefited Hillary Clinton alone. <blockquote>”I urged Bernie to work as hard as he could to bring his supporters into the fold with Hillary, and to campaign with all the heart and hope he could muster. He might find some of her positions too centrist, and her coziness with the financial elites distasteful, but he knew and I knew that the alternative was a person who would put the very future of the country in peril. I knew he heard me. I knew he agreed with me, but I never in my life had felt so tiny and powerless as I did making that call.”</blockquote> <blockquote>”When I hung up the call to Bernie, I started to cry, not out of guilt, but out of anger. We would go forward. We had to.”</blockquote> As we all historically now know, Brazile not only tried to cheat the system while working at CNN in favor of Hillary over Bernie, but robbed the American people of a clean primary season. Your tears are fake, Donna Brazile, just like you, just like the Democratic Party, just like Barack Hussein Obama, and just like Hillary Clinton. What are people supposed to make of these admissions from Donna Brazile today? While we know she's <a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/washington/la-na-pol-essential-washington-updates-in-new-book-donna-brazile-assails-1509656748-htmlstory.html">This goes to google</a> planning to release a new book, she has completely torn the lid off of the actions and corruption of the Democratic National Committee as well as forever tarnished the American election system by giving a damning statement about the rigging in favor of Hillary Clinton. She's even made herself complicit multiple times, to which I demand (all Republicans and Democrats should unite here) an investigation into these actions. Jeff Weaver, who served as Sanders’ campaign manager, said Thursday that Brazile’s book “confirms what many understood to be the case.” “We saw throughout the campaign a pattern from the DNC that was favorable to Clinton. They wanted her to be the nominee,” he said. Senator Bernie Sanders has yet to publicly speak on these matters but regardless of how you feel about Bernie Sanders; he was robbed and this warrants an investigation. DNC spokesman Xochitl Hinojosa said, “The DNC must remain neutral in the Presidential Primary process, and there shouldn’t even be a perception that the DNC is interfering in that process.” Good news Hinojosa, there's a new chair in Tom Perez now. Bad news Hinojosa, there was zero neutrality in the Presidential Primaries. The DNC cheated for Hillary Clinton. Brazile saying that Barack Obama was responsible for the debt however, that warrants a separate investigation. Why was Barack Obama, who had already served two terms; and needed zero dollars for any campaign involving himself at all, handling campaign cash to begin with? What the hell was really going on there? We know that <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/7016-Obama-and-Soros-Shadow-Government-Organizing-AntiFa-for-Phoenix-Trump-Rally">Organizing For Action, an Obama and Soros related group </a>has been used during the Trump Administration to assist AntiFa in their massive protests. The Goldwater has also helped to expose the <a href="https://thegoldwater.com/news/3655-Indivisible-George-Soros-Newest-Coalition-Better-off-Invisible">George Soros and Barack Obama backed Project Indivisible</a>; so could they have stolen cash from the DNC or redirected it towards those causes? We know now per Donna Brazile Hillary stole money from the State’s coffers. Where did that money go? Hillary lost, and that alleged missing money hurt other State and local candidates across the country for the Democrats (which I'm not complaining about their losses, I'm complaining about the apparent thefts). Democrats should be outrage, which many who despised Hillary were and voted for Trump or a third party, but with this new evidence they have an actual case for taking action. Let's see if Black Lives Matter or AntiFa hit the streets against the surfacing of this information. Progressives, and actual Communists; well they never supported Hillary Clinton to begin with. Those people wanted Bernie Sanders or even someone further left to shift America into a Socialist nightmare that in their minds would somehow be a wet dream of equality. Unfortunately that's not how it actually works when you implement a social-welfare state built upon the grounds of Karl Marx’s philosophies and demented ideals. <a href="Communism and Socialism have never, and will never work. ">https://thegoldwater.com/news/5524-Why-Communism-Socialism-Never-Works</a> So what does the left wing of America have left? Well, they should have a fair and balanced chance through Democracy to win. We now know they do not have a fair chance, and if Democrats would like to demand an investigation; I staunchly support them to preserve the integrity of our elections. Sources (Original and Archive): https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/11/02/clinton-brazile-hacks-2016-215774 Archived version of Donna Brazile’s admission of guilt in case she deletes it edits it: http://archive.is/or9c4 —<i>[email protected]</i> <i>On Twitter:</i> <a href="https://www.twitter.com/IWillRedPillYou">@IWillRedPillYou</a> Tips? Info? Send me a message!

by Donald Lam | Photo Credits: The CloudNG Team | June 17, 2014 I met Wilson Chandra, a graduating senior, in the Composite Building Mac lab and he showed me his final year project (FYP). I recognized it immediately because it was one of the projects that received honorary mention in the annual FYP competition, getting the third place overall. You can tell CloudNG is Wilson’s baby. He talks about it most fervorously. CloudNG is basically a personal and privately hosted cloud. It is the software and interface for a multifunctional server that you can set up at home. Imagine a dropbox clone but instead of uploading your files to the servers of some company, your files can stay at your home. Here are a couple of screenshots of the CloudNG webapp: It syncs your files: And your contacts: Your calendar: And your bookmarks: This may not be the newest of ideas but the design and execution of CloudNG is beautifully done. The interface is clean, gorgeous and looks suspiciously similar to the dropbox web portal so it is familiar and easy to use. Built with a standard open source Apache server, the MySQL database is so widely supported that you can sync from practically any device or service. CloudNG therefore inherits great compatibility and the team built a detailed user guide on how any user can quickly sync up the data from their PCs, Macs, tablets or phones. You can even type in the address in the file explorer or finder of any PC/Mac, and your files would show up as if they are locally stored after a password prompt. I asked him how long did it take for him and his teammate to build it, only to get the hilarious response of “We procrastinated until almost January…”, so only three months of after school hours. You can actually sign up for a 1GB test drive of the CloudNG service right now. This is hosted on a faculty server and could be taken down in later years, but you do get to play with it. (link) The CloudNG team imagines that in the future, we would all have a little black box at home with CloudNG installed, hooked up to the internet and streaming our files anywhere we want them. There is still a lot the team wants to add to CloudNG. Streaming media, running third party apps, more social network functions, enabling an online document editor, etc. It will look very mature and poised to take on real world competitors soon. You can see a detailed comparison of the current functions of CloudNG versus current products here. Contact the developers: Wilson Chandra: admin@wilsonchandra.com Yonatan Nugraha Toemali: ynt1993@connect.hku.hk

Age of Product’s Food for Thought of April 30th, 2017—shared with 7,968 peers—features two heavyweight agile champions on why scaling agile is futile. We also can confirm: the further east you go the less Scrum works. Sorry, we needed to address the elephant in the room. On the product side, we dive deep into how to kill features and why this is important for any aspiring creator of a great product. (Spoiler alert: those embrace simplicity.) We also talk about the “cigarettes” of the B2C web industry, and what it takes to get ‘lean startup’ as a concept going in an enterprise. Lastly: we learn about the unfortunate trend of creating local maxima due to a lack of long-term thinking. Enjoy Labor Day! Scaling Agile Is Futile & Scrum Ron Jeffries : Implications of Enterprise Focus in Scrum Ron Jeffries on scaling agile, SAFe & Co and Scrum Alliance generating new certificates as rapidly as their PDF formatters can produce. Dave Snowden : SAFe: the infantilism of management Mr. Cynefin Dave Snowden’s notion of SAFe is simple: It seemed to be PRINCE II camouflaged in Agile language. Joshua Partogi : Scrum does not work here in Asia Joshua Partogi explains why agile does not work in Asian cultures where people expect to be told what to do because hierarchy is what keeps the universe working. (via AgileConnection ): 4 Balanced Metrics for Tracking Agile Teams Joel Bancroft-Connors outlines four suitable metrics for agile teams. Scott Adams : Cultural Fit You might be too smart to work here. Product & Lean Steli Efti and Hiten Shah : 201: How to Kill Features in Your Product In this episode of the Startup Chat, Steli and Hiten talk about the process of killing features in your product. Adam Risman (via Intercom ): Airtable's Andrew Ofstad on maintaining simplicity at scale Andrew Ofstad explains why complexity slowly creeps up on product builders, and what we can do to preserve the original simplicity of a product. (via Board of Innovation ): The 9 Biggest Challenges for Corporates to implement Lean Startup Arne Van Balen shares the nine biggest challenges for corporates to implement lean startup and 23 great best practices to tackle them. Nir Eyal (via Medium ): The Morality of Manipulation Nir Eyal points at the consumer web industry as a manipulation business based on a wave of habit-forming technologies. Vince Law (via Hacker Noon ): WTF is Strategy? Vince Law provides a simple, yet comprehensive explanation of “strategy” as a concept. The Essential Read

Two weeks after the White Settlement City Council voted to kick a beloved cat out of the public library, city leaders have reversed course and will let Browser remain a live-in mascot. The Fort Worth suburb's governing body voted 3-0 on Friday to let Browser stay, following backlash from their 2-1 decision in June to give the tabby 30 days to find a new home. Browser, a former shelter cat, had been at the library nearly six years before council member Elzie Clements called for his removal. Mayor Ron White has said Browser got caught in the political crossfire after a city employee wasn't allowed to take a puppy to work at City Hall. But on Friday, White said he was overwhelmed by the number of people on social media who supported keeping Browser on the job. "This is not just a cat, it's like a family pet," former council member Alan Price told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Like most felines, Browser spends a good deal of time napping, lounging and sneaking out the door — but he also attends the library's GED classes and has an honorary diploma, the library says. And each year, the library sells a calendar full of pictures of Browser as a fundraiser.

What the recovering alcoholic can offer the Church. What is the meaning of insatiable craving? How does drunkenness seem to be an experience of the divine? How is it different? How can Catholicism make sense of the joys and sorrows of the drinking life? What, if anything, can an alcoholic in recovery offer to the Church? The first three questions are addressed in the 2012 documentary film “Bill W.” about the life of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) co-founder, Bill Wilson. The film discusses Bill’s friendship with Fr. Ed Dowling – a non-alcoholic Jesuit priest and an early proponent of the fellowship of AA – who served as Bill’s spiritual director. It recounts a conversation that Bill and Fr. Dowling had once, in which Bill asked Father whether his thirst would ever be quenched. Father replied that, no, Bill’s thirst would never be quenched, because we are meant to thirst; what matters is where we aim what we thirst for. This understanding of a profound thirst, an emptiness sometimes described as a “God-sized hole,” is the beginning point of recovery for many. In the 12 Steps of AA, it is described as an admission of powerlessness and a recognition of unmanageability in one’s life. Though this is a good beginning, one needs more for recovery; one needs to “come to believe”, to encounter God and to begin to set aside self-will for God’s will. By our Catholic faith, we see that God has created us for happiness – for union with Him – and that He has instilled in us both a capacity and desire for Himself so that we might seek to do His will and to draw ever closer to Him. This desire and capacity seems to have two dimensions or aspects, which I call "unitive" on the one hand, and "infusive" on the other. The "unitive" aspect is one in which we desire and seek after unity or oneness with God, with other people, and with creation; it could be characterized as contemplative, peaceful, quiet, or restful. The "infusive" aspect, as I call it, is a desire to be filled with and transformed by the Holy Spirit; this aspect could be characterized as charismatic, active, or apostolic. This twofold capacity and desire for unity and for infusion I call the "mystical impulse." Although this "mystical impulse" can be found in each one of us, the effects of sin and concupiscence often direct our desires away from God throughout our natural lives. Alcoholism – the habitual, chronic, and compulsive use of alcohol – is one of the ways in which we see sin express itself in the world. While alcoholism has been described in many ways, one of the most illuminating descriptions of it can be found in the beginning of "Alcoholics Anonymous": the so-called "Big Book," from which the name of the fellowship of AA is derived. In the section entitled "The Doctor’s Opinion", written by addiction specialist Dr. William Silkworth in the late 1930s, one sees alcoholism described as the operation of a type of allergy to alcohol within the body of the alcoholic. Dr. Silkworth notes that the alcoholic experiences a "phenomenon of craving" that is triggered when he takes a drink. In addition to this physical craving, he experiences a mental obsession with drinking that defies reason or willpower. He seeks after a sense of "ease and comfort" that becomes ever more elusive over time, even in the face of a relentless and fatal progression. If he is fortunate, the alcoholic will come to discover that: a) once he takes the first drink, he is unable to stop, and b) that he has no effective mental defense against the first drink. So why does he do this? The best way to explain is for me to recount my own experience of drinking and recovery. One of my earliest childhood memories is of my father showing me the coin he received upon his reaching 90 days of sobriety in a Minneapolis alcoholism treatment facility; I was perhaps 5 years old at the time. For as long as I can remember, I was aware of and obsessed with alcohol. On the one hand I was afraid of alcohol knowing that my father had problems with drinking and I did not want to end up in a hospital; on the other, I wanted to experience release from a painful self-consciousness and fear that mounted all throughout my childhood. I recall watching with rapt attention the TV commercials which depicted the Budweiser Clydesdales pulling their fully-laden coach through bucolic, snowy landscapes, wishing for their promised good cheer to break through the sad fog of familial strife that unfailingly settled over my house from mid-November to mid-January every year.

Lazy Girls, as you might imagine, need a lot of instruction to get through life. Just consider the average woman: lolloping around like a friendly dog, with food and coffee stains on her rumpled clothes, hair matted in a pile, not even a little dismayed that her eyeliner is wiggled. She eats whatever, and doesn’t exercise either; she’s content to forego fitness crazes because how could she be any more comfortable with who she is? If she weren’t so tragic in her ignorance — so lazy — you’d think she was standing astride the self-care industry and society’s standards for women, arms akimbo, laughing. Fortunately for women in our modern times, publications old and new now offer “Lazy Girl” guides to shape them into some level of fitness for society. And I mean fitness in more than just the natural-selection sense: Lazy Girl guides can give her a great butt. They can style her clothes so she does not scare others, banish her cystic pizza face, make her lose weight, help her with her morning makeup, feed her a healthy meal, repair her tattered rags, tame her rat’s nest of a haircut, fix her repulsive cuticles, contour her shapeless blob of a face, learn her manners, teach her to keep house. The lazy girl is Eliza Doolittle, and the internet is her Henry Higgins. The rise of the “Lazy Girl” meme is difficult to track because it’s something no one actually goes looking for; there are no obvious spikes in Google Trends, for instance. But the term has quietly bubbled up into the headlines of service journalism for women over the last few years — here is an early one, the Lazy Girl’s Guide to Felting Rocks — to the point that no slideshow telling you how to live is complete without it. I used to click on every single Lazy Girl article I came across, and I get a lot of lifestyle newsletters. I would never seek this stuff out, but if it appeared in front of me, it was like candy. And this sort of puzzled me because I am not lazy: If anything, I care too much about everything, especially whether I’m doing any given thing the right and best way. Just now I sealed the end of my planner’s bookmark ribbon with nail polish so it would stop fraying. I don’t have everything figured out, by a long shot, but what I have scraped together is the result of trying what at least feels like very, very hard, all of the time. Being together and groomed and presentable in addition to general operation as a human is tiring. The precursor to the Lazy Girl was the Busy Woman, who had to learn to cook, to sew, to manage her life, to survive, to actualize, to elevate herself. Now publications have shifted stance — the salable idea is that something can possibly be easy. If we just flop in the general direction of the task at hand, we could do it. Or, more important, that there is maybe, just maybe, a secret, easier way of doing things that we somehow didn’t know about. In an article titled “7 Lazy Girl Beauty Hacks,” the author points out that toilet-seat covers can be used to blot oil from one’s face, if one takes the time to trim them into “small squares.” In another Lazy Girl’s guide to better skin, the very first tip is to apply SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF, a serum that costs well over $100 per bottle. This one, on “holiday beauty hacks,” holds it together for three list items before suggesting in the fourth that you simply apply eyeliner not once, but twice, in the same perfect straight line. This one tells you that you can pull off pajamas as formalwear if you can simply have the taste and fashion sense of an impeccable stylist. (There is also the occasional attempt at Lazy Girl identity content, which would seem to get the meme’s appeal backward by correctly identifying and listing a bunch of actual lazy behaviors.) These Lazy Girl guides admittedly offer much the same set of lessons women’s publications have been peddling for decades, and they generally follow long-established formulas: Assemble some obvious facts, add a couple genuinely insightful tidbits, lay it all out in an attractive way. The Lazy Girl label gives it an insidious new twist — it purports to offer a way around the rules, but still keeps those rules firmly in place, all with the impossible sheen of effortlessness. As the Hairpin’s 2014 analysis of snackwave showed, even a simple act of apparently carefree cool online can become a kind of performance: One does not simply eat a piece of pizza on the internet; eating a piece of pizza is a defiant action, a rejection of health-food culture. And yet this kind of rebellion perpetuates more norms than it resists — the piece’s authors note that snackwave’s accepted poster-women tend to be thin, pretty, and often white. The whole thing smacks of the “cool girl,” to use Gillian Flynn’s description of conspicuous, attractive female chillness. The allure of the effortless reigns supreme online, where it’s easy to chase each other around in circles about who’s faking and who actually doesn’t give a fuck (see the debate around the You Did Not Eat That Instagram account) and to applaud the occasional admission of a constructed identity. The only real conclusion that falls out of all this mess is that, still, effort is never cool. Lazy Girl speaks to how we’d all like to put forward less effort. But at the same time, to the extent that these articles continue to exist, we will always believe it takes a large amount of effort to be acceptable. The tacit promise of the Lazy Girl is that it’ll be easy to add yet another self-improvement habit to your routine, normalizing the endless list of obligations while implying they should take no effort or time at all. To be a lazier woman is a worthy aspiration: Actual Lazy Girls are heroes. The Lazy Girl meme represents, if anything, the opposite .

The first thing to know about Les Halles Boulangerie & Patisserie, one of two new eateries at Epcot’s France pavilion, is that it is a full service, working bakery. You’ll see, behind the counter, some of the bakers and cast members preparing baguettes and sliding them into the massive ovens. Or maybe torching some creme brulees to be placed in the display cases. What you won’t see is the industrial, state-of-the-art equipment that is part of the newly constructed two-story addition to the pavilion. There are massive mixers, huge cauldrons, and the largest pressure cooker I’ve ever seen. There are proofing ovens, machines that roll out the dough and sophisticated devices that control the temperature of the water that is to be added to the flour and yeast that will become the iconic baguettes of France. Les Halles breadJust before placing the baguettes in the oven, a baker makes small slits in the dough.And yet there are still some things that must be done by hand, such as shaping the dough into long batons of brioche for the sandwiches, as several cast members were doing when I snuck a peek inside the facility recently. I wasn’t allowed to take any photos in the “backstage” kitchen, but I can tell you I was impressed with the extent -- and expense -- that has been taken to produce as authentic a product as possible. It shows in the items that I tasted, none better than the simple baguette I took home with me and enjoyed with some cheese. The outside was hard and crusty and the inside was fresh and fluffy. The brioche that my Dinde B.L.T. was built upon, was softer and fresh tasting. The sandwich had the requisite bacon, lettuce and tomato, but also turkey and aioli. The bread was good, but I think I prefer the crusty baguettes (certain sandwiches are made with certain breads, and as for now there are no provisions for sandwiches by request). I also sampled a number of sweets and pastries, including a creamy and flaky Napoleon; a parfait aux fruits with yogurt mousse and raspberries two eclairs, one chocolate and one vanilla, both wonderful; mousse au chocolat; and a chocolate cake that was impossibly rich. It’s a good thing I don’t have a sweet tooth or I’d be in big trouble with these pastries (emphasis on the big). The menu also includes two soups (lobster bisque or pumpkin currently), croque monsieur (no croque madame), salads and quiches. But I think my favorite item was the pissaladiere, a pizza-like device with a base of bread similar to focaccia topped with slices of tomatoes, black olives, and a bit of gruyere cheese. It was so fresh and the flavors of the toppings, which included some fresh rosemary, just popped in the mouth. Les Halles is classified as a quick-serve restaurant (available on Disney Dining Plan as quick service/snack credit). Guests line up in a central queue then go either left or right at the counter -- the same items are available and displayed in a mirror configuration in either direction. Once you pay for your purchase, you may carry it to one of the indoor tables, either with chairs or standing at one of the counter-height tables, or if you’re lucky snag one of the few outdoor tables in the courtyard. The indoor dining area is in the space next to the gift shop that guests go through when exiting the pavilion’s movie attraction (how convenient!). Beer and wine are available, and get this: guests will have access to the bakery in the morning before the World Showcase opens for a morning pastry and, if desired, a mimosa. Besides making tasty things for tourists, the boulangerie is now producing the breads that are used at Chefs de France and Monsieur Paul, the other new restaurant at the France pavilion that replaced Bistro de Paris last month. (Read my review of Monsieur Paul here.) Les Halles, which of course is named for the district in Paris known for its shops and eateries, is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Prices range from $3.50 for a mini baguette with bacon and herbs to $9.25 for the assorted cheese plate. The baguettes are placed by hand into the oven. For larger loads, the oven has a big conveyor belt attached to it that rolls the loaves inside. As soon as the oven door is closed, steam encircles the dough and it immediately begins to rise. Stuffed sandwiches on display. The iconic Croque Monsieur sandwiches, in front, and the equally famous quiche just behind. Two blow torches are used to get the crispy burnt crust on the creme brulee. {jcomments on}

Gunman wounds GOP congressman, then killed by police Copyright by WIVB - All rights reserved (Rep. Steve Scalise) [ + - ] Video The Associated Press - ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A rifle-wielding attacker opened fire on Republican lawmakers at a congressional baseball practice Wednesday, wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and several others as congressmen and aides dove for cover. The assailant, prepared with "a lot of ammo," fought a gun battle with police before he, too, was shot and later died. Scalise dragged himself off the infield leaving a trail of blood as colleagues rushed to his assistance. Capitol Police officers who were in Scalise's security detail wounded the shooter, who was taken into custody. In all, five people were taken to area hospitals, including the suspect, Alexandria police said. The shooter later died of his injuries, President Donald Trump told the nation from the White House. "Everyone on that field is a public servant," Trump said. "Their sacrifice makes democracy possible." Scalise, 51, the No. 3 House Republican leader first elected to the House in 2008, was in stable condition and undergoing surgery. Copyright by WIVB - All rights reserved (Rep. Steve Scalise) A government official identified the shooter as an Illinois man named James. T. Hodgkinson. The official was not authorized to discuss an investigation by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Copyright by WIVB - All rights reserved Texas Rep. Roger Williams, who coaches the GOP team, said that one of his aides, Zack Barth, was shot, but "is doing well and is expected to make a full recovery." Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina said he had just left the practice and encountered the apparent gunman in the parking lot before the shooting. The man calmly asked which party's lawmakers were practicing and Duncan told him they were the Republicans. The man thanked him. The gunman had a rifle and "a lot of ammo," said Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who was at the practice. The shocking event left the Capitol horrified and stunned. The House canceled proceedings for the day. The shooting occurred at a popular park and baseball complex in Alexandria, Virginia, where Republican lawmakers and others were gathered for a morning practice about 7 a.m. They were in good spirits despite the heat and humidity as they prepared for the congressional baseball match that pits Republicans against Democrats. The popular annual face-off, which raises money for charity, was scheduled for Thursday evening at Nationals Park across the Potomac River in Washington. The team was taking batting practice when gunshots rang out and chaos erupted. Scalise was fielding balls on second base when he was shot, according to lawmakers present, then dragged himself into the outfield to get away from the gunman. Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, said his colleague "crawled into the outfield, leaving a trail of blood." "We started giving him the liquids, I put pressure on his wound in his hip," Brooks said. Texas Rep. Joe Barton, still in his baseball uniform, told reporters a shooter came out to the practice and opened fire, shooting at Rep. Trent Kelly, R-Miss., who plays third base. "He shot at Steve Scalise, our second baseman. He hit Steve Scalise," Barton said, "Scalise's security detail and the Capitol Hill police immediately returned fire, and Alexandria Police also immediately came and began to return fire. They shot the shooter. The security detail saved a lot of lives because they attacked the shooter." Barton said the shooting lasted 5-10 minutes, and there were dozens if not hundreds of shots fired. "It was scary," Barton said. Lawmakers took cover in the dugout. Barton said his son, Jack, got under an SUV. FBI special agent in charge Tim Slater said it was "too early to say" whether it was an act of terrorism, or whether Scalise was targeted. After the gunfire stopped, Sen. Flake, of Arizona, said he ran onto the field and also tried to come to Scalise's aide. After medical personnel arrived, he said he retrieved Scalise's phone and made the first call to Scalise's wife to notify her of the shooting. He said he did so to ensure that Mrs. Scalise would not find out about the shooting through the media. Flake estimated that more than 50 shots were fired. Scalise, a popular and gregarious lawmaker, is known for his love of baseball and handed out commemorative baseball bats to fellow lawmakers when he secured the No. 3 job of House whip several years ago. Falisa Peoples was just leaving the YMCA next to the ball field when she saw the shooter open fire. "He was just very calm. He was just walking and shooting," she said of the man, whom she described as white and wearing a T-shirt and shorts. She said he was using a long gun and exchanging fire with law enforcement officers, one of whom yelled for her to get down. In a brief interview in a Senate hallway, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said, "I think everybody handled it well and things seem to be under control." Other lawmakers were stunned in the aftermath of the event, which raised questions about the security of members of Congress. While the top lawmakers, including Scalise, have security details, others do not and regularly appear in public without protection. The last time a lawmaker was shot was when Democratic Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona was hit in the head and grievously injured while meeting with constituents at a supermarket parking lot in 2011. Following the Giffords shooting, lawmakers have held fewer open town halls and have been advised to increase security at such events. Thinking of my colleague Steve Scalise & the others injured in this horrific shooting. Grateful for the work of Capitol Police. — Louise Slaughter (@louiseslaughter) June 14, 2017 Thank you to the @CapitolPolice and the work they do everyday to keep us safe — Rep. Chris Collins (@RepChrisCollins) June 14, 2017 Saddened by news of the shooting in VA this am. Thoughts & prayers for Rep @SteveScalise & others injured & hope for a speedy recovery. — Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) June 14, 2017

Novelist J K Rowling has confirmed she plans "not seven, more" Robert Galbraith novels. Speaking at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on Friday night (18th July), in conversation with Val McDermid, the author drew applause from the audience when she confirmed there was an "open-ended" series planned. "I love writing these books. One of the things I love about this genre is that - unlike Harry [the Harry Potter series] where there is an overarching story, here you are talking about discrete stories. So as long as your detective lives you can give him cases." She added that she knew "a lot" about her private eye Cormoran Strike and where he was going, as well as his assistant Robin. The Harrogate event is J K Rowling's one and only UK event to promote her new Cormoran Strike novel, The Silkworm (Little, Brown), and in keeping with her Robert Galbraith pseudonymn, Rowling wore a suit and tie to play the part. Her appearance was carefully controlled, with no photographs allowed in the auditorium, and questions from the audience vetted in advance and delivered via McDermid, with whom Rowling shares a publisher. The author said it was a "no brainer" for her to write crime novels, describing the Harry Potter novels as "six whodunits and one whydunit" - and admitting her "dirty secret" - that she never reads fantasy. She revealed a love for "golden age" crime - Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, although not Sayers' detective Lord Peter Wimsey - as well as her admiration for Val McDermid herself, Mark Billingham, Ruth Rendell and P D James. Rowling described the plot of The Silkworm as "probably the most complex plot I've ever written", saying she had the idea for it ahead of the idea for The Cuckoo's Calling, but had decided to keep it for the second novel in order to introduce her series character in the context of a less dense plot. The third novel, which she is a third of the way through, will be "quite different" - "You find out quite a bit more about what happens to people after they leave the military," she said, adding that she had had "a lot of information" on the subject from people who prefer to remain anonymous. Rowling also talked of her lead character, Cormoran Strike, whose first name is the Cornish for giant, and whose surname, she revealed, she came across by accident, the surname of the author of a book on Cornwall she happened across, immediately recognising it as right. One of the reasons she had made her lead character a war veteran with an amputated leg was that the reality of living with a disability was something close to her heart, she said. "My mother lived with multiple sclerosis, and was latterly disabled - in a wheelchair - and that's day in, day out. We see a vast number of people returning to this country [from war] with disabilities - although the paralympics are marvellous, there is another side. Once you get off the podium you are still dealing with it. It's a pain in the arse. I certainly remember from my mother's experience that when a lift breaks down, for you it's an inconvenience, for someone with a disability... [it's much more]." Meanwhile she "loved" the character of Robin, she revealed. "I think Robin is the most entirely loveable character I've ever written. A good person but likeable - a smart woman, a kind and loyal person." On the subject of why she had chosen a pseudonymn and first published The Cuckoo's Calling with no clue as to her true identity, Rowling said: "I wanted to prove to myself I could get a book published on the merits of the book. A friend said, 'Why do you need that validation?' You probably have to be a writer to understand it... I wanted something that was just for me. While it lasted it was a lot of fun." She revealed that she was "jumping up and squeaking for joy" when McDermid's very favourable review of the book was published, and that she even wrote a thank-you letter to McDermid in the persona of Robert Galbraith. Rowling, who is currently also working on the script for the film of "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", also hinted at other literary plans, saying: "There are a couple of other things I want to do...mostly novels. There are so many novels I want to write."

