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The University of Chicago Library has received a gift of nearly 500 photographic prints made by Vivian Maier, the master 20th-century street photographer known for her striking images of life in Chicago and New York City.
The prints, given to the University by collector and filmmaker John Maloof, will be preserved and made available for research purposes by the Library’s Special Collections Research Center. The new collection is comprised of vintage prints that have never been published or exhibited to the public, along with one of Maier’s cameras and some of her personal effects.
“This collection of prints will help researchers and students to understand Maier as a working photographer,” said Daniel Meyer, director of the Special Collections Research Center. “As a new discovery in 20th-century American photography, Vivian Maier’s work also offers fresh insights into the viewpoints and graphic styles of her contemporaries.”
The UChicago collection is the first of Maier’s work to be held by a research institution, allowing scholars to study her photography and creative process in the city that was her home.
Maier’s work became known to the public less than a decade ago. Maloof in 2008 found himself with a trove of more than 100,000 photographs after purchasing the contents of several of Maier’s storage lockers at auction. His investigation into Maier’s life and work was told in the Academy Award-nominated documentary Finding Vivian Maier, which Maloof co-wrote and co-directed.
Maier was born in New York City in 1926. She spent much of her early life traveling the world before finding a home in 1956 in Chicago, where she worked as a nanny to support her photography. It was only after her death in 2009 that Maier’s work was displayed in museums and galleries to widespread acclaim. |
Congress is advancing bipartisan legislation intended to address the nation's opioid abuse epidemic, but lawmakers appear to be no closer to finding a way to pay for the effort — an omission that even supporters say will severely limit its impact.
As a spiraling nationwide increase in overdoses has captured Washington's attention, both the House and Senate have approved bills to expand access to treatment, make overdose reversal drugs more widely available and strengthen state prescription drug monitoring programs.
But while Congress has started the process of reconciling the bills, little progress has been made in defusing a political confrontation over funding. Because the most substantial proposals involve grant programs, the legislation will require new money to achieve the impact lawmakers envision.
Rep. John Sarbanes, a Baltimore County Democrat, has been named to the committee charged with ironing out the differences in the legislation. Senate leaders are expected to name members to that panel shortly.
Democrats have called for $600 million in emergency spending to address the epidemic, but Capitol Hill already has its hands full with emergency funding for the Zika virus. Republican leaders say money to pay for opioid programs will be negotiated with other government funding this fall.
Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun Charlotte Meck, RN, Director of Nursing at Ashley Addiction Treatment, formerly Father Martin's Ashley, testifies to members of the Heroin and Opiod Emergency Task Force, chaired by Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford. Charlotte Meck, RN, Director of Nursing at Ashley Addiction Treatment, formerly Father Martin's Ashley, testifies to members of the Heroin and Opiod Emergency Task Force, chaired by Lt. Governor Boyd Rutherford. (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun) (Barbara Haddock Taylor, Baltimore Sun)
Susan Awad is director of advocacy and government relations at the American Society of Addiction Medicine in Chevy Chase. "These grant programs require dollars," she said. "In the midst of an epidemic, we would argue that emergency funding is preferable to start getting these grants out the door."
About 28,000 people died of overdoses in the United States in 2014, four times the number in 2000. In Baltimore, more than 340 people died from drug and alcohol overdoses in the first three quarters of 2015, up from the 303 who died in all of 2014.
An estimated 20,000 people in the city are using heroin today.
The spike in overdose deaths has prompted bipartisan interest in Congress, particularly as the epidemic has spread beyond urban centers like Baltimore and into rural areas — many of which are represented by Republicans.
Nationwide, only about 11 percent of patients with addiction received needed treatment, advocates say. It is not clear that the legislation, as is, will increase that number.
Terry Diggs started taking heroin when he was in his late teens growing up in South Baltimore. Now 56 and living at the Gaudenzia treatment clinic, Diggs has been clean for six months and has enrolled in classes at Baltimore City Community College.
Diggs insisted treatment is available to those who want it, but his story underscores the challenges some face in finding it.
Gaudenzia was booked when Diggs first called, a common problem at treatment centers. After making more inquiries, Diggs wound up at a detox facility on the Eastern Shore before he was placed back in Baltimore.
Diggs and others said many seeking help show up at emergency rooms and claim to be suicidal to be admitted, and to gain access to social workers who can help find a treatment slot.
"I didn't want to go to my grave being a disappointment to my family," Diggs said. "I want to be able to go to my grave clean, and being someone my parents wanted me to be."
Paul, a 38-year-old Baltimore native who also has wrestled with addiction since his teens, said he admitted himself into a hospital to get help. He ultimately wound up at Tuerk House, one of the city's best-known substance abuse treatment centers. (He asked The Baltimore Sun not to publish his last name.)
"You find that rehabs are full," said Paul, a Navy veteran who has been in treatment since March. "It's upsetting because you're trying to do the right thing and you can't get help when you want to get help."
The Senate voted 94-1 to create new grant programs to target communities with above-average rates of opioid abuse. The legislation would authorize the Department of Health and Human Services to issue grants for new treatment programs, and expand treatment options — rather than defaulting to jail time — for certain criminal defendants.
The House approved a series of bills last week that, when combined, are broadly similar to the Senate measure.
Advocates view the legislation as a victory because it demonstrates a bipartisan recognition that drug abuse should be treated as a health problem.
The effort "has really helped to shift the politics around addiction," said Grant Smith, with the New York-based Drug Policy Alliance.
Sarbanes managed to move a measure through the House that would encourage and train doctors to prescribe overdose reversal drugs such as Naloxone when they prescribe pain medication and other opiates.
The idea is to ensure that if a patient becomes addicted and overdoses, medication will be on hand that could save his or her life.
Sarbanes, who is in his fifth term, said he believes the attention the legislative process is bringing to the issue might be helpful itself. It could raise awareness, for instance, for patients when they are handed prescriptions for high-powered pain killers that can trigger addiction.
"It takes us beyond a conversation about crisis and alarm to 'What can we do about it?'" Sarbanes said. "I think that can have a positive impact."
Sarbanes said the lack of funding is a challenge. Proposals to expand treatment, he said, "are not going to be up to the task" if there is no money dedicated for them.
But he said the focus on the legislation at hand could gin up the political will to increase funding later. "I'm hopeful that when you get the importance of putting resources behind this, it will become self-evident," he said.
Sen. Rob Portman, an architect of the Senate legislation, has said the new programs should be funded as part of the appropriations process this fall.
Lawmakers have been working toward a comprehensive bill to fund the federal government, but it is not clear whether the politics of a presidential election could lead Congress to pursue another stopgap funding bill instead.
In that circumstance, spending levels would be frozen and no new money would go toward drug treatment. |
Ford says Fiesta won't return for the 2018 model year
Jul 22, 2017, 2:12am ET
by Ronan Glon
\"Demand for such vehicles is declining, and we are reacting accordingly,\" explained one of Ford\'s top engineers.
When Ford introduced the updated Fiesta last fall, it made absolutely no mention of the U.S.-spec model. One of the company's top engineers has just revealed that's because the smallest member of the Blue Oval's American lineup will not return for the 2018 model year.
"The previous model was a global Ford product, and with the new generation, we are targeting only Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. In North America -- especially in the U.S. --, China, and Latin America, the demand for such vehicles is declining, and we are reacting accordingly," explained Robert Stiller, Ford's B-segment vehicle program manager.
AutoEvolution reports Fiesta sales have dropped significantly in the last few years. They peaked in 2013, when 71,073 examples were sold in the United States. Last year, Ford only managed to move 48,807 Fiestas.
Dropping the Fiesta in the United States makes it no longer necessary to build a four-door sedan model, which saves the Blue Oval money. Moving forward, the city-friendly Ford will exclusively be available as a two- or a four-door hatchback. |
The guards of the longsword follow on from the blows, which were preceded by the ways of holding the sword. I see this as a progression: hold the sword like this; make these blows; the blows create the guards. It is axiomatic that in Italian swordsmanship “between two guards lies a blow; between two blows lies a guard” (paraphrasing Viggiani, Lo Schermo, 1575). Knowing the blows, and the guards that they create, produces a positive reinforcement system. To improve a blow, adjust the guard it started from, or the guard it finishes in. To improve a guard, adjust the blow that created it.
I wrote an article in 2007 on this section, which you can download from here:
Technical-and-Tactical-notes-on-the-longsword-guards-of-Il-Fior-di-Battaglia
I’ll be updating the translation, adding the transcription, and expanding on the commentary, in these blog posts.
In this section there are twelve guards spread over three folia (23v, 24r, 24v). The first of these looks like this:
Let’s take them one by one:
Tutta porta di ferro
The text above tutta porta di ferro (f23v) reads:
Qui comminzano le guardie di spada a doy man. E sono xii guardie. La prima sie tutta porta di ferro che sta in grande forteza. Esi e bona d’aspetar ogn’arma manuale longa e curta. E pur ch’el habia bona spada non cura di troppa longeza. Ella passa cum coverta e va ale strette. E la scambi le punte e le soy ella mette. Anchora rebatte le punte a terra e sempre va cum passo e de ogni colpo ella fa coverta. E chi in quella gli da briga grand’ deffese fa senza fadiga. Porta di ferro, pulsativa Here begin the guards of the sword in two hands. There are twelve guards. The first is the whole iron gate, that stands in great strength. And she is good to await every manual weapon, long and short, and for which she has a good sword, that is not too long. And she passes with a cover and goes to the close [plays]. She exchanges the thrust and she places her own. She also beats the thrusts to the ground and always goes with a pass and against all blows she makes a cover. And standing in this guard, one may easily make a great defense against anyone who bothers him. Iron door, pounding
That’s a lot you can do from one position. You can lie in wait; you can exchange, break, pass with the cover and come to the close plays, and most of all, defend. We see this guard again with the spear, though it’s interesting to note that because of the length of the spear, ’tutta porta di ferro’ is held point-up and near-vertical on your right hand side, and the version with the spear held off to the side is actually ‘meza porta di ferro’. You can see them both on this page, with tutta porta di ferro above, and mezana porta di ferro below:
F39r
Incidentally, how do we know tutta porta di ferro has the point up, when the image doesn’t tell us?
Well, it’s shown that way in the Pisani Dossi, the Morgan, and the Paris:
Pisani Dossi:
Morgan
Paris In all three, you can clearly see the spear is pointed up.
Vadi on the other hand, doesn’t name his spear guards, and shows them point down.
As Fiore might say, I include Vadi here for the sake of completeness; I don’t think this page constitutes evidence that in Fiore’s tutta porta di ferro with the lance, the point should be down- especially not when taking the other versions of Il Fior di Battaglia into account.
But just think what we would be saying if the other three mss hadn’t been found, and we only had the Getty, and Vadi… food for thought, isn’t it?
I should also point out that Fiore refers to twelve guards here, but shows us ten: in the Getty, posta di donna is shown twice (right and left), and so is zenghiaro (shown forward and rear weighted). In the Pisani Dossi, it is donna and finestra that are duplicated (left and right sides). But twelve is a better number for remembering things by, and neatly divides into three groups of four (literally, four guards on each of three pages). I’ll be spreading the guards section over three posts for that reason.
“Pulsativa” is a tricky word to translate. In this context, it is in relation to stabile and instabile (stable and unstable). It could be translated as ‘throbbing’, but I don’t think that’s what Fiore meant. You certainly don’t sit there vibrating lasciviously. Well, I don’t, at least. I’ve rendered it as ‘pounding’, for reasons which I’ll discuss at the end of this section.
The basic versions of my syllabus ‘canonical’ drills “First drill” “The Break” and “The Exchange” all start from this guard. You can see those drills below. These videos were made in 2011, and are part of my Syllabus Wiki, which you may find interesting.
First Drill:
The Break:
The Exchange:
Posta di Donna
Questa sie posta di donna che po fare tutti gli setti colpi de la spada. E de tutti colpi ella se po crovrire. E rompe le altre guardie per grandi colpi che po fare. E per scambiar una punta ella e sempre presta. Lo pe ch’e denanzi acresse fora di strada e quello di driedo passa ala traversa. E lo compagno fa remagner discoverto, e quello po ferir subito per certo. Posta di donna, pulsativa This is the woman’s guard, that can make all seven blows of the sword. And she can cover against all blows. And she breaks the other guards with the great blows she can make. And she is always quick to exchange a thrust. The foot which is in front advances out of the way, and that which is behind passes across. And she makes the companion remain uncovered and can immediately strike him for certain. The woman’s guard, pounding
What does it mean that this guard can do ‘all seven blows of the sword’? I find that all guards (pretty much) can do all the blows more or less well. I’d also say that you don’t want to be doing roversi blows from the right-hand-side version of the guard- they work much better from the left-hand-side version (coming below). But she can certainly cover against all blows, and you can use a fendente to break the guards from here very easily. It’s also easy to exchange from here- and also to break the thrust, though Fiore doesn’t mention it.
One area of possible contention is the footwork mentioned. Do those instructions, to accrescere fora de strada and pass ala traversa, refer only to the exchange (in the text regarding which we find the exact same instruction- I’ve discussed the exchange here [discussion of the sources- sidequest 1] if you need a refresher- or do they refer to any time you move out of this guard? We can certainly find an example of that footwork pattern used to create an angulated attack from donna (with a pollax) against a player in zenghiaro, on f35v:
Posta de donna son contra dente zengiaro, si ello mi aspetta uno grande colpo gli voglio fare, zoe che passaro lo pe stancho acressando fora de strada e intraro in lo fendente per la testa. Esi ello vene cum forza sotto la mia azza cum la sua, sie non gli posso ferire la testa, ello no me mancha a ferirlo o in li brazzi o en le man. Posta de donna I am against dente zengiaro, if he is waiting for me to make the great blow that I want to make, thus I’ll pass the left foot advancing out of the way, and enter with the fendente to the head. And if he comes with force under my axe with his, he will not be able to strike my head, and I will not fail to strike his, or in the arms, or the hands.
And it’s true- if the opponent is not expecting it, stepping offline to your left angles your attack over their parry in such a way that it’s easy to strike their head, arms, or hands, as the parry. If they’re expecting that angle, of course it isn’t difficult for them to modify the parry to work just fine.
So does the footwork instruction we’re discussing apply only to the exchange? I don’t think so, but I also don’t think that one is now obliged to invariably step that way from this guard.
Let me just remind you that we’ve seen this guard four times before, in the section on the footwork, and the grips. It’s shown forward-weighted (twice), and rear weighted (also twice). I interpret the difference between the forward weighted version and the rear-weighted version as a volta stabile- which is something Fiore states that all guards can do. The only other guard that is shown both forward and rear weighted in the longsword guards is zengiaro. I’ll cover the rear-weighted version of that in the next post but one. Coda longa is shown forward weighted in the longsword section (on f24v), but rear weighted with a pollax (on f36r). In the sword in armour section, we see vera croce on f32v, and bastarda croce on f33r; I’d say the difference between those two guards is also a volta stabile.
Returning to donna- the forward weighted version is perfect for striking a fendente from, as it times beautifully with the pass forwards. Making the same strike from the rear-weighted version, in the time of the volta stabile that brings your weight onto your front foot, prior to the pass, you can get the sword to posta longa, which is perfect for thrusting with the pass into measure. So I find the forward-weighted version optimal for hard cuts, and the rear-weighted version optimal for feints and thrusts. You’ll see examples of this in the video of “The woman in the window drill” at the end of this post.
Why is this guard called ‘the woman’s guard’? Well for a start, Chidester translates ‘donna’ as ‘lady’ (which is perfectly correct), and Hatcher translates ‘donna’ as ‘Queen’, which is a long stretch- one might address a queen as ‘donna’ if one knew her quite well; and the queen in chess is ‘la donna’; but there is a perfectly normal word for queen in Italian: Regina. Sovrana is also queen (it’s the female form of ‘sovereign’). I use ‘woman’ because it carries the least baggage, I think.
There are a million theories as to why this guard is called ‘donna’, the best of which looks at all twelve guards (and which I published in the Technical and Tactical notes article, and in the Critical Review section of my PhD work. I’ll quote from the latter, complete with footnotes:
One cannot fully grasp the meanings of these systems without a detailed knowledge of the cultures from which they come. One example of the relationship between the representation of a swordsmanship system and its culture can be found in the naming convention of the guard positions shown by Fiore. On the face of it, the names are not very helpful to modern students learning the Art: whole iron door, lady, window, middle iron door, long, short, boar’s tooth, long tail, crown, and the two horned guard. Some of these are apparently descriptive, such as long and short, and the tail guard is indeed held behind like a tail. Fiore does also say that the boar’s tooth takes its name from its way of striking (it rips upwards) (Getty MS, f24r). But there is nothing ladylike about posta di donna, door-like about porta di ferro, nor anything obviously two-horned about bicorno. But if we recall that this is a late-14th century system, and take into account statements in the MS like “I [the Sword] am Royal, enforce justice, propagate goodness and destroy evil. Look at me as a cross, and I will give you fame and a name in the art of arms” (Leoni 2012, 47) then it makes sense to look at the names symbolically. And a story emerges. The pilgrim’s path through life; does he take the long road that leads upwards to heaven, where the lady in the window (Mary Magdalene)* and the lady in the crown (the Virgin Mary)† await, or is he tricked by the devil with two horns, down the short road to the gates of hell, behind which lurk the beast with teeth and a tail? Bicorno lies between longa and breve; donna, corona and fenestra are high, porta di ferro, dente di zenghiaro and coda longa are all low. The naming scheme takes into account obvious characteristics such as looking like a tail, and some tactical elements like the deceptiveness of bicorno, but has been apparently arranged for mnemonic purposes according to the common medieval theme of The Pilgrim’s Progress.”** *note “We can see from Diane Wolfthal’s “La Donna alla finestra: Desiderio sessuale lecito e illecito nell’Italia rinascimentale,” (in Sesso nel Rinascimento: pratica, perversione e punizione nell’ Italia rinascimentale, ed. Allison Levy. Florence: Le Lettere, 2009,) that it is reasonable to identify a woman depicted in a window as a prostitute or mistress. Given the image of the pilgrim’s path suggested by the names of these guards, the natural “mistress” figure in Heaven would be Mary Magdalene.” †note: “ Mary is often depicted in Renaissance and medieval art as a crowned woman, “The Queen of Heaven”. **note: I first heard this theory in conversation with Bob Charron in 2003. Mr Charron has yet to publish. As far as I know, there is no formal evidence for it. I offer it here as a plausible explanation.
Patrick McCaffrey, in conversation at SwordSquatch, Seattle, September 3rd 2018, pointed out that in chess, the queen can be referred to as ‘la donna’. As the queen can do all the moves (except those of the knight), and posta di donna can do ‘all seven blows of the sword’, this might explain why this particular guard got called ‘donna’. I don’t have a period example of this usage though- if you know of one, please send it my way! (Specifically, an example of ‘donna’ being used for ‘chess queen’ somewhere between 1300 and 1450.)
Fenestra:
Questa sie posta di finestra, che d’malicie et inganni sempre la e presta. E de covrir e de ferir ella e magistra. E cum tutte guardie ella fa questione e cum le soprane e cum le terrene. E d’una guardia a l’altra ella va spesso per inganar lo compagno. E a metter grande punte e saver le romper et scambiare, quelli zoghi ella po ben fare. Posta de fenestra instabile. This is the window guard, which is always quick with malice and deceit. And she is mistress of covers and strikes. And she argues with all the guards, both high and low. And she often goes from one guard to another to deceive the companion. She places great thrusts and knows to break and exchange, these plays she can do well. The window guard, unstable.
That’s quite a few talking points- let me break them up for you:
This position can be used to deceive your opponent
and you can strike or cover from here (so it is useful offensively and defensively)
you can oppose all the guards from here
cross reference with the text for bicorno (the tenth guard) suggests that fenestra can also taste the guards (i.e. test them, by drawing responses from them), and can avoid blows (presumably made as parries against the thrusts). You can see that argument made in my article Finding-Bicorno
the best strike from here is the thrust, and you can do the exchange and the break from here (see f26v).
Also: whether she goes from left side to right side window guards and back again (the left side variant is shown in the Pisani Dossi) to deceive the companion, or whether she goes from this guard into some other position, is not stated. However, the text on page 36r regarding fenestra on the left with a pollax suggests the former:
Posta di fenestra son chiamata la sinestra, uno picolo brazo se fa de mi ala destra. Noy non avemo stabilita. Una e l’altra cerca la falsita. Tu credera che io vegna cum lo fendente, e io tornero un pe in dredo e mi mudero di posta. La che era in la sinestra io entrero in la destra. E crezo entrare in gli zoghi che vegneno dredo ben presta. I am called the Window guard on the left, a short arm is made from me to the right [I think this is a colloquialism for ’it’s not a long way to go’- in English we still say ‘make a long arm for the salt’ when asking somebody to reach for the salt to pass it to us]. We do not have stability. One and the other seek deception, you will believe I come with a fendente, and [but] I pass one foot back, and I change guard. There I was on the left, I will enter into the right. And I think I’ll quickly enter the plays that come after”.
You’ll see some applications for the guard in the Woman in the Window drill shown below.
Posta di Donna la Sinestra
Questa sie posta di donna la sinestra, che d’coverte e de ferir ella e sempre presta. Ella fa grandi colpi e rompe le punte, e sbattele a terra. Entra in lo zogho stretto per lo suo saver traversare. Questi zogi tal guardia sa ben fare. This is posta di donna on the left, that is always quick with covers and strikes. She makes great blows and breaks the thrusts, and beats them to the ground. She enters into the close plays by her knowledge of crossing. These plays this guard can do well.
The only somewhat tricky point here is the use of the word ‘traversare’. It is to cross, as in to pass over a piece of ground, with the probable implication of passing diagonally, not straight forward. It does not indicate a crossing of the swords (that would be incrosare). In other words, with this guard you can strike and/or parry, and when the blade meet, pass in, offline, to get to the close plays. We can see an image of the stretto crossing from the left in the Pisani-Dossi ms:
I’d say that this image more likely shows a crossing coming from the master parrying with a rising blow, looking at the position of the hands, but there is nothing in the text to demand that.
The text reads:
Questa e coverta de la riverssa mano Per far zoghi de fortissimi ingano. This is a cover from the backhand, To make plays of the greatest deception.
Note how the scholar has passed in (traversed?) to make the play that follows.
I like to build lots of textual references into my basic longsword drills, which is why our “First Drill” begins with the defender in tutta porta di ferro, and the attacker in posta di donna on the right. First pair of guards, first drill.
We also have a drill that memorialises fenestra versus donna on the left: it’s called “The Woman in the Window Drill”, for obvious reasons, and it involves a thrust from fenestra (or donna la sinestra), a break from donna la sinestra (or fenestra), a feint from fenestra (or donna la sinestra), and a counter to the feint. You can see it here:
The eagle-eyed amongst you will also note that Ken and I are using bicorno for the feint.
If you recall the cutting drill from part 9 of this series, the last action of the drill is a feint from donna on the left, using bicorno. This feeds into the first action of part two of the drill, a break from fenestra. This means that the entire second half of the drill can become circular… like so:
This is a technical study, like playing scales on a musical instrument.
That’s the first four guards examined and played with- next week, we’ll have a look at longa, porta di ferro la mezana, posta breve, and dente di zenghiaro. Can’t wait!
In the meantime, it’s thirsty work writing up all this for you, so if you’d like to buy me a drink, please do so! |
Thursday's predicted wintry weather worked its way north across the Portland area as temperatures hovered just above the freezing point. Despite predictions that the area could be coated by as many as 6 inches of snow, little more than flurries and some sleet fell.
And Thursday evening, ice developing on MAX lines shut or slowed down lines and stranded commuters at TriMet light-rail stations.
Still, many school district leaders delayed classes and later canceled them.
Stuart Tomlinson's 1:15 p.m. Portland forecast says there is little chance that the freezing rain and snow falling across the metro area will accumulate much even though the temperature is dropping.
"The high temperature at noon was 32 degrees at Portland International Airport. It could drop as low as 30, before gradually warming up at around 4 a.m. Friday. By afternoon, the temperature is expected to rise into the 40s," Tomlinson reports.
Here's a running list of what has been reported so far:
4:53 p.m.: All MAX lines are delayed due to icy conditions, and shuttle buses are providing service for portions of the red and blue lines, TriMet officials said.
12:30 p.m.: The Oregonian's Stuart Tomlinson reports: "3 reasons we didn't get as much snow as forecast"
Wood Village closes city offices for Thursday afternoon, cancels evening events
11:55 a.m.: More reports of snow across the Portland area now than earlier today. Here are some reports from Twitter.
11:40 a.m.: Consider this a reminder: Just because it's not snowing in Portland, doesn't mean it's not snowing all around Portland. The Oregonian's Rebecca Woolington reports: "Driver loses control in ice, snow on Oregon 6, crashes into Gales Creek"
Snow drifts blocked roads in northern Oregon and the Cascades mountains passes. Sixteen inches of snow came to Portland on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 1937, paralyzing traffic for several days. Sally Brown found her car buried under the deep covering.
11:35 a.m.: The Oregonian's Lynne Palombo reports: "Normal winter storms in Oregon"
11:29 a.m.: TriMet is removing the chains from its buses.
11:08 a.m.: The Oregonian's Stuart Tomlinson reports: "Forecast for widespread snow: TV weather forecasters were for the most part skeptical"
Portland State University is open for classes.
10:25 a.m.: The Oregonian's Wendy Owen reports: "Beaverton schools Superintendent Jeff Rose a hero on Twitter for closing schools"
9:56 a.m.: The Oregonian's Betsy Hammond reports: "Portland Rescue Mission adding beds, open all day too, to help homeless through cold snap"
9:52 a.m.: Twitter users react to the lack of snow across the Portland area.
9:30 a.m.: The Oregonian's Mary Mooney reports: "Portland-area yarn stores shut, adjust hours due to weather." You can honestly say that now it is a true weather catastrophe (tongue firmly in cheek).
7:23 a.m.: The Oreonian's Benjamin Brink offers this video from U.S. 26 at Sylvan.
7:16 a.m.: Ice on Capitol Highway.
7:15 a.m.: Beaverton School District is closing. That's a change from earlier delay.
UPDATE: Beaverton School District: Closed
Estacada School District: Late start
7:09 a.m.: Beaverton School District superintendent Tweets that school is canceled:
7:06 a.m.: Report from The Oregonian's Jolene Krawczak (aka @jlkraw) in Oregon City says there is a layer of ice there.
7:05 a.m.: Good news from The Oregonian's Joseph Rose, aka @pdxcommute:
7:01 a.m.:
7 a.m.: The Oregonian's Allan Brettman reports that Portland General Electric is ready for winter-like weather. He writes: "A full complement of about 80 Portland General Electric work crews has been mobilized along with contract crews to prepare for Thursday's expected winter-like conditions."
6:57 a.m.: And a few more school changes. Click links for specifics.
Oregon College of Art & Craft: Closed
Catlin Gabel School: Closed
6:54 a.m.: The Oregonian's Allan Brettman reports that Portland International Airport is open for takeoffs and landings. Travelers should still check with their airline before heading out. A few flights have been canceled alerady.
6:50 a.m.: A few more school schedule adjustments.
Oregon Episcopal School: 8:45 a.m. opening
Art Institute of Portland: Late start
International School in Southwest Portland: Late start
6:46 a.m.: Do you have weather photos to share? Add the #OBNpics tag and we'll consider picking it up on OregonLive. Here's an example from @AliManzano.
6:45 a.m.: Not too bad at Sylvan -- where it often is the worst.
6:36 a.m: A smattering of school adjustments (announcements are definitely slowing).
Portland Christian Schools: Late start
Gladstone School District: Late start
West Hills Learning Center in Southwest Portland: Late start
6:35 a.m.: A big round of delays for Marion County schools: Salem-Keizer School District; Mt. Angel School District; Marion School District; St. Paul School District; Willamette ESD; Marion, Polk and Yamhill Centers; Woodburn School District; Silver Falls School District; Gervais School District.
6:34 a.m.: A little lightness from @drnormal:
6:25 a.m.: And the hits on school start times keep coming. Click the links for details.
West Hills Montessori in Southwest Portland and Lake Oswego: Late start
Multnomah University: Late start
Jesuit High School: Late start
6:20 a.m.: The Oregonian's Rosemarie Stein has her morning traffic post up and rolling. So far, all is clear. Here's how it opens: "The earliest commuters are probably thanking the skies this morning as most roads in the metro area are fairly clear. Drivers will see a mix of ice pellets, snow flurries and just regular cold rain as the temperatures are generally in the mid-30s." Return for updates and to follow the traffic map.
6:15 a.m.: Thankfully, this winter storm now has a name: "Bozeman." You can send your notes of appreciation to The Weather Channel.
6:10 a.m.: And, yet, more school notices. Click the links for specifics.
Banks School District: Late start
David Douglas School District: Closed
Gresham School District: Closed
Riverdale School District: Late start
Parkrose School District: Closed
Clackamas Community College: Closed
Carson Center at Mid-Columbia Children's Council: Closed
6:04 a.m.: More school announcements rolling in. Click the links for specifics.
North Clackamas School District: Late start; no kindergarten (morning or afternoon)
Centennial School District: Late start
Ridgefield and La Center School districts: Late start
Portland Public Schools: Late start
Central Catholic High School: Late start
Western Mennonite School in Salem: Late start
Battle Ground School District: Late start
5:53 a.m.: Another roundup of school adjustments. Click the links for specifics.
Horizon Christian School in Hood River: Closed
Pilgrim Lutheran School in Beaverton: Late start
Reynolds School District: Closed
Hillsboro School District: Late start; morning kindergarten canceled
Newberg School District: Late start; morning kindergarten canceled
Sherwood School District: Late start; morning kindergarten canceled
5:45 a.m.:
5:44 a.m.:
5:43 a.m.: Stuart Tomlinson's forecast story offers this: "A wintry mix of light snow and sleet is falling from the Portland metropolitan area south to Salem Thursday, as the beginnings of a winter storm begins its march across the region."
5:42 a.m.: Another few school adjustments. Click the links for specifics.
Warner Pacific College: Late start
St. Mary's Academy: Late start
5:40 a.m.: City of Portland says its offices will open on time; may close early if weather turns nasty.
5:35 a.m.: Another batch of school adjustments. Click the links for specifics.
Forest Grove schools: Late start
Evergreen School District: Late state
Tigard-Tualatin School District: Late start
Beaverton School District: Late start
5:27 a.m.: Here are a list of school delays and closings. Click the links for specifics.
German American School of Portland: Late start
Steveneson-Carson School District: Closed
Washougal School District: Closed
Hood River County Schools: Late start
Salem-Keizer schools: late start; no morning kindergarten
Portland Community College: Late start
5:24 a.m.: Here's your morning weather map:
AIR & RAIL TRAVEL
If you're flying out of Portland International Airport, you can check the
Riding Amtrak? Check for service alerts
PREPARATIONS
You may find your workplace shut down, the roads a mess and yourself at home. If so, reporter Janet Eastman has suggestions for what you might do to take care of your home before you curl up with a good book or hit the hill with a sled.
And other suggestions to help you get ready:
As wintery weather approaches, is your vehicle prepared for snow?
Prepare for a power outage before the lights go out
Winter is arriving fast: Prepare your trees, yard and house
Protect pets from the cold weather by keeping them safe indoors
TWEET TO #PDXTST
Follow along with the Twitter feed for the Portland area weather hashtag #pdxtst:
-- The Oregonian |
Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu clarified a previous comment about marijuana and toaster ovens she made while discussing Bill C-45, also known as the Cannabis Act, which would legalize recreational marijuana across Canada.
Gladu has been a vocal critic of the Trudeau government’s plans to legalize marijuana.
While discussing Bill C-45 on June 6, Gladu raised the eyebrows of some for connecting children, marijuana, and toaster ovens.
She said: “Mr. Speaker, it is positively negligent that the government is shutting down debate on this topic. We have already established that this legislation would put marijuana in the hands of children, not just with the 15 joints that 12-year-olds can have but with the four plants per household, so little Johnny can put some in the toaster oven and smoke it up.”
The comment drew the attention of some Canadians who wondered what a toaster oven has to do with consuming marijuana.
It was reported on by Vancouver magazine The Georgia Straight, who said Gladu’s comment is “telling of just how completely unaware Canadian politicians are about who cannabis users are, what they might use it for, and especially, how they use it.” The story was quickly picked up by outlets such as Cannabis Culture, the publication operated by Canadian cannabis icons Marc and Jodie Emery, and VICE.
Twitter joined the conversation and #toasterbud was born.
The @CPC_HQ is so out to lunch on cannabis that I find it hard to take seriously. Do real people actually believe this nonsense? #toasterbud https://t.co/1inxouYTzS — KirkTousaw (@KirkTousaw) June 7, 2017
Gladu cleared up the toaster oven comment in a live interview with Sarnia’s David Burrows and revealed she knows more about marijuana than some originally thought.
“When I was at university, people would grow marijuana in their closet with hydroponics and lights and they would dry the leaves on the toaster oven with a little stainless steel dish underneath it to catch the parts. And then they would roll up their cigarettes,” said Gladu.
“This is what I observed when I was at university,” she stressed. “Apparently that is not the way that it’s done anymore. Now they hang up their leaves, apparently, with close pins.”
“The youth were saying, ‘you are a moron because you know nothing, nobody smokes pot this way, you don’t know what you’re talking about.’ I was really confused,” she said.
Gladu explained to Burrows when she made the comment she was expressing her belief that the current form of Bill C-45 would provide children with easier access to marijuana.
Gladu took time during the interview to elaborate her position on certain aspects of Bill C-45, such as the proposed legislation’s 30-gram marijuana possession limit.
“That’s a huge amount for personal possession,” said Gladu. “I would argue that’s trafficking material and not personal possession.”
Gladu said her preference would be that young people involved in the practice would not “have criminal records that will affect them for their life if they make a mistake when they’re young.”
She said her preference would be that the penalty for possession of marijuana be similar to that that would result from a case of having an open liquor container. “Our court systems are clogged up with these, what I would consider personal possession misdemeanors.”
Gladu voted against time allocation for Bill C-45 on June 6, although time allocation ultimately passed. She did not vote on the Second Reading of the bill on June 8.
To see Gladu’s complete interview with Burrows visit TVSN.ca |
The automaker's performance is impressive since industry sales in North America are beginning to fall after a seven year period of sustained growth.
General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra announced a deal to sell Opel to PSA Groupe on Monday, March 5 2017. In this photo, from 2016, Barra was announcing GM's financial results. (Photo: Steve Fecht for General Motors)
GM CEO Mary Barra said Friday the automaker's first quarter results show that the company's strategy — to focus on areas where it is making money and to pull back on areas where it is not — is making a difference.
The automaker's profits soared 33% during the first three months of the year to $2.6 billion — a record for the company for the first quarter since it emerged from bankruptcy in 2009. It compares with the $1.93 billion GM earned during the same period a year ago.
The profits are notable since industry sales in North America are beginning to fall after seven years of sustained growth. GM's earnings come one day after Ford announced its first-quarter profits fell 35% to $1.6 billion. It was the eighth straight quarter that GM beat Wall Street expectations.
GM's bigger profits were driven by mostly by profits in North America and China. In Europe, a division that has dogged the automaker for years, GM lost $200 million.
Barra said Friday that GM's profits will "immediately improve" after it completes the sale of its European division. GM agreed to sell its Opel and Vauxhall brands to PSA Groupe for $2.2 billion in March and expects to take a $4.5 billion charge when it completes the sale later this year.
“For GM, the sale is another step in our ongoing work to transform the company by strengthening our core business, investing resources in higher return opportunities, including personal mobility, and returning significant capital to our shareholders," Barra said.
Related:
GM CFO Chuck Stevens said the sale of Opel will allow the automaker "to take significant structure out of the business" by reducing its corporate staff and engineers.
"We think that's going to generate significant cost savings," Stevens said.
The cost-cutting tied to the sale of Opel is part of an ongoing process that began in 2014. GM expects it will save $6.5 billion by 2019 from those efforts.
During the first quarter, the automaker's performance translated into earnings of $1.70 per share, easily beating Wall Street's expectations. Analysts, on average, thought GM would earn $1.48 per share.
GM also said its global revenue increased 10.6% to $41.2 billion.
GM's stock rose 10 cents, or 0.3%, on Friday to close at $34.64.
Brian Johnson, an analyst for Barclays, said investors continued to worry about expectations that industry sales will fall in the U.S. and GM's profits will suffer as it deals with bloated inventory.
"We believe GM deserves to be better rewarded for overall strong results and execution," Johnson said. "But, unfortunately sometimes the prevailing market sentiment can be overly difficult to fight."
GM's record first-quarter results were mostly fueled by its profits in North America and China. Here is how the company performed in its main regions:
In North America, GM's pre-tax profits increased to $3.4 billion compared with $2.3 billion for the same period last year.
In Europe, the automaker reported a pre-tax loss of $200 million. Last year, the company did not make money or lose money in Europe during the first quarter.
GM's international division, which includes China, reported a pre-tax profit of $300 million compared with $400 million for the same period a year ago. In China, GM earned $500 million during the quarter.
In South America, the automaker reported a pre-tax loss of $100 million, equal to the $100 million loss for the same period last year.
Contact Brent Snavely: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrentSnavely.
Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/2pbelh3 |
LISTEN UP SWIFTIES. Because this is HUGE. If you're a fan who was lucky enough to attend one of Taylor Swift's Secret Sessions this year, then you not only got to hear Tay's new music, you were let in on the coveted details of these songs by the Queen herself. With Taylor releasing her new album reputation on Friday (Nov. 10), iHeartRadio has something special for Swiftie Nation: the exclusive iHeartRadio reputation Album Release Party with Taylor Swift Presented by AT&T. This on-air special will include exclusive never-before-heard audio from Taylor's Secret Sessions.
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So far, fans have heard four out of the 15 songs on reputation, including "Look What You Made Me Do," "...Ready For It?," "Gorgeous," and "Call It What You Want," but on Friday Nov. 10 (beginning at midnight ET), iHeartRadio stations across the country will play a new track off the album at the top of every hour, all leading up to the hour-long special at 8pm local time. Fans will have a chance to hear directly from Taylor Swift as she introduces songs AND exclusively discusses never-before-heard details about the making of the year’s most anticipated album. In other words, Swifties, Taylor's Secret Session is coming to YOU. We know... |
Tom Corbett killed 4 people today.
In fact, as of today, February 12, he has killed 172 people. That’s according to a new study by researchers at the Harvard Medical School and the City University of New York.
According to the study, Tom Corbett’s refusal to expand Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act will result in 1,491 deaths this year.
Why is Corbett turning down federal funding for Medicaid expansion? Because he is playing politics over Obamacare in an election year. He wants to turn Medicaid over to his corporate insurance friends and impose illegal restrictions on who can be covered.
Every day Corbett delays the expansion of Medicaid in Pennsylvania 4 more people will die.
Expanded Medicaid coverage will not only prevent deaths, it will increase employment in Pennsylvania. A Families USA study showed that expanded coverage will result in over 40,000 new jobs in PA.
It’s time for Tom Corbett to stop playing politics with our lives.Tell Tom Corbett: Expand Medicaid now without any gimmicks or conditions.
www.TomCorbettKilled4PeopleToday.com |
KARACHI – Aamir Liaqat Hussain has once again surprised Pakistani audiences by releasing a shocking promo for his new game show in the Islamic month of Ramazan. The controversial presenter, who is currently affiliated with infamous BOL TV, will appear
KARACHI – Aamir Liaqat Hussain has once again surprised Pakistani audiences by releasing a shocking promo for his new game show in the Islamic month of Ramazan.
The controversial presenter, who is currently affiliated with infamous BOL TV, will appear on screens in ‘Ramazan mein BOL’ – a new game show on the pattern of his previous transmissions where he will give away several gifts and cash prizes.
But, this time, the entertainer has something nobody coming to a TV show could have imagined: 3 airplanes as a prize.
Amir Liaquat sent his fans and general public into a frenzy on Friday when he gave details of his upcoming show.
The game show – “Ramazan mein BOL” – which will air on Saturdays and Sundays at 10pm, includes three airplanes, 30 houses, 60 cars, hundreds of kilograms of gold, and other cash prizes.
“There will be no wait, as the prizes will be given away on the spot,” he announced in a promotional video, further claiming that after watching his show, people will agree to accept “Pakistan mein game show aise hi chale ga” (This is the way game shows will run in Pakistan).
However, the channel removed the video from its official Facebook page after a while.
Ban on BOL
Earlier this month, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) revoked the licences of Bol News and Bol Entertainment, whose parent company has been dogged by a scandal involving the sale of fake online degrees.
The ban came after the Interior Ministry rejected security clearance of the company’s directors Shoaib A Shaikh, Ayesha Shoaib Sheikh, Viqas Atiq and Sarwat Bashir.
The move also came after the regulator received a string of complaints about the network’s news content and accusations that its top anchors, including Amir Liaquat Hussain, were using hate speech.
The BOL network has been beleaguered by controversy since its inception and was able to go on air only late last year. Its parent company, Axact, was embroiled in a criminal investigation in 2015 after The New York Times published an article revealing that Axact was making tens of millions of dollars a year selling fake degrees and diplomas online. Government investigators moved quickly against the company and shut down its offices across the country.
Shoaib Ahmed Shaikh, the chief executive and one of the directors of the company, was arrested and is out on bail.
Bol TV network said it would revolutionize the country’s news media industry, attracting journalists with high salaries and using the most modern, high-tech equipment.
But in recent months, it has been the target of much criticism. One of its top anchors, Aamir Liaquat Hussain, came under fire for accusing some bloggers and rights activists critical of the country’s powerful military of blasphemy.
Hussain was temporarily suspended and later allowed to host his show ‘Aise Nahi Chale Ga’ this year.
‘Game on’
Amir Liaquat Hussain is not crazy or irrational, but generous considering his previous shows. But isn’t offering airplanes as prize in a game show during the month of fasting too much?
The million dollar question about multi- million dollars planes is what people will actually do with them. Hope they don’t ‘fly high’ like the show host in their ultra expensive aero-prizes – only if they could afford jet fuel – and end up crashing in a sky high building.
To quote irony’s favourite catchphrase, what could go wrong? |
Pushing his party to do some "soul searching," House Majority Leader Eric Cantor on Monday night outlined a softer Republican message on immigration, education and government support for vulnerable Americans.
The Virginia Republican said the GOP needs to work harder to connect with "an increasingly diverse country."
"Our party needs to do a better job at getting to know different constituencies," Cantor said while speaking at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. "I am much about trying to force that to happen."
Cantor's remarks were part of an ongoing effort to improve the GOP's image after painful election losses last November. National Republican leaders next week will release a plan — known as the "Growth and Opportunity Project" — designed to broaden the Republican Party's appeal among minorities and lower-income Americans.
Cantor said that millions of Americans need help because they're suffering from a lack of education, skills, resources or time.
"One of my priorities this Congress will be to move heaven and earth to fix our education system for the most vulnerable," he said, endorsing plans for a new funding formula now being used in San Francisco public schools.
On immigration, Cantor stopped short of endorsing a comprehensive package, but said children of illegal immigrants should have a pathway to citizenship.
"I say if we're unable to get a comprehensive bill done first, at least we can start with the kids," he said.
The House Republican leader also called for prioritizing federal investment in medical research. Specifically, he called for shifting federal funding away from "less immediate" needs and toward finding cures for diseases.
The policy prescriptions are consistent with his message in recent public appearances.
Cantor only briefly mentioned Congress' recent inability to avert deep federal spending cuts — known in Washington-speak as "the sequester." They included sweeping reductions to some of the same policy priorities in Cantor's speech — education and scientific research, in particular.
Facing protesters who challenged him to support federal funding for a syringe exchange program, Cantor said the recent spending cuts require certain "tradeoffs."
"Unfortunately, that sequester takes a very blunt instrument and says across-the-board cuts to all of government," he said. "It eliminates or reduces, if you will, good programs the same way that it reduces bad. So I support research dollars. I support investment in the kinds of programs you're talking about. But yes, there are tradeoffs." |
Image copyright Getty Images
Hundreds of thousands of children will spend this Christmas with relatives or friends because their parents are unable to look after them. For these so-called kinship carers, life can be a struggle, as one grandparent explains.
Christmas with the Brooks family used to be a happy, fun occasion.
Michelle would cook dinner with all the trimmings for the 17 relatives squeezed into their very small home in Newcastle, followed by a family tradition of a raucous game of bingo.
Her husband, Dave, would hang a pair of gold earrings on the Christmas tree for her to find first thing in the morning.
Their three children would get whatever was on their wish-list, and a few extras in a stocking.
But one devastating night two years ago, Michelle's life was turned upside down.
Her daughter, in her 20s, who has problems with addiction and her mental health, suffered an episode that put her young children at risk.
Police officers turned to Michelle and asked if Thomas, then a toddler, and Jack, a pre-schooler, would be safe with her.
Yes, she replied. And the two boys went to live in Michelle's house, alongside her and Dave and their two teenage children.
Isolation
Since then life has been racked with uncertainty, bureaucratic wrangles and financial struggles.
There's also a legal battle, too many people to keep in the loop and a kind of isolation that comes with managing a constantly shifting situation and never being able to really confide in anyone.
"We have never had a night where we could go to bed and say everything is fine," Michelle says.
And the difficulties are never more acute than at Christmas.
Image copyright Getty Images
Michelle is one of the estimated 200,000 kinship carers in the UK.
As a working family, she and Dave, like many in their position, receive no extra financial support from the government or local authority.
The charity, Grandparents Plus, has been their main source of support, providing help and free specialist advice.
It is campaigning for kinship carers like Michelle to be better recognised and better supported, arguing: "If you give kinship carers enough money, a lot of the other problems go away."
What is kinship care?
It's when a child lives full time - or most of the time - with a relative or friend who isn't their parent, usually because their parents aren't able to care for them
About half are grandparents
There might be an informal arrangement made with the parents, or there may be intervention by the local authority, leading to the child being placed with kinship foster carers on a Child Arrangement Order or Special Guardianship Order
Research indicates about half of children are in kinship care because of parents' drug or alcohol misuse. Other reasons include bereavement, imprisonment and abuse or neglect
Almost half of these children have special needs, commonly emotional or behavioural problems
Source: Grandparents Plus
On their first Christmas all together, Michelle tried to keep everyone happy, dealing with a string of visitors throughout the day in one-hour slots (the boys have different fathers).
"What happens this year - we're not sure," says Michelle. "I can't plan ahead. I have to see nearer the time and fit in around everybody."
In the meantime, Dave, a driver, is doing double shifts six days a week to put aside a bit of money for Christmas.
"I've no idea what our budget is, I don't even want to think about it," says Michelle.
But she knows there will be no earrings on the tree.
She and Dave repeatedly seek reassurances that neither will surprise the other with anything more than a box of chocolates.
Image copyright Getty Images
Her uncomplaining teenagers, meanwhile, have been putting their feelers out, sensing they will need to adjust their expectations this Christmas.
It's something that Michelle struggles with.
"They have become insignificant in all of this. It's them who have forfeited a lot," she says.
In between appointments with social workers and lawyers, visits with the boys' parents and looking after her own children, Michelle works in a shop.
Her wage goes straight into a saving scheme to pay for a summer holiday next year.
In the past, she was in a position to donate presents to children who were in need. Last year, the charity, Relative Experience, sent her whole family Christmas presents.
"It's hard on the pride, but young children come before pride.
"That used to be me who put gifts into those supermarket trolleys, thinking, 'I hope that puts a smile on someone's face.' And it does."
Grandparents Plus chief executive Lucy Peake fears many kinship carers will have to rely on food banks and present donations this festive season.
"We can all feel bombarded by images of perfect families having perfect Christmases, and it's hard to measure up," she says.
Christmas can be a painful reminder to the children that they aren't living with their parents and a stressful time for their carers who step in to look after their grandchildren unexpectedly, she adds.
The charity says anecdotal evidence suggest the number of kinship carers is growing after guidance was issued to social workers to look within the family before putting children in care.
It wants the government to start formally recording their numbers - at the moment they only have the 2011 Census to go on.
'Anything could happen'
Michelle says she'll go through the motions this Christmas but, in truth, she dreads it.
