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Gloucester City welcome Joe Hanks back for Tuesday night's trip to Chippenham Town, where they will be looking to make it five victories in a row. They last achieved that feat in March 2009, defeating Mangotsfield United, Corby Town, Evesham United, Cambridge City, Rugby Town and Brackley Town in a six match winning streak in the Southern League Premier Division. Saturday's impressive 3-2 victory at St Albans City lifted Tim Harris' men to eighth in National League South. They will now have to contain dangerous front men David Pratt and Andy Sandell. Sandell, 33, enjoyed a long career in the professional game with the likes of Bristol Rovers, Wycombe Wanderers and Newport County. Pratt returned to Chippenham from Bath City in July 2016, helping fire the Bluebirds to promotion from the Southern League Premier Division last season along with Sandell, who won the golden boot with 27 goals. "Andy Sandell was top scorer last year and David Pratt has always scored goals," Harris said. "He works his socks off and chases lost causes. I saw Chippenham beat bath 5-1 and they could have had six or seven, so we know we can't take our eye off the ball on Tuesday night. "We have shown tremendous character to win four on the spin and we are battling and scrapping our way to results at the moment." Kieran Parselle is still struggling and may miss out, meaning Spencer Hamilton is likely to play at left-back, with Lewis Hall still sidelined with a hamstring injury. Specialist centre-half Hamilton has earned the praise of his manager for the way he has started the season. "Spencer has been outstanding for us so far this season and he wears the shirt with pride," Harris said. "He is committed to the cause and when we had an injury to Kieran, Spencer came straight over to the bench and said he'd play at left-back. "He is still young, but he is developing into a very good football and is an integral part of our squad. He is a manager's dream." * Gloucester City have been draw at home to Hungerford Town in the second qualifying round of the FA Cup. The tie will be played at the Jubilee Stadium on the weekend of September 16/17. The Tigers have already faced Hungerford this season in National League South, winning at Bulpit Lane 3-2 thanks to goals from Joe Parker (2) and Ed Williams. * Cinderford Town will be at home to Southern League Premier Division side Basingstoke Town or Division One East outfit Hartley Wintney in their second qualifying round match. The two teams drew 2-2 on Saturday and replay on Tuesday night at Hartley's Memorial Playing Fields ground.

HARRY Ellis has taken the first step towards regaining his English Amateur crown after making it through to the matchplay knockout at Saunton, which gets under way this morning. The 2012 champion was just 16 when he broke Sir Nick Faldo’s record as the youngest ever winner of the blue riband event in amateur golf. Ellis returned to the UK two months ago from the United States, where he has embarked on a golf scholarship at the University of Florida, having had a difficult year in 2013 after his shock win at Silloth-on-Solway in the 2012 final. The Meon Valley Golf & Country Club player took the 59th qualifying spot in the draw but, having sneaked just inside the cut mark, the teenager will have few fears about facing Darlington’s Andrew Wilson, the sixth seed. Ellis shot a three-over par 74 on Tuesday on the longer East course at the North Devon club, to go with his opening 73 on the West, on Monday. The England international was one of four Hampshire players to make it through to the last 64. Ellis was joined in the hat by another US college golfer in the shape of Rowlands Castle’s Billy McKenzie, winner of the Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year award in his first season at William Woods University, in Missouri. The left-hander added a 73 on the West to his opening 70 on the East to claim 17th place and a clash with Paul Kinnear, from Formby, in a tough opening match against the England international, who grew up playing Lancashire links courses. Corhampton's Scott Gregory is also through, after rounds of 71 and 74, setting up a clash with Prudhoe Golf Club's Thomas Rowland in the opening knockout round. Hayling’s Jamie Mist, who will return to Alabama’s Jacksonville State University in September, endured a roller-coaster ride before booking his place in the first-round draw, picking up six birdies in his level par 71. But a double bogey on the first on the East yesterday and four more dropped shots spoiled what could have been the round of the qualifying event, as he ended the day in 51st place, on four-over par for his 36 holes. Mist will play his Gamecock’s team-mate Tomaz Anderson, from Hertfordshire, who was knocked out in last year's semi-finals by 2013 US Amateur Champion Matt Fitzpatrick, for a place in the last 32, on Thursday.

- Calories per serving 360 - Fat per serving 23.9g - Saturated fat per serving 3.2g - Monounsaturated fat per serving 11.5g - Polyunsaturated fat per serving 7.3g - Protein per serving 25g - Carbohydrate per serving 14g - Fiber per serving 5g - Cholesterol per serving 58mg - Iron per serving 2mg - Sodium per serving 309mg - Calcium per serving 148mg Grapefruit and Avocado Salad With Seared Salmon How to Make It Peel and segment grapefruit with a sharp knife on a cutting board; reserve juice in a bowl. Toss grapefruit segments and juices with arugula and avocado; divide salad among 4 serving plates. In a small bowl, whisk together lemon juice, oil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Sprinkle remaining salt and pepper over both sides of salmon. Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray; heat over medium-high heat. Add fish (skin-side down) to skillet, and cook until skin is golden and fish releases easily from pan (about 4 minutes). Using a spatula, gently flip fish and cook about 3 minutes more. Break each fillet into 4 pieces; top salads with 3 pieces fish. Drizzle salads with reserved dressing; sprinkle with walnuts.

James Phillips, senior research fellow for Middle Eastern affairs at The Heritage Foundation, has written extensively on regional issues and international terrorism since 1978. His prime research interests as part of Heritage’s Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign and National Security Policy include Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Persian Gulf security issues and Middle Eastern terrorism. Phillips also has written many articles on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Islamic radicalism, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Syria, Sudan, Tunisia, and Turkey. He has testified numerous times before congressional committees on these issues. Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, Phillips has written extensively on the global war against terrorism and its implications for U.S. policy in the Middle East. In his research papers, Phillips predicted the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan as well as the Soviet defeat there. He also predicted the dangers arising from U.S. withdrawal from engagement in Afghanistan, which contributed to the rise of the Taliban and the export of terrorism and radical Islamic terrorism. In 2000, he called for a comprehensive U.S. policy to support the Afghan opposition and overthrow the ultra-radical Taliban regime, rather than narrowly focusing on Osama bin Laden, then based in Afghanistan and hosted by the Taliban. Phillips has been interviewed frequently on a broad range of subjects by U.S. broadcast and cable news outlets, including ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News Channel, CNN, C-Span, MSNBC, National Public Radio and the Voice of America. He also has appeared on international outlets such as Sky News, Al Arabiya, Al Hurra, BBC Television and BBC World Service Radio. His articles have appeared in in American newspapers such as USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Times, New York Post, Newsday, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Baltimore Sun and Chicago Tribune. Phillips is a member of the Board of Editors of Middle East Quarterly, the leading conservative journal of Middle Eastern policy studies. Before joining Heritage in 1979, Phillips was a research fellow at the Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress. He previously was a joint doctoral research fellow at the Honolulu-based East-West Center. Phillips holds a master of arts (MA) as well as a master of arts in law and diplomacy (MALD) in international security studies from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He received a bachelor's degree in international relations from Brown University. Commentary Jul 18, 2017 2 min read

China openly backs North Korea succession plan -KCNA A top Chinese official has backed ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's plans to hand power to his son, the North's state media said on Tuesday, hailing the "successful solution" to allow continued socialist rule.world Updated: Feb 15, 2011 09:23 IST A top Chinese official has backed ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's plans to hand power to his son, the North's state media said on Tuesday, hailing the "successful solution" to allow continued socialist rule. Meng Jianzhu, China's public security minister, congratulated Kim's youngest son Jong-un on his appointment as vice-chairman of the central military commission in 2010, "hailing the successful solution of the issue of succession to the Korean revolution," KCNA news agency reported. Experts said that the term "succession" did not refer directly to family rule, but was a commonly used expression referring to a continuation of the North's current political system. "(But) we can interpret that as a sign of acceptance on the part of China's political and power elite with regards to North Korea's succession," said Park Young-ho, of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul. Meng gave gifts to both Kim Jong-il, who celebrates his 69th birthday on Wednesday, and his son, KCNA reported. Kim Jong-un was in 2010% of the North's food and oil and has invested heavily in the isolated state in recent year, when Pyongyang has been under international sanctions for nuclear and missile tests. The North's reclusive leader, suspected of having suffered a stroke in 2008, visited China twice in 2010,.

China's high-speed rail network set to take off China is edging into the elite world club of high-speed train operators with the month-long trial of its latest service between Beijing and the northern city of Tianjin on July 1.world Updated: Jul 09, 2008 11:01 IST China is edging into the elite world club of high-speed train operators with the month-long trial of its latest service between Beijing and the northern city of Tianjin on July 1. A China Railway High-speed (CRH) train hit a record speed of 394.3 km per hour (kmph) in a trial run on June 24. It was about half of a commercial airliner's cruising speed, with a per unit energy consumption of just one sixth that of a private car. "This shows that China has joined the elite world club after Japan, France and Germany as the fourth country capable of turning out high speed trains," said Wang Zhijian, deputy general manager of Beijing-Tianjin Inter-City Railway Co. The 115-km trip from Beijing South railway station to Tianjin railway station took 27 minutes, with one-minute stops at Yizhuang and Wuqing stations. Previously, China's fastest self-developed trains ran at a service speed of up to 250 kmh. Those trains, introduced in April 2007, served the Beijing-Harbin, Beijing-Shanghai and Beijing-Guangzhou routes. The Beijing-Tianjin passenger line, China's first world-class express inter-city railway, is scheduled to go into operation on Aug 1, a week before the opening of the Beijing Olympic Games. "The high-speed trains have been a milestone in the history of China's railway development," said President Hu Jintao in an inspection tour on June 25. In the 10 years from April 1997 to April 2007, Chinese railways had raised the maximum speed six times, in line with the Medium and Long-Term Plan of Railway Network, approved by the State Council, China's cabinet, in January 2004. The plan stipulated that China will construct 12,000 km of special track lines for passenger trains running at 200 kmh or more by 2020. As a pilot project of China's planned high-speed rail network, the country's first high-standard passenger rail has overcome crucial technological problems, including concrete-bed rail tracks, express rail roadbeds, bridges, and environment protection requirements. "All these achievements are done on the basis of absorbing foreign advanced technologies and making independent innovations," said Wang Zhijian. Unlike traditional rails laid on a road metal, the Beijing-Tianjin line has adopted the concrete-bed rail track technology widely used in Japan and Germany. Whereas ordinary tracks need frequent maintenance, lines built on concrete foundations are more stable and require little maintenance, said Hu Jian, chief engineer of the inter-city rail project, although construction costs are slightly higher. The service life of concrete-bed rail tracks can reach 60 years. High technologies were used to observe and prevent sedimentation of roadbeds and bridges on soft soil and unstable ground. To ensure safe operation of the 350 kmh trains, roadbeds must not move more than 1.5cm and bridges no more than 2cm. Engineers have detected "zero" sedimentation that is attributed to the independently developed CFG pier foundation technology, said Fan Chengguo, field operation manager of the project. To ensure trains running safely at full speed, engineers applied the country's self-developed and most advanced 32-meter-long box girder, said Fan. One such hyper-large girder weighed 900 tons, nine times heavier than a girder traditionally applied to build railway bridges. Nine tenths of the railway is built on bridges, which are 6 to 10 meters above the ground, or the height of a three-storey building, to save land and ensure safety of passersby. Meanwhile, the 1,318-km Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, on which construction began in January, is expected to be finished in five years. With an estimated investment of 160 billion yuan (23.3 billion U.S. dollars), it would be the largest and most expensive engineering project in the country. It would cut travel time between the Chinese capital and the country's leading financial hub from around 10 hours to about five hours, doubling the existing passenger capacity to 160 million passengers annually.

Economic turmoil tops agenda European and Asian leaders, including PM Manmohan Singh today initiated discussions to find a coordinated global response to stem the financial turmoil and the spectre of recession sweeping the world.world Updated: Oct 24, 2008 11:33 IST European and Asian leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday initiated discussions to find a coordinated global response to stem the financial turmoil and the spectre of recession sweeping the world. Singh, who arrived in Beijing from Tokyo to attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit, said he hoped the meeting will come out with a solution to the many global problems triggered by the US credit crunch. "This is the first time I am attending the ASEM as Prime Minister. I sincerely hope that this meeting of minds between Europe and Asia will produce a solution to many global problems including the international financial crisis," Singh said on his arrival. Earlier, in Tokyo, Singh, an eminent economist, had said that the world was facing "multiple challenges". "The spectre of recession in the global economy, coming as it does in the wake of the steep rises of energy and food prices, threatens to disrupt the rhythm of economic development in many developing countries," he said. Developing countries like India are also affected by the crisis and have to be part of the solution, he had stressed. "We cannot afford to risk the gains we have made in the last few years. Nor do we wish to remain vulnerable to infirmities in international surveillance, supervision and regulatory mechanisms in the future," the Prime Minister had said. The same subject was brought up repeatedly at a series of leaders' meetings held in Beijing on Thursday. "We sink together or we swim together," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters here. "We need a coordinated global response to reform the global financial system. We are living in unprecedented times, and we need unprecedented levels of global coordination," the former Portuguese prime minister said. "The latest events have made clear that the current model of financial regulation and supervision needs to be revamped at international level. We need Asia to be on board," he said. "We hope leaders from Asian and European countries will take this opportunity to fully exchange views on how to strengthen coordination, cooperation in dealing with this issue. And we hope their discussion will be fruitful," said Barroso. Host China has also said that the current world economic situation is grim and complicated. "The emerging markets and developing countries are confronted with financial risks, weak foreign demand and mounting inflation," Chinese President Hu Jintao said. Launched in 1996 as an informal dialogue mechanism, ASEM now includes (ASEAN) plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Mongolia and the ASEAN Secretariat. With the world preoccupied with the financial turmoil, the two-day summit will also draw the leaders' attention to other topics of energy, climate change and food security. China will put forward a proposal on building an eco-city network in Asia, while France, which holds the rotating EU presidency, will present a statement on climate change, Xinhua news agency reported.

Huskers Sign Canadian Gymnast Lincoln, Neb. --- Nebraska men’s gymnastics Head Coach Chuck Chmelka announced the addition of one gymnast to the program on Tuesday afternoon. Mitch Tyndall (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) will join the Huskers for the 2018 season. Tyndall joins Zach Peters (Greenwood, Ind.), Griffin Kehler (Frisco, Texas) and Jonathan Scripnick (Milton, Ontario) who signed last November with the Huskers, as incoming freshman in 2018. This is the second consecutive year that NU signed at least one. “Mitch Tyndall is a dynamic and powerful gymnast who will help us on all six events immediately,” Chmelka said. “Mitch also excels in the classroom and I am honored and proud to have him join our team.” A 5-7 all-arounder, Tyndall competes. “I chose Nebraska because of the integrity of the coaching staff and the great group of guys that make up the team,” Tyndall said. “Nebraska offers everything that an incoming freshman looks for.” Tyndall is the son of Don and Janice Tyndall. He has two brothers, Wyatt and Jesse. Wyatt is sophomore on the Penn State gymnastics team and Jesse is a member of the Canadian Junior National Team. Tyndall attends Holy Cross High School where he is a four-time member of the honor roll. Mitch also played baseball, football and hockey. In his free time, he enjoys dirt biking, fishing, wakeboarding and hunting.

Mark Ruffalo all set to return as Hulk in Marvel's 'Thor: Ragnarok'? 'Alien 5' spoilers: Director Neil Blomkamp reveals new Alien 'Pulse' rifle for sequel movie 'Ennu Ninte Moideen' deleted scene shows Kottatil Sethu confronting Prithviraj's Moideen [VIDEO] 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2' opening day box office collection: Comedy film beats the records of 'Piku', 'Katti Batti' and others Batman v Superman: Doomsday won't appear in Dawn of Justice; Lego set teases epic Dark Knight-Man of Steel fight 'Lord Livingstone 7000 Kandi' (LL7K) review: 'Avatar' plot clad in 'Life of Pi' visual effects 'Heer Toh Badi Sad Hai' song: A R Rahman-Mika Singh join Imtiaz Ali's 'Tamasha' for 'happy sad' track [VIDEO] 'Amar Akbar Anthony' review: Fun filled family entertainer with a social message 'Batman: Bad Blood' update: Batman to die in upcoming animation movie, to have 'Batman v Superman' reference? Assassin's Creed movie set for 2016 release: What should you expect? Netflix releases Beasts of No Nation in theatres and online; a film about a child soldier's horrifying experience 'Kanal' song 'Pathukke Entho' starring Mohanlal, Honey Rose released [VIDEO] 'Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2' box office collection: Comedy film to open better than 'Piku', 'Katti Batti'

Star Wars Star Wars Battlefront II 15 Apr 2017 Star Wars Battlefront II Reveal Trailer Find out about Battlefront II's original single player story and the famous characters to come in multiplayer in this debut trailer. Share Download Video Subscribe to IGN Prime to access HD video downloads Get IGN Prime Already a Prime member? Please sign in.

Stage Entertainment have announced that the scheduled performance of Madagascar Live! at 6:30pm on Friday, February 1, at the Capital FM Arena Nottingham has been cancelled due to a production problem. Customers will be offered tickets for an alternative Madagascar Live! show, plus an additional complementary ticket. The Capital FM Arena Nottingham Ticketing & Customer Services Team will contact customers who purchased tickets to see the show on Friday, February 1, to arrange an alternative date or a refund. Stage Entertainment would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and look forward to welcoming you to the Capital FM Arena Nottingham in February for one of the alternative Madagascar Live! performances. The other performances, on Saturday February 2 at 11am, 3pm and 6:30pm and Sunday, February 3 at 12 noon and 4pm will still go ahead Almost Done! Registering with Ilkeston Advertiser means you're ok with our terms and conditions.

[tag: science] JACC: Cardiovascular Interventions Comparison Between the NERS (New Risk Stratification) Score and the SYNTAX (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) Score in Outcome Prediction for Unprotected Left Main Stenting Author + information - Received December 29, 2009 - Revision received April 9, 2010 - Accepted April 15, 2010 - Published online June 1, 2010. Author Information - Shao-Liang Chen, MD⁎,⁎ (chmengx{at}126.com), - Jack P. Chen, MD#, - Gary Mintz, MD⁎⁎, - Bo Xu, MBBS†, - Jing Kan, MD⁎, - Fei Ye, MD⁎, - Junjie Zhang, MD⁎, - Xuewen Sun, MD‡, - Yawei Xu, MD∥, - Qing Jiang, MD¶, - Aiping Zhang, MD§ and - Gregg W. Stone, MD⁎⁎ Abstract Objectives This study aimed to compare the NERS (New Risk Stratification) and SYNTAX (Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) scores for prognostication after stenting of unprotected left main stenosis in a ”real-world” setting. Background In contrast to existing systems, the NERS score encompasses clinical, procedural, and angiographic characteristics. Methods The NERS score was derived from 260 patients with unprotected left main stenosis who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention and tested in 337 patients in a consecutive left main registry (66.55 ± 10.49 years, 78.9% men) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in a prospective, multicenter trial. Six-month clinical and angiographic follow-up was obtained in 100% and 88.9% of patients, respectively. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), encompassing myocardial infarction, all-cause death, and target vessel revascularization. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was generated for the comparison of NERS versus SYNTAX scores. Results The NERS score consisted of 54 variables (17 clinical, 4 procedural, and 33 angiographic). A NERS score ≥25 demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 92.0% and 74.1% (MACE as state variable), respectively, significantly higher than SYNTAX intermediate risk (20.5% and 25.4%) or SYNTAX higher risk (70.5% and 35.2%, p for all <0.001). At follow-up, myocardial infarction, cardiac death, and target vessel revascularization occurred in 3.0%, 5.6%, and 13.1% of patients, respectively, for a composite MACE of 26.0%. A NERS score ≥25 (hazard ratio: 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 to 1.16; p < 0.001) was the only independent predictor of cumulative MACE and stent thrombosis at follow-up (odds ratio: 31.04; 95% CI: 19.36 to 67.07; p < 0.001). Conclusions The NERS score was more predictive of MACE than the SYNTAX score was. Further study is needed to address their relative roles in assessment for appropriateness of coronary artery bypass graft versus percutaneous coronary intervention for unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) stenosis remains controversial during the drug-eluting stent (DES) era (1,2), with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remaining the gold standard in many parts of the world. Although the presence of left main (LM) stenosis influences the complexity of PCI (3–7), clinical comorbidities likely also contribute to post-CABG clinical outcomes (8–13). Although pre-treatment assessments with the European system for cardiac operative risk evaluation (EuroSCORE) and Parsonnet score (12,13) are widely advocated, their complex calculation and exclusion of procedural or lesion characteristics potentially limit their applicability in everyday practice. Furthermore, the SYNTAX (Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) score (14) for prediction of clinical events after CABG or PCI in UPLMS does not comprehensively incorporate clinical variables. Thus, the potential contributions of clinical, procedural, and angiographic indices in this patient cohort have not been fully elucidated. We hereby compare a novel scoring system, the NERS (New Risk Stratification) score, with the SYNTAX score in patients undergoing PCI for UPLMS. Methods Study design and patient population The NERS prospective registry involved UPLMS PCI from 4 centers in China from January 21, 1999, through March 1, 2009. Prior to February 2004, only bare-metal stents (BMS) were available, and implantation of DES commenced subsequently. The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of each participating center by November 18, 1998. The decision on revascularization strategy for each patient with UPLMS was jointly formulated by cardiologists and cardiac surgeons, based upon clinical and angiographic features. The UPLMS patients undergoing stent implantation were consecutively enrolled, and all data were entered into a dedicated database. Variables for the SYNTAX and NERS scoring systems The SYNTAX score was generated and classified as lower (0 to 22), intermediate (23 to 32), higher (≥33), and high-risk (≥23) scores. By September 29, 2006, 260 UPLMS patients were analyzed and reported in the DISTAL (Drug-Eluting Stent for the Treatment of Left Main Disease) study (4), from which 126 variables were selected and analyzed by logistic regression. Probability score for each variable was then calculated. Variables with p value ≤0.05 were considered significant predictors and prospectively evaluated in the present study. The NERS scoring system, derived from these 260 UPLMS patients, consisted of 54 variables that are defined and listed in Tables 1 and 2.⇓ Of these, double-stent techniques (4) were subdivided into classical crush, culotte, double kissing (DK) crush, T, and V/simultaneous kissing stent (SKS). Predicted scores for overall and each double-stent technique were then calculated. Clinical and Procedural Variables Contributed to NERS Scoring System Angiographic Variables Contributed to NERS Scoring System Patients (n = 260) in the DISTAL study were excluded from the present study. All clinical variables were recorded by a follow-up team and reviewed/adjudicated by an independent committee. Scoring of angiographic and procedural variables was performed by 2 technicians from China Cardiovascular Research Foundation (Beijing, China), who were blinded to the present study. In the NERS scoring system, scores for the coronary artery tree were numerically recorded as 10. Angiographic variables included chronic total occlusion (CTO), true bifurcation, long lesion, proximal vessel <2.0 mm, severe calcification, tortuous, and thrombotic. Left main lesions were classified by ostial, body, distal, and whole stem. According to the criterion of Leaman et al. (15), the right coronary artery supplies 16%, and the LM supplies 84% (66% by left anterior descending artery and 34% by left circumflex artery) of the myocardium in right dominance. Conversely, for left dominance, the right coronary artery is not scored. For ostial and shaft or distal LM stenosis, the highest score for distal LM lesion was considered the final score for the LM. Similarly, tandem stenoses within 1 vessel, such as CTO with bifurcation, were scored as the highest score of any lesion (i.e., CTO). End points The primary end point was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction (MI), or target vessel revascularization (TVR) at follow-up. Stent thrombosis (ST) was assessed as a secondary event. Procedural and periprocedural medications After written informed consent, all interventional procedures were performed according to current standard guidelines. Decisions regarding glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, low molecular-weight heparin, stent type, pre-dilation, and intravascular ultrasound were at operator's discretion. All patients were advised to take aspirin (100 mg daily) lifelong. Prior to or subsequent to January 2004, respective thienopyridine therapies consisted of 3 months of ticlopidine (250 mg, twice daily for 1 month, then 250 mg/day for 2 months) or 12 months of clopidogrel (75 mg/day). Definitions UPLMS was defined as flow-limiting LM lesion(s) in the absence of a patent bypass conduit to the left system. Lesion variables, including isolated UPLMS disease, UPLMS with 1- to 3-vessel disease (VD), bifurcation or trifurcation lesions, CTO, severe calcification, severe tortuosity, thrombus, dominance, lesion number, and diseased vessel number, were classified according to SYNTAX (14) definitions. Lesion classifications in the LM, downstream lesion, restenosis in the LM, complete revascularization, stent number, stent length, and stent diameter were calculated based on the DISTAL criteria (4). Double-stent technique for distal UPLMS was defined as either intention-to-treat or intraprocedural crossover from a single-stent technique. All deaths were considered cardiac unless a noncardiac cause was established clinically or at autopsy. Myocardial infarction was diagnosed as plasma level of creatine kinase-myocardial band ≥3 times the upper normal limit. In-stent restenosis was defined as ≥50% diameter stenosis at follow-up; TVR was considered as repeat PCI or CABG involving the index vessel. Stent thrombosis was classified according to Academic Research Consortium definitions as definite, probable, or possible; and as early (0 to 30 days), late (31 to 360 days), or very late (>360 days) (16). adjudicated by an independent committee from 3 nonparticipating institutions; all interventionalists and committee members had free access to the database. Quantitative coronary angiographic analyses Repeat angiography at 6 months after index procedure was scheduled unless clinically indicated earlier. Quantitative coronary angiographic (QCA) analysis at baseline, post-stenting, and at follow-up were performed by China Cardiovascular Research Foundation using edge detection techniques (CAAS II, version 5.0, Pie Medical, Maastricht, the Netherlands). Binary restenosis was defined as luminal diameter stenosis ≥50%; angiographic measurements included the stented segment as well as margins 5 mm proximal and distal to stent edge. Statistical analysis Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± SD and were compared using Student t test. Categorical variables were presented as counts and percentages and were compared using chi-square or Fisher exact test. Survival curves were generated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and survival among groups was compared using the log-rank test. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess risk factors for adverse events. Multivariable analysis, with all significant variables (defined as p <0.05 for the association), was performed to adjust for possible confounders and to identify independent predictors of adverse events. Sensitivity, specificity, false-positive and false-negative, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated and analyzed by crosstable after weighted cases. Receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves for NERS and SYNTAX scores were generated; area under the curve (AUC) for each scoring method and end point was compared to the null hypothesis true area (= 0.5), with sorting out of 1-specificity, sensitivity, 95% confidence interval (CI), and significance. The value corresponding to the highest accuracy (i.e., minimal false-negative and false-positive rates) was chosen as the optimal cutoff value. To testify the difference of AUC and standard error from ROC curve between 2 scoring systems by Delong, Delong method, all variables, including cumulative MACE, stent thrombosis, TVR for left main, MI, and cardiac death, were entered into Analyse-it (Analyse-it Software, Ltd., Hearne Scientific Software Pty Ltd., Melbourne, Australia). A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical tests were 2-tailed. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Results Baseline clinical characteristics From January 21, 1999, to March 1, 2009, of 854 patients with UPLMS, 517 (260 formed the basis of DISTAL study, 257 underwent CABG) were excluded. The remaining 337 patients (age 66.58 ± 10.69 years, 78.9% men) treated by stent implantation were studied (Table 3). Sixty-four patients (19.0%) had decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (<40%), and emergency LM stenting was needed in 22 patients (6.5%). Baseline Characteristics of Overall Patients Baseline angiographic and procedural characteristics LM-CTO lesions were rare (2.1%); however, 23.1% had non–LM-CTO lesions (Table 4). Most UPLMS (83.7%) were distal, with requirement of double-stent techniques in 122 (36.2%), including 41 DK crush (33.6%), 32 classical crush (26.2%), 21 culotte (17.2%), 20 T (16.4%), and 8 V/SKS (6.6%). Downstream lesions were seen in most patients (75.4%), with 1-VD in 23.4%, 2-VD in 23.4%, and 3-VD in 28.5%, respectively. Staged procedures were performed in 78.6% of patients for CTO (39.4%) or multivessel disease (39.2%). Finally, complete revascularization was achieved in 202 (59.9%) patients. Angiographic and Procedural Characteristics In total, 441 LM stents were implanted (56 BMS and 385 DES). Overall LM stent diameter and length were 3.44 ± 0.50 mm and 22.79 ± 14.14 mm, respectively. Angiographic LM success rate was 99.7%, significantly higher than that of non-LM vessels (88.4%, p = 0.022). Variables in NERS scoring system The NERS score system consisted of 17 clinical, 4 procedural, and 33 angiographic variables (Tables 1 and 2). Of clinical variables, acute MI had the highest predicted score (7.3), followed by cardiogenic shock (5.6), previous MI (5.5), and intra-aortic balloon pump requirement (4.9). Of angiographic variables, complex LM lesions, including distal stenosis, CTO, restenosis, severe calcification, and thrombotic lesions, had higher predicted scores (5.9 to 10). Among procedural variables, failure of non–LM-CTO recanalization was associated with the highest predicted score (10.2), independent of dominance. Conversely, predicted score of incomplete revascularization for right coronary or left circumflex arteries was dependent on dominance. Importantly, logistic regression analysis demonstrated that classical crush stenting conferred higher predicted score (3.3), followed by SKS (2.6), and culotte (2.1), significantly different from that of DK crush and T-stenting (0.02 and 0.6, respectively) (p for all < 0.001). Comparison of NERS versus SYNTAX score The AUC (Figs. 1 and 2)⇓ was 0.89 for NERS score (95% CI: 0.86 to 0.93, p < 0.001) and 0.69 for SYNTAX score (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.76, p < 0.001), when cumulative MACE was considered as “state variable.” The absence of overlap of 95% CI between the 2 scoring systems, as well as larger AUC (p < 0.0001), suggested that NERS score may be more predictive of cumulative MACE. Similarly, there were significant differences in AUC for cardiogenic death (0.86 vs. 0.74, 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.94 vs. 0.54 to 0.75, p = 0.0209), MI (0.78 vs. 0.55, 95% CI: 0.69 to 0.86 vs. 0.31 to 0.58, p = 0.0316), TVR (0.84 vs. 0.68, 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.89 vs. 0.59 to 0.76, p < 0.0001) and ST (0.82 vs. 0.58, 95% CI: 0.74 to 0.89 vs. 0.45 to 0.71, p = 0.0007) between NERS and SYNTAX scores, respectively (Table 5). Comparison of ROC Curve for NERS and SYNTAX Scores The figures compare the receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curves for NERS (New Risk Stratification) and SYNTAX (Synergy between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention with Taxus and Cardiac Surgery) scores for the following: (A) cumulative major adverse cardiac events (MACE), (B) stent thrombosis, (C) target vessel revascularization (TVR) for left main trunk, (D) myocardial infarction, and (E) cardiac death at follow-up. Comparison of Freedom From In-Hospital and Cumulative MACE Survival Between NERS and SYNTAX Scores Comparison of freedom from in-hospital (A) and overall major adverse cardiac events (B) survival between NERS groups, and in-hospital (C) and overall major adverse cardiac events (D) survival among SYNTAX groups. Abbreviations as in Figure 1. ROC Analysis for NERS and SYNTAX Scores Comparisons of subgroups stratified by NERS and SYNTAX scores Per ROC curve, a value of 25 stratified scores as NERS-lower (0 to 24) and NERS-higher (≥25). The NERS-higher scores demonstrated enhanced MACE sensitivity and specificity of 92.0% and 74.1%, respectively (Table 6), which is significantly higher than those for SYNTAX-intermediate (20.5% and 25.4%, respectively, p for all < 0.001), SYNTAX-higher (70.5% and 35.2%, respectively, p for all < 0.001), and SYNTAX high-risk (90.9% and 32.4%, respectively, p for all <0.001) subgroups. Furthermore, a NERS-higher score surpassed SYNTAX score in prediction of ST, MI, LM-TVR, cardiac death, and cumulative MACE at follow-up; no differences were observed for in-hospital MACE and all-cause mortality at follow-up, however. Interestingly, the sensitivity and specificity for NERS-lower scores (8.0% and 3.7%) were similar to those of SYNTAX-lower (9.1% and 8.9%, p for all > 0.05) scores. Comparison of Diagnostic Values Between NERS and SYNTAX Scoring System By Kaplan-Meier analysis, in-hospital MACE-free survival differed significantly between NERS-lower (100%) and NERS-higher (89.1%, p < 0.001) groups (Fig. 2A). This difference was sustained throughout the entire follow-up period (Fig. 2B). However, in-hospital (Fig. 2C) and follow-up (Fig. 2D) cumulative MACE were similar between SYNTAX-intermediate (90.0% and 72.0%) and SYNTAX-higher (94.8% and 65.3%, p for all > 0.05) subgroups. Moreover, SYNTAX-lower individuals enjoyed improved survival with freedom from either in-hospital (100%, p = 0.013) or cumulative MACE at follow-up (91.4%, p < 0.001), as compared to 2 other SYNTAX groups. QCA and clinical outcomes Six-month angiographic follow-up (194 ± 18 days post-procedure) was performed in 300 (89.0%) patients, with 100% 6-month clinical follow-up. Rates of LM in-stent restenosis, target lesion revascularization, and -TVR were 12.2% (n = 41), 9.8% (n = 33), and 13.1% (n = 44), respectively; with non-LM in-stent restenosis, target lesion revascularization, and TVR rates of 16.9% (n = 57), 15.5% (n = 52), and 20.2% (n = 68), respectively. Not unexpectedly, in distal LM stenting, significantly lower follow-up cumulative MACE rates were observed for single- versus double-stent techniques (20.4% vs. 32.5%, p < 0.001). Clinical outcomes In-hospital follow-up was available for all patients, with cumulative MACE rate of 4.7% (MI, TVR, and all-cause death in 4 [1.2%], 3 [0.9%], and 7 [2.1%] patients, respectively), translating into 95.0% procedural success rate. Early ST occurred in 6 patients (1.8%). At average follow-up of 1,764 days, rates of MI, TVR, and cardiac mortality were 3.0%, 13.1%, and 5.6%, respectively. Final cumulative MACE rate of 26.0% was driven mainly by subsequent TVR. The overall ST rate was 6.0% (definite 3.6%, probable 1.0%, and possible 1.4%). By regression analysis, NERS score ≥25 (hazard ratio: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.16; p < 0.001) was the only independent predictor of cumulative MACE and ST at follow-up (odds ratio: 31.04; 95% CI: 19.36 to 67.07; p < 0.001). Discussion The present study yielded several notable findings: 1) when compared with SYNTAX score, NERS score demonstrated enhanced sensitivity and specificity for prediction of cumulative MACE, ST, cardiogenic death, TVR, and MI; 2) NERS-higher score had significantly greater predictive value over SYNTAX-intermediate, SYNTAX-higher, and SYNTAX-high-risk scores; 3) SYNTAX-intermediate and SYNTAX-higher scores demonstrated similar MACE predictability; and 4) SYNTAX-lower score had equivalent predictive value to NERS-lower score. Elements of NERS score Clinical, angiographic, and procedural characteristics likely all contribute to prognosis after UPLMS stenting. However, quantification of each component's relative contribution is problematic, as there is little supporting data from previous studies. Findings indicative of decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and/or high-risk ischemic syndromes (including acute MI, cardiogenic shock, previous MI, intra-aortic balloon pump requirement), as well as complexity of lesion morphologies and stenting techniques, have been associated with worse outcomes after stenting (4,12–22). Of note, for double-stent techniques, in concurrence with previous reports (3,4,9,10,23), DK-crush and T-stenting demonstrated lower scores, as compared with classic crush, culotte, and SKS. This finding may be of interest for the practicing interventionalist. Comparison of NERS versus SYNTAX scores We believe that the augmented predictive accuracy of NERS over SYNTAX score is reflective of the comprehensive inclusion of clinical, angiographic, and procedural features. The apparent lower sensitivity and specificity of the SYNTAX score in the present study, as compared with the SYNTAX study, may be partially ascribed to the study design. First, the SYNTAX study did not provide the results of ROC for the SYNTAX score (20,24); moreover, repeat calculation might have included single lesions in the SYNTAX study. Importantly, exclusion of clinical variables may be a potential drawback of the SYNTAX score. Cardiac risk factors and comorbid conditions were more prevalent in the PCI arm of SYNTAX (14). Whereas such clinical variables are known to influence the prognosis of patients with UPLMS (3,4,7,8,18–24), their relative contributions were omitted from the SYNTAX score. Our findings underscore the potential importance of the interplay of clinical, procedural, as well as angiographic variables. Subgroup analysis stratified by NERS and SYNTAX scores The SYNTAX-lower scores had equivalent predictive value to NERS-lower scores (less complex lesions, fewer comorbid conditions and cardiac risk factors, and simple stenting techniques), with fewer associated follow-up events. In contrast to the original SYNTAX trial, our data revealed similar sensitivity and specificity between SYNTAX-intermediate and SYNTAX-higher groups. Of note, the predictive value of NERS-higher in the present study has greater predictive value over SYNTAX high-risk groups. This observation likely again reflects the cumulative contribution of clinical and angiographic/procedural features. Study limitations First, its nonrandomized nature likely influences the power of the results. Second, both BMS and DES were included. Although no score was generated for BMS patients, their inclusion influences the relevance of our results to modern practice. Moreover, comparison of non-QCA baseline angiography (reflective of the “real world”) with follow-up QCA undoubtedly influenced luminal measurements. Without randomization, operator selection of the specific 2-stent technique likely reflects lesion complexity, thereby influencing outcome. Additionally, the NERS score was derived from a relatively small number of patients undergoing PCI in 4 centers in 1 country. Clearly, its applicability to other demographics requires further study. Conclusions The NERS score demonstrated improved predictive value for primary end points after UPLMS-PCI, as compared with SYNTAX score. Further, randomized studies are needed to elucidate its role for decision of PCI versus CABG for UPLMS and complex anatomies in a more diverse population. Footnotes Funded by the Nanjing and Jiangsu Provincial Health Bureau, China. - Abbreviations and Acronyms - AUC - area under the curve - BMS - bare-metal stent(s) - CABG - coronary artery bypass graft - CTO - chronic total occlusion - DES - drug-eluting stent(s) - DK - double kissing - LM - left main - MACE - major adverse cardiac events - MI - myocardial infarction - PCI - percutaneous coronary intervention - QCA - quantitative coronary angiography - ROC - receiver-operator characteristic - SKS - simultaneous kissing stent(s) - ST - stent thrombosis - TVR - target vessel revascularization - ULMCA - unprotected left main coronary artery - VD - vessel disease - Received December 29, 2009. - Revision received April 9, 2010. - Accepted April 15, 2010. - American College of Cardiology Foundation References - ↵ - ↵ - Valgimigli M., - Malagutti P., - Rodriguez-Granillo G.A., - et al. - ↵ - Chen S.L., - Ye F., - Zhang J.J., - et al. - Chen S.L., - Zhang J.J., - Ye F., - et al. - ↵ - Vaguerizo B., - Lefevre T., - Darremont O., - et al. - Palmerini T., - Sangiorgi D., - Marzocchi A., - et al. - ↵ - Nashef S.A., - Roques F., - Michel P., - et al. - ↵ - ↵ - Leaman D.M., - Brower R.W., - Meester G.T., - Serruys P., - van den Brand M. - ↵ - ↵ - Romagnoli E., - Burzotta F., - Trani C., - et al. - Ralf L., - Ioakim S., - Janine K., - Andreas Z.M., - Volker S., - Stephan F.