Religious extremists in the Middle East, both Sunni and Shia, wield historical precedence to inform and legitimize their actions and strategies. It is one of the most powerful tools in their polemical arsenal, one that can successfully mobilize young men to action and, when necessary, explain away their temporary setbacks. This propaganda works because it stands on a firm, pre-existing foundation of how history is remembered by those they seek to recruit. Yet Islamic history provides an opportunity for pushback against extremism. Surprisingly, even with an abundance of tools at our disposal, the extremist version of history goes largely unchallenged. A decade ago, I was zipping around the mountains of the Syrian coast pretending to look at castles. Castles big and small, some well preserved, others crumbling, once Crusader, then Assassin, at other times Arab. Castles that have changed many hands over the course of time, and some of which have found new strategic value in the current Syrian civil war. But what I was really doing was stealing a visit here and there to the Alawite shrines that dot the high ground across the mountain range. I was motivated by sheer curiosity. There was a five hundred year gap in the story of the Alawites, a secretive and schismatic Shia sect, who went on to capture absolute power in the 1970s. Five hundred years that somehow went missing from the historical record. The saints and holy men who led their communities during those five centuries are still venerated at those idyllic shrines, lit with candles, incense and prayers—where strangers to the sect, such as myself, are suspect and unwelcome. I just wanted to map out who was buried where and when, hoping to gain some insight into that historical gap. At one point, while driving through a pine forest up to the castle of Abu Qubeis, I spotted a bush laden with caper berries by the side of the road. An opportunity for pickling, I thought. I hadn’t noticed the old man across the sparsely-travelled road, sitting among the trees by a mountain stream. He was the proprietor of an outdoor coffee shop, blessed with gorgeous views and shade, albeit with no customers (at the time) and a few chairs strewn about. He beckoned me over, curious as to what this stranger was doing on that quiet afternoon. A conversation that began with pickling techniques veered somewhat rapidly into how much that old man hated Sunnis. Having conversations about history, politics, sectarian identity and, really anything, to do with current events can lead to many security complications for a curious wanderer in Asad-ruled Syria. I was hesitant but the old fellow wanted to get a lot off his chest. I also felt somewhat safe since he seemed to believe that President Hafez al-Asad, who had died seven years prior to our encounter, was still alive and well. This old man would be an unlikely informant for the secret police, I thought. His most memorable line was “those who hated your grandfather are unlikely to be kind to you. I am an Alawite and I spit on anyone who has the slightest problem with that.” His gripe with the Sunnis extended from what he had seen during their uprising in the early 1980s, when “they killed the flower of the Alawite community” to hundreds of years back when they hounded his ancestors out of the cities and plains of Syria into their mountain redoubts. He also drew a line from the past into the future: “If they come at us again, President Hafez will smash them again. And in the worst case scenario, if we lose the rest of Syria, then we will fight them on this mountain, and go our separate ways, as we did before.” This was said to me in the summer of 2007. The stirrings of the Syrian civil war were still five years away. The old man was short on short-term memory, but history gave him the long view into the past, and into the future. A view that was at once cautionary about what to expect, and instructive as to what should be done. The use of history in constructing the narratives of identity, of common origins, of a shared experience, and of a soon-to-be fulfilled purpose is not new or unique. Sects, religions, ethnicities, tribes, political ideologies, and other corporate bodies borrow heavily from history to frame their trajectories, to propagate, and to undergird their authenticity. In this sense, history confers legitimacy and infers destiny. There are many examples to cite from the twentieth century as various ideologies and regimes in the Middle East constructed new identities for themselves. Arab nationalism borrowed from the might and vitality of the Arab conquests of the region in the 7th century to highlight the redeeming possibilities of an Arab awakening after a centuries long slumber at the margins of empire. The Turks remembered their own distinct story, departing from Central Asia and swarming over vast territories and leaving newfound empires in their wake, even breaking into Europe and reigning supreme over large tracts of that continent. The Shah of Iran resurrected the pomp and splendor of ancient Persia to lend regality and majesty to his reign. In the same vein, what is Zionism if not an archival land deed, remembered, dusted-off, and yearned for as one laments what was lost? In Iraq, Saddam Hussein not only rode the heady visions of Arab glory but specifically called the Iran-Iraq War the ‘Second Qadisiyya’ in reference to the first battle of its name where the Arabs delivered a mortal blow to the Sassanid Persians and evicted them from the land of Mesopotamia (636 AD). Saddam went back further into the annals of that land to refashion himself as a latter-day avatar of King Nebuchadnezzar’s, he of Biblical fame, ruling from the land of Babylon and projecting expansionist designs, while breaking the spirit of the Jews in the process. Much like Nebuchadnezzar, Saddam rebuilt the ruined city of Babylon—committing archeological and cultural desecration by doing so—and inserted his name into the brickwork, laid thousands of years ago, by Jewish captives taken into slavery. History not only enables those who cite it to define themselves, but to define their enemies as well. They can connect the dots between historical episodes to extrapolate conspiracy: the ‘enemy’ has always been the enemy because that is who he is. That was how that old Alawite man understood the enmity of Sunnis. Saddam was demonstrating that the Arab-Persian rivalry was as old as time, and that the Jews, empowered as they are in the modern era by the rebirth of Israel, have always been a nuisance; one that previous (and present) kings of Mesopotamia were destined to deal with. Yet the extremists of the Middle East today, both Sunni and Shia, are employing history differently, in a way that is not only reactive and descriptive, but rather prescriptive. They use it in a way that is both specific and strategic to instruct policy. That history is “readily intelligible to both educated and uneducated Muslims,” as Bernard Lewis, the British-American historian who boasts the distinction of being the first to articulate the challenge of radical Islamism for the West, put it in his book The Crisis of Islam (2003). “It offers a set of themes, slogans, and symbols that are profoundly familiar and therefore effective in mobilizing support and in formulating both a critique of what is wrong and a program for putting it right,” he adds. Remembering the past is not a tool of mere inspiration or for marking enemies when utilized by the extremists, the past is their blueprint for resetting history back to a time they could take pride in. It is analytically useful to understand the Islamic State as it understands itself. As far as they are concerned, their story did not begin with the proclamation of the resurrected caliphate in September June 2014, nor its predecessor the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Theirs is a ten-year venture that began during October 2006, when they put the world on notice with their announcement of the Islamic State of Iraq. The jihadists, back then, understood the implications, and the hazards of what they were about to do. They knew that it would focus the hostility not only of their apparent enemies, such as the United States and the Shia, but also that of their ideological cousins, the other jihadist groups orbiting the Salafist constellation. The jihadists of the nascent Islamic State anticipated the refrain of rejection and hesitation: this is too bold, too grand, too soon. Their ideological cousins would immediately recognize that this is indeed the caliphate, attempted. An attempt fraught with ideological peril and uncertainty, even though it is the end-goal of many Salafists. It would sow dissent and acrimony at a time when all groups should be singularly focused on the goal of waging jihad against the West and the internal enemies lurking within Islamic lands. But the ‘trailblazers’ of the new caliphate had ready and—as far as they are concerned—convincing answers, for they were standing firmly on historical precedent, harking back to the time of early Islam. As such, they were not trailblazers at all, but were simply rediscovering a trail first embarked upon by Muhammed, the prophet, the actual trailblazer of the faith. The Islamic State published a book in January 2007 titled ‘Informing the People About the Birth of the State of Islam.’ They sought to preempt the debate about timing and method. Their polemical coup de grâce was to cite the state-building venture of Muhammad at Medina. Muhammed did not wait around for the conditions to turn optimal in Mecca. His calling compelled him to strike out boldly, against incredible odds. He left his native city and found refuge among the Medinan ‘youths’ who had pledged themselves to his prophecy. His was a precarious venture, at once tenuous, and due for a number of setbacks. Muhammad did not reign supreme as he began to wield authority and manage the day-to-day affairs of his flock. He had to contend with a mixed city that boasted, for example, confident, armed and well-positioned Jewish tribes, that were not about to part with their faith for his. He had to wage war against his Meccan detractors, or consequently suffer their counter-attacks. Yet even in the bleakest of times, the jihadists remind us, Muhammad foresaw that what he was setting out to build in Medina would subjugate the mighty and nearby empires of Byzantium and Persia. These visions did not strike the true believers around him as loony, even during the darkest of times, so why would the detractors of the Islamic State in the twenty first century counsel against going too big, too soon? The territory they believed to be controlling in 2006 in Iraq was magnitudes larger than Muhammed’s tiny toehold. Conditions then did not deter him, they why should they do so nowadays? In fact, they argued, there were many similarities between what he faced and what was happening in Iraq. If only the jihadists would follow his example, and enact his steps by going back to the basics, then the jihad would recapture the path back towards redemption and righting what went wrong. The motif of going back to the basics has a rich tradition in Islamic dogma, and thus the method and argumentation of the modern jihadists would not strike their ideological cousins, or the audience at large, as contrived. The medieval Syrian jurist, Ibn Taymiyya, writing at a time of Muslim decline following the Mongol invasions and the sacking of Baghdad, also argued for revisiting the early days of Islam to recapture the vitality of the faith. He inspired many later movements, most notably, in the eighteenth century, the Wahhabis of the Arabian Peninsula, who put his theories into practice to much martial success over successive attempts spanning three centuries. The vast majority of today’s Salafists draw inspiration from Ibn Taymiyya and the creeds he launched. The very meaning of the Arabic word ‘salaf’ connotes that community of early Islam, when it was pure, pristine and powerful, or so they believe. It also helps that Wahhabism eventually became the credo of modern, deep-pocketed Saudi Arabia. ‘Going back to the basics’ is a well-funded and widely propagated idea. The jihadists of the Islamic State were merely stretching it further. And further they did. Resurrecting a caliphate implies the necessity of picking a caliph, which is no easy thing. Theoretically, at least, he (and of course he would have to be a ‘he’) would be both the spiritual and temporal leader of the world’s billion or so Sunni Muslims. That alone would seem daunting. It does not help that historical precedence on this topic is itself problematic. The Salafists, and many more Sunnis, believe that only the first four successors to Muhammad, the caliphs, can be counted as ‘righteously guided’. Yet history tells us that the process of picking those four turned out to be politically acrimonious. Three of the four met their demise through murder or assassination. The fluidity and messiness of the politics over the course of those three crucial decades many centuries ago later solidified into sectarian antipathy, giving us modern-day Shi’ism and Sunnism. That, however, did not deter medieval theorists or modern jihadists from formulating a mechanism to pick a caliph based on the four test cases that followed Muhammad’s death. The historical record is elastic by its very nature, and polemicists can stretch it out to fit current circumstances, rendering history books into recipe books. Not all the ingredients may be available, but the recipe can still be followed, albeit with some tweaking and minor substitutions, to arrive at a formula that works. Such was the formula the Islamic State leveraged as it announced its proto-caliph, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the predecessor to ISIS’s Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ten years ago. Problem solved. Any questions? Kindly refer to early Islamic history, the jihadists would say. They would say that because it works as a winning argument with their target audience: the Sunni populations of the Middle East that are to be incorporated into their caliphate in the first phase of its rebirth. By citing historical precedent to legitimize their actions, the jihadists enjoy standing on firm foundations. For the remembered and popularized past, such as Muhammad’s story in Medina, is present and mentally available for most of this audience, received as it were through curricula, the Friday sermon, and mass media. The founding father of the particular strain of jihadism that gave us the Islamic State did not have to try very hard to stoke the fires of sectarianism in Iraq, for example. When the world watched Iraqis cheering on American soldiers pulling down Saddam’s statue off its pedestal in downtown Baghdad, Abu Musaab al-Zarqawi saw opportunity. He would frame his war as a fight against the Shias, who were now acting as the enablers of the Americans, a foreign non-Muslim army that had just occupied a gloried Sunni and caliphal capital, one that was specifically established to manage the sprawling Islamic empire. Zarqawi would employ sectarianism as the fast burning fuel necessary for mobilizing support for an even more ambitious enterprise, resurrecting the Islamic State. He was aided in doing so by a hate-speech campaign against the Shia that had primed his target audience to receive what he was about to advocate: the “total annihilation” of the Shia. Sectarian hate speech has been around for centuries, but it was mass propagated two decades prior to the Iraq War on the occasion of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, led by the Shia cleric Ayatollah Ruhullah Khomeini in 1979. Those threatened by Khomeini’s revolutionary appeal, such as Saddam Hussein or the Saudis, felt compelled at the time to inoculate their populations against faith-inspired revolution by suggesting that Shi’ism itself was a grand conspiracy against Islam. Lots of money was marshalled by Iran’s enemies to saturate the airwaves, fill out library shelves, and lend wide currency to Shia perfidy. The result was that in many parts of the Sunni Arab Middle East, one would find many nodding heads, in 2003, when reminded that Shi’ism was ‘invented’ by a devious Jew-turned-Muslim called Ibn Saba in the early days following Muhammad’s death. European anti-Semitism (once re-propagated during the heyday of Arab Nationalism in the 1950s and 1960s) fused with the Islamic historical record to brand the Shias as the ‘internal Jews’. In the late nineties, one could find a book—an Arabic language forgery based thematically on an earlier Russian forgery—with the curious title of ‘The Protocols of the Elders of Qum’, on display in Amman and Cairo, purporting to be the secret plans of the Shia to take-over the region, a plan hatched in the religious seminaries of the Iranian city of Qum. Consequently, Zarqawi could turn to Islamic history and find a poster boy for Shia treachery that would neatly fit the scenes of 2003. Actually, he would riff off a data point that Saddam had highlighted in his first letter following his ouster: For, prior to the last time Baghdad was dramatically sacked by a great power, the Mongols, in 1258, the day-to-day affairs of the once mighty Sunni Abbasid empire had been left in the hands of a Shia, the Grand Vizier Ibn al-Alqami. That was quite progressive of the Abbasids to put a minority candidate in charge, but that is not what Saddam and Zarqawi would like remembered from that episode. Their case was that Ibn al-Alqami conspired to weaken the defenses of the empire and to hand over Baghdad on a silver platter to the heathen enemy, much like the Shia of Iraq were doing nowadays, whom Zarqawi termed “the grandchildren of Ibn al-Alqami.” It is a neat and succinct narrative that organically grows out of a pre-existing anti-Shia narrative. Zarqawi leveraged the drama of history to explain the present, and it enabled him to suggest a solution, a final solution. There can be no moving forwards towards resurrecting the Islamic State until the Shia are dealt with, once and for all. Cue: civil war. Yet pedantically citing historical instances as a propaganda tool is not enough. For it to truly resonate it must be dramatized. The drama of current events must match the drama of history. The actors of today must mimic and project the greatness of those individuals they cite from the early Islamic community. One literary minded jihadist authored a play depicting a late night conversation between the last Abbasid caliph and Ibn al-Alqami before the Mongol invasion. The ‘ghost of history’ lurks about, cast as the third protagonist on the scene. The drama seems to suggest that if only a jihadist of Zarqawi’s cut had been present, then he could have warned the caliph of what was coming, and could have exposed Ibn al-Alqami’s plot. The jihadists dramatically recall the parts of history they would like remembered, while simultaneously erasing, to much fanfare, the parts they would like forgotten. Maybe that explains their fixation with leveling the monuments of ancient Assyria and Palmyra, and capturing it all on YouTube. The glories and very presence of pre-Islamic civilizations crowds out their absolutist messaging, and even in this they can cite precedence: Did Muhammad not personally destroy the pagan idols of Mecca upon his victory? There can be only one version of history, theirs. The jihadist proto-caliph, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, relished playing the role of caliph. He had a flair for spectacle, showcasing his craft over the course of many audio speeches. In March 2007 Abu Omar went ahead and announced that he is annulling the ‘Pact of Omar’—a purported document codifying the discriminatory rules against Christians enacted by its namesake, the second caliph of Islam, one of the ‘Righteously Guided’ ones, in the 7th century. Consider the audacity that a wannabe caliph in the twenty first century can determine that a 1,400 year-old pact no longer applies, since the modern-day Christians have broken the rules, and that it time for the Christians to renegotiate the pact with him, the legal guardian of the Islamic faith. When brandishing such confidence and gall, when claiming to be on par with a ‘proper’ caliph from lore, can a layperson listening to the speech be truly faulted for being swayed by such a display of certitude? In projecting historical drama, the jihadists know their audience. Actually, it is not that difficult to figure out what they are working with, and how they are purposely manipulating it. I know it by my own example: when I leaf through stodgy, scholarly books on early Islam, I catch myself visualizing what I am reading as scenes from a particular movie, The Message (1976). My mental image of what the buildings looked like, the colors, how people dressed, the background noises, and even the haircuts that early Muslims sported derive from it. Growing up in the Middle East, I must have seen this movie some twenty times, for the simple fact that it would reliably get aired at every Islamic occasion dotting the calendar, whether it be Eid, or Ramadhan, or Muhammad’s birthday. It was an epic and compelling production: a Syrian director, Libyan money, two separate versions in Arabic and in English, with the later starring Anthony Quinn and Irene Papas. The score was exhilarating—its composer Maurice Jarre was nominated for an Academy Award but lost to Star Wars that year. The grand tales of early Islam that we had to read in schoolbooks came vividly alive on the screen. Eyes would widen as the warrior hero Hamza, Muhammad’s uncle, stole every scene. The movie had a big impact across Muslim lands and beyond: it was cited as one of the grievances behind the first act of Islamic terror in Washington DC, when a Nation of Islam off-shoot occupied three buildings in the capital in 1977, leaving two dead. They deemed the movie sacrilegious and were incensed that it was due to premiere on U.S. soil. Salafists were never enthusiastic about it, sensing that it portrayed early Islam in a manner that was sympathetic to the Shia version of history. They also have other issues to nitpick; one Salafist told me years ago that depicting the early Muslims as the movie did in all white garb is illogical since they would not have self-identified by their dress color, for example. Chillingly, the Syrian director was killed in November 2005 from injuries sustained after a suicide bomber, dispatched by Zarqawi’s organization, had detonated his explosive vest in the lobby of the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Amman. The movie, although controversial, was eminently influential in how dramatized history reached great numbers of Muslims in countries such as Iraq and Syria. The jihadists don’t seem to have any qualms of using that imagery to their advantage, despite the nitpicking of their ideological cousins. In fact, they seem to borrow heavily from it. Take the flag of the Islamic State, for example. It is so omnipresent now that even the 2016 Eurovision Contest had to make it officially clear that it is banned along with such as flags as those of the Basques Country and Northern Cyprus. The jihadists claim that this is the banner of Muhammad, under which the conquering armies of Islam brought the high and mighty empires of their day to their knees. It certainly looks authentic, with its archaic font and old-timey seal. It looks as if it would be something that the art department of The Message would have come up with as background ‘color’. Consider the jihadist victory parade into Mosul. Their convoys of trucks and tanks were preceded by a number of warriors on horseback. Their dress, and their manner of riding, evokes scenes from the aforementioned movie, as Muhammad returned to Mecca, a conqueror. Or let us take that sole televised speech of the current caliph, Abu Bakr, on the occasion of proclamation of the caliphate. There is something about the way he slowly ascends the pulpit in the main mosque of Mosul, how he turns to face the worshippers, how he speaks, what he is wearing (save for the watch), his stern yet contemplative mannerisms—it all seems very familiar. It seem so because modern media in the Middle East, whether through movies or television series, have depicted early Islam as such. Clearly, the jihadists have latched on to a pre-existing stage-set to amplify their messaging. In another speech by that first, audacious caliph, delivered on the occasion of President Barack Obama being elected president in November 2008, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi addresses “the new rulers of the White House” by using the same words and tone that Muhammad had used in letters allegedly dispatched by the prophet to the emperors of Byzantium and Persia. Again, the jihadists seem to be purposely evoking memorable scenes from The Message when these letters were read out at the imperial courts of the Middle East that a new religion, Islam, has emerged in Arabia. The movie ends by portraying Islam’s resounding victory over paganism at the moment when Muhammad brings down the statuesque idols within the Kaaba. The jihadists knew exactly what they were doing as they filmed themselves smashing and hacking away at the statues of prior civilizations down the corridors of the Museum of Mosul. In recent years, some Shias have developed an extremist credo of their own, one that also borrows from history to enact present policy, chiefly that of revenge and secession as statecraft. This credo is driving events towards conflagration across the region in tandem with the jihadist agenda. It is important to understand the cyclical nature of extremism today in the Middle East: one cannot focus solely on the challenge posed by the policies and propaganda of the jihadists of the Islamic State, for Sunni and Shia extremists feed into each other. It is a toxic loop, which perpetually rationalizes why they need to go to extremes. The Shias may blame Zarqawi for “starting it” but had it not been for Shia heavy handedness against the Sunnis in Iraq and Syria, then Zarqawi’s heirs may not have found an opportunity to stage a comeback. Shi’ism, at heart, is a movement of restitution. Throughout the ages the Shias have justified their cause by citing what they perceive to be Sunni persecution of Muhammed’s dynasty, one whose claim to power was usurped, principally by the first three caliphs. They can cite one incident after another, stretching back 1,400 years, of how the prophet’s family had been wronged. The seminal event occurred in Karbala, on the day of Ashura, in 680 AD. Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, was massacred along with most of his family. The battle is re-enacted every year among Shia communities, in all its gore and drama, so much so that those portraying the bad guys may get assaulted and chased down through the streets by incensed mobs. History is ever-present, or as one Shia thinker coined it, “Every land is Karbala, every day is Ashura.” The fabric of time collapses and folds unto itself as the past is intensely remembered while the future draws nearer with the eschatological expectation of the savior, the Mahdi, descended as he is from Hussein’s loin, who shall right all wrongs. But should his arrival be delayed, Shi’ism can rapidly mobilize for the purpose of revanchism, striking back at the wrong-doers. We are witnessing such as an outbreak now, one that some Shia strategists in Tehran would like to see reshaping the Middle East. I have termed it ‘Shia chauvinism’ whose endgame would be to partition off Shia majority cantons around the Middle East, because Shias cannot go on living with Sunnis in unitary countries. There was too much bad blood, too much history, between the two sects. The phenomenon of Shia chauvinism did not crystalize in my mind until I saw a photograph on the internet in 2012. The picture depicted a religious procession of Shia Iraqis, either in Iraq or somewhere in Iran, brandishing a banner. The banner had the visage of then Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki under the caption: “Support the Mukhtar of our age.” The Mukhtar being referred to is a historical character who led a revanchist campaign against those who had participated in the Karbala massacre. He defeated some in battle, executed others, and arranged for the assassination of more. As avengers go, al-Mukhtar was a superstar in populist Shia lore, and the banner was suggesting that Maliki is his rightful successor as the Shia avenger against the Sunnis in our day. But just in case some had missed the connotation, the banner also depicted the Iranian actor who had portrayed the character of al-Mukhtar in a big production TV series first released in 2010 over the course of forty episodes. The Farsi language series was epic and very well made, dubbed eventually in Arabic, Urdu and other languages and shown across the Shia world. Someone was purposely reminding Shias of this historical precedent, and Maliki’s supporters, carrying that banner, were drawing a link between their man and a historical hero. When I first saw that picture I thought that they had gone too far. That this picture would surely damn Maliki’s new line in mainstream Shia public opinion, one that could not possibly advocate wide revenge or strong-arm tactics against Sunnis. I was wrong. A large segment of Iraqi Shias thirsted for revenge following the excesses of Zarqawi and his heirs, even after the Sunni insurgency was soundly defeated in 2008-9. They wanted Sunnis humiliated. A year afterwards, Maliki’s political machine was commissioning songs that play up the ‘Mukhtar of our age’ appellation. The slogan was successfully put to use in the 2014 election cycle, the outcome of which gave Maliki a plurality of the vote. But it also gave us the ISIS comeback in Falluja in January 2014 (before the vote), and the fall of Mosul (after the vote). Shia chauvinism had also mobilized Shias from Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and even Afghanistan to rally behind the pseudo-Shia Alawite regime of Bashar al-Asad in Syria to face off against the Syrian Sunnis challenging him. Sectarianism breathed new life in the jihadist cause there, riding a desire for Sunni restitution and revenge in Damascus. Seen through the prism of history, it all made sense to the target audiences: war was inevitable; the enemies of the past were standing in the way of the future. By enveloping themselves in the cloak of history, the extremists from both sides can radiate an aura of certainty. This certitude will make it very difficult to convince them of the need for reconciliation, both with the past and with the present. It also means that it will be very difficult to convince them that they are losing, or have lost. By citing precedent and conspiracy, they can explain away setbacks. They can tell themselves that they got the recipe wrong somewhere, and all they need to do it to go back to the basics to try and try again until it gets going. The stench of past glories, the musky manuscripts that speak of ancestral feats, the decay of once-glorious cities, excite their senses. It is excessively hard to let go of the legacy of greatness. Its loss gnaws at them. It haunts them. They will keep trying. As far as the jihadists are concerned, they were left for dead in 2009. They were thought to be a spent force, its remnants living out a precarious existence in the deserts of Iraq. Then they came back. They made no excuses for the doctrinal overreach of declaring the Islamic State in 2006 that had turned so many other jihadist and Salafist groups against them. They felt they were right all along, and that their temporary setbacks mirrored ones that Muhammad had experienced himself. Not only did they make no excuses, but this time around they called a spade a spade: “Yes, world, this is the caliphate resurrected” they proclaimed. Their righteousness and certainty was foretold by precedence. History is their refuge, their sanctuary. They stand on firm ground. And if that terrain goes unchallenged, they will keep coming back. But it is not all doom and gloom: It just so happens that challenging them on the received facts of history is easier than what many may imagine. Back in January, some three hundred moderate Muslim scholars gathered in Morocco to reaffirm the ‘Charter of Medina’. They did so to counter the excesses of the Islamic State against minorities such as the Christians and Yezidis who had the misfortune of falling under the new caliphate. The Charter of Medina was a constitution enacted by Muhammad to manage relations with non-Muslims like those Jewish tribes that lived in close proximity to his flock. The moderates called their reaffirmation ‘The Marrakesh Declaration’ after the city in which they met. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the retired Archbishop of Washington who attended the meeting said, somewhat grandly, “This declaration can change the whole face of Islam.” He walked it back a bit to add, “Not change it, but bring it back to where it was.” But there is a problem with “where it was” for that was the springboard, the solid ground, used by the extremists to leap forwards into their ambitious doctrinal ventures. Not only that, but the moderates must contend with the extremists on a terrain that is advantageous to the latter. The moderates must argue that history should be interpreted in a new way, to reflect the spirit of the times then and now. Meanwhile, the extremists don’t need to prevaricate or qualify: their read-out of the text is literal. They do as it says. Why would the moderates need to second-guess the prophet or the early caliphs? Why not simply follow the historical precedent to the letter? After all, it worked back then, and going back to the basics might work again. They can refer to the same Charter of Medina to say that Muhammad’s venture eventually outgrew it, finding excuses to deport some Jewish tribes from the town, and to annihilate others. The jihadists earn points for being succinct and straightforward. After all, they have had centuries to figure out all the polemical angles and history is their impregnable bastion. The simplest literal read of history is a winning argument too. What if there is a way by which we do not have to take the Charter of Medina at face value? There is no original, extant copy of the Charter of Medina under a glass display case in a well-guarded museum somewhere. We cannot even be sure if it was a written document at Muhammad’s time, or whether it was a verbal agreement as was the custom then. What we think we know about the Charter was jotted down, ink on parchment, 150 to 200 years after the event. That is the period when comprehensive chronicles of early Islam were written down, relying for the most part on oral transmission. One of those chroniclers, laboring six generations after the first community of Muslims had passed, may have seen an earlier, written charter somewhere, but again, we cannot know for sure. Our hearts should go out to that chronicler: difficult as it is to recall what one did last Tuesday, it is surely a heavy burden to recall the events on a Tuesday two hundred years ago. But that is precisely why the history of early Islam is enveloped in the fog of doubt. One need not worry though, because for the last two hundred years, Western scholars (whose discipline was dubbed ‘Orientalism’) took on the task of studying how that history was chronicled. They worked laboriously, with difficult languages, to figure out all the analytical angles. They have engaged in furious debates and disagreements, as scholars do, and they have made their respective cases in thousands of books, papers and symposia. Their work continues, with fascinating and insightful research coming out in print in recent years. At points, they were enjoined by Middle Eastern scholars who used those same methodologies that had been developed in the academies of the West—historiography, critical literary analysis, philology, archeology, exegesis, codicology, etc.—to delve into the fog. But such native efforts were sporadic, hesitant and ultimately minimalist compared to the corpus of work being done by German, Italian, British, Dutch, French, Russian, American, and the odd Czech and Hungarian Orientalists—and for good reason. The academies of the Middle East, as well as the general public discourse on history, were generally not amenable to raising doubt. Some of the most risqué works, written in Arabic, had to be published posthumously. Some authors were forced into exile or imprisonment. Some other authors were killed. Their counterparts in the West, on the other hand, could work freely, for the most part. In his book Islamic History: A Framework for Inquiry (1991), University of California, Santa Barbara professor R. Stephen Humphreys presents a case study in which he marshals the arguments made by various Orientalists over the course of a century regarding the Charter of Medina. Some took it to be authentic, making a rational case for why they would think so. Others argued that it could not have been a unitary document or agreement, suggesting that it was amalgamated into one from a variety of separate agreements. Still others dwelt on the wording, and some of the terms used, and they could not reconcile this document to what they would deem to be plausible wording and terminology during seventh century Central Arabia. After a century’s worth of study, what scholars are left with is intellectual angst: “We will never know for certain.” That is the expected lament of historians that have to deal with events that far back without any extant or contemporary evidence; they have to resign themselves to living with doubt. Now, consider the angst of the historian versus the certitude of the Islamic extremist when revisiting history. Surely that fog of doubt should have a place in the conversation when history is used so deliberately and, at times, horrifically to justify extremism. Consider another document, that of the aforementioned ‘Pact of Omar’ that the proto-caliph of the Islamic State had so dramatically annulled in 2007. Yet again there is no extant copy of this pact, and all that we know about it was written many decades after it was allegedly drawn up. However, in this case, most scholars have come around to the view that it is not authentic, and that it could not have been a seventh century document that can be attributed to the original Omar. Not only that, but we have a short book written in Arabic by an Egyptian historian, published in the mid-nineties in Cairo, who conclusively determines that the pact is a forgery. The historian revisited the studies that the Orientalists had conducted into the authenticity of the pact, and expanded upon their efforts by employing indigenous Muslim methodologies of exegesis that qualify the reliability of oral reports about early Islam by studying the chain of transmission. Muslim theologians, polemists, and chroniclers had uncovered thousands of falsified reports over the span of centuries by employing these methods. By bringing both Western and Muslim disciplines together, the Egyptian historian stood on solid ground when crying foul. Shouldn’t his book have been part of the conversation about the historicity of the pact when Abu Omar so confidently annulled it? Abu Omar may have looked foolish then, or in the very least he would undermine his own certitude when having to explain why he believed the ‘original’ pact to be authentic; the ground he stood on would not seem as firm. We can also demonstrate that the flag of the Islamic State is also a forgery. They don’t have an original version that we can verify through carbon dating. Theirs is an imagined banner that they have attributed to Muhammad’s armies. Even the seal of the prophet at the center of the flag, which they seem to have derived from a letter of his bearing it, is likely to be a forgery, since the letter itself is widely believed to be a forgery. The fog of doubt permeates much of the historical record. If properly harnessed, it can cast a shadow on much of the extremist narrative. The character of Ibn Saba, the Jew who invented Shi’ism, may well have been a fabrication. A strong case has been made suggesting that medieval polemists concocted him out of thin air and inserted him into the historical record. We can demonstrate this because some Orientalists conducted serious and in-depth academic forensics about him and about the fabricators. What about the letters that Muhammad had sent to the emperors of the Middle East that Abu Omar had mimicked in wording and in tone? Those letters too are not extant, and it is perplexing that we have no contemporary reports by non-Muslims at those imperial courts that remarked upon the fact that a new religion had announced itself so dramatically. The character of al-Mukhtar that Maliki’s followers had championed is a problematic figure for Shi’ism, should we actually revisit what Shia sources say about the topic. The sole male survivor from the battle of Karbala, Hussein’s son who would become the fourth Imam of Shi’ism, did not express much gratitude for what the avenger had wrought on Hussein’s murderers. He considered al-Mukhtar to be a liar and braggart, pushing his own agenda for power. Again, shouldn’t these impressions of al-Mukhtar have been part of the conversation when Shia chauvinists resurrected his legacy and rehabilitated his image as part of a strategy to redraw the lines in the region? A war rages in the Middle East. A physical war premised on a war of ideas and revolution. Ambitious actors are adeptly launching large-scale plans for statecraft, ones that are imperial in scope. They understand the value of propaganda in war. They have leveraged the historical record as a centripetal force that mobilizes youths across the region, and as precedent for how to build out their ventures and grandiose visions. They exude supreme certainty in that they are walking in the right path back to redemption and greatness, once lost but now within reach—or so they believe, truly believe. They are aided in doing so because their target audiences have been primed to receive this propaganda, one that pushes all the right buttons. Yet whereas extremist Sunnis and Shias have successfully weaponized history, those of us—Middle Easterners of all denominations, as well as many other nations around the globe—who feel threatened by their ambitions can resort to weaponizing historiography. The history of Islam is long overdue for a public conversation among Muslims as to what role it should play in their present and future. Regular people in Muslim lands should have access to the various opinions, even those emanating from Western scholars, about their own history, even though it may raise doubts concerning the authenticity of the historical narrative. A faith grappling with the challenges of modernity must be willing to live with a healthy dose of doubt. But that is a medium to long-term process that needed to start yesterday. We need to deploy doubt in a systematic and relentless manner right now to jam up the polemical weaponry of the extremists. Doubt, angst and cognitive noise should rain down like arrows into the bastions of ideological certainty upon which the extremists stand defiant. Orientalism carries a stigma among left-leaning Western academies, where it is widely believed to have served Western imperialism. Orientalism is rejected by like-minded leftists in the Middle East for the same reasons. Columbia University’s Palestinian-American literary critic Edward Said, the late author of the supremely influential book Orientalism (1978)—which almost single handedly managed to turn its title word into an academic pejorative—boasts the distinction of being the sole intellectual luminary from around the world to have two portraits, not one, hanging on the walls of the Writers’ Café in old Basra, where crusty old Marxists gather for tea and conversation. Conservative and religiously-minded Muslims, on the other hand, believe that the field of Orientalism is part of a Western effort to undermine their faith. One can find 200 Arabic books on the internet available for full download that attack the Orientalists. Many are parked on websites amply funded by conservative Arab regimes. Yet even so, the scholarly methodology of applying critical analysis to the historical record is ‘agenda neutral’, and it is desperately needed in light of the extremist use of this record. Two hundred years’ worth of scholastic legacy is parked on bookshelves in Western libraries. Little of it is available online. Much less of it has been translated into the languages spoken in the Middle East. If the internet is supposed to be the great equalizer of content, then why is there such a disparity when it comes to a sober and systematic conversation about early Islam? Why is this the case at a time when many young Muslims are watching what extremism has wrought and asking themselves “is this really our religion”? The extremist affirmation that it is indeed “our history, refer to page X, paragraph Y in such and such book” goes unchallenged. Many of those young Muslims have not been trained to take on the task of revisiting the historical record themselves. There is no funding from the local powers-that-be for it. However, they need not start from scratch. Parts of the Orientalist methodology and its output can be made available for them, online and in their languages, and should. Whichever way the subsequent conversation goes is left to them. But a conversation needs to begin somewhere, and on solid scholastic ground. Should it be somewhat controversial may actually be helpful. That controversy could provide the drama that matches the theatrics of the extremists. I wish I could back to that mountainside café, but this time armed with a particular book. The cantankerous proprietor may still be around, or he may have succumbed to old age, leaving his grandson in charge—probably a scion of his grandfather’s rage. I would wonder whether this young man had seen much fighting in the civil war, raging downhill in the valley, or had heard many war stories from brothers and cousins dragooned into that existential fight. I would wonder how many young Iraqi, Iranian, Lebanese, and Afghan Shias had enjoyed a respite from the fighting while sipping coffee under the shade, rifles at their feet, across the road from that caper berry bush that had drawn me to this spot in the first place. They had ostensibly come to Syria over the last five years to protect Shia shrines from being desecrated at the hands of extremist Sunnis, to keep the bones of their saints safe from exhumation. That is what the young men had been told. What they were really doing there was to prop up Asad’s regime, for that is what extremist Shia strategists in far-away Tehran had ordained. I would arrive with a book called The Shrines of ‘Alids in Medieval Syria by Stephanie Mulder (Edinburgh University Press, 2014). Ideally, someone would have gotten the copyright to translate it into Arabic, so I would be carrying a version of it in that language. The book is mostly concerned with architecture, but there is a valuable subtext in there: most of the Shia shrines studied in the book were erected and subsidized by powerful Sunni patrons back in medieval times. Those Sunnis venerated the shrines as much as modern Shias do, even though some modern Sunni extremists are keen on blowing them up. I would conveniently forget the book there, leaving it on one of the chairs. The old man, his grandson, or even those transient fighters from the Shia internationale may rifle through its pages, driven by sheer curiosity, for this is a book written by a Westerner about their beloved shrines. One or two of them may pick up on the subtext to infer that not all Sunnis are so bad, after all. Or maybe that is too much to hope for after all they had been told, and after all that they had seen. Yet with the din of battle thudding in the background, it seems it would be worth a try. This essay is drawn from remarks delivered by the author at the Westminster Institute in McLean, Va., on June 1, 2016. Download a PDF copy of the essay here.

For seven years, Gary Barnidge was one of the hundreds of nondescript players in the NFL. He played in 92 games for two teams, but logged just 25 starts. He caught 44 passes for 603 yards, an average of less than 100 yards a season, with just three touchdowns. He averaged 6.6 yards per game during this seven-season stretch in his 20s. But Barnidge turned 30 on September 22nd, and then transformed into one of the most dominant tight ends in the NFL. Barnidge has played in six games since his 30th birthday, and has caught 36 passes for 512 yards and 6 touchdowns. Let’s say Barnidge finishes the season with 1,000 yards in 16 games. That would mean his career average in receiving yards per game will have jumped from 6.6 to 14.8, a pretty remarkable increase for a player in his eighth season. In fact, Barnidge would become just the third player to have his career receiving yards per game double at any point after their fifth season in a year where they gained at least 500 receiving yards. The last player to do so is Jim Jensen, a utility football player for the Dolphins who saw time at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end in his career. In his 20s, he totaled just 414 receiving yards in seven seasons, but he broke out in 1988 with 58 catches for 652 yards and five touchdowns. The other is Pat Curran, who caught just 9 passes in 66 games in six years with the Rams. Then, before his age 30 season, he was traded to San Diego, where he gained 619 receiving yards in 1975. Another query I ran was to look at players who had 600 yards in a season and 65 career games after that season. Then, among that group, I checked to see which players increased their career receiving yards per game by the largest multiple. Curran topped that list, followed by the Jets Jo-Jo Townsell (he averaged 4.7 receiving yards per game through his first four seasons, then 49.2 in his fifth) and Todd Christensen (0 yards in his first two years, 115 in his third, 510 in his fourth, and then 1,247 in his fifth). Barnidge will likely pass Christenen via this method by the end of the year. Here’s another way to think about it. Let’s say Barnidge finishes with exactly 700 receiving yards this season in 16 games. That would bring his career average to just 12.1 receiving yards per game, the lowest career average in NFL history by any player after a 700-yard season. The current record-holder there is Townsell, and Barnidge would hold that honor even if he gained 940 receiving yards this year! The lowest career yards per game average by a player after recording at least 800 receiving yards in a year? That mark is held by Kevin Walter (2007 Texans, 16.7), but Barnidge will almost certainly break that. At 900, the record holder is Clifton McNeil (1968 49ers, 22.1), and at 1,000, it’s Wallace Francis (1979 Falcons, 23.9). Remember: if Barnidge gets 1,000 yards in 16 games, his career average will be just 14.8 yards per game! If we drop the threshold to 600 yards, Curran is the record holder at 6.98 yards per game. Given the environment — 1975 was close to the nadir for the passing game — his 619-yard season in 14 games was probably as mind-boggling as what Barnidge is doing now. He ranked 4th in receiving yards and 3rd in receptions among tight ends that year. But in what is quickly becoming a lost year for the Browns, Barnidge’s breakout season is one incredibly story.

Feminism (in India and globally) suffers the same problem a lot of political and social movements face - blind advocacy. Feminism does not mean: Women are better All men are evil Women and men are equal in every measure What true feminism implies is that men and women should be treated with the same amount of respect, should be accorded equal rights, and should not face any discrimination whatsoever based purely on gender differences. When Deepika Padukone, in the “My choice” video said, “To marry or not to marry, to have sex before marriage, to have sex outside of marriage, to not have sex, my choice..”, I cried out in agony. To have sex outside of marriage is cheating - plain and simple. When companies promote female employees over male employees just because they want “greater women representation in senior management”, it is preferential treatment. Expecting men to stand up in buses and train and offer their seats to equally capable female travelers is not feminism - it is a misplaced sense of chivalry. I recently saw people championing equal reward money for men’s and women’s Grand Slam titles. That is not feminism, that’s being opportunistic. The prize money for anything competitive should directly be proportional to the revenue it generates. All of these issues go away the minute people start thinking logically about it. And by being slightly malleable in our convictions. Are men and women equal? Philosophically, yes. But there indeed are differences. Men are physically stronger, women are more flexible and graceful. Should men and women have equal rights? Absolutely, with some exceptions of course. For example, the right to decide whether to abort or not should lie with the female sex. Should men and women be compensated equally? If they have the same qualifications, same aptitude, and they put in the same amount of effort, definitely. However, not just for the sake of putting up a front of being equitable. Don’t quote flawed studies that say that women on average earn 30% less than men. Did the study control for all variables - education, tenure, expertise? Did they even try and analyze comparable figures or did they just calculate the average of earnings by men and women in a country? Feminism falls victim to the same 2 human fallacies that most social revolutions do: the futile attempts of humanity to delineate everything as either black or white, whilst in reality, the world is just a never-ending gradient of grey the uncanny human ability to selectively focus on issues and points and arguments that support their convictions and disregard the ones they don’t, irrespective of their veracity And it’s again just a bunch of rotten apples who have managed to derail what was once a noble cause.

The Eagles hosted a number of top quarterback prospects on pre-draft visits this year. It's not hard to see why. Philadelphia clearly planned on drafting one all along and now they're in perfect position to do that after trading up to the No. 2 pick. Signs point to the Birds drafting Carson Wentz with the second overall pick assuming the Rams go with Jared Goff at No. 1. Whoever the Eagles pick, the Eagles will have clearly done their homework on him. And possibly even more so than other teams looking at quarterbacks. According to one passing prospect, the Eagles are a little more thorough than other teams in their pre-draft visits. Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott told NFL.com about his visit to Philly this year. Pre-draft visits for NFL draft prospects don't tend to vary too much. They buzz into town for a day or less, meet with coaches and team officials, maybe take a quiz on a playbook, meet a few potential future teammates, and head back to the airport. That changed for Dak Prescott in Philadelphia. The Eagles put him through a mock press conference to assess his ability to handle tough questions from reporters. "They wanted to get a feel for how I would represent the team. Obviously as a quarterback, you're going to be the face of an organization, so it was important to them to see how I would react to different questions. That was the most unique thing I've done (at a visit)," Prescott said. It wasn't so much a test of Prescott's postgame demeanor; the mock setting had more of a post-draft feel, as if Prescott was speaking to reporters for the first time after being selected by Philadelphia This doesn't surprise me one bit. Philly media isn't like media everywhere else in the country. There are always a ton of reporters at Eagles games/practices/etc. They're not afraid to ask tough questions, either. I can imagine why the Eagles would want to see how these prospects might react to their new environment. This kind of test is especially relevant for a kid like Wentz who grew up and lived in North Dakota all his life. Being a quarterback is about more than just a passer's talent on the field. It's also about how they carry themselves as a leader and face of the franchise.

Nelson's infamous horse and cart man has been jailed for two months for breaching community work requirements. Photo: RNZ / Alison Hossain Lewis Reginald Stanton, also known as Hone Ma Heke, frequently parked his horse-drawn vehicle in the central city. Stanton, who has been in ongoing disputes with the Nelson City Council for nearly 14 years, was sentenced in March to 400 hours of community work for failing to pay more than $50,000 for traffic infringements, mostly parking fines. But he refused to do community work and failed eight times to report to the probation office. He claims the council has violated his human rights by enforcing restrictions on his alternative lifestyle. Sentencing him, Judge Denys Barry told him he had engineered the situation he now finds himself in, by deliberately closing the door on any community-based sentence. Lewis Stanton said he would be appealing the decision. He said it was about the bigger picture. "It's about standing up for people's rights, not just my rights but other people's rights as well, because if the Nelson City Council is allowed to get away with doing what they're doing then they'll be doing the same to everybody else - and if the Nelson City Council can get away with it, so too will every other council." His horse will be looked after by friends while he is in prison. Earlier this week, a High Court judge quashed an injunction taken out by the city council to stop him entering the central city, saying it was unnecessary, partly because there was a process and bylaws to deal with parking infringements.