There's a sense that anything can happen - Christmas exposes people's weaknesses, she says.
"It's juggling the situation, it's damage limitation, it's difficult."
Michelle is speaking out about her family's circumstances because she wants people to understand kinship caring, in the way they do foster care and adoption.
"Mention kinship care, and it's like 'you what?'" she says.
She has been talking to student social workers about her experience to help them understand more about it.
A Department for Education spokeswoman said it recognised grandparents' crucial role in caring for children who cannot live with their parents.
They were "treated equally with birth parents" in the benefits system in relation to child benefit, child tax credits and other means-tested benefits, she said.
Any carers with difficulties could seek advice and support from their local authority, she added. |
Shortly before a City Council vote last night on a bill allowing Baltimore voters to decide if municipal agencies should be regularly audited, Councilman Robert Curran came forward with nine amendments.
The amendments were in an envelope that had been given to him at the start of the meeting by Andrew Smullian, senior policy adviser for Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, according to an eyewitness.
The amendments pushed back the audit requirement for city agencies from every two to every four years, delayed the start date to 2014, and even altered the kind of audit from a traditional financial audit to a nebulous “performance” audit.
It was a masterful stealth attack by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake.
At the end of a meeting full of byzantine twists, the administration got what it apparently wanted – a greatly weakened measure, which is expected to hobble to a final vote at a special Council session on August 13. (Curran’s voice mailbox was full and Smullian did not return calls from The Brew seeking comment this morning.)
Throughout the auditing controversy, Rawlings-Blake has positioned herself above the fray. She “has always supported audits,” her spokesman, Ian Brennan, explained this morning, but auditing is the duty of City Comptroller Joan Pratt, not her office.
“The mayor is hopeful that the Council reconvenes in a special meeting to approve the measure in order to meet the deadline to get it before the voters in November,” Brennan added magnanimously.
The Mechanics of Defeat
The first version of the bill, calling for yearly audits of all city agencies, was voted down three weeks ago.
After the vote, the bill’s sponsor, Councilman Carl Stokes, accused Rawlings-Blake of strong-arming three councilmen to switch their vote and defeat the bill. (For their part, the councilmen – Brandon Scott, Nick Mosby and William H. Cole IV – said they are very pro-audit, but just didn’t like Stokes’ bill.)
Last Thursday, the Council’s Judiciary and Legislative Investigations Committee, chaired by Councilman James B. Kraft, met to strike a compromise with the mayor’s office.
The panel changed the original yearly audit requirement to every other year and limited auditing to 14 agencies. (The original legislation had called for annual audits of all city agencies.)
Kraft thought he had the mayor’s support to get the bill approved last night on second and third reader.
Little did he know the administration was planning an ambush.
Kraft spelled out his own provisions before sheepishly telling a crowd packing the Council chambers: “We received amendments at 5 p.m.”
This was the first time the Curran amendments were publicly disclosed.
A vote was first taken on the compromise bill approved by Kraft’s committee. The votes split along the divide of last month, with Scott, Mosby and Cole joining Curran, Edward Reisinger and William “Pete” Welch (still listed as a bill co-sponsor) to defeat the measure by a 6-6 deadlock.
Three Council members were absent – Helen Holton, Sharon Green Middleton and Rochelle “Rikki” Spector. Holton had voted in favor of the original bill, while Middleton and Spector were against it, making for the original 8-7 defeat.
Amendment Time
As the mayor’s lobbyists, Kimberly Washington, Angela Gibson and Smullian, sat in the chambers, Curran rose to speak.
He and Councilman Reisinger, the mayor’s floor whip, requested that the Curran amendments be voted on. Councilman Cole made a quick dash to confer with Kim Washington.
But before any vote was taken, Councilman Mary Pat Clarke jumped up.
She demanded that the Curran amendment that called for a “performance audit” (as opposed to a financial audit) be voted on separately.
What’s a Performance Audit?
Clarke questioned what a performance audit really was – no one on the Council seemed to know. (According to this government website, performance audits are reviews of how well an agency fulfills its mandate and typically supplement, not substitute for, a financial audit.)
Clarke’s motion was accepted by City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young, and the Curran forces seemed momentarily stunned.
Then came the votes. The performance audit amendment was defeated 6-6 (thereby keeping the requirement for financial audits), while the eight other amendments passed 8-4.
Clarke called the retention of the requirement for financial audits “a save” in an otherwise “disappointing vote for advocates of a strong bill.”
Votes on the Curran amendments were followed by two more votes.
The first passed the amended bill to second reader, and the second failed to achieve a supermajority of 12 votes needed to pass the bill to third and final reader in the same Council session (known as a “double reader”).
Still in Limbo
Thus, the audit bill is still a vote away from going on the November ballot.
City Council President Young announced a special meeting on August 13 to take up the legislation.
Toward the end of last night’s session, various Council members staked out their reasons for opposing or backing the audit bill.
For Council President Young, the new bill was “completely watered down” from the original measure. (Young has consistently voted for the tougher audit bill.)
For Councilman Mosby, who helped torpedo the original bill and supported the Curran amendments, the new bill would “streamline” audits “from every two years to four years.”
He called on Council members not to get hung up over whether audits would be conducted every second or fourth year.
A Big Victory, says Scott
Taking the lead from Mosby, Councilman Scott declared the amended bill a legislative triumph. Noting that city agencies hadn’t been audited “in my lifetime,” Scott crowed that now they would be audited every four years.
For Councilman Bill Henry, who tried to table the Curran amendments, the approved bill continued the city’s tradition of not knowing if its annual budgets were accurate.
Auditing city agencies every fourth year “makes you wonder about the budget of the other three years,” he said.
As for Councilman Curran, he sounded both upbeat and defensive. “It may not be the best, but it’s a start,” he said, before adding, “We’re not hiding anything down here.”
Under the tentative bill, 12 city agencies would audited every four years beginning in 2014: Baltimore Development Corp. (BDC), Finance, Fire, General Services, Housing and Community Development, Human Resources, Law, Planning, Police, Public Works, Transportation and Mayor’s Office of Information Technology (MOIT).
According to city officials, these agencies have not been audited for 25 or more years. The audits will be conducted by the city auditor, Robert L. McCarty Jr., under the direction of City Comptroller Pratt.
Enough Staff to Audit?
Whether the audit department has sufficient staff to conduct the audits is open to debate.
The comptroller say she has lacked sufficient staff to conduct major agency audits, while the mayor says she will add three audit positions to McCarty’s staff this year.
An analysis of McCarty’s work was summarized in this Brew piece.
To win final passage at the next Council meeting, the audit bill requires a simple majority of votes. |
DeepMind’s Go-playing software will play South Korean in five-match game live-streamed on YouTube, following victory over European champion
Google’s AI AlphaGo to take on world No 1 Lee Se-dol in live broadcast
Google’s French Go-champion-beating AlphaGo artificial intelligence will take on the Go world No 1 in a live broadcast from Seoul, South Korea. The contest will begin on 9 March and offers a $1m prize.
Founder of Google’s DeepMind AI development house Demis Hassabis announced the news on Twitter, which will see the company’s AlphaGo system take on 32-year-old South Korean Lee Se-dol, the current highest ranked Go player in the world, in a five-match game with $1m (£687,000) at stake.
Demis Hassabis (@demishassabis) Thrilled to officially announce the 5-game challenge match between #AlphaGo and Lee Sedol in Seoul from March 9th-15th for a $1M prize!
The matches will be broadcast live on YouTube on 9, 10, 12, 13 and 15 March.
AlphaGo successfully beat the three-time European Go champion Fan Hui 5–0 in a series of games at DeepMind’s King’s Cross headquarters last October. But it is possible that ninth-dan Lee, who turned pro in 1996 at the age of 13 and has a 71.8% winning percentage, could beat the AI.
Lee said: “I have heard that Google DeepMind’s AI is surprisingly strong and getting stronger, but I am confident that I can win at least this time.”
Unlike previous systems that have attempted to compute the next move from all available moves and games in chess, for instance, AlphaGo beat all expectations by using “Deep learning” to build its own understanding of Go. It picks moves based on what it thinks is most likely to win. It used a similar technique to learn how to play retro video games.
Should AlphaGo beat Lee, it could arguably be ranked as the best Go player in the world. If Lee wins he will net the $1m prize in the year that he intended to retire and move to the US to promote Go. |
Leave some for the rest of us!
Hey, you can only buy 15 of these.
A pretty big achievement for something that sleeps 23 hours a day.
"What’s going on Tiddles? I feel like your head isn’t really in this game of Frantically Bat at Yarn."
"Oh, I don’t know, Dr Muckinfuzz. I’m distracted. This yarn thing just feels…"
"What?"
"Do you ever think about the universe, Mucky?"
"Uh."
"Like, do you ever contemplate all the galaxies that might be out there in the great beyond, or even those right under our fuzzy noses?"
"I do not.
"Mucky, what if we’re destroying infinitesimal worlds with every step? What if we are just tiny monsters whose entire molecular makeup exists to destroy? What if our innate ethos is to bring ruination unto all? To leave behind nothing but litter dust and occasionally bile? I’m pretty wasted right now, but I'm really worried that we strictly walk this planet to wreak havoc."
"We’re cats, dude. of course we’re monsters."
"Oh right."
. . .
"Yarn?"
Back to top |
MUMBAI: Had it not been for the seven-centimetre-long tumour in Ashok Shivnani 's right kidney, doctors at Lilavati, who were scheduled to operate on him, would never have stumbled on a case that is rarer than rare in medical history.Suspecting that something was not quite normal when they viewed the scans and X-rays of the tumour, the medicos ordered a two-dimensional echocardiogram and angiogram of the 64-year-old patient. It was then that they realised, to their shock, that most of his abdominal organs and blood vessels were either reversed or misplaced.Shivnani's case comes closest to a rare congenital disorder called 'situs inversus', in which the organs of the chest and abdomen are arranged in a mirror-image reversal of normal positioning. Doctors say that he is, in all probability, the only person in the world to have such a haphazard abdominal structure.The echocardiogram revealed that the positions of Shivnani's IVC (inferior vena cava, which brings impure blood to the heart and is on its right) and aorta (which takes pure blood from the heart and is on the left) were reversed."When I first saw the reports, I actually thought I was holding them wrong. Along with the reversed position of the aorta and IVC, the scans also showed that Shivnani had a second IVC coming out from the tumour-infected kidney, which joined the original IVC at the bottom of his abdomen. It would have been most difficult to proceed with the surgery under these circumstances," said Dr Anoop Ramani, the uro-oncologist surgeon, who performed the surgery on Shivnani."Not only was there a duplication of the IVC, but the IVC above the kidney was totally closed. While operating, we are supposed to know the exact location of everything we are going to touch. But in this case, we were not sure which veins were entering where," said Dr Prakash Sanzgiri, cardiologist from Lilavati. Hence, it became necessary to reschedule the surgery from January 29 to February 4, as the doctors needed more time to decide how to deal with the problem.But that was not all. During the course of the surgery to remove the infected kidney, the doctors came across more startling facts about Shivnani's organ structure. There were three blood vessels which took blood to his infected kidney. He had no small intestine, and his large intestine was very small. His liver had also split into two parts, one on each side."We generally perform surgeries laparoscopically for renal cancer. It is difficult to perform the surgery even without the strange organ structure. Thankfully, we did a laparoscopic surgery, in which we could see everything ten times the actual size on the screen," said Dr Ramani. "It is the first time I have seen such a case in my 15-year career," he added.However, the doctors maintained that Shivnani did not need any treatment for his abnormal organ structure. "Generally, people suffering from situs invertus lead a fairly asymptomatic life. This is also the case with Shivnani. He will not need any surgery to change the positions of the organs and veins," said Dr Desai. |
You’re not serious – is what I want to say to the Director of Gangland. Having watched both episodes so far I am astonished to read that is it – a two-part Documentary series, called Gangland – that only represented Black youth in deprived areas of London. The title is ridiculous when compared to the realistic scale of Gang culture. Understandably there was a focus, nevertheless we have reached a point, or rather we are long past it, where Gang culture is embedded on the face of Black youth within the media. Where our famed are constantly related to their previous troubles in life, despite how small or insignificant their involvement may be. Where most expect a natural or nurtured relation to Gang culture or criminality. Whether your Cousin has been jailed or a Family member has died, the media will bring that fact alive. Perception of Black people, especially youth has been stained in such a way and I believe it is due to representation on top of a racist system which expects less whilst giving less to us within our socioeconomic reigns. In this article I want to offer a review on Gangland, why I don’t agree with such Documentary’s, what it does for and to us and offer ideas for a solution which Gangland lacked.
From my youth abbreviations and glorifications of Gangs made them fearsome, commanded a sort of respect by coercion and such an idea felt closer and more realistic to me to be involved in than succeeding ever was. Having been expelled from School in Year 9 in 2006, I experienced that great depression of endless stabbings, robbing’s and immense pressure of being young. I was not directly involved but it did not matter, a trip to see someone was risking your safety. Attending an exclusion centre I was surrounded by Gang Members, we were all had no prospects just an expectation to worsen or end up in dire straits by our damage chances. All the documentary did for me is press a repeat button within my mind from those times. Defeated Mothers and distraught friends, the paranoia of going somewhere and seeing someone who feels a threat, the funerals I attended because of this lifestyle, the pain me and my friends have felt. It is an emotional period within my memory, considering how they used to line up all the faces on a poster on BBC and Sky showing these are the lives taken by knives this year. It makes you feel empty inside growing up only to see a few heroic representations of what you identified as – only for the heat to rise when you see Damilola Taylor’s face, plastered on TV screens and newspapers all over the place. Growing into environments where Gang culture is rife. Learning about someone else’s death, feeling some type of way as you stress over the fact you could be next. It truly hurts and I reminisce on such a time, to a point I am cold and want to push away the roads whole aura. It is not where we are truly from or want to be, nor is it the true face of what Black people are. African, Caribbean, all identities which come under that idea of being Black.
The History of Gang cultures in the United Kingdom is extensive. The documentarian Tony Thompson is apparently a Gang expert; he wrote a book on Gangs within the UK which like the Documentary allegedly has a Londoncentric lens. The first thing I consider when thinking about UK Gangs is the typical East End Gangster, Phil & Grant Mitchell running the idea from EastEnders in my ignorant youth to the truth of the Krays and the ways of countless organised criminals. There seems to be an appreciation or sense of communal respect for such. You look at articles regarding Gangs on the Daily Mail and read the comments, someone is parading the Krays contrasting them to little boys as if they were not mass murderers in a sense and extortionists, torturers – they ran paedophile rape rings. It appears to me that respect stems from knowing or knowing of the culprits and they have been given that commendable tough East End image. I recently watched Peaky Blinders, fascinated by the Character, who are feared yet somewhat worshipped, and sense of realism with many of its plots. Notice how movies of the Krays are made, British Gangsters overvalued and somewhat celebrated. Whilst a series of films like Kidulthood, Adulthood, pertaining to social realism and facts of our living are criticised for showing realistic scenes but a Kray twin grinding the skin off of someone’s face with their knuckles is praiseworthy – despite lacking the motive to change the lifestyle. I feel many middle and unknowing working class White Brits feel alienated by the idea of Gang culture as it appears to be foreign within the media, despite their own people being heavily involved in gang activities. When the media paints a certain picture of “foreigners” for its mainstay of people, those very same White Brits, it is not received in the same way. These aren’t White people being blamed for these atrocities, and if it is they are deemed sick and troubled – not naturally inclined to certain behaviours. Brexit showed us a truer face of what many of its voters, our presence is largely unwanted. For many of those who consider Black people’s presence a problem it is pinned down to the violence and criminality such a lifestyle ensues as if it a universal taste.
Gangland did an extremely poor job of representation. Its Londoncentric stance homes the idea of a Gang on Black inner city youth, when realistically we are skipping so much more and it is appalling. Glasgow has a staggering number of gangs. Manchester and Liverpool also have many. To count is hard and extensive but to document is to represent. I have never been a gang member or keenly associated with such, and evidently there are Albanian, Turkish, Tamil, Asian, Afghani, White and Irish gangs, and much more; if we consider and list them all it dispels the idea of Gang culture predominantly being a Black thing. Such documentaries minimalize Gang culture, with youths holding guns, entertaining the flashy parts then describing a horrid lifestyle it must have been terrifying for a neutral watcher who if they had no previous idea of Gangs could easily assume it to merely be a Black thing. People say organised crime is different, but I disagree – Child trafficking, Child pornography, hard food, weapons, contract killing and more stems from the command of organised crime. I personally believe such should be demonised much more than poor youth with no prospects or opportune livelihoods. Especially since such networks provide for the middle class, those who indulge in really sickening shit like Child pornography. Their Documentaries end up on panorama, or better yet for those involved – they don’t happen at all. So why does this darkness and immorality have to fall on Black youth? I honestly believe by the various examples we have of Gang culture all over the World, from Paid in Full to the music we hold dearly because it represents us, only one piece of the puzzle of our identity as people is being represented. Sometimes it feels as if many want that image, we have witnessed the fake play a way into this lifestyle to enjoy the image and in comparison, to those who could not avoid they merely look foolish.
I believe life is the way it is in Gang culture due to many factors, though our Governance has been poor. With the financial pressure of constant cuts and steady increase of rent, alongside the rapidly changing areas through the process of gentrification we are breeding poorer people. Who have to work harder to provide for their families, who succumb to crime as an opportunity as it is on their doorstep, who live in unavoidable places and cannot get away from such drama. It is so easy to point fingers at the Soldier on the road committing what appears to be heinous crimes, though there are crime syndicates and families, organisations like the National Front and EDL that have a business or agenda driven front but are either key components to a lot of drug and organised crime. Evidently hate crime, such gangs are more systematically involved. We saw with Stephen Lawrence how White Gang members can cooperate with Police, an extension of their systematically racist agenda. I also see the response, “tougher approaches to gang crime” etc. as missing the point. Not all these youths are Gang members for one, just troubled by their environments which has many factors and reasons for not providing them with safety and opportunities. Such as the demand of London’s rapidly changing City, with introduction of more comes less for the poor. More shops to be owned by Middle Class Business Owners, new flats and ideologically inspired “regenerations” of council estates, which basically means the residents homes will be annexed by rich businessmen who will up the prices rendering such areas unaffordable. They’ll relocate somewhere and that culture will diminish not by helpful resolution but pure alienation. These areas and pop ups are very alienating to the former populace which is being pushed out for the sake of the hip Middle Class. This is evident in Clapham, Brixton, Peckham, Hackney and many more areas. Funding for youth centres being cut to a point many are being closed, 18 out 26 youth centres in Tower Hamlets one of the most deprived boroughs in London are due to close. What are those youths in an evidently poor borough supposed to do?
I attended a Raindance Open Event last week and spoke to a composer. An elderly Black man who questioned my presence at a networking event. The idea was to meet people with similar aims and our conversation sparked from there. We spoke about the representation of Black people in the media, how it has broken down and what this has set us up for now. We both agreed it is harder to implement a lens on the actuality of Black people now on TV. He informed me of the variety of shows we used to have. Comedies, Films on gentrification and racism then, the Riots, Musicals, shows looking at realities of our lives. There was an influx of Black British productions with the introduction of Channel 4. He told me there used to be an Afro-Caribbean department in the BBC, where they focused on shows which appealed to us. Regardless these were times before, with our representation dwindling to a point people cannot identify with us it is alarming. It feels as if we just joined this country, as if there was a wave of immigration and nobody understands at all sometimes for there to be repetitive articles and documentaries pointing at the same things. Though through television and such media, this is just one angle at expanding our representation. I always assumed by intensifying how we are representing ourselves, we will undo this amounted stigma. Hence I am glad the likes of Stormzy, Section Boyz, Skepta, Sterling can succeed and progress they will always have my support. However, I also acknowledge a KSI, who despite being a big joke to me shows another face of what Black people can be, a John Boyega, an Anthony Joshua. There’s an extensive notion of Black Brilliance that we are widely ignoring to promote the same old bullshit and it hurts me.
In conclusion my solution would be to invest within our communities to a point we are excelling in so many areas, though acknowledging it is key. There are countless groups, individuals, all doing something to render a truer image of and to help Black people – such as Recovr, which aims to provide mental health help for young Black people making it accessible. Black History Walks, a series of Black Lectures which focuses on our past, present and networks within Black Britain. British Blacklist, a database for Black Actors and Performers. There is so much more that I am missing, though the general idea is to spread our reach and invest in our own people. Help the local businesses, our purchasing power is tremendous – it brings the communities closers but also we need to recognise areas for improvement, customer service and such. Investing in our areas could be a tactic in preventing gentrification. Youth centres need to become more communal and involved with Parents, dismantling the fear factor for a more genuine hands on approach. We need to bring to fruition our general greatness, to serve as a constant inspiration for our youth – so they do not need to experience the same trauma we’ve been wrapped in for decades. I do believe within the next decade or so, due to how intense social media has become, we will not be able to avoid the positive images and movements within our communities. Though the Government has always been the problem, anything we can do alongside counteracting their decisions will soon see us thrive on a respectable level. |
The Fourth of July fireworks display in Washington, D.C. is a vast annual logistics exercise for the National Park Service. Dozens of security checkpoints, hundreds of porta-potties, thousands of fireworks are prepositioned, all ready for the crush of spectators that descend on the National Mall as darkness sets in on Independence Day.
One lesser-known but critically important bit of preparation involves fencing off a 91-acre safety zone around the launch tubes. During the show this area will transform into a Pompeii-like storm of falling embers and ash while the bombs burst in air above. Immediately after the grand finale, NPS employees dash out into the field to extinguish any small fires and collect hazardous material.
Today the expansive safety zone is spaced to offer an an abundance of caution to visitors, but they haven’t always maintained such a tight ship. In 1987 a woman seated nearby received third degree burns from a softball-sized flaming ember, three others were hospitalized, and 25 received Red Cross treatment on The Mall. The Washington Post interviewed a man seated 45 yards away who recalled that “it literally was raining ashes during the entire display. It was getting in people’s eyes and hair.” Still, as late as 1999 the Post was still reporting on the groups of children who delighted in “chasing the charred bits of firework paper that fell in a rain of ash.”
Security preparations began to approach their modern boundaries in 2004 after the completion of the nearby World War II memorial. The Park Service feared that falling ash would mar the new memorial stonework and covered the entire thing in protective tarping, and kept people at a safe distance with fencing. While the tarps were later deemed excessive, the fenced of firework safety zone is likely to remain a fixture of the Fourth of July Mall celebrations for the foreseeable future. |
THE Conservative Party has reassured Britain that the government being propped up by swivel-eyed, religious lunatics is ‘totally fine’.
Ulster’s Democratic Unionist Party was founded in 1971 by the late Ian Paisley while he was stabbing an Action Man he had dressed up as Pope Paul VI.
It is now committed to influencing government policy in a wide range of demented areas.
DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed the party supported a minority Conservative government on condition that Theresa May stands on a massive orange Bible and denounces Roman Catholicism as ‘Beelzebub’s Travelling Circus’.
She added: “Obviously we’ll also be needing a wee ban on abortion, the gayness, scientists and strong liquor.”
A Downing Street spokesman said: “It’s very important we have a strong and stable government and an orderly Brexit. But don’t worry if it also appears to be completely insane.” |
The United States is fast becoming a fiscal basket-case, its currency vastly depreciated from a few years ago, its debt mounting, with neither presidential candidate willing to tackle it. The Bush Republicans have added $32 trillion to future liabilities, and hollowed out the military with a counter-insurgency of attrition in Mesopotamia. The war in Iraq, a strategic disaster, has soaked up trillions without making the West in any measurable way safer. Al Qaeda has a far more secure base in Pakistan than in Afghanistan, and the Pakistani nuclear Islamic state could turn any minute. The global economy seems headed for a serious downturn, with US private and public indebtedness making a quick revival unlikely. The hubris that propelled this president to begin his second term vowing to end tyranny on the planet by force of American arms now looks ludicrous.
My fear is that we have lost the window for recalibrating means to ends without simply looking as weak as we are. Iran's tenacity, and Russia's aggression are simply reflections of the broader recognition that Bush's bluff has been called. McCain's appeal is that he simply refuses to believe in any of this: it's all still winnable, and American military power is still his main tool of choice. But what if he's wrong? Would he not merely compound the folly of the last few years - and would he be the wisest choice as president in a world hurtling toward the potential for more polarizing conflict?
There is one obvious area of common ground, however. Oil is the source of the power of our enemies, and the enemies of democracy and peace. Until we shift the global economy decisively away from petro-economics, the West will decline quite swiftly in relation to the petro-powers. There is no peaceful future for a world run on oil. This is now not just a matter of environmental concern; it's a geo-strategic urgency.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com. |
Controversial disc jockey Hunter Moore will not make a New Year's Eve appearance in Lexington.
Moore, who formerly ran a "revenge porn" website on which people could post nude photographs of other people without their consent, had been scheduled to be a DJ at a party Dec. 31 at Art Bar, 815 Euclid Avenue.
A Facebook page opposing the event was created, and some people said they would boycott the business.
Late Monday, Art Bar posted a statement on its Facebook page saying in part, "Art Bar apologizes to anyone who was offended by the booking of Hunter Moore by the event promotions company who booked our venue for NYE."
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The bar said it had "reached an agreement" and that its rental contract now excludes Moore.
Art Bar also said it would not permit Moore to appear at any future events and is "taking steps to regulate the booking of future performers brought in by the event promotion companies who book our venue.
"Art Bar has the utmost respect for the community and their opinions and appreciates all input/suggestions that help us improve our business."
Moore had posted on Twitter earlier Monday evening, saying he was not coming to Lexington.
"I cancelled all my small-town shows," Moore said in one post.
A Facebook page opposing Moore's appearance was created Thursday. By Monday night, the page, "No More Moore in Lexington," had more than 2,100 "likes."
No More Moore in Lexington said in a news release that it has asked its Facebook followers "to reconsider their negative reviews of Art Bar in light of the recent developments."
"I am so proud of Art Bar and (promotions company) A-Team Social for making the right decision today," campaign supporter Alli Sehon said in the news release. "They listened to what community members said, and have made assurances that they will not make the same mistake in the future. I hope other business in Lexington will follow their lead."
Moore founded the website IsAnyoneUp.com. The site, which was shut down after Moore sold it to an anti-bullying website last year, allowed people to submit photos of others in compromising positions without their permission.
Critics called it a "revenge porn" site, referring to the phenomenon of people sharing intimate photos and videos of former lovers online to humiliate them.
Rolling Stone magazine said in an October 2012 article that Moore verified that people in the images were 18 or older, then posted the photographs along with information identifying the person. |
Looking through boxes and boxes of games all day, certain covers and companies begin to stick out and rise above the tide of their more "normal" and "artisticly void" contemporaries. One such company, Psygnosis, is generally always a pleasure to behold with its colorful complex cover illustrations and equally compelling screenshots. Founded in Liverpool in 1984 by Ian Hetherington and Jonathan Ellis, Psygnosis was known for its intense graphical presentation and technical excellence. The company's logo, a white and purple owl head, became a hallmark of the first generation Playstation and was attached to several seminal titles including the WipeOut series, Destruction Derby, and the less famous Colony Wars. ("But what about Lemmings you dope?", you may ask. Well, I'm ignoring Lemmings, since everyone loves it and I don't have any old copies right now.) Anyway, the story of early Psygnosis is quite interesting; leading out of one company's death and into the beginnings of GTA.
I will now discuss the history and games of Psygnosis while ignoring the fact that this entire post is actually based on my since-childhood infatuation with their logo. That said, the formation of Psygnosis arose out of the downfall of a British software company named Imagine entertainment. In 1983 Imagine had generated a good deal of buzz because it was reputedly developing two "mega-games" for the home PC market. Helmed by a huge team of artists, these two games were to revolutionize the time's paltry understanding of what was possible on a home monitor; they also had ridiculous names and didn't actually exist. The two games, Bandersnatch (being a reference to a fictional creature in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking Glass), and Psyclapse (not being a reference) appeared by name only in numerous advertisements, usually with drooling onlookers, a glowing screen, and no actual game images. Needless to say, the company collapsed under the weight of their assumed awesomeness and revolutionality (yes, I make up words). The whole affair was actually documented in a short, half hour expose by the BBC, which centered on the studio's failure during the video game crash of '84 and its subsequent dismemberment by Ocean Software.
Shortly afterward, the higher management of Imagine founded a new publishing company, Psygnosis, and set out to continue the previous hyperbolic tradition of Imagine; they wanted to make games look goooooood. To accomplish this goal all development centered around a core team of artists, who provided the graphical flourish for titles designed and programed by independent developers. Because of this centralized focus on the art of their games, early Psygnosis titles share a similar aesthetic and a focus on vibrancy that managed to spread across disparate development teams and genres. As a result, huge, ornate sprites became the order of the day along with a generous helping of multilayer parallax, and a complete lack of artistic restraint.
To further bulwark the company's focus on the visual, Psygnosis enlisted artist Roger Dean to design the company's logo and provide cover art for future games. I figure someone around the office was a huge fan of Yes or Asia and loudly shouted, "We should get that guy who draws recreational drug inspired album covers!". Thus Dean's mecha-organic aesthetic (I think of it as H.R. Giger light) became wedded to most of Psygnosis's commercial packaging of the late eighties.
Bulbous heads and mushrooms aside, Psygnosis's first game, Brataccas, actually packed a good deal of graphical umph. It also impressively created a pseudo-persistant world with NPCs and enemies interacting without player stimulus. Combining design ideas from both Bandersnatch and Psyclapse, Brataccas represented a slightly neutered amalgam of the previous mega-games. Aside from the looks and technicality, Brataccas also featured a stunningly terrible control scheme. Players used mouse gestures to navigate the hero around each room, making it nearly impossible to react quickly and not suffer horribly. The pattern of increasing graphical panache and nearly vacant game play would become more and more engrained in the next year's title, Deep Space.
The only Psygnosis title of 1986, Deep Space again featured a vast, complex world, at-the-curve graphics, big action, and incomprehensible controls. Considered an early influence on the 4X space genre, Deep Space also established Psygnosis's signature box stylings; a large, square container with Dean's art framed in red. The next Psygnosis title, Barbarian, also included this design motif and furthered the company's desire to worship all things graphical. Concerned more with presentation than game play, Psygnosis was an early champion of in-game cinematics. Barbarian, a 2D side-scrolling romp, featured a complex (for the time) opening animation that stunned users of the Atari ST and Amiga. Psygnosis had begun gravitating toward the more complex, 16-bit systems of the day in order to augment their wow factor. They would soon design titles to exclusively take advantage of the Commodore Amiga's inherent power.
Barbarian was the first stand out title for Psygnosis, and they followed up on its success by releasing an even more ornate game titled Obliterator. Obliterator included an even more impressive opening sequence, and supplemented the company's feverish graphical obsession. Around the same time, Psygnosis also released a few titles under the Psyclapse label. Ostensibly named for the failed mega-game, the actual reason for the second moniker is unknown. It is generally held that more arcade-y, less complex, and much less convoluted titles, such as shoot-em-ups were attached to the smaller brand, and subsequently smaller boxes. Apparently Psygnosis didn't want their main squeeze diluted by fun games that were actually playable.
Psygnosis's tag line during this time period "Seeing Is Believing" summed up their base belief in visual bling. Apparently the corollary, "Playing Is, Well, Just Forget About Fun...Yeah", got left on some editor's desk. Luckily, my intrepid searching (or boredom at work) led to the discovery of Psygnosis ads in a magazine. Apologies for the light flare, florescent overheads and glossy paper made clear photos difficult.
Continuing with the chronology, nineteen eighty nine featured two landmark titles for the company. The first, Shadow of the Beast, was Psygnosis's biggest hit to date, and the second, Blood Money, allows me to bring up a new topic in about a paragraph or so. Shadow of the Beast again featured art by Dean, was pretty much impossible to play, and looked fantastic. The screenshots highlighted below still manage to impress by current standards, showcasing TRIPLE parallax scrolling and lots of other impressive numbers (just read the box). The game became a de facto demo for many in-store Amiga displays, and was designed to take advantage of the computer's superior hardware.
Now you may be wondering, "Why the elongated box? Lots of extra goodies?" Eh, not really, just a limited-edition, super swank Roger Dean designed T-shirt featuring a titular Beast in the robo-flesh. Yeah, I have no clue what its supposed to be either.
Moving on from hoofed monstrosities, the second game of note, Blood Money, was developed by DMA Designs in the same year. A sequel to the 2D shoot-em-up Menace, Blood Money is only really significant because it represents the early work of DMA Designs, the studio who would later bless the gaming world with Lemmings and the Grand Theft Auto series. The game had all the Psygnosis trademarks, great graphics, great intro animation, and great controls. Okay, so maybe they only got two out of three right, but I don't think their reputation was damaged when they decided to make the game playable.
Psygnosis continued to gain popularity in the new decade, first with the release of Lemmings in 1991, and later on as a Sony-owned Playstation developer. As the Amiga market began dwindling in the early nineties, the company was purchased by Sony in 1993 and began development of console games. I won't go into their Playstation era history here because I don't have any of those materials, and they certainly do not have the proper box art absurdity quotient to garner treatment in this blog. Regardless, Psygnosis folded into Sony completely in 1999, finally eradicating my favorite 20th century game logo and inevitably causing great personal sadness. Below I have placed thumbnails for some more Psygnosis titles that did not fit with the theme of the main post. So enjoy deadly game shows, motor car mayhem, and another look at the owl head logo.
As a side note, I will try to post here weekly from now on. I realized that I have nearly a thousand pictures from the collection and do not see an alternative other than sharing them with everyone out there on the internets. Also, I may post some shorter entries, but they will not be on the front page so as to reserve space for announcements from the HTGG group. Until next time... |
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio says there is no reason to think an explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood had a terrorist connection
All times local
1.15am
Donald Trump may have moved ahead of New York City officials when he declared Saturday evening that a “bomb went off” in the city before officials had released details.
Trump made the announcement minutes after stepping off his plane during a rally at an airport hangar in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He told the crowd, “we better get very tough, folks”.
Manhattan explosion: New York mayor says 'no evidence yet of terror link' – live Read more
The Republican presidential nominee made the comments around 9.10pm, shortly after the explosion in Manhattan’s crowded Chelsea neighborhood and as emergency officials were responding to the blast.
Trump’s rival Hillary Clinton, meanwhile, sought to present a more cautions response, underscoring the difference between the two candidates’ styles.
Clinton was briefed on the incidents shortly after her speech to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation dinner in Washington.
___
12.30am
A law enforcement official says a second device officers are investigating a few blocks from the scene of a Manhattan explosion appears to be a pressure cooker attached to wiring and a cellphone.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation, says the device was found inside a plastic bag on West 27th Street.
Police are advising residents of the block where the device was found to stay away from windows facing 27th Street.
The pressure-cooker device was found four blocks from the location on West 23rd Street where an explosion injured more than two dozen people Saturday night.
___
11.55pm
Hillary Clinton says she has been briefed about explosions in New York and New Jersey and a mall attack in Minnesota and is calling on the nation to support first responders and to pray for victims.
Police in New York City are investigating an explosion that injured more than two dozen people.
In New Jersey, a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park shortly before a 5k run but caused no injuries.
Police in St. Cloud, Minnesota, are investigating reports of multiple injuries at a mall possibly involving both shooting and stabbing.
Manhattan explosion: 25 injured after blast 'like a volcano' rocks New York Read more
Clinton tells reporters traveling with her that she will have more to say when more is known about the incidents.
Both Clinton and her opponent, Donald Trump, are referring to the explosion in New York City as a bombing, a description authorities did not use publicly in the early hours of the investigation.
Trump had just arrived in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for a rally on Saturday night when he said “a bomb” had gone off in New York City and that “nobody knows what’s going on.”
___
11.45pm
New York City mayor Bill de Blasio says there is no reason to think that an explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood had a terrorist connection, but he did call the blast an “intentional act.”
The mayor also said there is no specific connection to a pipe bomb explosion in the New Jersey shore town of Seaside Park earlier Saturday at a charity run. There were no injuries in that incident.
Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro says a total of 29 people were injured in the Chelsea blast. He says one person’s injuries were serious and the rest were minor.
Police Commissioner James O’Neill says officers are investigating a possible second explosive device a few blocks away from the explosion at about 8.30pm on West 23rd Street.
___
11pm
A law enforcement official says an explosion in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood appears to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak about an ongoing investigation.
Pipe bomb explodes near Jersey Shore 5km run in support of US Marines Read more
Police say 26 people have sustained minor injuries in the explosion on West 23rd Street.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and police officials are expected to brief reporters at the scene.
The blast happened in front of a residence for the blind. Witnesses say the explosion at about 8.30pm blew out the windows of businesses in the area.
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10.20pm
Police and firefighters are at the scene of a possible explosion in New York City, and authorities say 25 people suffered minor injuries.
Police spokesman J. Peter Donald said on Twitter the possible explosion happened at about 8.30pm Saturday on West 23rd Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. He says several people were taken to hospitals with injuries. The Fire Department tweeted that none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.
No detail about the extent of damage was immediately available.
Chris Gonzalez, visiting from Dallas, was having dinner with friends at a restaurant. The 26-year-old says she heard and felt a blast. She said the restaurant went quiet.
Witnesses say FBI and Homeland Security officials are also at the scene.
The reports of a possible blast come hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, shortly before thousands of runners participated in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors.
___
9.40pm
Police and firefighters are at the scene of a possible explosion in New York City.
The Fire Department says the blast was reported shortly before 9pm Saturday on West 23rd Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.
No information about injuries or about the extent of the damage was immediately available.
City Councilman Corey Johnson, who represents the area, told cable news station New York 1 that FBI and federal Homeland Security officials were on the scene, in addition to New York City police.
Numerous emergency vehicles are in the area, which is a major thoroughfare with many restaurants.
The reports of a possible blast comes hours after a pipe bomb exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, shortly before thousands of runners participated in a charity 5K race to benefit Marines and sailors.
___
9pm
Firefighters are at the scene of a possible building explosion in New York City.
The Fire Department says the blast was reported shortly before 9pm Saturday on West 23rd Street in the Chelsea section of Manhattan.
No information about injuries or about the extent of the damage was immediately available. |
A justice from Massachusetts's highest court has ordered police to return a laptop and other gear seized from a Boston student's dorm room after rejecting prosecutors' arguments that hoax emails he was suspected of sending might be illegal under a computer crime statute.
The decision, issued Thursday by Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court Margot Botsford, also ordered police to immediately cease any ongoing search of the seized property. Police confiscated 23 items, including three laptops, two iPods, two cellular phones, a digital camera, and a variety of data-storage devices, during a March 30 raid on the dorm room of Boston College (BC) student Riccardo Calixte.
"No one should be subjected to a search like this based on such flimsy theories and evidence," said Matt Zimmerman, a senior staff attorney for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which helped represent the computer science student. As a result of the seizure, Calixte was forced to complete much of the final month of the semester without a computer, phone or network access, the EFF said.
Calixte came under suspicion following a "domestic dispute" when a roommate told a police detective he had observed Calixte commit two computer crimes. When police requested a warrant to search the dorm room, much of the factual basis provided that a crime had been committed were two emails sent in early March that falsely claimed the roommate was participating on a gay dating website. At least one them was suspected to have been sent by Calixte.
In arguing the search warrant was properly issued, prosecutors argued the hoax emails might violate a Massachusetts statute barring the "unauthorized access" to a computer. Justice Botsford rejected that theory.
"The commonwealth's claim that such an email might be unlawful because it violates a hypothetical internet use policy maintained by BC both goes well beyond the reasonable inferences that may be drawn from the affidavit, and would dramatically expand the appropriate scope of" the statute, she wrote.
She went on to find there was no probable cause to support that Calixte illegally downloaded more than 200 movies and music files and accessed the BC grading system used by professors to change grades.
A PDF of the decision is here. ® |
Nthnews
Sweden in Wednesday, called for conversations in Security Council about humanitarian situation in Yemen, and warned from “dire consequences” for Yemeni people if the siege that imposed by US-Saudi aggression continues against Yemen.
News agency “France Presse”, reported from Deputy Swedish Representative in United Nations Carl Skau, told reporters before start of a closed session in Security Council: “The level of suffering is enormous, the devastation is almost complete, and 21 million people are in desperate need to humanitarian aid”.
He added: “We feel deeply concern about deterioration of humanitarian situation in Yemen, it is the worst humanitarian situation in the world, Seven million people on the verge of starvation, and there is a child dying every 10 minutes because the disease and nearly one million cases of cholera”.
“The country completely depends on imports and we can not imagine the consequences if current blockade continues”, Swedish diplomat said, confirming the importance of Security Council to play an active role in resolving this crisis.
In last June, Security Council issued a statement confirm the need for reach humanitarian aid to Yemen without obstacles, Skau said “We will see how to apply this statement”.
15 humanitarian organizations in Wednesday criticized the blockade that imposed on Yemen, which is obstruct humanitarian operations in this country, which is on the verge of famine, calling for resumption of sending aid “immediately” to prevent a “disaster”.
In a statement, these organizations, including FAO, International Organization for Handicapped, doctors of world, Oxfam, Danish Refugee Council and Norwegian Refugee Council said: “In the current context of acute food crisis and spread of cholera epidemic, any delay in the resumption of humanitarian aid could kill women, men, girls and boys in Yemen”.
UN spokesman Farhan Haq said that coalition’s decision to close all Yemeni air, sea and land ports to prevent international organization from sending two planes carrying aid to the affected country.
It is noteworthy that the alliance of Saudi-American aggression imposed an economic blockade on Yemen since 26 March 2015, and everything that enters Yemen from aid or others, is not allowed except with coalition’s consent and after repeated inspection, and completely closure to land, sea and air ports to Yemen last Monday.
The aggression was committed hundreds of brutal massacres against Yemenis and killed tens of thousands, including women and children.
Local independent human rights organizations confirmed that more than 35,000 Yemeni civilians were killed and wounded by aerial bombardment by the aggression on Yemen since the aggression’s beginning in March 2015, in addition to destruction of thousands homes, public and private properties and infrastructure. |
by BRIAN NADIG
For the second time in 6 years, the7-Eleven convenience store at Northwest Highway and Sayre Avenue is seeking to become the first business in Downtown Norwood Park to sell packaged liquor.
Alderman Mary O’Connor (41st) will hold a community meeting on the store’s liquor license application at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20, at the Norwood Park fieldhouse, 5801 N. Natoma Ave. The store was a franchise in 2007 when the Local Liquor Control Commission denied its application following community opposition, but earlier this year operation of the store was taken over by corporate.
O’Connor said that she will wait to take a stance on the application until after the community meeting but that her office has received a dozen objections to the application “I called this meeting because I think it is important to hear the voice on the community on this matter,” she said.
In a letter to residents, a store representative wrote that the display of liquor would be limited to a locked refrigerator and behind the counter and that individual cans of beer and pints of liquor would not be sold, according to O’Connor. The letter also stated that the sale of liquor would be limited to 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday and through Saturday and 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday.
In 2007 residents expressed concern about minors purchasing liquor at the store and about patrons loitering and drinking outside. Historically most of the business district along Northwest Highway had a prohibition on the sale of alcohol, but it recent years that ban has been lifted in several precincts, and three new restaurants which serve liquor have opened in the district since last year.
The site’s B3-1 zoning does permit packaged alcohol sales as long as they are not the store’s main source of revenue. However, the zoning requires the issuance of a special use from the Zoning Board of Appeals for businesses that would generate most of their revenue from liquor sales.
In the business district, there is a moratorium on the issuance of licenses for liquor stores along the southwest side of Northwest Highway, which does not include the 7-Eleven site, 6200 N. Sayre Ave. |
If Lyle could be summed up in one word, it'd be "competitive." If he could be summed up in three words, it'd be "ultra-competitive jackass." If you had $21.00 on you, Lyle would make it a point to have $21.50. If you estimated that a task would take you twelve hours, it'd take Lyle eleven hours and 45 minutes. If a distant relative died, somehow two of Lyle's distant relatives died. He was the kind of guy that would play basketball against a nine year old to win, then he'd make fun of the kid for losing, then he'd make fun of the kid for crying. If a stranger asked Lyle what time it was, he treated it as a challenge.
Lyle was two levels above James W. in the company hierarchy (or, as Lyle would probably call it, "winning"). James reported to Rob, who reported to Lyle. Another team of the same size reported to Lyle as well. James and one of his colleagues knew about Lyle's obsession with winning and exploited it at every opportunity, usually teasing him to the point that he'd leave them alone. As is the case with most bullies being called out on their bullpucky, Lyle got defensive and eventually stopped visiting James during the day.
Clearly, there were problems with the team (and not with Lyle), so he had to take action. I'm better at team building than anyone else, Lyle reasoned. Time for a team-building exercise!
And he knew just the place, too: Lazer Zone X-Treme 2000!! It was the ideal environment for IT office team building — screaming children, sticky arcade cabinets, blaring nu-metal — paradise within just a few miles of the office. He sent emails to his two teams inviting them to play laser tag.
Everyone carpooled to LZXT2K (Lyle got there first), and stood in line waiting to sign in (Lyle signed in first). The teams in the laser tag game were the same as the teams in the office, with Lyle joining the team opposite James. They entered their names, put on their vests, and began the first of two games.
While James was skeptical of laser tag for team building, he had to admit that it was a good time and that everyone enjoyed the friendly competition. Everyone except Lyle, that is. Whenever he was hit, he'd throw up his arms and complain that he shot first and his gun wasn't working. Whenever he landed a hit, he'd laugh and praise himself loudly in third person. "How are you so awesome, Lyle? I don't know, Lyle, I just can't help it!"
The first match was neck-and-neck throughout, until James's team barely pulled ahead at the end. While everyone else was laughing and comparing score sheets after the game, Lyle sat in the corner scowling at his sheet.
"OK, tough guys," Lyle said, rising from his seat and crushing his score sheet in a clenched fist, "how about for the next game the losing team has to sing the 'I'm a Little Teapot' song here in the lobby!"
James rolled his eyes, realizing that it must've taken Lyle tremendous strength of will to not be howling profanities at his team. Everyone agreed to the wager before the second game began.
Five minutes into the game, James was getting the sense that something was amiss. Lyle's team had more than three times the score of James's team, and James could hardly land a shot on anyone! At one point, James had snuck up behind someone on the opposite team, and from three feet away couldn't get their vest to register a shot.
It was a laser tag massacre — James's team had lost by over 1,000 points by the end. And Lyle couldn't have been happier. "OK, let's hear it," he insisted with a toothy smile.
"Just one second," James said loudly enough for all to hear. He went over to the kid running the system to do some detective work.
"So... 'Skippy,'" James began, reading the kid's nametag. "I'm curious — is there a way to turn off all the vests on one team?"
Skippy immediately broke eye contact, looking down at his desk. After a pause, he sheepishly replied "yeah..."
"And did that guy over there ask you to turn off the vests for his team?"
"Y... yeah... He asked me to turn all of them off except one."
"Thanks." James excused himself and returned to the group.
Lyle still had a huge smile on his face. "Ah, so the losers came back! Have you got something you'd like to say, or perhaps, sing for us?"
James shot a disgusted look at Lyle, and after a brief, awkward silence, the teams returned to their cars. Lyle got back to the office first.
A few days later, Lyle sat James down to take him to task for figuring out his subterfuge. James was surprised that he was the one being admonished. "It's just that I didn't want my team feeling bad about losing twice," Lyle explained.
"No one would have felt bad," James explained. "Everyone was having a good time! Nobody was talking trash or trying to make one team feel bad." Well, except you, James thought.
Hopefully the next team-building exercise, a small company picnic, won't be sabotaged by Lyle. |
Two white students at Ryerson University in Toronto, Canada were barred from attending an anti-racism meeting at the school after they were deemed insufficiently “racialized,” according to the school newspaper The Ryersonian.
Trevor Hewitt and Julia Knope, both first year journalism students, wanted to sit in on a March 11 meeting of the Racialised Students’ Collective for an assignment, but were told they were not welcome. According to the students, it was because as whites they were not themselves “racialized.”