Norman Reedus & Emily Kinney Are NOT Dating! Norman Reedus is not dating his former The Walking Dead co-star Emily Kinney, his rep confirms to JustJared.com. “We can confirm that they are not dating,” the rep told us. Fans have been going wild over the news after it was rumored that the two actors, whose characters Daryl and Beth grew very close on the series, were dating in real life. PHOTOS: Check out the latest pics of Norman Reedus “They had a connection early on in the show,” a source had told Us Weekly, “but the romance developed recently. They’re still pretty guarded about it.” DID YOU THINK Norman Reedus and Emily Kinney were a real couple?

LITTLEFIELD, TX (KCBD) – From the railroad tracks to the farm fields, Littlefield has a rich history. The best place to learn about the town's history is in the town's museum, which is tucked inside the wall of one of the first houses built in Littlefield. Every town has a story, an Littlefield's story starts with the land. "Littlefield was named for George Littlefield. He purchased part of XIT ranch and called it Yellow House Ranch," said Jay Lee, Littlefield Lands Duggan House Museum. "Major Littlefield bought 300,000 plus acres and started to sell it off," said Wando Erickson, Acting Director, Littlefield Museum. Major George Littlefield sent his niece Sarah and her husband Arthur Duggan to West Texas from Austin to sell that land, and as the story is told, it was cheap; $1 an acre. Sarah took pride in her new home and planted all sorts of flowers, shrubs and trees, to showcase the value to potential buyers. "She planted all these things for community to know that this was good, excellent soil," said Erickson. The Duggan's created the town site from their home. One of the first in Littlefield, now home to the Littlefield Lands Duggan House Museum. In 1913, the Santa Fe Railway Depot was built. The first passenger train rolled through on July 4, 1914. The Major gave the Railroad the land. His land company built a school and a bank. The town officially became Littlefield in 1924. "Farming became prevalent in the late 30's, 40's and grew through the 50's," said Lee. The museum plays Waylon Jennings' hits all day and dedicated one room to their beloved hometown hero. "There is nothing digital in that room. We have acoustic tile with his signature on it. The room itself if a rendition of radio station where Waylon came for some of his recordings," said Lee. The star musician would occasionaly come back home and share his songs. The outside of the Duggan house has not changed. Volunteers with the museum vow to keep these pieces of history alive."If you don't preserve that history you lose the story," said Lee. The museum put together a cookbook and proceeds go straight to the museum. There are recipes from Littlefield and all across the South Plains, including some from Waylon Jennings himself.

Let's introduce our new dealer for France Clément Seigeot! Clément Seigeot is currently the first French pilot in the national ranking. He has already more than 700 hours PIC, on balloons from 900 to 12000 m3. Thanks to his participations to the last Saga world championship, and to numerous international competitions, he reached the 14th place of the world ranking. Passionate about ballooning since his earliest childhood, he participated to hundreds of meetings in France and in Europe. His commercial and voluntary flights within several French and international companies allowed him to share his passion with passengers, while developing his knowledge and skills in various sizes of balloons. Kubicek Balloons supports Clément in his competitions from now on several years. Nowadays, Clément is being out of Europe therefore you can also contact Daniel Favier. Don't hesitate to call him, you can use numbers +33 153249547 and +33 672819579. Daniel Favier is a leader and manager of Airshow, a balloon ride company who is carrying 3000 passengers every year. With more than 1500 hours as an aircraft commercial pilot and more than 1000 hours as an commercial balloon pilot, Daniel is sharing his great and high experience to student pilots as he is an active federal instructor. Today, we are proud to integrate him in Kubicek family, as a member of French dealer team! Last but not least, we would like to say big "thank you" to Francois Treuil, who has pulled together with Kubicek Balloons for 15 years and has sold over 60 Kubicek balloons! We wish him a lot of success in his new career. Let's restart France! Let's introduce our new dealer for France Clément Seigeot!

Brick's Picks: The Mysteriously Vanishing Gig You know, we totally dig Richard Grant's trumpet playing — his Clifford Brown–gorgeous tone, his fluid and fluent solos whether fired up or working out an aching ballad, and the fact that he's so damn emotive. You just know it's the essence of Richard Grant flowing out that horn. And he has an instinctive knack for perfect ensemble passages with spontaneous groupings of players, any players. Alas, he rarely plays outside Leimert Park, even outside the World Stage. This is the pick this week. Except, there's a problem. We look at the sketchy calendar at theworldstage.org, and it says nothing about Richard on Friday. Not a damn thing. But the booker himself tells us Richard Grant will be there on Friday. So who do you believe? We say call and check. If he is playing, head down there. Only the most jaded of you will not be blown away by this cat. Of all the hidden treasures in L.A. jazz, and there's a mess of them, Grant is maybe the most hidden — and the most treasured by those in the know. Just call first before heading there. And if he ain't happening, look at all this other amazing jazz across town. For starters, one of our favorite saxophone players of all time (even though you are actually supposed to say that about the dead ones) is Charles Owens. We've seen so many killer gigs, as leader or sideman, so many outrageous solos, that we know if the man is on, as he usually is, it's gonna be a freaking crazy night. Even at Charlie O's, when he keeps it more on a straight-ahead keel (nothing too Dolphy-esque), it can get glorious, and we've heard movements of A Love Supreme in there that stunned the crowd. He's there Friday with the John Heard Trio. Alas, at Spazio saxist Charles McPherson makes a rare local appearance, and this will be amazing as well. And at Vitello's — call to reserve a seat for this one — the great guitarist Anthony Wilson regroups his knockout nonet for the night. What a lineup, with tenor Matt Otto (we love this guy's sound), alto Matt Zebley, baritonist Adam Schroeder, trumpeter Josh Welchez, trombonist Alan Ferber, brilliant pianist Josh Nelson, bassist Darek Oles, drummer Mark Ferber. This is serious stuff, as is Nick Mancini's bunch at the Blue Whale downtown, where he has a front line of reeds and flutist Katisse, clarinetist John Tegmeyer and trombonist Garrett Smith. That is another fascinating-sounding gig. Speaking of clarinets, one of the greats, Israeli Anat Cohen, has a great quartet with pianist Benny Green, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash at Catalina's on Friday and Saturday, performing material from her new Clarinetork: Live at the Village Vanguard. We dig Anat Cohen. Also Saturday is not quite as jam-packed as Friday, but the brilliant bebop alto player Lanny Morgan is at Charlie O's on Saturday with the John Heard Trio, while Katia Moraes & Brazilian Hearts are at 9 p.m. at Nyx in Glendale (156 S. Brand Blvd., 818-545-0333). We love Katia — she's the genuine Brazilian article, not another jazz singer who shaves off all those unsightly, rhythmically ragged edges. Katia keeps it real with bossa nova, sambas, MPB, choro, etc. Upcoming Events On Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Beverly Hills Civic Center (450 N. Rexford Drive) there's the Bill Cunliffe Septet and Johnny Crawford and His Orchestra; it's free and brought to us by the cool folks of the Playboy Jazz Festival — which comes up in June, with a schedule that looks really good this year. Check their site (which you can get through by way of playboy.com, as if you dudes didn't know that already). Monday at Charlie O's, there's the always-recommended Theo Saunders Sextet, a superb outfit featuring alto/soprano saxist Zane Musa, tenor/soprano saxist Chuck Manning and trombonist David Dahlston. Tuesday at Charlie O's it's trumpeter Elliott Caine's fine band, grooving hard with a '60s Blue Note feel. On Wednesday at the Baked Potato, pianist Otmaro Ruiz has his monster quartet with flat-out brilliant saxist Ben Wendel, bassist Jimmy Johnson and drummer Jimmy Branly. Intense. And Thursday it's the Jeff Littleton Jazz Conclave at the Crowne Plaza LAX, with Littleton on bass and his brother drumming, plus ace pianist Mahesh Balasooriya, saxist Pablo Calogero and percussionist Ramon Banda. Also cool: the South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival from 2 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, completely free (except the main stage with the big and nonjazz acts, which is $20). There are two jazz stages, and the Elliott Caine Quintet is on the KKJZ stage (538 Mission) at 5 p.m. We've been to this venue: It's a good time, with beer and everything. See southpasadena.net for maps, etc. And that is a whole lot of great music, people. !

Mobile Legends The Best MOBA in Playstore Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is a brand new MOBA cellular game that become recently launched, developed and posted through a small studio called Moontoon and supported with the aid of Tencent. The game is a MOBA clone in every manner, just like League of Legends in many ways. There are the classic three lane maps, and the snowballing that exists in each MOBA. Cellular Legends also has skill-shot based gameplay, controlled with the aid of its easy on-display screen controls and auto-concentrated on system. The game additionally has in-recreation foreign money which can be used to buy new champions, masteries, and crafting materials. The game additionally features the standard regular and ranked modes, along side the single lane fit that many MOBAs now additionally characteristic. Imitation is the sincerest shape of flattery. Within the case of the “5v5 honest MOBA For cell” sport cellular Legends Bang Bang, insurrection video games and Garena must sense surprisingly commemorated. In fact, they’re so elated they might be writing up a quit-and-desist. Certainly positioned, cellular Legends is basically an unabashed similar to League of Legends with a reworked ‘digital analog stick and buttons’ manage scheme. When you have performed a MOBA on your existence, cell Legends is simply that: 3 lanes, your crew of five heroes have to tackle the enemy team’s base, you stage up and so forth. Its forged of tanks, junglers, offensive, and aid heroes borrow the appearance and template set through its source fabric, even though writer Moonton made some adjustments right here and there to avoid a potential lawsuit. When in comparison to other mobile MOBAs, the primary differences with cellular Legends is the ease of gameplay, great of life capabilities of the sport. Champions do not need to return to their bases to buy objects or heal, which speeds up the game quite a piece. The average game time is about 5–10 minutes which is good for a portable setting. This mixed with 10 second champion select screens and brief wait instances taking into account quick games at the way to work or at the same time as sitting on the bathroom. Certainly one of my preferred features of the sport is the countrywide united states of america grouping feature. Whilst you enter a 5v5 match, the game will organization players into a team of gamers from the same country and assign a national flag to the group. As an example, the few video games I played changed into towards a Russian crew or a chinese language group and our group changed into all Korean, flags were assigned to every team, making it experience more like an countrywide e-recreation. Definitely, consistent with the website, esport tournaments are deliberate with formal prizes. From a private angle, I definitely loved playing this game. The controls are clean and responsive, and the short recreation times assist make the sport addictive. As champions do not want to return to base either, the movement continues going and the primary turret usually is destroyed in the first 2–3 minutes. The sport is unfastened to play and in the pinnacle three video games on the Korean App save presently, so why now not deliver it a attempt these days?

ORINDA, Calif. (KGO) --It's become a bit of a head-scratcher on California freeways these past few days. That is the lighted Caltrans signs that read: "Watch for People Walking on All Roadways." "I think it's ridiculous," said motorist Matt Bornstein at a gas station in Orinda near Highway 24, which has no fewer than three of the lighted messages along one three mile stretch. "I mean you're always looking for people on the freeway. That's kind of weird, but... I don't know." After some digging, we found the motive behind the mystery. "This important issue impacts communities around our state," said Rhonda Craft, the Director of the CA Office of Traffic Safety."Whether you're the one behind the wheel or walking, we all need to pay closer attention to our surroundings." According to the OTS, in 2015, 813 pedestrians were killed on California roadways, accounting for nearly 25 percent of all roadway deaths in the state that year, up from 17 percent a decade earlier. The OTS and California Highway Patrol are the two agencies spearheading the public information campaign called "Pedestrians Don't Have Armor." The campaign grew out of a resolution sponsored by CA Sen. Jim Beal (D-San Jose) declaring this month "California Pedestrian Safety Month." The Caltrans signs are just the method for distributing the message to freeway drivers to "watch out for people." Still, most of the motorists we talked with didn't really understand the words now appearing on the lighted freeway displays up and down the state. We asked one driver Glynda Dixon what it meant to her: "I don't know, some little kid got control of the buttons on that sign? I have no idea."

When I think of Debbie Dub, I remember her as a sort of punk ambassador. She had the right personality for the job. Debbie had good people skills and frequently arranged meetings between people that didn't know each other but who she felt would work well together. She also booked shows, produced records, managed bands and had a fanzine called Starting Fires but her strongest contribution was her ability to communicate comfortably with people from all walks of life, making anyone who was around her feel as though they had known her for years. When L.A. bands played in San Francisco, Debbie would frequently be there to greet them. Likewise, when San Francisco bands played L.A., it was Debbie who would show them around town. Debbie understood the nature of both cities and respected the differences between them. She eventually moved to San Francisco, but not before leaving her mark on L.A. I remember her as spunky, articulate and outspoken. I think you'll agree that she still has those qualities. Read Debbie's Women in LA Punk Interview by clicking on the thumbnail below. Enjoy!

Slow Burn About the book Zoe Griffin has a fresh new life…a hard-earned doctorate degree and a burgeoning nutritionist practice in Colorado. The only thing missing is the man she fell in love with. Cooper Flannagan did “new life” ad nauseum as an Army brat and shudders at the very mention of change. His fellow firefighters on San Amaro Island, Texas, are his family. He’s dug his roots deep, and he finally feels like he belongs. Then Zoe walks back into his life…and sometimes, it turns out, there’s more than one path to belonging. Slow Burn is a stand-alone short story in the Island Fire series. Cooper Flannagan would know that voice anywhere. It was the voice of an angel. Scratch that. The voice of a siren. The voice of his ex-girlfriend, Zoe Griffin, who also happened to be the sister of his roommate, Penn. He rolled over in his king-size bed, his sleep-blurred mind wondering how the hell he could’ve passed out so hard after his shift that he would miss his alarm. It’d been a rough shift, for damn sure — he could still smell the acrid smoke odor from the apartment fire even though he’d showered twice — but he felt like he’d just fallen asleep minutes ago. He reached over to the nightstand and fumbled around for his phone to check the time. One o’clock? Zoe and her mother weren’t supposed to arrive from Colorado until after four p.m. He’d planned to be out of the condo by then.READ MORE Cooper turned onto his stomach and shoved his head under his pillow in an attempt to block out that laugh of hers. That melodious sound that used to make his world go round. He needed more than four hours’ sleep in order to survive the next four days with Zoe in town. It was no use. He lay there for the longest ten minutes of his life, fighting to go back to slumberville, but he couldn’t stop imagining every move she might be making, the way the waves in her shiny, brunette hair sometimes fell into her face as she spoke, what she might be wearing… He’d known there was no way to avoid her this weekend, but he’d hoped he could put off running into her at least until tomorrow. Her surprise early visit had ruined that. She had to know he was here. Penn would tell her even if she didn’t ask. Did that mean… Did she want to see him? The thought was more enticing than he’d ever admit out loud. And it had him sitting up on the edge of the bed, unable to ignore the burning curiosity any longer. Because suddenly, despite what he’d been telling himself and the rest of the world the four months since they’d broken up, he wanted more than anything to see Zoe. oOo Zoe cut off her own sentence halfway through and promptly forgot what she was saying. Forgot she was saying anything. That’s what seeing Cooper in the flesh did to her. He’d slipped into the bathroom from his bedroom — his shaggy, golden-brown head had only been in her line of sight for two-point-two seconds max — and she lost all track of the conversation with her mom and brother. Lucky thing that breathing was involuntary, otherwise she probably would have forgotten that too. And this was after three weeks of preparing herself, of imagining the moment she laid eyes on him again, knowing she would see him lots over the course of her big brother’s birthday weekend. Almost a month of visualizing it having no effect whatsoever on her. Yeah, so much for visualization. “You didn’t tell me he was here,” she hissed at her knucklehead brother. “He lives here, Zo.” Was that a smirk on Penn’s face? Definitely a spark of amusement in his green eyes. She managed to swallow the urge to throttle him and bit the inside of her inner lip until it bled. Their mother, Nell Griffin, who was sitting with her back to the hallway, looked around curiously. “Is Cooper home?” “He’s sleeping,” Penn said. “Was sleeping,” Zoe clarified. “He worked last night.” Which meant he’d finished his shift at the fire station at seven this morning, Zoe knew. Then he’d likely gone out for breakfast with the guys he’d worked with — scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, and enough greasy hash browns with cheese to stop a weaker heart were his favorites — then straight home to sleep. He’d probably stripped down to nothing and climbed into the cool sheets of the king-size bed he’d no doubt made the previous time he’d crawled out of it. Zoe shook her head to erase the details she knew so well. Especially the naked bit. “You can’t be surprised, honey,” their mom said. No. Surprised wasn’t it. Leveled by fresh pain was more like it. Four months of trying to get over Cooper, trying to get on with her life, and the sting was as acute in this moment as it had been the night they’d argued long-distance — ironically, about their long-distance relationship status — and then broken up. That she’d been the one to end it made no difference whatsoever. Her throat felt like a ball of felt had lodged in it, and her mouth had become instantly parched. “I’m going to get that water you offered me after all,” she said to Penn as she stood. If she was in the kitchen, she wouldn’t be able to see when Cooper emerged from the bathroom and went back to bed. She glanced at her watch. “Then we should head to the Silver Sands and check in, Mom.” “Check-in isn’t usually until three or four.” Nell frowned and tilted her perfectly coiffed head at her daughter as Zoe headed toward the kitchen. “We know the owner,” she said over her shoulder in an understatement. “I’m sure Nadia will get us in whenever we’re ready.” Zoe was so ready. And so too slow. She heard footsteps behind her as she stood at the sink filling a glass. Bare footsteps. Not her brother, as he wore shoes most of the time to help support his back after the injury that had ended his firefighting career. Not her mother, as noisy heels were permanently attached to her feet. Keeping her back to the doorway, Zoe turned off the tap and brought the glass to her dry lips. The glass was too small, the water gone too fast, as Cooper stood several feet behind her at the breakfast bar. Waiting. She could feel his stare on her back. “Hey,” he finally said when she continued to stall with her back to him. “Zoe.” She closed her eyes. There was a certain timbre in his voice whenever he spoke her name. A slight drawl to the “oh” sound in it. She’d always loved it. Now it made her want to cry.COLLAPSE

plenty of places to turn for advice in managing wealth. There are rather fewer choices open to you if you want to discuss the best ways of giving your money away. There is, however, one organisation which over the last twenty years has been providing an informal space to do just that. The hundred or so members of the Network for Social Change meet twice yearly for residential long weekends, between them pledging close to a million pounds a year in donations for jointly-agreed projects. The Network, as it is known, also serves another role, in providing a supportive environment in which the ethical and practical implications of being rich can be discussed. The weekend ‘Conferences' are, members say, are intensely stimulating and rewarding. Attendance is not open to all, however. To become a member, you need to have several hundred thousand pounds in assets (the value of your home doesn't count), and to commit to giving away at least £3000 a year through the Network. Definitions of ‘social change' vary between members, but the Network typically supports initiatives in areas such as human rights, the environment, arts and health, and economic justice. The emphasis is on newer, less mainstream, projects which the Network can help become established. The Network was instrumental, for example, in establishing the debt relief campaign which later became Jubilee 2000. Peter Miller, a director of the transport technology business ItoWorld Ltd, has become active in the Network since he sold his stake in the successful transport business Acis last year. He talks of the benefits of discussing with others how money can best be used, and says he found his first encounter with the Network very straightforward. “It felt like something I was familiar with, and it was structured – it was clear what was expected of you,” he says. His own particular interests include environmental concerns, particularly linked to the social implications of transport. Some things which are worthwhile, he says, make money. The Network helps him support other ventures, those which don't make money “but which need to happen”. The Network does not accept unsolicited requests for help. Instead, members themselves put up proposals during the Conference weekend, which are normally subject to subsequent assessment by other Network members and discussed again at a second Conference. “We're looking for leverage, where a relatively small amount of money can have a ripple effect, and where there is some opportunity for replication,” says Prue Hardwick, a long-time Network member and current Treasurer for the group. There is a rule, she adds, that members don't only support their own pet projects. Whilst it is clear that some members choose to give significantly more than the £3000 minimum through the Network, the size of each member's donations is a private matter. “The Network has a dual function. It's about giving money away, but it also provides a forum for people who have money, where this can be safely and confidentially discussed,” Prue Hardwick says. “Issues can be discussed in Network which you can't discuss in a pub – or perhaps with family or friends.” The Network for Social Change brings together both entrepreneurs like Peter Miller who have made their money in business and those who have inherited wealth. Corin Stuart, for example, became rich from inherited family wealth by the time he was in his mid-twenties. Now thirty, he describes his first involvement with the Network as a “liberating” experience, in helping him reconcile his wealth with his beliefs. “I definitely had feelings of guilt and embarrassment. To be able to talk freely was quite a revelation,” he says. The Network's origin in the mid-1980s, in fact, was a newsletter circulated among inheritors tussling with issues such as these, and Network Conferences continue to make time for structured group discussions. One recent Conference session, for example, explored the implications for relationships of being single and having money. Another frequent topic for debate concerns wills, and in particular the amount of money which it is appropriate to leave for one's children. “People in Network tend to be articulate and to think quite deeply about things,” Prue Hardwick says. Those who attend include a mixture of single people, individuals in relationships who have come without their partners, and couples, with some children also being brought along. Although there are exceptions like Corin Stuart, the majority are in the 40+ age group, a reflection perhaps that some of the initial members are now twenty years older than when the Network started. Despite its evident success and the fact that about £10m has been donated since it first began, the Network for Social Change deliberately operates in a low-profile way, partly to protect its members' privacy. Potential new members are invited to make contact via its email address, thenetwork@gn.apc.org Return to my home page

Austria rejected a resolution by the Israeli Parliament calling for the dismissal of President Kurt Waldheim, describing it as an insult and urging the Israeli government to disassociate itself from it. A Foreign Ministry statement said Israel's envoy was summoned and told of Vienna's dismay. Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky also rejected the resolution, which called on Austria to force Waldheim's dismissal and put him on trial for his activities in the German army during World War II. "The term war criminal in describing the president must be rejected," he said in a statement. Deputy Chancellor Alois Mock, head of the junior party in Austria's coalition government, said Waldheim's decision to stay in office "should be respected by all democrats." Waldheim has denied any wrongdoing during his army service and has pledged to remain in office.