Even if you think you know the sordid details of the sex scandal concerning predatory priests in the Roman Catholic Church, director Alex Gibney’s Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God is eye-opening. In fact, it should be compulsory viewing for all Catholics, whether they blame or defend the church, for its clarity and insight into just who holds responsibility for decades of child abuse at the hands of clergy. Gibney does not rely on the usual broad strokes of anti-priest propaganda that has come to define this scandal. Instead, he meticulously attends to the details of the biggest cases, giving voice to the victims and even revealing the rarely heard frustration by the “good priests” who tried to stop the sins of their colleagues. Gibney opens with scenes that any Catholic will recognize immediately: crisp white dresses of little girls making their first communion, burning candles as altar boys prepare for mass, the haze of smoke so familiar one can almost smell the incense. Then he reveals what’s going on. He uses family movies, faded pictures, and actors to paint a portrait of how innocent children were offered up like sacrificial lambs to known “devils in disguise” by unwitting parents who blindly trusted a church they believed would protect them. The film, which has been banned from festivals in Venice and Rome, focuses heavily on the well-documented abuse at St. John’s School for the Deaf in St. Francis, Wis., where Father Lawrence Murphy systematically molested young boys beginning nearly 50 years ago. Gibney uses both voiceover and subtitles for the victims’ stories, but he leaves the audio high to better articulate the sound of the men’s hands as they fervently sign their tales. One doesn’t need to read sign language to comprehend the pain and disgrace these men suffered. Some vignettes are nauseating, like one in which a victim says he was chosen by Father Murphy while watching Bambi in a dark theater. He felt Father Murphy bumping the back of his head for attention throughout the film. Years later, he realized that it was Murphy’s erection he felt against the back of his neck. Other men tell tales of how Murphy masturbated them in the confessionals, which in the school for the deaf had an opening between priest and penitent in order to facilitate visual communication through sign language. One man remembers Father Murphy telling him that ejaculation relieved him of his sins. Gibney illustrates the acts of abuse through hazy images and shadowy figures. Flowing cassocks catch the light as a figure meant to be Murphy tiptoes through the boys’ dorm late at night to find a boy to molest while the others lay still in their beds pretending not to notice. At one stage, according to a victim’s recollections, Murphy relocated the confessional at St. John’s from the tiny cabinet to a closet. Gibney illustrates the point with a young boy kneeling in front of a character portraying the priest. But he is not asked to pray. Instead, he is to open the priest’s cassock and perform fellatio. The film contrasts the vile acts with gorgeous visual imagery of Rome, Vatican City, and standard church icons like masterpiece portraits of the Virgin Mary, and Gibney captures so perfectly the rituals many Catholics identify with. It is just after those moments of Catholic comfort when Gibney hits hardest with a shocking scene or recollection from a victim about what was happening behind the altar. Through that quick transition from good to evil, Gibney manages to nail the vulnerability that Catholic guilt creates by exposing the almost Godlike esteem bestowed on the clergy—which is what keeps so many victims from coming forward and which makes so many families skeptical when they finally do. The plight of the vulnerable deaf children, especially, underscores how such a vital trust was betrayed. Mea Maxima Culpa also wags a condemning finger at Pope Benedict XVI, who in his previous capacity as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, would have seen reams of complaints about predator priests pass by his desk. Just how much the church knew is not in doubt for Gibney, who sprinkles in details of how the church quietly worked to combat the problem they had been dealing with for decades, including sending priests to a little-known monastery in New Mexico run by the Servants of the Paraclete, where they supposedly were treated for their sexual deviance before being reassigned to new parishes. And then there is a tale about the Vatican’s down payment to buy a Caribbean Island to house errant clergy—a plan scuttled after the media got wind of it. Insightful narrative from well-known Vatican followers in Rome and religious writers and lawyers in America fill in the gaps, providing analogies and observations about how the church does its business and how, for instance, church handlers had to teach cardinals to mention the victims first when talking about the known crimes, not to talk only about the priests. While the focus of the film is weighted heavily on Father Murphy’s sins, several other recognizable scandals are used to bolster the point that sexual abuse was not an anomaly that happened only in America. Gibney nods to the Irish church’s problems with a glance at Father Tony Walsh, an Elvis impersonator who sang with a group called All-Priests Show and was sentenced to 16 years for horrific sexual abuses, including tying a 7-year-old boy to an altar with a monk’s rope belt and sodomizing him. The film also highlights the case against a Mexican priest, Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, who founded the controversial Legionnaires of Christ and who was highly influential in the Vatican hierarchy because of his group’s impressive financial contributions. Maciel, who died in 2008, was a known pedophile who was accused of sexually abusing up to 20 seminarians. He was also a documented philanderer who fathered several children with various women. He was protected for years by the Vatican’s former secretary of state, Angelo Sodano, who was able to keep Maciel shielded from criminal prosecution as long as the money kept rolling in. (Sodano has disavowed any cover-up; in 2010, he dismissed such allegations as “petty gossip.”) The film, produced by HBO Documentary, will be in theaters this fall and on HBO next year. In the meantime, the Vatican is typically silent on the subject. When reached for comment, a Vatican spokesperson told The Daily Beast that no one there had yet seen the film, so it was impossible to say what they really thought of it. Instead, the spokesperson suggested reading a letter written by Father Raymond de Souza in 2010 in response to allegations against Father Murphy reported in The New York Times at the time. The church flatly denies direct responsibility for the decades of alleged abuse. Gibney’s chilling subject matter likely won’t make for a box-office hit. In any case, this is the type of film one watches in the quiet of one's home, with a remote control in hand to pause when the details are just too vile.

This issue is caused by the Irish servers. Our clan server is for some reason migrating every evening to Ireland from Netherlands, DICE or EA hasn't given us any answer why it's doing this. When the server is in Ireland the server is lagging and rubberbanding so much that it makes the game unplayable. Is it then that Irish servers are routed badly? - Platform PC - Server Region: EU - Country: Finland - ISP: Telia - Game mode: Conquest - Map: All Maps - Average Ping: 30-40 - Warning Symbol appearing on screen (if applicable, see below): Server Performance Warning - I am experiencing lag (Yes / No): Yes - I am experiencing an issue where the kill, hit and death notifications show up delayed (Yes / No): Yes - Extra Info: Our clan server is located by default in the Netherlands, last couple of weeks it has migrated to Ireland every evening, when the server is located in Ireland the server lags and rubberbands, pings rise from normal 30-40 to 50-60.

What connection does Croatia have to tuna and a Melbourne Cup-winning horse? Posted The South Australian city of Port Lincoln is well-known for its word-class tuna, an Olympian weightlifter, and its connection to Melbourne cup winner Makybe Diva. Members of the local Croatian community have contributed to all of these achievements, forging a strong link between the fishing city and their home country. It is a link strong enough to merit a visit this week from Croatian president Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic. The president is visiting the community on Friday, in what acting mayor Neville Starke said would be monumental for the city. "This is the first head of state from another country to visit Port Lincoln since 1954, and that person was Queen Elizabeth II," he said. "I think it's great for Port Lincoln. It puts us on the international map, and anything that promotes our city I think is fantastic." Why Port Lincoln? Australian Southern Bluefin Tuna Association chief executive Brian Jeffriess said the Croatian community at Port Lincoln developed fishing techniques and technology that had since been used in their home country. "What you ended up with was a range of Croatian entrepreneurs and drivers of systems in one little town in South Australia," he said. "These were people who invented a lot of fishing techniques worldwide, and a lot of them ended up in Port Lincoln." One such entrepreneur was the father of Port Lincoln Croatian Sporting Club president Diana Mislov. Ms Mislov invited Ms Grabar-Kitarovic to Port Lincoln following a discussion with the Croatian ambassador. "I did actually say Australia does go further than the east coast, don't forget regional south Australia," she said. Ms Mislov said Croatians started coming to Australia in the 1950s to escape a strict communist regime. "It was a war-torn country. There was no freedom of speech, no freedom of religion," she said. "It was just a very politically communist country. They just wanted to be able to be free to live their lives, and so many of our people did escape. "The first Croatians came to Port Lincoln, they were Ricov and Kolega boys. They started cray or tuna fishing, then followed sort of an influx of a lot of others. "A lot of them were refugees. They were escaping a communist country. My father was one of those people." Ms Mislov's father escaped and ended up in a migrant camp at Bonegilla, near Albury-Wodonga, and after moving around regional South Australia ended up at Port Lincoln. "The really sad thing about all of that is he never actually went back to see his parents," she said. "They actually passed away before he went back to Croatia in safer times." Croatians play integral role in town Having grown up away from the Croatian coast, Ms Mislov's father's attempt to become a fisherman was unsuccessful, so he moved into freight, driving cans of tuna to Melbourne. She said since then, members of the Croatian community had played an integral role in Port Lincoln's achievements and industry. "Port Lincoln Tuna Processors started out as a collaboration between several Port Lincoln Croatian fishermen, to can product," she said. "They've now actually diversified into gravy packaging and baby food packaging, that sort of pouch product. "Because of the sashimi market, tuna canning is not quite as prolific as it used to be." Other notable people in the Port Lincoln Croatian community include tuna and property baron Sam Sarin, Olympic gold medallist Dean Lukin, and the owner of racehorse Makybe Diva, Tony Santic. "The list is endless," Ms Mislov said. She said her father would have been ecstatic to know his daughter would be meeting the president, and remembered fondly a family road trip in 1995 to catch a glimpse of the then-president of Croatia in Melbourne. "I just can't believe that we're so lucky to be able to have the president coming to Port Lincoln to see us here in our home town," Ms Mislov said. "It's just phenomenal. I think my dad would be very proud." Topics: fishing-aquaculture, immigration, regional, people, port-lincoln-5606

Neglected and underused crops are also known as orphan, abandoned, lost, underutilized, local, minor, traditional, alternative, niche, or underdeveloped crops[1] and more lately often referred to as forgotten or smart food. These crops are domesticated plant species that have been used for centuries or even millennia for their food, fibre, fodder, oil or medicinal properties, but have been reduced in importance over time owing to particular supply and use constraints. These can include, inter alia, poor shelf life, unrecognized nutritional value, poor consumer awareness and reputational problems (famine food or "poor people's food", sometimes due to the modernization of agricultural practices). Some crops have been so neglected that genetic erosion of their genepools has become so severe that they are often regarded as lost crops.[2] As the demand for plant and crop attributes changes (reappraisal or discovery of nutritional traits, culinary value, adaptation to climate change, etc.), neglected crops can overcome the constraints to the wider production and use. As a matter of fact, many formerly neglected crops are now globally significant crops (oilpalm, soybean, kiwi fruit). Although the options for scaling up neglected crops for large-scale agriculture appear to be increasingly exhausted, many species have the potential to contribute to food security, nutrition, dietary and culinary diversification, health and income generation. They also provide environmental services.[3] It is impossible to define what would constitute "proper" or "correct" levels of use; however, many neglected species evidently are underused relative to their nutritional value and productivity. Annona cherimola) on sale in Cali, Colombia. In left background: domestically produced mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) Cherimoya () on sale in Cali, Colombia. In left background: domestically produced mangosteen ( Vigna subterranea) from Buzi district in Mozambique Bambara groundnut () from Buzi district in Mozambique Adding to that, orphan crops also helps in food security. Thus exist when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life, especially during famine. Overview [ edit ] Chenopodium quinoa), Cachilaya[ clarification needed ], Bolivia, Province La Paz, Lake Titicaca seen in background. Landscape with quinoa (), Cachilaya, Bolivia, Province La Paz, Lake Titicaca seen in background. Just three crops - maize, wheat and rice - account for about 50% of the world's consumption of calories and protein.[4] About 95% of the world's food needs are provided by just 30 species of plants.[5] In stark contrast, at least 12,650 species names have been compiled as edible.[6] Neglected and underutilized plants are those that could be - and, in many cases, historically have been - used for food and other uses on a larger scale. Such crop species have also been described as "minor", "orphan", "promising" and "little-used". Definition [ edit ] It is difficult to precisely define which attributes make a crop "underutilized", but often they display the following features: Linkage with the cultural heritage of their places of origin Local and traditional crops whose distribution, biology, cultivation and uses are poorly documented Adaptation to specific agroecological niches and marginal land Weak or no formal seed supply systems Traditional uses in localized areas Produced in traditional production systems with little or no external inputs Receive little attention from research, extension services, policy and decision makers, donors, technology providers and consumers [7] May be highly nutritious and/or have medicinal properties or other multiple uses Neglected crops are primarily grown by traditional farmers. These species may be widely distributed beyond their centres of origin but tend to occupy special niches in the local production and consumption systems. They are important for the subsistence of local communities, yet remain poorly documented and neglected by the mainstream research and development activities.[8] Underutilized crops are those marginalized by farmers and consumers due to agronomic, genetic, economic, environmental and cultural reason, which were once important and major crop in the community.[8] Importance [ edit ] They continue to play an important role in the subsistence and economy of poor people throughout the developing world, particularly in the agrobiodiversity-rich tropics. Despite their potential for dietary diversification and the provision of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, they continue to attract little research and development attention. Alongside their commercial potential, many of the underused crops also provide important environmental services, as they are adapted to marginal soil and climate conditions. Constraints [ edit ] The following are frequent constraints:[2] limited germplasm available; lack of technical information; lack of national policy; lack of interest by researchers, agriculturists and extension workers; lack of producer interest. Examples [ edit ] Digitaria exilis)] that helps feed his family in southern Senegal Village chief of Boula Téné, [Senegal] Theodore Mada Keita, holds up the fonio grain [White fonio ()] that helps feed his family in southern Senegal Determination of the underutilized status of a crop varies among researchers. Different criteria and approaches are used to define this particular group of crop. Neglect refers to the attention the crop has received from research and development and can be evaluated by how well national and international policy and legal frameworks and research and development programmes support the conservation and sustainable use of the crop. Underutilisation is particular to the geography and potential for a crop to contribute to better to diets and production systems. It should be noted that in any cases where exotic species or diversified species are underutilized at certain region, these are not necessarily underutilized in other parts of the worlds.[2] Below is an example list of neglected and underutilized species that is not exhaustive. Cereal and pseudocereal crops [ edit ] Fruits and nuts species [ edit ] Ziziphus mauritiana (dry fruits) for sale at the Luangwa turn-off on Great East road, Zambia. (dry fruits) for sale at the Luangwa turn-off on Great East road, Zambia. Vegetable and pulse crops [ edit ] Ipomoea aquatica photographed in the Sunday Market, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia photographed in the Sunday Market, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia Root and tuber crops [ edit ] Ullucus tuberosus) for sale in southern Peru Ulluco tubers () for sale in southern Peru Other crops [ edit ] Industrial underutilized crops [ edit ] Bixa orellana fruit open, showing the seeds from which fruit open, showing the seeds from which annatto is extracted, photographed in Campinas, Brazil Oil seeds [ edit ] International events that fostered underutilized crops [ edit ] Logo of the international year of Quinoa 2013 See also [ edit ]

GUWAHATI: Making the biggest change in the four-month-old goods and services tax regime, the GST Council on Friday moved 80 per cent of items in the top 28 per cent tax bracket to lower rates. Starting November 15, eating out could cost up to 13 per cent less than before ( GST rate cut from 18 per cent to 5 per cent) and a whole host of consumer products like shampoo, deodorant, chocolates, fans, furniture and sanitary fittings should get cheaper by up to 10 per cent or more.Only 50 products, classified as sin or luxury items like tobacco products, aerated drinks and automobiles, will be in the top GST rate bracket of 28 per cent. When GST was rolled out on July 1, more than 250 items were in the highest tax bracket. That's a reduction of 80 per cent in the number of items in just 132 days. The total tax on several products still in the highest slab will be higher than 28 per cent since they also attract a cess.The government also reduced the levy under composition scheme for traders and industry to 1 per cent of turnover, with further easing for those selling exempted goods.Finance minister Arun Jaitley said the rate adjustment was part of the rationalisation exercise undertaken over the last few months. "Optically, some of them should not have been there (in 28 per cent slab). There are some items in which small players were exempted from excise (duty payment before GST was rolled out)," he told reporters after a seven-hour meeting of the panel that has representation from all states and two union territories. A lower tax rate will translate into a reduction in prices of over 200 products.The council went beyond the recommendations of the fitment committee comprising officers. The committee had suggested keeping 62 items in the highest bracket. The ministers, however, ignored demands for duty reduction from the construction sector and left cement and paints in the 28 per cent slab.The latest round of changes will leave a Rs 20,000-crore hole in the pockets of the states and the Centre. It is the Union government that will have to bear the burden of any shortfall in collections since it has committed to make good any revenue loss for five years. Jaitley, however, said the revenue loss was notional."Rate reduction for 200-plus goods and services may suggest that there is buoyancy in tax collections," said Divyesh Lapsiwala, tax partner at consulting firm EY India, suggesting that the revenue loss will be compensated.More than the revenue considerations, the move is aimed at cheering consumers and placating traders and small businesses who have been complaining of higher compliance burden. With consumers on its side, the Centre is hoping that the protests from traders will wane. The rate cuts should reduce leakages as there is lower incentive to evade taxes. Assam finance minister Himanta Biswa Sarma , who headed the group of ministers for reviewing the tax structure for restaurants said, "Today we have addressed every small issue raised by industry, traders and consumers."In May, when rates were finalised by the GST Council, the Centre and the states had agreed to rework rates to ensure that they would be close to the combined incidence of Union excise duty and state value added tax. That principle has been given a go-by, at least in the highest bracket.

Welcome to One Year In, in which we interview Austin chefs on the occasion of their restaurant's first anniversary. This week, we interview Ned Elliott of North Loop's Foreign & Domestic, which turned one on Friday Husband-and-wife team Ned and Jodi Elliott opened Foreign & Domestic in the North Loop neighborhood on May 20 of 2010. Last week, we talked to Ned about how Foreign & Domestic got to be where it is today; today, he talks about why they chose North Austin over South, food bloggers, and what's next for the Elliotts (a second restaurant!). What was the original concept for Foreign & Domestic? Before we even moved down here, we were like: let's do a truck. Before the whole craze. And then it was like you know what? Food carts to me are so passe. If I want a hot dog, I'll go to a baseball game. I don't want amusement park food or stuff that's like hey, I have a doughnut that's glazed with cheddar fondue and fried bacon. Give me a great glazed doughnut, show me that. We lived behind Zilker Park then — we live up here now, just right across Burnett and 49th — but we were looking at that area for a little while. I don't know, it just felt like a lot of restaurants down there felt sort of soulless and especially the downtown corridor, a lot of the restaurants feel like theme restaurants. And that's what really spurred this on: let's just do a great neighborhood restaurant. A North Austin neighborhood restaurant. We were looking around South Lamar and South First and South Congress, it's like Disneyland. So I saw a Craigslist ad, drove up here. I'd been up here a couple of times to the vintage shops and I'd been over toe Flight Path for coffee. Hyde Park has its little enclave of ASTI and Quacks and Mother's and Dolce Vita. So why the hell is it not going on up here? Hyde Park is so expensive. So we talked to the owners of the building and we just fell in love with it. This is badass. The first time I drove by, I was like oh?. It's like a bombed out neighborhood! What the hell is going on up here! I'm surprised there's not like a chalked outline of a body or something. It was a gray day in late August. Just overcast, a Sunday, and I was just like no way. And then I drove by again and again, and well? we have our life savings and some credit cards, we could actually do something pretty fun. So what makes F&D a neighborhood restaurant? People are like oh, this feels like a diner! Well, if you're from the Northeast, this is not a diner. Just because it has a counter. If you live down here, people think it's sushi-style because you're sitting behind a counter watching people make stuff. We don't have another space to put this stuff! Do you think the size helps with the neighborhood vibe? One of the reasons we chose something so small is that Jodi and I wanted something we could cook six nights a week, seven nights a week and not be some monstrosity where you have sous chefs and four line cooks and a pastry chef and a chef de cuisine. I wanted to be able to cook. That's what I spent ten years in New York getting my balls crushed to do, not be a big guy in a little pond. No. I want to cook. But at the same time with us we'll lose money. Meaning if we profit off anything, it's going right back into the business, into our staff. We value them. We'd love to be a lot busier, but at the same time we're probably as busy as we can handle. You know, if we were gigantic, we'd be busier for an extended period of time but we'd also be like uhoh. I've seen it happen at other places, and they're like hey we're going to shut down for four days because we can't handle the business that people have thrown at us. We've been lucky in that regard, too. Sometimes somebody will sit at a table for too long and I want to go tell them they're not going to pay for my daughter's education. You only spent $20 dude! Please, we're too small, we've got to get somebody else in. But at the same time I love that, I love that people come in feel comfortable. How is F&D different than it might be in South Austin? The vibe of this neighborhood ? of course there are some neighborhood quacks that are but this neighborhood is awesome. Especially with the whole city initiative, the walking deal from Mueller over to here. A, yeah, it'll help our business, but B, it's just awesome to be in this area. To where it's not, hey everybody has the Ray Ban sunglasses and the skinny jeans, the bikes, the fixes and all that. Although I have a fixed gear and the Ray Bans. But we're not in that generalized area of Austin that gets that I'm in college, I could be 20 or I could be 27, I'm still sort of living that lifestyle. We're out on the peripheral of that, but we have a whole cross section of guests. Our diners that come in represent Austin as a whole. How do you feel about food bloggers? That's one thing we've seen since we've been in Austin, because we have an open kitchen. Just go out and eat and enjoy yourself! Some people are just going out to dinner and taking pictures of it just to post on Facebook? Come on! Just have fun with it! You wouldn't go into your dentist's office and do that! We get that all the time, people like 'Hey, I would do this if I were you!' You know what? I'm going to show up to your work early, complain that you didn't take me into your office early, and then tell you that I think your office should be rearranged. How does being in Austin compare to working in a bigger city? I'd probably still be flipping burgers and selling weed out of an apartment in Montana rather than being like there's more to life, I don't want to just sit here and hang out with 20 year olds. I can be more. So getting a kick in the ass from my moms when I was in my early 20s and people saying, look, I found something in you, dude. You're good at this! You lose your job in New York, it takes a little while to get a new job. You're screwed. Especially in restaurants. Okay, you lose a job in the middle of the month, you're not going to get a job till the next month. It's going to take a week or two, you're not going to be getting that paycheck, you're going to get evicted. So you know that paycheck is so important and I was always the first one in the kitchen. We busted our asses for so long for so many other people, and thank you, Thomas Keller, here's the middle finger. I didn't get shit out of it. I got some knowledge. At the end of the day he's an awesome dude, but you just see people get used and abused and ripped off in large, big name restaurant. Everybody's expendable. The door goes both ways, you come in and you can walk right out. It is a bit difficult because we haven't befriended anybody here, we haven't worked at any Austin restaurants. So trying to build off this name or brand recognition or name recognition of the restaurant, it's been hard with that. How would you say that being in Austin, being in Texas has influenced your cooking? I think that with Austin it's more reinforced what we set out to do. When people come in, oh, it's not enough food. You know what? You should want to come out to dinner and have a first course, a second course, and split a dessert. It's not like two pounds on your plate of food. So forcing that thing. I don't want to be an ass about it, but I don't think it's changed too much. I mean, I like to smoke things. But I was doing that in New York too. We closed down the first two weeks after the New Year, and my wife and I went to Paris for ten days. That was a good thing for us. People were like, oh what did you put on the menu? Did you eat this, did you eat that? And we were like, no. That's not how we work. It's more like we want out, we went to a lot of places like the Chateaubriand and La Régalade Saint-Honoré and it reinforced what we're doing. How would you categorize your food? You get a lot of attention for working with offal. What we're doing is sort of a mix: we try to get as local as possible, but at the same time we want to be a neighborhood restaurant. We didn't want to be a local sustainable restaurants. One of the taglines everyone talks about is that they're nose to tail. That's bullshit. If they were nose to tail, then it would be like hey, we have lamb. And so all the meat on the menu is lamb. And that would be nose to tail, rather than what we do. We're more European-Appalachian. There's a lot of things on the menu, from ham hocks to heart to tongue and things like that. Where do you see the Austin food scene going? With Contigo just opening, just come as you are, have a good fucking time. Contigo looks awesome. But at the same time it's not this place that clientele would go and be like, this is so cool looking and I feel so cool being here. It's just a badass place. And they have great drinks and a great vibe and it's a great space. I know [Contigo owner] Ben [Edgerton] a little bit and it's awesome. It's going to be a huge success and the more things that come up this way, that are in North-Central Austin, I mean it's this whole dining ground that the city has just turned it's back on. I mean, you have FINO and ASTI, and they do great jobs as well, but other than that? What's next for you guys? We're trying to expand the menu, make the food cleaner. I think that's one of the big things that's changed since Day One is that we're getting back to the way we really, really want to cook. A whole slew of things. We're really thinking about doing another restaurant in the next year and a half, two years. We really want to do that. There's a whole other niche that Austin doesn't have — you go to a place like Mother's and it's vegetables, but it's all covered in cheese. Can we have a vegetarian restaurant in Austin that just lets the vegetable shine? Has anybody ever made cassoulet with vegetables? Has anybody ever done whole roasted turnips? Just make it somewhere around here if we can find the space, and do something like Foreign & Domestic Bio. Maybe there's one or two fish dishes, but that'd be the only animal product. Keeping it small and concise. For us, it's like if we ever do anything else, it's staying true to this. We don't want anybody to ever walk in — people walk in all the time and say "This is an awesome space!" I agree it's an awesome space, but you should be focusing on the food. For us that's the major point of the restaurant. Not that it's food, it's more like come in and have a good time. You can come in on a Tuesday night and get the crab lasagna and a glass of wine and be out of here for $26. Or you can come in on a Friday on a date with another couple and eat through 80% of the menu and have a whole bunch of different tastes and textures and thoughts and stuff. But it's still just have fun. · Foreign & Domestic [Official Site[ · All Foreign & Domestic Coverage on Eater Austin [-EATX-] [Photo: Aimee Wenske / Foreign & Domestic]

Unconfirmed reports say that Korean tech giant Samsung may be considering relocating its European headquarters from London to the Polish capital, Warsaw, although the company has denied this. On Tuesday, the Seoul-based Korea Herald reported that Samsung, one of the world’s largest electronics producers, was mulling the decision to move its base in Europe to Poland. The paper quoted industry insiders who confirmed that such a move was being considered, with one saying that Samsung was “laying off employees in Europe. The relocation seems to be part of its business restructuring amid sluggish sales”. On Wednesday, the original story on the Korea Herald had been removed, with the company vehemently denying the story. Samsung already operates an R&D centre in Warsaw. In recent months, a number of rumours have surfaced about the possibility of international conglomerates contemplating investment in Poland. These included carmaker Jaguar Land Rover which was considering opening a Polish plant, but instead decided to invest in Slovakia – which, along with other countries in CEE, has been offering numerous incentives for foreign investments. Last year Samsung saw European sales drop by 22.7 percent. Mobile-technology website androidauthority.com said that “Poland was the first country in the world to have the Galaxy S5 Lollipop update pushed to devices, for example, and then for the Galaxy Note 4 as well. Neighbouring Russia was initially to be the first country to receive the original Samsung Z, before it was cancelled.” (rg/rk)

Tony Abbott tells MPs to 'knuckle down' on 'Back to Work Tuesday' as leadership rumblings continue Updated Tony Abbott has declared today "Back to Work Tuesday" as he continues to try to quash speculation that his leadership is under threat. Poor polling for the Prime Minister and the massive swing against the Liberal National Party in Queensland has fuelled calls from within the party to replace Mr Abbott. The most likely contenders are former leader Malcolm Turnbull, deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and frontbencher Scott Morrison. The three are known to be in discussion about the party's woes. Today Mr Abbott repeatedly sidestepped questions about a reported exchange with Ms Bishop on the weekend, in which she refused to give him a commitment that she would not challenge him for the leadership. "Julie and I - we're friends. We are part of the leadership team," he said. "We support each other. We always have and we always will." When asked if he was prepared to call a leadership spill, Mr Abbott replied "no". Ministers will meet this afternoon at a Cabinet meeting slated to sit through tomorrow. Abbott is also facing a backbench revolt over his decision to make Prince Philip a knight under the Australian honours system, with two Queensland federal backbenchers pushing a private members bill to abolish the awards. This morning, Mr Abbott toured a childcare centre in Sydney, a day after confirming he had dumped his "signature" paid parental leave scheme in favour of a broader "families" package. Flanked by his wife Margie and Sydney backbencher Craig Laundy, Mr Abbott said his Government was going through a "difficult patch" and called on his colleagues to "knuckle down" to work. "Instability breeds instability," he said. "If you want to get away from that, you just end it now, and my message to the people of Australia is this is Back to Work Tuesday. "We are now focused on doing the right thing by the people of Australia." Tasmanian Liberal backbencher Andrew Nikolic has written an email to his Coalition colleagues calling on them not to show the same signs of "ill-disciplined introspection" that beset the former Labor government. "My hope, my plea is that we knuckle down, refocus on what's important and not become the rabble we defeated," he said, in an email published by the Australian Financial Review. Earlier, Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane called on both Ms Bishop and Mr Turnbull to publicly state they would not challenge for the leadership. "We need to see a situation where the Government governs," Mr Macfarlane told AM. "I'd call on both Malcolm - who I know is not planning any leadership challenge because he gave me that assurance - but I also call on Julie Bishop to make that assurance," Mr Macfarlane said. Mr Abbott ousted Mr Turnbull from the top job in 2009, when he won a leadership ballot by one vote. Colin Barnett accuses Joe Hockey of letting down Tony Abbott West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has taken aim at Treasurer Joe Hockey, accusing him of "letting down" the Prime Minister. Mr Barnett told Fairfax Radio Mr Abbott has had a "horror summer" because of a series of unpopular policy decisions. But he also blamed the performances of Mr Abbott's Cabinet, particularly Mr Hockey. "I think he's been let down by a couple of his colleagues," he said. "I don't think the Treasurer has done a great job, and that last budget was flawed, and therefore the leader ends up wearing it." Mr Barnett said while Mr Abbott had made mistakes, he should remain leader. "He's had a horror summer I guess, [with the] change of position on co-payments on medical care, now the parental leave has been scrapped which I think is not a bad thing because it's not a good policy," he said. "But I don't think we should develop a pattern in Australia where we change leaders simply because we're down in the polls or they make a bit of a gaffe." Topics: government-and-politics, family-and-children, child-care, political-parties, liberals, abbott-tony, federal-government, sydney-2000, nsw, australia First posted

Storefront of Merlin's Beard, coming June 4th. (Photo: Emma Ea Ambrose) In a world where restaurants traditionally serve only food and drink and people typically play board games at home, one couple sought to unite the two diversions. In less than a month, owners John and Alicia Iles will open Merlin's Beard — a board game library and restaurant — at 1001 Main St. The Iles are modeling their business off Game Paradise in Indianapolis and The Uncommons board game cafe in New York City. The idea, John Iles said, is to have a place where a wide selection of board games are available and to be able to eat, drink and play with friends. The business will charge a $5 cover to play for as long as customers like. The cover will only apply if you decide to play a game. In addition to games and refreshments, Merlin's Beard employees will help customers pick an appropriate board game and introduce them to the rules and procedures. "For people who are not into games, we want to provide a service where we can help you find something you’re interested in and help you learn how to play it so you can have an enjoyable evening," Iles said. Iles, a mathematics teacher at Logansport High School, said teaching people board games has always been a passion and playing with his wife and their friends is a favorite pastime. The couple used to live in Greater Lafayette, where Iles taught at Harrison High School for six years. He said they are excited to be moving back into a community that is thriving. Iles said the restaurant's food and drink offerings will be cafe fare — paninis mostly — and beer and wine, once all the permitting comes through. He said they are hoping to source everything as local as possible. "We’re just trying to be a strong part of the community and support the other businesses in the area," Iles said. John and Alicia Iles (Photo: Provided by John Iles) Iles, who is a fan of "sci-fi miniature games," said popular games like Pandemic and Settlers of Catan will be available, as well as more obscure board games. He said the collection will grow as the business does. Although Merlin's Beard will have a table outside its space for the May 14 Mosey Down Main Street, Iles said they plan to open for the June 4 Mosey. "We’ll gradually increase what we can offer in terms of food as our different permits come through," Iles said, "but we'll start playing board games June 4." About Merlin's Beard The cafe with food, drinks and board games will open June 4 at 1001 Main St. Learn more on Facebook or donate at GoFundMe. • Facebook: facebook.com/merlinsbeard42. • GoFundMe page: gofundme.com/merlinsbeard. Read or Share this story: http://on.jconline.com/270INsR

THE SCOTTISH Government has stepped in to save Gaelic television, after its funding was axed by the UK Government late last year. Chancellor George Osborne announced in November that he would not renew a £1 million-a-year grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) ear-marked for BBC Alba. However Alasdair Allan, the minister for Scotland’s languages, has announced the Scottish Government will provide an additional £1million to the service, making up the shortfall to ensure the future of Gaelic broadcasting in Scotland. The extra funding comes on top of core funding for MG ALBA - a public body which works in partnership with BBC Scotland to produce BBC Alba - of £11.8m in 2016/17. Allan said: “I have no doubt that Gaelic broadcasting adds significant value to important areas of Gaelic development, whether that’s in education, in the community or at home. “The impact and benefits of MG ALBA are felt across Scotland, and it has an impressive economic impact – this is unique and this funding will enable these areas to increase employment, skills and training...We are committed to creating a sustainable future in the Gaelic language, and to developing broadcasting and media industries in Scotland.” Stuart Cosgrove, Scottish broadcaster, said that the UK's Government's decision to withdraw funding had struck him as "malicious and short sighted". "My argument is a familiar one that we need to support our indigenous language across the board from television to school provision," he added. "There is always a huge backlash against Gaelic language when the debate comes up and at times it feels like monoglot bullying." Maggie Cunningham, chair of MG ALBA, said the organisation was grateful to the Scottish Government for their continued support. "The Scottish Government has been an enthusiastic supporter of both our creative industries and the Gaelic language over many years," she added. “MG ALBA is ambitious for the future of Scotland’s broadcasting sector, and is in a unique position to facilitate the next generation of talent - especially amongst independent producers."

When candidates file their paperwork to run for elected office in Illinois, they have the option to sign an unconstitutional remnant of McCarthy-era politics: a loyalty oath. GALESBURG — When candidates file their paperwork to run for elected office in Illinois, they have the option to sign an unconstitutional remnant of McCarthy-era politics: a loyalty oath. By signing the oath, candidates swear that they are not part of any organization that “advocates the overthrow of constitutional government” or part of “any communist organization or any communist front organization.” The oath has remained on the books since it became Illinois law in 1951. The loyalty oath used to be required, but was deemed unconstitutional in the 1970s. Mayoral candidate Walt McAllister was surprised to see the optional oath included among the candidate paperwork he picked up. “I think it’s very old fashioned,” McAllister said. “It just reverts back to 1950s thinking. This is for mayor of Galesburg, Illinois, not for president of the United States.” Illinois appears to be one of the few states that still has or ever had a loyalty oath. Illinois’ was struck down in 1972, and the Supreme Court declared state loyalty oaths unconstitutional in 1974 when Indiana’s was challenged. Pennsylvania still has one with candidates pledging not to be a “subversive person,” but its attorney general stopped enforcing that in 2006 after it was challenged, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. Florida still has a loyalty oath, but it doesn’t mention communism or overthrowing the government. Instead, it ensures that candidates are qualified and pledge to uphold the state and federal constitutions. The Illinois legislator who sponsored the bill to create the loyalty oath in 1951, Clyde Choate, also sponsored a bill to repeal it in 1967, but that effort failed, according to The Chicago Tribune. Until the Illinois General Assembly makes any changes, the optional loyalty oath will remain part of election law and continue to be issued to candidates, Illinois State Board of Elections General Counsel Ken Menzel said. “I think everyone recognizes it’s somewhat vestigial, but no legislator wants to (sponsor a bill to remove it),” Menzel said. Most candidates sign it, Menzel said. That appears to be the case locally as well. City Clerk Kelli Bennewitz said she’s always signed it. “I don’t see any issue with it,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s completely necessary, but I don’t mind signing it. I know there are some things in there that are maybe just an old formality, but I don’t mind signing it.” As far as Galesburg Township Supervisor Chris Winick could recall, she’s always signed the loyalty oath, but sees it mostly as a waste of paper. “If it’s not a required document, I’m not sure why they even continue to have it,” Winick said. “I look at the amount of paper that’s generated. It’s ridiculous how many trees we kill.” While many think the loyalty oath is no longer necessary, State Rep. Don Moffitt, R-Gilson, said it provides voters with another piece of information about the candidates they’re considering. “I think that the loyalty oath is a reasonable thing. If you refuse to sign it, the people should know your feelings,” he said. “If you don’t or can’t (sign it), people should know it and they can make their decision.” And while McAllister was surprised to see it, he says he’s going to sign it. “I was going to sign it,” he said. “I just thought it was silly.” Ben Zigterman: (309) 343-7181, ext. 255; bzigterman@register-mail.com; @bzigterman; m.me/bzigterman

The New York Times' Howard Beck, on his way from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City to cover Monday's Game 5 between the Lakers and Thunder, uncovered this rather shady T-shirt design on Sunday. The Thunder aren't exactly giving these rags out at the door, but that didn't stop our initial post on the T-shirts on Monday morning from inspiring a world of outrage on Twitter, and apparent death threats sent the way of Warpaint Clothing, the company that humorlessly put the duds together -- utilizing the former Seattle SuperSonics logo along the way. Rightfully, just one Thunder fan deciding to purchase this and pull it over their head is enough for us to break out the Patented BDL Tsk-Tsk Geiger Counter -- and as a result Warpaint has decided to stop selling the shirts because of death threats sent its way in reaction. To reiterate, Oklahoma City didn't wrest its current team out of Seattle because 37 selected fans and civic leaders won a free-throw shooting contest. It didn't "win" the team by being the quickest to press buttons in some trivia contest at a local chicken wing joint ("PRESS 'B!' It's 'Romancing the Stone!' Hurry!"), and the presiding genius of GM Sam Presti is no reflection on either level of fandom emanating from either Oklahoma City or Seattle. Scroll to continue with content Ad No, the current Oklahoma City Thunder are not the former Seattle SuperSonics mainly because former owner (and current Guy That Bilks You Out of Money Every Day For Your Starbucks Fix, You Silly Twit) Howard Schultz didn't think twice before selling a basketball team needing a new stadium to an ownership group from a city that had already proven it could be a fantastic host for an NBA team, with a new stadium at its disposal. [Related: Kobe, Metta World Peace technicals bury Lakers in Game 5] Story continues We don't think much of the Thunder owners, but we really don't think much of Howard Schultz, who completely betrayed the community that helped make him billions, all because he didn't know anything about how to run an NBA team, and because he couldn't wait an extra couple of months to find a suitable buyer that obviously wouldn't move the team from Seattle. Current Oklahoma City Thunder fans? The city of Seattle, and former SuperSonic fans, did absolutely nothing to deserve this. In the midst of what could be a championship season, diverting attention from the franchise's ultimate goal to take a needless shot at a city and fan base that is clearly still hurting is the ultimate prick move, and we heartily encourage any mindful Thunder fans to take Twitter pictures and send them our way during Monday's Game 5; so that we can band together to shame however many morons that decide to sport these shirts. Warpaint, through its Twitter feed, didn't exactly acquit itself well in attempting to defend the shirts it decided to print. From KIRO TV: A few hours later, the company seemed to take a more conciliatory tone: "So much hate in the world. No disrespect meant. We appreciate where our team came from actually. Put your energy into something positive." And later: "We r (sic) saying thank you for such a great organization. We truly appreciate and respect the city of sea (sic)." Finally, the company said it was dropping the shirt from its website: "After receiving death threats we have decided to take the shirt down offline. Sorry if we offended you Seattle." The shrugged shoulder approach doesn't work, here. This doesn't fall directly in line with Miami Heat fans snarkily "thanking" Detroit Pistons backers for giving them the chance to draft Dwyane Wade, or your grandfather "thanking" his brother-in-law from Chicago because his Cubs sent Lou Brock down to St. Louis. This was an entire team that left town, and four years removed, the former Seattle SuperSonics have gone from amongst the worst in the West to a championship contender. This hurts an entire community on a far greater level than your typical, "sporting" taunt. Death threats? Pretty stupid, Some Dudes From Seattle. This T-shirt? Pretty awful, Some Dudes From Oklahoma City. This can be the end of this particular strain of tactlessness, right? Other popular content on Yahoo! Sports: • Track officials' counting error costs British hurdler a personal-best time • Clippers, Lakers, Kings highlight busy weekend in L.A. • Detroit Lions bars own player from practice after fight with teammate

The two mayoral candidates for Halifax — Mike Savage and Lil MacPherson — faced off at a public debate tonight ahead of the municipal election on Oct. 15. Watch the debate on Facebook. Here are the key issues that came up: Environment Many were surprised to learn that Halifax business owner MacPherson chose to run against Savage, the incumbent, since she volunteered for his campaign during the 2012 municipal election. MacPherson says the environment pushed her to run — she feels there isn't enough happening in the city. She said attending the signing of the Paris Agreement made her consider the role mayors can play to fight climate change, as well as build the economy. "The rest of the world is [growing the green economy], but I really feel as an entrepreneur, we're not ready as a city," she told CBC's Mainstreet on Tuesday. In response, Savage pointed out that under his leadership, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities deemed the Halifax Regional Municipality Canada's Green Champion last year. "Everything from protecting things like Purcells Cove backlands, moving on Blue Mountain-Birch Cove, and the 100 Wild Islands," Savage listed as his green priorities in council. Small businesses During Savage's campaign launch, he denounced the amount of red tape many small businesses face. "We need to have a better business process," he said Tuesday. MacPherson agreed, saying her experience of opening three businesses in the municipality was "very tough." She said the current bylaws specifically disadvantage small business owners who don't have the same financial or legal resources as big developers to navigate the complex system. "The small businesses are just left there to deal with things they don't know how to do," she said. Development On the topic of urban planning, Savage said he's working to protect areas that have heritage designation, like Young Avenue, despite the demolition of a historic rental property there earlier this month. MacPherson expressed concern that development in the municipality is "going too fast too soon." "It needs to slow down and pause," she said. Campaign donations In 2012, Savage faced criticism for not disclosing his campaign donations until after the municipal election. About 30 per cent of those donations came from development companies. "There's nothing wrong with accepting money from developers, as long as you disclose it," he said. MacPherson has said she won't be accepting any donations from developers, and is willing to disclose her campaign donors at any stage of the election process. "I'm very transparent and I'm not accepting any money from developers. I think we should be at arm's length," she said.