According to the group’s Facebook page, the Racialised Students’ Collective’s goal is “to create and anti-racist climate on campus that will foster a healthy and rich working and learning environment for all.” The group’s focuses include “provid[ing] a safe space for… students who are committed to anti-racist action” and “challenging systemic institutional and overt racism at Ryerson.”
A member of the RSC defended the group’s decision, saying it wanted to create a “safe space” where non-white students could speak without worrying about how whites might react.
“We don’t want (racialized) students to feel intimidated, that they can’t speak their mind because they are afraid of being judged or something they say might be used against them,” Vajdaan Tanveer, a coordinator with the group, told The Ryersonian.
Tanveer said that some of the group’s events are public, while others are intended to be for members only.
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The unexpected death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia this weekend will scramble much more than just election-year politics. It could recast several decisions pending before the high court, including arguably the most important labor case in years.
With Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, the court’s conservative majority had the opportunity to make the entire U.S. public sector akin to a right-to-work zone. That would have given hundreds of thousands of public-sector workers the prerogative to opt out of funding the unions that represent them -- delivering a substantial blow to both organized labor and the Democratic Party it pours money into.
But with a 4-4 split in the court along ideological lines, there’s now a good chance that the lower court’s ruling in favor of the union will stand.
Without Scalia, Friedrichs will probably go 4-4, which means that the 9th Circuit ruling stands. Labor may have just gotten a huge reprieve — Moshe Marvit (@MosheMarvit) February 13, 2016
It didn’t always seems so. During recent oral arguments, the conservative justices appeared eager to overturn long-standing legal precedent and ban so-called fair share fees. Unions must represent all workers in a bargaining unit -- even those who don’t want representation -- so where state law allows it, workers can be required to pay fair share fees to help cover the cost of collective bargaining. For unions, such an arrangement assures that no worker gets representation for free.
For years, conservative antiunion groups have sought to ban fair share fees, and Friedrichs provided perhaps their most sweeping opportunity yet. The group of California teachers named in the suit argued that public-sector unionism is inherently political and that being forced to pay fair share fees therefore violated their First Amendment rights. If the court agreed, no member of a public-sector union in the U.S. could be compelled to pay them.
Many legal observers expected that Scalia would serve as the swing vote. In a decision years ago, the conservative justice upheld the legal rationale undergirding fair share fees, seemingly agreeing with unions that the fees were necessary to prevent workers from free-riding. But during oral arguments last month, Scalia’s line of inquiry suggested the change of heart that organized labor had feared.
"The problem is that everything that is collectively bargained with the government is within the political sphere, almost by definition," Scalia told the lawyer who argued on behalf of public unions.
Until Saturday, organized labor was fearing the worst. But now, with the likelihood of the court’s four liberal justices backing fair share fees, Friedrichs may no longer be the looming disaster for public-sector unions that it seemed.
On Saturday, Randi Weingarten, the president of the 1.6-million-member American Federation of Teachers, tweeted her condolences over Scalia's death. She was quick to add that the passing "raises lots of issues for cases like #friedrichs."
May #Justice #Scalia RIP -of course the Justice's untimely death raises lots of issues for cases like #friedrichs — Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) February 13, 2016
Also on HuffPost: |
A Proviso West student was ordered held on $600,000 bail Thursday after Cook County prosecutors said she shot her ex-boyfriend after he refused her calls.
Katrina Harris, 16, was charged as an adult with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated domestic battery, officials said.
Prosecutors said the victim and Harris had dated since junior high school, but in the weeks before Nov. 9, the relationship had turned sour.
During that time, Harris would call and text the victim repeatedly, and he wouldn't respond. But Nov. 8, another person answered after Harris kept calling and told her to stop, prosecutors said.
Harris then told the person who answered to tell the victim she was going to shoot him, prosecutors said.
On his way to school the following day, the victim, 17, was walking to a bus stop when Harris approached him and asked him to come talk to her, but he refused and got on the bus, prosecutors said.
While he was at school, multiple people saw Harris pacing around in front of the victim's home on Chicago's West Side and asking for him. She also continued to leave messages with threats to kill him, prosecutors said.
Harris was waiting for the victim about 3:30 p.m. when he returned from school. She approached him in the 300 block of South Karlov Avenue, pulled a gun from her purse and shot him in the abdomen, prosecutors said.
Court documents said Harris said, "I'll kill you (expletive)," before shooting him.
The victim ran home, and a witness drove him to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was treated for a single gunshot wound.
Harris' Michael Kors purse, with her JC Penney work ID, was found at the scene. A .40-caliber shell casing also was recovered from the scene, prosecutors said.
Harris appeared Thursday afternoon in front of Judge Maria Kuriakos Ciesel at the bond hearing.
"Obviously it's love gone bad," Kuriakos Ciesel said. "But you were stalking his home when he was at school. It's by the grace of God that he's still alive, and that's why you're facing these charges." |
It is astonishing that, with barely a week left before the federal election, pollsters seem to agree the principal issue between the main parties is whether the face-covering niqab can be worn by a handful of women when they take their oath as new citizens of Canada, having privately satisfied authorities of their identity. It has now potentially broadened to all government positions, but the numbers are still insignificant.
This government has scraped the barrel in symbolic pandering: building new prisons and hiring new hosts of correctional officers as the crime rate declines, dispensing with elemental safeguards to due process in Bill C-51, claiming the right to expel and revoke the citizenship of dual citizens found guilty of terrorist offences, all in the name of enhanced public security, and now conducting the concluding phase of a general election campaign on an issue of no relevance involving a trivial number of people.
Of course public security requires that everybody be identifiable, but that is not what is involved here. Since the inductees into citizenship in these circumstances will have identified themselves and will have passed all formalities required for that right to be conferred, and government employees can wear authenticated identification, we are dealing only with an electoral impulse by a hard-pressed incumbent regime to set up a cultural struggle for supremacy between the values of citizenship and minority sectarian fervour.
It is particularly odd that the greatest impact of this issue appears to be in Quebec, where a large percentage of the population is unenthusiastic about Canada and a solid majority is thoroughly irreligious, at least in practice. So what must be at stake electorally in Quebec are the understandable but misapplied reservations of French and English speaking Quebeckers about having traditionalist Muslim women in their midst. Could anyone deny that there is a large number of public policy questions of infinitely greater importance and much wider partisan disagreement?
Thomas Mulcair is conducting a valiant campaign under the heavy baggage of the foibles and heirlooms of the New Democratic Party, and is inexorably losing ground to the two traditional governing parties. But he deserves immense respect, as head of a party most of whose MPs are from Quebec, in taking on the challenge of this issue so spuriously promoted by the Conservatives. Similarly, Justin Trudeau, whom the Conservatives have spent several years systematically deriding as an airhead flower child whose only qualification for high public office is surviving childbirth, deserves credit for fighting the issue of whether those convicted of terrorist defenses can be stripped of their citizenship.
While I think Gilles Duceppe’s party is nonsense and his presence as a separatist in a federal election is absurd, I also salute the leader of the Bloc Québecois for supporting Mr. Harper’s participation in the campaign against the Islamic State (ISIL). It is rare and it is refreshing when political leaders take positions of principle which they know perfectly well are politically disadvantageous. It is reassuring that both the principal opposition leaders have done this.
It can give us some comfort that if either is at the head of a government, consideration of moral principle would be a factor in decision-making. While I have agreed with most of the main policies of Stephen Harper’s government over these nine years, this is a litmus test that he has not passed in recent memory. Everyone understands the political exigencies, and no reasonable person blames any politician, especially an incumbent, for going to great lengths to win. But the demagogy and the cynicism of this government, particularly in pandering to elements that it had practically no chance of losing to its rivals, is a dismal episode which, whatever the election result, taints the record of the regime.
The government has a very defensible record and Stephen Harper on balance has unquestionably been a capable prime minister who has never embarrassed this country in the world. His fixation on shrinking the federal government’s share of GDP and his preoccupation with fiscal prudence, while terribly rigid — he has become the pub bore of Canadian politics about them — is creditable. But apart from exaggerating the government’s economic record and slagging off the opposition with unusual energy, he and his colleagues have done little that is substantive to persuade voters to re-elect them to serve for another four years and give Harper the longest continuous tenure of any Canadian prime minister except Laurier.
To voters wondering what is missing from the current picture, this could be part of the answer — we have not been very well entertained
Normally, long-serving governments find some humorous method of holding their challengers up to ridicule and diverting the public from arguments that it is time for a change. In this space a couple of weeks ago I mentioned Maurice Duplessis’s attack on the Liberals in 1956, as he successfully sought an unprecedented and since unequaled fifth term as premier of Quebec, for the importation of “communist eggs” from Poland. Venerable readers may remember and many younger ones will have heard recordings of U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt, running for a third term in 1940, repeating at the end of each short paragraph in a sequence the names of reactionary opposing congressmen: “Martin, Barton, and Fish” — and running for a fourth term in 1944 (both terms unique in American history) by defending his dog, a Scottie, whom it was ludicrously charged he had sent a destroyer to retrieve from an Aleutian island, at great cost to the taxpayers, on the president’s way back from conferring with General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz at Pearl Harbor in 1944.
At the leadership level in this election there has been practically no trace of humour. There is indeed little evidence that either the Conservative or the NDP leader possesses a sense of humor, though it is understandable that neither much incites one in the other. By comparison, Justin Trudeau is a barrel of laughs; there are more risible criteria for deciding how to vote. Whatever else may be said of them, John Diefenbaker, Mike Pearson, Pierre Trudeau, John Turner, Brian Mulroney, Jean Chrétien, Tommy Douglas, David Lewis and Robert Stanfield all had a good and often a vivacious sense of humour. To voters wondering what is missing from the current picture, this could be part of the answer — we have not been very well entertained. Nor has there been much imagination in the composition and presentation of the main parties’ programs.
The opposition complaints that the government has forfeited world respect by abandoning our traditions as peacekeepers are bunk. That role began with the notion of saving face for Britain and France in the Suez fiasco of 1956, which the American ambassador to the United Nations, Henry Cabot Lodge, gave to Pearson in the corridors of the UN because if he had proposed it, the U.S.S.R. would have vetoed it. Pearson was rewarded with the Nobel Prize for Peace, the leadership of his party, and eventually, election as prime minister. It wasn’t really peacekeeping in 1956, and while peacekeepers have sometimes been useful, in general when you have war there is nothing for them to do, and when you have peace, you don’t need them.
The Trudeau and Chrétien governments embraced peacekeeping as a cover for reducing the defence budget and convincing gullible Canadians that their country was making a larger contribution to stability in the world than it was. This, combined with undiscriminating foreign aid to undeserving Third World despotisms, created the popularity at the UN General Assembly that the opposition parties are now lamenting we have lost in the scandalous mockery of the hopes and intentions of its founders that the United Nations has become. In fact, to the extent that there is any truth to this, Harper has earned the country’s gratitude.
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It has only been an interesting campaign because it has been a legitimate three-way race, which no largely English-speaking democracy has had before, and because it is a close race. The shabby electoral tactics of the Conservatives with their reactionary posturing are at odds with a record of considerable success and competent government. Justin Trudeau seems likely to take the Liberals back from under 20 per cent of the vote in 2011 to over 30 per cent. Thomas Mulcair, though he will slip from where he started, will still bring his party in with the likely balance of power in a minority Parliament, and with many more MPs than his party or its predecessors have ever held before, apart from the freakish Quebec break-through Jack Layton reaped four years ago.
Polls that use automated electronic telephone calls had until lately seemed to foresee a distinct Conservative lead, but they are not serious polls, on this or any other subject. In any case they now agree with polls that actually require an animated response, which have long predicted a ding-dong battle between the Conservatives and Liberals for first place. No disinterested source is predicting a majority for anyone.
I have presumed to advise readers four elections in a row to vote Conservative, and will carefully consider and very respectfully formulate a recommendation for this election and the reasons for it next week.
National Post
cbletters@gmail.com |
At the time I upload this it's 's birthday, though by the time most of you are gonna see this it'll be the sometime after. Since he's arguably theSnowflake cosplayer I thought I'd do something special for the occasion and vectorize one of Andy Price's works on a Big Mac and Snowflake panel from IDW #9...perhaps a similar scene happened between him and Peter New at Everfree Northwest? While I attended that convention I don't think I saw any of the sortAll those small lines and details, the fetlocks, the shading...and the fetlocksshading combined, I suppose the look is totally worth all the time taken when making a vector of a hand drawing. Clips in Inkscape are your best friend.Here I was thinking that by starting 3 days prior that I'd have plenty of time to get it in within the timeframe of's birthday, but no, I'm submitting it within 90 minutes of the next day, as far as the US/Canada west coast is concerned!Time: : 7 hours : 9 hoursReference (Page 13 from IDW MLP #9, drawn by and colored in by ):----- |
A delicious and quick (yet, no-sugar-added, raw, and vegan!) treat called Hula Bites
Throw a few ingredients into your Vitamix and have a healthy(ish) treat within minutes.
This recipe is super easy and packed with flavor.
Best part? There’s no added sugar. Just the natural sweetness of dates.
Make some the next time you’re tasked with making (a vegan, gluten-free) dessert.
A taste of the tropics
Energy bites and protein balls are all the rage right now. If you type either of those terms into Pinterest you’ll come back with thousands of posts.
Usually we skip trendy foods, but this one seemed like a no brainer (especially because they were requested from more than one follower).
Since our home office is currently in Honolulu, we decided to make our version tropical.
Pineapple, coconut, and macadamia. Sounds pretty Hawaiian, eh?
Using our Vitamix, these Hula Bites took no time to come together. (It’s definitely a Vitamix recipe, but you can use a food processor instead.)
Make some tonight and live that sunshine life!
Recipe |
Fletcher's appointment defended by SSC boss ANDREA VANCE
LUKE APPLEBY/Fairfax NZ
Prime Minister John Key says he forgot about a phone call made to Ian Fletcher about the possibility of a job as head of the GCSB.
State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie has strongly defended the appointment of spy boss Ian Fletcher.
The process has come under intense scrutiny since it emerged Fletcher and Prime Minister John Key have known each other since childhood.
Key headhunted Fletcher to be director of the Government Communications Security Bureau in a phonecall after a short list of four candidates was rejected by Rennie in 2011.
Key has also stood by the process saying it was normal and it's not relevant that Fletcher has no intelligence or military background.
Rennie said tonight that he strongly refuted claims regarding the process.
He said Fletcher was an outstanding public servant.
"I am outraged that there has baseless attacks on the credibility of Mr Fletcher's appointment," he said.
Those who replied to a job ad in May 2011 were thoroughly considered, he said.
It is "normal" for recruitment consultants to make short lists and for the commissioner to make judgments on those selected and to seek out additional candidate, he stressed.
Fletcher was the only person interviewed by an SSC selected panel, which included former Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss Maarten Wevers.
Rennie said there was a "high bar" for interviewees and "sometimes" only one candidate gets to this stage.
"For this position, and I want to make this very clear, it was not essential to have a military or intelligence background," he said.
"GCSB is a civilian agency, and the position description emphasised the importance of leadership and change management expertise in this role. "
The integrity of the selection panel was "beyond question", he said.
The panel was aware that the Prime Minister and Fletcher knew each other and had spoken on the telephone, he said.
KEY: I FORGOT ABOUT PHONE CALL
Meanwhile Key said he’s forgotten about the phone call that led to Fletcher applying to be the country's top spy. But he appears to be confused about who first suggested Fletcher for the job.
Asked why he didn't tell the full story last week, Key said: "I'd forgotten that at that particular time."
In Porirua this afternoon, Key was grilled about the sequence of events that saw Fletcher appointed as director of the GCSB in September 2011.
At first Key said: "Iain Rennie, state services commissioner recommended him to me... I rang [Fletcher] and said 'look, you know, you might be interested."
Asked again who first brought up Fletcher's name, Key replied: "Iain Rennie put it to me."
Later on, he was asked again who first mentioned Fletcher. "I would have mentioned it to him, I'm sure."
When pressed to clarify if he first suggested the name to Rennie, he said: "I'm sure I probably would have."
Key insists the pair are not friends, and didn't see each other for about 30 years. They went to the same Christchurch school, Key was in the same class as his brother Alistair, and their mothers were best friends.
Since Key became Prime Minister he has had breakfast with him twice, and a lunch, which Fletcher can't remember.
Asked how he got his telephone number to make the call, Key replied: "Oh, well, I know his number."
Key defended the appointment process as "proper" and "normal".
He said he approached one other person about the job - who wasn't interested.
Fletcher was the only person interviewed for the job.
Key defended his record as a "glittering" civil servant in Britain and Australia, and said the head of the GCSB doesn't need an intelligence or military background.
He denied his intervention would have put pressure on the panel to recommend Fletcher.
"The fact that I might talk to somebody makes no difference. In the end, we went through a full process there was a full board of people that looked at him and they thoroughly recommended him... this isn't some bunny that's been pulled out of a hat... this guy is very successful civil servant."
He added: "I wouldn't change anything that I've said. We are not friends."
CALL FOR INQUIRY
Labour leader David Shearer wants an inquiry into the appointment.
He said it was "incredibly shonky and it smells", adding the GCSB was the country's most unscrutinised agency.
"Having a mate in charge of it raises some serious, serious concerns ... what confidence should the public have in the chief spy," Shearer said.
Fletcher was appointed in September 2011 and took up the position early in February last year.
One of his first jobs was to attend a joint police-GCSB briefing about the raid on Kim Dotcom's rural Auckland mansion.
At that briefing the bureau learned it may have illegally spied on the internet mogul, who is accused by the US of internet piracy.
- Fairfax Media |
The affidavit said that the audio recordings aired by news portals came ‘with a view to pave the way for malicious campaign’.
Accusing the central government of conniving in what it said was a controversy engineered over the alleged illegal surveillance mounted on a woman, the Gujarat government told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that not only the father of the woman, but the woman herself had been aware that state agencies were tracking her.
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The woman was “thankful” for the state action, the Gujarat government told the court.
It said that the audio recordings aired by news portals Cobrapost and Gulail came at a “strategically chosen time with an obvious and visible connivance of the home ministry of the central government, with a view to pave the way for an immediate malicious campaign”.
Gujarat’s affidavit claimed that IAS officer Pradeep Sharma, a vocal critic of the Narendra Modi government, had asked the court for a CBI probe into the matter because the CBI functioned under the “direct control” of the union home ministry.
The affidavit claimed that the woman had been “deeply disturbed by the propaganda”, and had approached the Gujarat State Women’s Commission to record her statement in December 2013 — in which she said she had full knowledge of the steps taken by state agencies at the request of her father.
“The lady has remained thankful for the timely help rendered which, even according to her, was absolutely essential and required under the circumstances,” the affidavit said, adding her father and husband also recorded their statements, expressing their agony over the “undemocratic malicious campaign at the risk and cost of an innocent lady”.
The affidavit demanded that Sharma’s plea be dismissed also on the ground of contempt, as he had made personal allegations against Modi in violation of an undertaking given to the court.
It alleged that Sharma’s mobile phone conversations intercepted in 2009 indicated largescale hawala transactions to the US in the name of his wife and the benami purchase of properties, besides illicit relationships that he had with several married woman, which did not include the woman at the centre of the snooping controversy.
“So far as conversations of the applicant with several married women are concerned, they happen to be either subordinate officers or relatives/friends,” the government said. It claimed that these conversations were too vulgar to be put on record.
The government also questioned the absorption of Sharma’s elder brother Kuldeep Sharma, a Gujarat-cadre IPS officer, on central deputation at the fag end of his career despite not being eligible for it, and his post-retirement appointment as an adviser in the home ministry.
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Gujarat said these new facts were being brought to the notice of the court to show that the allegations were false and an afterthought, and that Sharma did not deserve any indulgence from the court. |
BEIRUT (Reuters) - Attacks by government forces and rebels killed at least 30 people, including eight children, in the last 24 hours in Aleppo, a city seeing some of the worst of a renewed escalation in the Syrian war, a monitoring group said.
Intensified fighting has all but destroyed a partial ceasefire that started at the end of February, with U.N.-led peace talks in disarray.
In Aleppo, divided between areas controlled by the government and by rebels, 19 people were killed by rebel shelling and 11 were killed by government air strikes, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
That adds to another 60 people killed over the weekend in Aleppo, Syria’s largest city before the war, according to the Observatory. Air strikes were also reported in rebel-held areas near Damascus and in Hama province on Tuesday.
In a separate incident west of Aleppo, five Civil Defence workers - first responders in opposition-held territory where medical infrastructure has all but broken down - were killed by air strikes and a rocket attack on their centre.
The Observatory and Civil Defence colleagues said the attack appeared to have deliberately targeted the rescue workers in the town of Atareb, some 25 km (15 miles) west of Aleppo.
“The targeting was very precise,” Radi Saad, a Civil Defence worker, told Reuters.
“They were in the centre and ready to respond. When they heard warplanes in the area they did not think they would be the target.” Two people were seriously wounded and ambulances and cars belonging to doctors were destroyed, another Civil Defence member, Ahmad Sheikho, said.
It was unclear whether Syrian or Russian warplanes had launched the raids. There was no immediate comment from the Syrian government.
Each side accuses the other of targeting civilian areas in the five-year-old war that has killed more than 250,000 people.
A Syrian military source said the army would “respond firmly” against rebels attacking government-held parts of Aleppo. State news agency SANA said what it called terrorist groups, including the al Qaeda-affiliated Nusra Front, had shelled those neighborhoods.
In the north of Aleppo, insurgents resumed bombardment of a Kurdish-controlled neighborhood, Sheikh Maqsoud, according to the Kurdish YPG militia.
“Civilian areas were shelled at random,” the YPG said.
The YPG and its allies have been battling rebels, including groups backed via Turkey by states opposed to President Bashar al-Assad, for several months near Aleppo and close to the Turkish border.
Rebels accuse the YPG of collaborating with the government in trying to stop people using the only road into opposition-held Aleppo, something the YPG denies.
Turkey sees the YPG as a terrorist group and is concerned at moves by Kurdish forces to expand their control along the Syrian-Turkish border, where they already hold an uninterrupted 400 km (250 mile) stretch. |
In July, the $101 million “Ark Encounter” water park will open in Kentucky and now a group calling themselves the Tri-State Freethinkers—representing exasperated non-believers in Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana—are seeking to raise some money in order to put up billboards trolling the Creationist-themed amusement park. The Ark Encounter destination is specifically a water park based on the myth of Noah’s Ark. The park, created by a consortium of investors headed by creationist Ken Ham—the hapless silly person who debated Bill Nye—and his “Answers in Genesis” group, includes a 510-ft model of Noah’s Ark and an interactive teaching exhibit that er… uh… “teaches” the rather silly notion that it was in fact the Great Flood which separated the world’s continents.
On their Indiegogo page, the Tri-State Freethinkers write:
“They are portraying the story of Noah’s Ark as an actual historical event. This is scientifically not possible.”
Ye of little faith continue:
“The park celebrates a biblical parable of genocide and incest. While they have a legal right to celebrate their mythology, we find it immoral and highly inappropriate as family entertainment.”
Tax-supported family entertainment to boot. I wonder if they’ve hired any Muslims? Might there be a single Jew working at the Ark Encounter?
If you donate just $500 you can be pictured on the Tri-State Freethinkers’ billboard yourself “drowning” under the Ark. You’ll also get a rain poncho. just in case God gets angry with you. You never know when Biblical retribution will occur.
The first $2,000 raised by the campaign—which they have done already—will go toward setting up a single small billboard for a month. If they’re able to raise $6,000, the group will be able to mount six small billboards or one big one along an interstate highway.
If they are able to raise $150 million, the Tri-State Freethinkers say “we will build our very own Genocide & Incest Park.” The group, which has over 1300 members, are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so your donations are tax-deductible.
A short video explaining the “Genocide and Incest Park” campaign, below:
Below, some ‘nonbelievers’ visit Ken Ham’s Creation Museum, also in Kentucky (natch):
Via Raw Story |
The 2017 WRC season will see a new set of regulations applied, which will increase the importance of aerodynamics and mechanical grip as well as engine power.
As a result, apart from taking part in the regular season, Hyundai has taken on a testing programme for the newly-built car this year.
The team will kick off the season with an unchanged driver line-up as Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo both signed new contracts committing them to the Korean manufacturer until the end of 2018.
Although Thierry Neuville was strongly linked with a move to Citroen, the Belgian eventually re-signed at Hyundai as well for another two years.
“We are heading into a new era for the sport with the biggest change to the regulations for some time," said Hyundai team principal Michel Nandan. "It’s a great new technical challenge and one that we have tackled with enthusiasm.
"It’s an opportunity to put into practice everything we have learned and experienced in the past three seasons. All teams are starting from scratch so we are on equal footing.
"Having finished in second position in 2016, we want to demonstrate our ability to fight for the Championship in 2017 – and we are confident the Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC will help us do just that.”
Hyundai returned to the WRC as a factory team in 2013, and the team enjoyed its most successful season to date in 2016 as it took second in both the drivers' championship with Neuville and the manufacturers' standings. |
Merit pay and national licensing standards for public school teachers would curb the influence of “entrenched and powerful interest groups” and promote better teaching, says a new study on how to make Canadian teachers more effective.
Written by Rodney Clifton, a University of Manitoba professor emeritus in education, the research review says there “is little evidence that monopolistic schools do a good job of educating students,” and more incentives and accountability are needed in how teachers are certified, hired and financially rewarded if student academic performance is to improve.
The study, called “Obtaining Better Teachers for Canadian Public Schools,” is being released Monday morning by the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute, a conservative think-tank.
Current processes “don’t do a very good job” of choosing who gets admitted into teacher training programs at education faculties and “no one takes an independent look” at how competent a teacher is before they are certified, said Prof. Clifton in an interview. The study cites research that says some U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions such as Ontario have used screening exams or interviews before student teachers are accepted into faculties of education, but no Canadian province or territory requires teachers to pass certification exams before being licensed, even though such exams could keep weak candidates from entering the profession.
The study recommends teacher certification and standard-setting should fall to the Council of Ministers of Education, an intergovernmental policy body representing provincial and territorial education ministers, instead of being taken care of by individual provinces as they are now. Similar to medicine and law, students wanting to enter teacher education programs should write admission tests of their literacy and numeracy skills, and pass nationally-set accreditation exams, including in their specific subject areas, before they’re provisionally licensed to teach. They should be required to take periodic subsequent exams to receive full certification once they have more experience, and then recertification exams throughout their careers, the study suggests.
Besides creating a national certification process that promotes labour mobility, leaving decisions about teacher education programs and certification standards to each province puts them at risk of influence by a well-connected and insular group of system insiders from faculties of education, education ministries, school boards, trustee groups and teacher and support worker unions, Prof. Clifton said. His study cites other researchers who have concluded the monopolistic nature of public school systems helps special interests within those systems resist improvement efforts.
“Being in the education system here in Manitoba for the last 32 years, it seems to me all of the various interest groups have their hands in each other’s pockets,” he said. “They all go to the same parties, they all know each other, they’re all on a first-name basis, so they don’t really provide the checks and balances that citizens and parents would need to know that the system is running efficiently for the improvement of their children’s education.”
The Council of Ministers of Education said it has worked on improving the ability of teachers to transfer their certification from one province to another but had no one to comment on the usefulness of putting itself in charge of creating national standards or overseeing teacher certification.
Research shows that teachers are typically rewarded only for their educational credentials and years of experience, even though this is a poor proxy for teaching effectiveness, the study says. It recommends new salary schedules be set up to better reflect effective teaching — for example, bonuses to schools that demonstrate improvement — and to reward teachers receiving advanced certification.
Nevertheless, the study acknowledges mixed results in places where this has been tried in the U.S. Some research has found moderate student improvement under merit-based schemes, but also administrative downsides, such as high implementation costs.
The study also says principals should have the power to hire and keep the best teachers, and not be forced to hire teachers with the greatest seniority — a shot at Ontario’s recent regulation forcing school boards to first hire supply teachers with the longest seniority for full-time, permanent positions.
Dianne Woloschuk, president of the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, said she had not seen the Fraser Institute study but stressed teachers are already intrinsically motivated to improve their skills and competence through ongoing professional development because of their dedication to their students.
“Canada has a very successful public education system,” she said, pointing to the country’s high marks in international tests, such as the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment. “One of the reasons why we have a successful public education system is that we have, already, a highly-qualified teaching force.”
Merit pay and tying funding to student test achievement has usually produced negative, not positive change for students where it has been used in the U.S., such as under the controversial No Child Left Behind Act, she said. Requiring teachers to take certification tests would be costly and “may not show you whether or not a teacher is going to be an effective teacher.”
National Post |
If you’re like me, then you grew up on Star Trek: The Next Generation and love the idea of being able to communicate with someone by tapping a badge rather than bringing a phone to your ear. Mobile phones we know today more closely resemble the communicators from the original series, but haven’t we evolved a bit since then? What if we could recreate the communicator badge envisioned in the ’80s and featured in series like The Next Generation, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine?
Enter CommBadge, an Indiegogo project that promises to bring science fiction to reality for users of both iOS and Android. This simple little badge doesn’t look so much like a science fiction geek’s pin, but a standard clip-on badge holder used by corporations the world over to hold RFID identification badges employees are typically required to wear anyway. By tapping CommBadge, you gain access to features like Siri so you can communicate with either “the computer” or make a hands-free call to someone without having to take your phone out of your pocket.
I like the CommBadge concept because unlike bluetooth earpieces which make you look a bit more like a Borg and cause people to give you strange looks as you appear to be talking to yourself in the subway, CommBadge is more of a speakerphone which makes it easy to take and receive non-personal calls while you’re doing other things.
Imagine cleaning around the house or going out for a jog and being able to carry on a conversation without breathing into someone’s ear when you get your pace up. CommBadge clips on to your shirt or jacket so you should be able to be heard clearly regardless of what you’re doing.
Here are some of the features outlined in the CommBadge Indiegogo Project.
Place and answer calls
Send and receive text messages (“text-to-speech” through CommBadge)
Use your phone’s native voice commands, such as Siri, S-Voice, or Google Now, to set calendar events and reminders, get sports news, and search for information
Receive an alert from the Wireless Tether feature that you left your smartphone behind
Be notified of incoming calls, texts, calendar and social media events with customizable vibration, sound, and LED’s
According to the creators, CommBadge is designed in a way that delivers clear audio to the user, but anyone sitting more than a foot away from them would have a hard time understanding (or even hearing) the conversation at all. I haven’t seen this work for myself so I can’t say whether or not this claim is backed by real-world testing, but it is quite an important detail about the design. Speakerphone conversation certainly don’t lend anything in terms of privacy for all their convenience.
In order to fund further development and the first round of fabrication, the CommBadge project has been started with a flexible funding goal of $100,000. This is a pretty lofty goal, though once the right amount of Star Trek fans catch wind of it, I’m pretty sure it’ll be met.
The deal Indiegogo backers will get is a CommBadge for their very own at a funding rate of $75-80. An integrated ID holder (for use as a corporate clip-on lanyard) is offered for the five dollar difference.
What do you think? Would you fund in CommBadge? |
Sen. Joe Manchin was a relatively unknown Democrat in the Senate until his name began appearing alongside the Republican majorities approving President Donald Trump’s nominees. Manchin has voted for nearly every Trump nominee, except Betsy Devos for secretary of education and Wilbur Ross for commerce secretary, and he was the only Democrat to vote in favor of former Sen. Jeff Sessions, who is now facing calls for his resignation.
Shortly after Hillary Clinton’s election loss, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer appointed Manchin to a Democratic Party leadership position. However, in response to Manchin’s increasing abrasiveness toward Sen. Bernie Sanders‘ supporters, progressives are now petitioning Schumer to remove Manchin from the Democratic Party leadership.
On March 1, progressive activists delivered a petition with 225,000 signatures demanding Manchin’s removal. “Joe Manchin is a phony Democrat who often votes or acts in conflict with the core values of the Democratic Party,” said CREDO senior campaign manager Heidi Hess. “Manchin has failed time and time again to fight back against Trump’s racist, sexist and xenophobic agenda. His willingness to collaborate with Trump makes him unqualified for Democratic leadership.”
On February 24, Politico reported that Manchin condescendingly dared Sanders‘ supporters to run a primary challenger against him for his re-election in 2018. “Bernie Sanders is not even a Democrat,” Manchin told an activist during a conference call focused on scheduling a town hall between Manchin and his constituents in West Virginia. This criticism has been frequently lobbed by establishment Democrats to attack Sanders and his supporters, who push the Democratic Party to take a more progressive stance in order to better reflect the enthusiastic, younger base that strongly supported Sanders in the Democratic primaries. Sanders easily won West Virginia in the Democratic primaries, though Clinton loyalists falsely attributed his win to Trump’s supporters voting for Sanders to stop Clinton.
Manchin already faces a difficult re-election, so he may be trying to appeal to conservative voters by cozying up to Trump by praising him on Breitbart and Fox News. However, he does so at the detriment of the Democratic Party and its campaign to resist Trump.
When Politico followed up with Manchin’s communication director, they were told, “Sen. Manchin is very happy to have you quote him saying Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat.”
Sanders is one of the most popular politicians in the country, and Democratic Party leadership maintains lower favorability ratings than even Trump. The Democratic Party has passed on opportunities to make concessions to progressives since the election. Instead, they preserve the status quo.
However, Democrats are more than willing to ingratiate themselves with Sanders to reap political benefits. Schumer appointed him to outreach chair for the Democratic Party. Sen. Cory Booker and Sen. Bob Casey introduced a bill with Sanders to allow for cheaper prescription drugs to be exported to the United States after facing immense backlash for refusing to support Sanders’ amendment on prescription drugs. The bill is a compromised, watered-down version of Sanders’ initial amendment.
Manchin’s statements against progressives are symptomatic of a Democratic Party that no longer values or represents its voters. Democrats opt for manufacturing outrage against Trump over mobilizing the party’s voters with enthusiasm from good policies. Ultimately, the Democratic Party needs to recover from its past failures by reforming or it will be abandoned and replaced. |
How do different social networking websites stack up when it comes to news? How many people engage with news across multiple social sites? And what are their news consumption habits on traditional platforms? As part of an ongoing examination of social media and news, the Pew Research Center in collaboration with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation analyzed the characteristics of news consumers and the size of their population across 11 social networking sites.
News plays a varying role across the social networking sites. Roughly half of both Facebook and Twitter users get news on those sites, earlier reports have shown. On YouTube, that is true of only one-fifth of its user base, and for LinkedIn, the number is even smaller. And Pinterest, a social pin board for visual content, is hardly used for news at all.
The proportions who get news, combined with the total reach of a site, show how many U.S. adults are learning about events and issues through each social networking site. Facebook is by far the largest social networking site among U.S. adults, and with half of its users getting news there, is also the largest among U.S. adults when it comes to getting news. As discussed in an earlier report, roughly two-thirds (64%) of U.S. adults use the site, and half of those users get news there—amounting to 30% of the general population. YouTube has the next greatest reach in terms of general usage, at 51% of U.S. adults. Thus, even though only a fifth of its users get news there, that amounts to 10% of the adult population, which puts it on par with Twitter. Twitter reaches just 16% of U.S. adults, but half (8% of U.S. adults) use it for news. reddit is a news destination for nearly two-thirds of its users (62%). But since just 3% of the U.S. population uses reddit, that translates to 2% of the population that gets news there.
The Audience Overlap
To what extent do the various news audiences on social media overlap? A look at the five social networking sites with the biggest news audiences shows that a majority of news consumers on those sites (65%) get news from just one, and for 85% of those, it is Facebook. About a quarter (26%) gets news on two of those sites. And 9% get news on at least three.
For those who get news on multiple social networking sites, Facebook is likely to be one of the ones they use. More than half of adults who get news on Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn and YouTube also get news on Facebook. Aside from that, the shared audience between these sites is relatively small.
The Demographics of Social News Consumers
A look at the demographic characteristics of news consumers on the five social networking sites shows that, while there is some cross-over, each site appeals to a somewhat different group. LinkedIn news consumers stand out from other groups as more likely to be high earners and college educated. Twitter news consumers are significantly younger than news consumers on Facebook, Google Plus and LinkedIn. And Facebook news consumers are significantly more likely to be female than news consumers on YouTube, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Social News Consumers and Other News Platforms
Social media news consumers still get news from a variety of other sources and, in some cases, even more so than the general public does. YouTube, LinkedIn and Google Plus news consumers are more likely than Facebook and Twitter news consumers to watch cable news. Twitter news consumers are among the least likely to turn to local and cable TV. And nearly four-in-ten LinkedIn news consumers listen to news on the radio, compared to about a quarter of the general population.
News consumers on social networking websites are more likely than the general public to use a mobile device for news, including roughly half of Twitter and LinkedIn news consumers.
Survey Methodology
This report is based on a Pew Research Center survey conducted Aug. 21-Sept. 2, 2013, among a nationally representative sample of adults 18 years of age or older. The sample included 5,173 respondents. The survey questionnaire was written by the Pew Research Center and administered by GfK using KnowledgePanel, its nationally representative online research panel.
For questions asked of the full sample of 5,173, the margin of sampling error is plus or minus 1.7 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. The following table describes the sample sizes for users and news consumers on each social networking website included in the study, as well as the margins of error for each.
News consumers for each social networking website are defined as those who answered that they “ever get news or news headlines on [name of website].” News is defined as “information about events and issues that involve more than just your friends or family.”
For more details on the survey methodology, see the methodology section of The Role of News on Facebook. |
Build a Popsicle Stick Clock in the Style of an Old English Georgian Bracket Clock!
Introduction
It all started in 2010 with an eBay search for a nice wall clock. I wanted a clock decorated with animals, preferably wolves or dogs, in color, but with a traditional look. Almost immediately, I found the perfect clock (well, almost), new in box. The only problem is that these clocks are almost always powered by battery quartz movements and rarely (if ever) mechanical (spring wind, weight driven, or synchronous AC motor). And I absolutely HATE battery quartz movements. Then, an idea came to me: why not build a clock?
Searching around, I came across an E. Ingraham spring wind clock movement dated 1868 (bought off eBay earlier for a now-abandoned project idea) and a bag of Popsicle sticks I had been saving since I was a kid (some were used but most were really purchased as “craft sticks”) and other junk materials. I had collected craft/Popsicle sticks with the intention of using it in “high end” quality Popsicle stick crafts – is there even such a thing??? Now would be the perfect time to take the challenge to find out…
The Design
The next step was to come up with a design. The clock should have a traditional look, be able to use as much as possible, the material I already have on hand, and I should be able to paint a picture on it somewhere. I found many sites on how to build a clock but they were all designed for battery movements. Woodworking plans that were available were mostly for purchase, and examples of Popsicle stick clocks and other Popsicle stick crafts, while fun and creative, were either too playful or childish in appearance. Many of those projects published online do look nice but they just weren’t what I was looking for.
After researching various clock designs, one style I really liked was the Old English Georgian bracket clock with a bell top (or inverted bell top) and a break arch front window. They are called “bracket clocks” because they were designed to be placed on wall-mounted bracket shelves, although a majority were actually placed on mantels or tabletops. This beautiful design dates back to the 18th century (1700’s) and production continued into the turn of the 19th century (early 1800’s). Georgian bracket clocks were often made of mahogany veneered on pine or oak; others were ebonized or lacquered. Many were built in London by various clock-makers (those of a modified design built outside London are called “provincial” bracket clocks), and bracket clocks were always expensive when new (more expensive than long-case [grandfather] clocks). This is the design (English Georgian bell top) I have decided to use for my Popsicle stick clock.
Table of Contents |
Statist “Private Property” Is Theft
Yesterday, Bloomberg reported that a Federal Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the validity of a patent protecting software used to defend against piracy. The decision could cost other companies that have used the technology billions in damages and “may boost [the plaintiff’s] efforts to collect royalties from additional companies.”
The same story goes on to describe a Baltimore restaurateur’s registration of the word “hon” (short for the affectionate tag “honey”) as a trademark, and a website administrator’s recent challenge of it. Both the patent and the trademark detailed in the article provide emblematically insane examples of the kinds of perfectly arbitrary “private property” that the state inflicts on society.
And just as state-capitalism’s co-opting of the phrase “free market” makes it more difficult to defend free markets, so do the state’s spurious forms of “private property” exasperate any attempt to defend property as such.
Historically, anarchism has often been defined to entail a rejection of the idea of private property, of an individual right to own things against the claims of society at large. Assumedly “anti-property” anarchists, though, would nevertheless find it impermissible for someone to steal your car or barge into your dwelling uninvited. All anarchists on some level defend your rights to the control of your person and to the products of your labor, commitments that, to my mind, require property, notwithstanding the word itself and its baggage.
It is no coincidence that Thomas Babington Macaulay, in his criticism of the state, compared it to “one great capitalist” — meaning in essence a monopolist — with no motivation but to use society’s wealth for a privileged few. Many of the early anarchists would have understood property within this paradigm, as a tool for exploitation within the broader, state-capitalist economic system.
It is little wonder, then, that so many of them, in their hostility to all manner of authority, opposed property, the legal means through which wealth was concentrated. Similarly, when Emma Goldman said that “property, or the monopoly of things, has subdued and stifled man’s needs,” she was clearly dealing with “property” within the context of the centralized/monopolized economic system (emphasis added).
Given the reasons advanced by those anarchists for their disapproval, anarchists on the free market Left could also be thought of as, in a particular sense, remonstrating against property. Detached from its moral requirements — those prerequisite factors that justify the protection of your ownership of some things — property becomes merely another way for the state’s power elites to give themselves heirs. Intellectual property rights like patents and trademarks are instances of this, allowing today’s monopolists to hold the state’s gun to our heads to either stop us from competing or to pay them rent (in the form of “royalties”).
Benjamin Tucker enumerated his “Four Monopolies” precisely to oppose the kind of property that the state frames and institutes, not to oppose the concept of ownership foursquare. “Anarchism,” he taught, “is a word without meaning, unless it includes the liberty of the individual to control his product or whatever his product has brought him through exchange in a free market — that is, private property. Whoever denies private property is of necessity an Archist.”
Again, we see that anarchists have consistently and correctly equated the statist formulation of property with monopolization, the very thing that market anarchists resist in all respects. If we consider the meaning of property as it is defined by the state — completely contrived rights bestowed by fiat — then the traditional, anarchist antagonism begins to come clear.
Remember as well that, due to the repressive authority of religious institutions, many anarchists regarded atheism as a necessary condition of anarchism, as an indispensable piece of the anti-authority attitude. (In the interest of disclosure: I’m an atheist.) Are we, the anarchists of today, therefore meant to exhort against the practice of faith, or might we do better to limit anarchism, like Tucker did, to opposition to one very specific thing — the state?
The anti-property position may be an article of faith within anarchism, but only insofar as we accept the state’s misshapen definition of it. Our task as anarchists is to show people that, by taking issue with the state’s private property, you support it in its true form.
Translations for this article: |
So what makes someone a virtuoso? For those who have never trilled a trumpet, it may seem hard to tell. But in music, as in baseball, it simply takes some exposure to just-great players to appreciate the truly-great. Four skills I watch in performers are speed, power, acrobatics, and control. Each person has different strengths, and some matter more to me (as they will to you).
Speed
Glenn Gould in Goldberg Variation Number Five
Canadian pianist Glenn Gould has a rare following due in part to his erudition, his eccentricity, and his quicksilver fingers. Nobody plays Bach with the precision and insight of Gould. And also, on such variations as this one, the searing speed.
Power
Sviatoslav Richter in Chopin Etude Opus 10, Number Four
Richter, a half-German Soviet, is my favorite pianist bar none. Though he plays this dark, tempestuous tantrum (almost) too quickly, you can hear his insane strength in the chords and, oddly, the quieter passages. My first teacher told me that it takes power to play softly, and Richter shows this is true. In Chopin, Richter cups the music in his paws like a lion for minutes before seizing it with furious strength.
Acrobatics
Hilary Hahn in Paganini's 24th Caprice
Hilary Hahn has won some crossover appeal and a reputation for lyricism. What you will see here is not only speed and power, but also her ability to leap with blind accuracy around the fingerboard. To play like this requires knowing, like a diver perched above the pool, exactly where your finger is going to land. Or, in the case of phenomenal organist Cameron Carpenter, your feet. As one violinist I talked to described the feeling, "It's like crossing a river by leaping between irregular stepping stones—you have to hit them just right or you'll fall."
Control
Wynton Marsalis on Carnival of Venice
Compared to the piano's 88 keys and the violin's four strings, the trumpet has only three valves (buttons) you can push to alter the sound. Everything else comes from the performer's lips, lungs, and who knows what else. In this barnstorming encore, Wynton Marsalis (perhaps better known for his jazz works), shows off an archetype of the virtuoso as cool, phlegmatic conjurer of demonic sounds.
The last, perhaps hardest kind of bravura to see is related to control. It's grace. The Bach Cello Suites are undeniably demanding. But the challenge is not to flaunt the difficulty, but to disguise it so the beauty shines through. (As a pitcher might make a ball appear to have a completely different trajectory.) Here, the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich makes his cello grieve in the Sarabande from Bach's fifth suite.
Stay tuned for the fourth part in this series, which will take a narrower look at a single instrument and its role in modern music: the harpsichord.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com. |
January 27, 2016
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, spoke to reporters following his White House meeting with President Obama. He said the meeting was productive, and that they discussed a number of issues including foreign policy and the fight against ISIS.* * The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). or DAISH/DAESH in Arabic is a militant group that has called itself the Islamic State.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), a candidate for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, spoke to reporters following his White House meeting with President Obama. He said the meeting was productive, and that they discussed a number of issues including foreign policy and the fight against ISIS.*
* The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). or DAISH/DAESH in Arabic is a militant group that has called itself the Islamic State. close |
EXTRADITING ASSANGE
This document provides the facts about Julian Assange's situation. Mainstream reportage on Assange's case is of a poor quality, with the result that many members of the public are misinformed on the most basic facts about his legal and factual situation. This document aims to remedy this situation.
This document provides comprehensively cited information about why Julian Assange has been given asylum by Ecuador, and about the sequence of events leading up to that point.
The document also considers the most frequent false or misleading claims made in the media and demonstrates how they are incorrect. Reference is made to all of the necessary documentary evidence and each quotation links to the original source, so that readers can follow up and ascertain for themselves the truth of the matter.
ABBREVIATIONS
EAW
The European Arrest Warrant
The paper form, a few pages long, that the Swedish prosecutor filled out to seek Julian Assange's extradition.
AA
The older woman, 31, in the Swedish case; a politician in the Social Democratic Party
SW
The younger woman, 26, in the Swedish case.
DFAT
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
[T]he Government of Ecuador believes that these arguments lend support to the fears of Julian Assange, and it believes that he may become a victim of political persecution, as a result of his dedicated defence of freedom of expression and freedom of press as well as his repudiation of the abuses of power in certain countries, and that these facts suggest that Mr. Assange could at any moment find himself in a situation likely to endanger life, safety or personal integrity.
[SOURCE]
HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?
From the WIKILEAKS TWEET ARCHIVE
March 2010
WikiLeaks to reveal Pentagon murder-coverup at US National Press Club, Apr 5, 9am; contact press-club@sunshinepress.org
[SOURCE]
Two under State Dep diplomatic cover followed our editor from Iceland to http://skup.no on Thursday.
[SOURCE]
We know our possession of the decrypted airstrike video is now being discussed at the highest levels of US command.
[SOURCE]
Iceland summons top US diplomat over WikiLeaks dust-up | AFP http://bit.ly/ddOmTK
[SOURCE]
[SOURCE]
Although outsiders have not been allowed to inspect the “war room” in suburban Virginia and see its staff at work, national-security officials offered details of the operation to The Daily Beast, including the identity of the counterintelligence expert who has been put in charge: Brig. General Robert A. Carr of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Officials say Carr, handpicked for the assignment by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is highly respected among his colleagues at DIA, the Pentagon’s equivalent of the CIA, and a fitting adversary to Assange , the nomadic Australian-born computer hacker who founded WikiLeaks and is now believed to be in Sweden.