California Secretary of State March Fong Eu is expected to be released today from the Hospital of the Good Samaritan, where she was being treated for injuries suffered in a car crash last week, a hospital official said. Eu, 71, was to have gone home from the hospital Friday, but was kept two days longer for observation, hospital spokeswoman Susan Tombrello said Sunday. Eu was listed in good condition Sunday night, Tombrello said.

[tag: how-to] 1. 'Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution' by Robert C. Atkins (Avon Books, $7.99). A revised how-to from the diet guru. Last Week: 2 Weeks on List: 3 2. 'The Healthy Kitchen' by Andrew Weil and Rosie Daley (Knopf, $24.95). Healthy recipes from a doctor and Oprah's former chef. Last Week: - Weeks on List: 1 3. 'Cooking Thin With Chef Kathleen' by Kathleen Daelemans (Houghton Mifflin, $27). She lost weight; you can too. Last Week: 7 Weeks on List: 2 4. 'Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook' (Hungry Minds, $19.95). More than 500 recipes for the famous diet plan.

*--* Rijo Grand Cincinnati right-hander Jose Rijo continued his amazing comeback Saturday, making his first start at Cinergy Field since 1995 and pitching six strong innings in the Reds' 8-4 victory over San Francisco. Rijo, who turns 37 on May 13, didn't pitch in the major leagues for five seasons because of arm trouble, undergoing elbow surgery five times. A look at his statistics since his comeback in 2001 and for his career, which started with the New York Yankees in 1984: IP H ER HR BB SO W-L ERA 2001-02 36 35 8 3 13 22 2-0 2.00 Career 1,820 1,640 636 136 652 1,580 113-87 3.15 *--* *--* RIVALRY RENEWED The Giants' Barry Bonds had a double in two at-bats Saturday against Rijo but has struggled against him in his career. In the 1990 National League championship series, Bonds, then with Pittsburgh, was held hitless in six at-bats by Rijo--in his third season with the Reds--and finished the series batting .167 with one RBI. The Reds went on to win the World Series, with Rijo winning two games and being selected most valuable player AB H 2B HR RBI BB SO BA Slg Bonds vs. Rijo* 37 8 3 1 3 8 11 216 378 *Not including postseason *--*

In Japan, millions of consumers are using hand-held phones with a screen the size of a business card to communicate on the Internet. In Europe, by contrast, a buying frenzy for government licenses for so-called third-generation wireless mobile networks has nearly bankrupted the telecom industry. The U.S. can profit from both situations. But first the Federal Communications Commission has to make available frequency spectrums that are caught between broadcasters and the wireless industry. Since 1994, the FCC has been auctioning off parts of the broadcast spectrum, but the disputed upper band of the 700-megahertz spectrum is particularly suited for wireless carriers. Chairman Michael Powell has repeatedly delayed auctioning this part of the spectrum, most recently until January 2003. He needs to get the licenses sold, to push the wireless industry into global competitiveness and get a fair price for the taxpayers. In doing so, he should also not allow broadcasters to receive an undeserved windfall. Congress temporarily granted broadcasters the rights to extra spectrum in 1996, in return for developing digital high-definition television while still offering analog signals. They're supposed to relinquish their older spectrum holdings when 85% of U.S. households have a digital-ready television set; at the moment, that goal looks a long way off. But in the meantime, the broadcasters are allowed to cut their own deals to give up the part of the spectrum most valuable to wireless uses.

Edmund T. Pratt Jr., 75, the retired chairman and chief executive of Pfizer Inc., died Thursday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. His family said he died after a short illness. Pratt, who joined Pfizer as controller in 1964, retired in 1992, and served as board member and chairman emeritus until early 1997. Pfizer named Pratt chairman and CEO in 1972. During his tenure as CEO, Pratt narrowed the company's focus from manufacturing to pharmaceutical research and development, the company said. Pratt was born in Savannah, Ga., and graduated from Duke University with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He earned a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. He served as controller of IBM World Trade Corp. from 1958 to 1962. Pratt served in the Navy during the Korean War and later worked in the Kennedy administration as an assistant secretary of the Army.

U.S. sprinter Jerome Young on Friday said he had never "committed a doping offense," one day after acknowledging that he tested positive in 1999 for a banned steroid but competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics after being cleared by U.S. track authorities. Young carefully drew the distinction as officials with the International Olympic Committee, U.S. Olympic Committee, USA Track & Field and track's worldwide governing body, the International Assn. of Athletics Federations, charted their next steps in what promises to be a sharp review of the case -- and of U.S. anti-doping policies. Young, 27, of Fort Worth, tested positive on June 26, 1999, for the banned steroid nandrolone, according to interviews and documents obtained by The Times. He was initially found liable by a USATF board of a doping violation -- a ruling reversed by a USATF appeals panel, clearing Young to compete just days before the U.S. Olympic trials in July 2000. Young ran legs in the first and semifinal rounds of the men's 1,600-meter relay at the Sydney Games. He and five others collected gold when the U.S. team, anchored by Michael Johnson, ran to an easy victory in the final.

The Washington novel has two forms. The first is familiar enough: the breathless thriller featuring hatchet-faced national security advisors, rumbustious generals and an alarmed president who avert Armageddon at the last minute. The second, and more enlightening, is the satire that seeks to pull the drapery away from the stage and reveal the hurly-burly of politics and journalism, whether it's Gore Vidal's "Washington, D.C.," set in FDR's Washington, or more recently, Jeffrey Frank's saucy "The Columnist." The creator of the latter genre was Henry Adams. It would be hard to think of anyone better prepared to explore the interstices of Washington politics. Adams, who was born in 1838 and whose presidential ancestors were great-grandfather John Adams and grandfather John Quincy Adams, epitomized the noblesse oblige, reformist instincts of the Brahmin class. A Harvard graduate, he worked as secretary to his father, Charles Francis Adams, in Washington and London, before making a name for himself as a highbrow reforming journalist. Adams was wistful for the halcyon days of an aristocratic political elite and dismayed by the turn the U.S. took after the Civil War under President Ulysses Grant, from an agrarian society to an industrialized one controlled by political parties and corporate trusts. Together with his wife, Marian, he moved to Lafayette Square, where he decried the great twin evils of American democracy -- the subservience of Congress to special interests and the spoils system -- but ended up leaving Washington in frustration for a teaching post at Harvard in 1870.

The electoral college. It's like the weather. Everybody complains, nobody does anything about it. In next year's presidential race, Americans will have their chance. As surely as Gov. Schwarzenegger will address the Republican National Convention, untold thousands of citizens will organize over the Internet to manipulate the Electoral College. Revisiting a tactic that first surfaced late in the 2000 presidential campaign, voters will form bipartisan alliances across state lines, "trading votes" between major party candidates and third-party candidates, hoping to decide whether swing states will wind up Republican or Democrat. Voters who do so will be accused of acting unethically, perhaps illegally, to short-circuit the election. Their defenders will say the practice is the kind of horse-trading common in American democracy. But neither side can claim it doesn't matter. Three years ago, if just 538 of the 97,488 Floridians who voted for Green Party nominee Ralph Nader had swapped pledges with Democrat Al Gore's supporters in other states, Gore would have won in Florida and become president. In 2004, the swaps will go something like this: Democratic voters in Texas, Utah, Wyoming and other Republican strongholds will assume that the Republican ticket will win those states easily. Over the Internet they will find Green Party members and others in states where the contest is expected to be close, and the Democratic voters will propose a swap: I'll vote Green in my state if you vote Democratic in yours. Or maybe the Green will proposition the Democrat.

." Just to get the Oscar-nominated actor to read the script to "Zombieland," the title of which could lead any star to believe humans were secondary, was a chore for his agent. "I was like, 'Zombies, dude? Really?' " Harrelson says. "Then, finally, I read it and thought it was just phenomenal. [They're] more of a backdrop that brings all these characters together." Opening Friday, the post-apocalyptic "Zombieland" has its share of splatter-rich mayhem and raving paragons of anatomical decay filmed in loving slow-motion. But at its heart, it's a personality-driven action comedy in which Harrelson's daring, quick-trigger character, Tallahassee -- a tough guy whose sense of loss drives him to daredevil zombie-destroying -- reluctantly teams up with a nervous young man known as Columbus ("Adventureland" star Jesse Eisenberg), who staves off fear (and survives) by adhering to his personal set of undead-avoidance rules.

[ <|rating-r|> ] Warning: dubious consent. my usual wants-it-but-doesn't-want-to-want-it thing. Contains: Porn. BDSM themes. Angsty mindfucking. Oh, and, err. Dickgirl!Naruto. Ufufu. 9____9~ Haru can tell Sasuke-kun didn't expect to see him here, standing in the doorway to Naruto's bedroom, that when Naruto invited him up to her apartment he assumed they'd be alone, and he isn't pleased. It's nothing Haru wasn't expecting, though, with the way things have been between the three of them lately. Behind him Naruto steps in and closes the front door. The lock snicks closed and it's loud. Sasuke's eyes narrow in sudden understanding. What he thinks is understanding, at least. Haru lets his hand fall off the doorjamb, takes a slow step closer, and another. His expression is grave. Sasuke's is already irritated. Behind him Naruto bites her lip, but doesn't say a thing, tries her awkward best to be unobtrusive. "I'm sure you're not going to care, it's very weak of me," Haru tells Sasuke, almost casual. "I'm in love with you. It's not hero-worship. It's not a phase. I am not confused." Silence. Sasuke's expression doesn't change at all. Haru knows better than to think he didn't hear, or misunderstood. He probably suspected it a while ago. But it's alright (it's not, it hurts.) This isn't the reason Haru brought them both here. "You don't mind fucking guys, but not me," he observes in the silence. "I'm not a worthy rival. Not anyone you want to challenge." His eyes hood briefly, cynical. "I'm a rival anyway. For her." Sasuke's eyes narrow, his jaw tenses. He's heard Naruto's proclamations of love for Haru and date requests for years, they both did, she was never subtle. "Got a point?" he bites out. As it happens, Haru does, so he keeps going, unhurried, laying it all open. "Now Naruto, she could be a rival -- she already is, in many ways -- but it always ends with your cock in her... So that's not really a loss, is it." He's been taking step after step closer, and Sasuke would rather die than give any ground, so when he stops they're well in arm's reach of each other. He leans in, presses his lips to Sasuke's mouth. There's no response. Hands cupping Sasuke's face, he lays it all open, quiet scalpel-words cutting precise and deep. "She'd be a very bad Uchiha, but an excellent mother. You want that. She's strong. You want that. You hate that she likes me too. That she likes me best." Behind him Naruto flinches, opens her mouth to protest, but Haru doesn't break eye contact with Sasuke -- can't afford to do it right now -- and she doesn't say anything in the end. Earlier he told her, 'The problem is between him and me. You can't fix it for us, Naruto. But you can help me fix it. ... I'll need you to trust me.' And she does, and it makes him feel grateful, humbled, but he hates that it hurts her too. "I'm still waiting for a point," Sasuke says. Pointedly, he doesn't even bother to shake Haru's hands off, not threat enough. "This attitude of yours is really quite bad for the team, Sasuke-kun. Naruto?" Naruto is behind Sasuke in a second, visibly pregnant, belly round; she grabs Sasuke's arms at the elbows, and he stiffens, but he doesn't struggle, not yet, leery of hitting her there. Haru takes his hands off his face, and his fingers trail glowing green. "What did you--" Sasuke says, and starts struggling for real now, but neither Naruto nor Haru appear to notice. Alarm rises in his eyes as he finally notices that he's too weak, human-normal, chakra blocked. Haru doesn't even smirk. "Sasuke-kun? Say 'I surrender', and we will stop." As expected his only answer is a wordless snarl, and another bout of struggling. Sasuke goes for a pressure point on Naruto's thigh, kicks at Haru's instep. Haru grunts a little and takes it without moving, healing chakra washing the pain away immediately. When Naruto's hold on his elbows slips Haru grabs Sasuke-kun's wrists instead, lifts them up, leans in. Kisses him, again; Sasuke bites. Everything is still going as planned. Naruto plasters herself against his back, her chin on his shoulder, grins at Haru. Sasuke's eyes widen in shock; Haru knows it's because under her heavy breasts and her rounding belly he can feel something else pressing up on him. "Look what Haru-chan gave me!" Naruto says, so very pleased. Haru of course doesn't relax his hold, doesn't let Sasuke twist and look. But there isn't a huge need to. He knows Sasuke gets it when she starts to rock against him, pressing him against Haru's chest with her weight. "It's very macho of you, Sasuke-kun. I'm not enough of a challenge for you to even want to stick it in. I can't possibly get the better of you, after all." He tightens his hold on Sasuke's wrists, not enough to hurt, just enough to point out that he just did get the better of him. "And she could, but in the end you always hide behind that twisted idea that even if she's riding you like a pony, so long as it's your cock in her, you still win." And ever since Sasuke realized that Naruto had a womb, he's been seeing it like that more and more. Reducing his best friend and rival to that, a womb he must secure for his future heirs. Possibly he doesn't even mean to do it -- if Sasuke ever let himself fall in love with anyone, Haru knows it would be Naruto, and likely he feels safer pretending this is all he needs, craves her for -- but tunnel vision has set in. It makes Haru want to punch him on Naruto's behalf. Haru knows his teammate so well. Inside out, bone deep. Before he was just too afraid to delve too deeply, too uncertain to use any of it. Willfully blinding himself to preserve ... he isn't sure, Sasuke's pride maybe. (His own silly daydreams of Sasuke coming to him voluntarily.) Healing hurts, too, sometimes as much as the initial wound; and if he's wrong, if he missteps, he will kill them instead, their bond. Their team was headed for a crash ever since Naruto got pregnant, though. "We haveta remind you," Naruto says in Sasuke's ear, and it's a bit like a purr, but less pleased than that underneath. Threatening. She's getting into it. Haru smiles a little. "Remember," he whispers, lips brushing the elegant line of Sasuke's jaw. "'I surrender.' That's the safeword." Haru catches his lips again, and for a brief instant they're pliant under his, they part for him, more out of surprise than anything. He's off-balance, reeling. Sasuke is one of the rare people who learn just as well from words -- a book, a lecture -- as from experience, but all the words in the world will be useless if Sasuke refuses to hear them. Haru wants this burned into his body. You belong to us. (Sasuke already knows that they belong to him, if he wants them, if he allows himself to take. It's not enough.) When Sasuke bites him this time it's not even hard enough to make Haru bleed. Sasuke struggles again, pulls on his wrists. It's really strange to have the best of Sasuke-kun in a contest of strength. He isn't even trying to kick. When Naruto's hands glide down his side and slip under his waistband he stiffens all over, lets out a raw, angry sound that was probably supposed to be a word or two, an insult, but he knows and they know that nothing will stop until he says the right words. His pants fall to the floor, and his underwear. Haru monitors his own breathing carefully to make sure it doesn't kick up a notch. He watches Sasuke's face and he betrays nothing, even as Sasuke jerks under Naruto's hands and ends up pressed against his front, and god, he's so beautiful. Naruto giggles and adjusts herself. Haru watches small, sun-bronzed fingers clench on Sasuke's narrow hips, and he thinks about misuse of medical jutsu and her gorgeous, gorgeous cock, which is no doubt nestled in the cleft of Sasuke's ass right now. (Haru is sure he never used to be gay before. Sasuke broke him somehow.) "You're not--" Sasuke says, and swallows the rest of his words. (Not serious, not going to -- yes, yes they are, pointless to ask.) He glances back, black eyes a little wild. Naruto's chin rests on his shoulder and she smiles against the soft skin behind his ear. Haru's face stays impartial, blandly removed; no help from him either. They're belly to belly and when he feels Sasuke's cock stir it's all he can do to keep steady. He wants to let go, he wants Sasuke to push him down and kiss him and take him over, it's always been this way in all his fantasies, he could never imagine Sasuke surrendering to him instead. He still can't. But now he can imagine him surrendering to them. It might still blow up afterwards, mind. But for now, stage one : cleared. Onward. There's something like slowly mounting panic in Sasuke's eyes, and Haru smiles faintly, distantly, though he wants to smile wider. It would be a hard smile, full of teeth. Maybe later. The way Sasuke strains, testing Haru's hold but stopping short of a serious attempt, the way his face heats up; it's not 'I can't stop them', it's 'I can't possibly want this'. "Funny," Haru says casually, "hers is even bigger than either of ours." And Naruto laughs and rubs her cock on his ass, cheerfully lewd, with no trace of self-consciousness. Sasuke's breath hitches. Haru's own cock is starting to send out 'oh please, just a quick little rub' signals. Haru tells it to shut up, very firmly. When he twists Sasuke's wrists and Naruto pushes the back of his knees, Sasuke goes down without making a noise, but his nostrils flare and his chest heaves like he's not getting enough air. A few seconds go by as Haru wrestles himself into perfect stillness, perfect control. He can't let go of the reins now, just can't. He never used to fantasize about Sasuke kneeling before him like this, but it gets him in the guts anyway like a good punch, crazed, needy desire, and he thinks after this he will. "Naruto, please?" he asks, and isn't sure how on earth his voice keeps steady. Naruto makes a humming, questioning noise at him, and then her eyes fall on his groin and she grins. "Sure thing!" She pulls down his zipper and undoes his buckles and fishes his cock out, rubs it a little, purring against Sasuke's back. Her callused hand strokes him like he's a cat. He grits his teeth, dizzily glad that Sasuke is staring not up at his face but at what's under his nose -- Haru's cock, Naruto's hand on his cock, and Sasuke looking hypnotized ... Oh god. He can't allow himself come now, so it's misuse of medical jutsu number three, squeezing his vas deferens closed and restricting blood flow. Instant, invisible cock ring. "Do you want to say something, Sasuke-kun?" Sasuke's lips part, but he doesn't say anything. He glares up at Haru. His face looks flushed. Naruto kneels beside Sasuke, plasters herself to his side and back, and curls her fingers around the base of his cock. "Oh, hey, look what I found," she trills, and gives it a little wave. Sasuke grits his teeth and spears her with a furious glare. "Hands off," he snaps. Haru fears for a second that Naruto is going to flinch back and stop everything; but her smile goes strange, a little bitter, and then she shrugs, mock-uncaring. "No prob. Hey, Haru-chan?" She lifts her hand, palm up. "Left pocket," he answers, and she goes fishing for the lube, copping a feel as she goes. Haru swallows a grunt. When he sees the tube emerge Sasuke draws in a startled breath, but before he can say anything Haru gathers his wrists in one hand and presses a finger across his lips. Sealed down to civilian-strength or not, Haru's hands aren't that large; Sasuke could free himself now, it he tried. He doesn't seem to even realize he could. His jaw snaps closed and he glares up at Haru. He doesn't speak, doesn't protest. Puppeteer wires require great chakra control, which Haru has, and great experience, which he doesn't; one chakra string at a time is his limit. He has Sasuke's wrists bound together in seconds. The other end of the wire glues itself to the ceiling, pulls taut, tugging Sasuke's arms up. Haru leans down to zip Sasuke's shirt open and bare his chest. He's gorgeous. Haru loves the way his body arches, his muscles shift under his skin, even the startled, resentful discomfort on his face (because it's not that empty mask, it's not indifference and distasteful wariness and unbridgeable distance.) He loves the way Sasuke's cock is hard despite everything, he loves the way he glares, like he sees Haru now, sees him just fine. (Really dislikes what he sees, mind, but dislike is better than disdain.) Haru cups his cheek again and he twitches, obviously remembering the time he allowed it because it didn't matter at all and how he got his chakra sealed for it. Haru doesn't smile, because that would injure his pride some more and Haru's own pride isn't the sort that demands he gets the better of someone else to feel better about himself. Obviously, it does feel good to get the upper hand, but it seems a mean, petty sort of pleasure to him. It isn't what he wants. Winning is just a means to an end. He hasn't won yet. Sasuke is still waiting for him to drop the ball, to lose control. He caresses Sasuke's lips with a thumb, presses down, presses it open. Sasuke's upper lip curls like he's thinking of biting. Then Naruto's lubed fingers slip under her own cock, into his crack, and Haru sees his eyes glaze over, his throat constrict and swallow when they penetrate him. Haru lets him forget about the hand cupping his cheek for a moment, lets him shudder and grit his teeth as Naruto works her fingers in. She's a little rougher than Haru himself would be, but then again Sasuke doesn't do gentle anyway and it probably suits him better. "Sasuke-kun?" he says when he sees him start to wrestle himself back under control, and he steps forward and takes his own cock in hand to trail it on Sasuke's cheek. Naruto moans in Sasuke's ear as she watches, eyes bright and hungry, and her hand fists tight in his hair to keep him still when Haru presses the head of his cock to his lips. "You fucking bastard," he snarls, twisting his head away, and then he stops breathing and his toes curl. "Ah, that'll be the prostate," Haru says. Naruto goes ooh, and likely she does it again, because Sasuke makes a weird strangled noise in his throat. "Remember the angle. It's going to be harder to find it with your cock than with your fingers, but you have a lot more of it to fuck him with." The next sound coming from Sasuke Haru might call a choked-back moan. His cheeks are red, feverish; when Haru moves his foot and feels Sasuke's cock it's gone stiff as a rock. He knows Sasuke, he knows what Sasuke doesn't even know he might want; he repeats it to himself, he can't doubt now, he's committed. Just a little push, just a little... "He'll be looser for me," he says, and it sounds strangely detached to his own ears. They're pounding, making him dizzy. "But so long as I can come in there I don't care." Sasuke's face turn in his hand again, and if Haru wasn't using that cockring jutsu he would splatter all over his cheek and in his hair the second he feels damp lips part against his shaft. Sasuke is trembling, eyes squeezed closed. Naruto and Haru exchange a long, sober look. Haru was right, deep down behind all those 'can't' and 'shouldn't', Sasuke wants it, wants to get fucked, claimed back, made to belong (since choosing to belong elsewhere means leaving the Uchiha behind), wants to entrust himself to them -- to someone, at least -- but it's clear as day he's also terrified. Naruto quirks him a soft little smile and presses a kiss to Sasuke's shoulder, and adds another finger inside him. Haru runs his fingers in black hair as a reward, and presses his jaw open. He guides himself in Sasuke's mouth; Sasuke gives a last token growl -- more reluctant than angry -- and doesn't attempt to get free. He just glares up, embarrassed; and Haru tightens his hold on his hair and tugs, and pushes more of his cock in. Sasuke gags, and briefly Haru almost pulls back -- almost apologizes -- but then black eyes flutter closed and a tongue presses tentatively against the underside of his cock, and Haru can't help it, he thrusts again. Gags him again. Sasuke's fingers twitch open and then clench, looking for something to grab onto, but the way he's tied up there is nothing. Haru doesn't give him anything, either; here and now he's powerless, he has to learn that. He's gorgeous. He's like a stranger, like the little boy Haru fell for all those years ago, proud and secretly vulnerable and hurt and unable to fully hide any of it, Haru never understood how no one else saw it. His lips are wet and pliant and he lets Haru fuck his mouth, slow but deep, he lets Naruto fuck him with her fingers, hips twitching and rolling like he wants to press back. Haru takes a deep breath and takes a step back and pulls Sasuke along by the hair, making him lose his balance and his shoulders strain back until his back arches instead, making it so the only thing stopping him stumbling onto Haru's cock and choking himself is that hand in his hair. Naruto makes a high-pitched, happy noise and kneels right behind him, thigh to thigh, and she guides herself in. He knew she liked the idea (she was the one who mentioned strap-ons first, though he's sure she was kidding), and he knew she liked how the cock he made her ended up the biggest of the three by a couple of inches. (Girth is what's important! she'd reminded him, and yeah, she has that too.) But now he watches her enraptured face as the tip of her cock breaches Sasuke's entrance and sinks in that tight hole, and he knows she'll likely ask him to make her a cock again. Often. He laughs at Naruto's expression; his hand leaves Sasuke's face for her shoulder, a long caress, and her eyes open again and meet his, all bright and excited. She's really cute when she's so happy. They fuck Sasuke on both ends, taking their time; they're not following the same rhythm and neither of them cares, and from the way Sasuke shudders he must not mind too much. Or maybe he does mind and he's finally learning that it doesn't matter right now. Whatever. Haru goes more slowly, takes his time -- deep, long strokes to let Sasuke breathe, as he patiently teaches him to open his throat and allow a cock in. He's sure Sasuke would learn how to deepthroat faster if Naruto didn't keep distracting him, but that's not a problem, it's probably the opposite of a problem, because Sasuke is gorgeous when he can't keep his concentration, attention reeling back and forth between his task and the pounding Naruto is giving him. She mewls and groans in his neck, hands gripping his hips tight, nails digging in, as her round belly fits itself to the curve of his spine, as her full breasts press in rhythm to his back. They fit like two pieces of a puzzle that were never meant to fit this way; it's incongruous. It's amazing. Haru thinks he might never have to watch them fit the other way -- the 'proper' way -- again with that cold, intense look on Sasuke's face, those calculating eyes that seemed to tally up her gasps and her free, open smile, all her moments of delight like they were points he was scoring. She comes with the same loud cry as always, the same arch to her thrown-back head, blue eyes hazy, pupils blown. Haru grunts in echo and thrusts in Sasuke's mouth out of rhythm, catching Sasuke by surprise, and he fights to keep hold of the jutsu that prevents him from coming. Sasuke moans quietly around Haru's cock when Naruto pulls out, leaves him empty. There's no sperm, of course; her reproductive organs are already tied up and he couldn't create testicles out of nothings, functioning ones even less. He regrets that a little. She stumbles to the couch, only a couple steps to the side, sprawls with her thighs spread lazily; Haru pulls Sasuke off him by the hair -- Sasuke shivers every time he does that; secret kink? -- and lets him watch. She's certainly worth a look or three, flushed with pleasure, breasts heaving, round belly, inner thighs wet with her juices... that shocking, obscene cock going flaccid on her thigh, which shouldn't fit half as well as it does in this tableau. "Wow. Haru-chan?" She groans, trails her fingers along her softening shaft and shudders. "That was nice, but it's a bit too much now." Haru reaches for her and ends the jutsu, which was really nothing more than an adaptation of the Akimichi Baika no Jutsu on her clitoris. Naruto sighs in relief and grins at him, impish and very aware of Sasuke's punch-drunk look. "... Alright, actually I could go for seconds now." Haru can't help laughing quietly as he nudges Sasuke closer between Naruto's spread thighs. She pets his head, keeping him distracted as Haru undoes the wire keeping his wrists pulled up. He quickly twists Sasuke's arms behind his back and pushes his wrists back together. No matter how fast that goes, Sasuke could take the occasion, but he barely gives an annoyed twitch, a perfunctory 'If I wanted to bother, I could'. Haru was planning to ask him, a last time, if he wanted to safeword out. It seems to be the farthest thing from his mind now. Haru hesitates to remind him, biting his lip, unsure where Sasuke can't see. He kneels behind him, leans in to whisper, "Something you wanted to say, Sasuke?" Sasuke of course takes it like a challenge and not like a honest question and shakes his head no, flashing back to tense and defiant, damp with sweat. "It's 'I surrender', Sasuke-kun." Haru chose it precisely because Sasuke's pride would never let him say it, not unless he truly was disgusted, repulsed, not unless he truly meant 'no' instead of 'I want to but I can't allow myself to'. No answer. Haru spreads his cheeks open and sinks in, and oh, god. He can't take it slow and teasing; he thrusts, a little hard. Sasuke opens to him so easily; Naruto's cock was bigger and she was enthusiastic and Haru can feel that, but he still tightens so snugly. He's starting to let out little groans, barely more than sighs, and he presses his mouth to Naruto's pussy all on his own, his back twitching, hips almost-rolling, as if he were restraining himself from thrusting back on Haru at the very last moment. Haru wants to come, could come right now, not even three thrusts in, but grits his teeth. It almost hurts how much he needs to come, how intense it feels. Naruto comes again, all fluttery, toes curling, the seal darkening briefly on her belly; Haru takes Sasuke's elbows and leans back, pulling him up until he's sitting on Haru's lap, on his cock, so deep. They both watch her, languid and satisfied, sprawled with uncaring, unashamed abandon. Sasuke seems fascinated by the sight. Haru gets it, thinking a hundred things about how someone who wasn't there to feel the energy in the air would call her slutty and loose and so completely miss the power in this. Just because he put his dick in her, Sasuke believed he was winning something from her, taking it, owning her. Planting a flag. Haru understands the mentality, knows there are girls who believe it too, but this is Naruto they're talking about. She'll never belong to anyone but herself first. His eyes on Naruto, Haru muses, "It's good to be a medic-nin, Sasuke-kun. I could stay hard inside you all day." A strangled gasp comes out of Sasuke's mouth, all from nothing but Haru's words, and Haru groans in response, because this, too, this is power, this is connection. Sasuke shudders against his chest, and starts to roll his hips a little. Haru pushes his wrists a little higher up his back, a reminder Sasuke seems to want, and then Sasuke is just plain fucking himself on Haru's cock, and Haru never even dreamed he would. Haru presses his forehead against the back of Sasuke's neck, licks sweat off his upper lip and tells himself he can't come -- he can't, he can't, he's not doing this for himself, he is not allowed. Sasuke comes without being touched, tightening around him hard for long, endless seconds, and then slumps back against his chest, panting, heavy, inner muscles clenching all around him. Haru grits his teeth, whimpers quietly. He can't thrust up and he is going to die if he doesn't, but Sasuke all languid and relaxed on him and if Haru moves he'll break that, he doesn't think he even can move without toppling them both on the floor anyway, hurting someone, that'd be stupid oh hell. Sasuke's head rolls on Haru's shoulder, and Haru catches a glimpse of black eyes glancing his way, and then -- he's not sure when the puppeteer string broke or when Sasuke's spine turned into a snake's because the way he pulls his wrists free from between them should be both illegal and impossible. He sets a hand back on Haru's hip for support and he starts tentatively rocking against him. Haru thrusts up somehow and thinks he might have pulled a muscle and doesn't care one bit. He releases the jutsu and the rush of pleasure is so intense it's almost pain (it is pain, just not only), and he keens out with his head thrown back and all his muscles clenched, arched. ... wow. Haru stares at the ceiling of Naruto's apartment for a minute or three, panting, sweat-glued to the wooden floor, and listens to the sounds of his teammates breathing in counterpoint. Naruto is already recovered, humming quietly to herself; when Haru finds the strength to lift his head and look, he notices that when Sasuke rolled off him this is where he ended up, leaning against the couch, and now Naruto's hand is carding patiently through the mess of his hair. Haru laboriously pushes himself back into a sitting position and waits for Sasuke to open his eyes. He wait for the result of the plan. Will Sasuke feel ashamed of himself, of letting go, entrusting himself to them? Will he refuse to accept that he deserved punishment for the distance he's allowed to creep between the three of them, will he... will he hate them? Because this, this was both 'you've been bad' and 'we love you' and Haru might know him by heart but he still cannot guess whether Sasuke is willing to hear either one, whether he's willing to grant them the right to judge him, in the only way he seems to understand. Because if it doesn't -- understanding is not necessarily acceptance -- it makes punishment into violence, borderline rape. This is the kind of act that could make or break them, Haru knew it from the start. This is the kind of act that, if it breaks them, he will feel guilty about all his life. Naruto shifts onto her side and flops on the cushions, wraps an arm loosely around Sasuke's neck, kisses his temple. When he opens his eyes she runs her fingers in Sasuke's cum-splattered belly and brings it up to his lips. He takes her fingers in his mouth without protest, without even a grimace, and that's it, he's theirs. He'll be angry at them later when he comes down, Haru is sure, he'll be embarrassed and sulk and avoid them for days, because they all know this is supposed to be weird, messed up, abnormal -- because he's not allowed to love again, love anyone but his dead and his duty -- but it happened anyway and when they catch up he'll let them. Because they all know that it got through, that just as much as they're his, he is theirs. And next time maybe he can top, goddamn it. Haru has years of guilty fantasies to work out.