We no longer need to make any guesses about what the Galaxy Note 7 is going to look like. Multiple high-quality renders have already been leaked online alongside several blurry live pictures of the upcoming flagship handset. The latest leak brings us the clearest picture yet of the Galaxy Note 7 in Black Onyx, we have seen some blurry pictures of it in the recent past. The Galaxy Note 7 will be available in three colors namely Black Onyx, Silver Titanium and Blue Coral. Black Onyx is unique in the sense that even the metal frame is painted black which is something we’ve not seen Samsung do in the past. It surely makes the device look understated yet elegant which is really the look Samsung is shooting for these days with its high-end handsets. The Galaxy Note 7 is due to be unveiled in New York on August 2nd. Rumor has it that the handset could be released in launch markets on the very same day.

ORLANDO — Of all the attacks that Hillary Clinton and her fellow Democrats have tried against Donald Trump since he captured the Republican presidential nomination, one has stood out for its emotional force and persuasive power: No one, it seems, can abide Trump’s mockery last year of a reporter’s physical disability. And as Clinton strains to make a more forceful case for her own candidacy, after a summer focused largely on hammering Trump, her campaign believes that a focus on an often-overlooked constituency — voters with disabilities — can accomplish both goals at once. On Wednesday, without mentioning the Trump episode, Clinton discussed her vision for an “inclusive economy” with expanded job opportunities for what she called “a group of Americans who are, too often, invisible, overlooked and undervalued — who have so much to offer, but are given far too few chances to prove it.” Advertisement “That’s been true for a long time,” she added, “and we have to change it.” Get Today in Politics in your inbox: A digest of the top political stories from the Globe, sent to your inbox Monday-Friday. Sign Up Thank you for signing up! Sign up for more newsletters here She also cited a recent Boston Globe profile of a woman with Down syndrome who retired after working 32 years at the McDonald’s in Needham. In keeping with a recent campaign theme, she described how her career had informed her policy goals, from her work for people with disabilities during her time at the Children’s Defense Fund to her tenure as secretary of state, when she appointed the first special adviser for international disability rights. “Whether they can participate in our economy and lead rich, full lives that are as healthy and productive as possible is a reflection on us as a country,” she said inside a gymnasium at an Orlando youth center. Though Clinton made no mention of the moment last year when Trump mocked a New York Times reporter, Serge F. Kovaleski, who has a congenital joint condition that visibly limits the flexibility in his arms, she may not have had to: The incident has earned Trump some of his most blistering ratings in focus groups, and a pro-Clinton super PAC made it the centerpiece of an ad in June. (Trump has denied that he was mocking the reporter’s appearance, saying he did not even recall meeting him.) Advertisement Clinton’s campaign plainly views the contrast as critical to its strategy for the remainder of the race, including the highly anticipated first debate with Trump Monday. Clinton has said often that she can handle the personal insults from him — but that what gets her piqued are attacks on groups that Trump has appeared to bully. And she is in good company. “Making fun of that reporter was just not only in bad taste, it just demonstrated the character of him,” said Christine Griffin, a lawyer and disability policy advocate in Boston. “The disability community is very upset by that, but if you look at the poll numbers, so is the rest of society.” People with disabilities make up a potentially potent political coalition: A study this month from two Rutgers University professors projected that more than 35 million people with disabilities would be eligible to vote this year — roughly one-sixth of the electorate. More than a quarter of the electorate either has a disability or shares a household with someone who does, the study estimated. And they are represented fairly equally in both parties. As the Republican vice presidential nominee in 2008, Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska spoke often of championing children with special needs, noting her own child with Down syndrome. Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi, president of RespectAbility, an advocacy group, said that the election had focused attention on issues affecting disabled voters as never before. She said that Trump’s behavior had served as a galvanizing force. “I don’t think there’s a person with a disability on the planet who has never been made fun of,” said Mizrahi, who has dyslexia and is raising a child with physical disabilities. “Every person with a disability knows what it’s like to live with stigma.” Advertisement Mizrahi also lamented that Trump had often “conflated the word ‘stupid’ with the word ‘loser,’ ” as she put it, warning that such thinking could hinder the job prospects of people with intellectual disabilities. The event Wednesday also brought Clinton to a critical region of a major swing state. Her team has focused particular attention on the Orlando area’s sizable Puerto Rican population, especially as families relocate from the island amid a devastating debt crisis. Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, Hillary Clinton’s running mate, have attended a combined 15 events in Florida since the beginning of August. Galvanizing the disabled as a voting bloc may require extra attention to the accessibility of polling places. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 sought to remove impediments, but advocates say many barriers remain. The National Disabilities Rights Network, for one, seeks to inspect polling locations in advance, but many are not open until Election Day, making that impossible. Some of Clinton’s most affecting moments on the campaign trail have come when people have approached her on rope lines or during round-table discussions about their struggles caring for disabled family members. The campaign has turned some of Clinton’s backstage interactions, with a man who could hardly afford to care for his mother who had Alzheimer’s, and an Iowa mother suffering from breast cancer, into online ads, a series of which have been released in recent weeks. And she has often turned to the subject spontaneously. In New Hampshire in February, she deviated from a planned focus on the economy to invoke the many disabled people she had met on the campaign trail who were seeking greater job opportunities. “They’re an adult with autism, or they’re in a wheelchair and they want to work. They want to contribute,” she said. “What are we going to do?”

NOVEMBER 1: The Jays have officially announced that they’ve extended a qualifying offer to Cabrera. SEPTEMBER 16: The Blue Jays are pleased with Melky Cabrera both on and off the field and will make him a qualifying offer following the season with the hope of retaining the switch-hitter on a multi-year deal, reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. A qualifying offer, expected to fall in the $15MM range this winter, will be worth nearly as much as the two-year, $16MM pact Cabrera inked with the Blue Jays prior to the 2013 season. As ESPN.com’s Buster Olney recently said (Insider link), issuing Cabrera a QO appears to be a “slam dunk” for Toronto. Though his season ended a bit prematurely due to a fractured pinkie finger suffered this month, Cabrera certainly put up some impressive numbers in his walk season. The 30-year-old hit .301/.351/.458 with 16 homers with slightly below-average glovework in left field. In total, Fangraphs pegs him at 2.7 wins above replacement, while Baseball-Reference valued him at 3.1. Cabrera, of course, brings with him to free agency the baggage of having served a 50-game suspension after testing positive for synthetic testosterone back in 2012. While many were quick to point to his disappointing 2013 season — he hit just .279/.322/.360 — as evidence that he’d benefited substantially from PEDs, doctors eventually found a benign tumor on Cabrera’s spine that had to significantly impact his ability to produce. The question, of course, will be what type of deal Cabrera can command this winter — a topic which MLBTR’s Charlie Wilmoth examined in depth in a recent Free Agent Stock Watch post. Cabrera recently told reporters that he hopes to remain in Toronto, stating that he loves the city of Toronto and suggesting that he feels indebted to a team that gave him a chance when his value was at its lowest point. I’d think a four-year deal is attainable for Cabrera on the open market, particularly after Jhonny Peralta managed to secure such a contract on the heels of a much more recent PED suspension last winter.

A/B Testing Experiment Frameworks and MOE We recently open sourced MOE, the Metric Optimization Engine, a machine learning tool for solving global, black box optimization problems. An example application for such a system is optimally running online A/B experiments. A/B testing segments the users that come to a site into buckets, or cohorts, and show different versions of the site to different cohorts of users. One can show 50% of users one version of a site (version A) and 50% of users another version of a site (version B). After some amount of time we can see which version of the site performs better on various metrics (like Click Through Rate (CTR), conversions, or total revenue) and shift all of your traffic over to the better version. This can be repeated as we converge towards the best version of the site under the metric(s). It can take a long time to attain statistically significant results for experiments. We want to know with high confidence that one version of the site is better than another. Depending on user traffic it can take days, or even weeks, to run a single iteration. These experiments are also expensive; by showing a suboptimal version of your site, you are sacrificing potential revenue. There is also an opportunity cost associated with creating, developing, and running any particular experiment. So the fewer experiment iterations to get to the optimum, the better. Furthermore, many A/B tests are merely parameter selection problems (an A/A’ test, where a feature stays the same, and only the underlying parameters change). Given a feature, we want to find the optimal configuration values for its parameters as quickly as possible. MOE was designed to optimally solve problems like this, when we want to find an optimal set of parameters (inputs) of a function (a metric, like CTR) when sampling this function is time consuming or expensive (like running an A/B test experiment on live traffic). By leveraging MOE we can build a general experiments platform that automatically promotes good cohorts and pushes traffic away from under-performing cohorts, then replacing them with new, winning configurations. Figure 1: MOE can be used to optimally assign traffic allocations in an A/B testing framework and to suggest new parameters to sample given the historical values already sampled. Using Multi-Armed Bandits for Optimal Traffic Allocation Instead of naively allocating traffic in some uniform way (like a 50/50 split) we can use the information about how an individual cohort is performing to dynamically and optimally allocate the best percentage of traffic to it. This is fundamentally a tradeoff between exploration and exploitation. Exploration is equivalent to gaining more knowledge about the system by continuing to allocate traffic to a wide variety of points. Exploitation on the other hand, is using the knowledge we have already gained to get the most expected return out of the system as we currently understand it. Others have shown that using Multi-Armed Bandits can achieve better results, faster, in online A/B tests. MOE has many different bandit policies implemented and allows the user to select a policy that best fits their desired trade-off between the exploration and exploitation of the data. By using a Multi-Armed Bandit approach we can limit the amount of suboptimal traffic allocation in an A/B test, leaving as few gains on the table as possible. Using Bayesian Global Optimization to Suggest Parameters As the Multi-Armed Bandit system starts lowering the traffic allocation for a certain experiment we have two choices. We can turn off that cohort, and allow the remaining cohorts to battle it out until we have one clear winner (within whatever confidence we desire). Alternatively, we can have MOE suggest a new cohort using Bayesian Global Optimization (with a new set of underlying parameters) for the system to try. This allows the system to play an internal game of king-of-the-hill, where better and better parameters are being sampled as the objective continues to rise higher and higher. MOE uses the historical data gained so far to decide which points to sample next. It suggests new parameters to try that have the highest Expected Improvement under a Gaussian Process model. These are the parameters that are expected beat the current best set of parameters by the most, using whatever metric we provide as the objective function. This method converges much faster to global optima than other heuristic methods like grid search, random search or basic hill climbing. By constantly spinning down underperforming cohorts in our experiment and replacing them with optimal new cohorts we allow our experiment framework to continually search the underlying parameter space for the best possible parameters. Putting it all Together Let’s assume that we want to optimize some underlying parameter that affects our ad Click Through Rate (CTR) in some way. This parameter could represent anything from a threshold in our system to some hyperparameter to a feature in our ad targeting system. Let’s say we currently are running with this parameter set to the value 0.2 in production, our status quo. We would like to run an experiment where we sample other values of parameter in an attempt to maximize CTR. We will need to run time consuming and expensive experiments every time we want to measure CTR, so we will use MOE to help us find the optimal value in as few samples as possible. We simulate the observed CTR of the system for 1 million users by sampling from a Bernoulli distribution with the given true CTR. In a real world system we do not know exactly how the underlying parameter affects CTR, which is why we need to sample various values with real traffic to find the optima. For the purposes of this example, we will define the exact function of CTR with respect to the underlying parameter for simulation purposes, keeping it hidden from MOE. Note that the function need not be convex or even continuous. Figure 2: The graph of the true CTR vs the underlying parameter. There is a local CTR maximum at 0.143 and a global CTR maximum at 0.714. We begin the experiment by asking MOE for 2 new parameter values to sample, in addition to our current status quo value of 0.2. We will set our objective function for MOE to optimize to be the relative gain over the status quo CTR. We note that this gives our status quo parameter a value of 0, and any parameter that has a higher CTR than the status quo will have a positive value, while any parameter that has a lower CTR will have a negative value. Our initial representation of the underlying system, and the Gaussian Process, looks like Figure 3. Figure 3: The blue (mean) and green (variance) plot is the initial Gaussian Process representation of the space that MOE optimizes. The dashed gray line is the true, unknown objective function, the relative CTR gain vs status quo. MOE suggests two points as the initial parameters to test. These will be the corresponding parameters for cohort 1 and cohort 2 respectively. Initially we will conservatively allocate new cohorts to have 5% of traffic each, using the epsilon greedy bandit policy with epsilon set to 0.15. The remaining 90% of traffic will go towards the best parameter value observed so far. Once we have the simulated data we can determine which cohorts have performed well and which ones should be turned off. We turn off any cohort that has a CTR more than two standard deviations worse than the current best observed CTR. We then query MOE for new, optimal parameters to sample given how all historical parameters have performed. This is repeated multiple times as poorly performing parameter values are culled and new parameter values are suggested by MOE. See Figure 4 for the evolution of the underlying Gaussian Process and watch MOE converge to the globally optimal parameter value. Figure 4: The new points be sampled each day (red x) and previous points (blue x) influence the Gaussian Process representation of the relative CTR gain that MOE uses to optimize the underlying parameter. We can see the Gaussian Process getting more accurate with respect to the true function (dashed gray) as more points are sampled. By iterating to the global optimal parameter value in as few samples as possible, we can increase the system CTR far beyond the initial status quo value, or even the local maxima. In this example, by the second set of sampled parameters MOE is beating both the status quo CTR value and the CTR the best local parameter value, achieving the best global parameter value within the third set of sampled points. Figure 5: The simulated CTR during for each round of sampled parameter values. Initially the system CTR is equal to the status quo CTR. MOE quickly finds better and better values of the underlying parameter, converging to the global optima in 3 short sets of samples. Using MOE in your experiment framework All of the code used to generate this example can be found here. Other examples of using MOE can be found here. The Multi-Armed Bandit portion of MOE is documented here. The Bayesian Global Optimization components are documented here. Any issues can be reported in the issue tracker. Questions or comments can be sent to opensource+moe@yelp.com. Back to blog

The day I attended, about 100 parishioners, among them many parents with small children, were gathered for a subdued, half-hour Mass without a homily. An additional group of about 30 young, red sweater-clad children, from the Catholic Montessori school on the grounds, were ushered in by teachers and a nun. Most of the parishioners who were there, many explained to me after, can be seen at Mass every day. The new Mass translation implemented at the end of last November, which most Catholics are still getting acclimated to, was already second-nature to them. After the Mass I attended, many lingered for an Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a ceremony in which devout parishioners kneel before the Eucharist and continuously recite a short prayer, a devotion that takes place several times a week at St. Catherine. Mary Ellen Konieczny, an assistant professor of sociology at Notre Dame who has produced comparative studies of liberal and conservative Catholic parishes, said that while Eucharistic adoration is resurging among many Catholic parishes, St. Catherine’s frequent, well-attended ceremonies, and its Latin Masses, are indications that it has a more conservative membership. In 2001, Reverend Franklyn McAfee, then the church’s pastor, told The Washington Times that the Santorum family had lived outside the parish boundaries set by the diocese when it joined—and therefore had to request special permission to join the parish. (A little less than one-third of St. Catherine’s members do this, he said, an unusually high number.) The church the Santorums joined was already well-known for its devout, sometimes unbridled, conservatism. In the ’90s, the National Catholic Reporter reported that a St. Catherine priest was one of a group of conservatives who overran a meeting in Sterling, Virginia, hosted by liberal Catholics supporting female priests and altar servers. He did not become violent, but he did not discourage his compatriots as they cut microphone cords and pushed some of the meeting participants to the ground. A police officer told The Washington Post, “There was more noise and carrying on than I’ve ever heard in my life, especially in a church.” St. Catherine also has ties to Opus Dei, an extremely conservative organization that encourages members to knit their Catholic faith with policy-making. Many members of St. Catherine belong to Opus Dei, McAfee told the Times, and Opus Dei priests still regularly hear confession at St. Catherine. For his part, McAfee was an Opus Dei cooperator—a formal title that identifies someone who does not belong to Opus Dei but assists its mission. Santorum has said he is not a member of Opus Dei, just an admirer, but he has numerous connections to the group. In 2002, he travelled to Rome with high-profile American members for the 100th birthday of Opus Dei’s founder, Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer. (The five-day event is where Santorum first criticized John F. Kennedy’s “separation of church and state” speech, speaking to a reporter.) He has also sent two of his sons to the Heights School, a Washington, D.C. school with ties to Opus Dei. St. Catherine is one of only about 10 sites in Virginia that offers “evenings of recollection.” These are monthly, hour-and-a-half long talks by lay people and priests belonging to Opus Dei. They are segregated by sex—St. Catherine men who attend these do so at the Reston Study Center, one town over, while women attend them at St. Catherine. Brian Finnerty, a spokesperson for Opus Dei’s national office, said that men and women are separated because an evening of recollection is “intended as a prayer time, rather than as a social time, and this gets people away from possible distractions.” He added that it also allows priests and lay speakers to tailor their messages. “For men, we could offer advice like, when you get home from work and your wife asks, ‘How was your day?’ saying ‘Fine’ as you look up from the newspaper is not an adequate response. Things like that.”

Content: GWENT — Starter Pack Check price and availability in your Xbox LIVE region Game Description: The GWENT Starter Pack is a limited, one-time only offer and a great way to reinforce your card collection with additional units, spells, and heroes, including a guaranteed Legendary card! Whether you’re new to The Witcher Card Game or a seasoned player, you’ll get a total of 51 cards of various rarity, plus crafting resources for creating premium animated versions of cards. The GWENT Starter Pack contains: 1x Legendary Card, 10x Card Kegs (each contains 5 GWENT cards, one guaranteed to be Rare or better) and 400x Meteorite Powder. Purchase GWENT — Starter Pack for Xbox One from the Xbox Games Store Product Info: Developer: CD Projekt RED Publisher: CD Projekt S.A. Website: Gwent: The Witcher Card Game Twitter: @CDPROJEKTRED / @PlayGwent

Son of CIA officer who spied for Russia avoids jail... after promising to help convict his father The son of a CIA officer who spied for Russia avoided a prison sentence after he promised to help build a new case against his father. Nathan Nicholson travelled the world meeting Russian agents to collect payments on behalf of his father, Harold 'Jim' Nicholson. He is currently serving 24 years at a federal prison in Oregon for his 1997 espionage conviction. Double agent: Nathan Nicholson (right) helped prosecutors put his father (left) behind bars and escaped jail Yesterday, US District Judge Anna Brown sentenced Nathan Nicholson to five years' probation and 100 hours community service after agreeing with a joint recommendation by prosecutors and defence lawyers who said he was manipulated and groomed by his father. 'Once this defendant was confronted, he did not hesitate to accept responsibility,' Brown said in court. Nicholson had already pleaded guilty to acting as an agent of a foreign government at his father's bidding and conspiracy to commit money laundering, and Brown said his actions will remain with him for the rest of his life. The 26-year-old admitted he had idolised his father, but 'after this, I want to be my own man now. I don't want to live in someone's shadow'. In a case that unfolded like a fictional thriller, from 2006 to 2008 the 26-year-old former Army paratrooper traveled the world at his father's bidding to meet with Russian agents - in San Francisco, Mexico City, Peru and Cyprus - to collect payments the father believed were long overdue. Under cover: Nathan Nicholson met with Russian secret agents in San Francisco, Mexico City, Peru and Cyprus (file pic of Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco) His father trained Nathan in CIA tradecraft, advising him to hide money from the Russians in different places, to never deposit more than $500 in his bank account, and to pay for trips in cash to avoid a paper trail. It began in the summer of 2006 when the incarcerated Harold Nicholson asked his son to help him contact the Russian government for 'financial assistance,' a sort of pension for his past work. Nathan Nicholson, then 22, was a student at Lane Community College. The younger Nicholson was excited about the prospect of doing clandestine work for his father, according to the sentencing memo. Harold Nicholson told his son to go to the nearest Russian consulate to make initial contact, and over the next two years, the son met with Russian agents six times. Prosecutors say Russian agents agreed to meet with the younger Nicholson because they wanted to learn how the FBI caught his father and to obtain information about the CIA. Nathan Nicholson was paid a total of about $47,000 by the Russians. The imprisoned ex-spy encouraged his son by praising his work, saying 'he had performed as well as, or better, than some of the CIA employees' he had trained for the agency, according to the sentencing memo. Cooperation: Nathan Nicholson, right, speaks to his defence lawyer Gerald Needhan following an interview in Portland yesterday But as he jetting around to his meetings with them, the FBI was already on to the father and the son. In February 2002, a 'concerned citizen' told the FBI that Harold Nicholson may have tried to contact Russian agents through other inmates and an investigation was begun, leading to an indictment in January 2009. Harold Nicholson pleaded guilty on November 8 to the same charges as his son. He faces sentencing on January 18. Harold Nicholson had risen to CIA station chief before he was arrested in November 1996 at Dulles International Airport in Virginia with ten rolls of film he had intended to hand over to Russian agents. Federal officials say that before his arrest, he had been trotting around the globe to hand off documents to the Russians and that he was paid for his work. Nathan Nicholson said he was about ten when he first learned his father worked for the CIA. At the time, Harold Nicholson was an instructor at a CIA training camp in Williamsburg, Va. The family had moved around a lot, and Nathan said he rarely saw his father but soaked up his stories about Harold Nicholson's own military career in the Army. In their sentencing memo, federal prosecutors said the elder Nicholson had 'significant emotional power' over the son, using his skills to 'groom and manipulate him' while in prison. Nathan Nicholson said he now wants to rebuild his life - a 'very frugal' existence on VA benefits and financial aid at Oregon State University, where he's studying computer science. 'I want to restore the honor that was lost,' he said.

Dwyane Wade watched Kevin Durant against Memphis, and it was like watching a flailing man drown, wave after wave crashing upon him until he had no breath to give. Durant averaged 29 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists per game in the series that ended his season. Those were not merely better than the averages Durant posted in this, the best regular season of his young life. Those were not merely better averages than the ones that just won LeBron James his fourth NBA MVP award. Those were better averages than the ones that represent Michael Jordan’s entire career. But Durant’s season is over now, and Wade watched it happen through what felt like a rearview mirror. “That was me,” he says. He nods across the gym over to LeBron. “That was No. 6, too,” he says. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald A knowing laugh. “Why do you think we did what we did?” he asks. “I told myself a long time ago: ‘Never again.’ ” Wade is the biggest winner in all this winning. We will never know if LeBron could have or would have done this somewhere else, too, morphed into a master and monster with or without Wade’s help. But we do know that an aging, hurting Wade would have had to jump over James if No. 6 did not happen to be at his side. Instead, as Durant lost his stars, Wade aligned with his so he would no longer feel as overwhelmed and behind as Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul and Durant must feel today. Can you imagine Wade trying to topple James for supremacy in his present condition? Wade might not move exactly the way he did, but that move he made three years ago is still serving him. Makes you wonder if he’ll be the one choosing to take the biggest discount again to keep this together beyond the current contracts. The Mountaintop “When you are younger, there are things that you want from the game,” he says. “Make a name for yourself. Set your family up. Individual stuff. But now all I want is the mountaintop. That’s it. The mountaintop is all that matters.” He heads toward it on a bruised knee that cooperates inconsistently, doubt surrounding him like clouds along the climb. “I don’t mind having to prove myself,” he says. “I’ve always had to do that. I’m used to it. Once people come to expect something, they expect it all the time. I understand that. Sometimes I laugh at the doubts. Sometimes I use them as fuel. And sometimes it pisses me off. God gave me the gifts for this. I’m special.” There is no ego in the way he says “I’m special,” incongruous as that might seem. It is delivered more like a fact than an opinion. He believes in himself, and he cloaks himself in that belief while wearing things others won’t and in doing basketball things others don’t. That belief has carried Wade out of poverty and desperation and an upbringing that included a mother addicted to drugs, and it has served him as he has climbed out of and over the rough neighborhoods fighting with literal hunger for those basketball dollars. He has spent a lifetime overcoming all manner of obstacles with that belief, and so now he believes in belief with a religious fervor, and he treats it as blasphemy if you don’t believe as fervently as he does. “Wouldn’t the doubt piss you off?” he asks. Well, no. If you are 100 percent confident in something, anything, the doubt of others does not tend to bother you much, rain sliding off a waxed car. Anger is for the defensive, when an intruder gets too close to a sensitive truth, and the people wondering about Wade are noticing a decline in his health, not his game, though it can be hard to separate those things for the wounded. In other words, it is not personal, and the critics on the outside are doing what Wade himself is doing on the inside. No doubting ability Asked about doubting, this is what he says: “Of course I have doubt.” Then he clarifies: “But it isn’t about doubting your ability. Never, ever. Never, evvvvvvvver. It is only doubting the injury. It is never, ever doubting the ability.” So he uses belief and these holy gifts to conquer, but the other day he had to go back to the locker room to have his kneecap put back in place with tightened tape before coming out to finish the Chicago Bulls’ season. And there was a defiance in him after that, wondering aloud if one day doubters would correctly appreciate his game. There was ego in that because you will always find ego and greatness residing in the same neighborhood, but the don’t-you-dare-doubt-me was unusual given that it was obvious to any eye that Wade wasn’t himself in the Bulls series, unable to get to the free-throw line with his usual breakneck style. Part of that was the way the Bulls always defend him; part of that was the knee limiting him in a way that makes you wonder as the games, opponent and climb get harder. Better situation Too much of sports coverage is absolutely extreme and extremely absolute. Less than a year ago, LeBron James was allegedly a fragile choker; now Alonzo Mourning says Scottie Pippen told him that James would have kicked Michael Jordan’s butt. Extremists can’t be found in the middle. So it can’t be that Wade is a still-great player who is also injured/diminished without the person wondering about his game and health being dismissed as something between a doubter and a hater. Regardless, Wade has tilted all the math in his favor because, in his words, “I didn’t ever want to be in that position again, where you always, always have to be 100 percent and even that might not be enough.” He isn’t 100 percent. He doesn’t have to be. And that feels a lot like winning before you have even won.

On Monday, Dr. David Agus injected the media's regular hype about climate change into CBS This Morning's coverage of the outbreak of Enterovirus D68 in the U.S. and the Ebola crisis in Africa. The morning show brought on Dr. Agus to discuss the polio-like virus that has afflicted children across the country. Near the end of the segment, anchor Charlie Rose wondered, "So we have Ebola virus in Africa, and we now have this virus [Enterovirus D68]. What's going on?" The CBS medical contributor admitted that science didn't have any answers at this point, but that didn't stop him from wildly speculating: [MP3 audio available here; video below] DR. DAVID AGUS, USC PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE: Well, the world is flat – is that, you know, right now, anybody can get on a plane, and end up anywhere in this country and spread these viruses. And we have to be aware of it. We don't know exactly why there was a dramatic spread this year, but something is happening now. We have multiple viruses. And together with global climate change, things are changing in the virus world, and we have to pay attention. This isn't the first time CBS has injected the climate change issue into a human tragedy. On the July 16, 2014 edition of CBS Evening News, during a news brief about the 20 injuries from severe turbulence on an international flight, anchor Scott Pelley played up a study that indicated "this kind of turbulence will increase significantly in the future because of climate change." Five months earlier, CBS This Morning promoted a "controversial book" that predicted that "winter sports could be doomed" due to global warming. Back in November 2013, Pelley hyped how "greenhouse gases, which influence climate change, have hit their highest level in 800,000 years," according to a U.N. climate change report. Correspondent John Blackstone touted the supposed apocalyptic nature of this report, and asked a scientist if it was "too late" to do anything about climate change. [H/t: Pundit Press blog]

The head of one of America’s largest teachers unions said Wednesday that Donald Trump is creating “bullying environments” in schools nationwide that will take decades to repair. Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.6 million member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), made her remarks during a conference call with reporters set up by the Democratic National Committee. “What we’ve seen with Donald Trump is that there is now a new phenomenon in schools called the ‘Trump Effect,'” Weingarten said. “It will take decades to overcome the way Donald Trump speaks and promotes violence, xenophobia and racism. This is creating bullying environments in schools across the country.” (RELATED: Clinton Spins Bullying Question To Bash Trump) “As teachers, we’re going to have to work harder to help an entire generation of children recover from the hateful rhetoric that Trump has aimed at immigrants, Muslims and Black Lives Matter protestors,” she added. Trump has been connected to some alleged bullying incidents in school, though this sometimes consists of schools or activists classifying Trump support as de facto bullying. In February, a high school in Indiana sparked a scandal when students at a basketball game taunted an opposing school by waving a blown-up photo of Trump’s face chanting “Build a wall.” Weingarten also denounced Trump on a variety of other educational matters, slamming him for his role in Trump University and for advocating the abolition of the Department of Education. “It’s a disaster to our nation if Trump is selected president,” she said. Follow Blake on Twitter Send tips to blake@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

In a tweet from Tuesday, Marvel artist Chris Bachalo famed for his work on such books as Doctor Strange and Uncanny X-Men, teased a vague new reveal on everybody’s favorite news source, Twitter. My new raison d'être will be revealed friday during a Marvel comics presentation at a pop culture event taking place in San Diego– — Chris Bachalo (@ShadeX6) July 18, 2017 As you can see, this puts the “vague” in vague reveals. Also, for those who don’t know (and I definitely didn’t just Google this before writing) “raison d’être” means “the most important reason or purpose for someone or something’s existence.” So this will likely be a new comic book he will be working on with Marvel Comics. As previously stated, he is widely known and loved for his work on X-Men comics and he has recently departed Doctor Strange, making it unlikely that he will be returning to that project. There is the possibility of an all-new title reveal, though there are a myriad of Legacy books on which he could work next. It is my hope that he will be hoping on as the long-term artist on Astonishing X-Men so that the book can stop these rotating artist shenanigans sooner rather than later. There’s something delightfully auteur about the wording of this announcement. It shows a guy who has fun with his work and clearly has a passion for it. Tomorrow and Saturday. SDCC. Booth 4419. Approximate hours 12-3 each day. Looking forward to meeting you! — Chris Bachalo (@ShadeX6) July 20, 2017 Bachalo will be at Booth 4419 at SDCC for those who will be attending and want to meet one of the most talented artists at Marvel at the moment. When we know for sure what his next project will be, we’ll certainly let you know. Unless you’re there and hear it firsthand of course, in which case you’ll know when we do. Happy Comic Con, people! About Joshua Davison Josh is a longtime super hero comic fan and an aspiring comic book and fiction writer himself. He also trades in videogames, Star Wars, and Magic: The Gathering, and he is also a budding film buff. He's always been a huge nerd, and he hopes to contribute something of worth to the wider geek culture conversation. He is also happy to announce that he is the new Reviews Editor for Bleeding Cool. Follow on Twitter @joshdavisonbolt. (Last Updated ) Related Posts None found

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Squad up and breach in to explosive 5v5 PVP action. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Siege features a huge roster of specialized operators, each with game-changing gadgets to help you lead your team to victory. Master the art of destruction and gadgetry. Face intense close-quarters combat, tactical team play, and explosive action in every moment. Experience new strategies and tactics as Rainbow Six Siege evolves over time. Change the rules of Siege with every update that includes new operators, weapons, gadgets and maps. Rainbow Six Siege is the acclaimed first-person shooter franchise developed by the renowned Ubisoft Montreal studio for the new generation of consoles and PC. Inspired by the reality of counter terrorist operatives across the world, Rainbow Six Siege invites players to master the art of destruction. Intense close quarters confrontations, high lethality, tactics, team play, and explosive action are at the center of the experience. The multiplayer gameplay of Rainbow Six Siege sets a new bar for intense firefights and expert strategy in the rich legacy of past Rainbow Six games. KEY FEATURES COUNTER TERRORIST UNITS Counter terrorist operatives are trained to handle extreme situations, such as hostage rescue, with surgical precision. As “short range” specialists, their training is concentrated on indoor environments. Operating in tight formations, they are experts of close quarter combat, demolition, and coordinated assaults. Rainbow Six Siege will include operators coming from five of the most worldwide renowned CTU: the British SAS, the American SWAT, the French GIGN, the German GSG9 and the Russian SPETSNAZ. THE SIEGE GAMEPLAY For the first time in Rainbow Six, players will engage in sieges, a brand-new style of assault. Enemies now have the means to transform their environments into strongholds: they can trap, fortify, and create defensive systems to prevent breach by Rainbow teams. To face this challenge, players have a level of freedom unrivaled by any previous Rainbow Six game. Combining tactical maps, observation drones, and a new rappel system, Rainbow teams have more options than ever before to plan, attack, and diffuse these situations. PROCEDURAL DESTRUCTION Destruction is at the heart of the siege gameplay. Players now have the unprecedented ability to destroy environments. Walls can be shattered, opening new lines of fire, and ceiling and floors can be breached, creating new access points. Everything in the environment reacts realistically, dynamically, and uniquely based on the size and caliber of bullets you are using or the amount of explosives you have set. In Rainbow Six Siege, destruction is meaningful and mastering it is often the key to victory. ©2019 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Mastermind behind the 9/11 attacks renounces violence and wants to convert his captors to Islam Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was the self-proclaimed mastermind who planned the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks He has now released a 36-page manifesto from Guantanamo Bay Decries 'the so-called War on Terror' and announced his plans to convert all of the non-Muslims involved in the 'kangaroo court' to Islam Criticizes adultery, same sex relationships, depression, soldier suicides and AIDs all as examples of problems with Western morality His trial has been a point of controversy since he was charged in 2008 The mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks has penned a 36-page manifesto in an effort to convert his lawyers and the judge in the ‘kangaroo court’ to Islam. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed uses quotes from former presidents George W. Bush and Richard Nixon as argument points in his push against America, ‘the so-called "War on Terror"’ and Christianity. The manifesto, obtained by The Huffington Post, was the first of three planned parts that the al Qaeda leader has written from inside the most secure portion of Guantanamo Bay where he and other high-value detainees are held. His new mission: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (right) wrote the first of a three-part manifesto wherein he describes his desire to convert all of the non-Muslims in the trial process- including his lawyer and judge- to Islam Mohammed’s statement marks a dramatic change from his earlier statements, as he previously defended the right to use violence in order to spread the word of Islam. Instead, the document attempts to make a more rationalized and philosophical argument. ‘It is my religious duty in dealing with any non-Muslim such as the people in court (the Judge, the prosecution, attorneys, etc.) to invite them to embrace Islam… it is my own belief that Allah will ask me on the Day of Judgment why I did not invite these people to Islam?’ he writes. ‘American crusader soldier men and women join the U.S. army, wear the latest military gear, eat the best food in Iraq and Afghanistan, and play with their play stations... but at the end, the American soldiers’ -writes Khalid Sheikh Mohammed ‘Do not believe those who claim that the Mujahedeen fight infidels to turn them to Islam or that we are fighting you because you practice democracy, freedom, or claim that you uphold human rights. Islam prohibits us to force our religion on any human being but encourages us to invite them with wisdom and fair preaching and to persuade them in the best way.’ The document is written in English as the terrorist attended college in North Carolina and has a strong understanding of the language. He regularly refers to the collective group of those fighting- many times violently- for Islam as the Muhajedeen. ‘I wanted to write these papers in three parts. I had written most of the first part before they took away our laptops that contain the evidence, at the end of 2009. I will later work on to complete the remaining two parts after the government returns our computers soon,’ he wrote. He teases that the two yet-unwritten chapters will include his justifications for the September 11th terrorist attacks, as well as his views on the ensuing war on terror. Ongonig: Mohammed was captured in 2003 and he has declared himself to be the mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks that left nearly 3,000 dead- but now he has renounced violence as a means of conversion ‘The second part deals with why the Mujahedeen carried out 9/11 and whether it was a terrorist operation or an act of self-defense sanctioned by every constitution and international laws as the right of everyone whose land is occupied and whose people are attacked,’ he wrote. The third portion poses a number of questions about the wars that followed which will surely become fodder for conspiracy theorists, as he asks ‘Were they fought to defend freedom and human rights? Women's rights? Or were they fought for the benefits and interests of individuals and corporations?’ While the first few pages focus largely on the sunny interpretation of himself as a messenger of Allah, the manifest spins into a diatribe against Western social ills, slamming the Catholic church, same sex relationships, and greed. One of the most pointed critiques comes when he uses the high rate of suicide among returning American veterans as a mark against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as American might. ‘American crusader soldier men and women join the U.S. army, wear the latest military gear, eat the best food in Iraq and Afghanistan, and play with their play stations while their enemies, the poor Muslim can’t find their daily bread or jacket to protect themselves from the harsh snowstorms over Afghanistan mountains, but at the end, the American soldiers go home and commit suicide but the poor man still with his dry bread and black tea lives with his poor wife in their humble muddy house but with happy hearts and souls,’ he wrote. The legal fight against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is commonly referred to as KSM, formally began in February 2008 when he was charged with organizing the September 11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people. The trial has been plagued by controversies, starting with whether it would be held in a military or civilian court and more recently with the decision to allow Mohammed and his other defendants from wearing soldier’s fatigues in the courtroom.