“I wouldn’t want to go up against General Carr,” a Pentagon official said. “Very smart guy.” Carr served in Afghanistan for much of last year before his transfer to the DIA in Washington, where he runs the Defense Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Center. In his battle against Assange , officials say, Carr’s central assignment is to try to determine exactly what classified information might have been leaked to WikiLeaks, and then to predict whether its disclosure could endanger American troops in the battlefield, as well as what larger risk it might pose to American foreign policy.
The team has another distinct responsibility: to gather evidence about the workings of WikiLeaks that might someday be used by the Justice Department to prosecute Assange and others on espionage charges.
[SOURCE]
If doing the right thing is not good enough for them then we will figure out what alternatives we have to compel them to do the right thing.
[SOURCE] [VIDEO]
The seriously-ill British mother of the young American military intelligence officer at the centre of the investigation into leaks of classified Afghan war documents was left ‘severely distressed’ after FBI agents turned up unannounced at her home in Wales.
Susan Manning, whose son Bradley has been charged with leaking defence secrets that appeared on the controversial WikiLeaks website, was questioned by two FBI officers believed to be attached to the US embassy in London.
[SOURCE]
You asked how I came to know [AA] [Political Secretary and Press Officer of the Brotherhood Movement]. In order to come here to Sweden it was necessary for me to obtain diplomatic support in order to get out of England. On account of the security situation between my organization and the Pentagon. Political contacts in Sweden therefore suggested that I should be invited by the Christian Social Democrats to give a talk, and a formal invitation was to be sent to (inaudible) and England, so that I should have a safe journey here. From England. And I understood that [AA] was Press Officer of the Brotherhood Movement within the Christian Social Democrats.
[SOURCE]
I only visited Sweden because the FBI came to the UK and raided one of my alleged source's mother's house, Bradley Manning, in Wales. So the FBI was here in the UK, stomping around the UK, and we thought I'd better get out. And I managed to get some people to write an invite to a talk on the first casualty of... Sorry, the first casualty of the war is the truth, in Sweden, and use that invite as sort-of a safe passage to get out through UK customs to Sweden.
[SOURCE]
[J]ust at the point of arrival I received some news from one of our contacts in a Western intelligence agency, confirming what had already been hinted at by the Pentagon press office. The word was that the US government acknowledged privately that I would be difficult to prosecute but were already talking about 'dealing with you illegally,' as my source put it. The source specified what that would mean: gaining evidence about what we had in the way of information; unearthing, by whatever means, some sort of link between Private Manning and WikiLeaks; and if all else failed, deploying other illegal means, such as planting drugs on me, 'finding' child pornography on my hardware, or seeking to embroil me in allegations of immoral conduct.
The message was that I would not be threatened physically. I told Frank Rieger, a supporter in Berlin who is the chief technology officer at CryptoPhone, a company that makes telephones for encrypted secure communication, and he said he would prepare a press release making this information public. He then did so, and I had it with me on a laptop ready to edit it. The intention was to get it out as soon as possible, as it did no good to put these things out after some damage had been done, or material had been planted. It remains one of my regrets that I didn't turn to it immediately. The same day, my Australian bank card suddenly stopped working.
The Unauthorized Autobiography, p.228
4. During his visit he had sexual intercourse with two women [AA and SW]. After AA and SW spoke to each other and realised that they had both had intercourse with the Appellant during the currency of his visit in circumstances where respectively they had or might have been or become unprotected against disease or pregnancy, SW wanted the Appellant to get tested for disease. On 20th August 2010 SW went to the police to seek advice. AA accompanied her for support. The police treated their visit as the filing of formal reports for rape of SW and molestation of AA.
[SOURCE]
COMPLAINANT REPORT OF [SW]
(as written by police interviewer Irmeli Krans)
During the course of the interrogation I and [SW] were informed that Julian Assange had been detained in his absence. After this information [SW] had difficulty in concentrating on the interrogation, for which reason I judged that it was best to discontinue the interrogation... The interrogation has not been read aloud or read through for approval but [SW] was informed that she has the possibility of doing this on a later occasion.
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
WITNESS REPORT OF [JW1]
Yes, I phoned her [AA] the same day, immediately after talking to Donald. But this call was very short, she was just about to go out to meet [SW] to go and consult with the police. But what emerged from this conversation was, although perhaps I misunderstood it, what came out from this conversation was that it wasn’t what Donald had said previously. It’s actually something I had forgotten, it was quite simply that Sofia wanted to force Julian to take a blood test. Not to report a rape allegation. And that’s what came out of this conversation.
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
WITNESS REPORT OF [MT] [MT] wanted to say that when [SW] was at the hospital and went to the police it was not what [SW] wanted to do. She just wanted Julian to be tested. She felt that she had been railroaded by the police and others around her.
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
WITNESS REPORT OF [JW2]
[SW] had later said that she did not want to report Julian but just wanted him to be tested for diseases. She had gone to the police in order to get advice and the police had then made a report.
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
WITNESS REPORT OF [DB]
[AA] said that "[SW] has asked me [AA] to go to the police," - to go with her - "and I have decided to go with her and support her in this. But we do not intend to report Julian, we will just go there and explain".
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
[AA] states that she had consented to have sex with Assange, but that she would not have done so if she had known that he was not wearing a condom. [AA] has contacted the health centre and been given a time for testing next week. [AA] consents to the police acquiring medical background.
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
It is completely false that we are afraid of Assange and therefore didn’t want to file a complaint. He is not violent and I do not feel threatened by him.
[SOURCE]
7. A preliminary investigation was commenced and both women were interviewed (SW on 20th August, and AA on 21st August). At the conclusion of those interviews, on 21st August 2010, the case was taken over by the Chief Prosecutor of Stockholm (Eva Finne). Having assessed the evidence, she cancelled the arrest warrant against the Appellant; she having made the assessment that the evidence did not disclose any offence of rape (against SW).
8. The preliminary investigation continued in respect of:
i. Whether the conduct alleged by SW could constitute some lesser offence,
ii. Whether the conduct alleged by AA could constitute 'molestation'.
9. On 25th (sometimes erroneously referred to as 23rd) August 2010, the Chief Prosecutor determined that:
i. The conduct alleged by SW disclosed no crime at all and that file (K246314-10) would be closed.
ii. The preliminary investigation into the conduct alleged by AA would continue (on suspicion of the offence of 'molestation' only).
[SOURCE]
10. On 30th August 2010, the Appellant, who had voluntarily remained in Sweden to cooperate with the investigation, attended for police interview in respect of the ongoing Preliminary Investigation in respect of AA's report. He answered all questions asked of him.
[SOURCE]
The interrogator [Irmeli Krans] and the woman [AA] who reported Julian Assange were in touch with one another as far back as April 2009 - 16 months before Julian Assange was reported to the police for rape, among other things... Expressen can today reveal that there really were political and personal connections between one of the women who reported [Julian Assange] and the interrogator ... The interrogator and the woman who reported Julian Assange got to know one another because both are involved with the Social Democrat Party. Despite participating in the criminal investigation of Assange, the interrogator made very negative comments about the WikiLeaks’ founder on her Facebook page... In their blogs, the interrogator and the woman who reported Julian Assange have been open with their friendship... the interrogator and the woman corresponded openly with one another on the Internet 16 months before Assange came to Sweden , invited by the woman, who subsequently reported him [to the police] [...]
16 months later the policewoman played an important role as interrogator in the Assange investigation, when the WikiLeaks’ founder was first sought for arrest on suspicion of rape. The policewoman realised immediately that her friend and party comrade was one of the complainants - but she made the interrogation nevertheless. She commenced the interrogation at 4.21pm without declaring a conflict of interest.
[SOURCE]
"Well Jesus Christ!!! The scandal in every newspaper and news bulletin. But our dear eminent and uniquely competent Claes Borgström will hopefully bring some order!"
[SOURCE]
11. Meanwhile, on 27th August 2010, the counsel for SW and AA appealed the Chief Prosecutor's decision to a Senior Prosecutor in Göteborg.
[SOURCE]
Marianne Ny, unlike other prosecutors, has made various statements [...] in which she regards the prosecution of men, even without sufficient evidence, as in the public interest ’pour decourager les autres’ . She is a high profile prosecutor who is also a crusader on gender issues and the international attention that this case has received may have made her intransigent and, in my view, overly harsh and disproportionate ...
[SOURCE]
Note on date and time of document
On Friday, 20 August 2010. I conducted an interview with complainant SW in connection with case #0201-K246314-10 at Klara Police Station. The interview commenced at 4:21 p.m. and was terminated at 6:40 p.m. The interview [protocol] was thereafter written with the word-processing program in the DurTvå computer system. The interview was to be copyedited on my next workday, Monday the 23rd of August 2010. That was not possible because I was denied access to the interview I had conducted. After an exchange of e-mails, I was directed by supervisor Mats Gehlin to instead create and sign a new interview in DurTvå, which was done on 26 August with the necessary changes. Unfortunately, the date and time of that document conforms with the time that the changes were made, as that is done automatically by the DurTvå system.
[SOURCE] [SWEDISH]
With the risk of appearing difficult I do not want to have an unsigned document with my name circulating in DurTvå [the police’s computer system] space. Particularly not now when the case has developed as it has.
[SOURCE]
11. Meanwhile, on 27th August 2010, the counsel for SW and AA appealed the Chief Prosecutor's decision to a Senior Prosecutor in Göteborg. On 1st September 2010, that prosecutor (Marianne Ny) decided that:
i. The Preliminary Investigation in respect of file K246314-10 [SW] would be resumed, under the offence of 'rape'.
ii. The preliminary investigation into K246336-10 [AA] would be expanded to include all the conduct in the complaint.
[SOURCE]
Interviewer: But [the complainant] did not at first say that she had been raped.
Borgström: Yes, but she is not a lawyer.
[SOURCE]
Chief Prosecutor Marianne Ny, with special assignment of developing investigation methodology as regards sex crime cases, has stated that the case can take a long time, perhaps months. This is extraordinary considering that in March this year, in an interview with Dagens Nyheter, she emphasised the importance of dealing with sex crime cases speedily. In the Assange case this methodology clearly does not apply. “Everyone understands the consequences for a person who is subjected to such suspicions as Assange is. For a prosecutor to publicly express suspicion and then subsequently appear to neglect investigating the suspicion quickly, this must conflict with basic legal principles. [...]
The Assange case should make alarm bells ring. Is there an attitude about this type of case that leads to basic principles of the rule of law being set aside? Speedy investigation of this case should be easy. In all likelihood it is just a matter of interviewing the parties, inspecting e-mail conversations and similar. Perhaps a few hours’ work. Interrogations should of course be held as soon as possible because memory can be influenced and change. Especially when the interrogation transcripts are published in the evening papers. “Assange has been hung out as a suspected rapist and is damaged by it. However, that particular aspect does not appear to worry Marianne Ny.”
[SOURCE]
13. On 14th September 2010, the Appellant's counsel enquired in writing as to whether the Appellant was permitted to leave Sweden. On 15th September 2010, the prosecutor informed the Appellant's counsel that he was free to leave Sweden . She advised him that investigations were ongoing. The Appellant's counsel asked whether the interrogation could take place in the next few days but was told it could not because the investigator was ill.
[SOURCE]
Assange's discussion on the phone (which happened in my presence): "They could not do this before? I have been in Sweden for six weeks. " In the journey to Berlin, Assange took four computers and his own personal baggage. The baggage and three of his computers disappeared, although his was a direct flight. Assange arrived to meet with Espresso in Berlin in the late evening (around 11 pm) without luggage, and with only one computer: a laptop which he never parts from and which travels with him on his shoulders. The episode made Assange suspicious. The three computers were never recovered. Twenty days after these events, WikiLeaks released documents on the war in Iraq (Iraq War Logs). Meanwhile, the Swedish case went on. [SOURCE]
17. The Appellant offered to return to Sweden for interview on Sunday 10th October or on any date in the week commencing 11th October 2010. The Sunday was rejected as inappropriate. The week commencing 11th October 2010 was later rejected as being too far away.
18. The Respondent believed that the Appellant was attending a lecture in Stockholm on 4th October 2010. Plans were made to detain him then but that information proved inaccurate.
19. Therefore, on 5th and 8th October 2010, the prosecutor again contacted the Appellant's counsel to discuss possible appointments for interview. The Appellant's counsel offered to speak to the Appellant about whether he would be able to attend on 14th October 2010. During the same conversation, the Appellant's counsel offered a telephone interview (telephone interviews with suspects abroad are lawful in Sweden and qualify for the purposes of the Preliminary Investigation). That offer was declined, the prosecutor insisting that the Appellant be interviewed in person in Sweden.
20. At around the same time, the prosecutor stated that, notwithstanding the extant arrest warrant, that the Appellant was 'not a wanted man' and would be able to attend an interview 'discreetly'.
23. On 12th November 2010, the Appellant's counsel invited the prosecution to propose dates for interview and offered, in the alternative, a telephone or video-link interview, or to provide a statement in writing, or to attend an interview in person at the Australian Embassy, all of which are permissible in Sweden, all of which were declined; the prosecutor insisting that the Appellant be interviewed in person in Sweden.
24. The prosecutor decided that it was inappropriate to take the same steps under the Mutual Legal Assistance treaty.
[SOURCE]
25. On 18th November 2010, the prosecutor applied to the Stockholm District Court for a detention order in absentia upon the prosecutor's assertion of reasonable suspicion of the commission of:
i. In case No. K246314-10 [complainant SW]; the offence of rape.
ii. In case No. K246336-10 [complainant AA]; the offences of
unlawful coercion and two instances of sexual molestation.
26. On the same date, the Stockholm District Court granted the prosecutor's application for a domestic detention order in absentia.
27. On 19th November 2010, the Appellant appealed that order to the Svea Court of Appeal.
28. On 24th November 2010, following written argument on behalf of the parties, in which it was argued on behalf of the Appellant that the domestic arrest was not proportionate and not based on sufficient evidence giving rise to probable cause, but without an oral hearing, the order was upheld by the Svea Court of Appeal (albeit that the rape allegation concerning complainant SW was reduced to 'minor rape').
29. The prosecutor's written submissions to the Svea Court of Appeal on 24th November 2010 confirmed that she was; '...requesting the arrest of Assange in order to enable implementation of the preliminary investigation...' .
30. On 26th November 2010, an EAW was issued by the prosecutor pursuant to the Council of the European Union Framework Decision on the European arrest warrant and surrender procedures between member states of the European Union 2002/584/JHA ('the Framework decision' ).
31. The EAW was submitted to the United Kingdom, and received by the Serious Organised Crime Agency ('SOCA' ); an authority designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of Part 1 of the 2003 Act (by The Extradition Act 2003 (Part 1 Designated Authorities) Order 2003 (SI 2003 No. 3109) as amended by the Serious Organised Crime & Police Act 2006 (Consequential and Supplementary Amendments to Secondary Legislation) Order 2006 (SI 2006 No. 594)).
32. SOCA declined to certify the EAW because it was not a valid Part 1 Warrant in that it failed to specify the punishability in respect of each offence.
33. On 28th November 2010, the Appellant applied to the Supreme Court for permission to appeal the decision of the Svea Court of Appeal. On 2nd December 2010, that application was refused.
34. On 2nd December 2010, a replacement EAW was issued by the prosecutor and again submitted to SOCA. This EAW was issued by Marianne Ny, a Director of Public Prosecutions, as 'issuing judicial authority' and bears the stamp of the Swedish Prosecution Authority. The EAW refers in box (b) to the decision of the Svea Court of Appeal as being the decision on arrest on which it was based. [..]
37. On 6th December 2010, the EAW was certified by SOCA under s2(7) & (8) of the 2003 Act.
38. The Metropolitan police contacted the Appellant's then lawyers and arranged to arrest him by consent on 7th December 2010, when the Appellant voluntarily surrendered himself for arrest by appointment. A sample of the Appellant's DNA was taken under lawful authority at this time.
39. The 'initial hearing' was conducted at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court pursuant to section 4 of the 2003 Act. The Appellant was initially refused bail on 7th December but was subsequently granted bail subject to conditions by the High Court on 16th December 2010.
[SOURCE]
ASYLUM FROM WHAT?
The claim: "It's not happening."
The right does not have a monopoly on paranoia, as the conspiratorial fantasies of supporters of Julian Assange show. Glenn Greenwald, Glenn Beck's namesake and mirror image on the American left, made it embarrassingly obvious in the Guardian last week that a paranoid "leftist" defence of an alleged rapist was the order of the day. Greenwald argued that Assange was not a coward who dare not face his Swedish accusers but a true dissident, who was camping out in the Ecuadorian embassy because he had a genuine fear of persecution. [SOURCE]
there is also an obvious point to be made. The United States has actually not made an extradition request. Although it is reported that there is a 'Grand Jury' investigation currently proceeding (and even that there is a 'sealed indictment' ), there remains no extradition request. There may never be one.
[SOURCE]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury ,...
[SOURCE]
An indictment is sometimes filed under seal and kept sealed until the defendant appears. The indictment is kept sealed so as to not tip off the defendant. In some districts, indictments are initially sealed as a matter of course. Once the defendant has appeared, the indictment can be unsealed.
[SOURCE]
A grand jury is a panel of citizens brought together to investigate crimes and issue indictments. In their original conception, grand juries were intended to be radically democratic. In England, they served as a buffer between citizens and the monarch and her/his prosecutors. In early America, any citizen could bring an allegation of wrongdoing to the original grand jury and the grand jury could indict on a majority vote.
Modern day grand juries are very different. Today, all cases are brought to a grand jury by a prosecutor. The prosecutor picks the witnesses and asks the questions. Witnesses are not allowed to have a lawyer present. There is no judge present. The prosecutor drafts the charges and reads them to the grand jury. There is no requirement that the grand jury members be instructed on the law at issue. And, unlike in other juries, grand jury members are not screened for bias.
Since the prosecutor solely orchestrates the proceedings, it is no surprise that grand juries almost always serve as a rubber stamp for prosecution. A former chief judge of New York once famously noted that 'any prosecutor that wanted to could indict a ham sandwich.' In the rare event that a grand jury does not indict, the prosecutor can simply impanel a different grand jury and seek an indictment before a new grand jury.
In political cases, grand juries have been used to execute witch hunts against activists. Prosecutors will bring in activist witnesses and attempt to get them to snitch on other activists with threats of jail time if they refuse to cooperate with the grand jury. It is critical to understand how a grand jury works; what your rights are; what rights you cannot exercise; and how to resist a grand jury.
Many rights we take for granted do not exist for grand jury witnesses. Grand jury witnesses have no right to be represented by an attorney and no right to a jury trial if they are threatened with jail. Grand jury witnesses do retain the right against self-incrimination but can nonetheless be forced to snitch on themselves and others in exchange for immunity from prosecution and punishment. Immunity only protects witnesses; others can still be prosecuted.
[SOURCE]
We have an active, ongoing criminal investigation with regard to this matter. We are not in a position as yet to announce the result of that investigation, but the investigation is ongoing.
[SOURCE]
I will indicate and would emphasize that there is an active ongoing criminal investigation that we are conducting with the Department of Defense... As I said active ongoing investigation. To the extent that we can find anybody involved in the breaking of American law and who has put at risk the assets and the people who I have described, they will be held responsible. They will be held accountable. To the extent there are gaps in our laws we will move to close those gaps. Which is not to say... which is not to say, that anybody at this point because of their citizenship or their residence is not a target or a subject of an investigation that is ongoing.
[SOURCE]
Federal prosecutors working for MacBride are also handling a critical aspect of the biggest leak case in U.S. history. The investigation is focused on whether the anti-secrecy Web site WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, violated U.S. laws in posting hundreds of thousands of military and diplomatic cables on the group’s Web site and sharing them with mainstream news organizations. [...]
Another factor that draws cases to Alexandria’s courthouse is that trials move fast there. The court is known as the “rocket docket” because its judges follow procedural rules that move cases through much more quickly than other courts, said MacBride, who clerked in the district as a young lawyer. [...]
“Criminals today aren’t confined by borders, and neither are we,” MacBride said. “A criminal organization is as much a threat to us from across the ocean as it is across the street. That’s why we made the strategic decision to go after networks and their leadership wherever they are found.”
[SOURCE]
Although outsiders have not been allowed to inspect the “war room” in suburban Virginia and see its staff at work, national-security officials offered details of the operation to The Daily Beast, including the identity of the counterintelligence expert who has been put in charge: Brig. General Robert A. Carr of the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Officials say Carr, handpicked for the assignment by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, is highly respected among his colleagues at DIA, the Pentagon’s equivalent of the CIA, and a fitting adversary to Assange, the nomadic Australian-born computer hacker who founded WikiLeaks and is now believed to be in Sweden.
“I wouldn’t want to go up against General Carr,” a Pentagon official said. “Very smart guy.” Carr served in Afghanistan for much of last year before his transfer to the DIA in Washington, where he runs the Defense Counterintelligence and Human Intelligence Center. In his battle against Assange, officials say, Carr’s central assignment is to try to determine exactly what classified information might have been leaked to WikiLeaks, and then to predict whether its disclosure could endanger American troops in the battlefield, as well as what larger risk it might pose to American foreign policy.
The team has another distinct responsibility: to gather evidence about the workings of WikiLeaks that might someday be used by the Justice Department to prosecute Assange and others on espionage charges.
[SOURCE]
DAVID HOUSE: So, the grand jury, as I understand it, is investigating the associations between Julian Assange and Bradley Manning, the alleged associations between them. As I understand it, it was convened around November of last year and has been running ever since. Recently, subpoenas have been issued to members of the Bradley Manning Support Network and others in the Boston area. I, myself, have been among these people that had a subpoena issued. And so, I had to go to the grand jury on June 15, 2011, just a few weeks ago, because they--
AMY GOODMAN: In Alexandria?
DAVID HOUSE: Right. And I was commanded to testify before the grand jury everything I knew about Bradley Manning and WikiLeaks, even Jacob Appelbaum, people of that sort. During the grand jury, I refused to answer any questions aside from my name and address, pleading the Fifth Amendment--well, the Fifth, First and Fourth Amendments, to whichever the question that was asked during the grand jury. And it was quite a controversy, actually, because despite the fact that the six AUSAs, assistant U.S. attorneys, that were present were very upset by this, they were also very upset at my note taking and tried to get me to stop taking notes the entire time, saying things such as, "I would like to state for the record Mr. House is not answering the questions and is instead taking notes," and kind of ridiculing me openly for doing that, saying, you know, "Oh, did you get the last question? Did you get everything down?"
[SOURCE]
Last month, I reported that the FBI had served a Cambridge resident with a subpoena compelling his testimony in the active Grand Jury investigation into WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, and that the subpoena revealed a very broad scope to the criminal investigation. A similar subpoena has now been served on David House - one of the founders of the Bradley Manning Support Network who helped publicize the oppressive conditions of Manning's detention and who then had his laptop seized by the government without a warrant - compelling his testimony before the Grand Jury next Wednesday. The subpoena and accompanying documents received by House can be viewed here and here.
This latest subpoena reveals how active the criminal investigation is and how committed the Obama administration is to criminally pursuing the whistleblowing site. Also receiving subpoenas in addition to House and the Cambridge resident have been ex-Manning boyfriend Tyler Watkins, and a cryptography expert at Princeton, Nadia Heninger (whose Princeton photo is credited to Jacob Appelbaum, the persistently harassed American once identified as a WikiLeaks spokesman).
[SOURCE]
On January 26, 2011, Fred Burton, the vice president of Stratfor, a leading private intelligence firm which bills itself as a kind of shadow CIA, sent an excited email to his colleagues. "Text Not for Pub," he wrote. "We" meaning the U.S. government "have a sealed indictment on Assange. Pls protect." Burton, a former federal agent with the U.S. Diplomatic Security Services, had reason to trust his information. He often boasted of his stellar government sources ("CIA cronies," he called them in another email), and in his role as a government counter-terror agent he had worked on some of the most high-profile terrorism cases of recent years, including the arrest of the first World Trade Center bomber, Ramzi Yousef. As the VP of Texas-based Stratfor Global Intelligence, a private firm that contracts with corporations and several government agencies, like the Department of Homeland Security, to collect and analyze intelligence on political situations around the world, it was part of his job to keep those contacts alive and share inside information with analysts at the company. (The emails cited in this story contained in a leak of 5 million internal Stratfor messages were examined by Rolling Stone in an investigative partnership with Wikileaks.)
[SOURCE]
[SOURCE]
We are called upon to determine the public's right to access orders issued under 18 U.S.C. § 2703(d) and related documents at the pre-grand jury phase of an ongoing criminal investigation. Because we find that there is no First Amendment right to access such documents, and the common law right to access such documents is presently outweighed by countervailing interests, we deny the request for relief.
[...]
This case involves the § 2703(d) orders pertaining to the Government's request for records of electronic communications relevant to an ongoing criminal investigation. The underlying facts of the investigation, which are not presently before us, relate to the unauthorized release of classified documents to WikiLeaks.org, and the alleged involvement of Bradley E. Manning, a U.S. Army Private First Class.
As part of its investigation, the Government petitioned the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and obtained an order pursuant to § 2703(d), from a magistrate judge ("Twitter Order"), directing Twitter, Inc. ("Twitter") to disclose records of electronic communications pertaining to Appellants Jacob Appelbaum, Rop Gonggrijp, and Birgitta Jonsdottir ("Subscribers"). Specifically, the order directed Twitter to provide Subscribers' names, usernames, personal contact information, account information, connection records, financial data, length of service, direct messages to and from email addresses and Internet Protocol addresses for all communications between November 1, 2009, and December 14, 2010. The issuing magistrate judge determined that prior notice "to any person" of the Twitter Order, the Government's application for the Twitter Order ("Twitter Application"), and the ongoing criminal investigation, would "seriously jeopardize the investigation." Consequently, the magistrate judge sealed the Twitter Order and Application, and directed Twitter not to disclose their existence, or the investigation to any person unless and until otherwise ordered by the court.
On January 5, 2011, upon the Government's motion, the magistrate judge unsealed the Twitter Order and authorized Twitter to disclose the order to Subscribers. On January 26, 2011, Subscribers moved the court to vacate the Twitter Order, unseal all documents relating to the Twitter Order, and unseal and publicly docket any other § 2703(d) orders on the subject of the investigation pertaining to Subscribers that were issued to companies other than Twitter ("Other § 2703(d) Orders"). Following a hearing on the motions, the magistrate judge issued a memorandum opinion and an order denying the motion to vacate, and partially granting the motion to unseal as follows: it (1) granted the motion to unseal pleadings filed during the litigation over the Twitter Order; (2) denied the motion to unseal the Twitter Application; (3) denied the motion to unseal the Other § 2703(d) Orders; and (4) took under advisement the issue of public docketing of the Other § 2703(d) Orders and related motions. In ruling on the motion to unseal, the magistrate judge determined that there was no First Amendment right to access the Twitter Application, and the Other § 2703(d) Orders and their applications. The magistrate judge also determined that the common law presumption of access to judicial records was overcome because the sealed documents contained "sensitive nonpublic facts, including the identity of targets and witnesses in an ongoing criminal investigation."
[...]
The motions that support these § 2703(d) orders, the orders themselves, and the very existence of these orders implicate or directly convey highly private information and confirm the existence of a criminal investigation.
[SOURCE]
After Movants, through counsel, contacted the Clerk's Office and the Magistrate's chambers, Movants were informed that additional information would be publicly docketed on the running list. JA-169. The new list was identical to the one-page computer entry Movants had previously seen, except that two new notations had been added regarding the individual documents associated with the ec-3 (Twitter) docket, and the list now included references to an ec-5, ec-6, ec-7, ec-8, and ec-9 docket. JA-175-177. Unlike the ec-3 docket, the other EC dockets contain no individual docket entries or other information indicating what documents have been filed. All that appears for them is a case name, "USA v. Under Seal," the name of the judge assigned to the matter, the date the matter was put on the EC list, and miscellaneous case assignment information.
[SOURCE]
Prosecution (Fein): Each agency, the Diplomatic Security Services, the Department of State, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Army CID each had their own purpose although it was coded as a joint investigation because they would share certain information, and that what was done. Army CID only had certain authorities, and their focus was of course on the charged misconduct of Private First Class Manning downrange and back home. And, FBI had and has an ongoing investigation that also include Private First Class Manning[...]
Judge Lind: So what is left in the file that hasn't been turned over to the defense as germane to PFC Manning? Are you telling me there is a broader file and this is a piece of it?
Prosecution (Fein): Your, Honor. Private First Class Manning is a piece of the FBI file, yes.
Judge Lind: And, of that piece how much has been turned over. What remains that has not been turned over to the defense?
Prosecution (Fein): Ma'am, can we have a moment? [...] Ma'am. Your Honor. The FBI law enforcement file investigation is much broader than Private First Class Manning. We have turned over all the documentation that is germane to Private First Class Manning for any witnesses that we would have identified or we suspect to put on our witness list[...]
Judge Lind: Major Fein. How long was the FBI investigation?
Prosecution (Fein): Your Honor. I will have to get back to you on the entire page count. But the page count that the prosecution has produced to the defense is 8, 871 pages...636 documents. Your Honor that does not include the Grand Jury testimony, and just the reason I stood up is that Grand Jury has in open court is currently under your protective order and an Article 3 Judges protective order and should be sealed and not held around in Court, and should be stamped as such. [...]
Judge Lind: OK. So you disclosed about eight thousand pages. Do you have any idea of what percentage of the total file that might be?
Prosecution (Fein): Your, Honor. It is hard to estimate right now. It is probably around 50 percent. I get that is a very rough estimation, and we can get you a number by the end of the today. In fact, I will provide a number before we close this session. [...] Your, Honor. To answer your question about the size of the FBI file that would be germane to this Court Martial. It is 42,000 pages total, my estimation of 50 percent was not correct. So, 3, 475 documents. And the number again that we produced to the defense, was 8, 741 pages, 636 different documents.
Judge Lind: Did the documents...
Prosecution (Fein): I'm sorry. 636 documents, 8, 741 pages.
Judge Lind: And how big is the FBI file did you say?
Prosecution (Fein): 3, 475 [documents] your Honor, and 42, 135 pages.
Judge Lind: So we are not nearly at 50 percent [MISSED]?
[SOURCE]
Defense: Whom else did you uncover doing wrongdoing?
Mander: Seven other civilians. The FBI is potentially involved. I do not know what the FBI has determined.
Defense: Do they include the founders, owners, or managers of WikiLeaks? Was WikiLeaks in this case?
Mander: Yes they are involved in certain aspects.
Defense: Is it your determination...would you agree that my client would have been unable to do this by himself?
Mander: Depends on charge. 'Something by himself' ...other charges require interaction with others.
Defense: Did my client possess the ability to upload from his cubical in Iraq?
Mander: Yes. He could have uploaded to multiple sites.
Defense: Would he not also require the cooperation of others to post to (indecipherable)?
Mander: Not if he owned the site.
[SOURCE[
Mr Coombes added: "If the Department of Justice got their way, they would get a plea in this case, and get my client to be named as one of the witnesses to go after Julian Assange and Wikileaks."
[SOURCE]
A military judge says Army prosecutors don't have to provide the defense with transcripts of federal grand jury testimony regarding government secrets disclosed by Wikileaks. [...]
Manning's lawyers were seeking transcripts from a federal investigation into whether WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange can be prosecuted for the disclosure of information that authorities say was provided by Manning.
Lind said that while the FBI and the Army have jointly pursued a WikiLeaks investigation, military prosecutors have no authority to release FBI documents.
[SOURCE]
Dear XXXX,
This is in response to your Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for release of information from the files of the US Army Criminal Investigation Command (USACIDC) pertaining to WikiLeaks. Your request was referred from United States Army Intelligence and Security Command, Freedom of Information/Privacy Office and was received at this headquarters on May 12, 2012.
A search of the USACIDC file indexes revealed that an active investigation is in progress with an undetermined completion date. You may submit another written request for a copy of the investigation at a later date, after it is completed. You may consider this an initial denial of your request pursuant to Title 5, USC, Section 552a, Exemption (j)(2) of the Privacy Act and Title 5, USC, Section 552, Exemption (b)(7)(A), (b)(7)(F), (b)(6), and (b)(7)(C) of the Freedom of Information Act.
Sincerely,
Susan Cugler,
Director, Crime Records Center
[SOURCE]
Australian diplomatic cables released to Fairfax Media have revealed that as early as December 7, 2010, the Washington embassy confirmed the [US] Justice Department was conducting an " active and vigorous inquiry into whether Julian Assange can be charged under US law, most likely the 1917 Espionage Act ".
US officials told the Australian embassy " the WikiLeaks case is unprecedented both in its scale and nature ".
After working contacts inside and outside the US government, the embassy reported on December 22, 2010, that media reports that a secret grand jury had been convened in Alexandria, Virginia, to consider evidence arising from the WikiLeaks investigation were "likely true". The embassy provided Canberra with regular updates through 2011 including reporting on the issuing of subpoenas to compel WikiLeaks associates to appear before the grand jury and Justice Department efforts to access Twitter and other internet accounts as " casting the net beyond Assange to see if any intermediaries had been involved in communications between Assange and Manning ".
In December last year, the embassy sent a representative to attend all seven days of Private Manning's pre-trial hearing. The embassy's report focused on the prosecution's assertions that Manning had leaked to WikiLeaks " and, specifically, to Julian Assange ." These allegations included that Manning "indiscriminately and systematically" data-mined classified US databases using WikiLeaks' "Most Wanted List" as a guide, that there was direct contact between Manning and Assange, and that Assange may have actively assisted Manning's efforts to extract data.
[SOURCE]
3. Media reports claim that a grand jury has been empanelled in Alexandria, Virginia [redacted under s.22 1(a)(ii)] According to [redacted under s.47 F(i)] these reports are accurate . [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said it would be normal practice at this stage of an investigation for a grand jury to be in place since it considerably extended the powers of the prosecutor to gather evidence and it could ultimately issue an indictment. The jury would be under the direction of the prosecutor and all its deliberations would take place in secret. [redacted under s.47 F(i)], however, that excerpts of grand jury proceedings were sometimes read into evidence during subsequent trials, and in this way became public.
4. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said the prosecutor would usually seek information in the name of the grand jury, and it would likely sit once a week to review progress. Should information not be provided willingly, grand juries could compel witnesses to provide evidence, and witnesses could not refuse to do so on grounds of self-incrimination. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] speculated that these powers may be important for obtaining evidence from the alleged leaker, Bradley Manning. Both [redacted under s.47 F(i)] pointed out that grand juries were not limited by the rules of evidence that would apply during a trial, and could therefore utilise a greater range of information. And similarly, they could scour widely for information that might be useful for the investigation.
5. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said grand juries were appointed for a period of two years, and this could be renewed once (for a total of four years). In theory, the process could, therefore, be a long one.
[redacted under s.33(a)(iii)]
6. On the location of the grand jury, [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said it was likely that prosecutors would have taken the case to Alexandria. It was just across the river from Washington, but the jury pool was more conservative than in the District. There was a history of national security cases being tried there, and facilities for handling classified material had been built at the court during the Bush Administration.
7. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said that grand juries could issue indictments under seal, and that theoretically one could already have been issued for Assange. In this particular case, it would be more likely that an indictment would become known at the point of extradition proceedings, should these take place, in the UK or Sweden.
[SOURCE]
Some with links to Assange have reportedly faced questioning when trying to travel outside the United States and federal authorities at one point demanded Twitter open the accounts of WikiLeaks figures.
[...]
The US Justice Department will not comment on the grand jury probe and says it has no role in the extradition proceedings in London. But spokesman Dean Boyd said: "There continues to be an investigation into the WikiLeaks matter."
[SOURCE]
Finally, Ecuador wrote to the U.S. government to officially reveal its position on Assange's case. Inquiries related to the following:
If there is an ongoing legal process or intent to carry out such processes against Julian Assange and/or the founders of the WikiLeaks organization;
Should the above be true, then under what kind of legislation, and how and under what conditions would such persons be subject to under maximum penalties;
Whether there is an intention to request the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States.
[SOURCE]
George Little, a spokesman for the Pentagon... says the Pentagon 'has warned Mr. Assange and Wikileaks against soliciting service members to break the law by providing classified information to them, and that it is our view that continued possession by Wikileaks of classified information belonging to the United States government represents a continuing violation of law. We regard this as a law enforcement matter.'
[SOURCE]
Political or social activists also may use the tools of economic espionage against US companies, agencies, or other entities. The self- styled whistleblowing group WikiLeaks has already published computer files provided by corporate insiders indicating allegedly illegal or unethical behavior at a Swiss bank, a Netherlands-based commodities company, and an international pharmaceutical trade association. LulzSec—another hacktivist group—has exfiltrated data from several businesses that it posted for public viewing on its website.
[SOURCE]
Iceland's interior minister said Friday that he ordered the country's police not to cooperate with FBI agents sent to investigate WikiLeaks two years ago, offering a rare glimpse into the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation of the secret-busting site.
Ogmundur Jonasson told The Associated Press that he was upset when he found out that FBI agents had flown to the country to interview an unidentified WikiLeaks associate in August 2011.
"I, for one, was not aware that they were coming to Iceland," he said in a brief telephone interview. "When I learned about it, I demanded that Icelandic police cease all cooperation and made it clear that people interviewed or interrogated in Iceland should be interrogated by Icelandic police."
[SOURCE]
The claim: "It hasn't happened yet, so it won't."
...there remains no extradition request. There may never be one.
[SOURCE]
Since the prosecutor solely orchestrates the proceedings, it is no surprise that grand juries almost always serve as a rubber stamp for prosecution. A former chief judge of New York once famously noted that 'any prosecutor that wanted to could indict a ham sandwich.' In the rare event that a grand jury does not indict, the prosecutor can simply impanel a different grand jury and seek an indictment before a new grand jury.
[SOURCE]
In the federal system, a grand jury can sit for up to 36 months, although it doesn't have to sit that long. The court that swears in a new grand jury can extend its term in 6-month increments, for a total of 36 months[.]
[SOURCE]
7. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said that grand juries could issue indictments under seal, and that theoretically one could already have been issued for Assange. In this particular case, it would be more likely that an indictment would become known at the point of extradition proceedings, should these take place, in the UK or Sweden. [...]
**Extradition**
17. According to commentators, extradition poses significant challenges for prosecutors. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said an extradition request from the US could be made with or without an indictment but that the request would be stronger with an indictment and extradition therefore more likely to be successful. If the US were also to request extradition from the United Kingdom, the UK's Home Secretary would then decide which request would take precedent, taking into account the relative seriousness of the offences, where they were committed, and the timing of the requests.
[SOURCE]
So far as the UK is concerned, were the extradition case to Sweden to fail in the courts here, the US would be most likely, if the above presumption is correct, to initiate extradition proceedings in the UK, as opposed to Sweden. It is a matter of public record that the US on a significant number of occasions has synchronised extradition requests with the conclusion of a pending case in the relevant domestic jurisdiction , and has relied on the cooperation of the requested country to do so; the UK and Sweden have in the past provided exactly such close cooperation . Were Mr. Assange's appeal in the UK to succeed conclusively in the near future (and were no further appeal to be possible for the prosecution to the Supreme Court) a provisional warrant could be issued at short notice by the USA pending the obtaining of warrant issued by a US court on the basis of a grand jury indictment, if the potential for such a warrant were claimed to exist.
There have been a number of cases of extraditon synchronised in precisely this way. For example:
The case of Eiderous, who was held in prison in the UK in relation to immigration matters until 9 July 1999, when he succeeded in a habeas corpus application. Within hours a warrant was obtained from the USA on the basis of the testimony of a "cooperating witness" (ie a witness who would otherwise face a severe sentence in the absence of cooperation) and within 24 hours of his release he was arrested.
The case of Kassir. This Swedish national successfully challenged an extradition request by the US; the Swedish extradition treaty excludes Swedish nationals from extradition to the US. He was freed from prison. However, Kassir was also a Lebanese national. He was arrested in Prague airport while in transit to Lebanon, and subsequently extradited to the US (also on the basis of evidence of a "cooperating witness"). The Swedish press reported that was probably coordinated by the Swedish special police, SAPO , and that this type of coordination is the standard operating procedure of mutual assistance in transnational crime - link: (http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/lag-alskar-bin-laden)
Louis B. Susman, the U.S. ambassador to Britain, said in February that America would 'wait to see how things work out in the British courts' before taking any action.
[SOURCE]
Informal discussions have already taken place between US and Swedish officials over the possibility of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being delivered into American custody, according to diplomatic sources.
Sources stressed that no extradition request would be submitted until and unless the US government laid charges against Mr Assange, and that attempts to take him to America would only take place after legal proceedings are concluded in Sweden.
[SOURCE]
The claim: "The law wouldn't allow it."
It is not even clear for what crime the United States could indict Assange and apply for his extradition.
[SOURCE]
[T]he FBI yesterday served a Grand Jury subpoena in Boston on a Cambridge resident, compelling his appearance to testify in Alexandria, Virgina. Alexandria is where a Grand Jury has been convened to criminally investigate WikiLeaks and Julian Assange and determine whether an indictment against them is warranted. The individual served has been publicly linked to the WikiLeaks case, and it is highly likely that the Subpoena was issued in connection with that investigation. Notably, the Subopena explicitly indicates that the Grand Jury is investigating possible violations of the Espionage Act ( 18 U.S.C. 793 ) , a draconian 1917 law under which no non-government-employee has ever been convicted for disclosing classified information.
[...]
The investigation appears also to focus on Manning, as the Subpoena indicates the Grand Jury is investigating parties for 'knowingly accessing a computer without authorization'
[...]
[I]t also cites the conspiracy statute, 18 U.S.C. 371, as well as the conspiracy provision of the Espionage Act (subsection (g)), suggesting that they are investigating those who may have helped Manning obtain access.
The New York Times previously reported that the DOJ hoped to build a criminal case against WikiLeaks and Assange by proving they conspired with Manning ahead of time (rather than merely passively received his leaked documents). Also cited is 18 U.S.C. 641, which makes it a crime to 'embezzle, steal, purloin, or knowingly convert... any record, voucher, money, or thing of value of the United States.' [...]
The serving of this Subpoena strongly suggests that the DOJ criminal investigation into WikiLeaks and Assange continues in a serious way;
[...]
It also appears clear that the DOJ is strongly considering an indictment under the Espionage Act - an act that would be radical indeed for non-government-employees doing nothing other than what American newspapers do on a daily basis (and have repeatedly done in partnership with WikiLeaks).
[SOURCE]
A subpoena has been issued for your appearance as a witness before a federal grand jury in this District...
As a grand jury witness, you will be asked to testify and answer questions concerning possible violations of federal criminal law...
We advise you that the Grand Jury is conducting an investigation of possible violations of federal criminal law involving, but not necessarily limited to conspiracy to communicate or transmit national defense information in violation of 18 U.S.C. §793(g) and conspiracy to violate the laws of the United States, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §371 to wit: knowingly accessing a computer without authorization or exceeding authorized access and having obtained information protected from disclosure for reasons of national defense or foreign relations in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1030(a) and knowingly stealing or converting any record or thing of value of the United States or any department or agency thereof in violation of 18 U.S.C. §641 ...
Sincerely,
Neil H. MacBride
United States Attorney
[SOURCE]
That is not the only tool we have to use in the investigation of this matter... People would be misimpressioned if they think the only thing we are looking at is the Espionage Act.
[SOURCE]
**Possible Charges**
8. Attorney General Eric Holder said on 29 November that the Administration was pursuing a "very serious criminal investigation" into the matter. On 6 December, he said that charges could be brought under the Espionage Act of 1917 or "other statutes, other tools... at our disposal". Commentators have noted that US criminal statutes and case law do not provide a clear path forward for indicting Assange. There are a range of statutes that protect information depending upon its nat ure, the identity of the discloser and of those to whom it was disclosed, and the means by which it was obtained.
9. Commentators generally agree that most of the information disclosed by WikiLeaks is likely to fall under the general rubric of information related to national defense, which is expressly protected by the Espionage Act. Many commentators have focused on section 18 USC 793, which applies to non-government employees engaged in gathering, transmitting, or in receipt of defense information with the intent or reason to believe the information will be used against the US or to the benefit of a foreign nation.
10. The media has been quick to note that successful prosecution under the Espionage Act for publication of classified information would be difficult and unprecedented. The US government brought one prosecution, unsuccessfully, in 2005, in a case involving two American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) lobbyists who allegedly disclosed national security secrets to unauthorised individuals, including Israeli officials, other AIPAC staff, and a Washington Post reporter. The charges were ultimately dropped, reportedly due in part to the prosecution's failure to prove that the requisite intent and concerns about further disclosures of classified material at trial.
11. A central theme has been the question of whether WikiLeaks is a media organisation, and afforded additional protection under the First Amendemnt. [whole lines redacted under s.47 F (i)] The general view of expert commentators is that a prosecution could not be successful unless it showed in court that WikiLeaks was not a media organisation since the history of these cases has never seen a media outlet convicted for publication of leaked documents.
12. Recent media commentary has identified that the most likely route to a successful prosecution would be to show that Assange had acted as a co-conspirator - soliciting, encouraging or assisting Manning to obtain and provide the documents. The New York Times has reported that the Justice Department is investigating Assange's communications with Manning and looking for any technical assistance Assange may have provided [redacted under s. 22 1(a)(ii) and s.47 F(i)] agreed with this contention. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] that the government would want to see "technical help" or "other substantive aid" - more than "mere encouragement" from Assange- because encouraging sources to provide secret information is what journalists do every day, and courts woul dbe wary of criminalising such activity. Evidence of a conspiracy could assist prosecutors rebut claims that WikiLeaks was acting merely as a media organisation. It could also possibly help deflect challenges to the extraterritorial application of the Espionage Act to non-citizens, as 18 USC 793 and 794 can be construed as applying to non-citizens if they are found to have played an active role in obtaining the information.
[paragraph redacted under s.47 F(i), s. 33(b), and s.22 1(a)(ii)]Commentators have speculated that Manning may strike a deal with prosecutors in exchange for testifying against Assange.
14. Commentators have also speculated that Holder's reference to "other tools" could include 18 USC 1030, which prohibits the wilful retention, communication, or transmission of classified information retrieved by means of knowingly accessing a computer without (or in excess of) authorisation, with reason to believe that such information "could be used to the injury of the US, or to the advantage of any foreign nation." 18 USD 641 prohibits the theft or conversion of government property or records for one's own use or the use of another. However, that statute has never been used to prosecute anyone for receiving classified information. It was used in 1984 to prosecute a US naval intelligence analyst who gave top secret photographs of a Soviet aircraft carrier to British publication 'Jane's Defense Weekly'. But only Morison, not the publication, was prosecuted and sentenced. In 2001, a former analyst for the Drug Enforcement Administration was prosecuted under the same law, for giving unclassified information to a London newspaper. Once again, the newspaper was not charged. [redacted under s.47 F(i) and s.22 1(a)(ii)]
15. Central to many of these statutes is the element of intent and demonstrated potential damage to national security. Stephen Vladeck, a law professor at American University, told a media legal panel that Assange's public statements may make it hard for the defence to portray him as someone who did not appreciate the harm that might result from the disclosures. Vladeck noted that the US government had tried to ensure Assange was on notice, sending letters from both the State Department's legal adviser and the Defense Department's general counsel prior to the latest round of disclosures , and that the State Department advised Assaange that 'as long as WikiLeaks holds such material, the violation of the law is ongoing', perhaps foreshadowing a possible argument that WikiLeaks was violating espionage laws merely by retaining the cables.
[SOURCE]
In light of the foregoing, it seems that there is ample statutory authority for prosecuting individuals who elicit or disseminate many of the documents at issue , as long as the intent element can be satisfied and potential damage to national security can be demonstrated. There is some authority, however, for interpreting 18 U.S.C. Section 793, which prohibits the communication, transmission, or delivery of protected information to anyone not entitled to possess it, to exclude the 'publication' of material by the media. Publication is not expressly proscribed in 18 U.S.C. Section 794(a), either, although it is possible that publishing covered information in the media could be construed as an 'indirect' transmission of such information to a foreign party, as long as the intent that the information reach said party can be demonstrated.