Empanadas don’t have to be savoury. Dessert empanadas are a lot of fun to make, and everyone loves them. These apple cinnamon empanadas (with a touch of caramel dulce de leche) make excellent breakfast pastries. We use a different empanada dough to make these sweet empanadas – a cream cheese pastry dough that is only slightly sweet. It’s very flaky and tastes more like a pie crust. Fruit empanadas are famous for leaking in the oven. They are normally sealed with the tines of a fork, but we’ve found that a sealed and braided edges holds the filling better. Also it helps to chill the formed empanadas overnight before baking. - 1 cup butter, chilled - 225 g cream cheese, chilled - 2 ⅓ cups flour - 1 tablespoon sugar - 1 teaspoon salt - 1 teaspoon vanilla essence - 1½ tablespoons butter - 4 - 5 firm green apples (like Granny Smith) - ½ cup sugar - 1 - 2 teaspoons cinnamon - ¼ cup brown sugar - 1½ tablespoons cornflour - pinch of salt, to taste - 3 tablespoons dulce de leche (optional) - 1 egg yolk - sugar, for sprinkling - Add the flour, salt and sugar to the bowl of a food processor and pulse briefly. - Add the butter, cut into 1 tablespoon pieces and the cream cheese (also cut into pieces) to the bowl and pulse several times, just until mixture starts to come together. Add the vanilla and pulse twice more briefly. - Turn dough mixture out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Bring dough together into a disk, wrap with plastic, and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. - Peel and core the apples, then cut them into small cubes. Add apples to a saucepan with the butter, sugar, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. - Stir apples over medium heat, cooking them until they are just tender. In a small bowl, mix a tablespoon or two of water into the cornflour until smooth. Add cornflour mixture to the apples and cook, stirring, until mixture starts to thicken. - Remove apples from heat and stir in the optional dulce de leche until well mixed. - Chill apple mixture for at least an hour, stirring occasionally. - Roll out dough (in 2 or 3 batches) on floured surface to about 3 - 6 mm thickness. Cut circles of dough about 12 - 15 cm in diameter. - Wet the edge of a dough circle slightly, all around the perimeter. Place 1 scant tablespoon of filling in the middle of the dough. Fold the circle in half, enclosing the filling, and pinch the edges together firmly to seal, flattening and extending them slightly as you pinch them. Fold and crimp the flattened edge over itself decoratively. (see how to fill and shape empanadas). Repeat with remaining empanadas. - Chill empanadas for about an hour for best results (or 15 minutes in the freezer). Preheat oven to 175°C. Mix egg yolk with a little bit of water and brush over empanadas. Sprinkle empanadas with sugar. - Bake empanadas until puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes. These are best eaten warm, and can be reheated in a low oven.

Chaos in the Kremlin? It's increasingly strange news coming out of Russia these days. Signs are multiplying that a state of chaos might be emerging in the Kremlin.It's increasingly strange news coming out of Russia these days. Signs are multiplying that a state of chaos might be emerging in the Kremlin. After having been delayed until after the May 9 celebration, the sentencing of Mikhail Khodorkovsky was scheduled for Monday of this week. But still - and it's Friday today - we haven't seen more than Judge Irina Kolasnikova mumbling through limited sections of the verdict in short daily doses. It's a parody of the worst sort. On present trends, this parody might well go on all of next week until she starts to approach the final and crucial parts of the lengthy text. It is very hard to interpret this in any other way than as a reflection of a genuine political uncertainity on how to handle the case. It might well be that she doesn't know what will be on the final pages of the document she's mumbling through. Instructions have yet to arrive. That there is nervousness was obvious from the hasty announcement Tuesday on the abandonment of the plan to merge state oil company Rosneft with the gas giant Gazprom. This plan had previously had the explicit endorsement of President Putin, but was challenged by a security-associated part of his staff that wanted primarily to get their hands on the assets of Rosneft. It become a confict in the higher reaches of the Kremlin - between Chief of Staff Medvedev as Chairman of Gazprom and Deputy Chief of Staff Sechin as Chairman of Rosneft - which paralyzed the entire issue. The pattern of the last year is that when there is some profoundly bad news in Russia, the Kremlin suddenly sees the need to do something to reassure the international markets and investors. Following this pattern, and with intense global attention on the mumbling lady in the courtroom, a decision was hastily taken to resolve the conflict over Rosneft and Gasprom. So it was announced that there will be no merger, that the Russian state will buy a share of Gazprom for USD 7 billion, and that there will thereafter be a complete liberalisation of the shares in what will then be a clearly state-controlled company. And Rosneft will be a separate company that will eventually be open for minority private ownership as well. In itself, this was good news, and the markets reacted accordingly. But it was obviously a decision taken in haste, details might yet change, motives why it was taken now much too obvious - and it demonstrated that President Putin isn't necessarily the one that carries the day on vital issues in the Kremlin. Slightly chaotic, the entire thing.

One of the easiest ways to personalize your décor is by adding curiosities, quirky objects and oddities that speak to you simply because they’re interesting. While curiosities often come from the natural world—think fossils, petrified wood, dried marine life (sand dollars, starfish, urchins, crab legs), and insects—they can also be any piece that prompts the reaction “What is that?” When incorporating curiosities into a room, consider these tips from Annie: - The objects should be visually appealing, yet defy easy categorization. - Note that visually appealing doesn’t necessarily mean “beautiful.” One of Annie’s favorite items is this Victorian horn chair that she came across in an antique store and couldn’t leave without. It now holds court in her office. Not everyone is a fan of it, but they always ask about it! - Look first for curiosities that you love and that tell a story; people can’t resist asking about unusual objects and how they were acquired. - Give similar objects, like these butterflies, the group treatment. - Let striking single objects, like this African sculpture, stand on their own—for example, on an uncluttered side table. A friend of mine has a Victorian era horn chair similar to yours. It is a love it or hate it object — kind of like goat cheese. I love it, and the goat cheese. Objects like this chair make a home unique and truly yours, not just one that follows the latest trends. Have a Merry Christmas. Best…Victoria

Well it’s been quite the week here at Codemasters! On Tuesday we released our second FIA World Rallycross Update, which as well as adding three new cars, a ...On August 28, 2015 / By Lee Williams Woa! It’s time for DiRT Rally’s v.0.7 update already, which this month introduces online competitive play to DiRT Rally. That’s right, you’ll now be able to head online ...On August 25, 2015 / By Lee Williams Greetings people of DiRT, it is I Lee your friendly neighbourhood community manager and it must be Friday because it’s time for the DiRT Rally Road Book! This ...On August 21, 2015 / By Lee Williams Another week passes and we’re another week closer our next World RX update featuring a collection of new cars, a new circuit and the ability to race online ...On August 14, 2015 / By Lee Williams Well what a busy week it’s been this week! We’ve seen the launch of our first World RX update, had a livestream, invited a few of you to ...On August 7, 2015 / By Lee Williams At the start of last month we announced our partnership with the FIA World Rallycross Championship and today we’re pleased to release the first of two new World ...On August 3, 2015 / By Lee Williams Another week gone already but what an eventful week it’s been, the World RX beasts have had their final coat of wax and are covered up safe and ...On July 31, 2015 / By Lee Williams Welcome to this week’s slightly delayed Road Book which has nothing to do with the fact we (by that I mean me) thought it was Tuesday all day ...On July 24, 2015 / By Lee Williams So this morning I arrive at work and follow my usual morning routine of popping the kettle on when a reminder pops up on my phone… it’s our ...On July 15, 2015 / By Lee Williams We’re pleased to announce our new long term partnership with the FIA World Rallycross Championship presented by Monster Energy which allows us to bring the action packed World ...On July 9, 2015 / By Lee Williams © Codemasters 2014 | Video Policy | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Codemasters.com

For an artist whose first album was titled Thank Me Later (2010) Drake already seemed prepared for his almost instant rise to prominence. It didn’t hurt that this effort was preceded by a highly acclaimed mix-tape in So Far Gone (2009) with some help from friends such as Lil Wayne that would pave the way for a slew of notable appearances on his debut from the likes of Jay-Z, Weezy once again, Alicia Keys, T.I., and a then hardly known Nicki Minaj. With Take Care, the 25-year old rapper from Toronto shows himself to be ready to step out of the honeymoon period that came with his quick success and prove that he’ll be around for a while. While much of the content of his earlier efforts centered around the spoils that come with the fame; Take Care instead focuses on the toll that it takes on himself. In a similar vein to 808’s and Heartbreaks, we find an album that exposes the artist a lot more as many of the tracks tend to be more introspective than boastful. It’s important to understand that much has changed since Drake has broke out onto the scene just a few short years ago – the hybridization of rapping and crooning is at it’s peak as evidenced by other rising acts such as The Weeknd, and sweaters haven’t been so cool since Bill Cosby; both can be partially attributed to him. Drake has clearly achieved that awesome life that he longed for in 2009’s “Successful,” with Take Care he’s ready to share it with us rather than simply brag. In “Headlines” he sings “I know I exaggerated things, now I got it like that.” It’s appropriate that the next track is “Crew Love,” produced by fellow Toronto breakouts The Weeknd, in which he raps .” Seriously, who wouldn’t want to be friends with this guy? This track also switches between crooning and rapping with a kicking drum beat that really makes it stand out towards the end. “Take Care” is the next track on the album and is probably the most club friendly on this album, with a hook coming from Rihanna. This song is a rework of Jamie xx’s rework of the late Gil Scott-Heron’s “I’ll Take Care of You.” While the two original songs are much more about undying support for the subject matter; Drake’s version is instead more of a send-off which is a theme that is found several times throughout this album. “Make Me Proud” expands upon this theme by adding some praise. Appropriately enough, Nicki Minaj serves as the muse for this track to whom Drake sings “I know things get hard, But girl you got it” before going into the chorus repeating “I’m so proud of you.” These two heat-seekers have had stellar collaborations, first on Thank Me Later and then on Minaj’s Pink Friday, and “Make Me Proud” is a touching ode to this relationship that is once again one of the album’s best. The real popper on this album comes near the end on “HYFR (Hell Ya Fucking Right).” A smooth synth opens the track and without hesitation, Drake delivers his best rap verse on the CD, hardly taking a breath in the process. This anthem is about embracing life and answering the repetitive questions that come along with it. The questions of course are delivered from Lil Wayne who probes Drake in the hook by asking “Do you love this shit? Are you high right now? Do you ever get nervous? Are you single?” to which the response would be found in the song’s title. Sticking to the New Orleans locale, the following track is Drake’s take on Juvenile’s “Back that Ass Up,” except it’s repackaged as more of a ballad with Drake crooning over the slowed down beat. While this doesn’t pack in the swagger of the original; it reinforces a cool sense of confidence that is also present elsewhere throughout the album. While Take Care features several stand-out tracks, the album as a whole has a few stretches where the songs slow down a bit and sound monotonous tend to drag on. Drake is at his best when in the company of his friends and has a great ability to feed off of other artists. The album as a whole is definitely an insightful look into Drake’s life and shows promising signs for what’s to come. By Jesse Zryb

But often Indian professionals with impressive track records and pedigrees find themselves in a strange unfamiliar country, having to prove their mettle all over again. And that at the point when they should, logically speaking, have taken on the largest role within their home country. It’s no secret that Japanese and Korean firms typically have bosses from the head office, irrespective of the strength or weakness of local ops. Even some of European firms operate on the same principle. Ferrero Rocher for instance is run by an expat CEO as is L’Oréal, even as it has managed to carve out career paths for its best Indian talent. This isn’t a very publicly articulated grouse — most marketing folk like their jobs and/or need the money to pay for the beach house in Goa or the farmhouse in Kodaikanal. But BE decided to find just why the career paths in some companies end at CXO and seldom CEO for Indian talent. Especially when there’s ample evidence of some of the country’s biggest companies like Mondelez and Hindustan Unilever, faring very well, helmed by non-expats. Here’s what we found: It has a lot to do with the sector you are in: Technology companies are notoriously particular about expat leadership. LK Gupta, CMO, Cardekho (GirnarSoft Labs) who had a previous stint with LG observes, “The technical know-how is concentrated in the mother company. Be it LG, Samsung, Sony, or most car companies.” To the point where according to Gupta, the Indian heads are out of the loop on many aspects of technology, financials and transfer pricing even at the C-suite level. These companies are hierarchical, demand and expect loyalty, with personnel frequently spending their entire careers at the same firm. Gupta says wryly “We Indians are not like that.” Getting to the top is easier in FMCG companies that are marketing focused and easiest of all in the ad industry where expat talent is a significant presence only in Japanese and Korean run agencies. It’s about company and/or country culture: Many companies consider the first few years in a new market particular important from a corporate culture point of view. As Sachin Paranjape, partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India points out, “Foreign companies want to ensure consistency. If you have an Indian CEO right from Day One, it becomes difficult to control the culture.” Instead most companies have a foreign manager till localisation becomes important. Some of them however continue to have an expat head and that goes back to a strong country culture. Marketing consultant Ambi Parameswaran says “At L’Oréal, the board meetings are all in French. There have been enough people who have been successful and non-French but they are very fluent in the language.” However according to Mohit James, director HR, L’Oréal India, “At L’Oréal, we value multi-culturalism and diversity of experience in other markets and industries. So, while we have a Frenchman at the helm in India, we have an Indian in charge of the UK, South Africa, Indonesia etc.” 99% of its staff, including senior management in India is Indian. You can’t head a country unless you head out of it: To be truly able to master the curveballs that a market throws at a manager, perhaps the best proving ground is an entirely different market. This may also involve a stint in the head office to experience the country and corporate culture first hand. And the decision on whether one can or cannot take charge, depends on these experiences. Shripad Nadkarni, director – Fingerlix and angel investor recalls that during his stint at Johnson & Johnson, it was not uncommon for people to leave for assignments overseas and return to bigger roles within the country. Local insights and people may not necessarily deliver every time: India’s reputation precedes it as a hard market to “crack.” A senior ad man on condition of anonymity says “There used to be this thing about keeping the ‘goras’ at bay and it happened for too many years.” But now, many companies realise that that India along with China — a market with a sizable expat contingent — is too big and important to be left to its own devices. Besides, the famed local insights and cultural cues sometimes get in the way of effective, profitable strategy. Future Group's group president (food, FMCG, brands) Devendra Chawla points to Ferrero Rocher which has an Italian CEO Roberto Grasso: “Since they are selling a premium product, it’s perhaps best done by someone who understands chocolate.” Ferrero Rocher retails at a hefty Rs449 for a box of 16 in a market where the most popular price points hover between Rs10 and Rs30. A local CEO may have insisted on a product at Rs20. But as Chawla points out, “A CEO with experience of other markets realises that India has not seen such a product before and has the potential to accept it instead of trying to massify the brand. His belief may be more aligned to the needs of the global head office.” Diaper brand Mammy Poko Pants has become a Rs1,000 crore band in six years under the leadership of Yukihiro Kimura, its managing director. “That’s great success and to me personally, it’s doubtful whether another CEO could have been more successful than that,” he says.

“The blue Tron team delivers the red team the drubbing the Americans were never able to deliver the Soviets . . .” In 1980 the American Olympic ice hockey team, comprised mostly of collegiate players, became the top story of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, upsetting the heavily favored Soviet team and going on to win the gold medal in the so-called “Miracle on Ice.” American fans eager for a chance to reassert their athletic dominance over the Soviets were left unsatisfied by the summer games later that year. In protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the United States and 64 other countries boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Naturally, the Soviets went on to garner the majority of the medals, taking 195 in total, 69 more than their closest competitor, the East Germans. Taking this as a historical context, one can make the case that despite the fanciful conceits, state-of-the-art (at the time) special effects and imaginative storyline, Tron — released in 1982 — is in fact a fable about American Olympic wish fulfillment, with the good guys (blue America) defeating the bad guys (red Soviets) in tests of physical prowess (the “games”). To read Tron as a fable about U.S.-Soviet aggression is hardly difficult. The story is fundamentally one of two competing societies: one blue, the other red; one good, the other evil; one individualistic and decentered, the other collective and centralized; one profit-driven, one power-driven; one religious, the other atheist; one American, the other Soviet. American audiences, long steeped in Cold War mythology, would have instantly recognized the binarized world of the Reagan Administration in the stark color scheme and straightforward protagonist/antagonist split offered up by the movie. With Reagan’s infamous pronouncement of the Soviet Union as the “evil empire” coming the very month before Tron‘s premiere, it would have been hard for audiences to have read the malevolent Master Control Program (MCP) — with its spinning red face, foreign (albeit British) accent, and socialistic desire to make all the independent control programs and subroutines in the system “part of me” — as anything but the cinematic representation of that Communist menace. The blue/red America/Soviet split is everywhere encoded in the film. The film’s central conceit is that Flynn has had his intellectual property stolen by the evil executive Ed Dillinger, making the movie fundamentally a story about one man’s quest to claim his rightful slice of the American pie. Moreover, the film pits American free market ideals against Soviet command and control aspirations. The key scene in this regard comes as Alan Bradley is explaining his Tron program to Dillinger after his Group 7 Access has been suspended. Dillinger, concerned about the security program, inquires whether it will be part of the MCP, to which Bradley replies that it will run “independently.” At this, Dillinger flashes a fake smile and a “Sounds good” which is phoney enough for the audience to be clued in that Dillinger is no believer in maintaining the system as a free market. The film even pits American religious sentiment against the supposedly godless depravity of the Soviets. In the cyberworld, programs who believe in the users are derided as “religious nuts” and prodded with electric pain sticks by the security programs designed to guard them. This is another not-so subtle clue to the viewer which side she or he is supposed to be on. In one scene the MCP even talks of striking the Pentagon. The red side, represented by Dillinger and the MCP, is clearly a threat to the American way of life, defended by Flynn and Tron. As in the Cold War, the showdown between these two societies comes not as a direct military confrontation between two competing armies but a sort of electronic Olympics in which the gladiators of each side compete in athletic events to determine supremacy. In the face of the Mutually Assured Destruction principle, the desire to destroy the enemy has to be sublimated, transformed into a patriotic cheering-on of sides in contests of skill and physical strength. Denied this in Moscow in 1980, the audience for Tron is given their desire for such a spectacle in the computer-generated cyberworld of the film. Indeed, the audience is treated to a number of games which in no way advance the plot of the story, but somehow lie at its very heart. These games include a vertical version of jai alai in which the object is not to fall off the playing field itself, a discus-like event in which the frisbee is used both as a weapon to de-rez opponents and a shield against opponent’s attacks, and a light cycle race where racers try to destroy opponents by steering them into the light cycles’ own impenetrable wake. These games are not merely incidental to the action. The MCP attests to their importance early on when he insists that Flynn, having been digitized and brought into the cyberworld, be killed in the games. Later, when Sark moves to kill Flynn for having refused to murder his opponent in the jai alai game, the MCP again commands “I want him in the games until he dies playing.” Perhaps fearing a head-on confrontation with a powerful user, the MCP allows the games to become a stand-in for the battlefield. As a substitute battlefield, the militaristic nature of the games are evident. Each event is a direct competition between two players or teams. The end result of every match is death for the loser and survival for the winner. Even the soundtrack suggests the militaristic overtones, with a military drum roll accompanying Flynn’s entrance and exit from the jai alai field. The film gives every indication that these games are more than trivial diversions; they are the measure of two competing systems. And in every case, the good guys (the blue Americans) defeat the bad guys (the red Soviets). All the more puzzling, then, that the MCP insists on the confrontation being decided in the games and not by a simple de-rezzing, but this is the logic demanded by the underlying element of Olympic wish fulfillment in the story. The MCP staking everything in the games acts as a substitute for America’s inability to do the same in the 1980 Summer Olympics. Audiences are able to watch the blue Tron team deliver the red team the drubbing that the Americans were never able to deliver the Soviets. The final showdown between good and evil on the mesa is yet another test of athletic skill. Tron defeats Sark in the discus event, ripping a hole through his helmet and his cranium with one deft throw. The MCP transfers his powers to Sark in a last-ditch effort to stop Tron, but Flynn uses the opportunity to hurl himself into the MCP itself, taking control of it (as symbolized by its color change from red to blue). With one final display of Olympian effort and athleticism, Tron hurls his disk into the narrow wedge at the base of the MCP, thus destroying it and ending its reign of tyranny over the virtual world Tron inhabits. The audience is treated to a penultimate scene in which the landscape of Tron’s cyberworld transforms from a stark and barren wasteland to a shiny and multi-faceted vista as the red input/output lines throughout the system are turned blue in the allegorical equivalent of the raising of Old Glory over the Kremlin. The conceit is clear. The Americans, if given a chance to compete in the 1980 Olympics, would have trounced their Soviet foes. How could they lose, after all, being on the side of good, truth, and capitalism? And for those that find the whole idea of Tron being born of stifled American Olympic fantasies too great a leap, they need only consider director Steven Lisberger’s filmography. His 1980 animation feature Animalympics was timed to be released with the 1980 Summer Olympics. Due to the American boycott it was a commercial failure and Lisberger was left to go back to the drawing board for his next project, which just happened to be Tron.

ERIE, Pa. – Two early goals helped propel the Baldwin Wallace University women's soccer to a 4-0 victory over Fredonia St. (N.Y.) University in the first game of the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament. The season-opening win also marks the first victory for Head Coach Jim Wojtkun. After serving as an assistant coach for the women's team for 11 seasons, Wojtkun is in his first season at the helm of the program. "It's great to get the first win under my belt," Wojtkun commented. "I am really pleased that the women performed exceptionally well and made my job easy tonight. This game is indicative of what we can look forward to this year, hard-working and an exciting team to watch. I'm really looking forward to the rest of the season." BW set the tone early when senior defender Kori Miller (North Olmsted/Holy Name) netted the Yellow Jackets first goal of the season off a cross from junior forward/midfielder Rachel Bender (Massilon/Jackson) just 7:01 into the game. A mere 41 seconds later, senior midfielder Alex Elliott (Blacklick/IMG Academy) scored her first goal of the season off Bender's second assist, putting the Yellow Jackets in an enviable position and enabling them to control the rhythm of the game. For the rest of the first half and for a majority of the second half, defense stole the show as the Yellow Jacket back line of junior Bri Osborne (Cincinnati/Batavia), senior Jenny Burdick (Chesterfield, Va./Matoaca), senior Lauren Haynam (Minerva) and Miller ensured that sophomore goalkeeper Emma Bruno (Bethel Park, Pa.) would only face four shots the entire game. In terms of the Yellow Jacket offense, Elliott wasn't content with just one goal, however, as she scored a second goal with only seven minutes remaining in the game. Bender wrapped up the scoring with a one-on-one look against the Fredonia goalie that she drove into the lower corner, giving BW a 4-0 lead that they would hold for the final few minutes. BW will wrap up the Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament on Saturday, September 2, against host Penn State Behrend College at 7:30 p.m.

[tag: science] Abstract To determine if there is a differential effect of hyperthermia on AKR murine leukemia and AKR normal bone marrow cells incubated in vitro, the fractional survival of leukemic and of normal cells with proliferative potential as a function of heating exposure was estimated by evaluating spleen colony formation. Normal bone marrow colony-forming units were assayed in lethally irradiated (750 centigrays) mice; leukemic colony-forming units were assayed in nonirradiated mice. Electron micrographic studies of leukemic cells treated with 41.8° hyperthermia found that structural damage to the cell, i.e., changes in the Golgi apparatus, was associated with the lack of ability to form colonies. AKR leukemia cells were more sensitive than normal cells to hyperthermic killing at 41.8° and at 42.5°. This differential was found whether cells of each type were heated separately or when mixed together. This model system demonstrates an inherently greater sensitivity of neoplastic cells, as compared to normal syngeneic stem cells, to thermal killing. This finding may have relevance to autologous bone marrow transplantation in humans. Footnotes ↵1 Supported in part by: NIH: RO1-CA24872, R25-CA18397, P30-CA14520, NS-11445; American Cancer Society: IN-35; Madison Leukemia Society; 120164 from University of Wisconsin. Presented in part at the Radiation Research Society, April 17, 1982, Salt Lake City, Utah (13). ↵2 American Cancer Society Junior Faculty Fellow; supported in part by USPHS Grant RO1-CA35361 awarded by the National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services. To whom requests for reprints should be addressed. - Received April 11, 1983. - Accepted July 13, 1983. - ©1983 American Association for Cancer Research.