Les Snead, doing his best to avoid the hype and hoopla: @NFL_AM And that's Les Snead 60 yds downfield looking at Mike Evans while everyone else is up by Johnny Football. pic.twitter.com/arjRmj8Rzr — Tony Schreck (@shrek_13) March 28, 2014 Zac Stacy as bell cow running back?: Fisher, on RB Zac Stacy's evolving role with Rams: "I think over time, he'll probably be that 70-percent of the carries guy." — Jim Thomas (@jthom1) March 26, 2014 Would it surprise anyone if the Rams selected Jadeveon Clowney with the #2 overall selection?: Could Rams take DE Jadeveon Clowney at No. 2 overall? Fisher: "I've learned over the years that you never have enough pass rushers." — Jim Thomas (@jthom1) March 26, 2014 Looks like the Rams will be searching for a safety in the draft: Houston Texans reached agreement on two-year deal with former Dolphins S Chris Clemons, per source. #Markman50 — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 28, 2014 Does this signing affect the Rams' draft plans?: Rams signed former Titans WR Kenny Britt to a one-year, $1.4M deal, including $550K, per source. Max value of deal is $2.9M. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 31, 2014 Rams' 1-year deal with former Titans WR Kenny Britt includes $550K guaranteed. — Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 31, 2014 Kenny Britt’s deal with the #Rams is worth $1.4M base, but incentives could take it to $2.9M, source says. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 31, 2014 Les Snead talks with Alex Marvez regarding the progress of the Rams, Jeff Fisher, and the status of Jake Long and Sam Bradford: Rams Pick Ideal Insurance Policy For Bradford: 101 ESPN The Rams signed free agent QB Shaun Hill to a one-year contract last week. Hill represents a relatively inexpensive upgrade over Kellen Clemens. With Bradford, Hill, and Austin Davis now on the roster, will the Rams still be looking to draft a developmental prospect in May? Rams' draft needs: Greg Robinson could bolster O-Line: NFL.com Analyst Daniel Jeremiah assesses the Rams' needs heading into the 2014 NFL Draft, and the prospects who could fill those needs. Jeremiah suggests the Rams' primary needs are: offensive tackle, safety, cornerback, and wide receiver. Secondary still a top priority for Rams: ESPN NFC West The Rams have done little to upgrade their secondary this off season. They will undoubtedly be looking at this years draft to bolster the secondary: "Armed with 12 picks in this year's draft, it's a safe bet the Rams will select at least one corner and one safety somewhere along the way. All that remains to be seen is whether those positions are enough of a priority for those picks to happen sooner than later." Fisher sounds as if Rams will pass on Watkins: St. Louis Post-Dispatch As expected, Jeff Fisher is giving very little away with respect to the direction the Rams will take in the draft. The Rams could go down many different paths on draft day, and likely have a surprise or two in store. Rams agree to terms with WR Kenny Britt: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Rams taking a chance on Kenny Britt: ESPN NFC West Perhaps the Britt signing is best summed up by Nick Wagoner: "Like the rest of the Rams' free-agent moves this offseason, adding Britt is a low-risk proposition. But it's also one that shouldn't come with the great expectations that Britt's career once carried." Draft Prospects Highlight Reel: Cornerback - Darqueze Dennard - Michigan State Rams Chat Rewind: ESPN NFC West Nick Wagoner conducts his weekly question and answer period, covering a broad range of Rams-related topics. 2014 NFL Draft offensive line prospects: St. Louis Rams Official Website Which offensive lineman will have the biggest impact as a rookie: Jake Matthews, Greg Robinson, or Taylor Lewan? Should the Rams invest a first round pick on one of the three? NFL Draft Prospect Focus: National Football Post Greg Gabriel reports on a pair of offensive line prospects that could be of interest to the Rams, in the later rounds of the draft: G Jon Halapio (Florida) and OT Seantrel Henderson (Miami). Johnny Manziel's pro-day circus: NFL evaluators provide context: NFL.com Albert Breer shares reactions from NFL evaluators, after Johnny Manziel's one-of-a-kind pro day last Thursday. Manziel could end up being an integral part of the draft-day puzzle for the Rams, who are ostensibly looking to trade down the #2 selection in the NFL draft. Zac Stacy joined Kevin Wheeler to discuss the off season, especially the relief he felt when Rodger Saffold re-signed with the Rams: Stat Facts Of The Week: Points Per Play Differential Points Per Play Differential Points Per Play Differential measures a team's effectiveness at putting up points - and preventing points from being put up against them - on a per play basis. Of the 13 teams that achieved 10 wins/made the playoffs in 2013, 11 of them ranked in the top dozen of this statistical measure. The Rams ranked 16th overall, with both the offence and defence contributing equally to the differential ranking. The Rams were one of only 16 teams to have a positive differential for the 2013 season. Fisher: Nothing brewing on draft deal...yet: ESPN NFC West Will the Rams trade down the #2 overall selection in this years draft? They have indicated many times their willingness to do so, although it's unlikely any deal will be included in advance of the draft. "(We have) not really had any discussion with anybody, but that doesn’t mean to say we won’t." "But I think it’s highly unlikely that even if we did trade out that would we get the value that we did the first time around." Way-Too-Early Grade For The St. Louis Rams' Off Season: Ramblin' Fan Nathan Kearns grades all six of the Rams' free agency signings/re-signings since the beginning of the new league year on March 11. He gives the Rams a B+ grade overall. In addition to the key re-signing of Rodger Saffold, the Rams have added quality depth, while remaining fiscally responsible. 2014 NFL Draft: 5 Players Rams Should Target With The 13th Pick: Rant Sports NFL WR's Marqise Lee and Mike Evans, S Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, OT Taylor Lewan, and LB Anthony Barr are among the many possibilities that could exist for the Rams, with their second selection in the first round. Which St. Louis Rams players need to step up in 2014?: Rant Sports NFL Patrick Karraker suggests five younger players on the Rams who will be relied upon in the 2014 season: Brandon Washington, Benny Cunningham, T.J. McDonald, Trumaine Johnson, and Brian Quick. All could play critical roles for the Rams this coming season. On This Day In Sports History 1992 - The NFL decides to stay with a 17 week schedule (16 games), instead of expanding to 18 games. 2014 NFL Draft Position Rankings: NFL.com Mike Mayock updates his positional rankings for the 2014 NFL draft. The top 5 at each position have undergone some changes since his last update, the primary change being the elevation of Johnny Manziel to the top of his QB ranking. 2014 NFL Mock Draft: Walter Football Charlie Campbell presents his updated 5 round mock draft. The Rams select LB Khalil Mack and OT Taylor Lewan in the first round, followed by S Jimmie Ward, QB A.J. McCarron, DT DaQuan Jones, and RB Kapri Bibbs. Kenny Britt joins the Rams on one-year contract: Pro Football Talk There's little not to like about the latest Rams free agent signing. A one-year "prove it" deal with only $550,000 in guaranteed money. A very low-risk, potentially high-reward signing. The only question that remains: does this signing mean the Rams will no longer consider selecting Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans in the draft? Will the St. Louis Rams draft a top outside linebacker prospect?: Cover 32 Rams I believe it's a long shot, but it's possible the Rams will select an OLB early in the draft. It's more likely the Rams will look for additional depth at the position in the later rounds. Jeff Fisher knows there's no RG3 deal to be had this year: Pro Football Talk Jeff Fisher certainly loves the depth of this draft: "This draft is unique in that I think you’re going to get players in the middle part of the third round that potentially could start, and start very early for you," Fisher said. "It really depends on the positions, but there will be a lot of teams excited about who they have acquired in the first couple rounds because it’s such a deep draft." St. Louis Rams Weekly Salary "Re-Cap" The Rams currently have $9,589,358 in available salary cap space. This total includes all transactions up to - and including - the signing of QB Shaun Hill. It also includes the $3 million roster bonus offset the Rams will receive for Cortland Finnegan, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. It doesn't include the just-signed WR Kenny Britt. The Rams will have approximately $11 million in additional operating costs throughout the remainder of the year, which has a direct impact on available salary cap space. A nostalgic look back at the Cleveland Rams versus the Chicago Bears, October 29, 1944: Four safeties that will rock the league in 2014: Football Nation Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, Calvin Pryor, Ed Reynolds, and Deone Bucannon - my personal favourite - are all intriguing options for the Rams in the early rounds of the draft. Jeff Fisher expecting big things from Tavon Austin: NFL.com In his rookie season, Tavon Austin showed flashes of his brilliance on the field. Much more is expected of him in 2014, especially from coach Jeff Fisher: "I think another year in the program, in the offence, OTAs, training camp, you'll see more production. I think we'll do a better job of using him now that we know what he's capable of doing." 5 Players the Rams must avoid in the 2014 NFL draft: Rant Sports NFL A lot of time is spent studying prospects we would like to see join the Rams. Conversely, we rarely take in-depth looks at players we DON'T want on our team. Some names on the list may surprise you. Rams Chat Highlights: Rams News Now Highlights from Jeff Gordon's (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) weekly question and answer period. Rams take a flyer on former Florida State star: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Defensive back Greg Reid is another intriguing signing by the Rams this off season. A low-risk, potential high-reward player, who impressed the Rams at both Florida State's pro day and at a workout in St. Louis. 2014 NFL Draft position breakdown: Defensive line prospects limited: CBS Sports Pat Kirwan takes an in-depth look at defensive line prospects in the 2014 NFL Draft. A very detailed explanation of the various positions across the line. Rams must draft to fit coaching strengths: St. Louis Post-Dispatch Bernie Miklasz examines the reasons why the Rams are unlikely to select a WR in the first round of the draft. I believe the signing of Kenny Britt might make it an even more remote possibility. Timing isn't "right" for NFL return to LA: St. Louis Post-Dispatch NFL commissioner Roger Goodell quieted notions of an NFL return to LA, during the owners meetings last week: "We are going to do it right if we are going to do it. There are different proposals out there and different opportunities, but not one that we are focused on and can say that we have the right solution yet. We’re not there." Blast From The Past: Canadian Classic Rock Tuesday: April Wine - Like A Lover, Like A Song Please have a great Tuesday and a Ramtastic week!!

If you struggling to remember something, the best thing to do is to just take a quick, 45-minute nap. Power naps positively influence memory recall, according to a new study by Saarland University in Germany. The study, which was coordinated by graduate research student Sara Studte, involved examination of memory recall in 41 participants. The volunteers had to learn single words and word pairs. Once the learning phase was over, the participants were tested to determine how much information they could remember. About half of the participants were then allowed to sleep, while the others watched a DVD. After that, the participants were re-tested and those who had taken a nap were shown to have retained substantially more word pairs in memory than the participants in the control group who had watched a DVD. The results of the study have been published in the respected academic journal Neurobiology of Learning and Memory. Saarland University graduate student Sara Studte explains, "We examined a particular type of brain activity, known as 'sleep spindles,' that plays an important role in memory consolidation during sleep." She goes on to say, "A sleep spindle is a short burst of rapid oscillations in the electroencephalogram (EEG). We suspect certain types of memory content, particularly information that was previously tagged, is preferentially consolidated during this type of brain activity." Study leader Professor Alex Mecklinger also comments, "A short nap at the office or in school is enough to significantly improve learning success. Wherever people are in a learning environment, we should think seriously about the positive effects of sleep."

When I unwrapped a mysterious package from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, I (along with TMS staffers Keisha, Charline, and Daniella) wasn’t expecting to find 10 small bottles with intricately illustrated labels and evocative titles like “Fuck You, Said The Raven.” The Alchemists are collaborating with Neil Gaiman (and Hugo Award-winning artist Julie Dillon for the labels) on a whopping 60 separate fragrances inspired by the bestselling novel and soon-to-be TV series. Even better? Proceeds go to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. So if you’re in the market for perfume styled after Bast or the Buffalo Man, you’ve come to the right place. Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab “specializes in formulating body and household blends with a dark, romantic Gothic tone.” They’ve created scents that evoke everything from Crimson Peak to Sherlock Holmes, often pairing with creators like Guillermo Del Toro, the Henson Company, and Gaiman. In the last six months, they’ve “raised thousands of dollars for the ACLU, Planned Parenthood and EMILY’s List with topical fragrances such as “Nasty Woman” and “Fake News.” I never knew that perfumes could be topical or political, but this is Good Company Goals. The American Gods fragrances benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a fantastic group that fights censorship and is dedicated to protecting the first Amendment Rights of comics professionals. Just how, you may ask, do you make a perfume that evokes the characters and concepts of American Gods? According to the Lab, “By utilizing our knowledge of homeopathy and aromatherapy, the conceptual theories of hermetic alchemy, and the aesthetic artistry of perfumery, we have mastered the art of encapsulating allegorical ideas into singular olfactory experiences.” That’s a tall order! But we think these perfumes are a nifty idea and they’ll help out a good cause. So your Mary Sue New York Coven put them to the smell test. Each scent came with a passage from the book that inspired it and a description from the perfumers. My first favorite is “Coin Trick,” which is described thus: “Glittering gold and silver, rolling over knuckles – concealed in palms – and pulled from the sun, the moon, and the stars.” Since that doesn’t exactly tell you how it might smell, we decided on light and citrus-y. Keisha called it “deceptively light … that’s the Loki scent.” Secondly, I love “Zorya Polunochnaya,” which I’ve been wearing for a few days now. “Pale amber and ambergris, gossamer vanilla, moonflower, and white tobacco petals.” Yum. Charline’s favorite was “The Blood Must Flow,” which BPAL describes as “Three days on the tree, three days in the underworld, three days to find your way back: ash, oak, and elm; vetiver, dragon’s blood resin, and cypress; frankincense, copal, and chamomile.” “I would douse my body in it,” said Charlene. “That’s how you stay young,” said Daniella. “It takes you back to the Roman Empire,” said Keisha. “The Black Hats” smelled “masculine” to us, since strong musks are usually assigned to male colognes (yes, it is a kind of wild that even perfumes have weird gendered associations that are hard to shake). “Gunpowder, patent leather, pomade, aftershave.” Well, at least we were right about the traditionally “male” products that were combined to make this scent. A similar one was, well, “The Buffalo Man.” “Eostre of the Dawn” is on the reverse of that—traditionally “feminine,” that we identified as “super flowery,” which fits with the personification of Easter and fertility. As for “Bast,” this was our take: “Like licorice.” “Dense.” “An aphrodisiac.” “It smells like feminism—intimidating.” It’s billed as, “A desert wind alight with myrrh and golden amber, cardamom and honey, bourbon vanilla and cacao.” “Glass Eye” and “Becoming Thunder” were “herby,” which I like quite a bit. Kudos to whoever writes up the perfume descriptions: “This is the scent of the absolute: this is the perfected manifestation of the absolute essence of not who you are, but what you represent to others. This is You as Symbol, your spirit separated and combined, distilled and condensed into one archetype. Skin musk and 20-year aged frankincense, a sprig of asphodel, a splash of soma, a lightning-streak of sharp ozone, a stream of ambrosia.” Black Phoenix Alchemy Labs is releasing a bunch of new scents on May 30th beyond those that already available, as well as nail polishes and atmosphere sprays to invoke the Gods into your living room. Keep in mind if you’re shopping that scent is a highly personal choice, so chances are you might adore a bottle that’s not to my taste. (But our #1s seemed to be Zorya and Coin Trick.) It’s fun to scroll through the BPAL American Gods product page and check out the thoughtful descriptions and lovely art. Plus, it’s cool to see fandom-y products combine with charitable ventures. I must admit I’m curious to try out “Media’s” fragrance: “A news anchor’s cologne, a soap star’s perfume: perfect, pixelated, and glamorous; aglow with cathodes and anodes, coated with phosphor. ‘I offered you the world,’ she said. ‘When you’re dying in a gutter, you remember that.'” Just try saying “fake news” to the Media that you’ll soon meet on Starz’ American Gods. Gillian Anderson was already a goddess, so the role isn’t much of a leap for her. In the meantime, I’ll be clinging to my favorite tiny bottles, waiting for someone to ask “What’s are you wearing?” to which I’ll respond, “The blood must flow.” [Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab American Gods] (image: Daniella Bondar) Want more stories like this? Become a subscriber and support the site! —The Mary Sue has a strict comment policy that forbids, but is not limited to, personal insults toward anyone, hate speech, and trolling.—

As is so often the case with the White House, a small victory on Monday was sidelined by an incredible crisis of the Trump administration’s own creation. A smooth start to the Senate confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch should have been an easy win for Donald Trump; instead, the esteemed judge’s public debut was overshadowed by James Comey’s brutal five-hour testimony before the House Intelligence Committee, during which the F.B.I. director offered a historic rebuke of the sitting president when he confirmed the existence of an investigation into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia and dismissed Trump’s astounding—and unsubstantiated—allegation that his predecessor had wiretapped Trump Tower. Despite the Trump team’s best efforts to spin the hearing and downplay the revelation, Comey’s testimony came as a historic blow to the two-month old administration, virtually guaranteeing that the White House would remain under suspicion and mired in scandal for well beyond its first 100 days. Comey’s bombshell testimony, which was amplified by blistering comments from National Security Agency Director Mike Rogers, forced the White House on the defensive. Republicans on the House Intelligence panel did their best to carry water for the embattled administration, grilling Comey and Rogers on the illegality of the leaks that brought details of the ongoing investigation to press. Press secretary Sean Spicer tried in earnest to control the damage by claiming, laughably, that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort—who is among the people under investigation by the F.B.I.—played only a “limited role” in the campaign. He also described Mike Flynn, a top adviser to the Trump campaign who went on to serve as national security adviser before resigning, as a “volunteer.” Throughout Washington, however, there is the growing sense that the Russian scandal will not be spun away or resolved quietly. “The longer this hangs out there, the bigger the cloud,” Representative Devin Nunes, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee and a former Trump transition adviser, said Monday while questioning Comey. “If you have evidence, especially as it relates to people working in the White House or in the administration, that is information we really should know.” Like a black hole, the Russia affair is quickly growing in size and scope, consuming political capital and dragging anyone with a connection to the Trump campaign and the Kremlin into the vortex of suspicion. On Monday, months after reports first surfaced that Manafort was designated to receive $12.7 million in undisclosed payments from Ukraine’s pro-Russian party, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, Serhiy Leshchenko, leaked documents allegedly showing steps Manafort had taken to launder the money, The New York Times reports. (Manafort has continued to deny all wrongdoing.) Democrats are already agitating to subpoena more Trump associates to drag them before the House Intelligence spotlight. “We've heard from the easy witnesses, right? We’ve heard from the director and Admiral Rogers,” Rep. Eric Swalwell, a member of the committee, said Tuesday morning on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. “The harder witnesses are going to be people like Michael Flynn, Carter Page, Paul Manafort, bringing individuals in who were actually witnesses to what was going on.” Members of the Trump administration are certainly not making things easier on themselves by continuing to ignore or dismiss even the most sober, grounded concerns about Russia. Hours after Spicer tried to disappear both Manafort and Flynn from history, Reuters reported that Rex Tillerson, who has largely stayed off the radar despite his own longstanding ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, plans to skip what would be his first NATO meeting in order to attend a meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jingping that weekend at Mar-a-Lago. Days later, the secretary of state is also scheduled to meet with Putin, fueling speculation that Trump—who has called NATO “obsolete” and sparked concerns for his effusive praise of Putin—intends continue his alignment with Russia—a curious decision given the current political climate. “It feeds this narrative that somehow the Trump administration is playing footsie with Russia,” one former U.S. official told Reuters. “You don’t want to do your early business with the world's great autocrats. You want to start with the great democracies, and NATO is the security instrument of the transatlantic group of great democracies,” he added. With Trump already battling dismal approval ratings, any appearance that the White House is cozying up to Russia amid the ongoing investigation into Trump’s Kremlin ties will only further damage public perception of his presidency. “The underlying thing is huge (potentially),” Matt Miller, who served in the Justice Department under President Obama said of the situation to Axios. “Even if the underlying thing ends up not being real, investigations can still produce leaks and charges over cover-up.” Already on Monday, there were signs that the F.B.I. investigation is taking on a life of its own. When Comey told the House Intelligence Committee that he “was not going to comment on anybody,” he thrust the entire West Wing under suspicion, one source close to the administration told Mike Allen. “You flush people out by making a comment like that. You let it sit there, then later go get everybody’s email and texts [to see how they reacted to it]. This is how you get a lot of people having to hire lawyers.”

The Washington Post has won a Gerald Loeb award for a series of stories that exposed the extent of the National Security Agency’s massive global surveillance programs. The Loeb awards, generally considered the top prize in business journalism, were announced at a dinner in New York on Tuesday night. The Post submitted five stories from its coverage of secret NSA programs, which were based on classified documents leaked by Edward Snowden, the former government contractor who is living in exile in Russia. The articles, written by Barton Gellman, Laura Poitras, Ellen Nakashima, Craig Timberg, Steven Rich and Ashkan Soltani, won in the category of large newspapers. The Loebs honored two other Post projects. “The Cost of Healing,” written by Peter Whoriskey and Dan Keating, which examined Medicare’s flawed pricing system, was named as a finalist in the explanatory category. “Tax Liens: Left With Nothing,” by Debbie Cenziper, Michael Sallah and Steven Rich, which revealed that the District was allowing companies to seize houses from distressed homeowners or charge them exorbitant fees, was a finalist in the investigative category.

DETROIT (WWJ) – One of the fastest growing businesses in the Motor City has many residents raising concerns: Medical marijuana dispensaries. “This is the next big thing in the city of Detroit,” said Councilman James Tate. “It’s quiet for folks who are not really paying attention, but everyday it seems like another business is opening up.” Tate told WWJ’s Charlie Langton the number of medical marijuana dispensaries within city limits is “staggering.” “The estimate is 180 medical marijuana dispensaries within the city of Detroit,” he said. “I’ve counted 13 in District One myself. We see some locations, certainly along 8 Mile and other border streets, where you have four, five, six kind of clustered together.” Even though state law allows registered patients to use marijuana for medical purposes, dispensaries have gone largely unregulated. “I’m for compassionate care but am also concerned about the over saturation of them,” Tate said. “These buildings, they have now just started popping up everywhere and because the state law is not clear on if they’re allowed or not, we take these businesses to court and they just get tied up and they just stay there. We have not won not one case, nothing has been shut down and that’s the reason why. Most of these businesses don’t have a permit, they have no licensing.” Aside from legal issues, Tate said he’s also concerned about community members who live near the dispensaries. “We’ve got a lot of complaints about it but some of that is emotional because they just don’t like the issue. The other part of it is people are not educated on it,” he said. “It’s not about being against it. It’s about making sure that we’re able to regulate it in a way that ensures the best quality of life for the residents who live in that area.” Tate said their hands are basically tied until lawmakers in Lansing can refine the medical marijuana law and include measures about dispensaries. “We’re trying to get state law clarified to allow us to provide the tools necessary for our law enforcement to go in and regulate those businesses,” he said. “But it’s a lot bigger than just Detroit and we’re going to need some support from around the state.”

SATELLITI E CLIMA La stagione estiva del 2017 sarà ricordata come una delle più calde e secche di sempre ed ha messo a dura prova il territorio dell’Italia, soprattutto le aree del centro-sud che per oltre tre mesi non hanno visto una goccia di pioggia. Le conseguenze di questo periodo difficile hanno tenuto banco sui media quasi ogni giorno: drastica riduzione delle riserve d’acqua, incendi boschivi e miliardi di euro di danni all’agricoltura. Per approfondire questo fenomeno estremo e comprenderne al meglio i meccanismi per il futuro, gli scienziati dell’IRPI (Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica) del CNR stanno utilizzando i dati satellitari, in particolare quelli relativi all’umidità del suolo provenienti dal Soil Moisture CCI Project dell’ESA. Questo progetto, che fa parte della Climate Change Initiative promossa dall’ente spaziale europeo, è stato ideato per fornire alla comunità scientifica che si occupa di cambiamento climatico un efficace strumento di indagine. Il database del Soil Moisture Project a breve sarà reso disponibile anche attraverso il Copernicus Climate Change Service. In base ai dati sull’umidità del suolo, i ricercatori dell’IRPI hanno constatato che in alcune zone dell’Italia centrale - come la Toscana - la siccità ha cominciato a farsi sentire già alla fine del 2016 e che nei primi sei mesi del 2017 la media delle precipitazioni si è ridotta a meno della metà, creando condizioni aride simili a quelle verificatesi nel 2007 e nel 2012. Nella foto a destra, la situazione dell'umidità del suolo in Italia ad agosto 2017 (qui in alta risoluzione). Anche altri paesi europei hanno sofferto la siccità nell’estate 2017, ma i dati relativi all’Italia centrale mostrano una situazione molto pesante per quanto riguarda i livelli di umidità del suolo. Queste informazioni vengono raccolte dai satelliti misurando le microonde rifesse o emesse dal suolo; l’intensità della misurazione dipende dalla quantità di acqua presente. I satelliti, inoltre, possono rilevare altri effetti della siccità come la variazione dei livelli dei laghi. Il lago di Bracciano (foto in alto a sinistra - qui in alta risoluzione), ad esempio, è stato monitorato dalla missione Sentinel-2 le cui immagini hanno documentato chiaramente la forte diminuzione del livello e la conseguente variazione della linea di costa. Dallo spazio e dalle attività di ricerca correlate, quindi, può derivare un valido supporto alle amministrazioni locali per il controllo dell’andamento della siccità e per approntare strumenti efficaci a combatterla.

A patent filed by Microsoft on January 30, 2012, and this week made available to the public, outlines a series of head-mounted display devices and their potential gaming applications. The filing (spotted by a NeoGAF user), dubbed "Multiplayer gaming with head-mounted display," describes "a system and related methods for inviting a potential player to participate in a multiplayer game via a user head-mounted display device…In one example, a potential player invitation program receives user voice data and determines that the user voice data is an invitation to participate in a multiplayer game. The program receives eye-tracking information, depth information, facial recognition information, potential player head-mounted display device information, and/or potential player voice data." The patent alludes to a reference design (subject to change) that may include transparent or partially transparent displays that sit in front of a user's eyes in the form of traditional glasses. The patent filing includes a range of potential device scenarios, including the use of Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) displays, eye scanning, microphones, and gyroscopic and accelerometer sensors to determine user head and body positioning when worn. "The HMD device may include an eye-tracking system that utilises at least one inward-facing sensor. The inward-facing sensor may be an image sensor that is configured to acquire image data in the form of eye-tracking information from a user's eyes. Provided the user has consented to the acquisition and use of this information, the eye-tracking system may use this information to track the position and/or movement of the user's eyes. The eye-tracking system may then determine where and/or at what person or object the user is looking. In another example, the inward-facing sensor may capture retinal scan information from a user's retina. Provided the user has consented to the acquisition and use of this information, such information may be used to identify the user wearing the HMD device." Outward-facing sensors would also detect the environment of the wearer, locate users sharing the space, and track gestures performed by the wearer. Numerous mentions of "time-of-flight depth camera" systems also draw parallels with similar technology included in the updated Kinect 2.0 that will ship alongside the upcoming Xbox One console. These could be used to scan the space before determining which games may be the most appropriate for the given play space. "The HMD device may also include an optical sensor system that utilises at least one outward-facing sensor, such as an optical sensor. Outward-facing sensor may detect movements within its field of view, such as gesture-based inputs or other movements performed by a user or by a person within the field of view. Outward-facing sensor may also capture image information, such as facial recognition information, and depth information from a physical environment and real-world objects within the environment. For example, outward-facing sensor may include a depth camera, a visible light camera, an infrared light camera, and/or a position-tracking camera." The potential inclusion of three accelerometers and three gyroscopes would allow for head-positioning tracking, not unlike the technology found in the Oculus Rift. "Motion sensors may also be employed as user input devices, such that a user may interact with the HMD device via gestures of the neck and head, or even of the body." Voice controls, with a focus on natural speech, are mentioned throughout the filing. The HMD may include one or more microphones, and be used to input commands and requests, such as when instigating a multiplayer game with another user. "In other examples, audio may be presented to the user via one or more speakers on the HMD device. Such audio may include, for example, music, instructions, and/or other communication from the multiplayer game program, the potential player invitation program, or other sources." The filing also lists provisions for users to toggle the amount of personal information shared by the device with other users, from limited privacy modes showing user IDs and game achievements, all the way to exchanging personal information, such as game interests. While only a single device appears to be wearable per user, the report includes information on multiple head-mounted displays being used in conjunction with each other, either to view other matches in progress or join games with multiple participants. The technology and accompanying diagrams and descriptions in the patent share some striking similarities with images shown previously in a purportedly leaked document, prior to the Xbox One announcement. The information was later taken down at the request of Microsoft.

Iran’s Ministry of Justice is curtailing access to the wildly popular mobile game Clash of Clans, because the game is a “clear example of violence through education and the promotion of tribal war.” According to Iranian media, a majority of members of the Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content recommended the game be blocked after receiving a report from psychologists that claimed the game promotes violence, tribal war, and is extremely addictive, among other issues. The game was found to be especially harmful to Iranian youth. According to human rights organization Freedom House, the Committee for Determining Instances of Criminal Content “is empowered to identify sites that carry forbidden content and report such information” to internet service providers to block. معاون قضایی دادستان کل کشور: اکثریت قریب به اتفاق اعضای کارگروه تعیین مصادیق با اعمال محدودیت برای دسترسی به بازی @ClashofClans موافقت کردند pic.twitter.com/wG1jAsg5sP — روزنامه ایران (@IranNewspaper) December 27, 2016 Translation: The Deputy Attorney General: The vast majority of the members of the working group agreed to limit access to the game @ClashofClans Technology news platform VentureBeat carried out a survey earlier this year and found that 64 percent of mobile gamers in Iran play Clash of Clans. This is not the first popular mobile game Iran has banned. The country decided to block access to Pokémon Go in August over concerns about the game’s use of location-based technology.

Beth Kanter, author of Beth's Blog, is the 2009 Scholar in Residence at the Packard Foundation and was named one of Business Week's "Voices of Innovation for Social Media." When I started my blog in 2003, only a handful of nonprofit techies were experimenting with the social media. As Marnie Webb from TechSoup Global recalls, "The throw away line was social media wasn't for organizations but people who wanted to share what their cats ate for breakfast." Six years later, the landscape has changed. Organizations are flocking to the social web, although most in the last two years. Non-profit organizations that have embraced social media with a "listen, fail informatively, and evolve approach" are seeing results. Social media is beginning to transform non-profits both in the way they work as well as their relationships with constituents. 1. Deepening relationships and Engagement Over the past five years, The March of Dimes has used social media to nurture its online community, Share Your Story. It is one of the better examples of how non-profits can use social media to empower supporters without having to control it. A few weeks ago, the March of Dimes supporters came out in droves for a networked memorial service for a toddler named Maddie. The community raised tens of thousands of dollars for the March of Dimes in Maddie's memory as well as covering the funeral costs for the family. The organization did little to stage this event. The March of Dimes has embraced openness and inspired their stakeholders to feel empowered enough to take action on their own. 2. Individuals & small groups are self-organizing around non-profit causes Social media is enabling individuals to create, join, and grow groups around issues they care about outside of the direct control of a non-profit. Whether flash activists or fundraising events like Twestival, activities like these are on the rise. Social software design is also helping accelerate this trend. Look no further than the Facebook Causes Birthday application that encourages an individual who is a member of a Cause to use their birthday as an excuse to raise money for a non-profit organization. DonorsChoose recently launched a similar feature called “Birthday Give Back," with Stephen Colbert leading the charge. And keep an eye out for more social apps with a conscience that will offer even more creative ways for supporters to self-organize and take action around causes. As non-profits begin to engage their own communities in these online conversations, they are able to reach more people than ever before, and using less effort doing so. As Maddie Grant, a partner at SocialFish, observes, “We can all be change agents and that has to be good for the entire non-profit industry, as long as organizations adapt to this new way of being part of a two-way conversation and groundswell of social responsibility." 3. Facilitating collaboration and crowdsourcing The social web lets people who work in non-profit organizations connect and collaborate informally across institutional boundaries quickly and inexpensively. Non-profit organizations are also collaborating with their supporters by crowdsourcing ideas, feedback, and content for programs. Lights, Camera Action, Help Film Festival, which was created to promote the idea of films-for-a-cause, was a collaboration that happened across different non-profits by individuals connecting on the social web. Another example is WeAreMedia, a wiki project where over 100 non-profit technology professionals have pooled knowledge resources and developed training materials to help non-profits learn how to use social media effectively. The initial content was facilitated through discussions on blogs, Twitter, and Facebook. Now, presentations are being remixed and delivered as trainings to non-profits at conferences and workshops across the country. An interesting example of crowdsourcing by a nonprofit comes from Michael Tilson Thomas, artistic director of the San Francisco Symphony with the recent performance of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. The performers were selected from thousands of video auditions from around the globe. The finalists were winnowed down by a jury of professional musicians, not unlike a traditional audition, but the winners were crowdsourced by YouTube users via online voting. The resulting "mashed up" symphony orchestra, had more than 90 players representing over 30 countries. 4. Social change behind the firewall We know that for many non-profits, adopting social media requires a culture shift before it can be successful. And, while that is certainly true for a lot of organizations, a number have been effective in introducing social media to help change the culture, flatten hierarchical structures, speed decision-making, improve programs and services. The American Red Cross has been an early adopter of social media, beginning with listening strategies in 2006. According to Social Media Strategist Wendy Harman the intent was to “prevent people from saying nasty things about the Red Cross on the Web.” As they discovered in their organizational listening efforts, there were some vocal critics, but most mentions were enthusiastic and supportive of the Red Cross. Harman has documented many different stories and shared these internally. Through listening the organization has come to view social media listening as a valuable market research channel and has even changed some social media skeptics to supporters. Danielle Brigidia, who is responsible for social media strategy for National Wild Life Federation, says "Internally, we have started to focus on cross-promoting our ideas and programs more thanks to social media tools like Yammer (internal Twitter)." Carrie Lewis, social networking strategist for the Humane Society of the US, observes how their Internet is now working differently. “We have daily 9 minute meetings. Short meetings have helped them be more efficient and effective with every aspect of social media campaigns.” Conclusion We’re just at the beginning of seeing how social media is impacting how non-profits engage with their supporters and do their work. As more and more non-profits adopt social media and their practice improves over time, we will no doubt see a transformation of the non-profit sector. More charitable social media resources from Mashable Image courtesy of iStockphoto, JamesBrey