The death penalty is available under that subsection if the offense results in the identification and subsequent death of 'an individual acting as an agent of the United States,' 83 or the disclosure of information relating to certain other broadly defined defense matters. The word 'publishes' does appear in 18 U.S.C. Section 794(b), which applies to wartime disclosures of information related to the 'public defense' that 'might be useful to the enemy' and is in fact intended to becommunicated to the enemy. The types of information covered seem to be limited to military plans and information about fortifications and the like, which may exclude data related to purely historical matters.
[SOURCE]
[SOURCE]
The law Mr. Assange continues to violate is the Espionage Act of 1917 . That law makes it a felony for an unauthorized person to possess or transmit "information relating to the national defense which information the possessor has reason to believe could be used to the injury of the United States or to the advantage of any foreign nation."
The Espionage Act also makes it a felony to fail to return such materials to the U.S. government. Importantly, the courts have held that "information relating to the national defense" applies to both classified and unclassified material. Each violation is punishable by up to 10 years in psrison.
In a letter sent to Mr. Assange and his lawyer on Nov. 27, State Department Legal Adviser Harold Hongju Koh warned in strong terms that the documents had been obtained "in violation of U.S. law and without regard for the grave consequences of this action." [...]
None of this stopped Mr. Assange. That he is breaking the law and must be stopped from doing more harm is clear. I also believe a prosecution would be successful.
In an October analysis of earlier WikiLeaks disclosures, the Congressional Research Service reported that "it seems that there is ample statutory authority for prosecuting individuals who elicit or disseminate the types of documents at issue, as long as the intent element can be satisfied and potential damage to national security can be demonstrated."
Both elements exist in this case. The "damage to national security" is beyond question. As for intent, Mr. Assange's own words paint a damning picture.
[SOURCE]
WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors, seeking to build a case against the WikiLeaks leader Julian Assange for his role in a huge dissemination of classified government documents, are looking for evidence of any collusion in his early contacts with an Army intelligence analyst suspected of leaking the information. Justice Department officials are trying to find out whether Mr. Assange encouraged or even helped the analyst, Pfc. Bradley Manning, to extract classified military and State Department files from a government computer system. If he did so, they believe they could charge him as a conspirator in the leak, not just as a passive recipient of the documents who then published them.
[...]
Since WikiLeaks began making public large caches of classified United States government documents this year, Justice Department officials have been struggling to come up with a way to charge Mr. Assange with a crime. Among other things, they have studied several statutes that criminalize the dissemination of restricted information under certain circumstances, including the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986.
[SOURCE]
The claim: "the First Amendment will protect him." Some UK media commentators demonstrate extraordinary naivety about US law, in an effort to downplay the seriousness of the US investigation against Assange. They argue that the US investigation will not proceed because it would appear to conflict with the First Amendment to the US constitution.
For example, Nick Cohen, in The Observer, that concern about the US investigation against Assange is paranoid, on the basis that a civil liberties group has opined that it is unconstitutional.
More pertinently, Greenwald and the rest of Assange's supporters do not tell us how the Americans could prosecute the incontinent leaker. American democracy is guilty of many crimes and corruptions. But the First Amendment to the US constitution is the finest defence of freedom of speech yet written. The American Civil Liberties Union thinks it would be unconstitutional for a judge to punish Assange.
[SOURCE] Elementarily, the ACLU does not have prior review powers over the actions of the US government. The ACLU also holds that the following are unconstitutional: targeted killings; the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques"; warrantless surveillance of American citizens; the use of adminstrative subpoenas,
The
Elsewhere, the New Statesman's legal correspondent makes a similar argument:
It is not even clear for what crime the United States could indict Assange and apply for his extradition. If it were an espionage or computer offence in respect of his role at Wikileaks then [he would] possibly have protection under the First Amendment of the United States Constitution [.]
[SOURCE]
New Statesman's writer must know that First Amendment protections could only be meaningfully argued once Julian Assange was in American custody, was formally indicted, and was arguing in front of American courts. That is a few steps too late for someone who wants to avoid extradition to the United States, and the lengthy pretrial detention, politicized criminal trial, and probable conviction that would await him there.
Julian Assange is best advised not to bet the rest of his life on the protections of a US constitution beset on all sides by national security and secrecy exceptions. The fact that if he were to face trial in the United States he could invoke the First Amendment does not in any way imply that he should incautiously expose himself to a US prosecution. It would be extremely bad legal advice to recommend giving the prosecution a free kick on this basis.
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And so on. Given this deluge of evidence, it is difficult to see why UK media commentators remain unaware of the legal theories being entertained by US prosecutors, unless they made no effort to research the topic.Some UK media commentators demonstrate extraordinary naivety about US law, in an effort to downplay the seriousness of the US investigation against Assange. They argue that the US investigation will not proceed because it would appear to conflict with the First Amendment to the US constitution.For example, Nick Cohen, in proposes that concern about the US investigation against Assange is paranoid, on the basis that a civil liberties group has opined that it is unconstitutional.Elementarily, the ACLU does not have prior review powers over the actions of the US government. The ACLU also holds that the following are unconstitutional: indefinite detention without trial "extraordinary rendition" ; and a lengthy bill of other transgressions by the American government. None of these opinions have prevented the government committing these transgressions, and continuing to do so.The ACLU has said that a prosecution of Assange would be unconstitutional . It has done this not because it believes that a prosecution of Julian Assange is unlikely but because it is mindful of its extreme likelihood.Elsewhere, thelegal correspondent makes a similar argument:This is a disingenuous legal argument. Since he is a lawyer, thewriter must know that First Amendment protections could only be meaningfully argued once Julian Assange was in American custody, was formally indicted, and was arguing in front of American courts. That is a few steps too late for someone who wants to avoid extradition to the United States, and the lengthy pretrial detention, politicized criminal trial, and probable conviction that would await him there.Julian Assange is best advised not to bet the rest of his life on the protections of a US constitution beset on all sides by national security and secrecy exceptions. The fact that if he were to face trial in the United States he could invoke the First Amendment does not in any way imply that he should incautiously expose himself to a US prosecution. It would be extremely bad legal advice to recommend giving the prosecution a free kick on this basis.
EXTRADITION FROM SWEDEN
The speech by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino when asylum was granted to Julian Assange makes clear that his asylum was not granted to avoid questioning in Sweden. A factor that contributed to Ecuador's decision was that Sweden refused to put adequate safeguards in place to protect Assange's safety:
2. Mr. Assange shared privileged documents and information generated by various sources that affected employees, countries and organizations with a global audience;
3. That there is strong evidence of retaliation by the country or countries that produced the information disclosed by Mr. Assange, retaliation that may endanger his safety, integrity, and even his life;
4. That, despite Ecuador's diplomatic efforts, countries which have been asked to give adequate safeguards for the protection and safety for the life of Mr. Assange have refused to facilitate them;
5. That Ecuadorian authorities are certain of the possibility that Mr. Assange could be extradited to a third country outside the European Union without proper guarantees for their safety and personal integrity;
6. That legal evidence clearly shows that, given an extradition to the United States of America, it would be unlikely for Mr. Assange to receive a fair trial, and likely that he would be judged by special or military courts, where there is a high probability of suffering cruel and degrading treatment, and be sentenced to life imprisonment or capital punishment, which would violate his human rights;
7. That while Mr. Assange must answer for the investigation in Sweden, Ecuador is aware that the Swedish prosecutor has had a contradictory attitude that prevented Mr. Assange the full exercise of the legitimate right of defense;
[SOURCE]
It is therefore clear that Ecuador is committed, diplomatically, to the progression of the Swedish case, under terms that adequately safeguard Julian Assange's rights.
Amnesty International has called for Sweden to engage Ecuador diplomatically to find a solution.
The Swedish authorities should issue assurances to the UK and to Julian Assange that if he leaves Ecuador’s London embassy and agrees to go to Sweden to face sexual assault claims, he will not be extradited to the USA in connection with Wikileaks, Amnesty International said.
In the wake of the Wikileaks co-founder addressing the United Nations and with talks due between the British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Ecuadorian officials, Amnesty International added that it was time to break the impasse. [...]
Amnesty International believes that the forced transfer of Julian Assange to the USA in the present circumstances would expose him to a real risk of serious human rights violations , possibly including violation of his right to freedom of expression and the risk that he may be held in detention in conditions which violate the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
[SOURCE]
Hostile commentators in the UK press and elsewhere have ignored the findings of the government of Ecuador, and claimed that extradition to Sweden carries no risk of further transit to the United States:
Some supporters of Assange contend that he would happily return to Sweden to be interrogated, if only he could be certain that he would not then be extradited to the United States. The underlying concern is that Assange is somehow likely to be extradited to the United States from Sweden.
[SOURCE]
Julian Assange challenged extradition to Sweden in the UK because he had a well-founded fear that, if he were to be extradited to Sweden, he would be at risk of ending up in the United States, whether by extradition, rendition, temporary surrender or coordinated deportation or expulsion from Sweden to that country.The speech by Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino when asylum was granted to Julian Assange makes clear that his asylum was not granted to avoid questioning in Sweden. A factor that contributed to Ecuador's decision was that Sweden refused to put adequate safeguards in place to protect Assange's safety:It is therefore clear that Ecuador is committed, diplomatically, to the progression of the Swedish case, under terms that adequately safeguard Julian Assange's rights.has called for Sweden to engage Ecuador diplomatically to find a solution.Hostile commentators in the UK press and elsewhere have ignored the findings of the government of Ecuador, and claimed that extradition to Sweden carries no risk of further transit to the United States:A variety of sophisticated arguments are made in support of this claim. None of them carry merit. They are dealt with in turn.
The claim: "easier from the UK than Sweden"
One can add that there is no evidence whatsoever that the United Kingdom would not swiftly comply with any extradition request from the United States;
[SOURCE]
Assange would be far safer from any extradition to the United States in Sweden than he would be in England. If Assange was genuinely concerned about avoiding extradition, rather than avoiding the rape investigation, then properly advised he should go to Sweden without delay.
[SOURCE]
Assange would be far safer from any extradition to the United States in Sweden than he would be in England. If Assange was genuinely concerned about avoiding extradition, rather than avoiding the rape investigation, then properly advised he should go to Sweden without delay.
This is false, since Julian Assange is in the protective custody of the government of Ecuador, and is therefore safer from extradition to the United States than he would be if he were in Sweden or the United Kingdom. It is false to suggest that Julian Assange, without guarantees, would be safer in Swedish custody than he is in the Ecuadorian embassy in London. The Ecuadorian government has committed to protect him from the United States. The Swedish government has not, and will not.
7. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said that grand juries could issue indictments under seal, and that theoretically one could already have been issued for Assange. In this particular case, it would be more likely that an indictment would become known at the point of extradition proceedings, should these take place, in the UK or Sweden. [...]
**Extradition**
17. According to commentators, extradition poses significant challenges for prosecutors. [redacted under s.47 F(i)] said an extradition request from the US could be made with or without an indictment but that the request would be stronger with an indictment and extradition therefore more likely to be successful. If the US were also to request extradition from the United Kingdom, the UK's Home Secretary would then decide which request would take precedent, taking into account the relative seriousness of the offences, where they were committed, and the timing of the requests.
[SOURCE]
So far as the UK is concerned, were the extradition case to Sweden to fail in the courts here, the US would be most likely, if the above presumption is correct, to initiate extradition proceedings in the UK, as opposed to Sweden. It is a matter of public record that the US on a significant number of occasions has synchronised extradition requests with the conclusion of a pending case in the relevant domestic jurisdiction , and has relied on the cooperation of the requested country to do so; the UK and Sweden have in the past provided exactly such close cooperation . Were Mr. Assange's appeal in the UK to succeed conclusively in the near future (and were no further appeal to be possible for the prosecution to the Supreme Court) a provisional warrant could be issued at short notice by the USA pending the obtaining of warrant issued by a US court on the basis of a grand jury indictment, if the potential for such a warrant were claimed to exist.
There have been a number of cases of extraditon synchronised in precisely this way. For example:
The case of Eiderous, who was held in prison in the UK in relation to immigration matters until 9 July 1999, when he succeeded in a habeas corpus application. Within hours a warrant was obtained from the USA on the basis of the testimony of a "cooperating witness" (ie a witness who would otherwise face a severe sentence in the absence of cooperation) and within 24 hours of his release he was arrested.
The case of Kassir. This Swedish national successfully challenged an extradition request by the US; the Swedish extradition treaty excludes Swedish nationals from extradition to the US. He was freed from prison. However, Kassir was also a Lebanese national. He was arrested in Prague airport while in transit to Lebanon, and subsequently extradited to the US (also on the basis of evidence of a "cooperating witness"). The Swedish press reported that was probably coordinated by the Swedish special police, SAPO , and that this type of coordination is the standard operating procedure of mutual assistance in transnational crime - link: (http://www.dn.se/nyheter/sverige/lag-alskar-bin-laden)
Louis B. Susman, the U.S. ambassador to Britain, said in February that America would 'wait to see how things work out in the British courts' before taking any action.
[SOURCE]
Informal discussions have already taken place between US and Swedish officials over the possibility of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange being delivered into American custody, according to diplomatic sources.
Sources stressed that no extradition request would be submitted until and unless the US government laid charges against Mr Assange, and that attempts to take him to America would only take place after legal proceedings are concluded in Sweden.
[SOURCE]
Given the complexity of extradition law, where you end up churning into political bedrock wherever you dive, ultimately all 'expert opinion' on this point is speculative. Arguments that it would be easier to extradite from Sweden do not hinge solely on the treaties, but make reference to the pragmatic realities of London's larger and more robust legal community. They hold that while Assange would be more vulnerable to extradition de jure, he would be in a de facto stronger position. The UK's almost unilateral extradition treaty with the US is of course shameful, and arguments taking that into account certainly merit attention.
However, what David Allen Green fails to mention is that it is all moot. Neither the UK nor Sweden are attractive places from which to be fighting extradition to the United States. We can quibble over which is worse, but that's missing the point. The extradition case kept Assange pinned in the UK under bail conditions. Far from wishing to remain vulnerable to the terms of the UK-US treaty, Assange was forced to be. That "the United Kingdom would... swiftly comply with any extradition request from the United States" is most likely true. That only further justifies Assange's asylum bid.
[SOURCE]
While fighting the Swedish case, Assange was detained in England under house arrest, and if extradited, he would be detained immediately in a Swedish remand cell, awaiting a decision as to whether to charge him. Either way, he was not in a good position. In the absence of guarantees from Sweden that he would not be extradited, he had a well-grounded fear of being extradited to the United States. The question of which jurisdiction would more readily roll over for the United States may interest jurists, but for those interested in why Assange sought asylum, it is a red herring.
The claim: "there are political exceptions" Some apologists for the idea of extraditing Julian Assange without any safeguards for his rights argue that he has nothing to fear, because Sweden has a legal obligation not to extradite people accused of "political offenses."
If it were an espionage or computer offence in respect of his role at Wikileaks then... the actual extradition treaty between Sweden and the United States prohibits extradition for political or espionage offences.
[SOURCE]
14. Commentators have also speculated that Holder's reference to "other tools" could include 18 USC 1030, which prohibits the wilful retention, communication, or transmission of classified information retrieved by means of knowingly accessing a computer without (or in excess of) authorisation, with reason to believe that such information "could be used to the injury of the US, or to the advantage of any foreign nation." 18 USD 641 prohibits the theft or conversion of government property or records for one's own use or the use of another.
[SOURCE]
The claim: "there are death penalty and torture exceptions" Some apologists for the idea of extraditing Julian Assange without any safeguards for his rights argue that he has nothing to worry about, because Sweden has a legal obligation not to extradite people where there is a risk of torture, or the death penalty:
The treaty also prevents extradition where there is a death penalty.
[SOURCE]
Also Sweden (like the United Kingdom) is bound by EU and ECHR law not to extradite in circumstances where there is any risk of the death penalty or torture. There would be no extradition to the United States in such circumstances.
[SOURCE]
Some apologists for the idea of extraditing Julian Assange without any safeguards for his rights argue that he has nothing to fear, because Sweden has a legal obligation not to extradite people accused of "political offenses."As discussed above , the US Department of Justice has been considering an array of possible charges against Julian Assange, some of which would not have political exemptions. For instance, 18 USC 1030, the overbroad statute under which Gary McKinnon and Aaron Swartz were being charged , has been considered. As internal cables from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs relate:Some apologists for the idea of extraditing Julian Assange without any safeguards for his rights argue that he has nothing to worry about, because Sweden has a legal obligation not to extradite people where there is a risk of torture, or the death penalty:What this means in practice is that Sweden would make diplomatic overtures to the US that no extradition would be allowed unless the death penalty and torture are taken off the table. Taking the death penalty off the table leaves the possibility of life imprisonment without parole, which is what Bradley Manning is facing. That is little better, and arguably worse, than the death penalty. This is before it is even considered that Julian Assange should not be facing any criminal prosecution for his work in WikiLeaks. That he would even have to fight such a prosecution would be an injustice. Life imprisonment is something the government of Ecuador explicitly said would violate Julian Assange's human rights, and is something the risk of which formed grounds for his receipt of asylum.
6. That legal evidence clearly shows that, given an extradition to the United States of America, it would be unlikely for Mr. Assange to receive a fair trial, and likely that he would be judged by special or military courts, where there is a high probability of suffering cruel and degrading treatment, and be sentenced to life imprisonment or capital punishment, which would violate his human rights;
[SOURCE]
On top of this, taking torture off the table means whatever the US government says it means. The US government does not officially, legally or internally use the word 'torture' to refer to any of its torture methods. The State Department cables released by WikiLeaks which deal with the issue of extraordinary rendition through European states paint a grim picture of the trustworthiness of diplomatic assurances that torture would not occur.
From a UN Note on Diplomatic Assurances and International Refugee Protection: 51. Diplomatic assurances would meet the suitability criterion only if they could effectively eliminate all reasonably possible manifestations of persecution in the individual case. The decision-maker would need to consider whether a person who may be subjected to a particular form of persecution linked to a 1951 Convention ground may be exposed to other kinds of serious harm for those reasons, even if the assurances would effectively eliminate a specific threat. For example, an undertaking given by the country of origin to the effect that an applicant would not be subjected to torture if he or she were to be extradited would not necessarily eliminate a risk of persecution in the form of excessive or disproportionate punishment, or serious discrimination which the individual concerned is likely to face independently of the criminal proceedings against him or her.
[SOURCE]
The UN Special Rapporteur has formally found that Bradley Manning was treated in a manner tantamount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and possibly torture. And yet the US government denies that he has been mistreated. The US president has declared his treatment "appropriate." The Swedish government has not clarified its position on the treatment of Bradley Manning.
This makes it very easy to "take torture off the table," since it is never recognized that it is on the table. It simply isn't recognized as torture. But the treatment Bradley Manning was subjected to - recognized as possibly torture - is reasonably routine in the US prison system: Just by itself, the type of prolonged solitary confinement to which Manning has been subjected for many months is widely viewed around the world as highly injurious, inhumane, punitive, and arguably even a form of torture. In his widely praised March, 2009 New Yorker article - entitled 'Is Long-Term Solitary Confinement Torture?' - the surgeon and journalist Atul Gawande assembled expert opinion and personal anecdotes to demonstrate that, as he put it, 'all human beings experience isolation as torture.' By itself, prolonged solitary confinement routinely destroys a person's mind and drives them into insanity. A March, 2010 article in The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law explains that 'solitary confinement is recognized as difficult to withstand; indeed, psychological stressors such as isolation can be as clinically distressing as physical torture.' For that reason, many Western nations - and even some non-Western nations notorious for human rights abuses - refuse to employ prolonged solitary confinement except in the most extreme cases of prisoner violence...
[T]he conditions under which Manning is being detained were once recognized in the U.S. - and are still recognized in many Western nations - as not only cruel and inhumane, but torture. More than a century ago, U.S. courts understood that solitary confinement was a barbaric punishment that severely harmed the mental and physical health of those subjected to it. The Supreme Court's 1890 decision in In re Medley noted that as a result of solitary confinement as practiced in the early days of the United States, many 'prisoners fell, after even a short confinement, into a semi-fatuous condition . . . and others became violently insane; others still, committed suicide; while those who stood the ordeal better . . . [often] did not recover sufficient mental activity to be of any subsequent service to the community.' And in its 1940 decision in Chambers v. Florida, the Court characterized prolonged solitary confinement as 'torture' and compared it to '[t]he rack, the thumbscrew, [and] the wheel.' The inhumane treatment of Manning may have international implications as well. There are multiple proceedings now pending in the European Union Human Rights Court, brought by 'War on Terror' detainees contesting their extradition to the U.S. on the ground that the conditions under which they likely will be held - particularly prolonged solitary confinement - violate the European Convention on Human Rights, which (along with the Convention Against Torture) bars EU states from extraditing anyone to any nation where there is a real risk of inhumane and degrading treatment. The European Court of Human Rights has in the past found detention conditions violative of those rights (in Bulgaria) where 'the [detainee] spent 23 hours a day alone in his cell; had limited interaction with other prisoners; and was only allowed two visits per month.' From the Journal article referenced above:
International treaty bodies and human rights experts, including the Human Rights Committee, the Committee against Torture, and the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Torture, have concluded that solitary confinement may amount to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment in violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. They have specifically criticized supermax confinement in the United States because of the mental suffering it inflicts.
[SOURCE]
Sadly, the "multiple proceedings now pending" referenced in the above article are no longer pending. Among others, Babar Ahmed, who spent nearly a decade of his life in detention in the United Kingdom without trial, lost his case in the ECtHR. He was surrendered to the United States on October 5th, 2012. If Julian Assange is to draw any conclusions about the ECtHR from the fate of Babar Ahmed and others, they must be pessimistic conclusions.
The claim: "The UK has a veto" Some apologists for the idea of extraditing Julian Assange without any safeguards for his rights argue that he has nothing to fear, because the UK Home Secretary Theresa May would have to approve any extradition from Sweden before it could proceed:
Some apologists for the idea of extraditing Julian Assange without any safeguards for his rights argue that he has nothing to fear, because the UK Home Secretary Theresa May would have to approve any extradition from Sweden before it could proceed:
In Sweden Assange would furthermore have the protection of any onward extradition requiring both the consent of the United Kingdom and Sweden.
[SOURCE]
One can add that there is no evidence whatsoever that the United Kingdom would not swiftly comply with any extradition request from the United States; quite the reverse. Ask Gary McKinnon, or Richard O'Dwyer, or the NatWest Three.
[SOURCE]
Julian Assange is an Australian journalist and publisher. He is the founder and editor of WikiLeaks , a public-interest publication designed to provide a safe conduit for whistleblowers all over the world to expose secret wrongdoing, regardless of political ideology or allegiance. Assange's publishing and journalistic work is widely recognized: he is the recipient of the 2009 Amnesty International New Media Award , the 2010 Martha Gellhorn Prize , the 2011 Sydney Peace Foundation Gold Medal , the 2011 Walkley Award for Journalism and the 2013 Yoko Ono Lennon Courage Award in the Arts He is also a refugee, living under the diplomatic protection of the government of Ecuador, in the embassy of Ecuador in London. He is being investigated for espionage by authorities in the United States . The UK authorities also want him, and have surrounded the embassy with police. And the Swedish authorities want him too.In 2010 Julian Assange oversaw the analysis and publication of over half a million documents from the Pentagon and US State Department; the largest such publication in history. He coordinated the analysis of the documents by 110 different media and human rights groups. The documents revealed thousands of issues embarrassing to the United States government, including the precise details about the deaths of more than 100,000 individual people in Iraq and Afghanistan.In reprisal, the US government initiated a criminal investigation , targeting Assange and his staff at WikiLeaks with espionage charges. That investigation is being carried out by a federal grand jury - a prosecutorial mechanism that virtually assures that he will be indicted. The investigation is ongoing.There is also a concurrent investigation into the WikiLeaks 2012 publication of " The Global Intelligence Files " : five million documents from the US intelligence contractor, Stratfor.These are the threats against which he has been granted asylum by the government of Ecuador, which has asserted The UK government officially intends to arrest Assange and extradite him to Sweden, in accordance with the orders of a UK court. The extradition order came at the end of a lengthy court battle in the UK, when Assange was challenging an extradition request from the Swedish authorities.After Assange entered Ecuador's embassy on the 19th June 2012, the London Metropolitan Police force surrounded the building, and have remained there ever since, at a cost to the UK taxpayer that had reached almost £3m by mid-February 2013 . Shortly before he was granted asylum, the UK government threatened to violate the Vienna Conventions , removing the embassy's diplomatic status, and initiating a police invasion of the premises in order to apprehend Assange. After this was internationally condemned , the UK government withdrew its threat, and resigned itself to respecting the inviolability of Ecuador's diplomatic premises. The embassy remains surrounded by the London Metropolitan Police force.In 2010, a separate investigation was initiated by Swedish prosecutors in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct in Sweden. Assange is sought by the Swedish prosecutor in order to be questioned in this investigation. He has not been charged. He has made every attempt to cooperate short of those which would increase his risk of extradition to the United States. The prosecutor issued an extradition request in order to question him, despite the availability of alternatives.On the basis that, without adequate safeguards, extradition to Sweden would render him vulnerable to further transit to the United States, Assange fought the extradition in the English courts , over the course of two years, during which he lived under house arrest in the United Kingdom.It should be stressed that Julian Assange's court cases in the UK were on the bureaucratic matter of whether the extradition order, or European Arrest Warrant, was valid. They were not on the substance of the allegations against Julian Assange. He has not been charged with any crime, much less convicted of an |
Bitcoin cash is buoyant again today, but some hints of bull exhaustion are starting to show.
At press time, the bitcoin cash-U.S. dollar (BCH/USD) exchange rate is $1,340. As per data from CoinMarketCap, the cryptocurrency has gained over 9 percent in the last 24 hours.
The gains come after record highs near $2,500 last week, reportedly due to a flow of money out of bitcoin (BTC) and into alternative protocols following the suspension of a controversial plan to alter the bitcoin’s code. However, overbought technical conditions pushed prices back to $1,000 yesterday.
Still, dust now cleared, yesterday’s pullback looks like nothing more than a normal technical correction, given that trading volumes dropped by 42 percent.
Despite the ups and downs, though, the cryptocurrency regained bid tone today, possibly on speculation that a successful outcome for a just-implemented hard fork of BCH may boost the protocol’s appeal as a payment network. Also, a detailed look at the individual markets reveals the rally has been fuelled by Korean exchanges offering BCH/KRW pairs.
That said, the price action analysis indicates some bull market exhaustion, and the downside, if any, is likely to be capped at around $1,000 levels.
Daily chart
Yesterday’s doji candle signals bull market exhaustion. An end of the day close below $1,000 would confirm a bearish doji reversal and open the doors for a pullback to $700 levels. The RSI is overbought as well.
As a result, a correction looks more likely, but the upward sloping 5-day MA and 10-day MA indicate any dips below $1,000 are likely to be short-lived.
1-hour chart
Bullish scenario: a rebound from the rising trend line followed by a break above $1,549 would add credence to the basing pattern on the RSI and hint at a climb to $2,000 levels.
View
The base appears to have shifted higher to $1,000 levels.
A short-term correction is likely, though dips below $1,000 are unlikely to last long.
On the higher side, a move above $1,549 would revive the bullish move.
Fast food combo image via Shutterstock |
AMC is bolstering its unscripted catalog with a third run of Small Town Security and a new reality series from the producers of Deadliest Catch.
King of Arms, a look at the niche world of competitive arm wrestling, will debut in early 2013 with a 10-episode season. The hourlong program, from Emmy-winning Deadliest Catch producers Matt Renner and Ethan Prochnik as well as Undertow Films' Dan Ilani, will focus of five different wrestling clubs across the U.S. (Production will be in Baton Rouge, La.; New York City; Erie, Pa.; Sacramento, Calif.; and Kansas City, Mo.)
It will join Small Town Security and Freakshow on the growing roster of unscripted programming -- the latter two returning to the schedule later in 2014.
"King of Arms, Small Town Security and Freakshow all take viewers inside worlds most have never seen, populated by unique and unforgettable characters," said AMC executive vp original programming, production and digital content Joel Stillerman. "We are looking forward to bringing these new and returning series to AMC viewers and are very excited to be working with Undertow Films on our new unscripted original, King of Arms."
Small Town Security is executive produced by Ken Druckerman and Banks Tarver of Left/Right Films. |
If you ever wonder whether the LGBT vote is important - and clearly, the Republicans don't give much thought to the issue - consider this:
President Obama had a 3-to-1 edge on Mitt Romney among this voting bloc in 2012. Polls showed that without that LGBT support, he would not have won Ohio. Without this massive disparity, he would not have won Florida.
The Republicans said they learned from this rake-stepping piece of electoral comedy, even authoring an "autopsy report" after getting creamed in that election. Inclusion was the catch-word: They vowed to withstand the homophobic impulse and reach out to minority communities, notably LGBT, and that it would be reflected in their party platform in 2016.
Fast forward to last week, when they decided to party like it's 1952.
While any political platform lacks the power to bind a nominee to every plank, it symbolizes a party's principles and ambitions; and this Republican platform clearly wants LGBT people to return to the closet and stay as far away from the mainstream as possible, because in their minds that's what it takes to make America great again.
Start with this: Even though marriage equality is legal in 50 states, "our laws and our government's regulations should recognize marriage as the union of one man and one woman," the platform read, "(and) we do not accept the Supreme Court's redefinition of marriage and we urge its reversal."
Never mind that 61 percent of Americans support marriage equality - as do a majority of young Republicans. The platform committee just couldn't help itself.
The Republicans also "oppose government discrimination" against businesses that "decline to sell items or services to individuals for activities that go against their religious views."
They still want to Pray Away the Gay, by sanctioning the crackpot scam known as "conversion therapy," because Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council believes that parents must "determine the proper treatment for their minor children" who identify as LGBT.
And, in the ultimate expression of bigotry and inhumanity, this happened:
Pro-gay Republicans tried to insert language in the national security section that would condemn Islamic terrorists for targeting LGBT people. One month after Orlando, it didn't seem like a big ask. The only openly gay platform committee member, Rachel Hoff, suggested to her colleagues, "Can you not, at the very least, stand up for our right not to be killed?"
Apparently not: That measure was defeated.
Andy Towle, an influential gay blogger, put it this way: "Today's Republican party is an Anti-LGBT Hate Group."
If you think this platform reflects mainstream attitudes, most of its 66 pages follow the same sclerotic vein.
Put it this way: It affirms coal as a "clean form of energy," but views porn as a "public health crisis" - the apparent exception being Melania Trump posing starkers on the cover of GQ magazine.
Got that? Porn is a health menace, but toxic emissions are not.
The same platform advocates teaching the Bible in public schools, because "a good understanding of the Bible" is "indispensable to the development of an educated citizenry."
If they can find that part of the scripture that teaches the mistreatment and contempt for such a large part of the general population, we'd like to read it.
What the platform's authors don't seem to get is that most voters know an LGBT person, and they probably like or love that person much more than the candidate or the demented manifesto that now defines him. The GOP just made that person's vote very easy.
More: Recent Star-Ledger editorials.
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Sunday’s referendum asked the Greek people a very specific and complicated question: Whether voters agreed to accept the proposal the country’s creditors had made on June 25, 2015. But everyone understood that the vote would have much wider implications for Greece’s membership in the euro and the European Union.
What exactly these implications would be, however, was highly contested during the one-week campaign. The government argued that a no (“OXI”) vote would give Greece a better negotiating position, which would let it quickly secure a deal that would end austerity. The “yes” camp, in contrast, warned that a no vote would lead to “Grexit,” or Greece’s departure from the euro zone and possibly the E.U., and therefore even worse economic hardship in the months to come.
The referendum result was much more definitive than expected: more than 61 percent voted “no.” But Greece’s future is now highly uncertain. Euro-zone and E.U. politicians have made it clear that Prime Minister Tsipras’s promise of a better and quickly negotiated deal isn’t forthcoming. No one knows what will happen next.
Who voted yes, and who voted no?
What were the Greek people thinking as they went to the polls, and what does that imply for future negotiations?
We fielded an original telephone survey on Greek public opinion on Saturday, the day before the referendum, asking 989 respondents how they intended to vote, what they expected from a no vote, and what they believed should happen in Greece’s future. The survey was carried out by the University of Macedonia Research Institute and identified respondents through multi-stage stratified sampling.
The results give us a unique glimpse into the deliberations of the Greek people about to vote on the country’s future. They show that the referendum question split Greek society along sociodemographic and partisan lines. “No” was strongly favored by younger, less educated, and unemployed voters, who have been heavily hurt by austerity politics. Voters favoring the governing parties, Syriza and ANEL, or the radical right party Golden Dawn, were significantly more like to vote no.
“Yes” was favored by older and more educated voters, and by those who had voted for the more moderate opposition parties (Nea Democratia, PASOK, and To Potami).
What did they expect from their vote?
But knowing who voted no doesn’t tell us why. What did they think would come of their vote?
An overwhelming majority of those who voted no– about 88 percent — believed that, as a result of an OXI vote, negotiations would continue, as you can see below. Only 5 percent believed that a no vote would mean Greece would exit the euro zone.
By contrast, those who voted yes were much more worried about Grexit. In fact, 61 percent of them believed that would be the most likely outcome of a no vote.
Voters’ beliefs thus mirror the narratives of both camps, emphasizing the importance of partisan cues in the referendum campaign.
No-voters’ high hopes for a better deal may soon turn into disappointment, however. European policymakers have been reluctant to discuss a new and substantially better deal with the Greek government in the past days. The odds of Greece leaving the euro zone have clearly increased.
This puts the Tsipras government under pressure at home. Our data show that an overwhelming majority of Greeks want to keep the euro: 76 percent of all respondents think that this is best for Greece’s future.
What is more, support remains strong when respondents consider the costs of euro membership. To better understand how voters’ evaluate the trade-offs associated with keeping the euro, we ran a survey experiment in which we randomly informed one group about the potential costs of remaining in the euro.
We first asked a randomly selected control group whether it would be better for Greece to keep the euro or to introduce a national currency. Fully 78.5 percent chose the euro. We then informed another group that experts said that staying in the euro would require a few more months of pension cuts and tax increases. Support for the euro dropped to 75.6 percent. A final group was informed that staying in the euro would require 4-5 more years of austerity. In this group, support for the euro dropped to 72.7 percent.
It is possible that the high level of support for the euro reflects Greek worries that a Grexit would also end Greece’s membership in the E.U. To disentangle these fears, we finally asked respondents what they personally would choose regarding different possible combinations of euro and E.U. membership.
As you can see below, opinions divide strongly by party. There is overwhelming support for E.U. membership across all parties. But voters of the governing parties Syriza and ANEL are far more interested in leaving the euro while staying in the EU than are voters of the moderate opposition.
As Grexit risks have increased over the past days, this may indeed be a path for the Tsipras government to choose.
Although the majority of government voters does not want Grexit, the move to leave the euro zone would still be endorsed by about one-third of the government’s electorate. Moreover, the bank holiday and capital controls have already materialized some of the costs associated with Grexit.
If the Tsipras government additionally manages to convince voters that Grexit is mainly the euro zone’s fault, the government may be able to survive such a development. Incidentally, the sizable support for euro exit in the government’s camp might also provide a rationale for the argument that Grexit was Tsipras’s preferred outcome from the start.
Taken together with the strong popular no to more austerity in Greece, these results echo my own research on other balance of payments crises. In crises such as the Greek one, where both austerity and structural reforms and the alternative of an exchange rate devaluation (in this case Grexit) are costly, voters prefer a financing of the status quo. But when exchange-rate stability increasingly comes at the price of painful internal reforms, public opinion can switch from a preference for stability to one for devaluation. As a result, such crises often end in devaluation, but only after considerable delay.
For Greece, this means that despite years of trying to keep Greece in the euro, a Grexit is now less than just a theoretical possibility.
Stefanie Walter is a full professor for international relations and political economy at the University of Zuerich. |
Twitter's only black engineering manager just left the company with a scathing critique of its diversity practices.
In an essay published on Medium, Leslie Miley, who says that he was the only African-American in engineering leadership at Twitter, writes about his conflicted feelings toward a company whose management demographics are so at odds with its user base.
"Every day for almost three years, I have looked forward to making contributions to the platform that enables #BlackLivesMatter, and that amplifies the voices of #BlackTwitter," Miley writes. Citing a Twitter Diversity report, Miley notes that while more than 30 percent of the platform's U.S. active monthly users are black or Hispanic, that demographic makes up less than five percent of its engineering and product management team.
Miley describes uncomfortable situations where he tried to press for greater diversity in the company. He says that Hiring Committee meetings became contentious when he advocated for diverse candidates:
Candidates who were dinged for not being fast enough to solve problems, not having internships at ‘strong’ companies and who took too long to finish their degree. Only after hours of lobbying would they be hired. Needless to say, the majority of them performed well.
Miley says that at one point, when he asked what specific steps his department was taking to increase diversity, the senior vice president of engineering told him, "Diversity is important, but we can't lower the bar."
Miley also notes that while employee resource groups for women offered special opportunities to meet with guests of the company like Hillary Clinton and Mellody Hobson, the employee resource group representing Twitter's black employees did not receive invitations to events featuring Jesse Jackson or former NAACP head Ben Jealous.
POST CONTINUES BELOW
"Why wouldn’t there be a concerted effort to invite the few African American employees to these events?" Miley wonders. "Is it because, as one colleague told me, 'they forgot that you were black?'"
A particularly low moment for Miley came when he was working on an initiative with the senior vice president of engineering to track the ethnicity of potential job candidates to better understand where diverse candidates were falling out of the process. The VP suggested that Miley create a tool to analyze candidates' last names in order to classify their identities, a misleading and overly simplistic solution to a problem that extends beyond finding diverse candidates in the job pipeline.
I left that meeting wondering how I could, in good conscience, continue to work in an organization where the Sr. VP of Engineering could see himself as a technology visionary and be so unaware of this blind spot in his understanding of diversity.
TechCrunch reports that although Miley was laid off as part of Twitter's staff cuts in October, he had already told the company that he was leaving at the end of the month. The publication also notes that he had given up a severance package so that he could speak openly about his experience at Twitter.
POST CONTINUES BELOW
But Miley's assessment of Twitter had some optimistic aspects as well, particularly regarding the return in August of co-founder Jack Dorsey:
It is my belief that Jack understands the use case of Twitter better than anyone else, understands how diversity can be additive to growth, and is committed to making that happen. The leadership that Jack is showing has been long missing from Twitter and tech.
In response to Miley's critique, a spokesperson for Twitter told NTRSCTN:
We're committed to making substantive progress in making Twitter more diverse and inclusive. This commitment includes the expansion of our inclusion and diversity programs, diversity recruiting, employee development, and resource group-led initiatives. Beyond just disclosing our workforce representation statistics, we have also publicly disclosed our representation goals for women and under-represented minorities for 2016, making us the largest tech company to put hard numbers around its diversity commitment.
Miley says in his essay that with his departure, Twitter no longer has any managers, directors, or vice presidents of color in engineering or product management. |
The West’s latest round of sanctions against Russia and the fragile truce between Moscow and Kiev fails to alter the fact that the Kremlin has already succeeded in achieving most of its aims in Ukraine. Crimea is an all-but-accepted lost cause, and territories in Eastern and Southern Ukraine are under serious pressure to follow suit. But the US and the EU should realize that it was not solely militias in Eastern Ukraine or Russian weaponry that secured the upper hand for the Kremlin. In its campaign in Ukraine, Russia’s propaganda and information warfare have been far more effective than military action in helping Moscow achieve its agenda while largely tying the West’s hands in its attempts to respond.
The significance of Moscow-spun propaganda needs to be recognized and should not be underestimated. Much of the point of view of that propaganda has insinuated itself into and been internalized by the Western media, complementing Russia’s military tactics in achieving Putin’s expansionist goals. Since the start of the Kremlin’s campaign to take over Crimea in March, five myths successfully promulgated by the Russian propaganda machine have played a central role in allowing Putin to consolidate his gains in Ukraine.
The first myth, and the one that set the events in motion, was the narrative that depicts Crimea and Eastern Ukraine as essentially Russian. Moscow’s arguments promote the concept of a Kievan Rus, or a 9th century cradle of Slavic [Russian according to Moscow] civilization in the territory of Ukraine. Yet, whatever slim basis this notion might have in medieval history, in today’s reality, according to the 2001 census, out of Ukraine’s 24 regions, only the Donetsk and Luhansk regions had populations where Russian speakers totaled more than 50 percent. And even this figure fails to distinguish the fact that in former Soviet countries, where for many years Russian was the administrative language, a Russian speaker is not necessarily an ethnic Russian. For instance, pre-conflict Crimea was 77 percent Russian speaking but only 58 percent ethnically Russian, with Ukrainians and Crimean Tartars making up the balance.
The second myth of Russian propaganda posits that since the Euromaidan revolution toppled the government in Kiev, Eastern Ukrainians have been calling for Russian protection from the new government. While this notion was widely disseminated and even routinely believed, the Gallup Organization conducted polls in Ukraine April 2014, which found that only 8 percent of the population in Eastern Ukraine responded ‘definitely yes’ to wanting protection by the Russian army. In contrast 52 percent responded ‘definitely no.’ Likewise, 11 percent responded ‘rather yes’ while 17 percent responded ‘rather no.’ These first two inventions – which can be summarized as Russia was only responding to Russians asking for protection from Russia – were used as the initial pretext for Russian military adventurism in Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.
The third myth of the Russian propaganda effort, the frequent reference to militias in Ukraine’s Donbas region as local “separatists,” is one that is highly relevant today and continues to obscure the facts on the ground in Ukraine. It is an open secret that these “separatists” are largely composed of Russian special-forces, Russian militias of former (contract) soldiers, Cossack and Chechen militias, and local mercenaries. The ongoing use of the term “separatists” by the Western media reinforces the Kremlin’s construction of events, which denies Russian interference and characterizes the war as a conflict between Kiev and a group of local, homegrown rebels.
A fourth, particularly cynical myth broadcast by Russia – one that has been seen as transparent in the West – is the proposition that the Ukrainian government consists of “fascists” as the Russian media would have the people of Eastern Ukraine and the rest of the world believe. This portrayal of the government in Kiev enables Russia to propound the fifth and most insidious propaganda myth: that the Russian government and its proxies are “anti-fascists.” Recently Putin compared the struggle for Donetsk with the heroic anti-fascist struggle of the Russians during the siege of Leningrad in World War II. The truth, however, is that present-day Russian “anti-fascism” is nothing more than a nationalist and xenophobic self-celebration. It has nothing to do with genuine anti-fascism, which is characterized by adherence to democratic principles, respect for international law, and the protection of human rights.
What present-day Russia calls “anti-fascism” is rather the expression of a jingoist, nationalist mood, which in fact comes close, very close indeed, to a modern variant of fascism itself. It is, therefore, no coincidence and has been well documented that Putin's friends in Europe can be found in particular in neo-fascist and extreme right parties.
It is important to debunk all these myths and in particular this final, most sinister myth of Russian “anti-fascism” and call Putin's regime what it is: ultranationalist, populist, nativist, and directly opposed to liberal democracy. Or put another way: neo-fascist. |
Pauline Hanson has urged her followers to avoid brands like Cadbury and instead opt for ‘non-halal’ certified chocolates this Easter.
Hanson’s message came in a video posted to her Facebook page, in which she promoted Lindt and Darrell Lea as non-halal alternatives.
“If you want to actually support these companies, do it,” she said.
“Go and buy some non-halal Easter eggs and chocolate – and have a happy Easter everyone, and a very safe one.”
Related reading Pauline Hanson announces boycott of ABC after Four Corners, Insiders
Halal certification involves use of a licensed marker to indicate that a food is approved for consumption under Islamic religious rules.
In confectionary products, colouring and other additives derived from insects, or gelatin derived from other animals, can violate Islamic dietary rules.
One Nation says the fee for certification amounts to an ‘Islamic tax’ and has raised concern that licensing fees are used to finance terrorism – although a 2015 Senate committee found there was no substance to such concerns.
Related:
One Nation’s anti-halal policy specifically singles out Cadbury on the political party’s website.
“Australian icon Cadbury paid to have the Halal certification on their Easter product range in 2014, even though Easter is a Christian celebration and nothing to do with Islam,” the party states.
Cadbury Australia lists a significant range of Halal certified products, including bars, blocks and snacks, as well as seasonal Easter and Christmas items.
SBS has sought comment from the chocolate giant – other companies have said that certification schemes are vital for exporting their products to international markets.
Cadbury has recently been under fire after social media reports that they have removed the word ‘Easter’ from their products and seasonal marketing campaign – but as the company has been at pains to point out, there’s no truth to the reports.
One Nation’s anti-Islam policies include holding Royal Commission into Islam, halting all Muslim immigration, banning the Burqa and Niqab in public places and having surveillance cameras installed in Mosques. |
The average fuel economy of new vehicles rose 6% in 2012, and cars are expected to use less and less gas going forward. Isn’t that a good thing?
Well, not if you’re a state hoping to bump up revenues collected on gasoline sales. Less gas sold means less gas taxes collected by states—and therefore, less money the states have to build highways, patch roads, and do all of the other things normally funded by gas taxes.
To increase gas tax revenues, or at least maintain their current levels, one simple solution is to hike gas tax rates. As a New York Times magazine story recently detailed, many economists think higher gas taxes—at least $1.25 per gallon, more than double the current national average—are necessary for a wide range of reasons, including the reduction of traffic and offsetting the environmental impact of driving.
Curiously, in Virginia, Governor Bob McDonnell is suggesting just the opposite as a solution. McDonnell is proposing that Virginia eliminate its gas tax, which is now 17.5¢ per gallon. Since gas tax revenues are bound to decline as drivers buy less fuel, McDonnell suggests that the state drop this tax entirely, while jacking up another tax—one that’s paid by everyone, not just drivers, and that’s never expected to decline. If the proposal passes (it’s quite a long shot), road projects in Virginia would no longer be funded by gas taxes, but by a 0.8% increase in state sales tax, which would rise from 5% to 5.8% (still lower than neighboring Maryland‘s 6% rate).
(MORE: Not Your Grandpa’s Mercedes: Luxury Car Makers Aim for Younger, Less Rich Customers)
The Richmond Times-Dispatch quoted McDonnell’s attempts at explaining the proposed “solution”:
“We have a problem in Virginia and it’s a math problem,” McDonnell said in announcing his proposal. “When you look at what is happening with the primary sources of transportation funding, the fuels tax, that it is on a downward slope.”
Perhaps even more curiously, McDonnell is also suggesting that the owners of alternative-fuel vehicles—who are accustomed to receiving bonuses (rebates, free charging stations, access to special highway lanes) for their green choice of vehicles—should pay a $100 annual fee. And here’s how the governor explained this part of his plan:
“I’m a strong supporter of alternative fuel vehicles, and I’ve directed that we convert the state vehicle fleet to natural gas, but these vehicles generate little federal gas tax revenue and therefore need to contribute their share to fund the roads they use,” McDonnell said.
(MORE: Why the Car of the Future Will Be Powered by … Gasoline)
The proposal has support in certain circles—like among taxi companies and other businesses that spend a lot out of pocket on fuel costs and would obviously benefit if gas was cheaper. A Washington Post story recently offered their point of view, as well as that of the Virginia Retail Federation, which swore that it has “not found a pushback yet for the increase in the sales tax” among its members. Supporters also argue that the disappearance of the state gas tax may trickle down, so that prices would decrease for all sorts of goods and services priced partially based on the cost of fuel.
Regardless, everyday consumers may not like the idea of paying for services they don’t necessarily use. “There’s no need for people that don’t drive a car to pay higher taxes on consumer goods in order to subsidize those people who do drive cars,” Virginia Sen. J. Chapman Petersen said, according to the Times-Dispatch.
The point here is figuring out how to fund road infrastructure, right? Interestingly enough, surveys show that the majority of drivers actually support higher taxes on gasoline (a theoretical 10¢ increase) so long as the funds raised are used to improve roads. Think about that: How often are the majority of Americans behind the idea of increases taxes on anything?