[tag: science] Abstract 1548 Introduction: Effective base excision repair (BER) confers resistance on tumor cells through reversal of damage inflicted alkylating chemotherapeutic agents. Temozolomide (TMZ) and 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-nitrosurea (BCNU) produce their deleterious effects via attachment of bulky adducts to the DNA backbone or through formation of DNA interstrand crosslinks. The BER pathway intrinsically reverses damage by removal of altered bases, leaving exposed apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) sites. Specific glycosylases instigate formation of the AP site, causing a kink in the backbone of DNA. AP endonuclease (APE) fits into the bend at the newly-formed AP site and cuts the DNA backbone, thus relieving the kink. DNA polymerase-beta then fills the gap with the proper base and DNA ligase fills the nick in the DNA backbone, respectively restoring genomic fidelity and structural integrity of DNA. Methoxyamine (MX) is a novel compound that inhibits BER by competing with APE for the AP site and preventing continuation of repair at this early juncture in the pathway. Methods: Glioblastoma cell lines SWB 33, SWB 39, SWB 40, SWB 61 and LN 18 were expanded on multi-well plates, exposed to TMZ or BCNU and incubated for 9 days with or without addition of MX. The plates were then analyzed via MTT assays. Five million cells of the SWB 40 and SWB 39 cell lines were injected into the bilateral flanks of athymic mice. Three weeks following inoculation, mice were treated with eitherTMZ, TMZ and MX or MX alone (control). Tumors were measured three times per week. Western blot analyses were used to elucidate the presence of BER proteins. Results: Significant increase in TMZ cytotoxicity was noted in SWB 40 in both MTT and nude mouse studies, with 2-fold increased sensitivity with MX at 10 uM TMZ in the in-vitro studies and tumor growth delay and tumor doubling time of > 21 days in-vivo. LN 18 demonstrated a > 2-fold increased sensitivity to TMZ and BCNU in presence of MX in in-vitro assays. SWB 33 exhibited a 2-fold increased sensitivity in presence of MX at 45 uM TMZ. SWB 39 and 61 demonstrated no potentiation by MX of TMZ toxicity in in-vitro studies. Similarly, SWB 39 exhibited no potentiation in nude mouse assays. All 5 cell lines demonstrated strong presence of BER proteins APE and DNA polymerase-beta, however only SWB 40 and LN 18—those cell lines most sensitized by MX—showed presence of presence of BER protein XRCC1. Conclusions: MX interrupts BER and sensitized 3 of 5 malignant glioma cell lines to TMZ and BCNU. Sensitization may be linked to expression of XRCC1. Select glioma cell lines may be targets for combined MX and TMZ or MX and BCNU therapy. Future directions: 1. To investigate other adult gliomas and pediatric brain tumors and include orthotopic xenograft analyses. 2. To characterize the role of XRCC1 in glioma sensitization. 3. To evaluate dose response. - American Association for Cancer Research

[tag: science] Types of Locomotives in Sri Lanka Sri Lanka received many locomotives since 1864. They can be classified into different categories & they are classified to different classes by their power source etc. Only 2 types of locomotives can be categorized in Sri Lanka by considering its power source as Steam Locomotives & Diesel Locomotives. 1. Steam Locomotives Since the maiden journey of SLR in 27th December 1864 until late 1980s Steam locomotives were the backbone of Sri Lanka Railways. Class J steam locomotives were in service on Kelani Valley line which was a narrow gauge line at that time until 1996. More than 500 steam locomotives were imported to Sri Lanka from different countries & manufacturers & they were withdrawn from service after the arrival of diesel locomotives. Almost all steam locomotives were scrapped including some locomotives in working condition. At present steam locomotive do not haul regular trains. JF Tours Company hauls a luxury train called ‘Viceroy Special’ using Class B1a 251 & Class B1d 340 locomotives. 2. Diesel Locomotives According to the reports first diesel locomotive of Sri Lanka was imported around 1933. But it was returned because the trial runs failed. After about a year later a little locomotive was imported for shunting purposes in Ratmalana workshops. However the first diesel locomotive for normal trains was imported in 1938 & it was the Class S1 power set. Many more locomotives were imported since the arrival of S1 & they can be categorized into 3 main classes according to the power transmission method. 1. Diesel Electric Locomotives 2. Diesel Hydraulic Locomotives 3. Diesel Mechanical Locomotives

Russian Virtual Computer Museum. → Hall of Fame → Sergey Nikitovich Mergelyan Sergey Nikitovich Mergelyan Soviet mathematician, pioneer of Armenian computer science Author and translator Alexander Nitusov Mathematician Sergey Mergelyan has been the youngest Soviet academician and, in a way, a symbol of a young scientist. “Sergey Nikitovich Mergelyan, was born 19.5.1928 in Simferopol. Soviet mathematician, corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences -AS USSR- (1953), academician of the Armenian SSR Academy of Sciences (AS Armenian SSR) - 1956, the USSR Communist Party membership since 1955”. “S.N. Mergelyan graduated from the Erevan State University - ESU (1947). In 1945-1957 he was working at the ESU, in 1954-1958 and 1964-1968 at the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU). In 1956-1960 he held position of the founding director of the Erevan Scientific Research Institute of Mathematical Machinery (ErSRIMM) and, simultaneously, the director of the Computer Centre of the AS Armenian SSR. In1961-1971 he was working at the Mathematical Institute AS USSR, since 1971 held the office of the AS Armenian SSR vice-president”. “Main contribution: researches on the complex variable functions theory, approximation theory, potential and harmonic functions theory. S.N. Mergelyan was twice elected as the Deputy to the Armenian SSR Supreme Soviet (parliament) In 1952 he was awarded the USSR highest premium – the State Premium (then “Stalin Premium”)”. Source/quotation: “The Big Soviet Encyclopedia” [1]. Sergey Nikitovich Mergelyan () Although mathematician Sergey Mergelyan was not computer designer, it was he who made decisive impact on the beginning and development of Armenian computer science and engineering. He made outstanding contribution in Armenian science, as well as in development of the Soviet computational mathematics in general. In the post-war years level of Armenian science essentially increased. It makes especial impression if one remembers the tragic hardships experienced by Armenian people less then fifteen years before Mergelyan's birth. Mergelyan was one of the most famous Soviet Armenian mathematicians, however, he was born and spent childhood in Russia. He studied at the senior school and graduated from the university in Armenia, but a great deal of his professional life was also connected with Russia. He worked many years in Moscow, here he received his doctorate, became a member of the USSR Academy of Sciences and received most of his honours. Of course, one shouldn't forget that the USSR was the common state for all its folks and republics. Therefore, nobody considered changing Moscow in Moscow for Erevan (and vice versa) as “going abroad”. Many of his friends and colleagues lived in Moscow; here he met his wife and, despite impressive “geography” of their following common life, they both have been buried here. It would be more correct to say that work of a scientist of such dimension is not limited with some institute's premises or even with some republican borders – it belongs to the whole scientific world. Sergey Mergelyan was born on 19.05.1928 in Simferopol (Crimea, Russia) into the family of Nikita Ivanovich Mergelov (formerly private entrepreneur, of Armenian origin) and his russian wife Ludmila Ivanovna Vyrodova, before revolution her father was an executive director of the “Azov-Black Sea bank”. In 1936 Mergelov, the father, was engaged in construction of a factory (paper-mill) in town of Yelets (West of Russian Federation), however, was (false) accused and sent with his family into exile to Siberian settlement Narym. Luckily, with some efforts of Ludmila Ivanovna, the case was soon cleared: As he was not guilty of anything, he was completely rehabilitated by the directive the USSR attorney general himself and soon the family settled in the town of Kerch in Crimea. Sergey entered the secondary school in Kerch, but in 1941, with the beginning of the war (WWII) and the advance of Nazi armies in the South, the Mergelovs moved to Erevan, Armenia. There the father was -again- participating in construction of a paper factory. Since young years Sergey was distinguished with attractive appearance and very good voice. However, outstanding mathematical talents were his most remarkable traits. In 1943 Armenian republican mathematical and physical competition was held in Erevan; Sergey won the first place at it. He finished school with distinction at the age of 16 (almost two years earlier as his schoolmates). Sergey was really lucky, his “early talents” have not “faded”. Grant Rostomyan – teacher of mathematics at Erevan school, paid attention to his unusual abilities and not only predicted him “a great future” but also did his best to make it real. He was taking special care of the able pupil and, beside the interest to mathematics, cultivated in him concentration abilities and industriousness. Good scientist is a hardworking one. Luckily Sergey himself was very much interested in learning, he founded the most difficult problems and not only solved them but also himself studied and analyzed related theory. When he was finishing the 9th form he simultaneously passed exams for the 10th one and already in the same 1944th year entered the faculty of physics and mathematics of the Erevan State University (ESU). At the first course Mergelyan studied only one week and then was transferred to the second one (without passing additional exams). Soon after, the university professor Artashes Liparitovich Shaginyan noticed Sergey's achievements and invited him to join his seminar. Sergey prepared and made his first scientific publication there. As a student Sergey was not only learning but also began teaching. He led the mathematical society at the Erevan Palace of Pioneers (city children club) being absolutely free at mathematical phantasies. He himself composed complicated problems “with tricks”, organised competitions for solving the most difficult problems, made numerous collective mathematical games, etc. In 1946 Sergey (Mergelov) “as usual” successfully graduated after three years instead of “standard” five years of learning. He restored original variant of his family name and received diploma already as Sergey Nikitovich Mergelyan. In 1946, directly after graduation, 19-years old graduate Mergelyan entered post-graduate department at the V.A. Steklov Moscow Mathematical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (AS USSR). All necessary formalities were settled very quickly thank to assistance of the President of Armenian Republican Academy of Sciences – Viktor Amasaspovich Ambartsumyan[2]. Sergey Mergelyan was really lucky with his scientific supervisor. That was famous mathematician academician Mstislav Vsevolodovich Keldysh – later, president of the AS USSR. Within eighteen months Mergelyan passed all necessary exams for the Candidate of Sciences degree, and prepared his dissertation thesis (usually post-graduate study lasts three years). The basis of his work was formed of the article which he had written (and published) in Erevan and of two later works written in Moscow. In 1949 Sergey defended his dissertation with tremendous success. Although he presented the work as the candidate of sciences dissertation, all three his official opponents (M.A. Lavrentev, A.O. Gelfand and S.M. Nikolskiy) applied to the Scientific Council of the university asking to award him a doctorate in mathematics[3] without receiving the (“intermediate”) candidate degree. As the scientific level of Mergelyan's dissertation was very high, and its research part was focused on absolutely unknown field, request of the opponents was granted and Sergey –at the age of 21- became the USSR youngest doctor of mathematics. Even the Nobel Prize laureate Soviet mathematician and cyberneticist academician Leonid Kantorovich received his doctorate in mathematics at the age of 23. In 1949 Mergelyan also joined regular seminar led by academician Mikail Lavrentyev at the V.A. Steklov Mathematical Institute. That period of time was very stressful for Mergelyan, his working in Moscow did not mean that he left Erevan completely. Even more, in 1950 as a sign of respect to their compatriot (an evidence of continuing connections) administration of Erevan presented the 22 years old scientist new two bedrooms flat. That was an extraordinary event for the time of the war damaged country restoration. The field of his scientific interests included approximate demonstration of given functions through simpler ones. Already P.L. Chebyshev (famous mathematician of the XIX century) formulated this problem in the context of the theory of mechanisms. Later it was developed by A.A. Markov (the elder) and, in our time, S.N. Bernshtein, M.A. Lavrentyev and M.V. Keldysh. However, the approximation theory was not developed in the field of complex numbers. Sergey Mergelyan started systematic researches on it and subsequently obtained brilliant results. In 1951-1953 he published some significant works: . Mergelyan also proposed his solution of the problem of continuous functions approximation with polynomials (1951). An additional proof of the importance of his work consists in the “Stalin Premium (II grade)” and the title of “Laureate” given him in 1952. The premium was a “complex”, which also included “financial part” of 100 000 rubles. That was comparable with a yearly salary of a university professor at that time. Academician A.N. Nesmeyanov[4], then the president of the AS USSR and the rector of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), specially emphasized in his comments that Mergelyan's researches had “Special importance for implementation of the developed in them methods for organisation of work with big automatic electronic computers” (of course, there were no small computers at that time). 23.10.1953 Sergey Mergelyan was elected as a corresponding member of the AS USSR at the Department of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (as mathematician), and in 1954 he was appointed as the professor at the faculty of mechanics and mathematics of the MSU. He was also given a personal flat in new block of flats built specially for the university collaborators, quite near his faculty. Laying emphasize on significance of the “flat problem” shouldn't be surprising. Many of the Soviet towns still bore traces of war destruction and the bigger, quickly growing cities were “overcrowded” (in a state near to housing crisis). Therefore, from the point of common living conditions, a new personal flat as a “present” was comparable with a state award (if not better). A.G. Iosifyan The next three years of the 26-years old academician were more than “tightly stuffed” with the most different events. Thus, only in 1955 he joined the USSR Communist Party (what was very important event), unfortunately lost his father, and met his future wife Lida Kulakova (Lidia Vasilyevna Kulakova). In 1956 he published new works, “Weighted Approximations with Polynomials” (Achievements of Mathematical Sciences /Uspekhi Matematicheskih Nauk/ vol. 11, issue 5 1956) and “Harmonic Approximation and Approximate Solution of the Cauchy Problem for Laplace Equation” (ibid, v 11, issue 5 pp. 3-26). In the same year he lost his mother and married his fiancee Lida Kulakova. Luckily Sergey was very attractive and friendly man and always had good friends. That is why his wedding was very festive and joyful; the party itself was arranged with common help of his friends and relatives and celebrated at the large country-house (dacha) of academician Andronik Gevondovich Iosifyan – legendary founding-director of the Moscow All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Electromechanics (AUSRIE). One more, rather unexpected, episode is also an evidence of Sergey's “multi-talent” nature. Mergelyan always possessed very good voice and was fond of music and singing. Once an old professor of music, who himself had studied in Italy, even recommended Sergey to professionally study vocality and became an opera singer. Although the world-famous young mathematician seemingly did not follow his advice, in the same 1956 he made one more surprise to his wife, friends and family with graduating from vocal department of Moscow conservatory. Together with representative Soviet scientific delegations Mergelyan visited many countries and made reports at numerous conferences. He had been in the East Europe, India, Italy and Australia. Great impressions he received in India at special reception of honour. President Jawaharlal Nehru personally welcomed the delegation and paid special attention to the young “Russian mathematician”. Norbert Wiener and Sergey Mergelyan in India (photo from S. Mergelyan's private archive) He has been a symbol of a young scientist in former USSR. Indira Gandhi, among other world famous persons, has been a personal friend of Mergelyan from early 1950s. In 1978, after her official visit to Moscow, Gandhi had also a private visit to Yerevan just as a guest of Mergelyan. It was not a mere coincidence that academician A.N. Nesmeyanov connected Mergelyan's name with computers and computations. That time was “the dawn of electronic computers” and naturally talented and active young scientist could not stay apart form such progressive development. In June 1956, the Presidium of the AS of Armenian Soviet Republic set forth an initiative which was officially approved and supported by the USSR Government. According to the governmental decision new Erevan Scientific Research Institute of Mathematical Machines (ErSRIMM) was founded in the capital of Soviet Armenia. Sergey Mergelyan played leading role in its creation and also became its founding-director. In reality the young scientist never thought of himself as an administrator but the Armenian Academy insisted. In the same 1956 Mergelyan was also elected as a member of the AS Armenia. Establishing of a big scientific research centre (of the state importance) naturally was not done by a single mathematician-enthusiast. A large team – a scientific and engineering task-force was working on the project. In was also intensively supported by academician V.A. Ambartsumian – the president of AS Armenia[5]. Andranik Gevondovich Iosifyan[6] of Moscow made the most important organisational contribution. A.G. Iosifyan himself began his scientific career in 1930, at the Moscow All-Union Electrotechnical Institute (AEI) – that time one of the Europe most modern and advanced electrotechnical research centers. It had been founded and headed by academician Karl Adolfovich Krug[7] – outstanding scientist-electrician. The institute had perfect infrastructure, one could say almost optimal, and concentrated on its premises practically everything necessary for efficient work; K.A. Krug even built an experimental electrotechnical plant there. In 1941, at the first months of the war[8] A.G. Iosifyan himself founded “his own” (later most powerful) institute of electromechanics (AUSRIE) to develop and produce special equipment for army needs. There is no need to say that Iosifyan took the AEI structure as the model. As he was very influential “elder friend” and supporter of Mergelyan, no wander that the project of new institute in Erevan basically repeated -modernized- Krug's principles (complete cycle «from abstract ideas and scientific fundamentals to practical implementation “in metal”» at the same site). Of course, development of such institute as ErSRIMM was the matter of state interests and the “mighty director of mighty scientific centre” – Andronik Iosifyan with his “born wisdom” and very rich experience was a perfect instructor. However, 27 years old Mergelyan (with minimal knowledge on management) was by no means a mere “spectator”, waiting for somebody to build him an institute. Quite contrary, from the very beginning the “young theoretician”, who had but few (if any at all) ideas on “production organisation”, established so high scientific level and so quickly managed to form an advanced and productive scientific team that the ErSRIMM soon became enormously popular (not only in academic circles) and from then until now is famous as “Mergelyan's institute”. Notably, this name emerged not from authorities but from young scientists of the institute themselves. Unfortunately, at present the name and “former glory” is the biggest part of what remained from the earlier brilliant scientific centre. Besides Andronik Iosifyan of Moscow, famous Erevan scientists Artashes Shaginyan and Fadey Sarkisyan also made significant contribution to establishing of the new institute, or rather – new scientific field in Armenia. Besides the said, creation of the institute was closely connected with development of computer M-3 in Moscow. It was one of the first Soviet digital electronic computers and the first one in Armenia. Computer M-3 M-3 was relatively small universal digital computer for scientific calculations. It was widely used for integrating common differential equations and equations in partial derivatives (linear and non-linear), solving of systems of linear equations with many unknowns, solving of algebraic and transcendental equations, etc. Viktor Amazaspovich Ambartsumian ( ) He arrived to Moscow in search for a project documentation of some advanced new computer, to assemble it in Erevan at new ErSRIMM. With this problem he addressed to his old acquaintance academician A.G. Iosifyan. Iosifyan in his turn addressed Bruk, whom he knew personally. Besides the wish to help the old friend, Iosifyan himself was interested in new computers for his own institute. The third one to ask for computer was academician Sergey Korolev – leading designer of the first Soviet spaceships and satellites. Of course, he was also “inspired” by “omnipresent” Iosifyan. Meeting of the “big three” with I.S. Bruk played decisive role in “biography” of M-3. In 1956 experimental plant of Iosifyan's institute produced and tested three computers (under supervision of Bruk's young designers). The first one stayed at Iosifyan's institute, the second went to Korolev's space-centre and the third one traveled off to Erevan. In 1960, ErSRIMM produced digital electronic computer “Razdan” – the first Armenian computer and the first semiconductor computer in the USSR. Its design was based on technical documentation for M-3; the computer was assembled with active assistance of A.G. Josifyan's institute (Moscow AUSRIE). Thus, M-3 played a notable role in initial period of computer development in Armenina. Significant contribution was also made by G.G. Melik-Pashaev – the scientist from ErSRIMM who obtained solid experience at computers when he was participating in testing and working with M-3 in Moscow, at the Iosifyan's AUSRIE. When the first computers were received in Erevan, the work of the “Mergelyan's Institute” got running “at full speed”. Already in 1957 Mergelyan himself founded, and headed, (joint) computer centre of the Academy of Sciences Armenia and of the Erevan State University. Obvious success inspirited the young scientist. Mergelyan was always very sincere person. He was also both broad minded and patriotic simultaneously. One should understand it correctly: during almost three thousand years of its history the state of Armenia, as well as its people, suffered uncountable invasions, occupations, oppressions, other miseries, etc. Yet, contrarily to all misfortunes, armenians still exist both as state and folk. No wonder, that it's a natural thing for every Armenian to respect and try to do possible help to the land of his ancestors. At the same time armenians are very loyal citizens in every country where they live (and armenians live everywhere). So, that should be remembered for correct evaluation of motives moving people in some situations. Although Mergelyan was sincerely interested in continuing his prosperous scientific work in Moscow and, of course, in maintaining his friendly and social connections there, he let to persuade himself to stay in Erevan, with its “just beginning” computer science and generally “more modest scientific dimensions”. The biggest influence on his decision was that of academician Ambartsumian (then the president of the AS Armenia), who also declared him possibility to be the leader in this new scientific field (in Armenian republic) and to freely realise all his scientific ideas, which the young mathematician always had “a million”. Naturally that was very attractive perspective for a young man in the beginning of his professional career. Armenians are intellectual folk and Armenia never experienced lack of talented people; scientific growth of the Soviet Armenia was constantly increasing. However, the problems of daily routine and practice are usually far from “romantic pictures”. 30 years old Mergelyan was “born as a scientist” in Moscow and its “dimensions of scientific life” was his natural accustomed environment, if one can say so. Here in Erevan everything was different, “smaller” and the institute itself was the republic's firstborn in the field of computing and cybernetics that time. In a sense he had to start the work from the very beginning. In spite of all that, within relatively short time scientific level of the institute became comparable with same of many similar organisations of Moscow. ErSRIMM had departments for designing computer hard and software, including development of technological equipment. As mentioned above, the experimental production was also organised at the institute, including production shops for making pieces of hardware, including computer units and the power supply sources. These production shops were later integrated into “experimental production department” and still later it was re-organised into the Experimental Plant of ErSRIMM. To do justice for A.G. Iosifyan, his “invisible hand” was clearly seen there. Rapidly increasing amount of work left no possibility for Mergelyan to share his time between Erevan and Moscow; in 1958 he left his position at the MSU and soon after stopped regular visits to mathematical seminar of academician Lavrentiev. However, he did not break scientific connections with Moscow and in 1959 he became a member of the first, and very famous, Scientific Council on the Complex Problem “Cybernetics”. That was legendary All-Union Council established by academician and admiral Axel Berg, which became the starting point of the official Soviet researches in the field of cybernetics. At the same time Sergey Mergelyan published one more famous work, “Approximations of the functions of complex variable”, in the jubilee collection of works “Forty Years of Mathematics in the USSR, 1917-1957.” (M. Vol.1 pp. 383-398). “Mergelyan's institute” was developing very intensively. Soon computer “RAZDAN” was modified and the new machine “RAZDAN-2” was broadly used in scientific researches and in producing industry. In 1965 the next modification – “RAZDAN-3” was put into operation. Computation complex system “Marshrut-1” for automated booking of railway tickets, produced at the ErSRIMM, was one of “RAZDAN-3” implementations. This system was also used many years at some railway stations of Moscow. The group of scientists and designers of “Marshrut-1” was awarded Armenia's state premiums. In 1960-1970s various models of popular new computer family NAIRI were produced[9]. There were: NAIRI-1, NAIRI-2, NAIRI-3, NAIRI-3.1, NAIRI-3.2, NAIRI-3.3, NAIRI-4, NAIRI-4.1. All these machines were designed in Erevan. Computer NAIRI was called “Computer for engineering calculations”. It was intended for solving various scientific, engineering and economical problems. Main advantages of NAIRI family were: friendly interface, what enabled communication (with the computer) in a language similar to the common mathematical one, and the principles of microprogramming which were widely used in it. Already in the 1980s NAIRI family was extended with multicomputer and multiprocessor complexes NAIRI-4B, NAIRI-4B-S and “KOVER”. They were compatible on the software level with famous computers PDP (PDP-11/40, PDP-11/44) of DEC Corporation. Institute ErSRIMM was awarded the USSR State Premium for design and realisation of the computer family NAIRI. In the 1970-1980s the institute activiely participated in -all-union- projects on development of “medium computers” part of the ES Computers series (ЕS-1030, ЕS-1045, ЕS-1046)[10] and of multicomputer and multiprocessor complexes on their basis. Besides that, special modification of serial computer ES-1030 was produced for the USSR Ministry of Defense needs. This machine had specially made system of instructions. Generally speaking, ErSRIMM grew over the boarders of an ordinary republican scientific organisation and became one of the leading Soviet institutes in the field of computers, computations and automatic control/management systems. Both the institute, as an organisation, and many of its collaborators personally many times were awarded state premiums and orders of the USSR and of Armenian Republic. In 1992, the ErSRIMM departments which were developing global Automatic Control Systems (ACS) were transformed into the Erevan Scientific Research Institute of ACS (ErSRIACS). Observing scientific history of ErSRIMM during its establishing period, one can clearly see that the “most of the best” of the institute, was created, done and achieved due to the ideas or personal leadership of Sergey Mergelyan. However, after several years in Erevan he returned to his “born field of pure mathematics”. (Should he really do it? Anyway, he was not “the man of administrative routine”.) In 1960 he passed his directorial position at the ErSRIMM to Faddey Sarkisyan, and from 1961 resumed his work at the Moscow Mathematical Institute of the AS USSR. Here he began with researches on the problem of approximation of continuous functions, satisfying conditions of tangential property, for arbitrary sets (1962) and on solution of Bernstein's approximation problem (1963). In the same year he was appointed (it was confirmed by elections) as the vice secretary of the AS USSR; academician N.N. Bogolyubov was the secretary. In 1964 Mergelyan became the head of the department of complex analysis at the Mathematical Institute (this position he held until 2002 !) and in the same 1964 he was “restored” at his professorial position at the M.V. Lomonosov MSU faculty of mechanics and mathematics. He published one more general work: N.N. Bogolyubov, S.N. Mergelyan “The Soviet Mathematical School” (1967 pp. 64). In 1968 he left his professor's position and was only engaged in pure science. One of his notable works of that period was “The Theory of Functions of Complex Variable”, published by the periodical “The History of National Mathematics” (vol. 4, book 1, pp. 112-178). His most interesting scientific report was done at the international mathematical congress in Nice, in 1970. In 1971 Sergey Mergelyan was elected as the vice-president of the AS Armenia. The president of the academy V.A. Ambartsumian insisted that he should again move to Erevan. Unfortunately, that time his professional career entered period of deep crisis. Erevan Academy was much smaller than the AS USSR, in Moscow, however, there was much more “internal politics” in it. Unexpectedly to his friends and colleagues Mergelyan failed to pass the next elections to the presidium of the Academy and had to leave it. He returned to the director's position at the academical computer centre, which he himself had founded, but after five years he had to leave it too. He was criticized for spending much of his working time for “scientific voyages abroad”. It's not clear what is “much” and what is “few” regarding participation in international professional congresses, where, by the way, he did not go on his initiative but was officially invited as a world famous scientist. May be his administrative work was really in poor condition (he was not very good at management), it's difficult to judge after many years gone by. Nevertheless, Mergelyan always brought the newest scientific information from the conferences, what was especially “profitable” for Erevan institutes, which -despite their advanced level- were, let's say so, “not so close to the epicenter of the world scientific life, as the USSR Academy in Moscow”. Speaking about the academy in Moscow (AS USSR), Mergelyan never broke relations with it. Thus, in 1981 he and N.N. Bogolyubov released special scientific review to the 70 years jubilee of Mergelyan's earlier scientific chief M.V. Keldysh, “About Mathematical Works of M.V. Keldysh”. After leaving the computer centre Mergelyan received directorship in, rather provincial, pedagogical university of Kirovakan (after 1992 – Vanadzor) in North Armenia. First he even liked that, in the hope (unfortunately naive one) to transform the traditional educational institute into modern and advanced scientific centre, but the “provincial traditionalism” of the place was too hard to overcome it. Most of his time there was spent for administrative routine and (again) “internal political games”, of what he was really disgusted. Eventually he had to quit the attempts of creation of “scientific oasis” and, in 1986, he returned to Moscow to the V.A. Steklov Mathematical Institute. In the same year his elder son Nikita Mergelyan left Moscow for the USA. That time the “new horizons” seemingly opened in science. Communications became much easier and soon, in 1990, Sergey Mergelyan received invitation from the Brown University (Rhode Island USA) to teach mathematics there, and a year later from the Cornell University. Nevertheless, in the comparison with the Academy of Moscow the latter has won, and in 1993 the Mergelyans (Sergey and Lidia) again returned to Moscow. Unfortunately the “reforms” of the 1990s in the USSR did not bring anything good to its science, and in 1996 the “innerly disappointed” Mergelyans moved to Sacramento, California, to live together with their son Nikita. In the year 2002 his wife Lidia died and was buried in Moscow, at the Novodevichye cemetery10. That was the hardest blow for him and for the son, who finally returned to Moscow soon after. World famous mathematician Sergey Mergelyan, already aged and with poor health, stayed in Los Angeles with the younger son Sergey and his family. The last “high prize” which Mergelyan received in his life was the Armenian national “st. Mesrop Mashtots Medal”11 which was given him (19.05.2008) on the occasion of his 80 years birthday on the decision of the Armenian government. The medal together with the letter from the President of Armenia was brought to him by the consular general of the Armenian embassy to the USA. The last five years of his life he lived next door to his son Sergey in Los Angeles, where he died on the 19 August 2008. Many people, including numerous mathematicians and the former colleagues from the ErSRIMM (some of them also live there) came to his funerals at Glendale, California. Later he was re-buried in Moscow, at the Novodevichye cemetery, beside his mother and wife. Some famous works by S.N. Mergelyan: - . - “Weighted Approximations with Polynomials” (Achievements of Mathematical Sciences /Uspekhi Matematicheskih Nauk/ v 11, issue 5 1956) - “Harmonic Approximation and Approximate Solution of the Cauchy Problem for Laplace Equation” (ibid, v 11, issue 5 pp 3-26) Sources (in Russian): - Y.V. Rogachev “Computer M-3” (Виртуальный компьютерный музей ). - B.N. Malinovskiy. History of Computers in Personalities. Kiev KIT 1994. -. - Fatekh Vergasov. “Sergey Nikitovich Mergelyan” - Grigor Apoyan. “An Essay on a Mathematician and not only on him” № 485, 23 July 2006 (). Notes. 1. V.A. Ambartsumyan – famous Soviet astrophysicist, member of the AS of Armenia (from 1943) and the president of the AS of Armenia (1947-1993), academician of the AS USSR (from 1953), twice awarded honourable title “Hero of the Socialist Labour” (one of the USSR highest civil honours) in 1968 and 1978. 2. One should remember that there are two scientific degrees -stages- in the Soviet/Russian academic system, Candidate of Sciences (the first – lover degree) and the Doctor of Sciences (the second – higher degree) 3. Alexandr Nikolayevich Nesmeyanov (9.09.1899-17.01.1980, Moscow) – outstanding Soviet organic chemist. In 1948-1951 rector of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. He also headed and supervised construction of the world-famous new building of the university (Moscow Leninskie Gory). In 1951-1961 – president of the AS USSR 4. Viktor Amazaspovich Ambartsumian –. 5. Andranik Gevondovich Iosifyan: 6..Krug Karl Adolfovich (in Computer-museum) 7. The USSR joined the WWII (or rather “the war entered the USSR”) on the 22.06.1941. 8. More in NAIRI computers 9. On ES Computers see:. 10. The central cemetery of Moscow, numerous most popular people have been buried there in various times. 11.