Part I: Intro / Rationale Stuart says that with the development of MQA, listeners can experience their digital audio content at the same quality levels as the professional recording industry. “Music lovers need no longer be shortchanged; finally we can all hear exactly what the musicians recorded,” he explains.“MQA gives a clear, accurate and authentic path from the recording studio all the way to any listening environment—at home, in the car or on the go. And we didn’t sacrifice convenience.” 1. The MQA syntax supports a hierarchy of authentication keys using strong encryption. The encryption protects the encoding/decoding instructions, various metadata and verification of both lossless digital transmission from studio to decoder and 'beyond digital lossless', it authenticates the analogue-to-analogue path -- which is a major step forward in sound quality. The MQA authentication ‘light’ indicates Provenance in the source for the file. The MQA display indicates that the unit is decoding and playing an MQA stream or file and denotes provenance that the sound is identical to that of the source material. MQA Studio indicates it is playing a file which has either been approved in the studio by the artist/producer or has been verified by the copyright owner. And more recently here's a January 2017 video about MQA with various engineers that seem to be hyping this whole "assurance" and "authenticated" bit. For example, what does Morten Lindberg mean by "we have an assurance of how it's going to play back on the other end - that's something we haven't had before": I added the bold highlights. These are just three examples of the wording being used by MQA/Bob Stuart to suggest that somehow the MQA process retains the "sound" of the studio production. As if there is something special in these MQA files beyond what a standard HDtracks high-resolution download would be able to convey for example. Notice again the careful wording used. And more recently here's a January 2017 video about MQA with various engineers that seem to be hyping this whole "assurance" and "authenticated" bit. For example, what does Morten Lindberg mean by "we have anon the other end - that's":I added the bold highlights. These are just three examples of the wording being used by MQA/Bob Stuart to suggest that somehow the MQA process retains the "sound" of the studio production. As if there is something special in these MQA files beyond what a standard HDtracks high-resolution download would be able to convey for example. Notice again the careful wording used. The word authentication basically means "the process or action of proving or showing something to be true, genuine, or valid" - nothing more. In this regard, the little "light" on an MQA DAC would do the job and may be all that Stuart's talking about (whoopee do!). It's not hard to imagine how this is done of course - embed some MQA data in the stream and the firmware detects it. Perhaps something like a CRC may be embedded every so often to make sure the data isn't corrupt and the indicator light will go off or blink perhaps with each instance of corruption. The words Stuart chooses coyly hints at another meaning; the idea that MQA authentication can perhaps bring the studio sound home when you play an MQA-encoded track. Perhaps hinting that somehow the technology is capable of making DACs sound closer to some kind of studio sonic standard. How are we supposed to interpret "which is a major step forward in sound quality"? Is there any evidence to this? When they speak of "end-to-end technology" ("analogue-to-analogue path"), is there some actual retained "authentic" sound that's different than say an equivalent HDtrack file's playback using that DAC? One way to test this hypothesis is to check what happens to the sound coming out of two MQA-certified DAC devices. Is there any evidence that MQA processing with its claimed benefits (time domain accuracy, "better" filtering algorithm catering to the DAC, "accurate and authentic path", etc.) will result in sonic output more similar than just the DACs playing the same HDtracks tune? The idea being that if MQA processing makes the DACs sound more alike, then there's actually something being done to standardize the analogue output which ostensibly is a reflection of the "studio sound" or even the sound of the "original performance" when they say stuff like this on their website: Part II: The Test Part III: Conclusion --------------------------------- You've probably heard or read the catch phrases from MQA over the years. "Revolutionary", "TAKE ME THERE"... "To the original performance..." Or how about using phrases like "end-to-end technology"?As I have said over the last few months, I don'ttalking about MQA based on my general impression of what they're trying to do and the way they try to convey supposed "value" to the audiophile world through their advertisements and sponsored articles in the audiophile press. Nonetheless, sometimes it's justto comment and more importantly to put some of the rhetoric to the test. There appears to be a remarkable schism between those who advocate and praise MQA and those who have concerns. I'm pretty sure there are many wishing that MQA would just go away instead of complicating music playback with yet another questionable variant.Last week, when I wrote about the idea of MQA CD, I brought up the Pono experience as another example of failure in the recent history of the industry. For Pono, the failure was perhaps rather obvious for those of us who have been listening to 24-bit and >44.1kHz music for awhile, especially those of us who have ever bothered to try an A/B-test . It does not take a genius to realise that audible differences are really quite subtle (if even there in most cases of mainstream music) and that differences do not translate to "benefit". Without clear audible benefits, there really was no way that theof the Pono music store could ever excite the music-buying public... Certainly not in the way Neil Young portrayed it (sure, the hardware PonoPlayer is unique but with its own quirks of course ).When it comes to MQA, it's certainly a bit more complicated. For one, it brings into this world a new encoding system so it's not as easy to compare unless one had a decoder that could easily be switched on/off on-the-fly. But for me at least, right from the start, there were many ideas being floated that just seemed "fishy". How is it possible to honestly say this:When you're packaging supposedly PCM 24/88+ worth of data into a 24/48 file that maintains compatibility with standard DACs? Obviously some form of lossy mechanism must be involved - is that not a form of sacrifice? And obviously in order to add the encoded data within the package to maintain standard playback compatibility, some potential lower level details will need to be discarded. I agree, it's not unreasonable in a 24-bit file because the lower bits are typically just noise, but still, a potential "sacrifice" of sorts depending on how many bits were affected - the higher the resolution of the original production, the more potential loss of low-level detail. In previous posts, I discussed digitally in software and using the Mytek Brooklyn DAC the effects of MQA decoding But there was one idea that always bothered me about the MQA claim worth thinking about... What does it mean above when MQA insists ""?What exactly does it mean when they use the word? And how is this authentication related to the sound "in the studio"?Notice that MQA is rather careful in the words they use on their website especially related to that second question linking sound quality. However, if you look at the older archives, we see Bob Stuart making a few assertions worth considering and the connotations they create. Here's one from a CEPro article in December 2014 when the press was first introduced to MQA at a company party:By around CES in January 2015, there was a Q&A posted on Meridian Unplugged and one of the answers went like this from Mr. Stuart:And later in May 2016, we see this on AudioStream, in the "MQA Reviewed" article With the above in mind, my friend with the professional quality RME Fireface ADC graciously and meticulously recorded the output of two MQA DACs for me as he did with the previous test of hardware decoding from the Mytek Brooklyn (see that post for other details like procedure and settings used). This time, the comparison is between the Mytek Brooklyn DAC and Meridian's own Explorer2 with MQA firmware. With each DAC playing either the HDtracks download or streaming off "Master" TIDAL with "Passthrough MQA" for hardware decoding, in total, there were 4 recordings made in 24/192 resolution as below:As you can imagine, with the different recordings, I can then run objective comparisons to determine how close the MQA decoded analogue output from the DAC is with the HDtracks download for each device. Plus I can compare the sound coming out of the DACs and see if there is a relative difference between whether the DAC was fed standard HDtracks data versus MQA.Since we don't have an MQA-encoder available, let's try using a popular song for this comparison. We decided on using Led Zeppelin's "Your Time Is Gonna Come" from Led Zeppelin (1969, 2014 24/96 HDtracks, DR9). Note that I had already demonstrated with the track "Good Times Bad Times" previously that the TIDAL MQA stream is essentially the same mastering as the HDtracks download. We purposely picked another track from that album because the peak level for "Your Time Is Gonna Come" is the lowest on the album (-1.7dB peak) which provides some overhead protection to reduce intersample overloading when the DAC performs its usual digital antialiasing filtering whether natively or with the MQA parameters. Furthermore, this album lights up "blue" which means that it's "" authenticated, the highest level of authentication (the lower level has a "green" light).So then, let's compare... First, comparing the HDtracks 24/96 download with MQA decoding to 24/96. As I did previously, I'll use Audio DiffMaker software to create the difference file from ~15 seconds of the song recorded at 24/192 starting at about 10 seconds into the tune.Click on the waveform composite images to have a look at the details like the frequency spectral display plot and the averaged FFT of the "difference" file. Basically what we see in both the Mytek and Meridian DAC outputs is that indeed there is very little difference between MQA and HDtracks playback. The "Waveform display" is essentially a flat line, the "Frequency Spectral display" looks like low level background noise in the ultrasonic range, and the FFT spectrum shows a few noise peaks down at -80dB or so. As I noted in my previous examination of MQA, this is good I suppose... It basically tells us that MQA is generally able to represent a 24/96 HDtracks file compressed into the 24/48 "bit bucket" (remember, this isn't a true high-res album so any slight loss in noise floor due to MQA encoding below 16-bits or so is not an issue).Now, let's see if we can do some inter-DAC comparisons!Whoa! Look at the differences now between the DACs. We see that this is comparativelydifferent compared to playing back an HDtracks file vs. MQA on the same DAC. No surprise, right? After all, we can't expect a US$2000 Mytek Brooklyn to objectively measure identical to a US$200 Meridian Explorer2 . Remember that the Audio DiffMaker program does try to compensate for small sample rate drifts and will also compensate for differences in gain (average amplitudes were only around 0.1dB between samples). Clearly the timing differences in playback are beyond the default level of compensation I'm using. This is likely why you see that Moiré pattern in the spectral frequency plot; the timing between the DACs are slightly different, more than likely undetectable in a listening A/B test but when you overlay them, a "beat frequency" can be detected.Before anyone freaks out about the magnitude of difference seen here, realize that this is the result ofanalysis using a very sensitive 24-bit ADC capable of detecting very minute frequency response differences, changes in low-level noise, and distortion - capabilities beyond the human ear/mind. Though the difference is measurably obvious, if I were to listen to the two samples in a volume matched A/B test, I wouldbet much money on passing a blind test :-). For the record, unblinded on my main sound system (TEAC UD-501 to Emotiva XSP-1 to Emotiva XPA-1L monoblocks to Paradigm Signature S8 speakers), I thought the Explorer2 sounded a little brighter and vocals slightly forward compared to the Brooklyn with this track - which one is "better" can only be judged by the ear/mind of the beholder.However, what is interesting is that the difference between the DACs playing back either the HDtracks or MQA data has remarkably similar RMS power. This observation tells us that despite whatever customizations MQA is doing for each DAC as it implements its "end-to-end technology", the playback isn't any closer between the Brooklyn and Explorer2 than as if they're playing the HDtracks file. Based on this observation, we can take one more step and try to compare the difference between the MQA vs. HDtrack differences! If the observation is correct, then there should be very little signal left over...Yup. Very little sonic variance between the DACs between HDtracks and MQA playback. At a total RMS power level in the -60's dB, I can turn my headphone amp up to 100% while playing this and barely hear much of a signal above the noise.In this example with an "MQA Studio authenticated" (blue light, supposedly "approved" in studio by the artist/rights holder) playback of Led Zeppelin's "Your Time Is Gonna Come", we see that:Very little difference with total RMS power down at -70dB over 15 seconds of music which is inaudible using both the Mytek Brooklyn and Meridian Explorer2 DACs. This is basically a confirmation of what was found previously but this time using actual hardware decoded analogue output rather than digital extraction from software-decoded TIDAL output.There is no evidence that these two MQA DACs sounded any "more similar" or "more different" to each other when playing straight high-resolution PCM compared to hardware decoded MQA.Ultimately, I think when we read about the "authentication" function of MQA, all they're saying is that the DAC "light" ensures that the. It's like a CRC embedded in a ZIP file to check for errors. Realise that this isbecause a decoded MQA 24/96 output will not be exactly bit-perfect with the studio's 24/96 "master" PCM fed into the MQA encoder (the bit-perfect master would likely be the HDtracks 24/96 download). That's all authentication means from what I have seen.I see no evidence that there is any special "authentic studio sound" that MQA decoding actually preserves or ensures. As you know, MQA's algorithms are proprietary and whatever optimizations they might have included in the firmware to make the Brooklyn and Explorer2 "certified" DACs (beyond money the companies paid to get the firmware done) did not seem to change the nature of the sound in a detectable way with the professional ADC. Putting it another way, there was no special "MQA voicing" found.As far as I can tell, the more I examine this whole MQA "thing", the less I see evidence of any actual technology that improves overall sonic fidelity. It's an encoding technique that "encapsulates" some data for ultrasonic reconstruction ( not really significant IMO ) in the lower bits typically in the noise floor, throws in the indicator light for error detection ("authentication"), and uses a sort of upsampling filter . Claims of time-domain accuracy appear meaningless, and there's nothing so far to suggest that it brings us any closer to some concept of sonic standardization. This is not surprising I suppose, last year when I spoke of DSP room correction , I already suggested the meaningless of MQA's claims of "end-to-end" authentication because even if they did somehow ensure that MQA-certified DACs were calibrated to have similar tonal quality and accuracy (perhaps an analogy might be color calibration of TV sets), they could never ensure that the final sound is of a certain fidelity! MQA has no dominion over the effects of speakers and the sound room which are of course where themajority of distortions and tonal irregularities arise.Note that I'm basing these observations on a single track (although "Studio MQA" authenticated). Although I only showed the results from one comparison point, I did have a look at another spot about 1 minute in to find similar results. Perhaps this Led Zeppelin album isn't fully representative of what MQA is capable of... Who knows. Maybe Meridian/MQA could clarify this with some objective results of what "major step forward in sound quality" they're talking about rather than just more words and innuendo. There are many obvious ways they can do this if they honestly want to "walk the talk".Thanks again to my friend for "virtually" making available his gear and valuable time :-).In other news, I was reading this analysis of MQA from SoundStage! the other day. A few comments with quotations from the article as applicable:1.Yes! Thank you for reminding people that the resulting file is actuallythan a similar 16/44 FLAC lossless compressed file. Going from 16-bits to 24-bits with compression like FLAC usually results in around 50% increase, but in many cases, these MQA files are minimally compressible in those lower 8-bits where MQA data resides and results in >50% size increase.2.Remember, this islossless (ie. bit-perfect) as we normally think of lossless FLAC or ALAC. It's "partially lossy" as I noted last year - that's as certain as the Earth revolving around the Sun. So even though it's "claimed", we need to remember that at best this is "perceptually lossless" assuming that for the piece of music, the change in noise floor due to the embedded data isn't noticeable. We need to end the "claimed" provision and call a spade a spade.3.Kudos. However I must say that criticism of MQA began for me back in January 2015 , way before the writer's article in April 2016 when Meridian started acting dodgy with their lack of A/B comparisons at audio shows Seriously folks, wasn't itthat what they were proposing had a strong ring of improbability to it even with the initial announcement back in late 2014? Are audio technology writers that out of touch with how things work that questions weren't asked right from the beginning? Maybe it's the lack of courage to swim against the tide of other publications? Or perhaps they were all under the influence of Meridian's fancy public relations party (check out this ridiculous video ; "bought and paid for" comes to mind) at the The Shard in December 2014?4.Nice. Again, about time an audiophile writer admits to this given the presence of obvious objective evidence . So what does one make of J. V. Serinus' claim in December 2014 that ""? What kind ofare we to have in subjective impressions like that? Did the company present a fair comparison for him? Does his hearing need to be checked? Was he caught up in the hype and excitement? Ultimately, would or should this kind of testimony have much affect on audiophiles at large?Well folks, after years of pure subjective "analysis" and opinion-making with little, I honestly do hope that the audiophile hobby can come to terms with the importance of being. I believe it all has to become more objective and more rational in the days ahead for the sake of credibility compared to other technologically based hobbies. Perhaps we'll talk more about this another time soon...Hope you're all having a great time enjoying the music! Happy Easter.

DUBLIN, Ireland ― What started four weeks ago as a sex scandal that threatened to plunge Northern Ireland into crisis has ended in a new political agreement that strengthens the province’s unique power-sharing arrangements. British prime minister Gordon Brown and his Irish counterpart Brian Cowen flew to Hillsborough Castle outside Belfast before dawn yesterday to celebrate the interparty deal after 10 days of round-the-clock negotiations. The agreement, worked out by the Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Fein, which aspires to a united Ireland, provides the last elements in the process of devolution painstakingly negotiated over two decades. The power-sharing Northern Ireland government will take on police and justice powers on April 12 with the help of a British Government grant of £800 million ($1.25 billion). The communities will cooperate on the handling of contentious Orange Order parades through Catholic areas. Unionists place much importance on the right of the Orange Order, which celebrates the defeat of Catholic rebels in 1690 by King William of Orange, to parade along traditional routes, even where they are offensive to Catholic residents. Contentious parades have caused major rioting in past years. The power-sharing threatened to crash in early January after an affair between 59-year-old Iris Robinson, wife of Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson, and a 19-year-old youth, Kirk McCambley, became public. Robinson stepped down temporarily as First Minister while government lawyers investigated if financial irregularities existed in connection with his wife’s affair, but he has been cleared. The prospect of imminent disaster focused Catholic and Protestant politicians who had made the community government dysfunctional over squabbles about Irish language rights, north-south cooperation and loyalist parades. Robinson and Sinn Fein Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness appeared together with the two prime ministers for a press concerence. “This might be the day when the political process comes of age,” McGuinness said. Robinson said that the deal, achieved after the longest round of continuous negotiations in the tortuous history of the peace process, would secure the power-sharing assembly “for decades to come.” He added, “politics is working, we are not going back to the past.” The normally humorless First Minister drew laughter when he speculated that if negotiating were an Olympic sport, “we would enter a team, we would win a gold medal, and we would then start negotiating to decide what flag and anthem we would have.” While both prime ministers talked about the deal making history, the bitterness between the two top ministers was still on show at the press conference. Robinson declined to shake hands with McGuinness when invited to do so by a reporter. “I’m not into political stunts,” he said. The DUP leader has consistently refused to shake hands publicly with McGuinness, a former Irish Republican Army leader, though they privately shook hands last month when McGuinness sympathized with Robinson’s family difficulties. The devolution of policing and justice powers by the British Government is of critical importance to Sinn Fein, which persuaded its voters to accept the partition of Ireland partly on the basis that nationalists would jointly control law and order. Before the Northern Ireland “Troubles” began 40 years ago, a majority unionist government controlled a paramilitary police force known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The police force was demilitarized under direct British rule and renamed the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to make it more widely acceptable. According to the agreement, a six-member working group is to be established to provide local solutions that respect the rights of those who parade as well as nationalist residents. “This is the last chapter of a long and troubled story and the beginning of a new chapter after decades of violence, years of talks, weeks of stalemate,” commented Brown, whose prospects in this year’s British general election will have been improved by the success of negotiations he and Cowen have sponsored. Cowen said he believed the deal laid the foundations for a new future “built on mutual respect for people of different traditions, equality and tolerance and respect for each other’s political aspirations and cultural expressions and inheritance.” The end of 120 hours of negotiations came just before midnight Feb. 4 when Robinson secured agreement from his assembly party. He still faces opposition from a hard-line unionist faction, the Traditional Unionist Voice, led by Jim Allister. Allister alleged that the DUP had caved in and accepted a deal they had originally rejected. “The deal hasn’t changed, only the snowmen of the DUP, who melted once the heat came on,” he said.

Re: NYT piece From:pir@hrcoffice.com To: jake.sullivan@gmail.com, jennifer.m.palmieri@gmail.com CC: cheryl.mills@gmail.com, nmerrill@hrcoffice.com, john.podesta@gmail.com, DKendall@wc.com, hsamuelson@cdmillsgroup.com Date: 2015-03-23 10:05 Subject: Re: NYT piece 1st candidate for the top job jumped into the race today. really early announcement. didn't realize canada also had an election coming up. Was thinking something as simple as -- there will be a choice in this next election -- just look at what the first Republican out of the gate believes .... On Mon, Mar 23, 2015 at 8:00 AM, Jennifer Palmieri <jennifer.m.palmieri@gmail.com<mailto:jennifer.m.palmieri@gmail.com>> wrote: Good idea re sending mika the statement, will do that. Mulling Cruz, could be good if we had something meaningful or really funny to say. Sent from my iPhone > On Mar 23, 2015, at 7:40 AM, Jake Sullivan <jake.sullivan@gmail.com<mailto:jake.sullivan@gmail.com>> wrote: > > What do you guys think about HRC saying something about Cruz today? Some kind of light hearted contrast? Would make news. > > > >> On Mar 23, 2015, at 7:38 AM, Philippe Reines <pir@hrcoffice.com<mailto:pir@hrcoffice.com>> wrote: >> >> Maybe Mika would read the whole statement if she had it. >> >> >> From: Jennifer Palmieri >> Sent: Monday, March 23, 2015 7:15 AM >> To: Jake Sullivan >> Cc: Cheryl Mills; Philippe Reines; Nick Merrill; John Podesta; David Kendall; Heather Samuelson >> Subject: Re: NYT piece >> >> >> Nick is asking them to update the story to make that point clear. >> >> Twitter is more interested in the substance of the emails (spontaneous vs non-spontaneous), which I think is manageable and much better than have the reaction that she lied in describing her emailing practice with staff. >> >> Morning Joe discussion is coming up, so trying to reach Mika and will report back after that. Ted Cruz announcing today helps. >> >> Sent from my iPadg >> >>> On Mar 23, 2015, at 6:19 AM, Jake Sullivan <jake.sullivan@gmail.com<mailto:jake.sullivan@gmail.com>> wrote: >>> >>> The key issue, in my view, is that the piece implies the quoted emails are from personal when they are not. >>> >>> >>> >>>> On Mar 23, 2015, at 6:17 AM, Jennifer Palmieri <jennifer.m.palmieri@gmail.com<mailto:jennifer.m.palmieri@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>> >>>> I think that person, the degree to which they exist, is Ezra Klein. And we can do it with him today. >>>> >>>> Others should weigh in on Congress, but I have had a lot of success with Cummings and Schiff decrying selective leaks and think we should do that here. >>>> >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>>> On Mar 23, 2015, at 5:41 AM, Cheryl Mills <cheryl.mills@gmail.com<mailto:cheryl.mills@gmail.com>> wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Jen/Nick >>>>> >>>>> Lloyd Grove used to be the person who would hold journalist accountable - who is that now and is there an opportunity for that in real time today? >>>>> >>>>> On Cong mischaracterizing emails to nyt (or NYT doing it themselves) - what is strategy for having Cong counter the misinformation with the release of the actual emails so they speak for themselves as opposed to having nyt selectively mischaracterize what they claim they have never seen? >>>>> >>>>> cdm

The idea of a cheesecake came to me naturally, I will have made an ice cream but I still have no turbine in my house (yes it is a call: D) And because a cheesecake with the jam of milk it was not enough greedy (I am very greedy) I thought to a cheesecake on a base of pretzels, a cream cheese to the jam of milk, caramel icing with salted butter with mascarpone chantilly rosettes. (Gold-gas-nomic) It's up to you to test the recipe now;) Do you want this jam to make the recipe? Nothing more simple I invite you on the site of the Bonne Box and to not miss anything (it would be a pity) subscribe to you: here! Recipe: - 200g of Pretzel- 75g butter- 450 g of Philadelphia nature- 150g of thick cream- 120g of milk jam- 100g caster sugar- 3 eggs- 100g of sugar- 1 c to s of water- 125g of liquid cream- 30g of salted butter- 100g of mascarpone liquid cream- 40g of icing sugarIn a bowl, reduce the pretzels into crumbs.Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.Mix it with pretzel crumbs evenly.In a circle 20 cm in diameter, lower the biscuit dough by packing with a glass.Reserve for 15 minutes.Preheat oven to 150 ° C.In another bowl, combine the Philadelphia with the fresh cream and the milk jam.Add sugar and mix well.Finally, add the eggs one at a time and mix until the mixture is smooth and homogeneous.Remove the mold from the refrigerator, pour the mixture over the biscuit base, distribute it with a Maryse.Sprinkle the cheesecake with the powdered sugar sachet.Bake at 150 ° C for 50min. (attention it depends on the ovens, it can be less or more)Once cooked, it should slightly shake.Let it cool completely in the oven and then store it cool for at least 12 hours.Prepare your caramel salted butter.Pour the sugar and water into a saucepan and cook over medium heat.You will see the caramel form at boiling point.When the color is slightly browned, add the liquid cream and then the diced butter.Mix well. (Tip: the darker the color of the caramel the more your caramel will be bitter so be careful)Let cool.After 12 hours, remove the cheesecake.Pour the salted caramel over the top of the cheesecake (no problem if it runs on the sides, it's more greedy)Prepare the whipped cream mascarpone.In your drummer, whip the mascarpone cream with the icing sugar until a firm texture is obtained.Using a socket pocket and a fluted socket, form rosettes on the top of the cheesecake (1 rosette per part therefore 10 rosettes).

Questions Someone sent me a link to a blog. Now, it’s pretty rare that I mention a blog that has only one post so far, but it’s a pretty big post. The blog is Prop 19 Questions and the first post has… 850 questions. (I’m taking their word for it, I haven’t counted them myself.) There are some good questions, and I actually started answering them, but after about 35, I got bored. There are a bunch that can easily be answered “No” or “Yes” just through plain reading of the text of the proposed law. There’s also a large number that would be answered “depending on local regulations,” and a few where the answer would be “Yeah, lawyers are going to make some money on that one.” But there’s also a considerable number where the answer is “Nobody knows. Just as with any new law or policy, we’ll have to see what happens and adapt to situations as they arise.” After reading all the questions, I realized that there are some questions that have been left out! So here are my additions to the 850 questions about Prop 19…

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton delivers a speech at Texas Southern University in Houston, Thursday, June 4, 2015. Clinton is calling for an expansion of early voting and pushing back against Republican-led efforts to restrict voting access, laying down a marker on voting rights at the start of her presidential campaign. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan) There aren't all that many policy issues where Republican and Democratic voters agree. But for a while there, automatic voter registration was one of them. Back in March, when Oregon passed a groundbreaking law to automatically register voters using data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, a majority of Americans in both parties said they'd like to see a similar measure implemented in their own state. The bipartisan support on that issue stood in contrast to another reform, same-day registration, that Democrats largely embraced and Republicans generally rejected. That seems to have changed. Last Thursday, Hillary Clinton spoke out in favor of a slate of voting reforms, accusing Republicans of trying to suppress turnout and calling for every eligible citizen to be registered at age 18 unless they opt out. "Voting should not be a partisan issue and there are some good voting reforms that have been endorsed by members of both parties,” said Jonathan Brater of the Brennan Center for Justice at the New York University School of Law, one of several voting rights organizations to applaud the speech. But Clinton's Republican rivals largely lambasted her proposals, suggesting that Clinton's reforms, if implemented, would encourage voter fraud. And while the public's overall level of support for automatic registration has held steady and remained relatively high, a new HuffPost/YouGov poll finds that Republicans' willingness to entertain the idea has fallen significantly in the past three months. Back in March, 53 percent of Republicans supported their state introducing a law like Oregon's. Today, just 38 percent are in favor of automatically registering citizens who are eligible to vote. The two polls aren't exactly identical. The earlier survey asked about a state-level proposal rather than a national one. It also introduced a further qualifier on how citizens would be registered -- that is, through the DMV, rather than universally. But there's an even more direct way of measuring the degree to which support for the idea has eroded among Republican voters. While half of those polled were asked simply whether they favored or opposed automatic registration, the rest were first told that the idea had been recently proposed by Clinton. Among that group, GOP support dropped an additional 10 points to just 28 percent. "The partisan way she’s framed the issue -- by blaming Republicans for all the voting problems -- makes it less likely these changes will actually be implemented should she be elected president," Rick Hasen, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, wrote Monday at Slate, calling for Clinton to abandon the idea as a campaign talking point. "Instead, she’s offering red meat to her supporters while alienating the allies she would need to get any reforms enacted... That message will likely alienate moderate Republicans who could be her natural partners for reforms in the future." While automatic registration may have lost the patina of bipartisan support, it remains relatively popular. Americans as a whole support automatic registration by more than a 10-point margin, regardless of whether Clinton's name is attached to it. About a quarter of Americans also say they'd like to see their state expand early voting, while 37 percent say their state's policies are about right. Only 9 percent want to see early voting reduced. More broadly, a majority of the public -- 61 percent -- say that low voter turnout is at least a moderate problem. Many, though, aren't sure it's the government's problem to fix. Forty-six percent of people say the government is already doing enough to make sure that everyone who wants to vote in elections is able to, while 32 percent say it isn't. Democrats say by a 24-point margin that the government doesn't do enough, while Republicans say by a 55-point margin that it does. The HuffPost/YouGov poll consisted of 1,000 completed interviews conducted June 5-7 among U.S. adults using a sample selected from YouGov's opt-in online panel to match the demographics and other characteristics of the adult U.S. population. The Huffington Post has teamed up with YouGov to conduct daily opinion polls. You can learn more about this project and take part in YouGov's nationally representative opinion polling. Data from all HuffPost/YouGov polls can be found here. More details on the poll's methodology are available here.

REYHANLI, Turkey — A court in the Turkish border town Reyhanli has begun hearing the first case of oil smuggling from Syria, which has brought Turkey under intense international pressure. Al-Monitor was provided full access to the indictment and the transcript of the first open public hearing, which took place Sept. 15. As the judge has not yet decided the case, Al-Monitor was strictly advised to only report on the generic themes of what the prosecutor detailed with extreme precision and unquestionable evidence. The case lays out how a small village with fewer than 2,000 inhabitants on the border with Syria — called the Besaslan village attached to Reyhanli — transformed itself into a sort of cooperative where everyone mutually agreed to take part in illegal oil smuggling. The families who don’t want to actively participate are given hush money — 1,500 Turkish lira weekly ($663), which comes to a considerable amount in monthly terms (6,000 Turkish lira, or $2,650). It is a skillfully organized network where even family ties are overridden by the alleged chief of the network, referred to as A.B. The indictment also lays out how border patrols take part, exploiting their privileged status to benefit from the smuggling. A military officer, for example, told the judge that the commander of the border post advised the village men “not to carry out the smuggling above ground, but underground.” The indictment reveals how the nature of smuggling changed from transporting the oil in plastic cans to laying pipes underground. A separate military officer also revealed that while the thermal cameras at the border leave no blind spot, the village men are advised to cross into Syria from an area where there are a lot of olive trees, and to turn their vehicles’ lights off. The village men learn about military movements in advance and use that critical information not to get caught. The Catch-22 is that the other side of the border is controlled by Jabhat al-Nusra militants, and the village smugglers share that critical information with the militants. Those familiar with the case, who spoke to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, express concern over the serious clashes of interests between the two sides of the border. “These villagers made more than $800 million in 16 months that they probably could not have imagined in their lifetime," a source said. "While they only focus on making easy money, the militants on the other side of the border don’t even care about their lives and they learn about our military’s movements. This not only puts our security at risk here, but also threatens the entire security of the nation.” The same sources in the case also said that the Syrians had stolen weapons from the border post and that the commander asked for help from the same village men. “Believe it or not, they went to the other side and brought back all those weapons. This is how the military is watching out for our security,” the source told Al-Monitor. The transcript also reveals that military personnel sought help from these villagers — because of their close relations with the Jabhat al-Nusra militants — in getting back stolen Turkish vehicles that had been taken to the Syrian side. The military personnel complain about their lack of orders for fighting against the smugglers, which appears to have resulted in lax enforcement all the way around. “We only have 50-60 patrols on the border, whereas there are more than 1,000 smugglers,” one military officer tells the judge. “We do all we can within our capabilities.” The transcript also reveals that the defense lawyers weighed in on the political nature of the issue, accusing the government of creating an environment for the border to be open to exploitation because of the government's desire to topple the Syrian regime. The judge asked for bail of 750,000 Turkish lira ($332,000) for the alleged leader of the network. “The judge was utterly shocked when the money was delivered in cash the next day. He thought this was an astronomical amount that would keep these people behind bars,” one source told Al-Monitor. The alleged leader of the network and 19 others are accused in the case, but none are now behind bars. “The prosecutor might have surprised the government with his efficiency and professionalism, but he can’t bring justice to a gravely troubling, crumbling sense of justice and security here by himself,” one source seeking to remain anonymous told Al-Monitor. “This is clearly a set-up case to show to the Europeans that Turkey is doing it all by the book, but if you are really serious about understanding what is taking place on the ground, this should not fool you.” The same source added, “If they are really serious about ending smuggling and therefore [ending] indirectly working with these extremists on the Syrian side, they can also shoot one or two smugglers just like they do now on the border with Kobani. Then we will understand they are serious about what they are talking about. Otherwise, this is only a theatrical show.” The general sense among the locals is that even if the judge gives the accused jail time, it won’t be more than three or four years, and that it is all worth the money they made in less than two years. The wealth of the alleged leader of this network is now estimated to be around $2 million. “Even the women in the village cherished the smuggling business, as they saved the money to prepare a richer dowry for their girls. And let’s be frank. Although money is sweet, these extremists find comfort among the Sunni population here. So when people cooperate with smugglers, they don’t consider them to be a threat to their own security or to the nation.”

BANGALORE: Foreign agents are out to lure poor Muslims to join the insurgents in Iraq, the Intelligence Bureau has alerted Karnataka. The agents, many disguised as students, are looking for men to take on the government in Iraq to establish an Islamic Caliphate. Fighting under the banner of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the insurgent group is offering huge salaries, according to a source. Though the ISIS does not enjoy a presence in Karnataka, sleuths fear an increasing number of youths across India are sympathising with the organisation. Home Minister K J George told Express policemen were being sensitised to the problem after reports emerged of the ISIS gaining ground in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. “We are keeping an eye on all suspects,” he said. Some agents in Bangalore, masquerading as students, are tempting vulnerable Muslims to join the war. “ The recruits don’t have to fight in the war zone. ISIS needs back-end support. So, these agents trap poor families with annual pay packages of about Rs 25-30 lakh,” a source said. According to the Indian Council of Cultural Relations, Bangalore is home to 5,000 foreign students from countries across the globe, including Muslim-majority ones such as Bangladesh and North African ones like Algeria, Sudan and Nigeria. Syed Tanveer Ahamed, an executive member of a Muslim organisation called Mahaz, told Express no community leader would allow foreigners to lure their youth. However, he said, community elders had no means of keeping tabs on foreign citizens. “It is the duty of the police to watch out for extremist elements,” he said. In the south, the relatively new terror group has penetrated Kerala and Tamil Nadu. In fact, the first Indian known to have joined ISIS in Syria is Haza Fakruddin from Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. ISIS chief recruiter Gul Mohammad Mariker, who is said to have indoctrinated 100 people, is also from that state. Also Read: Shias in Karnataka Waiting for Call to Volunteer in Iraq

Love and Marriage WHAT IS THE PROPER AGE TO GET MARRIED? "Eighty-four. Because at that age, you don't have to work anymore, and you can spend all your time loving each other." (Judy, 8) "Eighty-four. Because at that age, you don't have to work anymore, and you can spend all your time loving each other." (Judy, 8) "Once I'm done with kindergarten, I'm going to find me a wife." (Tommy, 5) WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? "On the first date, they just tell each other lies,and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." (Mike, 10) "On the first date, they just tell each other lies,and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date." (Mike, 10) WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? "You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, 'cause she'll want to have videos of the wedding." (Jim, 10) "You should never kiss a girl unless you have enough bucks to buy her a big ring and her own VCR, 'cause she'll want to have videos of the wedding." (Jim, 10) "Never kiss in front of other people. It's a big embarrassing thing if anybody sees you. But if nobody sees you, I might be willing to try it with a handsome boy, but just for a few hours." (Kally, 9) THE GREAT DEBATE: IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? It's better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need somebody to clean up after them." (Lynette, 9) It's better for girls to be single, but not for boys. Boys need somebody to clean up after them." (Lynette, 9) "It gives me a headache to think about that stuff. I'm just a kid. I don't need that kind of trouble." (Kenny, 7) CONCERNING WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PEOPLE: "No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular." Jan, 9) "No one is sure why it happens, but I heard it has something to do with how you smell. That's why perfume and deodorant are so popular." Jan, 9) "I think you're supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn't supposed to be so painful." (Harlen, 8) ON WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE: "Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." (Roger, 9) "Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life." (Roger, 9) "If falling in love is anything like learning to spell, I don't want to do it. It takes to long to learn." (Leo, 7) ON THE ROLE OF GOOD LOOKS IN LOVE AND ROMANCE: "If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." (Jeanne, 8) "If you want to be loved by somebody who isn't already in your family, it doesn't hurt to be beautiful." (Jeanne, 8) "It isn't always just how you look. Look at me. I'm handsome like anything and I haven't got anybody to marry me yet." (Gary, 7) "Beauty is skin deep. But how rich you are can last a long time." (Christine, 9) CONCERNING WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS: "They want to make sure their rings don't fall off, because they paid good money for them." (David, 8) "They want to make sure their rings don't fall off, because they paid good money for them." (David, 8) CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE: "I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when 'The Simpsons' are on TV." (Anita, 6) "I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when 'The Simpsons' are on TV." (Anita, 6) "Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I've been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me." (Bobby, 8) "I'm not rushing into being in love. I'm finding fourth grade hard enough." (Regina, 10) PERSONAL QUALITIES NECESSARY TO BE A GOOD LOVER: "One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." (Ava, 8) "One of you should know how to write a check. Because, even if you have tons of love, there is still going to be a lot of bills." (Ava, 8) SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU: "Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." (Del, 6) "Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores." (Del, 6) "Don't do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain't the same thing as love." (Alonzo, 9) "One way is to take the girl out to eat. Make sure it's something she likes to eat. French fries usually works for me." (Bart, 9) HOW CAN YOU TELL IF TWO ADULTS EATING DINNER AT A RESTAURANT ARE IN LOVE ? "Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love." (John, 9) "Just see if the man picks up the check. That's how you can tell if he's in love." (John, 9) "Lovers will just be staring at each other and their food will get cold. Other people care more about the food." (Brad, 8) "It's love if they order one of those desserts that are on fire. They like to order those because it's just like their hearts are on fire." (Christine, 9) WHAT MOST PEOPLE ARE THINKING WHEN THEY SAY, "I LOVE YOU": "The person is thinking: Yeah, I really do love him, but I hope he showers at least once a day." (Michelle, 9) "The person is thinking: Yeah, I really do love him, but I hope he showers at least once a day." (Michelle, 9) HOW A PERSON LEARNS TO KISS: "You learn it right on the spot, when the 'gooshy' feelings get the best of you." (Doug, 7) "You learn it right on the spot, when the 'gooshy' feelings get the best of you." (Doug, 7) "It might help if you watched soap operas all day." (Carin, 9) WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? "It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you. That's why I stopped doing it." (Jean, 10) "It's never okay to kiss a boy. They always slobber all over you. That's why I stopped doing it." (Jean, 10) HOW TO MAKE LOVE ENDURE: "Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." (Tom, 7) "Spend most of your time loving instead of going to work." (Tom, 7) Don't forget your wife's name...that will mess up the love." (Roger,8) "Be a good kisser. It might make your wife forget that you never take the trash out." (Randy,8) Anonymous If you enjoyed this, you might like: Another Joke A list of Jokes