(MORE: Top New Cars of 2013)
Nonetheless, McDonnell wants to eliminate the gas tax and spread the burden of funding road improvements to all consumers, while simultaneously decreasing incentives for drivers to purchase more fuel-efficient and alternative-fuel vehicles and to stay off the roads more, perhaps by using public transportation. But hey, gas would be cheaper! |
Buying a used car is similar in some ways to buying a new one, but it is very different in others. What’s the same is that you need to know what you want and you are looking for a good deal. From there, however, the approach takes quite a different turn. Winding up with a successful transaction and driving away in a mechanically sound vehicle where everything has been disclosed by the seller will be a lot more likely if you follow these top used car buying tips from the experts.
Narrow your choices. Even if you’ve decided on a particular make and model you want, experts recommend having a target vehicle list of three. These could be competitor vehicles to the one you really want, or they could be different body styles entirely. For example, you may be after a large four-door sedan but find that a crossover or a mid-size sedan will just as well suit your needs. Check the Other Choices section of every car review on The Car Connection for the vehicles we'd cross-shop, if you like.
GET MORE ADVICE ON: Car Seats, Car Recalls, Oil Changes, and Car Insurance
Decide how much you’re willing to pay. Just as in shopping for a new car, you need to know what your budget is and how much you are willing to pay. Here is where having more than one vehicle in your target list may come in handy. If a car is popular, the seller may be asking more than you really want to pay. Going for a competitive make and model may bring the price more in line with your budget.
Arrange financing ahead of time. Whether you shop at the used car section of a new car dealership, an independent used car lot or a private party, the only way to close the deal is with cash, financing from a bank, credit union or online bank, or dealer financing, if available. By securing financing before going used car shopping, this is one hurdle already overcome and may help you get the car you want before someone else does.
When buying from a private party, call ahead. Combing through the used car listings online or in the paper, when you find a car or vehicles you’re interested in, call the seller to check on the mileage (or confirm what’s in the listing), get the vehicle identification number (VIN) so you can order a vehicle history report, and make an appointment to test drive the car.
Obtain the vehicle history report. Armed with the VIN, go to AutoCheck or Carfax and purchase a vehicle history report. This is a complete history of the vehicle that lists all owners, any accidents, violations and other information that’s vital for you to know in order to determine if this car merits a closer look.
Test drive the vehicle. Do a vehicle walk-around, checking to see any obvious signs of repair, misaligned doors, noting scratches, dings or other visible signs of damage or wear. Then go for a test drive that mirrors, if possible, the kind of driving you generally do. During the test drive, pay attention to how the vehicle fits. Is it comfortable? Is visibility good? Does it accelerate appropriately? How is braking and cornering? Any squeaks and rattles? Check roominess and comfort in the back seat as well as storage capacity.
Ask to see service records. This is to provide assurance that the car has been properly maintained during the seller’s ownership of the vehicle.
Have it inspected. If you like what you see so far, it is still important to have the vehicle inspected by a mechanic. While it may cost you in the area of $100, the expense is well worth it to give you peace of mind that the vehicle is as the seller purports it to be and you shouldn’t expect a major problem when you drive it away after the sale. If this is a certified pre-owned (CPO) car you buy at a dealership, you don’t need the inspection.
Negotiate the price. Before making an offer, know what buyers in the area have actually paid for such vehicles, using tools like the Edmunds True Market Value and Kelley Blue Book pricing (for private party, suggested dealer retail, CPO). Then make an offer to the seller, going low to begin with, but not unreasonably low. If you must go higher in price, do so in increments and know when you’ve reached your limit. Be willing to walk away. There are many more used cars out there. You don’t have to buy this one if you run into problems or feel uncomfortable with the deal.
Don’t forget insurance. Before you drive away the car, make sure to call your insurance agent and add it to your policy. This protects you the minute you become the new owner.
Complete the transaction. In a private party sale, you’ll likely pay in cash or by certified check. If buying from a dealer, you may go with financing you’ve already arranged. Before money changes hands, however, have the seller sign over the title to you. Be aware of the requirements in your state regarding licensing and registration, as they vary.
MORE RESOURCES: |
The military in Burkina Faso has taken to the airwaves to declare it now controls the country, confirming that a coup has taken place - just weeks before national elections.
In the announcement aired early on Thursday on national television and radio, the statement said that the transitional government in the West African country had been dissolved.
The statement came a day after members of the elite presidential guard unit of the military arrested the transitional president and prime minister.
The communique read by Lieutenant Colonel Mamadou Bamba criticised the electoral code, which blocked members of the ex-president's party from taking part in the October 11 elections.
It is still very unclear how this crisis will now resolve itself Cynthia Ohayon, ICG
Anyone who supported the ex-president's bid to amend the
constitution so he could seek another term is also banned from running.
Bamba on Thursday announced the beginning of a "coherent, fair and equitable process" that would lead to inclusive elections. The power grab violates the country's constitution.
Fanny Noaro, a journalist based in the capital Ouagadougou, told Al Jazeera gunfire could be heard on the streets of the city.
"There is a lot of military on the street [...] there is also no information about the transitional president and prime minister and there is no information if they are dead or alive," she said.
A Reuters witness said that soldiers had fired warning shots to disperse a crowd gathered in Independence Square to protest against an apparent seizure of power by the presidential guard. More than 100 people had gathered in the square to demand the release of the interim government, detained by the elite military unit since Wednesday.
Burkina Faso was due to hold elections on October 11 that many hoped would strengthen democracy.
Cynthia Ohayon, West Africa analyst with International Crisis Group (ICG), described the turn of events as "unsurprising".
"It is still very unclear how this crisis will now resolve itself [...] the only outcome will come through negotiation and compromise [but] I don't see what sort of of compromise will be acceptable to both sides, considering both sides have gone all in so far," Ohayon told Al Jazeera from Paris.
The transitional government came to power after the president for 27 years, Blaise Compaore, was toppled late last year in a public uprising. |
An Avalanche of negative reaction has hit The Incline Village General Improvement District after this North Lake Tahoe, Nevada resort town voted last month to rescind health care insurance benefits to domestic partners of its employees.
According to Incline Village General Improvement District financial research, the move to take back domestic partnership benefits will only save the district about $1,500 in expenses, the estimated amount the district would pay through the end of the fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2009.
The district board will review their actions on March 11th, but whether they take action to reverse their decision is unknown.
Lez Get Real and other LGBT activists are calling for a boycott of Lake Tahoe until the district reverses this discriminatory and unnecessary position.
Contact page for Incline Village Development.
H/T to Lez Get Real for breaking the story. |
Falling sea ice levels due to climate change and spike in Russian activity require strategic response in US, says department of defense
By Ed King
US president Donald Trump jokes it’s a hoax. His military top brass beg to differ.
An updated US military strategy for the Arctic says “diminishing ice levels” due to warming temperatures pose a series of security risks to the country.
Released this week at the request of Alaska senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican, the 16-page document says the US must boost investment in its military assets around the North Pole.
“Diminishing sea ice will give rise to new economic opportunities in the region while simultaneously increasing concerns about human safety and protection of a unique ecosystem that many indigenous communities rely on for subsistence,” reads the Arctic Strategy.
“The breaking up of sea ice also threatens existing detection and warning infrastructure by increasing the rate of coastal erosion.”
In stark contrast to claims Trump’s administration may axe funding to climate science programmes, the Pentagon report says weather and climate science is a matter of national security.
“Robust observations, remote sensing capabilities, and modelling of the space, air, sea surface, ice, and ocean environments that affect operations in the Arctic are key aspects of domain awareness and safe operations, particularly in a remote and harsh region,” it says.
Citing NASA’s findings that the Arctic is “warming more rapidly than the rest of the planet”, the report says planners must consider the safety of their teams when evaluating environmental risk.
In a statement Sullivan – who sits on the influential Senate Armed Services Committee – said he hoped president Trump and Pentagon officials would “take a serious look at this document” and start work on a comprehensive Arctic strategy.
Trump’s new defence chief General James Mattis was confirmed in his post on 20 January, 12 days before this document was published.
“After nearly two years of advocacy and bipartisan efforts, I am pleased that we finally have a much more serious military strategy for the Arctic region,” said Sullivan.
“While this strategy is not perfect – including a failure to offer how best to counter the common threat it identifies – it is a dramatic improvement from the 2013 version which was more platitudes and pictures than actual substance.”
The Arctic is believed to hold over 20% of the world’s oil and gas reserves, and is also rich in minerals – all of which will be easier to access as sea ice levels recede.
In recent years Russia has invested heavily in the region. According to Reuters the scale of military build-up is the largest since 1991, seeking to impose control over half a million square miles of ocean.
Andy Holland, director of studies at the American Security Project, a bipartisan think tank based in Washington DC, said there was growing consensus among lawmakers of the need for a clearer Arctic plan.
“There is pressure to do this – and external pressure from the Russians. There have been a number of articles saying the Russians are militarising the Arctic,” he said.
Holland, who was recently in Norway speaking to NATO officials at the Bodo airbase, on the edge of the Arctic, said they reported an increase in Russian activity in the past year. “They are clearly pushing,” he added. |
Richard Wold (left) pulls a sample of an aged 1- to 2-year-old cheddar for judge Mark Johnson to smell and taste Thursday during the Champion of Cheese Charity Event to benefit the Hunger Task Force held at the Hyatt Regency Milwaukee. Credit: Michael McLoone / for the Journal Sentinel
SHARE The 2015 champion cheese, a traditional swiss wheel, made by Guggisberg Cheese Inc. (cheese makers Cecylia Szewcyk, Derek Yoder, Tom Beck, Marvin Raber, Norman Yoder, Marion Miller, David Miller and Jennifer George) of Millersburg, OH. Michael McLoone/ for the Journal Sentinel
By of the
Wisconsin cheesemakers took home the most gold medals in the 2015 U.S. Championship Cheese competition, winning 56 of the 90 categories.
Guggisberg Cheese Co., of Millersburg, Ohio, took top honors out of 1,892 entries from 28 states for its Swiss wheel. First runner-up in the contest, judged Thursday night in Milwaukee, was a brick cheese from Mill Creek Cheese in Arena.
The second runner-up was a medium cheddar from Land O'Lakes in Kiel.
The competition is the largest technical evaluation of cheese, butter and yogurt in the country and is rooted in more than 120 years of history, beginning when the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association held its first cheese contest in 1891.
This year, more than 33,000 pounds of dairy products were entered into the contest.
One of the new categories in the event, held every two years, was yogurt.
"We have all the tools to evaluate dairy products ... and more than any other dairy product, yogurt is the direct cousin to cheese," said John Umhoefer, executive director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, which hosts the contest.
New York came in second among the states, with seven gold medals. California had six, Vermont had five, Idaho, four; Oregon, three.
In addition to bragging rights in the industry, the awards are important as a marketing tool.
"For a new product or a new company, it puts them on the map. I have had cheesemakers say it changed their business," Umhoefer said.
It takes months to prepare for the contest.
"As we are aging cheese and looking for different characteristics, we run across some that looks a little better and we set it aside. As we get ready for the contest, we will go through those batches and look for something we think can be competitive," said Richard Guggisberg, president of Guggisberg Cheese Co.
He said the company made its award-winning Swiss cheese a traditional way, not used often these days, with a rind formed by air curing.
"It really does give the cheese a unique character and taste," Guggisberg said.
The company has won numerous awards for its Swiss and Baby Swiss cheeses.
"A lot of people in Wisconsin probably don't know it, but Ohio makes more Swiss cheese than any place in the country. There was an influx of Swiss immigrants in the last century, and one of them was my father, who started making cheese in the hills of eastern Ohio, which is a lot like Green County, Wisconsin," Guggisberg said.
Guggisberg hired a cheesemaker from Poland to direct its Swiss efforts. Now, the company has its sights set on the World Championship Cheese Contest in 2016.
"We are going to try to beat the Swiss (cheesemakers) at their own game. That's our goal," Guggisberg said. "The Swiss are very hard to beat because they have the highest quality milk supply in the world, and they've been well known, for centuries, for their Swiss cheesemaking."
Mill Creek Cheese, from Arena in Iowa County, has been family owned since 1891. Master Cheese Maker John "Randy" Pitman has 38 years of experience making a variety of award-winning cheeses.
"What I have is a dream team of workers. I have probably the best of the best, guys who have been with me for years," Pitman said.
Good cheese starts with quality ingredients, Pitman said.
"You must have excellent milk to make excellent cheese. You never skimp on what you put in there. And if you know what the cultures are doing, you know what the cheese is going to do," he said.
Pitman says he has a secret formula that combines different cultures to create a distinct flavor.
Contest judges consider many characteristics of cheese, such as texture and appearance.
"But at the end of the day, we're going to eat it. So it comes down to what I can do to improve the flavor," Pitman said. |
Pioneering Spirit (previously named Pieter Schelte) is the world's largest construction vessel, designed for the single-lift installation and removal of large oil and gas platforms and the installation of record-weight pipelines.[4][2]
Designed by Swiss-based Allseas Group, the 382 m long, 124 m wide vessel was built in South Korea by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (2011–14) at a cost of €2.6 billion and commenced offshore operations in August 2016.
In June 2017, Pioneering Spirit commenced pipelay for the first line of SouthStream Transport B.V's dual 930-km Turkish Stream pipeline in the Black Sea.[5]
Allseas has committed to building an even larger version of the same design, Allseas Amazing Grace, the delivery of which is planned for 2022.[6]
Development [ edit ]
The initial concept, by Allseas’ founder and CEO Edward Hereema,[4] was of a vessel capable of lifting entire platforms, and in 1987 Allseas declared its intention to build it.[7] The initial idea featured two rigidly connected, self-propelled supertankers, with a large slot at the bows enabling it to install platform topsides in one piece. Early designs featured a flotation and ballasting system and active motion compensation system to facilitate a controlled transfer of a topsides’ weight from the vessel to a platform substructure. Allseas developed the original idea to include steel jacket installation, jackets and topsides removal and rigid pipelay capabilities.[8]
The emphasis switched from the conversion of two existing tankers to a new-build hull in 2004, though retaining the catamaran concept.[9] The decision was prompted by a lack of suitable vessels to convert, the lower costs associated with a new-build, and the need to house sophisticated equipment – such as a dynamic positioning system – in the hull.[4]
In 2007, twenty years after the idea was first conceived, Allseas announced plans to build the Pieter Schelte, a twin-hulled platform installation / decommissioning and pipelay vessel.[10] Named after the offshore pioneer Pieter Schelte (father of Heerema), the design featured a lifting system at its bows for lifting platform topsides up to 48,000 t and a lifting system at its stern for lifting steel jackets up to 25,000 t. The design also included pipelay equipment to handle pipe diameters ranging from 6 - 68 inches at water depths exceeding 4000 m (13,100 ft.).[11]
First equipment orders placed [ edit ]
Allseas placed orders for machinery, including generators and thrusters, in 2007, and for the high-tensile steel for the lifting systems in 2008.[12][13]
After the global financial crisis weakened funding, the company was forced to postpone the building schedule and as a result delayed the awarding of the hull construction contract.[14] Finnish engineering company Deltamarin performed detail engineering in 2009.[15]
Construction [ edit ]
Allseas eventually was able to sign the main construction contract in June 2010 with South Korean shipyard Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co Ltd.[16]
Midway through the build, Allseas decided to widen the vessel by 6.75 m in order to increase the clearance between the bows and the legs of large platforms.[17] As a result the overall width increased from 117 m to 124 m, and the slot width from 52 m to 59 m.
The vessel departed Daewoo in November 2014 and arrived at the Maasvlakte 2, Port of Rotterdam, for completion and commissioning, on January 8, 2015.[18] Pioneering Spirit left Rotterdam on 6 August 2016.[19]
Naming controversy [ edit ]
The vessel was originally named Pieter Schelte after the engineer Pieter Schelte Heerema (1908–1981), the father of Allseas' owner Edward Heerema. The original name caused controversy due to Pieter Schelte Heerema's service in the Waffen-SS during World War II, prior to August 1943. Pieter Schelte Heerema subsequently disappeared and joined the resistance in the Netherlands. After the war, he was arrested and sentenced to jail for three years, because of links to a Dutch company that conscripted slave labourers for the Nazi war effort, according to the Dutch National Institute for War Documentation.[20] The court later released him after one and a half years, because of his "very important services to the resistance between August 1943 and March 1944."[21]
Allseas announced on 6 February 2015 that the vessel’s name would be changed in response to the controversy.[22] That announcement was made on a Friday. The new name, Pioneering Spirit, was announced after the weekend.[23]
Design [ edit ]
[24] Carrying a 5,500 t (6,100-short-ton) test platform in the bow slot (Aug 2016)
Pioneering Spirit is the world's largest vessel, in terms of its gross tonnage (403,342 gt), breadth (123.75 m / 406 ft.), and displacement (1,000,000 t).[4][2] The maximum 48,000 t (47,000-long-ton; 53,000-short-ton) topside lift capacity is achieved by operating as a semi-submersible. For removal of topsides, the vessel straddles the intended payload with the slot formed by the twin bows. The slot measures 122 m × 59 m (400 ft × 194 ft) (L×W). After straddling the payload, Pioneering Spirit takes on ballast to lower, and two sets of eight (one set per bow) retractable motion-compensated horizontal lifting beams are slid under the payload. Once the load is secure, the vessel offloads the ballast, rising in the water and partially transferring the load to the beams. In the final stage a fast lift system is used that lifts the payload up to 2.5 m in 15 s.[25]
Two tilting lift beams for the installation or removal of steel jackets, up to 25,000 t (25,000 long tons; 28,000 short tons) in weight, will be located at the vessel’s stern.[26] A 5,000 t (4,900 long tons; 5,500 short tons) special purpose crane built by Huisman is scheduled for delivery in the second half of 2018. The tub mounted crane will be available for additional lifts for jacket and topsides installation such as pile handling and bridge installation.[27][28]
Bumblebee; Pioneering Spirit in background on right Stinger (left) and STF (centre) aboardin background on right
When equipped with the Stinger, Pioneering Spirit can be used to lay pipe. Pipe segments are welded together on board the vessel, then are placed on the Stinger, where they roll into the water. The Stinger is curved to guide the pipe to the bottom of the ocean. The Stinger itself weighs 4,200 tonnes (4,600 short tons) and measures 150 metres (490 ft) long and 65 metres (213 ft) wide.[29] It is attached to the Stinger Transition Frame (STF), which provides an interface between the Stinger and the vessel; the STF is installed in the bow slot when attached to the vessel. The Stinger Transition Frame weighs more than 1,600 tonnes (1,800 short tons) by itself.[30]
The vessel is equipped with eight, 20-cylinder (20V32/44CR) MAN 11,200 kW diesel generators providing a total installed power of 95 MW, driving 12 Rolls-Royce azimuth thrusters which provide dynamic positioning (DP3) and for propulsion. The vessel’s maximum speed is 14 knots. The accommodation has room for 571 persons in two-berth cabins.[4]
Iron Lady and Bumblebee [ edit ]
Allseas also constructed two barges to assist Pioneering Spirit. If the water depth is not sufficient to allow the vessel to approach the dock, Pioneering Spirit can unload structures to Iron Lady, a 200 m × 57 m (656 ft × 187 ft) (L×W) barge with a shallower draft. Bumblebee was built specifically to store the Stinger and STF when it is not in use.[25]
Projects [ edit ]
Pioneering Spirit performed its first commercial lift, removal of Repsol’s 13,500 t Yme mobile offshore production unit (MOPU) on 22 August 2016.[31] Located in the Yme field in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea, approximately 100 km west of Stavanger, the MOPU was a jack-up type platform standing on three, 3.5 m diameter steel legs. The decision to remove the platform was made in 2013, and the contract for the removal of the topsides was subsequently awarded to Allseas.
On 28 April 2017 Pioneering Spirit performed the single-lift removal of Shell’s 24,200 t Brent Delta topsides. [2][32] Located in the Brent field, approximately 186 km (116 mi) off the northeast coast of Shetland, the iconic platform sat on a three-legged gravity-based structure in 140 m (460 ft) of water. The vessel delivered the topsides to Able UK’s Seaton Port yard, Teesside, for disposal.[33]
Pioneering Spirit’s started its first pipelay job, installation of the offshore section of the Turkish Stream pipeline in the Black Sea, in June 2017.[34] Starting from the Russian coast near the town of Anapa, the 930-km, 32-inch diameter twin-pipeline will traverse the Black Sea at depths up to 2200 m and emerge onshore in Turkey's Thrace region.
In 2018 and 2019 the vessel is scheduled to install three platform topsides on Statoil’s Johan Sverdrup project in Norwegian waters, in 2018 and 2019.[35] Pioneering Spirit will return to the Brent field to remove the Bravo and Alpha topsides, along with the Alpha steel jacket, in 2019 and 2020.
Pioneering Spirit just below obscured original name Pieter Schelte Detail at bow, showing new namejust below obscured original name |
With SAS Phase 1 opening on deck, the three questions to ask By Benjamin Kabak By· Published in 2016
A few weeks ago, when a flight deal landed on my lap, I booked a New Year’s Eve trip to Paris. I didn’t really consider the opening of the 2nd Ave. Subway in my decision. After all, flight deals are flight deals, and vacations are vacations. Now, though, after ten years of running this site, I might miss the opening of the 2nd Ave. Subway.
According to materials released Monday by the MTA and statements made at Board committee meetings by Tom Prendergast, the MTA is “cautiously optimistic” that Phase 1 of the Second Ave. Subway will open before the end of the year. This announcement follows some behind-the-scenes pressure by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and a few well-publicized photo ops at the construction site over the past few days. Still, with 18 days left and a few key tests remaining, time is not on the MTA’s side.
That said, time may be immaterial. The MTA expects to complete some key HVAC tests by December 23 and communications systems tests by Christmas Eve. If these go as expected, the agency could open this long-awaited subway line at any point between Christmas and New Year’s. For the first time, the agency’s independent engineering consultant admits that the MTA “is on track to finish all required tests before the end of December.”
So the Second Ave. Subway will open and soon. We won’t sit through some 20-month delay due to fire safety systems and steep escalators as we did with the 7 line. We won’t have a gap issue as we did at the new South Ferry station. We will have a new subway, whether its on December 30, as many sources have indicated or a few days earlier or later. But while everyone has focused on the opening date for the Second Ave. Subway, it doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter because the subway will open amidst some deep-seated questions and concerns regarding the project’s past and the project’s future.
So what should we talk about instead? Submitted for your approval:
1. Why does the MTA consider this project to be “on time”?
When the MTA broke ground on Phase 1 of the Second Ave. Subway, it was supposed to open in late 2013, but every six months, the agency pushed back the completion date by another year. Finally, in 2009, the MTA had a “reset” in which they baselined work and a project timeline to announce a 2016 date. It’s going to take the MTA 365 of 2016’s 366 days to open this thing, but it seems that it will open. But why did it take nearly 10 years to build under three miles of subway and just three new stations? What has the MTA learned to speed up construction and improve capital construction performance in the future?
2. Why did Phase 1 cost so much?
Similar to the timeline, this project was beset by cost concerns. It is the most expensive subway, on a per-kilometer basis, anywhere in the world. (The runner up was the 7 line extension.) It was originally supposed to cost $3.8 billion and will end up costing around $4.45 billion. Meanwhile, last year, MTA Capital Construction Michael Horodniceanu said Phase 2 might cost between $5-$6 billion. Admittedly, it’s a tougher project from an engineering perspective that has to loop underneath both the Lexington Ave. Subway and the elevated Metro-North tracks at 125th St., but that price tag would set world records in a very bad way.
Any post mortem the MTA conducts on this project should try to assess why it was so expensive, why costs increased by 20 percent over the span of a few years and how future phases can be delivered at a lower cost more in line with global standards (rather than at higher costs that far exceed anything reasonable). Not conducting this analysis is tantamount to malpractice.
3. Why hasn’t the MTA started work on Phase 2 yet?
According to the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the project, Phase 2 (and maybe Phase 3 as well) were supposed to begin before Phase 1 wrapped. That way, the MTA could constantly be constructing parts of the Second Ave. Subway in an effort to finish the project in a time fashion (rather than in 40 years at the current rate). Instead, in part due to a funding crisis, the MTA hasn’t even secured full funding for Phase 2. Rather, the latest capital plan included around $1.5 billion for the project with design work and a refreshed environmental assessment set to be delivered next year. Construction won’t begin in earnest until late 2019.
So why didn’t the MTA adhere to the original plan of parallel construction tracks? And how much of the Second Ave. Subway should expect to see within the next decade or two? It shouldn’t take decades to expand the subway, but that’s the MTA’s current timeframe.
* * *
Ultimately, this project will debut to the usual ribbon-cutting fanfare, whether I’m in New York City to see it or in Paris to miss it. The Upper East Side will have its subway line (albeit with lengthy headways that may come as a surprise). But what comes next is just as important, and right now, it will be a few years of lost opportunities until whatever is next arrives. |
Microsoft has finally unveiled Windows 10 S, a new edition of Windows 10 built with one specific purpose: to take on Google Chromebooks in the education market. Education is an important area for Microsoft, and with Windows 10 S (which likely stands for schools), the Redmond giant plans to take back the education industry by storm.
But Windows 10 S isn't just for schools and the education market. Considering Windows 10 S is Microsoft's answer to Chrome OS, you can expect to see it show up on more consumer-orientated devices too. Just like how you can buy cheap or expensive Chromebooks, you'll also be able to go out and buy cheap or expensive Windows 10 S machines as well.
Now, you're probably wondering why we even need to 'review' or go hands-on with a new edition of Windows 10 to begin with. I mean, for the most part they're generally all the same right? That's usually the case, yes. But, Windows 10 S is slightly different in one major way. It's locked to the Windows Store, meaning apps from outside the Store simply won't install on Windows 10 S. I've been using Windows 10 S (which when I first started using it, was called Windows 10 Cloud during development. Not that it matters, it's the same thing still) for around about a month now, so I feel I've been able to get pretty familiar with the limitations. This limitation will likely be a pretty big deal for many Windows users. Luckily, most people probably won't encounter Windows 10 S in their daily lives, as this new edition of Windows 10 is aimed mostly at competing with Chromebooks. If you're not a fan of the Chromebook idea, you're likely not going to be very interested in Windows 10 S, and that's perfectly fine. Microsoft won't be forcing it onto you. It's not what it sounds like There's a common misconception with this new edition of Windows 10. Many are looking at it as some kind of "lite" version of Windows, as it being locked to the Windows Store means you can't install apps like Google Chrome or Adobe Premiere Pro. While true, Windows 10 S is absolutely not a "lite" version of Windows in any way, shape or form. It looks and behaves just like any normal version of Windows 10. Windows 10 S can still run your traditional Windows apps and programs, as long as they're available in the Windows Store. That means if Google decides to put Chrome in the Windows Store, devices running Windows 10 S will be able to install it and use it. The only limitation on Windows 10 S is that you can't install the same apps from outside the Store. It simply doesn't let you.
What happens if you try? You get a friendly popup telling you that this specific edition of Windows 10 is designed to help you stay safe, and that means limiting you to the Windows Store for apps and games. How does this make you safer? Well, Microsoft screens all apps that are submitted to the Windows Store, ensuring for the most part that they're safe for use. If you try and install an app from outside the Store that's actually already available in the Store, the blocked app popup will actually link you to the Store where you can download the same app. Then, the app will install just fine. I've installed many popular Windows programs, including Evernote, Tweeten, Slack and more. They all work just fine on Windows 10 S. What's more, Microsoft is bringing the full version of Microsoft Office to the Windows Store too. This means you'll be able to take advantage of the powerful Word, PowerPoint and Excel programs, as well as other Office Suite apps, all on your Windows 10 S device. This is most beneficial, especially for the target audience that Microsoft is aiming Windows 10 S devices at.
Now, admittedly there's still a plethora of programs missing from the Windows Store. Programs such as most of Adobe's Creative Cloud suite, Chrome, Firefox, XSplit, and many more. But if you're someone who needs to use those kinds of programs, you're likely not going to be looking at devices that come pre-loaded with Windows 10 S to begin with. Remember, Windows 10 S is for people who like Chromebooks. It's for lightweight devices where the user spends most of their time in a web browser. That's all Chrome OS is, a glorified web browser. Windows 10 S brings the power of Windows to that same market, where the user can take advantage of things like the full version of Office, Cortana, OneDrive and more. So let's talk about my usage. I'm what one might consider a light power user. I'm not using three monitors with thousands of keyboard shortcuts, but I do require a few powerful programs that aren't currently available in the Store. I'm often using XSplit and Premier Pro for video producing. So immediately, Windows 10 S is not for me. Or isn't it?
I didn't install Windows 10 S on my main desktop, because that'd be silly. Windows 10 S isn't for that, so why would I put it there? As I've mentioned already, Windows 10 S is designed for devices like Chromebooks. So, instead of putting it on my machine where I expect to be using programs from outside the Store, I put it on my Surface 3 and HP Stream 11 devices instead. This is where Windows 10 S makes the most sense, on devices where you're likely not going to need any programs from outside the Store. I don't use my Surface 3 to edit videos with Premiere Pro, I use it to browse the web, check email and watch movies. Windows 10 S, on my Surface 3, has been nothing but a pleasure to use. It's fast, lightweight, and secure. What's more, since you can't install rogue Win32 programs from outside the Store, battery life should be slightly better too. So, I've been using Windows 10 S on devices where I know my usage scenario won't require me to be downloading apps from outside the Store, and on those devices, Windows 10 S has felt exactly like any other edition of Windows 10. You can upgrade it Most importantly, Microsoft doesn't actually limit you to Windows 10 S on a device that comes preloaded with it. If you really, really want to, you can go ahead and upgrade yourself to Windows 10 Pro, unlocking the ability to run programs from outside the Windows Store. This is excellent for devices like the Surface Laptop, a premium device, where users may want to take advantage of apps from outside the Store. |
Just a few months ago, the FBI claims, Ross Ulbricht held 144,000 bitcoins allegedly collected from his Web-based black market for drugs known as the Silk Road--nearly $100 million at today's exchange rates. Today, his family and friends are promising to offer up their life savings and even the value of their homes just to convince a judge to release the 29-year-old on bail.
In a letter filed today by Ulbricht's defense attorney Joshua Dratel, he asked Southern District of New York judge Kevin Fox to grant Ulbricht bail to live with his aunt in New York, arguing that Ulbricht shows little flight risk or danger to the community despite the FBI's allegations that he ran a massive online narcotics enterprise under the pseudonym the Dread Pirate Roberts before his arrest in October. And to demonstrate their faith that Ulbricht won't flee or violate his bail conditions, the letter notes that 24 family members and friends have pooled together more than $1 million in assets, including $700,000 in equity in his parents' Costa Rica-based business that represents their "entire life savings and also provides them with two-third of their income."
The letter also notes that any savings Ulbricht may have possessed himself have been seized by the FBI. "Thus, even if Mr. Ulbricht were to sacrifice the life savings, other assets, and livelihoods of his relatives and close friends, Mr. Ulbricht is now entirely financially dependent on those who would lose tremendous amounts of money if he were to fail to comply with the conditions and requirements the Court would impose as conditions of release," the letter reads.
Here's the full letter, which Dratel sent to me after redacting the names of Ulbricht's friends and family members to protect their privacy.
The 15-page document lays out a long profile of Ulbricht as a trustworthy young man who is loyal to his family and friends, noting his lack of a criminal record and graduate-level education, referring to letters of support from family, and describing a company he founded that donated used books to prison libraries.
It also makes the case that Ulbricht is not likely to flee the U.S., despite a claim in the Department of Justice's criminal complaint that he had pursued citizenship on the island of Dominica. Ulbricht traveled rarely, the letter states, and never left San Francisco after his recent move there from Austin, Texas, even after Department of Homeland Security agents visited his home asking about a collection of seized fake IDs he had allegedly ordered in the mail. "If Mr. Ulbricht were indeed the Dread Pirate Roberts responsible for the Silk Road, and possessing a portable and untraceable trove of Bitcoins worth millions of dollars, that visit from DHS would have been the only signal a criminal mastermind would have needed to depart the U.S. immediately," a footnote in Dratel's letter adds.
Dratel writes that Ulbricht has been held in solitary confinement in Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center's so-called "Special Housing Unit," and argues that has made it more difficult to consult with Ulbricht and also prevented Ulbricht's access to Corrlinks, a prison email system.
Ulbricht first appeared in a New York court earlier this month, which set his bail hearing for Thursday of this week. After that brief courtroom appearance, Dratel told reporters in the courthouse hallway that he will show his client is not the Dread Pirate Roberts. “The evidence can’t establish that he is who they say he is, or that he’s done what they say he’s done,” Dratel told reporters at the time, adding that Ulbricht would be willing to be subjected to electronic monitoring if he's released and is a "poster boy for bail."
The same day, a new black market drug site calling itself Silk Road 2.0 came online, administered by a figure also who also goes by the pseudonym the Dread Pirate Roberts.
Correction: Due to a typo in an earlier version of this story, I quoted Dratel as saying that Ulbricht is "not entirely financially dependent" on his supporters' bail pledges, when in fact he said "now entirely financially dependent. And the $700,000 in equity offered by Ulbricht's parents comes from their Costa Rica-based business, not a single home. Apologies for the errors.
–
Follow me on Twitter, email me, anonymously send me sensitive documents or tips, and check out the new paperback edition of my book, This Machine Kills Secrets: Julian Assange, the Cypherpunks, and Their Fight to Empower Whistleblowers, a New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice. |
Is it fascism yet?
That was the snarky question glued to the bumper of every self-respecting progressive’s gas/electric hybrid back during the Bush-Cheney administration. It now must be asked again.
Back then, liberals were raising the alarm about impending fascism because of post-9/11 policies such as warrantless wiretapping, wars of choice, military commissions, indefinite detention and so on.
Warrantless surveillance, for instance, drew intense scrutiny and saturation media coverage from the time it was discovered until approximately 12:05 p.m. EST January 20, 2009. Interest then dropped off markedly. After all, Barack Obama had promised “no more illegal wiretapping of American citizens.” So, problem solved.
Except it wasn’t. In fact, it got worse.
First the Obama administration defended warrantless wiretapping on state-secrets grounds. Now the ACLU has released a trove of Justice Department records showing – in the ACLU’s words – a “huge increase in warrantless electronic surveillance” from 2009 to 2011. The documents show an explosion in the use of “pen register” and “trap and trace” surveillance. Those forms of spying record information such as who is calling (or emailing) whom and for how long, but not the content of the conversation.
Since content isn’t recorded, the legal bar is set lower, and the surveillance might be technically legal. That shouldn’t get anyone off the hook: The Bush administration claimed waterboarding was technically legal, too. Now the ACLU says “more people were subjected to [warrantless] pen register and trap and trace surveillance in the past two years than in the entire previous decade.” Email surveillance, the civil-liberties group says, is “increasing exponentially.”
A few years ago these revelations would have been milked for days of banner headlines. Now they are being met with the equivalent of crickets chirping. The New York Times – which won a Pulitzer for breaking the warrantless-wiretapping story during the Bush years – has not seen fit to mention the ACLU’s findings. The election season has nothing to do with that, of course.
But it’s not just the prestige press. The 2008 Democratic platform insisted on “constitutional protections and judicial oversight on any surveillance program involving Americans.” It declared, “We reject illegal wiretapping of American citizens.” It solemnly affirmed that “we will respect the time-honored principle of habeas corpus.” This year’s platform mentions none of that.
Why the lack of interest? One possible explanation is that nobody is surprised any longer by Obama’s betrayal of his supporters’ erstwhile hopes.
After all, this is the man who promised to close Guantanamo – and didn’t. The man who promised to end military-commission trials of detainees – then sustained them. The man who said, in 2007, that “the president does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation” – then unilaterally authorized a military attack in Libya that involved zero imminent threat to the nation.
And this is the man who said policies such as indefinitely detaining foreign enemy combatants without charge had created “a legal black hole” that had “destroyed our credibility when it comes to rule of law all around the world” – then signed a law that permits the indefinite detention without charge of American citizens.
So maybe it’s just fatigue.
But that seems doubtful. The Bush-Cheney administration’s critics managed to sustain a state of apoplexy for eight long years. No infringement on the Constitution was too minor to merit a fresh geyser of outrage.
Yet now the wells have run dry. So the better explanation probably has more to do with Americans’ Red Team-Blue Team approach to politics. Bashing the other guys is far more satisfying on just about every level than insisting that your side live up to its own ideals.
We saw this during the Bush years among conservatives, who (mostly) ignored the administration’s profligate spending. Under Bush, domestic discretionary spending rose faster than at any time since LBJ’s. Most of those on the right were too busy rooting on the Iraq war and bashing peace activists to notice. Conservative concern about runaway federal spending did not pick up again until . . . well, until roughly 12:05 EST January 20, 2009. What a coincidence.
This team-sports approach has led to a one-way ratchet of government expansion. Conservatives were so busy supporting Bush’s expansion of war powers that they let him betray their small-government principles in domestic affairs. Liberals have been so happy to see Obama expand government’s domestic scope that they have let him betray their values on civil liberties and war powers. In the process, each side has come off looking like a bunch of partisan cheerleaders who care about certain issues only when it’s politically convenient.
That’s the thing about principles. If you don’t try to apply them consistently, then people are apt to conclude you don’t really have any.
This column originally appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch. |
Investors who buy housing and leave it empty in a city push up both real estate and rent costs, making older homeowners more wealthy and renters significantly worse off, concludes a new study by a pair of professors from Vancouver and New York.
Crunching data from Statistics Canada and the census, as well as historical New York data, the researchers found a 10-per-cent increase in out-of-town investors produces a 9-per-cent increase in rents in the central city and a 5-per-cent increase in house prices in the region.
The city ends up worse off because the negatives for some groups are higher than the positives for others, University of British Columbia professor Jack Favilukis said.
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"The effect on the losers" – renters and younger homeowners – "outweighs the effect for winners, the older homeowners," he said.
His study appears as Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson pitched a move this week to require developers to market their condos to local residents first. That's the latest effort from the city to grapple with soaring real estate and rent costs – frequently blamed on offshore buyers – on top of plans to restrict short-term vacation rentals and a new tax on vacant housing.
Mr. Robertson's motion on the "locals first" presales passed, meaning staff will explore mechanisms for such a requirement. But it can be imposed only on new condo projects that are going through a rezoning, which gives the city some leverage to negotiate conditions.
The mayor acknowledged that the presales initiative will not reduce prices, but added it will improve access for local residents.
Prof. Favilukis said the two main ways for the city to counter the negative effects are to increase supply or impose a tax on out-of-town investors that can be used to improve the situation for those who get hit with the negative effects.
Prof. Favilukis and Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, a professor at the New York University Stern School of Business, described Vancouver and New York as "two poster children of the [out-of-town] investor debate" that prompted them to develop their model of investor impact.
The effects are especially noticeable in central cores.
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Those buyers "make [the central city] higher-income and higher-wealth, accelerating gentrification," the paper concludes.
Prof. Favilukis specified that the investors who were the subject of the paper's attention were any people who live outside the metropolitan area and do not participate in the local economy.
That means they leave their residence empty for most or all of the time or have family members living there, but the primary money-earner is elsewhere, not paying income tax locally.
These people could be anywhere, including China, the United States or Ontario. He said investors who buy a property but rent it out to locals do not affect property prices or rents the way out-of-town investors do by leaving units empty.
He also noted that out-of-town investors have some positive effects on the economy, creating jobs and increasing wages as workers shift to higher-paid construction.
Prof. Favilukis said there are two approaches to reducing the negative impact.
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"The best response would be to increase supply," he says.
The study's model assumes supply does not keep up with demand when the 10-per-cent wave of investors arrives, based on what happened historically, he said.
But if it is not possible to increase supply enough, a city can turn to some form of tax to mitigate the negative impact.
Prof. Favilukis said Vancouver's vacancy tax, which non-resident homeowners will have to pay for the first time next year, is a decent effort.
However, he said, the recently instituted 15-per-cent tax on property sales to foreign buyers is "not great."
"It misses anyone who has bought in the last 15 years. Anyone already taking up space doesn't pay this tax."
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Instead, he said a proposal for a tax based on local income that a group of UBC and Simon Fraser University professors made last year would be better.
That proposal suggested applying a high property tax on all homeowners, which would be reduced if they could demonstrate they were earning local income and paying local taxes.
Offshore investors who rent out their properties would get the reduction. |
The Astros capitalized on the collapse of the Mets' trade for Carlos Gomez, nabbing the talented center fielder along with cheap back-end starter Mike Fiers for a package of prospects that sends just one impact guy to Milwaukee.
Gomez has been a six wins above replacement (WAR) player over each of the last two years who is having a disappointing season at the plate and in the field, getting a little impatient and losing some power and hard contact. But at 29 he has shown no physical reason why he can't get close to the player he was the past two years, assuming the hip issue that scotched the deal with the Mets but didn't bother the Astros isn't holding him back. With George Springer out for an extended period and Jake Marisnick hitting just .235/.272/.370, Gomez is a substantial and immediate upgrade for now, and creates an opportunity for the Astros to move some younger assets now or in the offseason because he's under contract for 2016 as well. Beyond that, Houston has a small army of outfielders coming, mostly corner guys like A.J. Reed and Derek Fisher, so if Springer can return to center in 2017, they'll still have one of the top outfields in the game. |
A new weight room looked familiar to Denzel Perryman.
Its gray walls and red-cushioned seats, inspired by the school colors at Sweetwater High, matched the colors of Coral Gables High, his alma mater in Miami. In 2007, a freshman Perryman began to build himself into an NFL linebacker one bench press, one squat, one power clean at a time.
He took a moment Tuesday.
“This reminds me of my high school,” he said, addressing dozens of Sweetwater students who were presented the weight room. “The same color floor mats, the same color red door, the same color racks and weights. … This weight room right here, this is where I started my high school and my career.”
Perryman is still building.
The 2015 second-round pick flew from Miami to San Diego this week, specifically for the facility’s Tuesday unveiling. The new workout area was part of a $63,000 grant from the Chargers, who say they’ve invested more than $5 million in about 120 schools across the city and county through their Chargers Champions foundation since 2001. This offseason, Perryman has his mind on sustained contribution.
Last season was impressive and all.
It needs only to be the start.
“My mindset is not to take a step back, number one,” Perryman, 23, said. “Continue where I left off. In the second half, I got to start. I was making this play; I was making that play. I want to continue that for a whole season. I know I’m going to have a bad play down the road, but the goal is to try to not have a bad game or let my worst game be my best game.
“I just don’t want to fall off. I want to be better than I was last year."
Perryman worked his way into the fold as a rookie.
He missed part of the Chargers' spring workout program and training camp to minor injuries. He played catch-up at the start of the season, most of his playing time coming on special teams. In Week 2, he was credited with five special-teams tackles, three of which came on the Bengals' lone three kickoff returns. His first start came in Green Bay in Week 6 following a Manti Te'o ankle injury. Perryman forced a fumble on running back Eddie Lacy and started the next week before a biceps ailment forced him to miss the next two games. He returned after the Week 10 bye, promptly being re-inserted into the permanent lineup.
It was a different Chargers defense soon after that.
A physical force in the interior, Perryman had a team-high 51 tackles with two sacks in the final seven games. His presence was viewed as part of the reason for San Diego's improved play down the stretch. San Diego allowed the NFL's fifth-fewest passing yards (993) and ninth-fewest points (91) over the final five weeks. It ranked 20th and 30th, respectively, in the first 11 games.
Coach Mike McCoy was present at Tuesday's unveiling.
He characterized Perryman as "special."
"Without a doubt," McCoy said. "As you saw from what we were doing defensively once he got in there and started playing every down for us, he makes us a better football team."
It's a start Perryman wants to continue.
He left the Sweetwater campus and drove back to Chargers Park, heading for the team weight room.
"I'm just grinding every day," Perryman said, "trying to get better and better." |
So many new cams are coming to the market in 2016 (not to mention the 2015 revamped Metolius cams) that it almost seems like a conspiracy. Or at the very least, an industry-wide memo proclaiming this – the year of the cams. In this post we will be detailing all the upgrades that are coming to the cam world in 2016.
Black Diamond
Ultralight C4
The biggest news for the Ultralights is that they’re 25% lighter, on average, than BD’s C4 Camalots (depending on the size the weight decrease is approximately 21-29%).
The Ultralight C4’s have the exact same camming range and lobe profile as the regular C4’s.
The majority of the weight savings comes from the continuous loop of Dyneema (patented) that replaces the steel cable and swage in the stem. The new flat-taped sling also reduces weight compared to the burly nylon on the C4’s. Black Diamond will be offering their re-slinging service for these outer slings but the inner Dyneema loop that makes up the stem will not be replaceable.
The lobes also lost weight, which does mean they won’t be quite as durable; they’re not workhorse cams. If you’re a climber who beats on their gear or has worn through the lobes of any of your previous cams you would be advised to shy away from the Ultralight C4’s unless you plan on more gear-considerate climbing. Worth noting: The strength of the Ultralight C4’s is 2 kN less than the C4’s, making the Ultralights on-par with other lightweight cams.
At BD the Ultralight C4’s were originally referred to as the “Alpine” C4’s since anyone carrying a rack long distances would find the most benefit from the weight-loss. In the end, the “Alpine” name was not used as it would have been limiting. Any climber with a full rack will find satisfaction from the decreased weight on their harness, whether cragging or big wall free climbing.
So what does the 25% weight loss mean? Compared to a .4-4 set of C4’s, racking up with the Ultralights will feel like you get a .5 and .75 cam for “free.”
The worst criticism of the C4’s we’ve heard is: “These cams won’t last as long because the Dyneema stem will wear out quickly.” BD’s Climbing Category Director, Kolin Powick, has assured us this isn’t the case. Similar to the C4 steel stem, the Ultralight stem is still protected from abrasion via a plastic sheath. If you chew through this plastic to expose steel (on the C4’s) or Dyneema (on the Ultralights) it’s time to retire the cam. Otherwise, you can trust that the cam is not wearing out on the inside.
But what about UV impact on the Dyneema visible in the thumb loop? The transparent plastic is in-fact UV proof and negates any the UV degradation concerns. If you take care of your gear, these can last as long as your C4’s, Kolin says.
In other cool news, BD has recently brought all their hardware manufacturing back to Utah, so these babies will be made, anodized, and assembled in Salt Lake City, USA.
For now the sizes are restricted to .4 – 4. More sizes may be added in the future but the percentage weight savings compared to the C4 will be less on larger sizes like the 5 & 6 (and the average Ultralight rack weight savings would turn into something like 20% instead of the 25% average they tout today).
Size Color Weight (g) Range (mm) Strength (kN) Price ($USD) .4 gray 61 g 15.5 – 26.7 mm 8 kN $89.95 .5 purple 74 g 19.6 – 33.5 mm 10 kN $89.95 .75 green 89 g 23.9 – 41.2 mm 12 kN $89.95 1 red 101 g 30.2 – 52.1 mm 12 kN $89.95 2 yellow 126 g 37.2 – 64.9 mm 12 kN $99.95 3 blue 167 g 50.7 – 87.9 mm 12 kN $109.95 4 gray 225 g 66 – 114.7 mm 12 kN $129.95
DMM
Dragon Cam: Update
When DMM set out to update the Dragon cams they were looking for more grip and friction. So they brought in some Cambridge University interns and had them look at all sorts of rock types and friction and how they relate to lobe design and the surface area of the cam.
The results of that study suggested the following: increasing the width of the lobes, eliminating the anodization on the contact surface, and adding more grip to the lobes (DMM is calling this “TripleGrip”). By creating additional texture with corners and grooves that add more friction, they have accomplished all three objectives.
The results of these changes mean the updated Dragon cams will have more bite in soft rock like limestone but will see little difference in hard rocks. Sidenote: Some British limestone climbers actually scrape new cams on the pavement to rub off the anodization for extra grip.
During Dragon cam production, after the cams are forged, they’re CNC’d to create the axle holes and lobe holes. The cams are then sent out for anodizing. After anodizing the entire lobes, they are CNC’d to remove the contact surface anodization. DMM accounts for this removal of metal from the new lobes in the design process (so you’ll be getting the same amount of lobe metal as before). Then the grooves are added to the lobes and the axle holes are reamed out to ensure incredibly tight tolerances. This new process and improved tolerances will decrease the chance of cams bending and aims to reduce walking compared to the previous version of the Dragon.