current students / alumni Alumni - Farshid Rafiee Rad, Yong Li, Jihoon Park, Mikhail , Prof. Moon, Jin Hui and his wife This photo was taken in Ho Ho restaurant on 7/22/2004. - Yong Li, Jihoon Park, Farshid Rafiee Rad, Jin Hui. This photo was taken inside the CDS Lab on 6/10/2003. - Jaewook Lee, Jihoon, Farshid, Yong, Dilip This photo was taken in Campus Starbucks on 11/24/2004. - Jaewook Lee, Jihoon, Yoonjung Kim (visiting student) , Farshid, Hakim, Prof. Moon. This photo was taken at Prof. Moon's house on 08/27/2005. - Taken on 7/19/07 in a Korean Restaurant in Santa Clara. Jae M getting together with the former CDS gang - Frank Zeng, Saptho Nair, Bina (Zhaohui) Qu, Farshid Rafiee Rad, and Jihoon Park - on his trip to the Bay area. Notice Frank, Saptho and Bina look just the same as they did some 12 years ago. - From left, clockwise: Hamid Shafiee, Taehyun Jeon, Sian She, Jay Moon, Frank Zeng, Barrett Brickner, Zhaohui Qu, Jin Li, Younggyun Kim, Travis Oenning. This photo was taken on the University of Minnesota mall during TMRC '97. Sungwhan Yoon (Ph.D. '17) Yeongsoo Yoon (M.S. '17) Sunghyeon Kang (M.S. '17) Beongjun Choi (M.S. '17) Sunyoung Jo (M.S. '17) Junyong Kang (M.S. '16) Soonyoung Kang (Ph.D. '16) Hyemi Kang (M.S. '16) Jiyong Sohn (M.S. '16) Dongwon Lee (M.S. '15) Jaehyeong No (Ph.D. '15) Suyeong Lee (M.S. '15) Dongjin Lee (M.S. '15) Minsu Choi (M.S. '14) Hyegyeong Park (M.S. '14) Geunyeong Yu (Ph.D. '14) KyungJin Kim (M.S. '13) Minseok Choi (M.S. '13) DongJae Kim (M.S. '13) Sungwhan Yoon (M.S. '13) Joonwoo Shin (Ph.D. '13) Sungkeun Jo (co-advised with Prof. JS Ha) (M.S. '12) Joonwoo Kim (M.S. '12) Soonyoung Kang (M.S. '12) Yanji Piao (M.S. '11) Jaehyeong No (M.S. '11) Seongwook Jeong (Ph.D. '11) Daejung Yoon (Ph.D. '11) Hakim S AlHussien (Ph.D. '09) Jaewook Lee (Ph.D. '08) Jihoon Park (Ph.D. '07) Younghwan Bae (M.S. '06) Farshid Rafiee Rad (Ph.D. '05) Yong Li (Ph.D. '05) Ying Chen (M.S. '05) Dilip Adityan (M.S. '05) Jinghuan Chen(Ph.D '04) Hui Jin(Ph.D. '04) Ying Chen (M.S. '04) Jongseung Park (Ph.D. '01) Baldur Steingrimsson (Ph.D. '01) Travis Oenning (Ph.D. '00) Ke Ning (M.S. '01) Kaichi Zhang (M.S. '00) Jia Zeng (M.S. '00) Jun Ma (M.S. '99) Barrett Brickner (Ph.D. '98) Younggyun Kim (Ph.D. '98) Taehyun Jeon (Ph.D. '97) Taeseok Yang (M.S. '97) Vijay Sundararajan (M.S. '96) Sapthotharan Nair (Ph.D. '95) Jin Li (M.S. '95) Chad Rice (M.S. '95) Hamid Shafiee (Ph.D. '94) Weining (Frank) Zeng (Ph.D. '94) Zhaohui Qu (M.S. '93) Sian She (M.S. '93) Sharam Jamshidi (M.S. '92) Gzim Ocakoglu (M.S. '92)

Shelby Lynne ‘I Am Shelby Lynne’ Today’s Cool Album of the Day (#823 in the Series) is Shelby Lynne, I Am Shelby Lynne Shelby Lynne had been a recording artist for quite a while by the time this album came out but I think it’s fair to say that things hadn’t been going quite the way she would have liked up until that point. It seemed the time was right for her to take control, make a stand, and get things back on track. Hence the title of this, quite wonderful, album: I Am Shelby Lynne, a definitive statement if ever there was one. It was actually her sixth album, although the first in almost five years, and not so much a comeback as a complete creative, and ultimately critical, rebirth. And that’s the kind of story I like, when an artist who’s seemingly had their shot, gave it their best but faded away, manages to come storming back and deliver a knockout blow, proving their worth all over again. Think Elvis in the late 60’s maybe or Johnny Cash on his work with Rick Rubin. There are, of course, many other examples. Shelby’s career started with aplomb, recording a Top 50 hit duet with George Jones in 1988, and she was earmarked for great things by Epic Records, her debut album was even produced by the legendary producer Billy Sherrill, a revered name in Country music circles. Her next effort gave her good placing on the Country chart but subsequent releases saw diminishing returns and the style wasn’t one she was entirely comfortable with, the slick country-pop sound which dominates mainstream Nashville to this day. Some call it bland, I prefer not to talk about it at all. I would like to stress at this point that some of this stuff was damn good incidentally, lest you get the wrong idea. Have a listen to (for example) “Tell Me I’m Crazy” and you’ll hear a great torch song, delivered in fine Patsy Cline style. Shelby was actually a wonderful talent even back then. It’s just that, well, she got BETTER. Fifth album “Restless” only crept into the Top 75 and by 1998 she hadn’t released anything in 4 years, time for a rethink. Enter : Bill Bottrell. Now, I’m the first to admit that before doing a spot of reading up on this album recently I knew next to nothing about Bill Bottrell. I knew he was the man who produced, and co-wrote much of, Sheryl Crow’s debut album Tuesday Night Music Club because it’s a real favourite of mine but beyond that I was clueless. Turns out though that he has been a very busy and successful chap over the years, not to mention a very talented one, working with the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Elton John and Tom Petty and winning some Grammy awards in the process, not a bad CV by any standards! He came onboard for this one and certainly earned his corn, not only does he produce the album but he’s listed as a co-writer on most of the songs and plays on many of them as well, contributing on umpteen different instruments. I think it’s fair to say that it’s very much collaboration on equal terms, his input was certainly key to this work. And as for Shelby Lynne herself, she produced a masterful affirmation of her talents and a reinvention which completely transformed her career! I Am Shelby Lynne sounds nothing like her previous work, there’s merely a hint of “country” for a start and it’s mainly a modern, soulful/bluesy record for the most part. Opener “Your Lies” comes sweeping in on the strength of strings, tale of a deceived lover and it’s apparent already that there’s something special here. The first time I heard “Leavin’ ” I was convinced that Aretha had popped into the studio for a guest appearance, of course she hadn’t and it’s all Shelby, what a vocal. Actually, two vocals for the price of one ! You’ll know what I mean when you hear it, amazing stuff. “Life Is Bad” struts and slides, sounding very much like something from the aforementioned Sheryl Crow album, in a good way, of course. “Why Can’t You Be ?” has a sexy, southern feel to it, “Dreamsome” so laid-back it almost isn’t there, repeat plays reveal a subtle gem which builds gently and gets addictive. Near the end, “Where I’m From” may well be my favourite song on the album, the sound of a long, lazy & languid evening on a porch in Alabama, fireflies buzzing, very evocative stuff. What it all amounted to, as previously mentioned, and was a fantastic reinvention and a complete turnaround for Shelby’s career. Incredibly, after six albums and 13 years in the business, she won the Grammy in 2001 for “Best New Artist!” That is quite an achievement. She didn’t stop there, now rejuvenated she went on to craft some fine work indeed, Shelby Lynne is one of those artists who simply doesn’t seem capable of making a bad record. Her sister, Alison Moorer is a fine musician in her own rite, married to Americana legend Steve Earle. And Shelby,well I consider this the finest album of the lady’s career to date, a real treat which you would do well to seek out. – Stephen Dalrymple, Glasgow, Scotland Track Listing - “Your Lies” (Bill Bottrell, Shelby Lynne) — 2:54 - “Leavin'” (Lynne) — 3:11 - “Life Is Bad” (Bottrell, Fritz, Lynne) — 3:18 - “Thought It Would Be Easier” (Bottrell, Lynne) 3:55 - “Gotta Get Back” (Bottrell, Lynne, Overstreet) — 3:37 - “Why Can’t You Be?” (Bottrell, Lynne) — 4:19 - “Lookin’ Up” (Bottrell, Lynne) — 3:28 - “Dream Some” (Joyce, Lynne, Overstreet) — 4:12 - “Where I’m From” (Bottrell, Lynne) — 3:49 - “Black Light Blue” (Bottrell, Lynne) — 3:23 Personnel - Shelby Lynne — acoustic guitar, guitar, electric guitar, vocals, background vocals, clapping, stomping - Bill Bottrell — organ, bass, guitar, harmonica, percussion, pedal steel, drums, keyboards, vocals, background vocals, 12 string guitar, snare drums, clapping, stomping - Jameson Brandt — string contractor - Greg d’Augenlli — flute, horn, keyboards, string bass - George Del Barrio — arranger, conductor, string arrangements - Roger Fritz — dobro, guitar, slide guitar, slide mandolin - Jay Joyce — organ, bass, guitar, keyboards - Dorothy Overstreet — drums, snare drums I first heard this album at one of those “listening stations” at Borders. I listened to about a minute of “Your Lies”, put down the headphones, picked up 2 copies of the disc, and went to the checkout counter. The second copy was for my girlfriend at the time. I thought she would enjoy it, but she couldn’t get over the cover photo. She told me that any guy who would buy a CD with a sexy picture of a hot chick on the cover for his girlfriend was kind of clueless. Oh well. Hearing the opening of “Your Lies”, the question that immediately popped into my head was, “Why on earth isn’t there more music like this!?” The way that the strings interact with the guitar leads. Just beautiful. This one has definitely stood the test of time for me too. I’ve enjoyed most of Shelby Lynne’s subsequent albums, but none as much as this one. It’s a special album Louis that’s for sure, and as for that girl’s reaction, how shallow ! My wife drools over Elvis 68 black leather suit, doesn’t stop ME enjoying the music ! Thanks for the feedback my friend. Great song. Love the production! Interesting side story to the Bill Bottrell connection that I read about in an interview around when AISL came out. Apparently, both Shelby and Sheryl Crow ended up hating Bottrell by the ends of their respective collaborations with him. It’s probably not coincidence that Shelby & Sheryl dueted at the Grammies. Also, Shelby’s record “Temptation” is a gem in itself. It’s where I first heard her and I remember the hoopla in Nashville when it came out, because NO ONE had put together a record quite like it in a very long time and NO ONE expected it from her. I saw her perform tracks from it, live, on an open-air stage in downtown Nashville in front of thousands, and she was electric.

The UK Government announced today that it will implement most of the recommendations of the recent report produced by the Climate Care Alliance entitled "Only Planet Hating Bastards Drink Fizzy Pop". The report which was compiled by the Alliance’s scientific research unit based at Trumpington Primary School was unveiled at a star studded media event on the pacific paradise of Vanuatu. Thousands of concerned and interested climate warriors risked ever rising sea levels to be flown-in specially for the report's official publication. The report highlights the dangers to the environment of the consumption of drinks containing large amounts of CO2. The report makes stark reading for fizzy drink manufacturers. They are accused of helping big oil hoodwink the public about the amount of CO2 they produce by hiding large amounts of it in fizzy pop. The main thrust of the report focuses on the amounts of CO2 released into the atmosphere when fizzy pop containers are opened . The Climate Care Alliance are the first team of climate researchers to focus on this previously unexplored threat to human survival. Using the latest climate modeling software available for the Nintendo DS the Alliance has emphatically proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that opening cans and bottles of fizzy pop releases huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere directly causing global warming, anthropogenic climate change, drought, famine, floods, avalanches and general gloom and despondency. The report further states that there is some evidence that fizzy pop may be responsible for earthquakes. The Alliance stresses that their findings in this area were not conclusive and needed further research which would require further government funding. Many of the reports findings are cause for serious concern to mankind. 1. Every time a bottle of Panda pop is opened an angel dies. 2. For every 2 litre bottle of Tango opened an acre of rainforest disappears for EVER. The Earth knows when it's been Tango'd. 3. If everybody in China opened a fizzy pop container at the same time all the Himalayan glaciers would melt within days, and Holland would be completely inundated by the North Sea within35 minutes. 4. The Indonesian tsunami was caused by a large group of Australians carelessly opening bottles of pop during a barbecue on Bondai Beach. The Australian government has hotly refuted this claim because, in the words of the Australian culture minister, "This pommie bastard must be a real gallah if he thinks Aussies drink fizzy pop at barbys. Haven't ya heard of Chardonnay ya pommie puff?" Speaking at the unveiling of the report the leader of the research team Tarquin Richbastardskid said “The science on this is settled, the increase in the production and consumption of fizzy pop correlates exactly with the increase in temperatures as shown by the world renowned Hockey Stick graph. People who continue to drink fizzy pop in today’s enlightened times are the same sort of people who bombed Dresden and nuked Nagasaki and they be treated accordingly.” Pressed to justify this statement he replied “Look our research proves that anyone who does not agree with us is a Nazi. My grandfather fought the Nazi’s from the cellar under his stately home in Berkshire and I vow here and now to follow his example” The government has been quick to act on the report by bringing forward legislation which will make the production, sale and possession of fizzy pop a criminal offense punishable by a £250,000 fine, 5 years in prison and forfeiture of all personal assets. When questioned about the severity of the punishment Hilary Benn said “The evil planet killing bastard produce, push and use these ghastly so called "soft drink products" should be treated like the nazi drug pushing pimps they are.” MPs will be exempt from the new legislation. "MPs will be exempt from the new legislation." Nothing new there then.

Much to the delight of players around the league and the entire football world, the NFL is finally giving in and relaxing its rules on player celebrations. As it turns out, the long-awaited change actually came after commissioner Roger Goodell sought out the advice of a player who was known for his creative celebrations during his playing days, Chad Johnson. Related – Chad Johnson: Goodell asked my advice before celebration rule change That got us thinking. With the league having so many things that need to be addressed, which other retired NFLers could Goodell reach out to for advice? Ricky Williams Issue: Marijuana Look no further for Exhibit A on the NFL’s archaism. Despite the fact that there is clear, scientific evidence of marijuana being a more effective and safer alternative to more addictive painkillers – not to mention an ever-increasing number of states now making it legal – the NFL has held firm with its policies and is continuing to suspend players for usage. This needs to be addressed yesterday. Along with outspoken activists like Eugene Monroe, Goodell could seek out some important insight from Williams. The longtime Miami Dolphins running back who admitted “it’s kind of true” he briefly retired from football in 2004 to smoke weed, later adding that he’d be a Hall of Famer if marijuana hadn’t been banned by the NFL. Kurt Warner Issue: Developmental league Of North America’s four major sports leagues, the NFL is the only one that doesn’t have a farm system. And no, college football doesn’t count. Having a true developmental league, where players can be groomed specifically for the professional ranks, and by NFL-caliber coaching, would do wonders for talent depth and identifying potential that may otherwise go unnoticed. Just ask Warner how well things worked out for him after getting an opportunity to show what he can do in NFL Europe. The former Rams and Cardinals quarterback will be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this August. Peyton Manning Issue: Player marketing It’s befuddling how a league filled with superstars manages to so poorly market its most marketable assets. Perhaps it’s by design, making everything about the “shield,” but that’s no justification. The NFL should be taking a page out of the NBA’s book in recognizing that the players are what make this machine run. Having done well to market himself both during and after his Hall of Fame career, this is one of many aspects for which Manning could share some helpful advice. Calvin Johnson Issue: Catch rule We can’t afford to go another season without at least some semblance of clarity on the catch rules. Competitive factors are at the forefront of this matter, to be sure, but this has also gotten to the point where it affects even our sanity. Dez Bryant is, of course, the first name that comes to mind in relation to infamous catch controversies. But Goodell won’t be limited to active players if he’s looking to find others who’ve been the victim of the apparent rule-book guesswork. Johnson can let Goodell know, both from the perspective of a player and anyone with a pair of eyes, how ridiculous it is that plays like this get called back. John Madden Issue: Thursday Night Football Forget the inexcusable quality of play for a second. How is it that a league preaching player safety can’t see the issue in forcing players to suit up for Thursday Night Football, often on just three days rest following their last game? It makes zero sense. Hall of Fame coach John Madden, who also spent 30 years in the broadcast booth, summed it up nicely in an appearance on a Bay Area News Group podcast in November. “Something has to be done about Thursday night football,” Madden said. “It just doesn’t.” Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

TREKCORE > DEEP SPACE NINE > CAST > Colonel Kira Nerys PLAYED BY: Nana Visitor FULL NAME: Kira Nerys SPECIES: Bajoran POSITION: Officer in the Bajoran militia; former resistance fighter; now liaison officer and second-in-command of Deep Space Nine; station commander at series' end RANK: Major until season 7; Colonel thereafter BIRTHPLACE: Bajor (Dahkur province); Singha refugee camp PARENTS: Kira Taban (father; deceased); Kira Meru (mother, deceased) SILBLINGS: Kira Reon, Kira Pohl (younger brothers, both deceased) LOVE INTERESTS: Bareil, Shakaar, Odo SPOUSE: none HOBBIES: Kira enjoyed raktajino, coffee, and ginger and jumja teas. Her favorite candy was Rigelian chocolates. She was also a player and follower of springball. DISLIKES: Holosuites; flowers, jumja sticks OTHER FRIENDS: Shakaar, Lupaza (now deceased), Furel (now deceased), Razka Karn, Galis Blin, Latha (now deceased), Mobara (now deceased), Trentin Fala (deceased), unnamed sculptor in Dahkur Province, friend who owned house in Musilla Province Kira was born in Dahkur Province on Bajor, and grew up in the Singha refugee camp. She was told by her father that her mother had died of malnutrition in Singha when Nerys was three; however, in 2374, she learned that Kira Meru had actually been taken away as a "comfort woman" and lived as Gul Dukat's lover for seven years. At age 13, she began hanging around the camp of the Shakaar resistance cell, doing odd chores until she was allowed to participate in an ambush of a Cardassian skimmer. Lupaza made her earring out of metal from the skimmer. (This is according to what Kira told Odo in "The Darkness and the Light". In "Indiscretion", she told Dukat that she was recruited into the cell by Lorit Akrem.) While still a teenager, she was present when the Shakaar liberated Gallitep. At some point, Kira's father was one of the injured rescued by the Shakaar after the Cardassians burned down his village; she went off on a raid rather than watch him die, a decision she later regretted. Years later, Kira was sent to Terok Nor to find a list of collaborators hidden in the chemist's shop. As she was searching it, the chemist, Vaatrik, walked in, and she was forced to kill him. Afterwards, she met Odo, who was investigating the murder, and eventually admitted to being a rebel, but said she was elsewhere committing sabotage at the time of Vaatrik's death. Odo let her go. When the Cardassians finally left Bajor, Kira opposed Federation aid, but found herself assigned to the Cardassians' old mining station, now DS9, as liaison officer ("Emissary"). Her loyalties were torn by the arrival of a Bajoran terrorist named Tahna, who wanted her aid in what turned out to be a plot to destroy the wormhole's entrance ("Past Prologue"). Kira was present in the crash which killed Kai Opaka, and was deeply affected emotionally by the Kai's fate ("Battle Lines"). In "Progress", she tried to persuade a stubborn farmer, Mullibok, to evacuate from Jeraddo because his life was in danger; she finally burned down his house to force him out. In "Dramatis Personae", under the influence of the Saltah'nah matrix, Kira plotted against Sisko for control of the station. Then, in "Duet", Kira's attitudes toward Cardassians were changed forever by the sacrifice of Marritza. Kira rescued Li Nalas, and was afterwards recalled to Bajor, where she experienced an Orb vision including Bareil as her lover. She was later abducted and beaten by the Circle, and after her rescue took evidence to the Chamber of Ministers that broke the Circle ("The Homecoming"/"The Circle"/"The Siege"). In "Necessary Evil", Kira finally admitted to Odo the truth about Vaatrik, a fact which strained their friendship. Kira later befriended Haneek, who turned on her angrily when Kira agreed with the provisional government that Bajor couldn't handle the influx of Skrreean immigrants ("Sanctuary"). Kira became lovers with Vedek Bareil when he visited the station in "Shadowplay". After coming face to face with her double in the mirror universe ("Crossover"), she was forced by Vedek Winn to investigate accusations that Bareil was a traitor; she discovered he was innocent, but not in time to prevent Winn from becoming Kai ("The Collaborator"). In "The Search, Parts I and II", Kira was included in the mission to locate the Founders, and was present when Odo found his people. Soon afterwards, in "Second Skin", she was kidnapped by the Obsidian Order, altered to appear Cardassian, and told that she was Iliana Ghemor, who had been under deep cover with false memories as a Bajoran. She eventually realized it was a trap for Iliana's father, Tekeny Ghemor. Kira helped Ghemor escape, and he became her "honorary" father. She and Odo later foiled a plot by Quark to get a holo-image of her ("Meridian"). Then, Kira was an unwilling passenger when Tom Riker hijacked the Defiant, but eventually talked him into giving up ("Defiant"). It was not long after that when Kira sat by Bareil's bedside as he died ("Life Support"). In "Heart of Stone", something curious happened on the way back from Prophets' Landing with Odo: Kira woke up in a stasis chamber on a moon in the Badlands. Odo told her about the Female Changeling's impersonation of her, but not how he figured it out. Later, Kira tried to resolve the problem between Shakaar and Winn peacefully, but went on the run with her old leader when they were betrayed by Winn ("Shakaar"). She went after evidence of the fate of the Ravinok, on which her friend Lorit had been lost; with Dukat, she rescued several survivors from a Breen mine, including his daughter Ziyal ("Indiscretion"). Kira, still unaware of Odo's feelings toward her, became lovers with Shakaar during his visit to the station ("Crossfire"). Then, in "Return to Grace", she went on an impromptu mission with Dukat, and afterwards brought Ziyal to live on DS9 under her protection. In "Accession", Kira contemplated resigning to follow her d'jarra. In "Body Parts", Kira was piloting a botanical mission with Keiko O'Brien when Keiko was seriously injured in a runabout accident. Kira allowed Bashir to place Keiko's unborn baby in her uterus; due to Bajoran reproductive physiology, Kira then had to carry the baby to term. She moved in with the O'Briens for the duration of her pregnancy, an arrangement that was not without its complications, such as when she found herself briefly attracted to Miles O'Brien ("Looking for Par'Mach in All the Wrong Places"). Kira was still pregnant when she tracked down and stopped a Cardassian who was murdering members of the Shakaar cell one by one ("The Darkness and the Light"). Then finally, in "The Begotten", Kira gave birth to the O'Briens' son, Kirayoshi. When Tekeny Ghemor returned to DS9, dying, Kira took care of him, until she found out that he had been present at a massacre of Bajoran monks; however, recalling her regret at missing the death of her own father, she finally returned to comfort Ghemor ("Ties of Blood and Water"). After breaking up with Shakaar (due to a negative prophecy at the Kenda Shrine), Kira was on a Defiant mission in which the crew discovered their own descendants. She learned then of Odo's love for her from an older version of him; and also learned that she had died in the Gaians' timeline, due to neural damage which Bashir wasn't equipped to treat on the Defiant. Kira was nonetheless prepared to sacrifice herself to preserve the colonists' existence, but the older Odo's tampering prevented this ("Children of Time"). She remained on DS9 when it was evacuated by Starfleet in "Call to Arms", and coped with life under the Dominion and Cardassia ("A Time to Stand"). After Vedek Yassim's public suicide to protest the Dominion occupation, Kira found it impossible to remain neutral, and she and Odo began a New Resistance movement ("Rocks and Shoals"). However, Kira was furious when Odo was too occupied linking with the Female Changeling to aid Rom in accessing the deflector array, resulting in Rom's capture ("Behind the Lines"). She tried to have Rom freed, and later, she was arrested and held for execution, along with Rom, Leeta, and Jake, but they were sprung by Quark and Ziyal, with later timely aid from Odo ("Favor the Bold"/"Sacrifice of Angels"). Kira and Odo talked it out and restored their friendship, at least somewhat, offscreen in "You Are Cordially Invited". After a brief romance with the mirror-universe Bareil ("Resurrection"), Kira received a message from Dukat on her mother's birthday, telling her that he and her mother had been lovers. She went back in time (using the Orb of Time) to investigate, learned that it was true, and nearly killed both her mother and Dukat, but relented ("Wrongs Darker Than Death or Night"). In "His Way", due to a bit of holographic subterfuge by Vic Fontaine, Kira had a date with Odo, not knowing that he thought it was just a practice dinner with a hologram of her. This gave her a "moment of clarity"; and though the evening ended badly, she confronted Odo the next day, and their kiss in the middle of the Promenade was the beginning of their romantic relationship. Odo later supported Kira when she willingly served as the vessel through which a Prophet battled a pah-wraith, which had possessed Jake ("The Reckoning"). In "Tears of the Prophets", Kira and Odo had their first argument as a couple, but made up. Kira commanded the Defiant after Sisko was incapacitated, and was later left in command of the station. Kira was promoted to Colonel, and aided Senator Cretak in getting permission to build the Romulan hospital on Derna, but when it became clear that the Romulans were using the facility to store weapons, she informed Cretak that the Romulans were to leave, and led a blockade. She managed to bluff them out long enough for the wormhole to be restored ("Image in the Sand"/"Shadows and Symbols"). In "Covenant", Kira was kidnapped by a Dominion transporter which beamed her to Empok Nor, where Dukat tried to convince her to join his community of pah-wraith worshippers. Kira exposed Dukat as a fraud to his followers, and was rescued by the Defiant. Kira's love for Odo was put to the test in "Chimera", when he was tempted to go with Laas and seek the other Changeling explorers. Kira helped Laas escape from a holding cell, and directed him to a rendezvous with Odo, who went but then returned to her, having realized the depth of her love. Later, when Kira was given a temporary Starfleet commission (with the rank of Commander) and sent to teach Damar how to rebel against the Dominion, she and Odo learned on the way there that Odo had the Founders' disease ("When It Rains..."). Over a series of guerrilla missions, Kira pretended to be unaware of Odo's rapid decline, in order to help him preserve his dignity; then finally he collapsed after they had successfully hijacked a Jem'Hadar ship to steal a Breen energy dissipator ("Tacking Into the Wind"). She brought Odo back to DS9, and then left again at his insistence, to continue aiding the Cardassian resistance ("Extreme Measures"). In "The Dogs of War", after a meeting with potential allies became a massacre, Kira went into hiding with Damar and Garak on Cardassia Prime. It was her suggestion that Damar use his "legend" to foment a people's uprising. Finally, in "What You Leave Behind", Kira, Damar, and Garak were captured by the Dominion and nearly executed, but rescued by resistance members. They then stormed Dominion headquarters and captured the Female Changeling. When all was over, Kira learned from Odo of his decision to rejoin the Great Link. She took him back to his homeworld, and they parted there. Kira, who became DS9's commander after Sisko's disappearance, was one of five regulars left on the station at the end. Other facts: Kira had no artistic talent, but knew how to lip-read due to Shakaar's tendency to mumble. Her command code was Kira-1-5-7 alpha. Nana Visitor Nana Visitor plays First Officer Major Kira Nerys, a Bajoran female who is a former terrorist. She has been fighting for Bajoran independence most of her life and is skeptical of the Federation's involvement on Deep Space Nine. "Kira embodies the warrior archetype that all women to a lesser or greater degree possess," Nana explains. "Her aggression is not without purpose, but is passionately connected to her love of the culture, spirituality, and history of the people of Bajor. A mentally and physically fearless fighter, she'll do anything for what she believes is for the good of Bajor.". Nana Visitor bio from StarTrek.com