"Buckyball" redirects here. For other uses, see Buckyball (disambiguation) Buckminsterfullerene is a type of fullerene with the formula C 60 . It has a cage-like fused-ring structure (truncated icosahedron) that resembles a soccer ball (football), made of twenty hexagons and twelve pentagons, with a carbon atom at each vertex of each polygon and a bond along each polygon edge. Preparation and occurrence [ edit ] It was first generated in 1984 by Eric Rohlfing, Donald Cox and Andrew Kaldor[2][3] using a laser to vaporize carbon in a supersonic helium beam. In 1985 their work was repeated by Harold Kroto, James R. Heath, Sean O'Brien, Robert Curl, and Richard Smalley at Rice University, who recognized the structure of C 60 as buckminsterfullerine.[4] Kroto, Curl and Smalley were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their roles in the discovery of buckminsterfullerene and the related class of molecules, the fullerenes. Buckminsterfullerene is the most common naturally occurring fullerene. It can be found in small quantities in soot.[5][6] The molecule has been detected in deep space.[7] Etymology [ edit ] The discoverers of the allotrope named the newfound molecule after Buckminster Fuller, who designed many geodesic dome structures that look similar to C 60 . This is slightly misleading, however, as Fuller's geodesic domes are constructed from triangles and not hexagons or pentagons. A common, shortened name for buckminsterfullerene is "buckyballs".[8] History [ edit ] 60 . Many soccer balls have the same arrangement of polygons as buckminsterfullerene, C Theoretical predictions of buckyball molecules appeared in the late 1960s and early 1970s,[9][10][11] but these reports went largely unnoticed. In the early 1970s, the chemistry of unsaturated carbon configurations was studied by a group at the University of Sussex, led by Harry Kroto and David Walton. In the 1980s, Smalley and Curl at Rice University developed experimental technique to generate these substances. They used laser vaporization of a suitable target to produce clusters of atoms. Kroto realized that by using a graphite target,[12] a range of carbon clusters could be studied. Concurrent but unconnected to the Kroto-Smalley work, astrophysicists were working with spectroscopists to study infrared emissions from giant red carbon stars.[13][14][15] Smalley and team were able to use a laser vaporization technique to create carbon clusters which could potentially emit infrared at the same wavelength as had been emitted by the red carbon star.[13][16] Hence, the inspiration came to Smalley and team to use the laser technique on graphite to generate fullerenes. C 60 was discovered in 1985 by Robert Curl, Harold Kroto, and Richard Smalley. Using laser evaporation of graphite they found C n clusters (where n>20 and even) of which the most common were C 60 and C 70 . A solid rotating graphite disk was used as the surface from which carbon was vaporized using a laser beam creating hot plasma that was then passed through a stream of high-density helium gas.[17] The carbon species were subsequently cooled and ionized resulting in the formation of clusters. Clusters ranged in molecular masses, but Kroto and Smalley found predominance in a C 60 cluster that could be enhanced further by allowing the plasma react longer. They also discovered that the C 60 molecule formed a cage-like structure, a regular truncated icosahedron.[13][17] For this discovery Curl, Kroto, and Smalley were awarded the 1996 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.[9] The experimental evidence, a strong peak at 720 atomic mass units, indicated that a carbon molecule with 60 carbon atoms was forming, but provided no structural information. The research group concluded after reactivity experiments, that the most likely structure was a spheroidal molecule. The idea was quickly rationalized as the basis of an icosahedral symmetry closed cage structure. Kroto mentioned geodesic dome structures of the noted futurist and inventor Buckminster Fuller as influences in the naming of this particular substance as buckminsterfullerene.[9] In 1989 physicists Wolfgang Krätschmer, Konstantinos Fostiropoulos, and Donald R. Huffman observed unusual optical absorptions in thin films of carbon dust (soot). The soot had been generated by an arc-process between two graphite electrodes in a helium atmosphere where the electrode material evaporates and condenses forming soot in the quenching atmosphere. Among other features, the IR spectra of the soot showed four discrete bands in close agreement to those proposed for C 60 .[18][19] Another paper on the characterization and verification of the molecular structure followed on in the same year (1990) from their thin film experiments, and detailed also the extraction of an evaporable as well as benzene soluble material from the arc-generated soot. This extract had TEM and X-ray crystal analysis consistent with arrays of spherical C 60 molecules, approximately 1.0 nm in van der Waals diameter[20] as well as the expected molecular mass of 720 u for C 60 (and 840 u for C 70 ) in their mass spectra.[21] The method was simple and efficient to prepare the material in gram amounts per day (1990) which has boosted the fullerene research and is even today applied for the commercial production of fullerenes. The discovery of practical routes to C 60 led to the exploration of a new field of chemistry involving the study of fullerenes. Synthesis [ edit ] 60 -fullerene derivative. Slow diffusion into the anode (right side) yields the characteristic purple color of pure C 60 . High-vacuum electrolysis of a C-fullerene derivative. Slow diffusion into the anode (right side) yields the characteristic purple color of pure C Soot is produced by laser ablation of graphite or pyrolysis of aromatic hydrocarbons. Fullerenes are extracted from the soot with organic solvents using a Soxhlet extractor.[22] This step yields a solution containing up to 75% of C 60 , as well as other fullerenes. These fractions are separated using chromatography.[23] Generally, the fullerenes are dissolved in a hydrocarbon or halogenated hydrocarbon and separated using alumina columns.[24] Structure [ edit ] Buckminsterfullerene is a truncated icosahedron with 60 vertices and 32 faces (20 hexagons and 12 pentagons where no pentagons share a vertex) with a carbon atom at the vertices of each polygon and a bond along each polygon edge. The van der Waals diameter of a C 60 molecule is about 1.01 nanometers (nm). The nucleus to nucleus diameter of a C 60 molecule is about 0.71 nm. The C 60 molecule has two bond lengths. The 6:6 ring bonds (between two hexagons) can be considered "double bonds" and are shorter than the 6:5 bonds (between a hexagon and a pentagon). Its average bond length is 0.14 nm. Each carbon atom in the structure is bonded covalently with 3 others.[25] 60 under "ideal" spherical (left) and "real" icosahedral symmetry (right). Electronic structure of Cunder "ideal" spherical (left) and "real" icosahedral symmetry (right). The model is built of magnetic balls (5mm diam.); 12 pentagons compose a spherical shell with 60 nodes, demonstrating the Carbon atoms. The model suggests 4 nearest-neighbors to each atom, this is possible because the hexagons are squeezed. Properties [ edit ] Buckminsterfullerene is the largest object observed to exhibit wave–particle duality; theoretically every object exhibits this behavior.[26] The compound is stable,[27] withstanding high temperatures and high pressures. The exposed surface of the structure can selectively react with other species while maintaining the spherical geometry.[28] Beam experiments conducted between 1985 and 1990 provided more evidence for the stability of C 60 while supporting the closed-cage structural theory and predicting some of the bulk properties such a molecule would have. Around this time, intense theoretical group theory activity also predicted that C 60 should have only four IR-active vibrational bands, on account of its icosahedral symmetry.[20] C 60 undergoes six reversible, one-electron reductions to C6− 60 , but oxidation is irreversible. The first reduction needs ≈1.0 V (Fc/Fc+ ), showing that C 60 is a moderately effective electron acceptor. C 60 tends to avoid having double bonds in the pentagonal rings, which makes electron delocalization poor, and results in C 60 not being "superaromatic". C 60 behaves very much like an electron deficient alkene and readily reacts with electron rich species.[20] A carbon atom in the C 60 molecule can be substituted by a nitrogen or boron atom yielding a C 59 N or C 59 B respectively.[29] Orthogonal projections Centered by Vertex Edge 5–6 Edge 6–6 Face Hexagon Face Pentagon Image Projective symmetry [2] [2] [2] [6] [10] Solution [ edit ] 60 solution solution C 60 solution, showing reduced absorption for the blue (~450 nm) and red (~700 nm) light that results in the purple color. Optical absorption spectrum ofsolution, showing reduced absorption for the blue (~450 nm) and red (~700 nm) light that results in the purple color. Fullerenes are sparingly soluble in aromatic solvents such as toluene and carbon disulfide, but insoluble in water. Solutions of pure C 60 have a deep purple color which leaves a brown residue upon evaporation. The reason for this color change is the relatively narrow energy width of the band of molecular levels responsible for green light absorption by individual C 60 molecules. Thus individual molecules transmit some blue and red light resulting in a purple color. Upon drying, intermolecular interaction results in the overlap and broadening of the energy bands, thereby eliminating the blue light transmittance and causing the purple to brown color change.[33] C 60 crystallises with some solvents in the lattice ("solvates"). For example, crystallization of C 60 in benzene solution yields triclinic crystals with the formula C 60 ·4C 6 H 6 . Like other solvates, this one readily releases benzene to give the usual fcc C 60 . Millimeter-sized crystals of C 60 and C 70 can be grown from solution both for solvates and for pure fullerenes.[34][35] Solid [ edit ] 60 solid solid C 60 crystal structure crystal structure In solid buckminsterfullerene, the C 60 molecules adopt the fcc (face-centered cubic) motif. They start rotating at about −20 °C. This change is associated with a first-order phase transition to a fcc structure and a small, yet abrupt increase in the lattice constant from 1.411 to 1.4154 nm.[36] C 60 solid is as soft as graphite, but when compressed to less than 70% of its volume it transforms into a superhard form of diamond (see aggregated diamond nanorod). C 60 films and solution have strong non-linear optical properties; in particular, their optical absorption increases with light intensity (saturable absorption). C 60 forms a brownish solid with an optical absorption threshold at ≈1.6 eV.[37] It is an n-type semiconductor with a low activation energy of 0.1–0.3 eV; this conductivity is attributed to intrinsic or oxygen-related defects.[38] Fcc C 60 contains voids at its octahedral and tetrahedral sites which are sufficiently large (0.6 and 0.2 nm respectively) to accommodate impurity atoms. When alkali metals are doped into these voids, C 60 converts from a semiconductor into a conductor or even superconductor.[36][39] Chemical reactions and properties [ edit ] Hydrogenation [ edit ] C 60 exhibits a small degree of aromatic character, but it still reflects localized double and single C–C bond characters. Therefore, C 60 can undergo addition with hydrogen to give polyhydrofullerenes. C 60 also undergoes Birch reduction. For example, C 60 reacts with lithium in liquid ammonia, followed by tert-butanol to give a mixture of polyhydrofullerenes such as C 60 H 18 , C 60 H 32 , C 60 H 36 , with C 60 H 32 being the dominating product. This mixture of polyhydrofullerenes can be re-oxidized by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone to give C 60 again. Selective hydrogenation method exists. Reaction of C 60 with 9,9′,10,10′-dihydroanthracene under the same conditions, depending on the time of reaction, gives C 60 H 32 and C 60 H 18 respectively and selectively.[40] C 60 can be hydrogenated,[41] suggesting that a modified buckminsterfullerene called organometallic buckyballs (OBBs) could become a vehicle for "high density, room temperature, ambient pressure storage of hydrogen". These OBBs are created by binding atoms of a transition metal (TM) to C 60 or C 48 B 12 and then binding many hydrogen atoms to this TM atom, dispersing them evenly throughout the inside of the organometallic buckyball. The study found that the theoretical amount of H 2 that can be retrieved from the OBB at ambient pressure approaches 9 wt %, a mass fraction that has been designated as optimal for hydrogen fuel by the U.S. Department of Energy. Halogenation [ edit ] Addition of fluorine, chlorine, and bromine occurs for C 60 . Fluorine atoms are small enough for a 1,2-addition, while Cl 2 and Br 2 add to remote C atoms due to steric factors. For example, in C 60 Br 8 and C 60 Br 24 , the Br atoms are in 1,3- or 1,4-positions with respect to each other. Under various conditions a vast number of halogenated derivatives of C 60 can be produced, some with extraordinary selectivity on one or two isomers over the other possible ones. Addition of fluorine and chlorine usually results in a flattening of the C 60 framework into a drum-shaped molecule.[40] Addition of oxygen atoms [ edit ] Solutions of C 60 can be oxygenated to the epoxide C 60 O. Ozonation of C 60 in 1,2-xylene at 257K gives an intermediate ozonide C 60 O 3 , which can be decomposed into 2 forms of C 60 O. Decomposition of C 60 O 3 at 296 K gives the epoxide, but photolysis gives a product in which the O atom bridges a 5,6-edige.[40] Cycloadditions [ edit ] The Diels–Alder reaction is commonly employed to functionalize C 60 . Reaction of C 60 with appropriate substituted diene gives the corresponding adduct. The Diels–Alder reaction between C 60 and 3,6-diaryl-1,2,4,5-tetrazines affords C 62 . The C 62 has the structure in which a four-membered ring is surrounded by four six-membered rings. 62 derivative [C 62 (C 6 H 4 -4-Me) 2 ] synthesized from C 60 and 3,6-bis(4-methylphenyl)-3,6-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine A Cderivative [C(C-4-Me)] synthesized from Cand 3,6-bis(4-methylphenyl)-3,6-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine The C 60 molecules can also be coupled through a [2+2] cycloaddition, giving the dumbbell-shaped compound C 120 . The coupling is achieved by high-speed vibrating milling of C 60 with a catalytic amount of KCN. The reaction is reversible as C 120 dissociates back to two C 60 molecules when heated at 450 K (177 °C; 350 °F). Under high pressure and temperature, repeated [2+2] cycloaddition between C 60 results in a polymerized fullerene chains and networks. These polymers remain stable at ambient pressure and temperature once formed, and have remarkably interesting electronic and magnetic properties, such as being ferromagnetic above room temperature.[40] Free radical reactions [ edit ] Reactions of C 60 with free radicals readily occur. When C 60 is mixed with a disulfide RSSR, the radical C 60 SR• forms spontaneously upon irradiation of the mixture. Stability of the radical species C 60 Y• depends largely on steric factors of Y. When tert-butyl halide is photolyzed and allowed to react with C 60 , a reversible inter-cage C–C bond is formed:[40] Cyclopropanation (Bingel reaction) [ edit ] Cyclopropanation (the Bingel reaction) is another common method for functionalizing C 60 . Cyclopropanation of C 60 mostly occurs at the junction of 2 hexagons due to steric factors. The first cyclopropanation was carried out by treating the β-bromomalonate with C 60 in the presence of a base. Cyclopropanation also occur readily with diazomethanes. For example, diphenyldiazomethane reacts readily with C 60 to give the compound C 61 Ph 2 .[40] Phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester derivative prepared through cyclopropanation has been studied for use in organic solar cells. Redox reactions – C 60 anions and cations [ edit ] C 60 anions [ edit ] The LUMO in C 60 is triply degenerate, with the HOMO–LUMO separation relatively small. This small gap suggests that reduction of C 60 should occur at mild potentials leading to fulleride anions, [C 60 ]n− (n = 1–6). The midpoint potentials of 1-electron reduction of buckminsterfullerene and its anions is given in the table below: Reduction potential of C 60 at 213 K Half-reaction E° (V) C 60 + e− ⇌ C − 60 −0.169 C − 60 + e− ⇌ C 2− 60 −0.599 C 2− 60 + e− ⇌ C 3− 60 −1.129 C 3− 60 + e− ⇌ C 4− 60 −1.579 C 4− 60 + e− ⇌ C 5− 60 −2.069 C 5− 60 + e− ⇌ C 6− 60 −2.479 C 60 forms a variety of charge-transfer complexes, for example with tetrakis(dimethylamino)ethylene: C 60 + C 2 (NMe 2 ) 4 → [C 2 (NMe 2 ) 4 ]+[C 60 ]− This salt exhibits ferromagnetism at 16 K. C 60 cations [ edit ] C 60 oxidizes with difficulty. Three reversible oxidation processes have been observed by using cyclic voltammetry with ultra-dry methylene chloride and a supporting electrolyte with extremely high oxidation resistance and low nucleophilicity, such as [nBu 4 N] [AsF 6 ].[40] Reduction potentials of C 60 oxidation at low temperatures Half-reaction E° (V) C 60 ⇌ C + 60 +1.27 C + 60 ⇌ C 2+ 60 +1.71 C 2+ 60 ⇌ C 3+ 60 +2.14 Which the [C 60 ]2+ ion is very unstable, and the third process can be studied only at low temperatures. The redox potentials of C 60 can be modified supramolecularly. A dibenzo-18-crown-6 derivative of C 60 has been made, featuring a voltage sensor device, with the reversible binding of K+ ion causing an anodic shift of 90mV of the first C 60 reduction. Metal complexes [ edit ] C 60 forms complexes akin to the more common alkenes. Complexes have been reported molybdenum, tungsten, platinum, palladium, iridium, and titanium. The pentacarbonyl species are produced by photochemical reactions. M(CO) 6 + C 60 → M(η2-C 60 )(CO) 5 + CO (M = Mo, W) In the case of platinum complex, the labile ethylene ligand is the leaving group in a thermal reaction: Pt(η2-C 2 H 4 )(PPh 3 ) 2 + C 60 → Pt(η2-C 60 )(PPh 3 ) 2 + C 2 H 4 Titanocene complexes have also been reported: (η5-Cp) 2 Ti(η2-(CH 3 ) 3 SiC≡CSi(CH 3 ) 3 ) + C 60 → (η5-Cp) 2 Ti(η2-C 60 ) + (CH 3 ) 3 SiC≡CSi(CH 3 ) 3 Coordinatively unsaturated precursors, such as Vaska's complex, for adducts with C 60 : trans-Ir(CO)Cl(PPh 3 ) 2 + C 60 → Ir(CO)Cl(η2-C 60 )(PPh 3 ) 2 One such iridium complex, [Ir(η2-C 60 )(CO)Cl(Ph 2 CH 2 C 6 H 4 OCH 2 Ph) 2 ] has been prepared where the metal center projects two electron-rich 'arms' that embrace the C 60 guest.[42] Endohedral fullerenes [ edit ] Metal atoms or certain small molecules such as H 2 and noble gas can be encapsulated inside the C 60 cage. These endohedral fullerenes are usually synthesized by doping in the metal atoms in an arc reactor or by laser evaporation. These methods gives low yields of endohedral fullerenes, and a better method involves the opening of the cage, packing in the atoms or molecules, and closing the opening using certain organic reactions. This method, however, is still immature and only a few species have been synthesized this way.[43] Endohedral fullerenes show distinct and intriguing chemical properties that can be completely different from the encapsulated atom or molecule, as well as the fullerene itself. The encapsulated atoms have been shown to perform circular motions inside the C 60 cage, and its motion has been followed by using NMR spectroscopy.[42] Applications [ edit ] In the medical field, elements such as helium (that can be detected in minute quantities) can be used as chemical tracers in impregnated buckyballs. Water-soluble derivatives of C 60 were discovered to exert an inhibition on the three isoforms of nitric oxide synthase, with slightly different potencies.[44] The optical absorption properties of C 60 match solar spectrum in a way that suggests that C 60 -based films could be useful for photovoltaic applications. Because of its high electronic affinity [45] it is one of the most common electron acceptors used in donor/acceptor based solar cells. Conversion efficiencies up to 5.7% have been reported in C 60 –polymer cells.[46] Safety [ edit ] Solutions of C 60 dissolved in olive oil are nontoxic to rodents.[47] References [ edit ] Bibliography [ edit ]

15 January 2017 Docker for Automating Honeypots or Malware Sandboxes Docker became very popular in the last few years for being such a flexible tool to isolate processes in so called containers. If you haven't played with it yet, I highly recommend you to watch my free course on Docker Security. But if you have, I'd like to give you a insight that provide significant value for automating honeypots or malware sandboxes. I'm talking about 'docker diff' and how to dynamically spot changes on it. $ docker diff It's possible to keep track of every file changed in a container since its creation from an image, thus it's possible to know what files the attacker/malware have created, modified or deleted. Here's an example: let's create a container from an Ubuntu image and leave it running using sleep $ docker run --name my_sandbox --detach ubuntu sleep 2000 fc04fa5bf6a4f16f3fa3f8379bd1935c66cde00c8b16330e0a5683517f24ad48 Let's check if it's running: $ docker ps CONTAINER ID IMAGE COMMAND NAMES fc04fa5bf6a4 ubuntu "sleep 2000" my_sandbox Ok, it's running. Let's try docker diff to see if any files were changed after we used the 'sleep' command. $ docker diff my_sandbox # No output It turns out that 'sleep' doesn't create/modify/delete any file. Let's create one file in this container then: $ docker exec my_sandbox touch /tmp/test # No output Ok, file created. Let's see if docker diff shows something now: $ docker diff my_sandbox C /tmp A /tmp/test Here it is, a new directory (/tmp) and a new file (/tmp/test). It's empty, but let's copy it anyways to our host machine using docker cp $ docker cp my_sandbox:tmp/test ./test # No output File copied! But the problem is, in case we want to automate this process to, for example, send every new file to VirusTotal, how could we get notified when a file is created? We have a few options: Perform a pooling in docker diff <container_name> Share a volume between docker host and container and use tools like inotify-tools or pyinotify. Using pyinotify Let's use pyinotify to see an example. After installing it, open 2 tabs in your terminal. In the first, start the container and in the second start pyinotify script to monitor the files located in the shared volume. $ # First Tab $ docker run --name my_sandbox --detach -v " $( pwd ) /deleteme:/app" ubuntu sleep 2000 e4e92df3d3198b3747ee48becac2742f4666a61706f0b50a3c97d344b2a64b22 Container started sharing the volume deleteme relative to the current directory $(pwd) $ # Second Tab $ vim monitor.py Time to add the content of our monitor.py file #!/usr/bin/python import pyinotify , subprocess # Directory to watch # We'll use the shared volume with docker container directory_to_watch = '/home/anderson/deleteme/' def onChange ( ev ): # Print changed file on the screen # But could be your code to upload the file to VirusTotal # Or anything you want cmd = [ '/bin/echo' , 'File' , ev . pathname , 'changed' ] subprocess . Popen ( cmd ) . communicate () wm = pyinotify . WatchManager () wm . add_watch ( directory_to_watch , pyinotify . IN_CLOSE_WRITE , onChange ) notifier = pyinotify . Notifier ( wm ) notifier . loop () Then we run it to monitor our files: $ # Second Tab $ python monitor.py Ok, time to back to Tab #1 and create some files from within the container: $ # First Tab $ docker exec -it my_sandbox touch /app/oi Great, file created. Let's check the output of our python script: $ # Second Tab $ python monitor.py File /home/anderson/deleteme/oi changed As you can see, the file creation was detected. It also works with modifications for existing files. This is just the beginning of course. We'd need to intercept network requests configuring a proxy in Docker settings, get the logs from the container and perform some analysis on it and any more ideas to analyze container activity without placing agents or anything inside of it. This way the difference between a non-honeypot and a honeypot/malware sandbox will become less and less apparent. Edit: you may want to read the next post: Preventing Docker Escaping Attacks That's all for today. Thank you!

On February 27, WasteLAnd presents a concert titled Terrain at ArtShare. It’s a heavy-duty program of music by Brian Ferneyhough, Elizabeth Lutyens, and Brian Griffeath-Loeb, featuring Mark Menzies as violin soloist on Ferneyhough’s Terrain (see concert title) and soprano Stephanie Aston singing Etudes Transcendantales. I was lucky to be invited to a rehearsal, and the ensemble (which also includes Rachel Beetz, Ashley Walters, Richard Valitutto, and Paul Sherman, conducted by Nick Deyoe), let me film a few snippets of them preparing. Nick had an extra copy of the score for me. If you’ve never seen Ferneyhough’s music, well, here’s a photo I took: The whole score – all of his scores, really – is similarly difficult. I asked Stephanie how she approaches music like this (in this case, the measure above) and her answer was enlightening: Here’s a copy of the same section, this time with Stephanie’s markings: And now the part you’ve all been waiting for, this excerpt with the ensemble. The measure in question hits at 0:06: Want to hear to the rest? Come to the concert at ArtShare on February 27. Details are available at wastelandmusic.org/concert-archive/february-27-2015. Share this: Facebook Twitter Tumblr Email Print Like this: Like Loading...

The incoming president and the current federal office of ethics openly clashed Saturday, in a battle that sets up a heated debate over how much the Senate should know about cabinet nominees ahead of their hearings. The independent Office of Government Ethics expressed “great concern” that several of President-elect Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees have not yet completed the required ethics review process or even filed any financial information but face confirmation hearings in the next week. A Senate Democratic aide told NewsHour that four upcoming nominees have not cleared the ethics process yet: Ben Carson, Housing and Urban Development; Betsy DeVos, Education; John Kelly, Homeland Security; and Wilbur Ross, Commerce. A Republican aide on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee confirmed the DeVos has not yet completed the OGE ethics process. Her hearing is one of the first, scheduled for Wednesday at 10 a.m. The NewsHour reached out to all committees involved and received no other direct responses on nominees’ ethics status. The Trump transition team also declined to address individual nominees, but pushed back strongly against the federal ethics office, accusing it of playing politics. “President-elect Trump is putting together the most qualified administration in history and the transition process is currently running smoothly,” wrote Trump transition spokeswoman Jessica Ditto in an email. “In the midst of a historic election where Americans voted to drain the swamp, it is disappointing some have chosen to politicize the process in order to distract from important issues facing our country. This is a disservice to the country and is exactly why voters chose Donald J. Trump as their next president.” The concerns came in a Friday letter from Walter Shaub, the director of the Office of Government Ethics, who was responding to questions from top Democrats in the Senate. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer released the letter Saturday. “The announced hearing schedule for several nominees who have not completed the ethics review process is of great concern to me,” Shaub wrote. “I am not aware of any occasion in the four decades since OGE was established when the Senate held a confirmation hearing before the nominee had completed the ethics review process.” Senate confirmation hearings are set to begin Tuesday, with 10 nominees scheduled to go before various Senate panels next week. OGE director Shaub argued that federal law requires that ethics reports be completed before any hearings take place. But Senate Republicans disagree. The spokesperson for the Republican majority on the HELP committee, Margaret Atkinson, insisted that clearance of the ethics process is not a requirement before hearings start. “Our committee precedent is that we require the OGE paperwork to be submitted before the committee holds a vote on the nominee, not before the committee holds a hearing on the nominee,” she told the NewsHour. The committee sent the NewsHour examples from the past, including George W. Bush education nominee Rod Paige whose hearing was on Jan. 10, 2001, but whose ethics paperwork was not complete until Jan. 18 of that year. As the Senate Republicans and the ethics office debate what is required at nominee hearings, the ethics office is also raising questions about the Trump transition process. The problems, the ethics chief wrote, have been the hearing schedule combined with a lack of timely information from nominees and the Trump team. “It has left some of the nominees with potentially unknown or unresolved ethics issues shortly before their scheduled hearings.” He did not indicate which nominees have completed which portions of the process. The Office of Government Ethics, or OGE, is an independent agency whose current director was appointed by President Barack Obama. It was created after the Watergate scandal to oversee ethics for the executive branch. Typically during the confirmation process, the ethics office writes reports outlining any possible ethics issues and steps the nominee agrees to take to resolve them. But the ethics director implied his office has not had time to complete reviews yet because the Trump transition team did not “pre-clear” any potential nominees before announcing them publicly. “In the past, the ethics work was fully completed prior to the announcement of nominees in the overwhelming majority of cases … and, therefore, there was no opportunity for undue influence on the independent ethics review process,” Shaub wrote. The letter was also sent to Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell. His office told the PBS NewsHour that they have no comment at this time. The Trump transition team did not respond to questions and a request for comment. The letter lands in a quickly-boiling political cauldron surrounding the Trump cabinet confirmation process. Senate Democrats have indicated they have sharp questions about, and may work to delay confirmation on, at least eight nominees. That has incensed Republicans, who point to 2009 when President Obama saw seven cabinet nominees confirmed on Inauguration Day and two more the next. Republicans charge that Democrats are holding Trump’s choices to a different standard than Obama’s. They point to Democrats’ request for tax returns for several positions for which that step has not been required in the past. Republicans have rejected those requests and are not adding any new requirements for nominees. But the disclosure from the Office of Government Ethics comes from an outside agency and indicates that at least some nominees have not yet met a significant and important requirement. Without ethics reports, senators would go into confirmation hearings without a usual source of potential questions. Shaub called that a “cause for alarm” and said that he will not rush the ethics review process. “For as long as I remain director, OGE’s staff and agency ethics officials will not succumb to pressure to cut corners and ignore conflicts of interest,” he wrote.

This article is about a bicycle with no freewheel mechanism. For a bicycle with only one gear, see single-speed bicycle A fixed-gear bicycle An 18-tooth sprocket that attaches to the rear hub of fixed-gear bike Track sprockets are typically attached and removed from the hub by screwing them with a chain whip . This tool incorporates a lockring spanner for securing a reverse threaded lockring against the sprocket. A fixed-gear bicycle (or fixed-wheel bicycle,[citation needed] commonly known in some places as a fixie[1]) is a bicycle that has a drivetrain with no freewheel mechanism. The freewheel was developed early in the history of bicycle design but the fixed-gear bicycle remained the standard track racing design. More recently the "fixie" has become a popular alternative among mainly urban cyclists, offering the advantage of simplicity compared with the standard multi-geared bicycle. Most bicycle hubs incorporate a freewheel to allow the pedals to remain stationary while the bicycle is in motion, so that the rider can coast, i.e., ride without pedalling using forward momentum. A fixed-gear drivetrain has the drive sprocket (or cog) threaded or bolted directly to the hub of the back wheel, so that the pedals are directly coupled to the wheel. During acceleration, the pedal crank drives the wheel, but in other situations, the rear wheel can drive the pedal cranks.[2] This direct coupling allows a cyclist to apply a braking force with the legs and bodyweight, by resisting the rotation of the cranks. It also makes it possible to cycle backwards. As a general rule, fixed-gear bicycles are single-speed. A derailleur for gear selection would introduce chain slack, which would interfere with braking. Gear selection can, however, be accomplished with the use of an internally geared hub. For example, a Sturmey-Archer fixed-gear 3-speed hub is a fixed-gear multi-speed arrangement. Most fixed-gear bicycles only have a front brake, and some have no brakes at all.[3][4] Uses [ edit ] A track bicycle or track bike is a form of fixed-gear bicycle optimized for racing at a velodrome or at an outdoor track. Some road racing and club cyclists use a fixed-gear bicycle for training during the winter months, generally using a relatively low gear ratio, believed to help develop a good pedalling style.[5] In the UK until the 1950s it was common for riders to use fixed-gear bicycles for time trials. The 1959 British 25 mile time trial championship was won by Alf Engers with a competition record of 55 minutes 11 seconds, riding an 84 inch fixed-gear bicycle.[6][7][8][9] The fixed-gear was also commonly used, and continues to be used in the end of season hill climb races in the autumn.[10][11] A typical club men's fixed-gear machine would have been a "road/path" or "road/track" cycle. In the era when most riders only had one cycle, the same bike when stripped down and fitted with racing wheels was used for road time trials and track racing, and when fitted with mudguards (fenders) and a bag, it was used for club runs, touring and winter training.[12][13][14][15] By the 1960s, multi-gear derailleurs had become the norm and riding fixed-gear bicycles on the road declined over the next few decades.[16] Recent[needs update] years have seen renewed interest and increased popularity of fixed-gear cycling. In urban North America and similar areas in other Western cities, fixed-gear bicycles have achieved significant popularity, with the rise of discernible regional aesthetic preferences for finish and design details.[17] Dedicated fixed-gear road bicycles are being produced in greater numbers by established bicycle manufacturers. They are generally low in price[18] and characterized by relaxed road geometry, as opposed to the steep geometry of track bicycles.[19] Fixed-gear bicycles are also used in cycle ball, bike polo and artistic cycling. A fixed-gear bicycle is particularly well suited for track stands, a maneuver in which the bicycle can be held stationary, balanced upright with the rider's feet on the pedals.[20] Advantages and disadvantages [ edit ] One of the perceived main attractions of a fixed gear bicycle is low weight. Without the added parts required for a fully geared drive train—derailleurs, shifters, cables, cable carriers, multiple chain rings, freewheel hub, brazed-on mounting lugs—a fixed gear bicycle weighs less than its geared equivalent. The chain itself is subject to less sideways force and will not wear out as fast as on a derailleur system.[21] Also, a fixed gear drivetrain is more mechanically efficient than any other bicycle drivetrain, with the most direct power transfer from rider to the wheels. Thus, a fixed gear requires less energy in any given gear to move than a geared bike in the same gear.[3] In slippery conditions some riders prefer to ride fixed because they believe the transmission provides increased feedback on back tire grip. However, there is also an increased risk of loss of control in such conditions. This is especially so when taking into account the large number of riders who ride brakeless. These riders must brake entirely through the drivetrain. Ideally this is done by resisting the forward motion of the pedals, shedding speed while the bike is still moving. Alternatively, though far less efficiently, one can brake by stopping the motion of the pedals in mid-rotation, causing the rear wheel to lock in place, allowing the bicycle to skid and slow down from kinetic friction (see below).[22] Descending any significant gradient is more difficult as the rider must spin the cranks at high speed (sometimes at 170 rpm or more), or use the brakes to slow down. Some consider that the enforced fast spin when descending increases suppleness or flexibility, which is said to improve pedalling performance on any type of bicycle; however the performance boost is negligible compared to the benefits of riding a free wheel.[23] Riding fixed is considered by some to encourage a more effective pedaling style, which it is claimed translates into greater efficiency and power when used on a bicycle fitted with a freewheel. It allows for the rider to engage in and practice proper cadence, which is the balanced and rhythmic flow of pedaling, enhancing performance for both cyclist and bicycle.[24] When first riding a fixed gear, a cyclist used to a freewheel may try to freewheel, or coast, particularly when approaching corners or obstacles. Since coasting is not possible this can lead to a "kick" to the trailing leg, and even to loss of control of the bicycle. Riding at high speed around corners can be difficult on a road bike converted into a fixed-gear bicycle, as the pedals can strike the road, resulting in loss of control. Proper track bikes have a higher bottom bracket to compensate for the constantly spinning cranks and largely mitigate this problem. Perhaps the most obvious disadvantage is the lack of multiple gears, and the flexibility in pedaling cadence and resistance made available through gear shifting. Hilly or uneven mountainous terrain with steep grades can be particularly challenging, as the rider cannot adjust the gearing to match the terrain. Brakeless [ edit ] Cyclist riding a fixed gear bike without brakes Many urban fixed-gear riders think brakes are not strictly necessary, and brakeless fixed riding has a cult status in some areas.[25] Brakes and their cables are said to add extra bulk to the simple appearance of a fixed gear bicycle, and they prevent trick manoeuvres that involve spinning the front wheel in a full circle, unless equipped with special 360° freedom "detangler" system already known on trial or BMX bicycles. Other riders dismiss riding on roads without brakes as an affectation, based on image rather than practicality.[26] Riding brakeless can be dangerous, is prohibited by law in many jurisdictions, and may jeopardize the chances of a claim in the event of an accident. [27] Technique [ edit ] It is possible to slow down or stop a fixed-gear bike in two ways. The first, most efficient, and least stressful on the rider's body is by resisting the turning cranks as they come up and around, shedding speed with each pedal rotation. The second way, less efficient but more showy, is to bump or skid the rear wheel along the pavement. Such a move is initiated by shifting the rider's weight slightly forward and pulling up on the pedals using clipless pedals or toe clips and straps. The rider then stops turning the cranks, thus stopping the drivetrain and rear wheel, while applying body weight in opposition to the rotation of the cranks. This causes the rear wheel to skid, and slow the bike. The skid can be held until the bicycle stops or until the rider desires to continue pedaling again at a slower speed. The technique requires practice and is generally considered dangerous when used during cornering .[28][29] On any bike with only rear wheel braking, the maximum deceleration is significantly lower than on a bike equipped with a front brake.[30] As a vehicle brakes, weight can be transferred towards the front wheel and away from the rear, decreasing the amount of grip the rear wheel has. Transferring the rider's weight back increases rear wheel braking efficiency, but a front wheel fitted with an ordinary brake might provide 70% or more of the braking power when braking hard.[citation needed] Legality [ edit ] Austria – Brakeless bicycles are not legal to be driven on public roads. Every bike has to have two independent brakes, several reflectors and front and back lighting when conditions require it.[31] Australia – Bicycles are regarded as vehicles under the Road Rules in every state. A bike is required by law to have at least one functioning brake.[32] Belgium – All bicycles are required to have easy-to-hear bells and working brakes on both wheels. Lights and reflectors are not required on race, mountain, and children's bikes when not used after dark. Other (normal) bikes need reflectors and lights. These lights may be attached to the body and may blink.[33] Brazil – Brazilian Traffic Law, article 105, subheading VI, says that, for bicycles, "bells, rear, front, sides and pedals signaling, and rear-view mirror on the left" are mandatory.[34] Albeit, nothing is explicitly said about bicycle brakes. Canada – Laws vary by province, and are controlled by highway and traffic acts.[35] In Ontario[36] and in Québec,[37] a rear brake is required, and not having one may subject the rider to a fine. Denmark – All bicycles are required to have working brakes on both wheels, reflectors, and bells.[38] France – A bike must have 2 brakes, 2 lights, numerous reflectors, and a ringer to be approved for road traffic. The laws are rarely enforced, however, and the sight of all kinds of non-officially-approved bikes is common.[39] Germany – All bicycles are required to have working brakes on both wheels, reflectors, and bells.[40] A local court in Bonn accepted that the fixed-gear mechanism was a suitable back brake,[40] but high-profile crackdowns specifically targeted fixed-gear bicycles in Berlin in an attempt to control what police described as a "dangerous trend"[41][42] Hungary – All bicycles are required to be equipped with two independent sets of brakes. Front and rear lamps, reflectors and a bell are also required.[43] Italy – All bicycles must have tires, two independent sets of brakes, a bell, a front white lamp, a rear red lamp and reflector, amber reflectors on pedals and sides.[44] The laws however are rarely enforced. Netherlands – All bicycles are required to have an adequate brake system.[45] New Zealand – By law all bicycles must have a minimum of "...a good rear brake..."–and those made since 1 January 1988 must also have "...a good front brake..."[46] Poland – All bicycles must have at least one functional brake.[47] Spain – All bicycles are required to have an adequate brake system on front and rear wheels, plus a bell.[48] Sweden – Bicycles are required to have a brake and bell. Additionally, when it's dark outside they are required to have lights facing forward and back as well as reflectors facing forward, back and to the sides.[49] United Kingdom – The Pedal Cycles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1983 require pedal cycles "so constructed that one or more of the wheels is incapable of rotating independently of the pedals, be equipped with a braking system operating on the front wheel"; riding a fixed-gear bicycle with no front brake on the street is illegal.[50] Following the conviction of UK cyclist Charlie Alliston, who knocked over and killed a woman whist riding a fixed-gear bicycle with no front brake, the UK Government announced a review of the laws covering "dangerous cycling" in September 2017. [51] A brake on the rear wheel is only required for free-wheel bicycles.[52] United States – The use of any bike without brakes on public roads is illegal in many places, but the wording is often similar to "...must be equipped with a brake that will enable the person operating the cycle to make the braked wheels skid on dry, level and clean pavement..."[53] which some have argued allows the use of the legs and gears.[54] The retail sale of bikes without brakes is banned by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission[55] – but with an exception for the "track bicycle" (...a bicycle designed and intended for sale as a competitive machine having tubular tires, single crank-to-wheel ratio, and no free-wheeling feature between the rear wheel and the crank...).[56] Conversion [ edit ] Many companies sell bicycle frames designed specifically for use with fixed-gear hubs. A fixed-gear or track-bike hub includes special threads for a lockring that tightens in the opposite (counter-clockwise) direction compared with the sprocket. This ensures that the sprocket cannot unscrew when the rider "backpedals" while braking.[57] A horizontal dropout on a steel frame road bicycle converted to a single-speed . The derailleur hanger (below the axle) and an eyelet (above the axle) for mounting a fender or rack, both integral parts of the original frame, are now unused. For a variety of reasons, many cyclists choose to convert freewheel bicycles to fixed gear. Frames with horizontal dropouts are straightforward to convert, frames with vertical dropouts less so.[58] One method is to simply replace the rear wheel with a wheel that has a track/fixed hub. Another is to use a hub designed for use with a threaded multi-speed freewheel. Such a hub only has the normal right-handed threads for the sprocket and not the reverse threads for the lockrings used on track/fixed hubs. The sprocket on a hub without a lockring may unscrew while back pedalling. Even if a bottom bracket lockring is threaded onto the hub, along with a track sprocket, because the bottom-bracket lockring is not reverse threaded, the possibility still exists that both the sprocket and locknut can unscrew. Therefore, it is recommended to have both front and rear brakes on a fixed-gear bicycle using a converted freewheel hub in case the sprocket unscrews while backpedaling. It is also advisable to use a thread sealer for the sprocket and bottom bracket locking. The rotafix (or "frame whipping") method may be helpful to securely install the sprocket. Chain tension [ edit ] Bicycles with vertical dropouts and no derailleur require some way to adjust chain tension. Most bicycles with horizontal dropouts can be tensioned by moving the wheel forward or backward in the dropouts. Bicycles with vertical dropouts can also be converted with some additional hardware. Possibilities include: An eccentric hub or bottom bracket allows the off center axle or bottom bracket spindle to pivot and change the chain tension. hub or bottom bracket allows the off center axle or bottom bracket spindle to pivot and change the chain tension. A ghost or floating chainring is an additional chainring in the drive train between the driving chainring and sprocket. The top of the chain moves it forward at the same speed that the bottom of the chain moves it backwards, giving the appearance that it is floating in the chain. or chainring is an additional chainring in the drive train between the driving chainring and sprocket. The top of the chain moves it forward at the same speed that the bottom of the chain moves it backwards, giving the appearance that it is floating in the chain. A magic gear—the right math can calculate a gearing ratio to fit a taut chain between the rear dropout and bottom bracket.[ further explanation needed ] Also, using a chain half link and slightly filing the dropouts to increase the width of the slot increases the chances of finding a magic gear. It is worth noting that the magic gear setup is controversial, due to inevitable chain stretch and subsequent slippage that can lead to serious injury. Separate chain tensioning devices, such as the type that attaches to the dropout (commonly used on single speed mountain bikes) cannot be used because they are damaged as soon as the lower part of the chain becomes tight. Chainline [ edit ] Additional adjustments or modification may be needed to ensure a good chainline. The chain should run straight from the chainring to the sprocket, therefore both must be the same distance away from the bicycle's centerline. Matched groupsets of track components are normally designed to give a chainline of 42 mm, but conversions using road or mountain bike cranksets often use more chainline. Some hubs, such as White Industries' ENO, or the British Goldtec track hub, are better suited to this task as they have a chainline greater than standard. Failure to achieve good chainline, at best, leads to a noisy chain and increased wear, and at worst can throw the chain off the sprocket. This can result in rear wheel lockup and a wrecked frame if the chain falls between the rear sprocket and the spokes. Chainline can be adjusted in a number of ways, which may be used in combination with each other: Obtaining a bottom bracket with a different spindle length, to move the chainring inboard or outboard Choosing a bottom bracket with two lockrings, which gives fine adjustment of chainring position Respacing and redishing the rear wheel, where permitted by the hub design Placing thin spacers under the bottom bracket's right-hand cup (Sturmey-Archer make a suitable 1/16" spacer) to move the chainring outboard Placing thin spacers between the chainring and its stack bolts to move it inboard (if the chainring is on the inside of the crank spider) or outboard (if the ring is on the outside of the spider) Placing thin spacers between the hub shoulder and the sprocket. This is recommended in the case of a freewheel-threaded hub, which has sufficiently deep threads for this operation. Usually, the rear hub is the best component on which to perform chainline adjustments, especially on threaded hubs. If a track hub is used, it is better to operate on the bottom bracket or - for minor shifts - on the crankset. The same occurs if a flip-flop hub is used, because the chainline should be the same in both sides (freewheel and fixed gear).[59] Gear ratio [ edit ] A commonly used gear ratio that works well in most situations is 2.75:1, which can be implemented with a 44-tooth chainring and a 16-tooth rear sprocket. [60] Competition [ edit ] There are many forms of competition using a fixed gear bike, most of the competitions being track races. Formal track races most often take place in a velodrome, a circular track that is constructed of concrete or wood and can be indoor or outdoor. Race types such as common scratch races or more complex omnium races take place in these arenas. Track race taking place at the Hellyer Park Velodrome in San Jose, California Keirin is a form of motor-paced cycle racing on a track with fixed-gear bicycle that meet a strict system of standards. Moreover, bike messengers and other urban riders may ride fixed gear bicycles in alleycat races, which are normally held in city streets, including New York City's famous fixed-gear-only race Monstertrack alleycat. Similarly, Wolfpack Hustle began in 2005 simply as ride bringing together fast paced bicycle riders with the common love for riding and has expanded to an internationally known race series that takes place in Los Angeles, California.[61] The group has managed to receive sponsorships from several well-known companies including Castelli, which is an over-130-year-old Italian cycling clothing brand, helping spread interest and knowledge about the group and the races they hold.[62] In San Francisco, California, Red Bull holds Red Bull Ride + Style events, which bring together both track and freestyle fixed-gear riders from around the world for competitions.[63] There are also events based on messenger racing, such as Mixpression, which has been held nine times[needs update] in Tokyo. Trick demonstrations have been held since the late 1800s in the US and Europe;[64] while they continued into a competitive form in Europe (artistic cycling), subsequent to the recent[needs update] widespread popularity and advancement of fixed gear bikes, trick competitions have also now established themselves at venues in the US and Asia.[65] European competitions include solo and team balletic movements on a controlled, flat surface; US and Asian competitions often include "park" and "flatland" styles and venues, a la BMX. Other competitions include games of "foot down" and bike polo. In 2006, Adventures for the Cure made a documentary film on riding across the United States on fixed gears; they repeated this feat as a 4-man team at the 2008 Race Across America. Fixed gear riders sharing the specific philosophy are also seen at the Single Speed World Championships. Maintenance and upkeep [ edit ] Maintaining a fixed gear is relatively easy because it has fewer parts than a geared bicycle. The sprocket should be checked regularly to make sure there is no damage to any teeth and that no object is grinding it as it turns with the rear wheel. The chainring should be checked similarly for any damage. There is an advantage to selecting a number of chainring teeth that is not a round multiple of the number of sprocket teeth (e.g. 3) because this avoids coincidence of the same chainring and sprocket teeth, and tyre contact patch, on each of the rider's power strokes. For riders who perform brakeless skid-stops, it is best to select prime-numbered chainrings (e.g. 41, 43 or 47 teeth) to guarantee that rear tyre wear is spread evenly. It is imperative (for road riding, at least) that the chain is sufficiently tight that it is impossible for it to derail from either the chainring or sprocket. This generally equates to "no visible slack". A derailed chain can cause a variety of undesirable consequences, such as a locked rear wheel or, worst of all, destruction of the frame if the chain becomes caught around the crank arm and pulls the rear triangle forwards. On a fixed-gear bicycle without hand brakes, even a relatively benign derailment means a total loss of braking ability. Tensioning aside, a chain is significantly less likely to derail if the chainline is accurate and the chain is a traditional "full bushing" type with limited lateral flexibility. Because the difference between a tight and a slack chain equates to only very minor elongation of the links, chain tension should be visually checked at least weekly, especially if the bicycle is ridden in wet or dirty conditions. As with any other bicycle, the chain should be checked making sure the master link is securely latched. The chain can be lubricated monthly for smooth riding.[66] Also, as needed, the brakes should be tightened as they wear and tire condition observed for possible puncture locations. Air pressure in the tires, tire alignment, brake handle placement, and rust should be monitored on a daily basis because they can change very easily during a jarring ride. Subculture [ edit ] Australia [ edit ] Until recently,[when?] the Australian fixie culture has been small. However, with the strong Australian dollar and cost effective manufacturing and importing from China, Australia has seen many new online stores capitalise on the cheap steel frames commonly imported to the UK and US. Online stores in Australia ship partially-assembled bikes directly to consumers, considerably undercutting prices at typical brick and mortar stores.[67] Canada [ edit ] Fixed gear bikes have become much more popular in Canada within the last couple years.[when?] Cities like Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal have many fixed gear riders, mostly in the downtown areas.[citation needed] China [ edit ] A fixed-gear bike in China. Fluorescent colors are typical, and part of the trend. Around 2012, throughout China, fixed gear bikes became a popular trend among teenagers.[citation needed] The bikes are typically painted in fluorescent colors. Russia [ edit ] Fixed Gear Moscow [ edit ] In 2007, a few activists started assembling and riding fixed gear bikes in Moscow.[68] There had been people riding fixed gear bikes on the street in Moscow prior that time, but it had never developed into any feasible subculture.[vague] Appearances of the design in foreign media began increasing around that time, attracting more people to the concept. A Fixed Gear Moscow LiveJournal blog community was formed, which allowed riders to communicate with each other and share ideas for rides. As interest grew, a separate web site was created to host the blog and the forum.[citation needed] Fixed Gear Moscow has organized numerous alleycat races, tournaments, and other events to keep the community growing. Several side projects have been initiated by members of Fixed Gear Moscow and are still[needs update] in development.[clarification needed][citation needed] Red Bull Fix Boulevard [ edit ] In September 2013 Red Bull and Moscow government organized first race for fixed gear bikes in Moscow city center on the Boulevard ring. Distance that participants had to overcome was about 50 kilometers. The race was repeated in 2014 and is planned for 2015.[69] Sweden [ edit ] Community [ edit ] The fixed-gear movement is growing [needs update] in Sweden. A cornerstone of the Swedish fixed-gear society is the Internet-based forum Fixedgear.se, with over 2300 registered members [needs update]. This makes up for the main meeting ground and discussion forum for Swedish fixed-gear riders and enthusiasts.[citation needed] There are also several bicycle clubs throughout Sweden with a fixed-gear niche. Komet Club Rouler is a club based in Gothenburg, annually arranging Svart Katt and other fixed-gear oriented activities. Svart Katt has been internationally recognized and is considered Sweden’s largest alley cat by number of participators, according to Cog Magazine. KCR’s equivalent in Malmö is called Pista Malmø,[70] arranging ”Thursday's rides” every Thursday, for all bikes and riders. Stockholm also has its own informal fixed gear bicycle club, called Fista Sthlm. Popularity factors [ edit ] Several factors contribute to the recent [needs update] rise in popularity of fixed-gear bicycle. A rider from Stockholm interviewed for an article about the phenomenon notes that riding a bike imparts a feeling of freedom to the rider. One is free to go wherever one wants, whenever one wants. A sense of belonging is also important; as the rider says, "all who cycle are my friends". Riders unknown to each other commonly greet each other when on bikes. As in many subcultures, this feeling of belonging is a key factor in recruiting and retaining participants.[71] The fact that many fixie riders ride brakeless in defiance of local law could also be viewed as a contributing factor to its popularity; it provides an outlet for minor rebellion.[72] UK [ edit ] A relatively new movement in the UK, fixie bikes are on the rise.[citation needed] United States [ edit ] California [ edit ] A Cinelli MASH Histogram Frame California’s fixed gear community stretches throughout the state with groups in all of the major urban areas that come together for riding and racing. Beginning in the north, Sacramento has a rising fixed-gear community as popular bicycle shops such as The Bicycle Business are beginning to carry fixed gear bikes and groups of riders are forming.[73] Moving to the Bay Area, San Francisco and San Jose have well established fixed gear communities who host several established races and community rides. For example, the San Jose Bike Party, held on the third Friday of every month, is dedicated to “building community through bicycling” and contains a majority of fixed gear riders, although all bikes are welcome.[74] Moreover, companies such as Chrome Industries, who make bags and apparel catered toward bike messengers and urban cyclists, have been able to rise to worldwide prominence thanks to San Francisco and California’s biking community.[75] Also, stores such as MASH SF based in San Francisco,[76] and IMINUSD based in San Jose[77] accommodate fixed-gear cyclist specifically with riding gear, parts, and a center for the fixed-gear riding community in their respective cities. MASH SF collaborates with the Italian bicycle manufacturing company, Cinelli, to make several fixed gear bike framesets, including what is known as the Cinelli MASH Histogram.[78] Furthermore, Macaframa is a group of riders from San Francisco who release movies dedicated to fixed-gear riding that encompass the fast paced lifestyle that comes along with riding fixed.[79] Lastly, Southern California is home to a very large fixed community, particularly in the greater Los Angeles area. Los Angeles based TRAFIK is a group dedicated to global fixed gear culture, as they boast the motto “TRAFIK is Global Fixed Gear Culture” and work towards bringing the fixed-gear movement to a worldwide audience.[80] Circus bikes [ edit ] A circus performer standing on a fixed-gear bicycle A fixed gear bike is also used in the circus arts. When the saddle and handlebars are at the same height, an acrobat can stand on the handlebars and saddle and perform acrobatic exercises, sometimes involving multiple people, while continuing to circle the circus ring. In popular culture [ edit ] The 2012 film Premium Rush uses a "fixie" as a running plot device. Wilee, the lead character played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, works as a bike messenger in Manhattan, and his fellow riders rib him about his enthusiasm for his fixed-gear steel-frame bike with no brakes. He avoids one confrontation by pedaling the bicycle backward, and he successfully weaves through dangerous traffic, but he also gets into accidents because the fixed-gear style abets his avidity for speed. Wilee says, "I like to ride. Fixed gear. No brakes. Can't stop. Don't want to, either."[81] See also [ edit ] Media related to Fixed-gear bicycles at Wikimedia Commons