The lobes will continue to have the standard 13.75° for the usable cam range. To save weight, you’ll notice the lobes are tapered and slightly narrowed at the tips, beyond the expected usable range. Overall the Dragons will be marginally heavier than in the past due to the wider cam lobes.
One detail that DMM mentioned nonchalantly but we consider substantial is the updated sling. There is a new stitching pattern that creates less tail so it’ll move through gear easier. The stitching is also covered in heat-shrink tubing creating a super streamlined sling. The new stitching pattern enables the cams to be rated at 14 kN regardless of whether the sling is doubled or extended. Previously the extended sling only carried a 12 kN rating.
The thumb press was also updated though most of the changes were for manufacturing purposes. The only noticeable change is the area where your thumb sits now has a larger depression.
DMM Dragon Cam Technical Specs and US Pricing
Size Color Weight (g) Range (mm) Strength (kN) Price ($USD) 00 blue 75 g 14 – 21 mm 12 kN $69.95 0 grey 85 g 16 – 25 mm 12 kN $69.95 1 purple 97 g 20 – 33 mm 12 kN $75.95 2 green 108 g 24 – 41 mm 12 kN $75.95 3 red 119 g 29 – 50 mm 12 kN $75.95 4 yellow 148 g 38 – 64 mm 12 kN $79.95 5 blue 195 g 50 – 85 mm 12 kN $84.95 6 grey 276 g 68 – 114 mm 12 kN $84.95
Demon Cam Update
The Demons benefited from all the work done on the Dragons: you’ll find the same updated sling technology and thumb press found in the Dragons. The Demons no longer carry anodization on the lobes to improve grip and increase visual difference between Dragons and Demons when looking down at your rack.
Wild Country
New Friend
The New Friend is Wild Country’s debut into the dual axle cam world. They take an interesting spin on the concept with hollow axles that save weight and according to Wild Country are actually stronger.
You’ll also notice the hot forged lobes have no anodizing on the contact surface and the heads are wider than the previous Friends. Wild Country assures us the 13.75° camming angle they originally came up with is here to stay.
The New Friend incorporates a shorter trigger which will be benefit smaller handed folk and cause less fatigue for any pumped-out gear plugger. There are hard stops on the triggers as well.
The extendable sling means the cam will be rated for 10 kN when fully extended and 12 kN when doubled. When we inquired about potential thumb loop deformation, WC responded that they’ve gone through lots of testing and the injection molded thumb rest along with the encased steel swage thumb loop will not deform with the 12 mm Dyneema extendable sling.
As many climbers have pleaded for, Wild Country New Friends now align with what is becoming the industry standard for cam colors (consistent with BD Camalots). So now if your guide book says take extra reds or yellows, you’ll know what to do.
Although there will be limited sizes to start out, from .5 – 4, the Technical Friends will still be available in sizes 5 & 6.
Wild Country New Friends Technical Specs and US Pricing
Size Color Weight (g) Range (mm) Strength (kN) Price ($USD) .5 purple 98 g 20.6 – 34.5 mm 12 kN / 10 kN $64.95 .75 green 115 g 25.8 – 43 mm 12 kN / 10 kN $64.95 1 red 134 g 31.7 – 53.6 mm 12 kN / 10 kN $69.95 2 yellow 159 g 41.5 – 69.3 mm 12 kN / 10 kN $74.95 3 blue 202 g 52.7 – 88 mm 12 kN / 10 kN $74.95 4 grey 283 g 66.8 – 112.1 mm 12 kN / 10 kN $89.95
Can’t wait until 2016, or find these changes unimpressive? Here are your current BD, DMM, and WC cam buying options:
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Methane To The Rescue! New Energy Efficient Graphene Desalination Membrane For The 99%
April 3rd, 2015 by Tina Casey
Somewhat ironically the whole thing is based on methane, the chief component in natural gas. Those of you familiar with natural gas fracking issues might be giving it the stinkeye on that account, but let’s take a look and see what they’re up to.
The Desalination Conundrum
Conventional desalination involves a process called reverse osmosis, in which water is forced through a membrane.
Reverse osmosis is a big step up from distillation in terms of energy consumption, and more efficient systems are in the pipeline (check out this four-in-one desalination process, for example).
Despite recent improvements, though, reverse osmosis still sucks up huge amounts of energy, and part of the problem is the membrane. Conventional membranes are based on polymers (plastics). They tend to get clogged up during the process, and they have to be cleaned regularly in order to keep operating at their personal best.
One emerging solution is solar-powered desalination. Renewable energy helps to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, but it doesn’t address the membrane issue. In an increasingly crowded world, energy efficiency is a critical factor, regardless of whether you’re using fossil fuels or renewables.
An Energy Efficient Graphene Desalination Membrane
That’s where the graphene comes in. And the methane, too.
The new Oak Ridge graphene research is still in the proof of concept stage, but things look promising. The idea is to replace conventional polymer membranes with graphene.
For those of you new to the topic, graphene is a relatively new form of carbon, first discovered in 2004. Since then it has engendered thousands of research papers as scientists dig into its unique properties.
Here’s a schematic look at graphene, showing its unique hexagonal structure (the two blue areas show the chemical bonds of impurities in the graphene sheet):
Graphene is only one atom thick but it is super-strong. A graphene membrane could be made thinner and more porous than a polymer membrane, so you would need less pressure — and therefore less energy — to push water through it.
The problem is how to make the stuff at commercial scale. Graphene is only one atom thick, so fabricating graphene is a delicate task.
The Oak Ridge team also had to figure out how to punch precisely sized holes in a sheet of graphene, large enough to let water molecules through, but too small for salt ions to pass.
Here’s how the lab describes the methane part of the process for making graphene membranes:
To make graphene for the membrane, the researchers flowed methane through a tube furnace at 1,000 degrees C over a copper foil that catalyzed its decomposition into carbon and hydrogen. The chemical vapor deposited carbon atoms that self-assembled into adjoining hexagons to form a sheet one atom thick.
That was the easy part. The next step involved putting the graphene sheet on a chip of silicon nitride, and exposing it to an oxygen plasma in order to force out selected carbon atoms. That left a hole or pore in the sheet.
The team was able to tune the number and size of the pores by varying the length of time that the carbon sheet was exposed to the plasma.
That’s a whole story in itself. To calculate the most effective pore size, the team went over to a shared science user facility at Oak Ridge called the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences, and asked to borrow their scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) gear.
STEM provided the team with an atom-scale image of their graphene sheet, which they used to correlate porosity with its transport properties. That enabled them to calculate the optimal pore size, and distribution level, for desalination.
In case you’d like to try this at home, that would be pores in the range of 0.5 – 1 nanometers across, distributed at a rate of one per 100 square nanometers.
The topmost image in this article shows the red graphene membrane stabilized with yellow silicon atoms. The circular figure is an enlargement to show off the honeycomb structure. Ignore the orange areas — those are residual blotches of a polymer.
Just What The World Needs: A Methane Based Graphene Desalination Membrane — No, Really
So far the graphene desalination membrane has passed its tests with flying colors, achieving almost 100 percent rejection of salt ions while allowing water to flow through at a rapid pace.
To ice the cake, according to Oak Ridge the methane-based fabrication method could be scaled up to a commercial level.
That’s not such great news when you factor in the rapid increase in environmental, public health and quality-of-life baggage carried by oil and gas fracking operations. In the US, for example, fracking (short for hydrofracturing) was practically a non-issue when it was confined to thinly populated areas in western regions, but in recent years it has exploded into more heavily populated areas as the result of new shale discoveries.
The use of methane in water purification particularly ironic, given that one of the major issues in natural gas fracking is water contamination from both fracking fluid and fracking wastewater disposal.
On the other hand, when you consider the growth of methane-rich, renewable biogas sources, perhaps some day in the sparkling green future that super-efficient graphene desalination membrane can trace its roots to your friendly neighborhood hog farm.
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Image Credits: Courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. |
Rochester women: We were fired from jobs as drivers for Saudis
Three Rochester women who were hired last year to drive Saudi Arabian visitors around town as part of a visit by the royal family say they were fired because of their gender.
"The man who hired us told each of us ... the Saudis don't want women drivers," Barbara Herold said at a news conference Thursday. "It was really shocking."
Saudi Arabia bars women from driving.
The alleged incident in Rochester happened in October when members of the Saudi royal family were in Rochester for appointments at the Mayo Clinic. The three women were among many drivers who were hired to help the family and their entourage get around.
Herold said she, Gretchen Cooper and Lisa Boutelle began work on a Friday to pick up visitors from the airport. They were fired a day later.
The three are asking the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate their claims, which could result in a discrimination lawsuit against the companies who fired them. An EEOC spokeswoman said the agency doesn't disclose information about complaints until officials decide whether to proceed with a lawsuit.
Gender Justice, a Minnesota advocacy group, is helping with the complaint. Jill Gaulding, co-founder of Gender Justice, identified the three companies as Crown Prince Limousines and Premier Crescent Services, both of Rochester, and Highland Transportation of New York.
A woman who answered the phone for Highland said the company is aware of the allegations but referred a reporter to the company's owner, who was not immediately available. The Rochester companies couldn't immediately be reached for comment.
The women said they decided to announce their case to coincide with Saudi Arabian women activists' "Women2Drive" campaign to urge the country to allow women to drive. On Friday, the women and their supporters will participate in an event on East Lake Street in Minneapolis to hand out green ribbons and take photos of women drivers that will be sent on to the Saudi Arabian embassy.
Herold said she was motivated to go public after reading about a female activist in Saudi Arabia who was arrested after publicizing a video of herself driving.
"She has no recourse," Herold said. "I lost my job, but what she lost is a great deal more."
Cooper said she was especially surprised to lose her job because she held a similar driving job for six weeks in 2008 during an earlier visit by members of the Saudi royal family.
"It was one of the best, positive experiences I've ever had in my life," Cooper said. "They just took me in like I was part of their family, and I was allowed to sit at dinner tables and be invited into private conversations."
Gaulding said the royal family's visit to Rochester and the economic impact it had was well publicized. But she said there's more to the story.
"Certainly Rochester benefits from having these international visitors come, but we have to think about how it affects people like Gretchen as well," she said. "We don't want them to be excluded."
"They just can't believe they could be fired for being female in Minnesota in the year 2010," Gaulding added.
Editors note: An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect last name for one of the women on first reference. She is Gretchen Cooper, not Gretchen Hoffman. |
Einat Wilf’s book Winning the War of Words: Essays on Zionism and Israel is available on Amazon or to download as a PDF.
One problem for anyone trying to offer a defence of Israel in the face of the determined intellectual assault on the country in recent years is that while the assault is simple and easily understood – conducted in an adolescent emoji language of epithets and images – the defence is harder to explain. To defame the country one merely needs to say ‘colonialism’ or ‘apartheid’, and add a photo of a soldier manhandling a child. To defend Israel requires an understanding of at least 100 years of history in both Europe and the Middle East, of how we reached this moment, and of what Israel’s choices really are right now. Anyone trying to explain Israel’s case needs to be worldly enough to make sense to people outside the bubble of those who are reflexively sympathetic to Israel anyway, and it helps not to be ideologically rigid or so angry you can’t speak calmly.
Not many people can do this well. The confrontational and clumsy government currently in power in Israel, for example, doesn’t have much luck. One of the most skilful Israeli advocates right now is Einat Wilf, the scholar, Cambridge and Harvard graduate and former Knesset member who has become something of an unofficial roving ambassador for Israel in recent years. (Originally a Labour Party lawmaker, she joined a group of MKs who left the party along with former Prime Minister Ehud Barak for a brief stint in Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition government, after which she left politics in 2013.)
In the collection Winning the War of Words, Wilf presents essays and articles that look at Israel, at the political offensive against Israel, and at the country’s place in the growing violence that surrounds it in the Middle East. Together, the pieces offer a thoughtful take on Israel’s current trials, and a spirited defence of the country’s basic rights in the face of the bizarre, fashionable, and growing international hostility to the state on 0.01 per cent of the world’s surface whose activities and very existence seems to be an affront to so many.
Wilf was born, she tells us, ‘into the Israeli left’, believing that ‘that the day that the Palestinians would have their own sovereign state would be the day when Israel would finally live in peace.’ Like many Israelis, she had her mind changed by the Palestinian rejection of Israeli peace offers and by their use of terrorism. She noticed, she writes, that what she had previously regarded as legitimate criticism of Israeli policies was in fact something different, an ideology disturbing in its tenor and content. She concluded that this criticism wasn’t about a two-state solution at all – indeed, that it ‘only very thinly masks a deep and visceral hatred for the state and its people that cannot be explained by mere criticism for the policies of some of its elected governments.’
Things move so far so fast in this region that some of the pieces here already seem like distant history just a year or two after being written. If Iran, Wilf wrote in 2013 as the nuclear negotiations progressed, ‘felt that the economic pressure and the credible threat of military intervention were to threaten its very survival, it might, just as Assad did with the chemical weapons, go as far as give up the entire nuclear program altogether.’ Ah, 2013 – it was an innocent time. Of course we know now that the West will never make such a threat, that the mullahs will have their way, and that the Americans are in retreat amid the confused ruins of their policies as the Russians move in.
Particularly sharp are Wilf’s views of the regional turmoil. Many in the West, she writes, were overly optimistic about how change in the Arab world will come about, having forgotten how Europe assumed its own current incarnation – it took, she writes, ‘two world wars, many regional wars, civil wars, massacres, genocide, Fascism, Nazism, Communism, dictatorships, and tyrannies that all had to be overcome and destroyed for human freedom and democracy to take hold.’ If Jews wandered in the desert for 40 years before reaching the Promised Land, she wrote in 2014, ‘the Arab world is now wandering in its own desert, undergoing its own misery. If the transformation takes only 40 years, we should all – peoples of the Middle East and the world– count ourselves lucky.’
The correct course for Israel amid all of this, Wilf believes, is scrupulous neutrality: not to intervene but instead to dig in and wait it out. ‘Switzerland managed to survive and prosper as a “neutral bunker” while Europe was torn apart by religious, sectarian, civil, national and world wars,’ she points out (though conceding that Israel lacks some of Switzerland’s assets, chiefly the Alps). Indeed, the country’s future currently depends on our ability to keep out the violence that is destroying the Islamic world around us, and Wilf’s bunker analogy is apt. Our bunker, however, isn’t particularly well-constructed, and it’s an open question how deep we can really dig in: the spate of Palestinian stabbing attacks on our streets in recent weeks have reminded us that there are enemies inside the bunker, and of course Hamas rockets have shown that we don’t have much of a roof.
In the articles dealing with Israel’s manoeuvrings with the Palestinians, Wilf devotes attention to the UN’s agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) which she describes as one of the key drivers of the conflict. This international body has ensured, she writes, that instead of being absorbed in their host countries Palestinian refugees have not only been maintained as refugees for seven decades but have been multiplied many times over as a political weapon against Israel. ‘Whereas the actual number of Arabs who could still claim to be refugees as a result of the Arab-Israeli war of 1947-1949 is today no more than several tens of thousands’, Wilf informs us, ‘the number of those registered as refugees is reaching five million, with millions more claiming to have that status.’ In a different essay, written with Shany Mor, she analyzes the history of the territory called Palestine and urges Palestinians and their international supporters to specify exactly which ‘Palestine’ they support – ‘liberation Palestine’ or ‘elimination Palestine’, that is, a state alongside Israel or a state instead of Israel.
In my favourite piece here Wilf recounts a conversation with a Lebanese colleague, a Christian, who tells her, ‘We miss you’, meaning not that he misses her personally but that the Arab world misses the nearly one million Jews pushed out of the lands of Islam in the 20th century. From our vantage point in 2015 it seems that what happened to the Jews of the Middle East was only the first fissure in the regional landscape, only the first erasure of an ancient regional minority; others have followed and are following, the Christians among them, without a state of their own to flee to. ‘It is never really about the Jews,’ Wilf writes. ‘That is why it never ends with them. Hatred of Jews is about those who hate – not about those who are hated.’
That analysis, with which I must agree, is why I have my doubts about another of Wilf’s observations about intellectual efforts on behalf of Israel: ‘while victory in this battle, as in others, is not likely to be swift, with the proper resources, organization, and determination it is within reach.’ I don’t think this is the case, just as I don’t think that eloquent explanations in the 1920s could have convinced Germans that Jewish bankers were not manipulating the financial markets for their own devious gain, or that skilful essays or speeches could have countered the idea in capitalist countries that Bolshevism was a Jewish plot. No ‘war of words’, however skilful, can defeat the anti-Jewish obsession that crops up with unfortunate regularity in world history, of which today’s anti-Israel fixation is merely the most recent incarnation. Explanations of Israel’s complexities in the real world will have a limited effect not just because they are necessarily complicated, but because the Israel obsession – in the manner of obsessions – isn’t really about Israel at all, or about the real world. These pathologies can perhaps be tempered on the margins but cannot be made to go away.
An involvement with the Jewish state ‘is not for the fainthearted,’ Wilf writes: the country never promised to make it easy for anyone and indeed has never done so, like ‘a high-maintenance girlfriend,’ at once impossible and irresistible. ‘In return for never-ending efforts to woo her, not a trace of gratitude is to be offered – barely an appreciative smile.’ Wilf seems tough enough to keep it up nonetheless. Her efforts are crucial, and there is no reason to expect them to be less necessary or easier anytime soon. |
This headset is going places
The $2.4 million-generating Kickstarter for the Oculus Rift virtual-reality headset was merely the beginning, it would seem. With developer kits for the device out in the wild and excitement rising, Oculus VR, Inc. has secured $16 million in Series A funding.
Matrix Partners and Spark Capital co-led the round. "In our estimation, Oculus is one of the only companies in the space with something completely new and disruptive," said Spark founder Santo Politi. "They have the right team, capital and vision to take virtual reality beyond console gaming and into everyday computing."
As for the Oculus team itself, CEO Brendan Iribe is looking ahead: "There are still many challenging problems to solve, but with the support of these great investment partners, and our passionate community, we will continue to hire the brightest minds and stay laser focused on delivering the very best virtual reality platform possible."
I'm so interested to see how the Rift performs once the floodgates open and anyone can order a consumer-ready unit from the website. Can a VR headset -- even one that's by most accounts a well-made piece of tech -- really catch on in a meaningful way?
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Finally, a “W” for the 2016 Saints.
There was more than a hint of good fortune about it (thank you, Travis Benjamin), but at 0-3 it was sorely needed. Both the defense and offense played their part – with the D holding the Chargers to just 1.8 YPC and generating 3 turnovers, and the offense making it count when needed, converting on over 60% of 3rd downs and going a perfect 5-5 in the redzone. Crucially, the defense held firm down the stretch, as the Saints clung on to a big 35-34 road victory in San Diego.
As usual, we’ve spent the week analysing the all-22 game tape, tallying up snap counts, and working out individual grades for every Saint that took the field in Southern California on Sunday.
For those of you viewing our Player Grades for the first time, our Player Performance Grading System uses a 9-point color-coded “temperature based” scale to produce an easy to understand visual indicator of the performance of each player on rushing plays, passing plays and in the game overall. You can find a more thorough explanation of our grading system, along with diagrams of what exactly everything means, by clicking here.
And as always, for ease of reference, our 9-point color-coded grading scale is pictured below:
OFFENSE
Editor’s Note: Click on each individual table below to open a full-sized version in a new window/tab (it makes them easier to read).
If someone asked you last week which team would win on the road this weekend with a 49/51% run pass split, a QB throwing for just 207 yards at 63% completion (including two picks) and a fullback who would be their top points scorer on offense, I’m willing to wager none of you would have suggested our Saints. Fast forward a few days, and the above is exactly what did transpire as the Saints offense just about managed to end up on the winning side against San Diego in what was an uncharacteristically balanced and conservative display.
Drew Brees’ return to San Diego certainly ate up most of the column inches heading into Sunday’s game, but despite making his way out of “SoCal” with the W, Brees didn’t quite have the fairytale return to Qualcomm Stadium that many presumed would be written in the stars. Whether handcuffed by an atypically run-heavy Payton/Carmichael gameplan, wary of John Pagano’s creative and blitz-happy defense or limited by injury (or potentially due to a mixture of all three), #9 struggled to find his rhythm this week.
Now, Sean Payton has always been a strong advocate of a short-passing “West Coast” philosophy on offense, but the main boon of such a scheme is that it can be interspersed with a dose of “shot” or deeper plays that are designed to catch the defense off guard. The Saints are usually particularly devastating on these deeper passes, but the offense we saw on Sunday was bereft of this “shot” play element, with Brees attempting just 3 (extremely unconvincing) passes of more than 20 yards all game. Even with the Saints down by 13 fro a large portion of the second half, Payton/Carmichael instead chose to lean heavily on the run game, with Brees dealing almost exclusively in short slant, shallow crossing and out routes. It seemed perplexing at the time – and watching it back, the most logical conclusion has to be that Brees picked up some kind of hidden “ailment” that handicapped him (and thus the Saints gameplan) during the second half. The win is no doubt the most important thing here – but without two guilt-edged San Diego fumbles – it was looking rather doubtful that the Saints offense had the second-half impetus to be able to get it done alone.
Moving on to other position groups, and with Brees (literally) not firing, the Saints wide receivers had a quiet time of it, combining for just 125 yards between the 5 of them. In contrast, the surprising way in which the Saints instead leant on the power running game allowed us the rare opportunity to witness Mark Ingram acting as more of a “workhorse” back. And on Sunday’s showing – the evidence was positive – with #22 making good use of his 24 touches to contribute 105 total yards and at TD. Sticking with running backs, what also caught our eye is that on the rare occasions the Saints did elect to use a change of pace/3rd down back, Daniel Lasco’s number was called more times than the somewhat-maligned Travaris Cadet’s. With the rookie Lasco presumably becoming more comfortable with the Saints playbook week-on-week, it will be interesting to see if this trend continues after the bye-week. If it it does, it could well be an ominous sign for Cadet’s continued prospects in Black & Gold. Fullback John Kuhn certainly deserves a mention in this paragraph as well following his standout 18-point performance. The Ex-Packer looks to be an astute addition, and is no doubt a contributing factor to a Saints offense that ranks third in the NFL in red zone TD scoring percentage through four games (81% – for comparison the Saints finished the 2015 season averaging 60%).
Blocking wise, the offensive line were serviceable in pass protection when faced with some fairly creative San Diego blitz packages, although admittedly they were rarely overtly tested due to the quick release nature of the Saints passing attack. We did get a few more stand out performances when run blocking though, with Zach Strief and Andrus Peat in particular both flexing their muscles as the bookends of the offensive line. At tight end, Chris Manhertz and Landon Turner also received some extended playing time as additional run blockers and made a string of encouraging contributions between them for relatively inexperienced campaigners.
DEFENSE
Editor’s Note: Click on each individual table below to open a full-sized version in a new window/tab (it makes them easier to read).
After last week’s ugly viewing in primetime against Atlanta, it was perhaps not surprising that Dennis Allen opted to change things up on defense in San Diego. High-priced safety Jairus Byrd was unceremoniously benched, and Allen opted for the untested duo of Craig Robertson (MLB) and Nate Stupar (WLB) as his linebackers. The results were mixed. The Saints still surrendered 34 points and 321 passing yards to Philip Rivers and the Chargers (albeit with 57 of these coming on a blown play by Ken Crawley and Vonn Bell that gifted Dontrelle Inman a TD). However, the new-look D did have a few more positive flashes. They held the Chargers to just 38 yards rushing (on 21 attempts, no less). And back-up BW Webb hauled in the first Black & Gold interception of the year, to complement 2 earlier fumble recoveries by fellow back-ups Darryl Tapp and Nate Stupar. Most importantly, the Saints D held firm down the stretch, to earn a “W” for the first time in 2016.
Most of the Saints success on defense stemmed from some very good play along the defensive line. The unit unquestionably benefited from the return of NT Tyeler Davison, who missed the disastrous MNF blowout against Atlanta. It was positive grades across the board up front this week, as the Saints line won (and at times dominated) the Chargers banged-up O-Line in the trenches. The Saints D-Line had 3 sacks, 4 TFLs and numerous (on our count 15) hurries and hits on Philip Rivers. The presence of a pass rush was a welcome change from previous weeks. Cam Jordan and Nick Fairley continued their consistent campaigns, each enjoying solo sacks, with Fairley splitting another (with Paul Kruger). Allen used a far heavier rotation than in previous weeks – with Onyemata, Edebali and Tapp all seeing their highest snap counts of the year. This was partly forced by a Paul Kruger back injury, but nonetheless seemed to pay dividends for the performance of the unit as a whole. We’d expect to see more of the same style rotation after the bye-week.
At linebacker, struggling MLB James Laurinaitis was sidelined which left Dennis Allen with a tricky dilemma. Conventional wisdom would suggest Stephone Anthony – who played his entire rookie season starting at MLB – would be the obvious replacement. However Allen opted instead to shift Craig Robertson into the MLB role, and start Nate Stupar at WLB. It got worse for Anthony, as he was also benched from his starting SLB role, with Allen preferring special teams captain Michael Mauti again. Quite where Anthony fits into this defense, and this team, is an increasingly looming question. At this point it looks highly unlikely that the 2015 first round pick will be anything more than a spectator in Allen’s defense. With Anthony firmly on the sideline (alongside Laurinaitis and perma-hurt Dannell Ellerbe), the linebacking group put in a (now familiarly) mixed display. Both Robertson and Stupar were excellent against the run, combining for multiple stops and helping to hold the Chargers to just 1.8 YPC. In coverage, the duo were far less stellar, with Rivers completing 11 of his 13 passes “between the tackles” down the middle for 114 yards. Those easy yards at the heart of the defense were very much due to sub-par coverage play from Robertson and Stupar – a problem that has haunted the linebacking group all year. Ellerbe’s return may assist slightly in that regard, but it looks set to be a weakness that opponents will continue to exploit.
It was all change at safety this week as well, as starting duo against Atlanta (Harper and Byrd) were both benched in favour of the returning Kenny Vaccaro and rookie Vonn Bell. Vaccaro hardly missed a beat on his return, as he continues his strong start to the season. It was the change at the FS position that was far more contentious. There had been murmurings all week that Byrd was set to be dropped, and it proved the case, as the highly-paid FS played just 15 situational snaps. To his credit, Byrd nearly added a spectacular INT (outleaping 6’5 TE Hunter Henry in the endzone), but the play was brought back for a Fairley offside. But the shift to “situational relief” (mostly in the redzone) is a staggering fall from grace for the once-prized Byrd. The Saints are stuck with his contract, but credit should go to Dennis Allen for being bold enough to make the change. His replacement Vonn Bell had a rather “rollercoaster” debut in the starting lineup, costing the Saints 6 points with a glaring missed tackle on Dontrelle Inman in the first half, but also contributing several key run stops in the box. Bell is a more dynamic and active defender than Byrd, who prefers to play away from the ball and “hawk” (although we have seen scant evidence of such ability since his arrival in New Orleans). Once Bell becomes more settled in coverage, he will be an exciting player to watch. Byrd can hopefully still contribute as a “ballhawk” in the redzone.
The cornerback group saw another steady display from Sterling Moore, who looks a free-agent steal at CB. Ken Crawley had an altogether tougher afternoon, but it was only a few (key) plays that hurt his grade, and the rookie’s coverage was otherwise sound. De’Vante Harris wasn’t used on defense, as Allen went exclusively with 3 CBs on the day, using BW Webb in obvious passing situations. Webb added the Saints first INT of the year – albeit an easy play – but a fitting way to seal the “W”.
Want to check back on Saints grades and snap counts from previous weeks? We’ve listed links to each game in 2016 so far below:
Week 1: Saints vs Raiders – Player Grades, Snap Counts and Analysis
Week 2: Saints @ Giants – Player Grades, Snap Counts and Analysis
Week 3: Saints vs Falcons – Player Grades, Snap Counts and Analysis
With the Saints bye week coming up this weekend we’ll be taking a break on the BoiLa – but never fear – we’ll be back the following week to give our full breakdown and analysis for Week 6’s divisional clash with Carolina. If you don’t want to have to check back on the website then to see when our grades and snap counts get posted, you can sign up to our free e-mail notification service which means you’ll be sent an e-mail each week as soon as our posts go live. To do so, just click on the “Click to follow The BoiLa” box in the sidebar or at the bottom of this page.
And finally… if you want to keep up to date with all that’s going on then be sure to hit us up on Twitter: @CrAwFiShBoiLa.
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Z97 Mini-ITX Motherboard Previews
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We suspected there might be a growing support for the mini-ITX form factor among motherboard manufacturers, and following the launch of Intel's Z97 chipset yesterday, we've spotted no fewer than seven new models.There are more to come too - the obvious omission is Asus's Maximus VII Impact, which like its Formula sibling, has yet to make an appearance. Watch this space for our in-depth reviews but needless to say, there's an awful lot to choose from this time round, especially if you're looking for something in the £100-130 price range.Asus is once again offering a cheaper alternative to the ROG Impact. In fact, it's so cheap that it currently undercuts its predecessor, the Z87I-Pro by around £10. The new offering adds 802.11ac WiFi to the equation and while you might not have spotted an M.2 port, it does exist and is mounted on the rear of the PCB instead. The board loses the large VRM daughterboard that was present on the Z77 and Z87 variants and the Maximus VI Impact.It has reduced power phases as a result but given the high price Asus was asking for the Z87 I-Pro, this means the Z97I-Plus is going to be much more competitive and at £115, it's bang on the money too.ASRock looks set to dominate the good looks department with Z97, as we saw with its full size example in our Z97 review roundup with the Fatal1ty Z97 Killer.Its teeny sibling, the Z97E-ITX/ac, is equipped with racy blue heatsinks and includes not just M.2 but SATA Express too as well as a premium headset amplifier and a mini PCI-E 802.11ac WiFi card. However, we can't find it on sale just yet.EVGA's Z87 Stinger proved to be an awesome bit of kit, if a tad on the expensive side. We haven't spotted it in the UK yet, but EVGA's own website lists its new EVGA Z97 Stinger Core3D at $199; this compares to $209 currently on Newegg so in reality it may come in a little lower than the current Z87 model on UK shores. We're hoping it's an overclocking powerhouse too because there's no SATA Express or M.2 port, though you do get a Creative Sound Core3D quad-core audio processor, Intel LAN and on-board power, reset and CMOS clear buttons.Head over the page to see the other four boards. |
MILTON, Ont. — The first time Eric Lindros saw Connor McDavid play live, the younger Next One zipped down the ice for a breakaway goal as Team Canada defeated Russia by a 5-4 score in the gold meal game of the 2015 world junior hockey championships.
It’s one thing to see highlights of the 18-year-old phenom. It’s another to step back, observe the whole sheet of ice, and examine the tools McDavid uses to dominate.
“He’s everything,” Lindros told us at Monday’s Smile Zone Foundation Celebrity Golf Tournament, as he putted out on No. 6.
“Speed. His speed and his hands. Some guys might have two or three gears. He’s got five or six. He can change his pace, especially when he decides to go wide or he sees an opening in the middle. He’s spectacular.”
As one generational talent watches another heading into McDavid’s hotly anticipated rookie campaign, Lindros, now 42, says the expectation and hype surrounding McDavid does conjure up memories of 1991. At the time, Lindros—fast, fierce, seemingly limitless in his potential— was the most talented kid to pick up the game since Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux.
But as Lindros acknowledges, there are a few notable differences between now and 24 years ago.
“Well, there was no lottery,” Lindros says of the lucky number combination that changed Edmonton’s draft position in an instant.
“There was an expansion team (in 1991), San Jose, and they got the second pick (Pat Falloon). Quebec had the first pick, even though there was an expansion team that year. Things have changed,” Lindros adds. “You remember back a little bit. My family was down there in Buffalo for the draft, and we had a nice time.”
The teenage Lindros refused to play for the Nordiques and was eventually dealt to Philadelphia for a package (including the rights to Peter Forsberg) that would help lead the Quebec/Colorado franchise to its first championship in 1996.
So comparable are their jumps from Ontario Hockey League dominance to the NHL, McDavid’s camp had to reassure Oilers fans he would not “pull a Lindros,” as the Edmonton Journal put it this spring.
Hockey Night in Canada‘s Ron MacLean, who was also participating in the Smile Zone tourney Monday, has watched generational talents enter the big leagues. He says McDavid’s narrative strikes a stronger parallel to Lindros than those of Gretzky or Sidney Crosby.
“I liken (McDavid) to Lindros, for sure. Sid was obviously that guy, but this is more like Eric. Quebec completely gutted their roster. The Nordiques kept Michel Goulet almost till the bitter end, but they got rid of him and everybody else, like Dale Hunter (and Peter Stastny). They absolutely gutted their team in anticipation of Lindros, which is what Buffalo did for McDavid. Now the Sabres are rebuilding nicely,” explains MacLean.
While MacLean acknowledges that Crosby is stronger on the puck and speedy in his own right, he describes the Penguins star’s skating as more “bull in a china shop.”
McDavid brings a top-end velocity that makes him as ideally suited to today’s red-line-free pace as Lindros was to the bulldozer era.
“He’s as dominant in a game that’s now a speed game as Eric was a power forward in a power forward’s game. Everyone wanted Eric, (Keith) Tkachuk, (Jeremy) Roenick, (Brendan) Shanahan. They wanted that player,” MacLean says.
“Eric was the best of the kind of player you wanted back in 1991. Nobody knew Wayne would be Wayne—nobody. They thought he’d get beat up in the NHL, and he proved to be something. And Crosby’s unique. McDavid is the best I’ve ever seen of the kind of player he is.”
After holding out for one season, Lindros lit it up as an NHL freshman, scoring 41 goals and 75 points in just 61 games for the Flyers. But Lindros doesn’t believe he’s qualified to offer McDavid any advice for dealing with what will be a heavily scrutinized rookie year.
“These guys now learn about media and p.r. when they’re so young, I’m not in any position to give advice on any of that. He’s going to walk into a position where he’s on a young team, an up-and-coming team,” Lindros says. “They did really well in free agency and made some great trades. They’re going to give it a shot and be a very respected hockey club if not this year, then the next year, that’s for sure.”
As for Lindros himself, he’s anxious to get his golf game back in order, just seven weeks removed from shoulder surgery at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
He and wife Kina are spending increasingly more time north of Toronto in Muskoka and he’s dabbling in the clothing business through Shop.ca. The couple just celebrated the first birthday of their son, Carl Pierre, in June, and twins are due in September.
As for the Oilers, change is good, Lindros says and he sees McDavid fitting in well there.
“I hope it works out well for him in Edmonton and he’s there a long time and he’s taken care of, and he’s given every opportunity, which I’m sure the new GM (Peter Chiarelli) is going to offer him,” Lindros says.
“They got a new coach (Todd McLellan) in there, which will give them a new shake. That’s nothing against the old shake, but every once in a while you have to switch it up.” |
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MADISON, Wis. - The Madison police were able to use a newly acquired 40 mm launcher to save the life of a suicidal man.
The 40 mm launcher fires a sponge-tipped round that is effective at a 120-foot range.
“Initially the call came in with a young man literally cutting his neck on social media,” said Michael Koval, Madison police chief.
From a safe distance the responding officer was able to develop a dialogue with the man and buy enough time for the 40 mm launcher to be brought to the scene.
“The officer was able to get the time that he needed to get the 40 mm launcher on scene, and then once it was on scene from about 100 feet away he deployed the round striking the subject in the abdomen,” said Officer Christopher Masterson.
The 40 mm launcher fires the sponge tipped rounds at up to 40 miles per hour.
“Not only did it disable him to the point where the knife was dropped, but then the officers could render aid and put on the clotting patch that saved his life, ultimately stopped him from bleeding out,” said Chief Koval.
The Madison police acquired the 40 mm launchers, which cost $1,400 each. They were able to purchase enough to place two launchers in each district.
Madison police officers carry non-lethal Tasers, which can effectively be used up to 25 feet. Some officers have access to shotguns that fire a less lethal beanbag, which can effectively be uses up to 75 feet.
The 40 mm launcher allows officers to keep more space between themselves and a subject, work to develop lines of communication, while being in range to use a less lethal weapon.
“Time and space bring us options. So the longer we have, the more time we have, the more options we can bring to us,” said Officer Masterson.
The addition of the 40 mm launcher adds another less lethal option for officers that can be used, in some cases to avoid the use of deadly force.
“We don’t want them to be put into the proposition that it is an all or nothing proposition,” said Chief Koval.
The less lethal options do not remove the use of deadly force as an option when a subject is armed with a dangerous weapon or is an imminent threat to an officer or a bystander. |
HOUSTON - Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday added 20 counties to a disaster declaration as Tropical Storm Harvey moved further inland, dumping large amounts of rain across southeast Texas.
Abbott had already declared a disaster in 30 counties before Harvey made landfall Friday night as a Category 4 hurricane near Rockport.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency granted Abbott a Presidential Disaster Declaration as Hurricane Harvey eyes the Texas coast on Friday.
The state is expected to see life-threatening and record-setting flooding from rain and storm surge in areas hardest hit by Harvey.
The declaration would provide assistance to affected counties.
"I want to thank the President and FEMA for their quick response in granting this disaster declaration. We will continue to work with our federal and local partners on all issues relating to this storm, and I encourage Texans to continue heeding all warnings from local officials."
[READ THE GOVERNOR'S LETTER]
Gov. Abbott Requests Presidential Disaster Declaration
More than 700 troops deployed to assist with Harvey threat
At the behest of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, more than 700 members of the Texas Army and Air National Guards, Texas State Guard and the Texas Military Department have been activated and are positioning themselves throughout the state ahead of Hurricane Harvey and its anticipated landfall later this week.
“This is what we train for,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick M. Hamilton, commander of the Domestic Operations Task Force. “And we’re proud to stand beside our civilian partners, first responders and volunteers to serve the citizens of Texas.”
Additional personnel remain on standby to respond as needed.
“This is Texans helping Texans – neighbors helping neighbors,” Hamilton said. “While we don’t want to have to put our training to the test during a tragedy, our citizen-guardsmen remain prepared to help save lives and property, when called.”
They are positioned in Victoria and College Station with other locations expected as the storm track becomes clearer.
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Modern Resume Template Docx Resume/Cv Collection With Various Unique And Professional Design
We know that utilizing professional and modern resume templates has its own positive outcome. By modern resume templates we refer to resume templates which contain strong standout formats and unique design – designs that are not so common, not overused and convey the ‘message’ in a best or smartest possible way. We can create our own CV template docx but sometimes we are in a hurry or not all of us are great designers when it comes to create a very attractive and professional resume. But we can easily make use of already existing tried and tested best resume templates designed by creative and experienced persons to avoid much hazards. And make our job searching process a bit easier.
# Clean CV cover letter from Estartshop
One of the most popular CV designs among our Pinterest Followers
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# Modern CV Docx+ Cover letter by PAPPERMINT
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# Big icon modern resume template – MS Word (.docx)
A quality design from Inkpower design shop. You can easily edit this in MS Word (.docx). If vector programs irritates you, then this could be of great help to create a stunning modern cv right away.
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# Modern Resume template docx – Elliot
Gathered more than 500 likes and recommendations, this modern resume template docx by bilmaw creative is a very good template with very simple and professional outlook. Easy to use format with nice typography to catch the attention of a recruiter. International A4 & US Letter sizes are included in the pack. InDesign files (INDD), photoshop files (PSD) and Microsoft Word Files (.DOCX) are included along with 90 Social Icons.
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# Resume Template 4 Pack | Best CV Template
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A great design to present with personal or professional information for individual professionals. Specially it seems would be good for freelance service providers or any other modern creative persons. This modern four page cv pack made for both Microsoft Word and Photoshop.
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A great pack of four page resume templates with a lot of customization possibility.
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# Top Sellers Resume Mega Bundle
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This is an extremely large collection of professional and modern resume templates, you won’t have to search for new cv templates for a while.
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1. Resume Docx & Cover Letter Template
To assist you stand out from the big crowd of applicants, Refinery Resume Co. at creative market have created this. It comes with job resume template and Cover letter template in .ai, .psd and .docx format. This great simple resume template has a nice use of black and white color and design presentation.
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# Clean Resume CV – Andy
Created by Andy Art, collect and download this highly customization friendly cv template to use it on your next application.
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2. Triangle Resume Template
A unique design by 12 Resumes, you can simply fill in your qualifications and skills and you are way ahead of the crowd. You can also ask for support regarding this template from 12 Resumes at info@12resumes.com.
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4. Professional Resume Template 4 Pack | CV Template (.ai, .psd and docx)
Get noticed with this interestingly elegant yet very simple resume template while applying for competitive jobs. This is a four page resume template with modern design including handcrafted two-page resume, references and cover letter to make life much easier for the job searchers.
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5. Plum Resume Template Package – Microsoft Word (docx)
One of the best resume templates from design shop JannaLynnCreative to get you noticed big time. You are going to receive the templates in docx format to be able to easily create, edit and modify your job resume in Microsoft Word. You can easily contact with JannaLynnCreative for any questions regarding customization and editing the pack.
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6. Modern job resume template
A clean and beautiful typographic design from creative market design shop sismic to help you create the best impression. You will receive psd file with nicely organized and named layers to edit or modify with an ease.
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7. One page Resume for It professionals
One page CSS style Resume is a gorgeous and very creative resume design – will be best suited for programmers, web designers or any other It professionals – created by CleanLines. The template is created based on the look of css coding styles – to attract the attention of authority the moment they lay their eyes on your CV.
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8. 8 Pages Extended Resume CV template docx
A nice set of 8 pieces of great yet simple resume templates from SNIPESCIENTIST. Could be a great pack for creative professionals who are willing to express their experience, information and some glimpse of work portfolio all in one place. By downloading this CV pack you are going to receive a total of 24 files. Some of the features are MS word & Photoshop files included for all pages (DOCX, DOC and PSD), 250+ FREE & Useful Icons, Detailed help file, Cover letter, Formal References page and portfolio page and many more.
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9. Elegant Resume Template for Word
Very easy to use and edit – one of the best resume templates for MS Word (.docx) available for Instant download for very reasonable price.
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10. Citrus modern resume template – Microsoft Word (docx)
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11. Sea Blue Package – For Microsoft Word
With this elegant and simple resume template you can create your professional CV with an ease. After purchasing this pack from JannaLynnCreative – easily download the zip file, extract the template files, edit the fonts and colors of your choice in Microsoft Word – and you are good to go.
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A simple and very cool collection of professional resume templates from AN Productions. Edit your Cv in seven color combination with slick typography- fully layered psd and illustrator files are included in the package.
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A good bundle from “Made by Mansi”. It’s used to be 40 bucks but now it’s going with 20 only. All the templates are made using Adobe Photoshop except one that’s been made using InDesign.
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So here we are creating a random but carefully hand picked list of modern designs – check them out for yourself and decide which one will work best for your next job hunt or any other task that needs to be done. Also- check out the end section of this article where we listed some helpful resource you can use to learn more and create a stunning and professional resume template.
These contemporary templates won’t help if you don’t understand the resume basics and customize your application according to the area/position/organization you are applying for. As we know, hiring managers/recruiters usually look at a job application for an average of six to eight seconds only! Yes, it’s shocking but that’s the news we have heard. Here, Business Insider Success on youtube have explained this process of recruiters in this video “How recruiters look at your Resume: in 6 Seconds flat” :
Other Resources:
=> Job searching expert Alison Doyle have listed some good suggestions to remind us about what to check out while creating a professional resume template here.
=> If you are searching for professional online resume builder – feel free to check out our article about 10 Free Online Resume Builder To Create Your CV – where we listed some good sites like myperfectresume, LiveCareer, cvmkr and so on.
=> Check out this wikipedia page to know more details about resume in general.
Hope you liked these modern resume templates! Let us know your comments below!
Last but not least – a quote for inspiration: |
In a keynote speech Thursday to the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay said attempts to woo Major League Soccer to the city are moving right along.
“We’re far along in negotiations with them,” McKay, speaking to chamber members at their annual meeting, said of talks with MLS leaders. “It’s our objective to get an MLS franchise if we can make it happen. We think it would be, not just great for Atlanta and the region, but really it’s the right thing to do for the southeast.”
The Falcons want a soccer team to play at a new $1.2 billion retractable-roof stadium that will break ground just south of the Georgia Dome sometime in the spring. Falcons officials are promoting the new facility as more than a football stadium, highlighting the multitude of events held at the Dome, including concerts, monster truck rallies and graduations.
Soccer games could join legacy events planned for the new stadium, including the SEC championship, Chick-fil-A Bowl and the Atlanta Football Classic.
“We think that it could have some real impact,” McKay said of soccer. |
By L. Randall Wray
We all know the usual approach to money, that begins with a fantasized story about barter, the search for an efficient medium of exchange, the role of the goldsmith, and then on to the gold standard, the deposit multiplier, fiat money, and monetary neutrality—at least in the long run.[1] It provides a perspective on the nature of money, on the primary functions of money, and on rules for proper monetary management. It frames all mainstream discussions of money—whether by economists, by policymakers and by the population at large. That framing is also largely consistent with the conventional view of the economy and of society more generally. To put it the way that economists usually do, money “lubricates” the market mechanism—a good thing because the conventional view of the market, itself, is overwhelmingly positive. The market “meme” frames our view of the economy and society, too—the market is the place we go to exercise choice, to assert our individuality, to catch and bring home prey to the adoring family. The king of the market, of course is the highly vaunted, entrepreneurial small businessman (gender specific) who provisions society with useful work as well as consumption goods and services. Each productive member of society is appropriately rewarded with money which preserves the freedom to choose how to apportion his claim on output in a manner consistent with preferences. The biggest potential threat to efficient allocation of scarce resources among competing unlimited wants comes from government’s exercise of control over money—first by replacing natural, intrinsically valuable, commodity money with fiat money, second by taking away people’s hard-earned money through taxes, and third by profligate government’s uncontrollable urge to inflate away money’s value.
It is a beautiful meme, entirely consistent with the individualistic sentiment that has dominated public discussion since Margaret Thatcher asserted that there is no such thing as society. Government’s destructive impulses must be constrained by strict rules—balanced budgets, debt limits, and especially an independent father-figure central banker who keeps tight control over the purse strings. Voters must insist on frugality, and can enforce it through tax cuts to “starve the beast”. Wasteful spending—which includes almost all government spending—must be reigned-in to allow the market to allocate scarce resources to more productive, private, use.
We need an alternative meme, one that provides a frame that is consistent with a progressive social view.
To be sure, in my view the conventional story is wrong—it is inconsistent with the findings of historians, anthropologists, legal scholars, sociologists, and political scientists.[2] I’d prefer a meme that is more consistent with these findings.
However, I also know from experience that “truth” doesn’t automatically trump myth. George Lakoff has brilliantly explained how our minds work, using metaphors—memes—to understand the world.[3] This is especially true the more abstract the concept under examination. Economics uses highly abstract concepts and reasoning: “economy”, “market”, “equilibrium”, “productivity”, “supply and demand”, and, especially, “money”. Simple stories—Crusoe and Friday agreeing to use seashells as a medium of exchange—simplify difficult concepts and also draw attention to the lesson the speaker wishes to teach. The “story of money” outlined above provides the proper framing for the conservative’s lesson. Money simplifies life for Crusoe and Friday. More importantly, the story diverts attention away from inconvenient topics: Crusoe and Friday come together as equals, of their own free will to engage in mutually beneficial exchanges, in a “free” market only lubricated by money—not as conqueror and subject. While the simplistic story adopted by economists is inconsistent with historical “facts”, it is not difficult to adapt the story to bring it in line with many of the findings of historians (who, after all, generally do adopt the conservative framing).
As Jack Balin argues, memes serve as the basis of stories, networks of cultural associations, metaphoric and metonymic models, and other mental structures.[4] Memes are self-replicating, sort of like a virus. Since we think through metaphors, according to Lakoff, as the virus spreads through the population, the meme controls the way we think about a topic.
Conservative memes dominate all discussion about the economic sphere. The market is “free”; the government “intervenes”. Consumers “choose”; government “regulates”. Through judicious framing, the conservatives have won all the important economic debates of our times. Deficits crowd out, cause inflation, and bankrupt our nation. We’ve run out of money. Government is the problem. Taxes and regulations destroy initiative. Small business creates jobs and government destroys them. Yet, in every case the conservative claims are demonstrably false. But it does not matter. They’ve got the better framing, the better money memes.