PMW: Fatah: “Glory and eternity” to female suicide bombers Suicide bomber who murdered 6 is: "The hero Andalib Takatka... carried out a Martyrdom-seeking operation in Jerusalem in which 6 Zionists were killed, and dozens injured"US accuses Israel of using excessive force against Palestinians Suicide bomber Ayyat Al-Akhras who murdered 2 and wounded 28 is:“Bride of Palestine” “Don’t tell it - show it,” is a golden rule in marketing. With that in mind, you could say PA Chairman Abbas has a funny way of showing it. While Abbas recently proclaimed to Israeli TV viewers that he “extends his hand in peace” “hero” and the other as “bride of Palestine.” The Obama administration accused Israel of using excessive force against Palestinians during a wave of deadly violence, in an annual report that pointed to a global decline in human rights.Col. Richard Kemp: Israel an ‘Outpost of Strength,’ Europe on ‘Spiral Downward to Obliteration’.” UK military expert: Israel must strike Iran - on its own Despite much of the bad press Israel has received in the course of combating terrorism, Kemp argued that much of the criticism directed at Israel was the result of simple ignorance.Rocket warning sirens sounded in Gaza Belt Kemp illustrated the point with his experiences at a recent Israel Apartheid Week event at New York University. “I asked the students how many believed it was illegal to kill innocents in times of war. was skeptical about the prospects of a negotiated peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. “I don’t believe there can be a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel wants to live in peace, but what the Arabs want is its annihilation.” Among the top security threats Kemp mentioned was Iran’s nuclear program. Despite last year’s deal to freeze Iran’s nuclear program, Kemp worried over the Islamic regime’s future nuclear capacity, calling upon Israel to “initiate an offensive strike on Iran." Color red rocket warning sirens were sounded on Thursday afternoon in the Gaza Belt region just adjacent to the Hamas-enclave of Gaza, even as IDF bulldozers reportedly were working just inside the security fence.Senior IDF source: Security forces foiled many recent mass-casualty Hamas terror plots Reports have yet to come in regarding how many rockets were fired or where they may have fallen. Security sources were dispatched to check if any rockets made landfall and if they may have caused any damage. The IDF later said in a statement that the warning sirens had been activated in the Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council area, but no rocket strikes have yet been detected in Israeli territory. Security forces have quietly foiled a large number of Hamas mass-casualty terrorism plots forming in the West Bank recently, often at a very advanced stage of preparations, a senior IDF source disclosed on Wednesday.Ax-wielding Palestinian attacks soldier in West Bank, is shot dead The officer said the Judea and Samaria Division together with the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) have encountered a continuous series of attempted attacks orchestrated by Hamas, which past security assessments indicated were targeting Israelis in both the West Bank and Israeli cities within the Green Line. “We have seen, in recent months, many attempts by organizations to carry out terrorist attacks,” the officer said. “In the past six months, of all the attacks that occurred, only one was orchestrated by Hamas,” he said, referring to the October gun attack by a Hamas cell that claimed the lives of Eitam and Na’ama Henkin in the West Bank. The remainder of the terrorism efforts were stopped before they could develop into action, the source said. A Palestinian man attacked an IDF soldier in the West Bank with an ax on Thursday, before troops shot and killed him, the army said.2 terror attacks thwarted within minutes in Jerusalem and West Bank. Border Police officers said Thursday that they thwarted a terror attack in the Old City of Jerusalem when they apprehended two 12-year-old Arab boys who were carrying three knives.Prosecutor: Hebron soldier to be indicted for manslaughter The boys aroused the suspicions of the officers, who searched them, finding the knives and a goodbye letter to his parents in the jacket of one of the boys. According to an initial interrogation of the suspects, they intended to carry out a terror attack. The alertness of the officers prevented an attack, according to police. In a second incident, Israeli security forces thwarted an attempted terrorist attack near the Al-Aroub refugee camp in the southern West Bank, the IDF reported Thursday afternoon. According to initial reports, the suspect was shot by IDF forces after he ran toward Israeli troops with an ax in his hand. There were no injuries to the Israeli forces. An IDF soldier accused of shooting dead a disarmed Palestinian attacker in Hebron last month will be indicted for manslaughter, the military prosecutor has confirmed.Exclusive: Court holds first hearing against IDF soldiers for killing Palestinian minor The prosecution on Thursday lodged a declaration with the court that it will file the manslaughter indictment early next week. The IDF’s chief prosecutor was also seeking to have the solider remanded in jail until Monday, while his attorney argued the case could proceed without the suspect in custody. The soldier under investigation, whose name has been withheld by a gag order, was filmed shooting 21-year-old Abdel Fattah al. With the world’s eyes on the pre-indictment hearing of the Hebron shooter in Jaffa, the Ramle Magistrate's Court held its first hearing Thursday on a similar case where two IDF soldiers have already been indicted for negligent homicide for shooting and killing unarmed 16-year-old Palestinian Samir Awad near the West Bank Security barrier in January 2013.For PA’s Mahmoud Abbas, Terror Is a Faucet He Turns On and Off The December indictment and Thursday hearing marked a rare occurrence of IDF soldiers being indicted for killing a Palestinian in what their defense lawyers deemed operational circumstances. The case has monumental import as the Awad family’s camp say the indictment should have been at least for the more serious charge of manslaughter and claim the IDF and the state wants to sweep the case under the rug, while the defense lawyers argued the two soldiers are being arbitrarily singled out when no other IDF soldiers have been indicted for firing and killing Palestinians in similar operational circumstances in 40 years. The defense lawyers, Shlomo Rachvi and Idan Pesach, also say they will argue that the IDF and the state were applying the wrong rules of engagement, giving the case a whole additional side as it could turn into a public battle over different normally classified IDF rules of engagement..”IDF confiscates terror funds in Ramallah; PA up in arms US Secretary of State John Kerry, despite his pro-Palestinian bias, has acknowledged that the PA’s incitement encourages terror. US. Israeli forces raided a money changer in Ramallah early on Thursday, blowing up a safe and sparking a fire, which led to minor clashes, the army and witnesses said.JCPA: The Internal Palestinian Fight for Jerusalem An Israeli army spokeswoman said the pre-dawn raid was to "confiscate terror funds" held in the shop. Arab rioters near al-Manara Square in central Ramallah. East Jerusalem, despite being linked with both Israel and the West Bank, has developed an independent political system. The public activity in east Jerusalem occurs at the plaza of the mosques on the Temple Mount where the Islamic movements are the dynamic political forces.Israel reassures Jordan, PA before Passover: We will uphold Temple Mount status quo. With tens of thousands of Jews expected to flock to the Western Wall for Passover, which begins April 22, Israel reassured Jordan and the Palestinian Authority in recent days that it is committed to upholding the status quo on the Temple Mount.Israeli Arab MK to Palestinians: We must keep Jews off Temple Mount 'in any way possible' Israeli spokespeople are also relaying a similar message in the Arab media and on Arabic social media sites, and it has also been made clear that – with the exception of government ministers and both Jewish and Arab Mks – there are currently no limitations on access to the Temple Mount. The messages come amid concern in Jerusalem that, as has happened frequently in the past, Jewish visits to the site on the Jewish festivals will trigger Palestinian violence. Palestinian leaders in recent days have stepped up warnings against “provocations” by Jews visiting the Temple Mount. According to government officials, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a meeting of security officials last week to discuss the issue. A day after he returned from a two-month suspension from the Knesset, Israeli Arab MK Jamal Zahalka (Joint List) made a call to the Palestinians to prevent Jews from visiting the Temple Mount complex "in any way possible."Brussels suspect: Check-in area for Tel Aviv flight was targeted "In light of the daily increase of (Jewish) ascent to the Aksa Mosque, it is up to us to stop it in any way possible," he told the Palestinian site Dunya al-Watan on Wednesday, ahead of next week's Passover holiday in which Jews flock to Jerusalem's holy sites. In his remarks, Zahalka, who leads the Balad party in the four-party Joint List alliance, said "the Palestinian people paid the price of 4,000 deaths in the second intifada in the year 2000." "Our people have the right to the mosque, and we must protect it with all of our power. The Palestinian nation is the guardian of the mosque," he said in the interview published Thursday. Mohamed Abrini, who has admitted he was the “man in the hat” captured on CCTV before the Brussels airport bombings, said the original targets in the deadly attacks were departure areas for flights to Tel Aviv, the US, and Russia.Belgian Minister Equates Islamic Terrorists Who Hid In Brussels To Jews During WWII The suspect — who fled the airport — sought to downplay his role in the attacks, telling a judge that he would “never hurt a fly” and had never traveled to Syria, France’s BFMTV reported Thursday. He told a court that airport bomber Ibrahim el Bakraoui had selected the check-in areas for flights to the Jewish state, US and Russia as targets. The two bombs went off at check-in rows 2 and 11 at the Zaventem Airport, some nine seconds apart on March 22. Investigators have yet to announce which airlines were targeted in the attack. Initial reports said the bombers blew themselves up near an American Airlines desk, but the airline denied that was the case. Representative Devin Nunes of California, the top lawmaker on the intelligence committee in the US House of Representatives, said on March 23 that US airlines may have been targeted. A Belgian government minister has drawn an unlikely parallel between Muslim terrorists who evaded capture in Brussels after the Paris terror attacks and “the Jews who hid here during the Nazi occupation.”US 'shuts door' on speculation over UN resolution support Jan Jambon, the country’s interior minister, aroused a storm of controversy in the country when, in a television interview on Saturday, he equated the Muslim terrorists who used a network of connections to escape authorities in Brussels with “the Jews who hid here during the Nazi occupation.” According to Haaretz, he later sought to clarify his comments by adding they related to “the mechanism of hiding” rather than Jews escaping the Holocaust. Mr. Jambon, a member of Flemish party N-VA (New Flemish Alliance), was speaking on the Flemish VTM channel in Antwerp. His views attracted no attention until Antwerp City Council member Claude Marinower chose to respond on Wednesday. He posted them on various social networks and the reactions began. Mr.?” The United States remains opposed to one-sided action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the United Nations Security Council, the State Department said on Tuesday, faced with questions on its stance over two fresh initiatives.Is Obama planning his revenge on Netanyahu? Mark Toner, a State Department spokesman, "firmly shut" the door on any prospective resolution the US considers biased against Israel. "Our position hasn’t changed in terms of action on this issue at the UN Security Council," he said in a Tuesday briefing with reporters. Asked if that means the US opposes such action, Toner added: "Opposed to it." Further clarifying the position, Edgar Vasquez, an official at the US Mission to the United Nations, told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday that the US would not speculate on "hypothetical" UN proposals that are still in draft form..Congress members tell Obama: Use veto power against PA. U.S. President Barack Obama is facing congressional pressure to torpedo a bid to advance Palestinian statehood at the United Nations.EXCLUSIVE – Palestinian Official Takes Breitbart Jerusalem Inside Campaign To Target Settlements at United Nations In a letter dated April 8, six prominent members of the U.S. House of Representatives urged the president to use his leverage to prevent the passage of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling Israeli settlements illegal or imposing an Israeli withdrawal. "We share your frustration with the lack of significant progress toward a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians ... [but] only the parties themselves can agree to end their conflict through a negotiated resolution," they wrote. The letter was signed by three subcommittee heads, including Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, as well as by three members of the same subcommittees. "It is only at the negotiating table, and not at the U.N., that the parties can resolve their complicated differences. Your continued commitment to long-standing U.S. policy to veto one-sided U.N. Security Council resolutions remains fundamentally critical," they wrote. The adviser, Nimer Hamad, spoke as the Palestinian leadership prepares to submit a draft motion to the United Nations calling for the immediate resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, a final status agreement within one year, and a total halt to Jewish settlement activity.Israel denies report on accelerated settlement construction “We want the world to follow up on its responsibility to defuse this time bomb,” stated Hamad. “The settlers and their policies are an obstacle to peace, and the Israeli government labors to consolidate it instead. The world must have a say on this.” Hamad spoke without a trace of irony in his voice even though the Palestinians have repeatedly walked away from talks with Israel, and for the last three years have refused to go so far as to start negotiations. This despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s unprecedented step of freezing settlement activity as a “gesture” to jumpstart talks. Netanyahu also released Palestinian terrorists from prison in another so-called goodwill gesture to get the PA to the bargaining table. Hamad’s characterization of settlements as the main obstacle to peace seems to ignore the PA’s official role in using its state-run media outlets to incite the murder of Israelis, as Breitbart Jerusalem has repeatedly documented. Hamad, meanwhile, said that the draft UN motion is still being negotiated by countries sympathetic to the Palestinian cause, chief among them the Arab bloc, and there is still no deadline for submission. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon on Thursday denied a report saying that Israel has approved plans for more than 200 new settler homes in the West BankErekat: Advancement of plans for new settler homes is a 'war crime' Hagit Ofran, a spokeswoman for settlement watchdog group Peace Now, earlier said the government had given the green light for at least 229 homes, which are at various stages in the process of approval. Peace Now said the new plans call for additional homes in a range of settlements, including Har Bracha (54 homes) near Nablus in the northern West Bank; Revava (17), also in the northern West Bank; Ganei Modiin (48), northwest of Jerusalem; Tekoa (34), south of Jerusalem; and Givat Ze’ev (76), north of Jerusalem. The bulk of the report was refuted in a government statement. “The prime minister and defense minister did not approve new building as was publicized,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in response. Advancement of plans for new settler homes is a war crime PLO Secretary-General Saeb Erekat on Wednesday after the Higher Planning Council for Judea and Samaria met to discuss 228 such units.Arab Israeli makes history as first-ever Muslim appointed to 2nd highest police rank Such activity “continues to entrench Israel’s colonial occupation and destroys the prospects of two independent states living side by side in peace and security on the 1967 border [sic.].” He called on the international community to hold Israel accountable for the action. Palestinians later this month plan to submit a resolution condemning settlement activity to the United Nations Security Council. The Israel Police on Wednesday promoted commander Jamal Hachrush to the rank of assistant-chief, making him the first Muslim to hold the second-highest rank in the agency.Lapid: 'Monstrous' Ha'aretz newspaper legitimizes terrorism Hachrush, until now the deputy commander of the Coastal District, will be in charge of a special police branch to be set up in the near future that will focus primarily on the problems facing Israel’s crime-ridden Arab communities. The branch is part of a wider multi-year plan that police say will include the opening of 10 new police stations in the Arab sector and the recruitment of more than 1,300 Arab officers. Hachrush is a native of the village of Kafr Kana and prior to serving as deputy head of the Coastal District he was deputy head of the Traffic Police. Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid had some choice words for the newspaper Ha’aretz after the left-wing daily ran a ferociously anti-Israel article by left-wing extremist Gideon Levy.Hamas, not economy, the source of Gaza’s woes, Amos Gilad says The piece, entitled “After me, for murder” – a mocking satire of the IDF slogan “after me” – offers the same sort of anti-Israel, anti-IDF screed that Levy has become famous – or infamous – for. Other recent pieces by Levy include “Israel is reborn into a monster”, in which the writer accused Israel of being “a nation so corrupt” that it cannot “be brought back to the straight and narrow.” In his latest article, Levy launches into yet another rant targeting the Israeli army. “Kill, soldiers, kill. Nothing bad at all will happen to you if you blow away a young Palestinian with three bullets fired at short range – your officers and Yair Lapid will cheer you on.” “Shoot stone throwers without any worry, shoot at everyone suspicious – so long as they are Palestinian. And let’s be clear: [that means] shoot to kill. Not to stop, not to wound, but to kill. The legendary [IDF] slogan of “after me [into battle]” has now become “after me, to kill children; after me, to murder”. Lapid, who found himself the target of Levy’s slings and arrows, responded on Thursday, blasting Ha’aretz, the article, and its author. “This is a monstrous text, [published by] a newspaper that long ago went completely off the rails. He even accuses me of killing in the article, but I’m willing to forgo my own honor. But I’m absolutely unwilling to forgo the IDF’s honor.” Gaza’s economic situation is ultimately irrelevant to peace negotiations and the current security situation, a senior Defense Ministry official declared Wednesday at a conference on the beleaguered coastal strip’s financial woes.PA President Abbas: Reconciliation With Hamas ‘Top Priority’ Amos Gilad, director of the ministry’s Political-Military Affairs Bureau, scoffed at the assertion made by some at the conference that economic development in the coastal enclave could be the solution to Gaza’s problems and mitigate the security threats to Israel that emanate from the territory. “The good news is that our deterrence is still working. They say that there will be a ‘hot’ summer. That’ll only be because of the high temperatures,” he said, alluding to the tendency for regional conflicts to take place in warmer summer months. “Economics alone can’t solve [Gaza’s problems]. Economics are not the fundamental solution,” Gilad said in his address. So long as Hamas rules the Gaza Strip, he added, there will not be peace there. PA President Mahmoud Abbas said that Palestinian infighting is detracting from resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “Reconciliation is a top priority on our agenda, we want to achieve our unity as soon as possible to be able to focus on the only real priority which is to end the Israeli occupation and reach peace,” he said.Saudi religious police ordered to show ‘gentle’ side In 2014, Abbas’s Fatah party joined forces with Hamas in forming a unity government. This was the first time both Palestinian groups came together since 2007, when Fatah took control of parts of Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and Hamas took over the Gaza Strip following a deadly and violent conflict. Continuous political disagreements between Fatah and Hamas eventually led to the collapse of the unity government in June 2015. Regarding the peace process with Israel, Abbas called on Russia to take on a greater leadership role in negotiations, based on what he says is Moscow’s success in brokering the Iran nuclear deal and its involvement in Syria. Russia’s “new proactive dimension in the Middle East” will “restore peace and stability” to the Palestinians, Abbas claimed. “From here we wish to see this dynamic in the Russian foreign policy extended to the peace process between the Israelis and us,” he said. Saudi Arabia has issued new guidelines to define and curtail powers of the country’s religious police, instructing its members to be “gentle and kind” in dealing with the public.Iranian pilot defects, threatens regime he’ll seek asylum in Israel The force, which is tasked with ensuring people observe the kingdom’s ultraconservative Islamic codes, has been criticized at times for its intrusive, even deadly tactics. The members of the religious police, known as Mutawas, are not allowed to chase people down the street or demand to see a person’s ID or other documents. The directives also say the Mutawas are not to entrap or arrest people, specifying that this is exclusively the jurisdiction of the police and drug enforcement officials. The semiautonomous Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice — as the force of roughly 5,000 is also known — patrols parks, streets and malls, combats drug use, bars unrelated men and women from mingling in public and ensures stores close for daily prayers. It is also one of several government agencies that monitor online activity in the kingdom.. “If you do not leave me alone and stop harassing my family, I will seek asylum in Israel and start fighting you, even with arms,” Khosravi said, in a message to Iran’s leaders that he delivered in the interview with the Times of Israel’s Persian edition.

Probe finds key similarities in Gauri Lankesh, M M Kalburgi killing INDIA INDIA Investigation into the murder of journalist Gauri Lankesh has revealed that the “mechanics of the crime’’ in the killing of Lankesh in 5 September, 2017 is similar to the assassination of Kannada literary scholar M M Kalburgi in 2015. According to Indian Express, several officials with close knowledge to the probe details have said that a “significant finding” suggested that there was a clear link between the murders. However, they did not reveal further details. According to an official quoted, the similarities goes beyond the make of the weapon used for the murders. The Karnataka Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy had that the SIT set up to probe the murder had obtained “important clues.” Senior police sources have also said that they are “very sure” that the killings in Karnataka are linked to each other along with two murders in Maharashtra. The cops have already found that the empty cartridges recovered near Gauri’s body, that of a countrymade 7.65 mm pistol, was the same kind of weapon used to kill Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. Two unidentified motorcycle-born assailants have shot dead Kalburgi at his home at 8.40 am. The killers of the 77-year-old Sahitya Akademi Award winner shot him on his doorstep with two bullets from a 7.65 mm pistol. Similarly, Lankesh was shot dead in the front yard of her home at 8 pm by two persons who came on a motorcycle and fired four bullets from a 7.65 mm pistol. According to Deccan Chronicle, the Criminal Investigation Department investigating Kalburgi’s murder was sharing information “seamlessly” with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) looking into Lankesh’s killing. CBI probe into the Dabholkar murder and a Maharashtra SIT probe into the murder of Pansare found links to a right-wing extremist group Sanatan Sanstha.

Office of the Teiko Premier The Office of the Teiko Premier is the highest position in the Central Government of Teiko. He is elected via Electoral College and must enjoy the confidence of the Central-46 to remain in office. He is the head of the Cabinet and appoints justices of the Supreme Court of Teiko and commissioners as approved by the Central-46. The current premier is Seijuro Akashi. He has been in power for the past 5 years and he is expected to vacate the office in January 2016. Seijuro Akashi is the youngest premier to be elected at an age of 28 years and 3 months upon his submission of candidacy and the first openly homosexual head of government and state in the world at the modern era. Contents Election The Teiko Premier is elected via Electoral College, a designated number of official votes each prefecture has based in its number of prefectural representatives. According to the Teiko Constitution of 1995, a premier can be elected to a maximum of 2 terms with 6 years in each term - a term is defined as a whole six years in office. He or she must get the majority vote of the Electoral College during the national elections. In case a majority is not met, the incoming congress will vote for a majority to determine who will be the next premier among the running candidates with in the next seven working days. Failure to do will automatically place the current Sandaedeung as Premier. All premier will be inaugurated on the 30th of January. Qualifications The qualifications for being a premier are: - At least 25 years of age - Is an incumbent member of the Central-46 at the time of the submission of his candidacy until the national elections - A registered voter, married or single - Able to read and write - A Teikonian Citizen by birth and - A resident of Teiko for at least five years prior to submission of candidacy Role Constitutional roles - Exercises "control and supervision" over the entire executive branch. - Presents bills to the Central-46 on behalf of the Cabinet. - Signs laws and Cabinet orders (along with other members of the Cabinet). - Appoints all Cabinet ministers, and can dismiss them at any time. - May permit legal action to be taken against Cabinet ministers. - Must make reports on domestic and foreign relations to the Central-46. - Must report to the Diet upon demand to provide answers or explanations. - Appoint supreme court justices and constitutional commissions head as approved by the Central-46. - Veto bills and send them back to the Central-46 for the fourth reading Statutory roles - Presides over meetings of the Cabinet. - Commander in chief of the Teiko National Military. - May override a court injunction against an administrative act upon showing of cause. Official office and residence The official office and residence of the Teiko Premier is called the Kōkyo (皇居). The original Kōkyo was located in Hayama, the former capital of Teiko and it served from () until (). During the construction of a new capital, the new building was designed in contemporary style and the former Kōkyo was turned into a heritage site. Kōkyo is located adjacent to the Teiko National Council Hall, the seat of Central-46. Honours and emoluments Teiko Premier References Available Upon Request

Made two years ago but releasing in my area today: In the first two minutes of Anthony DiBlasi’s CASSADAGA, involving a mother reacting violently to catching her preteen son wearing girl’s clothing, you can tell exactly what kind of movie this is - a dark piece of horror porn with a micro-budget. That’s not such a bad thing, especially this time of year with Halloween coming up, but genre fans looking for a cheap thrills gore-fest will likely be bored by this offering. Kelen Coleman (The Newsroom, The Mindy Project) plays a deaf art teacher whose young sister (Sarah Sculco) is killed when hit by a car in the parking lot of their school. Coleman relocates to the spiritualist community of Cassadaga University, called “The Psychic Capital of America” on its welcome sign. We’re never told what state the film is set in, but it was shot in Orlando, Florida if that means anything. Coleman is shown around the grounds and to her new living quarters by Louise Fletcher as Cassadaga’s head mistress, who tells her not to mind her grandson Thomas (a barely seen Lucas Beck), who keeps to himself on the upper floor. That last bit of info wouldn’t make anyone nervous, right? Coleman begins dating a suave Emergency Medical Technician (Kevin Alejandro of True Blood), the father of one of her students, and on their first date they decide to go to a séance conducted by a medium played by Avis-Marie Barnes. Despite her deafness, Coleman hears her sister’s voice in her mind, but another spirit, that of a murdered girl gone missing in the area four years ago, gets in the way. From then on Coleman is tormented, by way of jolting gruesome in-your-face imagery and gross incidents involving maggots, and any viewer can put together the pieces faster than the characters that this is the spirit’s way of giving clues to her killer’s identity. Meanwhile we catch glimpses of another woman (Christina Bach) being abducted and having her limbs dismembered then reattached to form what could certainly be considered a macabre marionette. None of this is as frightening as it sounds as the pace is as slow as Coleman is trying to craw away from an attacker in a bloody butcher’s apron in one of the extremely anti-climatic final scenes. First time screenwriters Bruce Wood and Scott Poiley have obviously put a lot of thought into the plot mechanics here with the unraveling of the mystery, but the film can’t seem to decide whether to be a tense melodrama or a slasher thriller, and it ends up being neither successfully. And why cast Louise Fletcher, who won the Oscar for her iconic performance as Nurse Ratched in “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” almost four decades ago, and is no newbie to the world of horror (see: THE EXORCIST II, FIRESTARTER, and FLOWERS IN THE ATTIC for starters), if you’re not going to do anything with her? A scene in which Fletcher smokes pot with Coleman during one of the film’s many downtimes is about as unnecessary as you can get. Coleman is a very attractive presence, and it’s nice to see her get a chance to show that she has more range than allowed in her supporting roles on television, but the material forces her to embarrassingly overact at times, and I’m really not sure how the film benefitted at all by making her character deaf. Add that to the list of unnecessary elements on display here. Still, there’s some promise in the writing. If Wood and Poiley can tighten up their narrative to alleviate the tedium in future projects, they may be able to create something much scarier than this cliché ridden slog. More later...

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It’s often been described, erroneously, as a comeback, what with music stores liberally stocking them these days. Vinyl records, actually, never really went away. Labels might have stopped reissuing them in the 1990s and early noughties, but new releases, and reissues, are coming thick and fast once more. While the culture in Malaysia may still be at novelty level, the situation in a metropolis like London, is entirely different. A recent trip there proved very fruitful to my “digging” ambitions. A simple Google search will reveal much more than a handful of music stores in the city, and many of them boast a vast vinyl section. There’s a piece of the pie for every kind of music lover, too, which is why some stores are genre-centric … dance, indie, etc. But I was after a broader spectrum of the music sphere, so, Music & Video Exchange proved to be a great bet, a store with two branches in London … one smack in the city, and the other in Greenwich. Walk into either one of the stores, and it’s immediately apparent that this is the handiwork of music and vinyl connoisseurs. Used records are separated by their price, and since I was armed with prior knowledge that the “bargain” section often contains gems, that’s where I remained … and unearthed most of the 1980s synth pop titles I was looking for … paying nothing more than £4 (RM23) per piece, and forking out as little as 50p (RM2.90) for a copy of Level 42’s Level Best: A Collection of Their Greatest Hits. Upton believes in catering to all listeners, saying that Music & Video Exchange even carries bad vinyl records, like easy listening music. So, what music is most sought after? Greenwich store owner, Jamie Upton, says that classic rock titles shift the fastest and in the largest quantities, too, name checking The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Queen and more. Casbah Records in Greenwich also observes a similar trend in listener taste, with its owner Graham Davis echoing Upton’s sentiments: “A copy of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours will only last a few days in the store,” he said of the once-highest-selling album released in 1977. Naturally, the range of titles reaches either end of the spectrum – good and “bad” records. “Easy listening music records could be described as ‘bad’ records, which we sell, of course,” Upton jested amusingly. Richard Clayderman, anyone? Record buyers make up a motley bunch, and Upton has noticed a slight shift in clientele. “We get tourists, students, middle-aged men and all kinds of people, but in the last five years, I’ve noticed more younger people,” he said, unwittingly describing a crowd that could easily encompass hipsters. Davis, likewise, observes a similarity in a younger buying audience. “We are situated between two universities (University of Greenwich and Greenwich Community College), so, a lot of younger people come into the store. We also have a lot of tourists, and there are also more people in Greenwich these days,” he said, citing the rapid development of the quaint, early-established district of the present London. His shop, of course, also profits from a steady stream of regulars. The last 10 years have seen remarkable growth in vinyl releases, and while this may bode well for the industry, casualties exist, too – like dance music. “We have always sold dance music, but that trend has fallen away in the last decade. I guess that’s because people are buying downloads of it instead of physical copies … it’s hard times for dance music now,” he said, attributing the genre’s decline in the vinyl format to pressing plants being occupied printing reissue titles of other genres. Owner of Casbah Records, Davis, tries his best to stock his store with the cream of the crop titles. Given that the CD market has shrunk, which Upton reckons has directly been the result of piracy, more albums and seven-inch singles are appearing on vinyl. He feels this has changed listening habits, too, but also reminded of an age-old culprit: “The economy in the country isn’t that great, either.” The scenario is very similar at Casbah Records, where Davis has observed records shifting quicker than CDs, and now more than ever, less familiar titles moving out fastest. “An Oasis or David Bowie title might have sold 25 copies each before, which is good, but that has changed,” he said, explaining that times can get hard for a newer and independent store like his, which specialises in new titles, with some used fare to boot. The bargain section at Music & Video Exchange is like heaven-on-earth for vinyl lovers, with titles coming in as low as 25p per piece. Conceding to some head-scratching himself, Upton, though, has managed to find some logic in seeing younger people buying Blondie and Grace Jones records. “Those artistes look great, and those records sound good, too.” For a store like Music & Video Exchange, its inventory comes from formerly avid music collectors. “These are older people who sell records because they are selling off their homes to move to smaller ones,” he said, citing space constraints as their usual reason. Space might be at a premium, but Casbah Records has decked out it’s floor elegantly. In the exchange and buying practice of Music & Video Exchange, nothing legal is refused. “Between here (Greenwich) and Nottinghill, we have 30 to 40 staff who are specialist buyers, and who pick out the best stuff for us to sell,” Upton added, intimating that his store sells “something for everyone”. With Casbah Records, it’s a straight up job of acquiring stock from major distributors and smaller labels. The opportunity to purchase from underground labels gives the store an added advantage of covering most musical bases. “We try to sell the best of everything, the cream of the crop, and we try to present that approach in an attractive way … to make the store interesting. We do the best we can to maintain good customer service,” explained Davis. And if there’s one thing that’s apparent with the record buying thrill in London, it’s knowledgeable staff who extend great service. Sure, you can always trust a Google search for info or recommendations, but educated store hands offer just that bit extra, making record buying a soulfully-satisfying experience. I should know … I returned home with 25 pieces of vinyl (finally completing my Nik Kershaw trilogy of albums) and just about the same number of CDs. Now, that’s shopping!