One of the suspect vehicles was described as being a white Mazda 3. Police are searching for several suspects wanted in connection with a robbery at a Mira Mesa home in early July. The robbery happened on July 1 at a home in the 7000 block of Embry Point near Bacadi Drive, according to the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). That evening, approximately 80 to 100 people were at the victim's home prior to the incident, attending a party. Some of those people were invited guests, and others were not, officials said. Police responded to the home that evening, giving the host a first response notice. Shortly after, the victim asked guests to leave his party. That's when a group of four to six strangers showed up and attempted to get inside the victim's home, police said. When the victim tried to stop them, the confrontation turned into a physical altercation. The victim was beaten inside his home, police said. The suspects stole his wallet and phone and took off in two separate vehicles. One of the suspected vehicles is believed to be a white Mazda 3 driven by a woman. That car slammed into a parked car on Embry Way before driving off, police said. The suspects are described to be in their 20s, but police do not have a more detailed description. Anyone with information is asked to call San Diego Crime Stoppers at (888)580-8477. A $1,000 reward is being offered for any information leading to an arrest.

May 17th, 2016 Linux, the GPL and the Power of Sharing The Heart of Linux How a nonbeliever discovered that there is a Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy and a Linux community. Well…he discovered the Linux community anyway. It was back in 2008 that I got a good dressing down for a comment I made about the Linux community. It wasn’t so much a comment as it was a declaration that there isn’t a Linux Community.. Let me quote that declaration for you: “There is no Linux Community. On our best day we are nothing more than a group of rivaling factions, running and gunning, leaving a bloody trail across the Internet badlands.” That’s what I said. That’s what I believed. The Linux community, as an entity, ranked right up there in viability with Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. Of course, that particular period wasn’t exactly a happy time for me. A surprising demand for a divorce coupled with another family member being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s had me on the ropes emotionally. I wasn’t particularly receptive to hand holding and Kumbaya. I held that opinion about the Linux community for a number of years. And then I got sick. Extremely sick. Sick unto death. Stay with me here because I need to tell you the whole story in order for this all to make sense. Some of you may know, some may not, but on February 26th, 2012 I was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer. The tumor had grown so quickly and aggressively that I had to go to the emergency room in order to be able to breath. Did I already know I had cancer? Yes I did, but I was uninsured and it’s hard to find care when the provider knows you are a charity case. I just didn’t bother. Oh, The VA you ask? Geek please. I had the poor judgement to become ill right in the middle of the Veterans Administration scandal. For those not knowing, many major VA centers were busted for throwing away or deleting patient contact forms in order to not be snowed under by those needing their services. You know, those people who bled into the sands of foreign lands in order to protect those who could not protect themselves. Are you suggesting that I go see those “medical professionals” in order not to die? It wouldn’t have mattered. They would have lost my records anyway. So there I was, in an emergency room, having a trach brutally punched through my throat, without anesthesia or any deadening. It was brute force grinding through gristle and sinew until the blunt punch broke through into my airway, bypassing the tumor and allowing me the ability to breath without any blockage. I was then anesthetized and placed into ICU. I don’t remember much of the next few days, until I woke to my family and loved ones around me. The emergency room ENT who had placed my trach had told them there was nothing that could be done. I was terminal and the best they could do was take me home and make me comfortable until the end. Well, obviously someone was full of…uh, bull. Diane demanded an oncologist look me over. I went home, I got comfortable, and here I am, alive and relatively well, fairly comfortable telling you the story of how I was supposed to die and how I didn’t bother to follow those instructions. After fifteen days and now undergoing radiation and chemotherapy, I was sent home. Now, with me not having any idea, the love of my Life, Diane, began talking to people online, telling people that I needed surgery and that she was trying to raise money in order to make that a possibility. At the same time, I was talking to my good, good friend and award-winning author Thomas Knight. I needed a side-light monitor in order to spend any time at my computer. The back light monitors emitted a frequency that made me horribly nauseous, which was a side-effect of the cancer treatments. Thomas started an Indiegogo fundraiser, along with two other good friends, in order to get me the monitor. I got monitor, so I knew about those fundraising efforts. But let me tell you what I didn’t know. Thomas began conspiring with people in and around his Google Plus circles, and those people began to make contact with other people. Before I was aware of it, Thomas, Dave Rea and others had extended that Indiegogo effort in order to help raise the money needed for my surgery. I’ll stop here, because most of the rest is well known. Those people raised in excess of $50,000 for my medical needs. But here’s the part that took all the wind out of my sails, so to speak. The donation amount stayed stagnant at twelve grand for a couple of weeks. Do you want to know where the spike in donations came from? The spike that took that figure up tand over the 50K goal? It was when my story hit the Linux news sites. Sites like Linux Today and Lxer. The Hacker News and other Linux magazines and news outlets began publishing about my ordeal. I had to ask that the donations stop. We had met our goal and if that campaign had not stopped, I have no doubt that it would have brought in 100K. But I didn’t need that much money. I had reached the sum necessary, a sum that had been reached after the Linux community rallied behind and around me, and literally saved my life. Thank you. Even after I denied your existence and looked down my nose at such rabble-rousers, you people stepped up and carried me through the hardest ordeal I’ve ever experienced. So…let’s fast forward to this past Sunday. Good, long-time friends Don and Lisa had threatened to come all the way from Llano Texas to visit Diane and me in Taylor. Don mentioned that he might need to purchase some components I have and we made the arrangements for that to happen, with lunch at Applebee’s a precursor to those sale negotiations. Now, I said they are long-time friends, and they are. We talk daily and sometimes more than once a day, but that’s via our connection through Google Plus. We have never met Lisa and Don face to face. Funny thing about that. We know what they do, how they do it, who they do it with and why they do what they do. Heck, I’ve lived next door to my current neighbor for two years and I don’t know a fraction as much about them as I do about Lisa and Don. They made good on their threat and made the trip to Taylor. We had a great time and I even gave them the grand tour of our recently reopened Reglue facility. As much of a mess as it is, they wanted to see “where it all happened.” It was a great Sunday, because we spent it with real friends. And those friends would have never become friends, or even acquaintances, if not for the Linux community. Yes Virginia, there is a Linux community. It’s alive and well in just about every place you want to imagine. And it’s doing quite well for itself. Quite well. Related

PHOTO BY JENNIFER SILVERBERG Planter's House is among the bars and restaurants that have suffered early-morning break-ins in the last month. At least eight south St. Louis bars and restaurants have suffered early-morning break-ins in the last month — although police caution they are not sure if the incidents are related. The burglaries have largely taken place between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., in an area of the city stretching from Lafayette Square to Midtown to the Central West End and the area near Tower Grove Park. All have involved forced entry — and in some cases, damage to doorways and frames as intruders have battered their way in. In other cases, police say, the burglars removed air-conditioning units to slide in through windows or smashed glass doors to gain entry. In most cases, the burglars have taken cash. But at Gustine Market, they helped themselves to quantities of cigarettes. A safe and a laptop were stolen from 4 Hands Brewery, police say.The string of incidents has business owners comparing notes — and has at least one restaurant that hasn't yet been a victim deciding to invest in a security system.Fred Hessel, a co-owner of the Tick Tock Tavern in Tower Grove East and Eat Sandwiches in Tower Grove South, has twice been a victim. Police confirm that Eat Sandwiches was hit around 4:30 a.m. on September 24. Just three days later, at 5:49 a.m., intruders who broke into Steve's Hot Dogs then busted through a dead-bolted door connecting that business to Tick Tock Tavern. In both cases, Hessel says, he or his partners awoke to a call from their alarm company.Hessel says the burglaries were jarring."We're not high volume, but we're high quality," he says. "It's a pretty thin profit margin. So, it's dispiriting, I'll say that. Still, at the same time, that's part of being a small business owner. Stiff upper lip and all that."Ted Charak is a co-owner of Planter's House, which was also hit. On September 1, police say, a patio door was pried open and thieves ransacked an office."We have a security system," Charak says. "But they were in and out in five minutes." Still, he says, the alarm going off must have helped: "There was so much stuff they could have taken but didn't." Charak believes the culprits must have been people looking for drug money — "all they really care about is their next fix."Both Charak and Hessel say the burglaries were the first to affect their establishments in all their years of business."It sucks for sure," Charak says. "But it is what it is."

The Rape Illusion As I have pointed out on numerous occasions, the evidence from a number of sources suggests that the vast majority of rape allegations made to the police in western countries are false. The official research which suggests otherwise is so full of holes and carefully planned biases that it is quite clear that those involved in the research have bent over backwards to distort their findings in order to engender the illusion that false allegations are relatively uncommon. Indeed, the official research is worse than just 'biased', it is almost completely fabricated. And if one takes into account all the evidence relating to rape that is available from many different sources, it becomes fairly obvious that the false allegation rate is extremely high - in my view, close to 80%. However, there remains a strong resistance among people to accepting this point of view, and it is this particular resistance that I wish to address here. This resistance seems to stem mostly from the fact that the vast majority of women whom people know are decent human beings - most of the time - and when you tell such people that 80% of rape allegations are false, they think about the women whom they know and they think, "There is no way that most of the women whom I know would lie about rape." And I am sure that they are totally correct in thinking this. The majority of women would, indeed, not make a false allegation of rape. The majority of women would, indeed, not make a false allegation of rape. But what seems to happen is that people become confused in their minds, and they think that if some 80% of rape allegations are false then it follows that some 80% of women must be prone to making false allegations - and this, they do not accept. But to suggest that 80% of rape allegations are false is not to suggest that 80% of women would make false allegations. The false allegation rate, on its own, has precious little to say about the number of women who would make false allegations. For example, imagine that 100 rape allegations are made to the police throughout the year in the USA and, further, that every single one of them turns out to be false. Well, we have a 100% false allegation rate. Every woman who made an allegation has lied. But there are some 120 million women living in the USA, and so the percentage of women making false allegations (in this case, 100 women) is absolutely miniscule - less than one-thousandth of a percent of the total population of women. Thus, an extremely high false allegation rate (in this case, 100%) does not imply that a large percentage of women are making false allegations. It simply means that a high percentage of those women who are making allegations are making false ones. Now, here in the UK, we have some 15,000 rape allegations made to the police every year. the evidence suggests that some 80% of these allegations are false As far as I am concerned, the evidence suggests that some 80% of these allegations are false, which means that some 12,000 of these allegations are false. (Indeed, 95% of these allegations do not result in any convictions.) Now, given that some 24 million women live in the UK, the fact that some 12,000 of them are making false allegations means that some 0.05% of women are making false allegations - which is a very tiny fraction of the whole population of women. Indeed, at this rate, this would only amount to 1% of women making false allegations over a twenty-year period. In other words, the view that some 80% of rape allegations are false in the UK does not imply that some 80% of women would make false allegations. It simply suggests that some 1% of women are making false rape allegations over a twenty-year period. Is this really so hard to believe given the numerous incentives that are offered to all women who make false allegations? Is this really so hard to believe given the daily bombardment from the media urging women to feel abused and to allege abuse by men? Is this really so hard to believe given the fact that some 5% of women are also seriously impaired emotionally in one way or other - with unprovoked hysteria and aggression being fairly commonplace among such women. And what about the effects of hormones, alcohol, drugs, anger, jealousy, misunderstanding, sheer wickedness? Surely, it is very easy to believe that some 1% of women might make a false allegation over a twenty-year period. are our women so angelic Or are our women so angelic that, despite all the incentives, despite the constant urging, and despite the fact that many are emotionally impaired, it is still actually unthinkable that over a twenty-year period some 1% might stumble into making a false allegation of rape? Indeed, such a low figure would also, in fact, demonstrate just how resilient are UK women to succumbing to the numerous temptations to make a false allegation. After all, only 1% of them will succumb over a twenty-year period. And I do not think that it would be unfair to suggest that these particular women would likely be the most malicious, the most uncaring, the most manipulative, the most dishonest and/or the most emotionally aggressive of all the women who dwell amongst us. And there are, indeed, quite a few women with such characteristics. More than 1% of women would be my guess. Nevertheless, 99% of the entire population of UK women will resist all the incentives and all the temptations to make a false allegation throughout this very long time of twenty years. 99% !!! Not bad. Not bad at all - given all the ups and downs that life brings them. But the assumed false allegation rate which gave us this most heartening result and which demonstrated just how wonderful are our women is, in fact, 80%. the claim that 80% of rape allegations are false does not cast aspersions on the vast majority of women. In summary, therefore, the claim that 80% of rape allegations are false does not cast aspersions on the vast majority of women. It simply implies that a very tiny percentage of women are swamping the system with false allegations of rape; leaving genuine victims struggling to be believed. And all the valid evidence that I have ever seen is consistent with this view. In conclusion: Even if just 1% of UK women make a false allegation of rape over a twenty year period, then this will be sufficient to maintain a whopping 80% false allegation rate throughout the 20 years. And this appalling state of affairs can exist even if 99% of women are as good, and as honest, as a newborn babe. In other words, an 80% false allegation rate can easily be maintained even if 99% of women would not make a false allegation.

ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland has offered to mediate with North Korea as tension rises on the Korean peninsula following U.N. sanctions imposed in response to a North Korean nuclear weapon test in February. The Swiss foreign ministry recently made contact with the North Korean authorities but there are no current plans for any talks, a spokeswoman said. “Switzerland is willing to contribute to a de-escalation on the Korean peninsula and is always willing to help find a solution, if this is the wish of the parties, such as hosting meetings between them,” she said in an emailed statement. North Korea has issued increasingly strident warnings of imminent war with South Korea and the United States, urging diplomats on Friday to consider leaving Pyongyang. Swiss media say that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who took over in December 2011 after the death of his father Kim Jong-il, apparently spent several years in Switzerland being educated under a pseudonym. Neutral Switzerland often hosts peace talks and mediates in international conflicts, more recently between Russia and Ukraine and between the United States and Iran and Cuba. The Swiss Foreign Ministry said it had been involved in more than 15 sets of peace negotiations in the past seven years, including in Sudan, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Nepal. Former Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey, who in 2003 became the first foreign government official to cross the demarcation line separating North and South Korea, said Pyongyang’s wishes had not changed much since then. “For North Korea, symbols are very important,” she told the SonntagsZeitung newspaper in an interview. “What the North Koreans still want is recognition and security guarantees from the United States.” Five Swiss and five Swedish officers monitor the demilitarised zone between the North and South. Urs Gerber, the Swiss head of the operation, said not much has changed in recent months. “We are just monitoring the situation more intensively,” he also told the SonntagsZeitung.

IBM, to IBMers, always stood for “I’ve Been Moved,” a reference to the way Big Blue moved employees around the country and around the globe to get experience as they worked their way up the ranks. To Wall Street, however, IBM could stand for “I’ve Been Manipulated,” because no public company we can think of does a better job of schmoozing Wall Street’s Finest and convincing them that there’s a there there, when in fact the there is not quite as there as it might seem. To Wall Street, however, IBM could stand for “I’ve Been Manipulated,” because no public company we can think of does a better job of schmoozing Wall Street’s Finest and convincing them that there’s a there there, when in fact the there is not quite as there as it might seem. The quarterly earnings calls are curiously synthetic, almost antiseptic affairs, run by the CFO and focused strictly on the numbers: on the revenue number, on the cash flow number, on the share buyback number, and on the earnings number. In particular, the per share earnings number. The CEO never graces the call, and no actual business operators discuss their business. No success stories are told, no customers highlighted. It is all about margins and currencies and so-called one-time charges and so-called one-time gains, and tax rates, and how all those things added up to the earnings per share that quarter. And, most especially, what that earnings per share means for The EPS Roadmap. But let’s back up a bit… But let’s back up a bit… In May 2007 IBM held an analyst meeting to introduce a “2010 Earnings Per Share Roadmap,” to “give our shareholders a clear understanding of the key factors driving IBM’s long-term financial objectives.” In May 2007 IBM held an analyst meeting to introduce a “2010 Earnings Per Share Roadmap,” to “give our shareholders a clear understanding of the key factors driving IBM’s long-term financial objectives.” Those objectives were EPS growth of 14-16% and EPS of $10-$11 by 2010. Those objectives were EPS growth of 14-16% and EPS of $10-$11 by 2010. To get there the company spelled out five “Key Drivers” of the Roadmap: revenue growth, margin expansion, share repurchases, acquisitions and retirement-related savings. To get there the company spelled out five “Key Drivers” of the Roadmap: revenue growth, margin expansion, share repurchases, acquisitions and retirement-related savings. And certainly IBM got there: in the 2010 annual report, IBM could proudly state that EPS had come in at $11.52—above the high end of the “Roadmap” range. loves companies that beat the high end of anything. And Wall Streetcompanies that beat the high end of anything. Now, it is true that the “revenue growth” piece of the Roadmap didn’t play out as perhaps many had expected: 2010 revenues were only 1% above 2007, the year the Roadmap was laid out. Now, it is true that the “revenue growth” piece of the Roadmap didn’t play out as perhaps many had expected: 2010 revenues were only 1% above 2007, the year the Roadmap was laid out. But the margin expansion and cost savings played out in spades: from that $1 billion in extra annual revenue sprang added gross profits, added operating profits, and added net income of $ 4 billion each, give or take (mostly give). : from that $1 billion in extra annual revenue sprang added gross profits, added operating profits, and added net income of $ 4 billion each, give or take (mostly give). Meanwhile, ample share repurchases acted like gasoline on the fire, juicing EPS almost 60% on that tiny 1% revenue gain. Meanwhile, ample share repurchases acted like gasoline on the fire, juicing EPS almost 60% on that tiny 1% revenue gain. So well did the 2010 “Roadmap” go over with shareholders and Wall Street alike, that IBM rolled out another: the 2015 Roadmap, comprising, in this order, “$8 billion of productivity improvement” (e.g. layoffs and reorgs); $50 billion in share repurchases and $20 billion in dividends; and “four growth priorities” that included emerging markets hitting 30% of revenue in 2015, business analytics (e.g. Watson, the Jeopardy champ) hitting $16 billion of revenue in 2015, cloud computing hitting $7 billion of revenue in 2015, and what IBM calls “building a smarter planet”—what everyone else calls “the internet of everything”—hitting $10 billion of revenue in 2015. So well did the 2010 “Roadmap” go over with shareholders and Wall Street alike, that IBM rolled out another: the 2015 Roadmap, comprising, in this order, “$8 billion of productivity improvement” (e.g. layoffs and reorgs); $50 billion in share repurchases and $20 billion in dividends; and “four growth priorities” that included emerging markets hitting 30% of revenue in 2015, business analytics (e.g. Watson, the Jeopardy champ) hitting $16 billion of revenue in 2015, cloud computing hitting $7 billion of revenue in 2015, and what IBM calls “building a smarter planet”—what everyone else calls “the internet of everything”—hitting $10 billion of revenue in 2015. The bottom line of all this? $20 in earnings per share by 2015. The bottom line of all this?$20 in earnings per share by 2015. But that target came with an asterisk, literally: The asterisk mentioned that the $20 target was a so-called “non-GAAP” EPS target, which “excludes acquisition-related and non-operating retirement-related charges.” The asterisk mentioned that the $20 target was a so-called “non-GAAP” EPS target, which “excludes acquisition-related and non-operating retirement-related charges.” As we pointed out many times in these virtual pages during the many occasions we poked fun at Hewlett-Packard before that company, as a friend likes to say, hit the trees with no flaps down, “non-GAAP” means earnings not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. IBM’s 2010 “Roadmap” had come with no such asterisk. Nevertheless, IBM’s recently retired CFO, a key driver behind both “Roadmaps,” always said the $20 EPS target was “all-in,” i.e. while it included gains on sales of things, it also included losses on charges of things. Nevertheless, IBM’s recently retired CFO, a key driver behind both “Roadmaps,” always said the $20 EPS target was “all-in,” i.e. while it included gains on sales of things, it also included losses on charges of things. Fortunately—and quite remarkably, the casual observer might think—those gains and charges on things at times almost exactly offset each other. Fortunately—and quite remarkably, the casual observer might think—those gains and charges on things at timesoffset each other. In the first quarter of 2009, the company had a $265 million “workforce rebalancing charge” offset by a $298 million gain on an asset sale. In the first quarter of 2009, the company had a $265 million “workforce rebalancing charge” offset by a $298 million gain on an asset sale. And in the first quarter of 2010, another “workforce rebalancing charge”—this time $560 million—was paired with another one-time gain of $591 million. And in the first quarter of 2010, another “workforce rebalancing charge”—this time $560 million—was paired with another one-time gain of $591 million. Neat, right? Neat, right? So adept has IBM been at matching the cost of downsizing its operations with gains on sales of bits of those operations that it was apparently hoping to generate a big enough gain from the sale of its server business to offset the $1 billion “workforce rebalancing charge” it took in 2013 (these charges are one of the bigger growth items in IBM’s P&L)—but Lenovo appeared to play hardball and the sale didn’t happen in 2013. Meanwhile, a different, smaller sale (at a reported measly 5-times EBITA), of a service business to Synnex, didn’t close in time to help the 2013 EPS. So adept has IBM been at matching the cost of downsizing its operations with gains on sales of bits of those operations that it was apparently hoping to generate a big enough gain from the sale of its server business to offset the $1 billion “workforce rebalancing charge” it took in 2013 (these charges are one of the bigger growth items in IBM’s P&L)—but Lenovo appeared to play hardball and the sale didn’t happen in 2013. Meanwhile, a different, smaller sale (at a reported measly 5-times EBITA), of a service business to Synnex, didn’t close in time to help the 2013 EPS. Nevertheless, IBM today proudly announced that it had “delivered” fourth quarter EPS of $6.13 a share, “up 14% year-to-year” to bring the full 2013 EPS to $16.28, magically in line with Wall Street’s Finest, and right down the middle of the all-important Roadmap. Nevertheless, IBM today proudly announced that it had “delivered” fourth quarter EPS of $6.13 a share, “up 14% year-to-year” to bring the full 2013 EPS to $16.28, magically in line with Wall Street’s Finest, and right down the middle of the all-important Roadmap. How it got there, though, was way more complicated. How it got there, though, wasmore complicated. After all, revenue dropped 5% (down 3% adjusted for currency). Asia-Pacific revenue was down 6%. China revenue was down 23%. Pretax income dropped 8%. Pretax margins were likewise down. Free c ash flow was down 13% in the quarter and 21% for the year. Yes, you read that correctly: free cash flow was down 21% for the year. Oh, and the company guided first quarter 2014 EPS to something around $2.50 a share versus Wall Street expectations of $3.27 a share—a 24% miss. How, then, did IBM show “up 14% year-to-year” profits in Q4 2013? And how did the new IBM CFO manage to re-affirm the all-important, almighty $20 EPS Roadmap? Well, with a mere 11.2% tax rate, all targets are possible, profitability-wise. “But wait a minute, ” the reasonably informed observer might ask. “W hat is really going on here? Economies are recovering around the world. Europe had a near-death experience two years ago and is healing. China is growing nearly 8%, not shrinking 23%. American industry is recovering broadly. Our banks are healthier than they have been in a decade. State budgets have revived and governments are spending again. “So why the punk revenues at one of the largest, most important purveyors of IT equipment, software and services in that very same world? “And why are 'workforce rebalancing charges' growing from $440 million in 2011 to $803 million in 2012 to $1 billion in 2013, even as US unemployment drops and companies from Google to Amazon to eBay to Apple to Facebook to Salesforce can’t hire engineers fast enough? ” Well, IBM blames hardware, but IBM’s software revenues were only up “3% to 4%,” and that includes acquisitions: the “all-in” approach taken by the CFO means that, unlike most companies playing the non-GAAP game, IBM does not provide organic, non-acquisition-inflated revenues. That is 3-4% growth, inflated by acquisitions, in a world where Salesforce.com is growing 35% a year organically, and Amazon Web Services is growing…don’t ask. Meanwhile, the rest of IBM’s business, a mix of consulting and outsourcing, has been fair-to-middling-to-poor. The reality, we think—never stated on an IBM call, because the discussion never veers from the numbers, but fairly obvious all the same it would seem—is that much of IBM’s business is tied to the “higher value, more profitable technologies,” touted in the IBM annual report as the areas towards which the company has been shifting its business mix over the years (think: helping a company install expensive SAP software on big-iron IBM hardware with white-shoe IBM consultants running the show, all financed by IBM) while shedding the stuff Wall Street did not care for (even its baby, the disk drive business, which IBM invented). And that kind of high cost IT infrastructure business is yesterday’s glory. (Just ask Avon Products, which we will get to in a bit.) Of course, if you are an IBM shareholder, it has been a great ride. After all, pretty much everything the company has been doing, like the song says, it has been doing for you. Here, for example, is how last year’s letter to IBM shareholders began: Notice there is not one mention—not one—of the company’s customers in that first paragraph. You think those customers don’t notice? A fter reading year after year about how many billions of dollars of IBM stock were purchased by IBM using the hard-earned dollars of those customers ($14 billion in 2013, and $140 billion since 2000), you think that those customers, who weren’t thanked by IBM in that letter or on its earnings calls , don’t wonder how Amazon—purveyor of the very kind of cloud offering that is allowing companies young and old to get online without all that expensive, high margin stuff IBM pushes—speaks to its shareholders? Well here’s how Amazon speaks to its shareholders: B y our count, Amazon uses the term “customer” twice in the first paragraph and six times in the first two paragraphs. lowering prices to those customers. And instead of talking about raising gross margins, operating margins and net income margins, as IBM does in its annual report, Amazon talks aboutprices to those customers. No wonder just last month Avon Products jettisoned a $100 million-plus ERP implementation that “did not show a clear return on investment.” For the record, SAP was the ERP system, with IBM WebSphere being used to build the “user interface,” such as it was. No wonder just last month Avon Products jettisoned a $100 million-plus ERP implementation that “did not show a clear return on investment.”For the record, SAP was the ERP system, with IBM WebSphere being used to build the “user interface,” such as it was. And that’s exactly the kind of big budget project IBM’s wheelhouse has been crafted for. And that’s exactly the kind of big budget project IBM’s wheelhouse has been crafted for. And those are exactly the kind of projects that are giving way to the brave new world of Web 2.0. And those are exactly the kind of projects that are giving way to the brave new world of Web 2.0. Perhaps that’s also the reason why every quarter in the last couple years IBM’s revenues seem to be down, or shy of forecasts, or both; and why every quarter last year IBM’s free cash flow was down year-over-year; and why last October the company revised its cumulative “Roadmap” cash flow downward from $100 billion to $85 billion; and why the company seems to be trying to jettison any kind of non-sexy business that makes something that plugs into a wall. Of course, just as there are dangers in analysts leaning too much on management for direction, there are dangers in managements leaning too much on analysts for direction—like when IBM listened to everyone telling them to get rid of that dopey old disk drive business. Of course, just as there are dangers in analysts leaning too much on management for direction, there are dangers in managements leaning too much on analysts for direction—like when IBM listened to everyone telling them to get rid of that dopey old disk drive business. After all, that dopey old disk drive business is now a hot, hot, hot “cloud” business...t he very kind of business IBM wants to brag about on its earnings call. But not to worry, the $20 EPS Roadmap still stands...with an asterisk, of course. Makes you wonder who’s being manipulated here. Makes you wonder who’s being manipulated here. Jeff Matthews Author “Secrets in Plain Sight: Business and Investing Secrets of Warren Buffett” $4.99 Kindle Version at Amazon.com (eBooks on Investing, 2013)$4.99 Kindle Version at Amazon.com © 2014 NotMakingThisUp, LLC