In most cases, the progressives adopt the conservative framing and so have no chance. For example, take the current debate about government budget deficits which progressives propose to reduce by raising taxes on the rich to “pay for” government spending. Without knowing anything about government or budgeting, the listener knows a) deficits are bad—somehow government is “deficient”; and b) the progressive solution relies on more taxes—and no one likes taxes. The conservative framing—government spends too much–has a much more appealing solution: reduce government waste. It addresses the problem more directly, and in a morally superior manner. Lakoff explains why conservatives always win:
They understand the importance of morally-based framing, the importance of language, the importance of repeating language, the importance of not using the opposition’s language, and the importance of an extensive communication system that operates daily everywhere… Everything you understand is a matter of framing. And what counts as a fact depends on the frame used in understanding.
Hence, it is not so much the accuracy of the conventional view of money that we need to question, but rather the framing. We need a new meme for money.
That meme would emphasize the social, not the individual. It would focus on the positive role played by the state not only in the creation and evolution of money, but also in ensuring social control over money. It would explain how money helps to promote a positive relation between citizens and the state, simultaneously promoting shared values such as liberty, democracy, and responsibility. It would explain why social control over money can promote nurturing (“parental bent” as Veblen called it) activities over the destructive impulses of our “undertakers” (Smith’s evocative term for capitalists).
According to Lakoff, there are two competing views of the parent: the strict father figure who constrains and punishes versus the nurturing parents; most individuals simultaneously hold both views—but the conservative views about the dominant father who needs to discipline the kids is most prominent in political discussion. Adults, of course, want to escape the strict father represented by government, and so want to limit its power. Conservatives emphasize that we need to “get government off our backs”. In Lakoff’s terminology, progressives need to emphasize the nurturing characteristics of the state—the mother and father working together in the interest of the “family”, rather than the stern, punishing, “strict father model” with rules and constraints.
With respect to money, the conservatives emphasize “fiscal discipline” and “inflation targets” enforced by our Father Chairman who art at the controls of the Central Bank. Progressives can win this debate only by taking a higher moral stance, emphasizing the nurturing role that can be played by our government working with our monetary system to support us, to help us to achieve more, and to make us better people.
Part 3 will be posted next. |
Isaac Asimov's Treasury of Humor is a book of "640 jokes, anecdotes, and limericks, complete with notes on how to tell them".
Isaac Asimov was one of the most prolific writers in the past century, known for his many science fiction and non-fiction works. His 'guide' series is one of his scholarly contributions to the world's understanding of literature. For instance, Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare and Asimov's Guide to the Bible, both prominent in this series, are reliable and easily understood guides which are still used in college level courses on both subjects.
Along with these serious works, he also maintains a human quality; one which he lets run free in Isaac Asimov's Treasury of Humor and its sequel, Asimov Laughs Again. In these two books, he tells a broad variety of jokes—from puns to ethnic, from limericks to anecdotes. The latter book, it may be noted, is replete with sexually-explicit humor.
What makes these books surpass many of their contemporaries is that he explains what is funny to the jokes, and gives tips on how to tell them. He talks about the effect of the jokes on different audiences, and the personal touches that you can add to make the joke your own.
Treasury of Humor is unique in that in addition to being a working joke book, it is a treatise on the theory of humor, propounding Asimov's theory that the essence of humor is an abrupt, jarring change in emphasis and/or point of view, moving from the crucial to the trivial, and/or from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Related work [ edit ]
Asimov also wrote a short story, Jokester, in which a character wonders where the jokes come from, since so many people say "I heard a good one", but never "I invented a good one". His investigation will lead him to think that jokes are of alien origin and designed to study the psychology of earthlings.
Publication data [ edit ] |
CARLTON has today secured the signature of highly rated Irish youngster Cillian McDaid, who joins the Blues as an international rookie.
The 20-year-old Gaelic footballer arrives at Ikon Park from Galway in Ireland on a two-year deal.
Earlier this year, McDaid was one of four Irishmen to join the NAB AFL Academy in Florida for its high performance tour of the United States.
After attracting significant interest from a number of clubs, GM List Management and Strategy Stephen Silvagni said the Blues were pleased to welcome McDaid to the fold.
“We’re very pleased Cillian has agreed to join Carlton, and we think he is an exciting young prospect for our club,” Silvagni said.
“We have followed Cillian’s progress closely throughout the year and he uses the ball incredibly well. He is a determined young man of terrific character and we feel he will be a good cultural fit for our playing group too.
“Cillian is an example of the exciting young talent coming out of Ireland at the moment and has studied our game thoroughly over the past few years. We see him as an attacking defender, but we’re excited by the versatility he has shown and we look forward to seeing what he can offer.”
McDaid joins fellow countryman Ciaran Byrne as the Club’s two Irish products. A promising young defender in his own right, Byrne has played 15 senior games for the Blues since making his debut in Round 3, 2015. |
A woman who contacted the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) after noticing a dog sitting on an open flatbed trailer, being towed by a pickup truck in Calgary, says she “couldn’t believe it.”
“I saw something fluffy on the trailer lying down, but I thought it was a carcass from hunting season or [that] someone hit a deer on the road— not a live animal,” Alethea Mackie said Thursday. “I honestly thought it was something that was dead and then it sat up and started moving.”
Sgt. Dennis Smithson said Thursday that the dog has been located and is being examined by a veterinarian to determine if it’s healthy.
Smithson said police will determine whether to lay criminal charges or fine the owner under the Animal Protection Act, depending on the outcome of that examination.
He said the owner is not cooperating with police after speaking with his lawyer.
An image of the dog posted to Facebook on Oct. 28 was shared over 14,000 times and garnered over 1,300 comments as of Wednesday night.
READ MORE: Woman, man charged after RCMP say dog dragged behind car on Alberta highway
The widely shared image was reported to city bylaw officers, the Calgary Humane Society (CHS) and police.
Mackie said she also contacted police immediately after the incident and was directed to CHS. She said she reported it online and called the organization and was referred to City of Calgary bylaw services.
She said she was asked for a statement from the humane society Thursday morning.
The head of enforcement for the humane society said Wednesday the incident could lead to animal cruelty charges.
“On the Animal Protection Act end of things, that certainly has the potential for causing distress and can be an undue hardship,” CHS spokesperson Brad Nichols told Global News. “From the photo that I witnessed, it appears to be risky at best. The dog potentially could fall off that flatbed while the vehicle is in motion, which would have the potential for severe injury, if not death.
“If it were able to get veterinary support and Crown support on an Animal Protection Act charge, then there’s the potential for a high fine and prohibition from owning animals.”
The city says it appears to violate the responsible pet ownership bylaw, as well.
“You cannot have a dog outside the cab of a vehicle unless there are certain conditions that are met and those conditions would be that it has to be in an enclosed trailer, it’s got to be an enclosed cab or topper for the vehicle,” animal bylaw services inspector Doug Anderson said. “It would have to be in a kennel that’s secured to the truck; it can’t be standing on bare metal.
“The best thing he could have done, looking at this picture, is to put it in the back of the vehicle.”
Mackie said the dog was tied on a “fairly loose lead and that there was a lot of room “for the dog to move.”
“As the vehicle was moving, and stopping, and turning, the dog was adjusting itself to maintain its balance,” she said.
“It looked really dangerous.”
With files from Global’s Erika Tucker |
Have you been reading about the shortage of workers in the trucking industry? Have you wondered why, in this crappy economy, they haven’t been able to find more workers? Here’s an excerpt from recent Wall Street Journal’s coverage of this worker shortage crisis:
Operators across the country are short 30,000 long-distance drivers, the American Trucking Associations estimates. The group projects the shortage could top 200,000 in the next decade. Average annual pay for long-distance drivers was $49,540 in 2013, according to ATA estimates. Hiring and wages in truck transportation have inched up this year, according to the Labor Department.
I’ve got a theory. Here’s what it is: they trucking companies aren’t paying enough. Funny how demand and supply and efficient markets go out the window when there’s a political point being served, though: Congress is considering passing a law that would allow 18-year-olds to be long-haul truckers. A terrible idea considering how younger drivers are much more dangerous.
Of course, $50K isn’t nothing. But on the other hand, truckers have to be trained, competent, and regularly spend many days on the road. Moreover, the current surveillance technology has severely degraded their quality of life, which I learned by reading about Karen Levy’s work on the industry. Also, new truckers probably make substantially less than $50K when they start.
Partly the surveillance arose from the very real risk of truckers driving too much per day – it was an attempt to make sure truckers were driving safely. But since the technology has been installed in many large-company fleets, the companies have used it to essentially harass their drivers, telling them when break is over and so on. This has worked, in the sense that larger companies with more surveillance have managed to lower costs, pushing out smaller and individual truckers. And that means that truckers who used to own their own business now reluctantly work for huge companies.
For an industry that has historically prided itself for its independent nature, this change does not sit well with drivers. The turnover rates are staggering:
When you make your workers lives worse, and you don’t compensate them with cash money to make up for it, you find your workers quitting. That’s what’s happening here.
Conclusion: we either need to improve truckers’ work experiences or pay them more. There’s no worker shortage, there’s simply an unwillingness, on the employers’ side, to face up to the facts. |
1951 Australian referendum
22 September 1951 Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Powers to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951'? Results Votes % Yes 2,317,927 7001494400000000000♠ 49.44% No 2,370,009 7001505600000000000♠ 50.56% Valid votes 4,687,936 7001986000000000000♠ 98.60% Invalid or blank votes 66,653 7000140000000099999♠ 1.40% Total votes 4,754,589 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 4,974,337 7001955800000000000♠ 95.58% Results by state Yes No Note: Saturation of colour denotes strength of vote
The 1951 Australian Referendum was held on 22 September 1951 and sought approval for the federal government to ban the Communist Party of Australia. It was not carried.
Background [ edit ]
In 1951, the Menzies government passed a law banning the Communist Party of Australia. The party challenged the law in the High Court, which ruled that it was constitutionally invalid. Following this defeat, the government sponsored this referendum in an attempt to overcome this constitutional obstacle. The referendum question was opposed, not surprisingly, by the Communist Party. It was also opposed by the Australian Labor Party and even the Young Liberals, on the grounds that it would restrict freedoms of speech and association.
Question [ edit ]
Do you approve of the proposed law for the alteration of the Constitution entitled 'Constitution Alteration (Powers to deal with Communists and Communism) 1951'?
Results [ edit ]
Result [1] State On rolls Ballots issued For Against Invalid % % New South Wales 1,944,219 1,861,147 865,838 47.17% 969,868 52.83% 25,441 Victoria 1,393,556 1,326,024 636,819 48.71% 670,513 51.29% 18,692 Queensland 709,328 675,916 373,156 55.76% 296,019 44.24% 6,741 South Australia 442,983 427,253 198,971 47.29% 221,763 52.71% 6,519 Western Australia 319,383 305,653 164,989 55.09% 134,497 44.91% 6,167 Tasmania 164,868 158,596 78,154 50.26% 77,349 49.74% 3,093 Armed Forces* 9,472 6,478 2,917 82 Total for Commonwealth 4,974,337 4,754,589 2,317,927 49.44% 2,370,009 50.56% 66,653 Obtained majority in three States and an overall minority of 52 082 votes. Not carried
* Armed forces totals are also included in their respective states.
Source: Australian Parliament - Referendum results.[1] |
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Do Real Time Scoring System stats hold any value? I have followed them with interest for some years, mostly because they are there and do provide some context to different sorts of contributions players make. There has never been much doubt that the recording of said stats is deeply flawed, yet an actual count of things like Hits is surely better than simple anecdotal "seen him good" accounts. Many folks value Missed Shots and Blocked Shots for their contribution in fleshing out shots data into Corsi stats, which are a pretty good proxy for zone/possession time. Of course they too are subject to recording error and subjectivity bias of the scorer, as indeed are shots themselves.
Perhaps the canaries in the RTSS coal mine are the paired stats of Giveaways and Takeaways. These are opposite sides of the same coin, a turnover which is attributed to a negative action of a puck carrier OR a positive action of an opposing checker. Yesterday I was tooling around in this section of NHL.com and made some interesting observations. I was specifically looking at Oiler forwards with 20+ GP, and in the course of my investigation compared them against their peers in the Northwest Division. My methodology was to express a ratio of takeaways to giveaways (in that order, so that higher number = better). To my surprise I found an apparent correlation between Gv:Tk and the Northwest Division standings!
Team Tk Gv Tk:Gv Pts% Pts%/Lg VAN 374 237 1.58 0.627 1.12 COL 405 310 1.31 0.593 1.06 CGY 397 380 1.04 0.559 1.00 MIN 292 291 1.00 0.520 0.93 EDM 334 472 0.71 0.367 0.66
(The last column, Pts% over league, is simply the ratio between a team's Pts% and the NHL mean, currently hovering around .559. A number of 1.00 in this column is the closest thing we have to the old standard of .500.)
Hey lookit! The highlighted columns are remarkably similar, ranking the teams in the correct order. The teams with the best success in giveaways v. takeaways are also enjoying the best success in the standings! Such a nice correlation; could this possibly be a coincidence?
In a word, yes. In this case the stats do co-align with reality, but it's a pure fluke of this particular (small) sample. Examining the team stats across the NHL reveals that the standard the NHL has seemingly established in counting these events is actually No Standard At All.
The NHL team leaders in Tk:Gv ratio are NYR, ATL, CHI, CBJ, CAR, and NYI. 5 of the top 6 are in the bottom third of the NHL. In other words, epic fail.
Particularly striking when looking at the these numbers on a league-wide basis is the enormous discrepancy in home/road splits. The scorers are not necessarily more "generous" with the home town team, but they are far more likely to notice them and attribute actions on the ice to them, be they positive or negative. League-wide in 2009-10, home teams have been credited with over 37% (!) more takeaways than visitors, and debited with nearly 42% (!!) more giveaways.
Moreover, some rinks simply count way more total events than others. The number of total events (Gv + Tk) for the home team ranges from a modest 281 in Phoenix to 1098 on Long Island, very nearly a factor of 4! On the road the range, as one might expect, is a much more constrained 390 to 552. This supports the theory of many, myself included, that RTSS road stats are much more valuable than full-season totals. They're a long way from perfect: some teams play three road games on the Island, others none (including the Islanders!), but discrepancies are far more likely to balance out.
The Islanders lead the entire NHL with 857 takeaways, a cool 500 ahead of the Stanley Cup champions from Pittsburgh who rank a rank 29th in this "important" defensive category. 99% of their advantage comes in the oh-so-friendly confines, where the Isles have recorded 624 of those takeaways, nearly 5 times as many as the Penguins' 129 on home ice; on the road, the Islanders' edge is an inconsequential 233-228.
The league leaders in giveaways are none other than your Edmonton Oilers, who have been charged with a scandalous 972 such turnovers, nearly triple the 359 charged to the Blue Jackets. Not surprisingly, most of this discrepancy can be found on home ice, where trigger-happy statisticians have charged the Oil with 737 giveaways, compared to just 235 on the road. They are also more generous with takeaways although in moderation; the Oilers have 307 TkA on home ice, 196 on the road. In all the Oil have recorded 76% of their giveaways and 61% of their takeaways on home ice.
Home/road splits are not readily available on an individual level; while they can be scraped from game sheets, NHL.com does not show them. So I concluded that any comps of individual Oilers against their Northwest foes would be an entirely useless exercise.
Are RTSS numbers valueless? Not quite. Players within an individual team will play their games in front of the exact same scorers from night to night, so in-team comps should be fairly valid. Let's take a closer look at those Oilers with 20+ GP, ranked in order of net turnover differential per 60 minutes of ice time (the right-most column):
Lo and behold, there's good old Shawn Horcoff at the top of the charts, challenged only by the up-and-coming two-way forward Marc Pouliot. Reliable Fernando Pisani ranks third, followed by Zack Stortini, whose low-event proclivities extend to having the fewest giveaways per hour on the squad. In the middle of the pack Ryan Stone has the highest events per hour in both categories, albeit in the fewest minutes of anybody on the list; he's good at getting the puck, not so good at hanging on to it.
At the other end of the chart are a couple guys in Ales Hemsky and Sam Gagner who handle the puck a lot and therefore have their share of giveaways, although both are disappointly weak on the defensive side of the puck, especially Gagner. Lagging behind them is J-F Jacques, as those who were subjected to watching him play might expect. Bringing up the very rear, though, is thecaptainethanmoreau, who is second worst on the club for giveaways per hour and dead last for takeaways. A checking line player who can't check? Ouch.
Conclusion: Takeaway/giveaway data is suspect at best, but has some validity in the context of a single team. With the exception of a couple of small sample size guys (notably Hemsky, Stone, possibly Pouliot), the above list of forwards does a reasonable job of identifying the guys who collect and protect the puck, and those who don't. Here's looking at you, Ethan.
* * *
EDIT: Here's the same list for defencemen. This includes the three guys who were traded at the deadline (shown in grey); the data supports some of the rationale for dumping at least two of those guys. I have lowered the threshold to 10+ GP so as to include early results of the new guys, although of course sample size is a particular issue.
On the blue giveaways are far more common than takeaways, to the point that a Tk:Gv ratio better than 0.5 is relatively decent, at least on this team. A little surprising to see Smid at the top, but he handles the puck both less often and more conservatively than some of the puck movers below him so has coughed the puck relatively infrequently. So far Johnson seems to be the Ryan Stone of the defence corps with high events per hour on both sides of the ledger; alarmingly so in the giveaway department, although it's a pleasant surprise to see anybody even close to, let alone ahead of, Sheldon Souray in the takeaway game. Early days of course, just 12 GP. Interesting that these two rank 1-2 on the club in both Gv and Tk, and that by eye both fit the mold of cycle-breaking "chaos" defenders. |
Let me start by saying being pro-choice does not necessarily mean you have to be pro-abortion. It simply means that you are giving a woman the choice to choose what is best for her as an individual. And I will also state that what is best for you is not best for everyone!
People these days are very opinionated on this touchy subject and I am no different.
Before I get into the reasons I choose to be pro-choice, I want to list a couple reasons as to why abortion is even legal in the United States in the first place. There is an awesome article out there on the internet called, "Question: why is abortion legal in the United States?" If you are interested even in the slightest, I suggest you look it up and read it. Very briefly I will go over some of the reasons as to why it is legal. One reason is that a fetus in not legally a citizen. I know plenty of people who choose to believe that as soon as a fetus is conceived that it is automatically a person. *trump voice* You're wrong.
Legally the point of viability ( which is the point in which the fetus can live outside of the mother on its own) does not start until it is 23-24 weeks old. This is the point in which abortion becomes illegal in this country. Reason number 2: simply put.... Roe. Vs. Wade. It is legal simply because the Supreme Court decided it to be so in 1973. The 3rd and final reason I am going to highlight this is that by giving the women the right to make decisions regarding their own bodies is a right to privacy. Which is a constitutional right. If they choose to overturn Roe vs. Wade, you are taking women's constitutional right away and what makes you think the government is going to stop by taking JUST women's rights away?
Let's say you wanted to donate bone marrow to help local cancer kids. That is a very nice gesture, however, a very painful process but you know what, that is your decision, is it not? The government CANNOT stop you. If you want to donate a kidney or you want a breast augmentation, the government cannot step into your private life and tell you are banned from doing these things....what makes abortion any different?
Speaking of government involvement....if you give the government the right to make decisions about women's bodies what makes you think the government couldn't flip-flop and force unwanted abortions onto women like they do in China? Due to China's population, families are only allowed to have two kids. Any more than that, their government forces the women to have abortions. So you may be trying to do a good decent humane thing but in return, our government could very well flip-flop on you and make you do something you don't want.
Many people have argued with me about the whole, "Well, if someone decides to murder a pregnant woman, then that person is charged with double homicide, therefore the "baby" is considered a person." Again, that is wrong. The murderer is charged with double homicide clearly because that murderer had no right to terminate the women's' pregnancy against her will. Again, it his HER right to choose whether or not to terminate.
Usually, when something becomes illegal there are consequences and punishments. So what would you do to punish the women who have aboritions? Because the Pro-Lifer's keep saying that Aborion = Murder. Well, isn't the punishment for murder in this country imprisonment and/or depending on what state you live in, death penalty? You would rather save this "fetuses" life and put many of our sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, wives in jail? That's just my perspective on it anyway.
I could literally go on and on about this subject for days, however, I would like to end by saying, that people who support Pro-Life are all for the birth of this "baby," however, once it is born people tend not to care. If this law gets overturned, you are basically telling the woman who KNOWS she is financially incapable of raising a child that she must suck it up and work three jobs to keep the baby and herself fed. You are saying to the rape victim that she MUST have her attacker's baby and be reminded of that awful experience every day of her life. You are telling the aspiring college student to drop out of school and raise her child. Who cares that that college student was on the track to graduation and applying for graduate school. Now she must forget life as she knows it and rasie a child and every time she sees that child be reminded of lost opportunites. |
A two-time dropout, Fong is working on a potentially game-changing energy storage system backed by leading green tech investor Vinod Khosla. Fong dropped out of junior high as a 12-year-old to enter Dalhousie University in her hometown of Halifax, Nova Scotia. At 17, she entered a Princeton PhD program, studying nuclear fusion before quitting to pursue her startup dreams in Silicon Valley. She realized energy storage could help achieve similar goals and, as she puts it, “was an easier problem to solve.” At age 20, Fong co-founded LightSail Energy, which has invented a compressed air storage technology that is scalable, portable, clean and economical. The idea is to make it possible for intermittent sources of renewable energy like solar and wind to go mainstream, and revolutionize power grid design.
Eric Arnoldy 27
Director
Mudlogging Systems
Engineered systems to capture and transmit data during oil drilling. With partners, sold company to Reservoir Group.
David Berry 28
Co-founder
Clean Line Energy Partners
Bottleneck beater is working to build long-distance transmission lines to connect wind farms with population centers.
Jeff Bishop 29
V.P. of Business Development
EDP Renewables
Has worked on wind projects in Morocco, Spain, Botswana and U.S. with Horizon Wind Energy, now EDPR.
Brad Burton 26
VP, Product & Strategy
1 Block Off The Grid
New business model aims to let homeowners go solar by negotiating group discounts with installers.
Jonny Cohen 16
Inventor
Greenshields
High school kid invented aerodynamic air shield for front of school buses that reduces fuel use by 25%.
Jason Ethier 24
Chief Executive
Dynamo Micropower
His Boston startup is developing a high efficiency natural gas micro-turbine for use in distributed energy systems.
Javier Fernandez-Han 17
Inventor
Versatile His system uses algae to digest sewage and capture methane for use as fuel.
Eden Full 19
Founder
Roseicollis Technologies
Invented low-cost solar tracking system to be deployed in developing countries and is a Thiel Foundation fellow.
Vanessa Green 29
Chief Executive
OnChip Power
Launched biz while at MIT; developing smaller, more efficient energy transformers for LEDs and consumer electronics.
Param Jaggi 17
Inventor
Austin College Award-winning high schooler created algae-filled device that fits over a car's tailpipe and turns carbon dioxide into oxygen.
Kelsey Lynn 29
Partner
Firelake Capital
At Firelake Capital, scouts for start-up ideas that apply materials science solutions to energy problems.
Steven Meyers 27
Solar Engineer
Saudi Aramco
Joining the state oil giant to help Saudi Arabia solarize its electric grid and save more oil for export.
Tony Moss 27
Geologist
Continental Resources
Geologist at Continental Resources figuring out the best way to tap North Dakota's Bakken oil shale.
Vivek Nair 23
Chief Executive
Damascus Fortune
Developing a technology that transforms industrial carbon emissions into carbon nanotubes.
Ashleigh Patterson 29
Co-founder
Viridis Technologies Developed technology to safely dispense compressed nat gas fuel into vehicles. Deployments in Australia and India.
Meredith Perry 22
Founder
Ubeam
Startup Ubeam is developing device to re-charge gadgets remotely using ultrasound transmitters.
Colin Read 27
V.P. of Development
Ecotality
Won $115 million DOE grant to install 14,000 electric vehicle chargers in places like Ikea, Best Buy.
Andy Rihn 28
Geologist
Continental Resources Guides leasing and drilling on Continental's 270,000 acres in Oklahoma's Woodford shale.
Alexis Ringwald 28
Co-Founder
Valence Energy
At Valence created energy management software systems for commercial buildings; sold the startup to Serious Energy. Now launching educational venture.
Chris Rivest 29
Founder
Alion
Is a co-founder of Alion (formerly SunPrint), which uses acoustic printing techniques to manufacture low-cost solar cells.
Daniel Rosen 26
Chief Executive
Solar Mosaic
Solar Mosaic is a kickstarter for renewable energy, funding community projects by selling solar “tiles” to supporters.
Elizabeth Salerno 29
Director of Data & Analysis
American Wind Energy Association
Wrangles stats from 2,500 wind energy companies. Analyzes and reports on wind industry policies and trends.
Pedro Santos 27
Chief Executive
OsComp Systems
Invented a wellhead compression technology that promises to cut costs of natural gas production.
Taylor Shinn 27
Senior Director, Corporate Development
Chesapeake Energy
Natural gas booster. Forges Chesapeake's partnerships in building out compressed natural gas fueling stations.
Tom Steiner 26
Project Manager
Rowan Companies
Ex McKinsey consultant now works directly with top execs of deepwater driller Rowan.
Tyler Tringas 26
Founder
SolarList
Aims to cut energy costs by matching customers with solar installers and project developers.
Sean Tufts 29
Development Manager
RES Americas
Linebacker left NFL to start own wind biz. Now developing wind projects in U.S. and Canada.
David Wilson 29
Chief Executive
Unitex Oil & Gas Bought first west Texas oil wells at age 20. Now has 250 wells producing some 450 barrels per day. |
Governor Nikki Haley has signed legislation that removes state limits barring concealed weapons permit holders from possessing guns in bars.
"In an effort to preserve South Carolinians' 2nd Amendment rights, the bill allows for gun owners with a Concealed Weapons Permit (CWP) to carry firearms in restaurants that serve alcohol, while also allowing an owner to ban individuals from carrying firearms in their establishment," a release stated. "South Carolina is the 46th state to allow some form of legal carrying rights in these types of establishments."
While the legislation now allows for regulated carrying of weapons in bars by those not drinking, it is up to proprietors to decide if they will allow it in their establishments.
You can check out the text of the Concealed Carry Reform Bill here. |
The US treasury has fired a warning shot at the European Commission ahead of its ruling on whether Ireland broke state aid rules by agreeing a sweetheart tax deal with California tech giant Apple, suggesting Brussels was acting like “a supra-national tax authority”.
The American finance ministry has raised concerns about the commission’s targeting of US firms in competition and state aid investigations, warning it could “create an unfortunate international tax policy precedent”.
Treasury official Robert Stack warned in a paper published on Wednesday that US taxpayers could end up footing the retrospective tax bills imposed by Brussels on American multinationals operating in Europe arising from its investigations.
In an ominous warning for Ireland, which relies heavily on US corporate investment, Mr Stack said in his paper that a substantial number of additional commission investigations against US firms – as Brussels has suggested – “may lead to a growing chilling effect on US-EU cross-border investment”.
The voicing of such strong public concerns comes after months of lobbying by US treasury officials fearing the consequences of the look-back audit on tax deals between European states and companies such as Apple, Amazon, Starbucks and McDonald’s.
Apple’s use of Irish companies to shield tens of millions of dollars of overseas profit away from high US corporate tax rates was sharply criticised by a Senate panel three years ago in Washington, prompting the EU investigation into alleged illicit subsidies.
A ruling on the investigation into Apple’s Irish tax arrangements is expected soon.
Adverse findings against the companies could have “major implications” for the US and the EU’s recovery of taxes “an outsized impact” on the firms, said Mr Stack.
The treasury official even suggested potential retaliatory action, triggering concerns about possible tit-for-tat taxes, should the investigations lead to hefty tax bills.
“The US treasury department continues to consider potential responses should the commission continue its present course,” said Mr Stack.
Tax treaties
The Obama administration’s concerns are rooted in what it sees as a shift in position by the commission that undermines existing tax treaties between the US and individual states and “broadly accepted” international tax arrangements, and erodes efforts by G20 countries to combat corporate tax evasion globally.
“US taxpayers could wind up eventually footing the bill for these state aid recoveries in the form of foreign tax credits that would offset the US tax bills of these companies,” said Mr Stack, a deputy assistant secretary for international tax affairs.
The treasury describes in the paper the commission’s approach as “new” and “unforeseeable” by the American companies and EU member states.
Ahead of the commission imposing potentially large tax penalties on the US firms, Mr Stack said Brussels should not recover taxes “in a new approach in a retroactive manner because it sets a bad precedent for tax policymakers around the world”.
The commission said that it “takes note” of the US treasury’s paper and that it remained available to clarify how it applies “established principles of EU state aid law”.
Daniel Shaviro, a tax professor at New York University school of law, said that the US treasury’s paper was unusual but not a surprise given what is at stake.
“I have had a sense of how vehement US opinion is, including in the administration, and this reflects the combination of the companies yelling and screaming about it and the quite reasonable feeling that it is in the US interest to stop this,” he said. |
Those who expected the National Rifle Association to strike a conciliatory tone after the massacre in Newtown, CT that left 20 children and six school employees dead instead found NRA president Wayne LaPierre stridently blaming everything and everyone in America except guns.
LaPierre’s tactic of silence in the immediate aftermath of a mass shooting followed by rantings against the media and government doesn’t just divert the conversation away from sensible gun laws, it also helps achieve what has become the NRA’s singular goal — selling guns and ammunition. Retailers are claiming that years worth of firearms have been sold in the last few days. Meanwhile the ranks of the NRA are growing.
But not everyone is pleased with the NRA. Here are five NRA members who gave up their memberships in protest.
If you know of any more NRA members who quit or are one yourself, let us know in the comments.
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DIY Laundry Soap 20 cents a gallon
transcription of “DIY Laundry Soap 20 cents a gallon” video..by The Urban Farming Guys..
Hey, we are gonna introduce you to Candy, one of the urban farming guys & my lovely wife. Candy, what are we doing today? We need to do laundry, but first we need to make some laundry soap. We made a batch about eight months ago, made ten gallons, & we’re about to run out. So, we’re gonna show you how to make it with three basic ingredients you can find in any grocery store. It costs about $2 to make & it works great.
Alright, & where did you find this recipe? Well, a friend of ours went to go visit her friend in OK..He does a lot of homesteading & farming down there. So, they made a batch. She came home all excited & brought us a gallon to try. So, we used it, used it as a pre-treater, we used it just like regular laundry soap, it works great…& then, she showed me how to make ten gallons & we’ve been using that for the last eight months. Now, we’re gonna show you how to make ten gallons.
Here is everything that you’ll need to make your own laundry soap:
Borax
Washing Soda (not baking soda)
Bar Soap (Fels-Naptha, Ivory, plain bar soap)
Cheese Grader
Pot (to melt the soap in with water)
5-gallon bucket
First thing, you’re gonna take your bar of soap & your cheese grader & just grade it down. Skin your knuckle.. I already sliced my fingernail off earlier. When you’re done grading, this is what you get. We’re gonna take this over to the stove & melt it down. Before you melt it down, you do wanna add some water, probably about a quart..The exact amount doesn’t really matter cuz we’re gonna add more water later.
So, you’re gonna want to put in the water, & then stir continuously over medium low heat until all these little grates are dissolved. Here we are, it’s completely dissolved; it took about 10-15 minutes. Now, we’re ready to add all the ingredients. Take your 5-gallon bucket & fill it about half full with hot water. Add your melted bar soap. Add half a cup of the washing soda & a full cup of the Borax..Then, stir until all the ingredients are dissolved. & once they’re dissolved, you’re gonna wanna fill the bucket all the way full with hot water. Then, cover it. If you don’t have a lid, you can use plastic wrap or something to cover it & then let it sit over night.
So, here we are, 24 hours later. We put this out on the porch for overnight & I’m gonna take our plastic off. & if you look & see, it kinda gels up like this…& what you wanna do before we divide it, because we want this to be 10 gallons ultimately, is really kinda break up these little pieces. Cuz when you go to pour it, they’ll blob out in big chunks. Okay, so I’ve broken up the gel pieces as much as I can..pretty smooth consistency now..There’s little flakes, but that’s ok. We’re just gonna take this 5-gallon bucket & divide it evenly half & half to another 5-gallon bucket. So, almost, just gonna do it til they’re both at the same level. That looks about right. Then, we’re gonna take some really hot water & fill them both up. It will suds a little bit. Okay. Then, we’re gonna take these & pour them into whatever containers you have that you wanna keep them in. We use some tea containers, we have some old laundry detergent containers, milk containers, juice containers. We use whatever we can cuz this is a lot of soap. So, I’m gonna get a funnel & I’ll show you how we can pour it in.
So, now we’re just gonna, while it’s really separated, you’re gonna take it & just fill your containers. This can be a little messy, is why we do it on the porch. But, then, when we’re done, we just spray down the porch & we have a nice, clean one. So, I poured it all into the jugs, & this is our batch..So, for $2, we made enough laundry soap, that’s lasted our family of five working on the farm over eight months worth of laundry. & each one of these, as you know, at the store can cost anywhere from $3-8, depending on the brand you buy..So, you do the math.
Now, we’re ready to do some laundry. This is what you end up with. You’re gonna use one cup per load. & it will have a tendency to separate a little bit as it settles, so just shake it before you use it. & you can use it as a pre-treater; works just great, we love it. Enjoy. |
With oil prices struggling to rebound after hitting a three-month low last week, Americans are getting yet another reminder of just how wrong President Barack Obama was about drilling.
“The American people aren’t stupid,” he said back in 2012 — when the price of oil was above $100 a barrel and gas was $3.50-plus a gallon at the pump. They know “we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices.”
Well, he was right about one thing: Americans aren’t stupid. They wisely ignored him and drilled anyway. Guess what? Supplies rose and drove down prices. They haven’t come back since.
Hug a fracker for that welcome turn of events: US oil output from shale has soared over the past decade, thanks to new fracking and horizontal-drilling technology that has lowered production costs and made shale-oil extraction economical.
(And blame Gov. Cuomo for banning New Yorkers from taking part in the fracking boom.)
The new reserves have disrupted the global oil market: While OPEC countries and Russia agreed last November to cut production by nearly 1.8 million barrels a day to run down inventory gluts, US output has grown: Drillers here have added oil rigs for the past eight straight weeks.
The US supplies have kept world crude prices low — oil has been bouncing around just above the $50-a-barrel mark; gas, just below $2.50 a gallon — despite the cuts in output by OPEC and Russia.
Indeed, those countries are now rethinking their production caps to hang on to their market share.
But whether it’s America, OPEC or Russia that keeps the black stuff flowing, crude and gas-pump prices don’t seem headed up much anytime soon. That’s a godsend for consumers, as well as businesses and workers.
No, there are no guarantees: If the global economy heats up and supplies can’t keep pace, prices will rise. But with all the new US drilling, America is now better poised to meet new demand and keep those prices in check.
It sure is a good thing Obama was right about Americans’ intelligence. |
Understanding How Soil pH Affects The Availability Of Plant Nutrients
Soil pH is a characteristic that describes the relative acidity or alkalinity of the soil, according to NutrientStewardship.com. Technically, pH is defined as the negative (-) log or base 10 value of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+). Pure water will be close to a neutral pH, that is 10 to the minus 7 concentration of H+ ions (10-7 [H+]). This concentration is expressed as 7. Any value above 7 means the H+ ion concentration is lower than at a neutral pH and the solution is alkaline and there are more hydroxyl (OH-) ions present than H+ ions. Any value below 7 means the H+ ion concentration is greater than at neutral pH and the solution is acidic. Soils are considered acidic below a pH of 5, and very acidic below a pH of 4.
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Conversely, soils are considered alkaline above a pH of 7.5 and very alkaline above a pH of 8. Typically, soil pH values are measured when 10 g of air-dried soil is mixed with 20 ml of double-distilled water or 20 ml of 0.01 M CaCl 2 solution, and the pH is measured using an appropriate electrode connected to a pH meter. This soil analysis is a regular part of most if not all soil test protocols.
The availability of some plant nutrients is greatly affected by soil pH. The “ideal” soil pH is close to neutral, and neutral soils are considered to fall within a range from a slightly acidic pH of 6.5 to slightly alkaline pH of 7.5. It has been determined that most plant nutrients are optimally available to plants within this 6.5 to 7.5 pH range, plus this range of pH is generally very compatible to plant root growth.
Nitrogen (N), Potassium (K), and Sulfer (S) are major plant nutrients that appear to be less affected directly by soil pH than many others, but still are to some extent. Phosphorus (P), however, is directly affected. At alkaline pH values, greater than pH 7.5 for example, phosphate ions tend to react quickly with calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) to form less soluble compounds. At acidic pH values, phosphate ions react with aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe) to again form less soluble compounds. Most of the other nutrients (micronutrients especially) tend to be less available when soil pH is above 7.5, and in fact are optimally available at a slightly acidic pH, e.g. 6.5 to 6.8. The exception is molybdenum (Mo), which appears to be less available under acidic pH and more available at moderately alkaline pH values.
In some situations, materials are added to the soil to adjust the pH. On a field scale, this is most commonly done for acidic soils to raise the pH from 4.5 to 5.5 up to 6.5 or approaching neutrality. This is done by applying and incorporating a liming material, often finely ground calcitic limestone or dolomitic limestone, that is spread using specialized lime spreaders, or spin-spreaders adapted with vibrating systems to prevent bridging of the material in the hoppers of the spreaders. It is possible to lower the pH of a soil using a liquid acid solution, or finely ground elemental S that oxidizes to sulfuric acid through the action of soil inhabiting S-oxidizing bacteria. However, this is rarely done on a field-scale basis because of the high cost. It is more commonly done in horticulture production applications where individual plant containers or limited areas (e.g. <10 to 20 acres) are managed to lower the pH for acidic soil adapted plants such as some flowers, trees, and/or small fruits (i.e. blueberry and cranberry). It is important to note that most on-going crop production will gradually lower the soil pH as the H+ ions are released and converted over to nitrate by soil microbes. This is especially true where N fertilizers such as anhydrous ammonia, ammonium sulfate, and urea are applied.
Whether or not you try to adjust pH, it is important to understand other methods to increase the availability and use of added nutrients. This can be done in a number of ways for the nutrients mentioned above that are adversely affected by extremes in soil pH, acidic or alkaline. For example, P-containing fertilizer can be applied in or close to the seed-row at planting to facilitate early-season uptake of phosphate ions by crop roots before allowing it to react with soil cations that dominate under acidic or alkaline soil pH conditions. Under alkaline soil pH values, the phosphate fertilizer can be applied in bands with fertilizer which generates an ionized form of ammonia (NH4). That will allow slight acidification of the soil adjacent to the fertilizer band.
Another method is to manufacture compound nutrient fertilizer granules that contain the N, P, and even elemental S-containing fertilizers, for application to alkaline soils. The soil adjacent to the granule will also be acidified slightly and allow enhanced P uptake when the crop roots intercept the granules. Yet another example is the foliar application of soluble Fe fertilizer compounds to Fe-deficient crops grown in high pH soils where the fertilizer react so fast with soil that the nutrient is tied up and unavailable to plants. This is why soil applied Fe fertilizers often do not successfully correct Fe deficiencies. By avoiding the soil and applying the Fe to the leaves, the small amount of plant-required Fe is successfully introduced into the crop.
Next time you have soil samples taken on your fields, take time to note what the pH values are in your results. It is useful to compare these values to previous soil test pH values and determine if there is a trend of soil pH change. By monitoring the pH values regularly (every 2 to 3 years) in a field, you may consider action to raise the pH of the soil from acidic to near neutral pH values by liming. Increased nutrient availability and improved crop growth can be achieved when adding liming material to an excessively acidic soil. This can be especially important for crops requiring neutral pH, such as legume forages or pulses, as the Rhizobia species bacteria do not nodulate and fix N effectively under pH values less than 5.5 |
(AP) LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Kentucky teenager frustrated by light punishment for two boys who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting her was spared Monday from having to face a contempt charge for naming them on Twitter in violation of a court order.
The case of Savannah Dietrich, 17, quickly gathered supporters nationwide who were upset that the victim of an assault could be punished for speaking out against her attackers.
The girl turned to Twitter after she said she was frustrated with what she felt was a lenient plea deal. The judge had ordered no one to speak about the case, which was in juvenile court.
On Monday, attorneys for the boys dropped their motion to charge her with contempt. David Mejia, an attorney for one of the boys, said the decision to withdraw the motion had nothing to do with public sentiment and online attention to the case.
He said the purpose of the motion had been to enforce the law that protects juveniles and their actions from disclosure.
"The horse is out of the barn," he said. "Nothing is bringing it back."
The Associated Press does not generally identify victims of sexual assault, but Dietrich and her parents wanted her story to be made public. She gave her account to The Courier-Journal newspaper in a story published Saturday. She has not responded to the AP for comment and her lawyer, Emily Farrar-Crockett of the public defender's juvenile division, did not immediately return telephone calls.
Jeff Dion, deputy executive director of the National Center for Victims of Crime, said victims who feel cheated by the justice system sometimes file civil lawsuits in an effort to get information in the public, but social media has turned that on its head.
"It's all about giving victims a voice," Dion said.
In one day, an online petition on Change.org had garnered 62,000 signatures in support of Dietrich's action.
"When I read it, I was appalled and outraged and thought, `Somebody has to do something about this. Who is going to do something about this?"' said Elizabeth Beier, 22, of Cockeysville, Md., who started the petition even though she doesn't know Deitrich. "Everyone wants this girl to have peace and time to recover and not another trauma like jail time."
Beier said the two women have not spoken, but she congratulated her.
"I think what she did was very brave by coming forward ... and I think a lot of people who may have been victims or survivors of assault and didn't get the justice they deserve probably see themselves in her," she said.
Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women, said the motion to withdraw the contempt of court charge was "a huge victory not only for Ms. Dietrich, but for women all over the country."
Deitrich told The Courier-Journal that after the sexual assault, the boys posted photos of the attack on the Internet.
"These boys shared the picture of her being raped with their friends and she can't share their names with her Twitter community? That's just crazy," O'Neill said.
The Courier-Journal reported that the boys were charged with first-degree sexual abuse, a felony, and misdemeanor voyeurism, according to information in a court motion the newspaper filed asking Judge Dee McDonald to allow the paper to see motions filed by attorneys for Dietrich.
The teens pleaded guilty to those charges in late June, though Dietrich and her family told the newspaper they were unaware of the plea bargain and recommended sentence until just before it was announced in court. The attack occurred in August 2011.
Dion said the Kentucky law on gag orders in juvenile cases presupposes that information revealed came from reading the court record. In Dietrich's case, he noted, she was the victim, and she had independent knowledge of the crime.
"And I think a restriction or gag order on a victim creates some First Amendment issues," Dion said.
He added that prosecuting a victim "sends a terrible message."
"We created victims' rights out of a recognition that we need victims to come forward in order for our justice system to work," he said. "Really, what do they get for that?"
Chris Klein, an attorney for one of the boys, said publicizing their names may create problems for them in the future.
"There's always that possibility and in any type of scenario like this you run that risk," he said. "Now whether both these boys can overcome those hurdles, it's too early to determine that."
Klein said it's possible, but unlikely, that prosecutors would make the same contempt charge against Dietrich. Both sides will still be bound by the confidentiality of the juvenile court proceedings.
"I think her behavior will dictate whether it's the end of it or not," Klein said. "If all the parties abide by the confidentiality of juvenile court, then I think that's the end of it."
Bill Patteson, a spokesman for the Jefferson County Attorney's office, said he could not comment because of the confidentiality on juvenile cases. |
CLEARWATER — They had to borrow generators, but Hurricane Irma didn't stop the staff from filling orders at local contraceptive supplier Condom Depot.
In the days before the storm, the staff wrapped inventory in plastic to be safe, said Alex Barba, a spokesman for the company.
"Our warehouse held up fine. Other than a loss of power, there was no structural damage," Barba said.
The company ships novelties and condoms to the Tampa Bay region and around the world. Barba said the company is working through a backlog of several hundred online orders with help from a generator borrowed from Wesley Chapel Toyota and using a cellphone hot spot in place of its Internet connection.
Condom Depot is owned and operated by John Fidi, who started the business in 1996.
Happy as he was to see his inventory safe, Fidi was mainly concerned about the watercraft he stored for safekeeping in the company warehouse, Barba said.
"He said, 'As long as my boats are fine.' "
Contact Jonathan Capriel at [email protected] |
What good could a wasp possibly be? When most people think about wasps, they think about being stung. Indeed, wasps do sting, and wasp stings hurt. To make matters worse, some wasps can be downright nuisances. They build nests under our eaves or in our lawns and swarm around our guests at backyard barbecues. If your experiences with wasps are all negative, you're probably wondering why we need these pests at all. What do wasps do, and why do we need them?
Thousands of Wasp Species
The term "wasp" is used to describe thousands of species within the order Hymenoptera. These groups include the parasitic wasps, like ichneumonids and braconids; hunting wasps, like mud daubers, digger wasps, and spider wasps; and pollinators like fig wasps.
Paper wasps, hornets, and yellowjackets all belong to the same family, the Vespidae. These social wasps share the ability to construct their nests of wood fibers, which are carefully chewed into pulp by the wasps and molded into paper.
That may not sound like good news to those of you who have been aggravated by the yellowjackets hanging around your garbage cans, or terrified by the huge hornets' nest you just discovered in the shrub near your pool. We take notice of the social wasps because they build visible nests, often close to our own homes and because they will defend these nests aggressively.
Benefits of Wasps
As a group, wasps provide extraordinarily important ecological services, including pollination, predation, and parasitism. Put simply, without wasps we would be overrun with insect pests, and we would have no figs, and no Fig Newtons.
Hornets and paper wasps prey on other insects and help keep pest insect populations under control. Paper wasps carry caterpillars and leaf beetle larvae back to their nests to feed their growing young. Hornets provision their nests with all manner of live insects to sate the appetites of their developing larvae. It takes a lot of bugs to feed a hungry brood. Both hornets and paper wasps provide vital pest control services.
Yellowjackets don't get quite as much credit for being beneficial, although they should. Yellowjackets mostly scavenge dead insects to feed their offspring. We do need these services, too, of course. What would the world be like if all the dead bugs just piled up? Unfortunately, their scavenging habits and their love of sugar puts them in close proximity to people, which almost never ends well for the yellowjacket or the person.
Wasps and Yeast
Researchers at the University of Florence recently discovered another important role of both hornets and paper wasps–they carry yeast cells in their guts. Yeast is an essential ingredient in making bread, beer, and wine, but we know very little about how yeast lives in the wild. The researchers found that wasps and hornets feed on late-season grapes, which are rich in wild yeast. The yeast survives the winter in the stomachs of hibernating queen wasps and is passed on to their offspring when the mother wasps regurgitate food for their young. The new generation of wasps carries the yeast back to the next season's grapes. So raise your glass to the wasps and hornets!
New Zealand Eradication Program
In some cases, however, the costs of wasps, particularly invasive species, far outweigh the benefits. In 2015, the Department of Conservation and Ministry for Primary Industries in New Zealand looked into the economic costs of the invasive species of German wasps (Vespula germanica) and common wasps (V. vulgaris) across industries, society, and the natural environment. They found that wasps cost New Zealand NZ$75 million each year, and projected a total cost of NZ$772 million between 2015 and 2050, 80 percent of which is associated with wasp predation on honeybees and the impacts on decreased pollination. Wasps kill bees and their larvae for protein, rob hives of honey, and consume 50 percent of the available honeydew, a food source for bees.
Over the past hundred years, New Zealand has taken on an extensive program of re-establishing biodiversity on several uninhabited islands, by removing feral goats, goats, pigs, and rats. Rats have been removed from more than 100 islands as of 2018. In 2015, Department of Conservation ran a pilot program on five public conservation land sites, testing a government-backed wasp bait called Vespex, and found a reduction of more than 95 percent of wasp activity. In early 2018, the New Zealand government began distributing information on how to set up wasp bait traps.
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