Increased workforce will allow the Center to expand innovative programs for the underserved Glendale, Calif. August 3, 2015 – The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing, founded on the belief that technology innovation plays a vital role in enhancing wellbeing, today announced the receipt of a $330,000 grant from the Alhambra Services Corporation to increase the Front Porch Center’s staff. The gift will fund two new positions which will allow the Front Porch Center to expand innovative programs that support the health and wellbeing of older adults, especially among underserved communities. “This generous impact gift from the Alhambra Services Corporation comes at an exciting moment as the Center expands several innovations and technologies to support aging and independence to serve multiple populations and communities,” said Front Porch Center President Kari Olson. “The additional capacity will enable us to pilot and implement more solutions that will positively impact a greater number of people.” The Alhambra Services Corporation is a not-for-profit charitable organization established in 2011 to advance affordable housing and promote innovative initiatives and services in the greater community. The corporation was formed following the closure and sale of The Alhambra, a Front Porch retirement community to continue The Alhambra’s philanthropic not-for-profit heritage of meeting needs through its founding parent California Lutheran Homes and sustained through Front Porch. “Technology advancements have and are continuing to reshape all our lives,” said Mort Swales, board chair, Alhambra Services Corporation. “The Front Porch Center for Innovation and Wellbeing is a nationally-recognized innovation leader that has been instrumental in facilitating the development and application of technologies in senior services that is improving life of older adults. The Alhambra Services Corporation is proud to be able to help the Center in that ongoing journey by honoring a request that is consistent with our mission as well.” The Front Porch Center continues to explore the application of technology in conjunction with home- and community-based services through a growing network of collaborative partnerships. The Front Porch Center has developed a reputable track record of technology research, deployment, and engagement initiatives that leverage the value and resources of community partnerships. For example, in 2012, the Front Porch Center envisioned and launched in partnership with over 20 community organizations its Model eHealth Community for Aging (MeHCA) which has served more than 1,500 vulnerable seniors in the Los Angeles area since its inception with key partners such as St. Barnabas Senior Services. This work continues including the completion of a tele-mental health program and an emerging partnership to integrate technology into a senior wellness program. Earlier this year, the University of the Pacific was awarded a grant from the California Wellness Foundation to deploy a tele-dentistry demonstration initiative that will provide low-income seniors with first level dental care at Front Porch affordable housing communities and other senior-serving organizations. The Front Porch Center is supporting the pilot and tracking the results. “In order for the Center to scale and support the development of sustainable models that could be replicated in other communities and form new partnerships, additional staffing is necessary to build the capacity of the Center,” said Davis Park, Front Porch Center director. “We are grateful to the Alhambra Services Corporation in meeting that need.”. More information can be found at. For Immediate Release For more information contact: Mike Martinez, Senior Communications Director, communications@frontporch.net (818) 254-4248

Cu of the Q&A here) Miller, a US citizen, struggled to finish his presentation amid catcalls of ‘get out’ and ‘stay away from here’ broke out through the audience. Chairman Charles Metcalfe repeatedly asked for calm, but an increasingly angry crowd continually interrupted in an emotional meeting unheard of in the quiet Sussex village. Mr Miller – attempting to explain the company’s track record of causing earthquakes in Lancashire – struggled to make himself heard as questions and derision were thrown thick and fast. Balcombe is scheduled to be Cuadrilla’s first fracking site outside Lancashire. The company received planning permission in June 2010, and planning documents reveal the company intends to frack at this test borehole. The fracking depth is 2660 feet – 6000 feet shallower than in Lancashire. The breadth of Balcombe’s interests was also revealed – a risk insurer asked why Cuadrilla had not performed risk assessment prior to drilling. A geologist pointed out that Cuadrilla’s own documents show potential leaks of fracking fluid coming within 400 feet of the surface at the Balcombe site. Also present for Cuadrilla was Nick Sutcliffe, representing Cuadrilla’s lobbying firm, PPS Group. Sutcliffe is a Guildford District Councillor, and has facilitated Cuadrilla’s planning applications – much to the disgust of the audience present. West Sussex County Council and Balcombe Parish Council were not spared the meeting’s wrath. A WSCC councillor braved the audience to explain that procedures had been followed, while a Balcombe parish councillor explained: ‘we were asked about this two years ago. Who knew about hydraulic fracturing then?’. Listen to a recording of the Q&A here…

Tuesday, 07 January 2014 08:34 Criterion loses studio co-founders Ward & Sperry depart for new venture Monday, 16 September 2013 09:31 Criterion now only 16 people Majority moved to Ghost Games UK Thursday, 18 October 2012 09:31 Criterion will do another Burnout game Might also do a Road Rash game Friday, 12 October 2012 08:46 Stuart Black on the move again Now just an Indie developer Wednesday, 15 August 2012 08:42 NFS: Most Wanted to offer Move support? Box art says PlayStation Move Compatible Friday, 08 June 2012 07:33 Still no new Burnout from Criterion Most Wanted is successor to Burnout Paradise Tuesday, 12 July 2011 10:31 Burnout Crash to support Kinect First Burnout title that will do so Tuesday, 12 July 2011 10:22 Burnout Crash was targeted as Wii title Started life as a user created game title Thursday, 14 April 2011 10:03 Burnout Crash is next Criterion title Said to take place in fictional Crash City Monday, 04 April 2011 09:55 Next Burnout title called Crash? Said to be the next Criterion title

Xiaomi is known to have a couple of popular sub-brands under its banner such as the Mi and the Redmi brands for their smartphone devices. It seems like the company will be creating another sub-brand to add to their arsenal, which could be their third and a name may have already been decided upon. The news comes from the popular Chinese social media site Weibo where it has been mentioned that the new sub-brand from Xiaomi could be called Lanmi. What will set Lanmi apart from its Redmi and Mi siblings is its sales strategy, where Lanmi will focus on offline and brick and mortar store sales as opposed to digital and online sales which is what the Mi and Redmi lines have been doing since their launch. Considering the various sales strategies that Xiaomi has been following for its respective brands, such as the flash sale model for its Redmi Note 4, which has received huge popularity and demand, it seems that the company now wants to focus on a more hands-on approach to the ways their phones are being sold. This particular sub-brand will be able to take on the likes of Vivo and Oppo, who respectively have a large share in the smartphone segment with regard to offline availability and sales. The word “Lanmi” means blue rice and its first ever device to come under the Lanmi banner will be the highly cited X1 smartphone, whose specifications have been making the rounds around the Internet. The X1 was originally through to be replacing the new Redmi Pro 2. The Lanmi X1 will be expected to launch two models with four variants of each of the models available, making a total of eight different models available to the public. The news comes from a Chinese blogger who had shared the information on Weibo and so, the information reported should be taken with a grain of salt should official confirmation be made by the company itself. The Lanmi X1 will be powered by a Snapdragon 660 chipset along with a 5.5-inch display and a 2160x1080p resolution. It will also come with a dual camera at the back, featuring Sony sensors along with memory and storage options that range all the way up to 6GB and 128GB. Official word on the device and Xiaomi’s sub-brand will most probably make the rounds and clear the air once and for all.

The importance of Wayne Rooney.... The reason why he has to be in the team... Read on.... This piece of commentary (After his first goal (at Everton) ended Arsenal's unbeaten run): "Ooooohh!!! A brilliant goaaal!!!! A brilliant goaal!!! REMEMBER THE NAME!!! WAYNE ROONEY! WAYNE ROONEY!! The Premiership's Youngest Goalscorer Signals his arrival on the big stage with a breath-taking goal!" He was He was given the #8 jersey and scored a Hat-trick on his debut, immediately making an impact!! Eversince, Wazza never had to look back. People call him overrated. Oh! Is he now? Well, I DONT THINK SO! When he arrived at O.T, he had to play alongside a pacy tricky Cristiano Ronaldo.. AND more importantly, a striker in his prime-Ruud van Nistelrooy! In spite of being in their shadows, he SELFLESSLY "CREATED" chances for his other teammates while he himself tried to score a decent number of goals! Well, ONE QUESTION to all of you who are reading this. Could Ronnie or van the Man have done what Wazza did? Wazza could happily leave a chance to tap into an open goal and pass it to a teammate standing beside him. Wazza would never make a fuss and play even as a CENTRAL MIDFIELDER or on the LEFT SIDE of the midfield.. He could play ANYWHERE, JUST TO HELP THE TEAM WIN THE MATCH! When Evra went on adventurous runs, Wazza tracked back and covered for him. How many people can do that? Can Ronnie do that? Well, maybe, a bit.. But can he run for hours just to fulfill his passion and help the team win? I dont think so. :) Ruud definitely wouldn't have done that! Plus, anyone of us seen Wazza fallout with his teammates? Well, our two BIG STARS-CR7 and Ruud had bust-ups before SAF had to finally sell Ruud. We then signed players like Berba'top' and Tevez. Did Rooney complain? No. Instead, he helped them score goals! And then Tevez left..So did Ronnie. He literally carried us at times.. He did commit a small mistake by not signing an extension initially, but come on! He's a human being too and his career matters to him.. But he quickly made a U-Turn and signed a 5 year extension and even APOLOGIZED to the fans after scoring the Winner Vs City.Yes. the same goal which was voted as THE BEST GOAL EVER IN EPL's HISTORY! Then when he came back as a lean-mean machine, combining with Chicharito and he proved what a difference he can make to the team. NO ONE, NO ONE can offer the WORK-RATE that Wazza offers!! Recently, Robin Van Persie joined us. Other strikers may be would have threatened to QUIT. But no! Our Wazza urged him to join us and said he's really pleased to play with him and Kagawa. Most of the Untied fans were saying stuff like: "No need to worry that Wazza's hurt. We have RvP..." Hmmm.. really? Can Mr.RvP do all the things our Wazza can? Can he selflessly sacrifice his own chances to help his teammates score? Can he run for hours together or play in the Midfield JUST 'cause Sir Alex has asked him to? I don't think so! BOTTOM LINE IS: Players and more importantly, STRIKERS will come AND go.. I bet none of them have or are or will ever be as adaptable as Wazza! He has selflessly played under Ronnie, Ruud and others' shadows when he could have happily left the club to join some club where he could be the top man! But he didn't! THAT, my friends is our WAYNE ROONEY! I am not saying that PLAYER>CLUB. NO! NEVER! He may even leave the club one day in the future(NOT the near future I HOPE) to return to his BOYHOOD club EFC. But, It's high time we stop saying stuff like "We have RvP. Not a problem even if Rooney leaves." That's rubbish.. TBF, Ronnie/Ruud/Tevez wouldn't have scored most of the goals they have at United without Wazza. #Fact Yes, I do miss that 18 year old hot headed Scouse kid we signed in 2004, but, I like this Wazza. He's dependable, gives his ALL to the team. Puts the TEAM before himself! You are asking me for an example for that? Here: Rewind your memory to 25th of August 2012. When Rodallega shot a pile driver, everyone moved out. Wazza put himself in the path of the shot to help his team to not concede, and what was the price he had to pay? A 6 inch Bone-deep Gash! And, like a true fighter, he still stood up! TOOK ONE FOR THE TEAM! That, my friends, is our Wayne Rooney! Plzzz share and show everyone that he is important and we need him... Via Kagawa : Rooney : van Persie ~ The Magical Trinity

Dh. “Swift was directly responsible for the heist. But Bangladesh Bank or the New York Fed cannot deny their failures in checking the incident as well,” said Dr. Mohammad Farashuddin, the head of the committee, on Sunday while talking to reporters at Bangladesh Bank.Revealing the committee’s findings for the first time in public, Dr Farashuddin – himself a former governor of Bangladesh Bank – said that the Swift authorities had asked Bangladesh Bank to connect to its Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system through a letter. But it failed to provide any protection or control software for the BB system from malware. Taking advantage of this technological oversight, the hackers entered into the Bangladesh Bank server and sent instructions to the New York Fed. The Fed executed some of these dodgy instructions without confirming their authenticity with Bangladesh Bank. Dr Farashuddin said Bangladesh Bank officials were not found to be “directly involved” in the heist. “But their inefficiency, recklessness, irresponsible decision-making and ignorance are also responsible for the incident. The New York Fed is also responsible as it released the funds to individual accounts in Philippines and Sri Lanka.” The New York Fed is not meant to transfer money to any private individual’s account, Dr Farashuddin reasoned, yet they did so. “So they cannot shift their responsibility,” he said. Some $101 million, in a series of five transactions, was taken out from Bangladesh’s treasury account with the New Your Federal Reserve on February 5 by the cyber criminals. Dozens of similar requests for transferring funds out of the BB’s account were rejected however. Following the incident, the government formed the 3-member investigation committee headed by Dr. Farashuddin on March 19. The committee submitted its preliminary last month to Finance Minister. Tthe final report is yet to be submitted, but Dr. Farashuddin shared some of the committee findings with reporters today. He said that for the stolen money to be recovered from the countries where the hackers took it away through the banking system, it needs a coordinated effort from the central bank, finance ministry and other concerned agencies. He believed that the political parties’ support is also required for the recovery of the Bangladesh’s money. He said Bangladesh Bank officials showed their gross ignorance in dealing with the case. Responding to a query, the investigation committee chief said the malware that the cyber criminals used in the hacking was also made from Pakistan and North Korea. Swift directly responsible for BB heist: Farashuddin0 Dh.

You know what’s the greatest thing ever? When you finish mopping the entire house and a certain 12-year-old decides it’s a good time to walk through the house wearing shoes that have just walked through wet grass, that’s what. My favorite. Yep, that would be Brock. He really knows how to make his sister happy, uh huh. Are sensing the heavy sarcasm here? Well, the only way to deal with Brock on a daily basis is to become a master at self-control and comic relief. We gave up trying to predict or figure him out years ago because it’s a pointless effort that’s not worth the brain cells lost. Of course, he wasn’t apologetic at all until about an hour later when he wanted me to make a smoothie. Then it was all “I’m so sorry I tracked grass on the floor Tori…..can you make a smoothie!” It’s a consensual mystery in our house how he has managed to survive to the age of 12. It’s most likely because he possesses the talent to make you laugh even when you’re really frustrated with him. He freaked us all out the other day because he did something that could have ended very badly. This house has a cellar and a hatch-style cellar door in the back yard and it’s right off the patio so he is always jumping off onto the door trying to do Parkour moves. It’s kept shut about 99 percent of the time but one of my other brothers happened to be down there and he had opened it to the tall stairwell beneath. Brock very nearly jumped into it and I can hardly stand think about what could have happened next. Ugghhh, that kid! I try not to pick on my siblings too often in my ramblings but sometimes he’s just asking for it. But let’s focus on happier and more relevant thoughts. Did you know that purple potatoes were a thing? Well, I didn’t until my dad brought a bag of them home from our favorite produce market (he’s learned how to make me happy). Okay, maybe I did know but I’ve never given them a second thought because I didn’t know I’d be able to find them. Apparently they are very common in South America and I’m thinking where have I been all this time? I think I’m definitely going to be hooked now that I’ve tried them. I mean, you guys know how much I love natural colors in food and, could it get more colorful than that bright purple? Love.It. They basically taste the same as any other potato variety, so you can use them in everything you’d put potatoes in. I made the spur of the moment decision to make this quiche or tart (whatever you want to call it) just so I could showcase the color. So, I know this tart seems kind of carb on carb, at least that’s what my mom said when I made it, but it’s not like I loaded it with only potatoes. There as a good amount of eggs and milk and stuff to balance it out and, as this is more of a breakfasty brunch thing it okay to be a bit carby right? Hello, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and syrup, bread and jam…. I’d say we’re doing pretty good here in comparison. If you can’t find purple potatoes you could make this with any variety. Hey, it would be delicious with sweet potatoes in the fall, yum! Ingredients - 1 cup sourdough starter - 1/3 cup cold butter - 1 teaspoon salt - 1 1/2 cups flour - 2 large or 4 small purple potatoes, sliced in rings - 1 tablespoon olive oil - 1 small onion, thinly sliced into rings - 3 cloves garlic, minced - 1/2 teaspoon salt - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper - 1/4 teaspoon paprika - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg - 3/4 cup whole milk - 2 eggs - 1/2 cup heavy cream - 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese Instructions - Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 C). Combine butter, salt, and flour in a food processor and pulse until fine and crumbly. Add sourdough starter and pulse until a dough forms. Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into circle(ish) shape that's about 1/4 inch thick. Roll dough sheet around rolling pin and gently lift over a 10-inch greased tart pan and unroll. Press gently down and shape edges then cut off any excess. Poke holes in crust with a fork and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until the center looks dry on top. Remove and cool. - Place potatoes in a small pot and cover with water then place over medium high heat a boil until fork tender, about 25 minutes. While potatoes cook,saute onions and garlic in a small skillet with 1 tablespoon oil for 4 to 5 minutes until browned. Set aside to cool. - Whisk eggs, milk, and cream in a medium mixing bowl until combined, thne add salt, pepper, nutmeg, paprika. Layer some of the potato slices, onion garlic mixture and blue cheese crumbles in prepared crust and pour egg mixture over top. Top with remaining potatoes, onion, and blue cheese and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until center is set. Serve hot. YUM!! The almost look like pepperonis on a pizza pie (I must be craving pepperoni pizza, lol) but I love the combination of ingredients you put into this recipe and I LOVE blue cheese. Looks so good! I thought the same thing when I saw the thumbnail of it, totally like pepperoni. Thanks, Heather! This looks awesome! Purple potatoes are so cute 🙂 Thanks, I totally agree! I’ve been all about the purple potatoes recently! That’s awesome! I’m totally using them again soon! You will never hear me complain about anything being too carb-y. I mean, is there really such a thing? This tart looks glorious and I love the combination of potatoes, onions, and cheese 😀 Thanks, Allie! I love purple potatoes – they always make me happy! This tart sounds just wonderful! Thanks, Ashley! OMG. This tart!!!! I have a friend who is constantly cooking with violet potatoes (my name for them) – I have to send it to him so he will make it for me. 🙂 That’s awesome, I hope you guys enjoy it! Ooh, this looks like such a delicious tart, Tori! And the idea of a sourdough crust sounds, awesome. 🙂 Glad you like it, Lexi! I so like savoury tarts! And how beautiful these purple potatoes look! Lovely 🙂 Thank you so much! HI. Sorry, I got distracted by this beautiful thing. Please direct me to the cookies and/or kitchen sink style food? Hehe. Ok, but seriously though your styling is so gorgeous–and this tart too!!! I just can’t. Haha, thanks Courtney!

Exactly 13 years ago 2,996 people lost their lives in one of the most horrific attacks in American history, and Obama led the nation this week to commemorate the tragedy on the anniversary of 9/11. Ceremonies to remember and honor the fallen Americans were felt and watched around the nation on Thursday. Family members of those victims came together in Manhattan, the Pentagon, as well as the fields of Pennsylvania, as the President addressed his military plan to conquer any terrorist organization whose mission it is to bring destruction to the country. “Our nation cannot remove all forms of evil that exist in the world, nor can we eradicate every faction of killers that have the will to inflict immeasurable harm,” the President stated. “This has been true before the attack on September 11th, and unfortunately still remains true to this day.” More than a decade after a terrorist group hijacked four airliners and used them to launch a deplorable assault on America, relatives and friends of the victims, along with politicians joined at Ground Zero. On Thursday morning, 46 minutes after 8a.m., (which was the same time that Flight 11 hit the first tower on 9/11), a few moments of silence were held. In Washington, the President, joined by the first lady and V.P. Joe Biden, who had their heads down on the white house lawn. 3 minutes after 9a.m., another moment was taken for the second plane which struck the second tower. Four additional silent moments came, representing the fall of each tower, the plane crash through the Pentagon, as well as Flight 93 which killed 40 passengers crashing on a field in Pennsylvania. On Thursday’s 13th commemorative anniversary, joined by President Obama, family and loved ones of the sudden victims read from a list of names of the fallen on 9/11, 2001. There was a moment during the reading when someone had let go of a balloon in the shape of a heart, which soared past trees, cranes and skyscrapers, to eventually disappear into the overcast sky. Although the reconstruction of the Twin Towers was delayed through the years, new skyscrapers that were built around the site of Ground Zero are now open. 1 World Trade Center, which is reported to be the largest skyscraper among the Western Hemisphere, is said to be opening later this year. The President talked about many things in that quiet and solemn morning, on reflections and deep pains of the past, but also spoke on generations of the future. “There are now teens, and young adults, who were brought forth into the world after 9/11. It is truly remarkable,” Obama said. Remarkable indeed, as 17-year-old Jordan Thompson, a Bronx native, declared that he made the choice to become a Marine because of the attacks on 9/11. Thompson’s uncle, Leon Heyward, was a parks department worker who spent several weeks clearing out rubble and looking for the lost at the ground site. He would die five years later after suffering from medical complications due to the chemicals and dust he breathed in during that time. “After seeing my uncle’s courage and the events that took place here, I knew I wanted to go and help people,” the 17-year-old said. “I really do not like seeing the weak get abused.” Thompson expressed how he couldn’t understand that the U.S. was currently engaged in conflict towards the Middle East, and still attempting to close in on forces like those who were involved in the Sept. 11th attacks. “Having a desire to go there, I want to become a part of the solution and assist people in those regions,” he said. “Many Americans have died so that we can live and continue to be free. I just hope everyone will remember that.” On the 13th anniversary of 9/11, Obama commemorated and openly talked about what makes the United States unique, and also, what the country will never do. “Generations from this moment, no matter the situation or trial, no matter the hardship, America will always be, and continue to be America. Our nation carries on because of what we stand for. As Americans, letting injustice win is never an option. We do not, and will not give in to fear….Ever.” By Theodore Borders Sources:

On Saturday, October 25 the cloud image storage company Twitpic was expected to shut down its popular image archive and domain. This caused users worry that they would no longer have access to their files. After weeks of talks about a potential acquisition that fell through, Twitpic decided to close its doors. On Sunday Twitter announced a decision about user access following closure – also known as #quitpic – of the failed company. Twitpic, an independent company, was set up in 2008 as a third-party image-sharing service, and it had been called the best-established business of its type. The service was necessary when Twitter did not have the native ability to easily share images across users. The image-sharing company allowed people to upload images in order to share them in tweets. It also allowed Twitter users to become “citizen journalists” by uploading pictures of newsworthy events from their phones. An example of this was at the Hudson River plane crash. However, as Twitter’s capability changed to allow images to be uploaded, Twitpic became irrelevant. An agreement with Twitter on Sunday has allowed users to continue to access their photos and online documents. The question that remains is, for how long. In Twitpic founder Noah Everett’s announcement comes the uncertain term “for the time being.” Users have been on an emotional roller coaster as they learned in September that Twitpic would be closing. They were told that they had to export their photos by shutdown date of October 26. After hearing of the closing, users were later led to believe their photos would be safe because Noah Everett tweeted in mid-September about an acquisition. Users then learned in mid-October that the announcement was premature because the terms of agreement could not be met by the potential buyer. Recent Twitter capability has made it unnecessary to store photos on cloud storage. The other issue leading to the closing is that Twitter prevented Twitpic from accessing Twitter’s Application Programming Interface (API) due to a trademark dispute over their similar name. Twitter users did not know if they could access their images after Twitpic closed, leading to #quitpic. Since users shared images across Twitter, the two companies agreed that it made sense for Twitter to have control over them. In addition, both companies have a stated belief in protecting users and their data. The decision by the two companies is for continued viewing access, but no addition of new photos. Beginning Sunday, users will be able to log on to their profiles, and export, download, or delete content. However, apps are no longer supported, either through iOS or Android systems. The company Archive Team, a loose collective of archivists and programmers, are making a protective effort. They have promised to “save the digital heritage” of Twitpic by making a full copy of its current view because of the uncertain future agreement between the two companies. While access by Twitpic users will continue to be available on Twitter after the “Quitpic” closure, many still remain concerned. The question remains as to how long users have until their images can no longer be accessed. By Fern Remedi-Brown Sources: CNET PCWorld Tech/Cocktail

Our Girl is a dreamy three-piece that flits between Brighton, London, and an ethereal world. The group came together in 2014 and, just a year later, are releasing their debut single Sleeper with B-side Level on Cannibal Hymns. Although Soph Nathan is notorious for being in umpteen bands at any one time, this is her first as a songwriter. She’s happy to have a band that can take what she writes on guitar, and make it “proper” or “something else” or completely different. After bonding with Josh Tyler in a basement while trying to figure out an Anna Calvi song, they recruited Lauren Wilson, and have since embarked on a journey to try the best pizza and burritos in each city. Alongside, of course, making beautiful music. Golden lo-fi sounds for wintry days, but never far removed from the seaside. Ahead of their single launch tonight, we hung out to hear more – and below share an exclusive first listen of the record’s b-side track, Level. Clementine Zawadzki: What can you tell us about your debut release? Soph Nathan: Sleeper is mainly about friendship, and how having good people around you helps to make things that make you sad feel easier to deal with. I wrote Level in the basement (which we called the dungeon) of my old house in Brighton. The first half of the song came out very quickly, and I wrote the last verse a couple of months later. But it very much feels like a whole to me, like a big snapshot of a feeling. CZ: And you recorded with Andy Savours? SN: Yeah, we heard of him through the management company we’ve been working with, and Andy had also produced one of The Magic Gang’s tracks, and has been working with My Bloody Valentine for ages, and he was an engineer with a producer called Flood, and then he worked on Warpaint records and stuff. We were all brainstorming what kind of production we wanted, and I think we all separately said him, but for different reasons. It was really refreshing to work with someone and develop something that maybe you couldn’t have fully realised before. CZ: Are your influences quite varied? SN: St. Vincent, who has a lot of interesting different parts going on, which I really love, and a two-piece from Canada called Cousins, who are just really driving and kind of shouting and heavy guitar. Both really influenced my songwriting, so it’s like a combination of those. I remember when Lauren joined the band. I hadn’t met her yet and we were emailing, and she sent me a list of bands she liked, and Thee Oh Sees was one of them, and I’d never heard them before, but I listened to them and was like, “This is amazing! Where’s Lauren? We need to meet her. She loves cool music. Let’s hang out…” CZ: ‘I love your emails…” SN: ‘Let’s do this in real life…” and with Josh, he really loves Sigur Rós and more ambient stuff, which is nice because Lauren likes punk music too, so it’s a good balance between us all. Josh has this really cool pedal called a Strymon reverb pedal, and you can make this infinite, really warm, shimmery sound with it, and he always incorporates that kind of thing, which is nice. Lauren’s a bit rockier, but she also likes Elliot Smith. I think we just balance each other out. CZ: What’s inspired your live shows? SN: We played with TRAAMS a couple of times, and they’re a three-piece as well, but it’s bands like them that made me more excited to play live shows. There’s a band called Yak, who are just amazing, like hypnotic-driven stuff, and the screaming stuff Oli does, after seeing them I just wanted to have parts of a set that were more heavy. CZ: What do you get up to before a gig? SN: Not a specific ritual, but we always hug now. It’s so lovely when people come to the shows, but then you find it hard to talk to people properly, it’s like “I want to be having a conversation with you, but I’m really nervous.” Josh and I have recently been sharing a whiskey, because I feel like that’s a thing that’s going to help my throat, but I don’t know if it’s really true. CZ: What would your dream rider be? SN: The thing with riders is you always ask for the same thing and then you get really bored of bread and cheese. Roller blades in each different city would be great. When we walk together in a three, Josh does this thing… you know when people try to walk straight, but they always lean in? We did the music video for Sleeper where we push each other around on skateboards, but you can’t see them, so we just look like we’re floating. Lauren absolutely nailed it in just one go. She also got a really bad headache. We basically just ran around a dark room for a day with loads of smoke and lights. There was just a strobe light on my face for about ten minutes while I sang the song ‘round and ‘round. I actually felt weirdly Zen and calm. It was fun to just be locked away from the world and do something different. You just feel far away from everything in a nice way. Our Girl launch their debut single in London tonight, 8th December, at Birthdays in Dalston. Tickets here.

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville30.8386, -83.9423 - Facilities Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville Overview Situated near Pebble Hill Plantation, Thomasville Genealogical History & Fine Arts Library and Lapham-Patterson House, the grand Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville offers an indoor swimming pool, a tennis court and a golf course. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville has been welcoming guests to its contemporary rooms since 2004. The city center lies within 4 km from the venue. A 45-minute drive to Tallahassee. The hotel allows quick access to a rose garden and hills. Guests can reach Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville by car from Tallahassee Regional airport in 65 minutes. Rooms This property has 81 guestrooms including king room, queen suite and style room appointed with television with satellite channels, ironing facilities, a laptop-size safe, pay TV and a sitting area. Some rooms at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville have a view over the garden. Guests can make use of a shower, a spa bathtub and free toiletries. Eat & Drink Start your day with a complimentary breakfast served at the bar. Serving a wide assortment of dishes, Red Lobster and Granddaddy's Barbeque are about 50 meters from the property. Services There are car rental services on site. Relax On-site spa options feature a Jacuzzi and a sauna. For active guests, there are a gym and a fitness center at the hotel. Internet Wireless internet is available in the entire hotel for free. Guest Parking Free public parking is possible on site. Number of rooms: 81. Facilities General - No smoking on site - Wi-Fi - On-site parking - Safe deposit box - 24-hour reception - Late check-in - Express check-in/ -out - No pets allowed - Rooms/ Facilities for disabled - Public areas with access for disabled - Wheelchair access - Air conditioning in public areas - Luggage storage - Elevator - Beauty salon - Vending machines - Multilingual staff Sports & Fitness - Fitness center - Tennis court - Golf course Services - Housekeeping - Car rental - Self-service laundry - Wake up service - Shops/Commercial services - Newspaper service Dining facilities - Bed and breakfast - Bar/ Lounge area Meeting facilities - Business center - Meeting/ Banquet facilities - Business services Leisure facilities - Indoor swimming pool - Sauna - Jacuzzi Room facilities - Air conditioning - Wet bar - Adjoining rooms - Sitting area - Dressing area - Tea and coffee facilities - Ironing facilities Bathroom - Shared bathroom - Bathtub - Laundry basket/ Clothes hamper Self-catering - Refrigerator - Microwave Bedroom - Down/Feather pillows - Goose feather pillows Media - Flat-screen TV - Cable/ Satellite television - Multi-line phone -. Rooms and availability - Max occupancy: 2 persons - Check Prices - Max occupancy: 2 persons - Bed type: 1 King-size bed - Check Prices - Max occupancy: 2 persons - Bed type: 2 Single beds - Check Prices Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Historical sites - Thomasville Landmarks Inc2.3 mi Museums - Thomasville Cultural Ctr Inc2.0 mi - Thomasville Entertainment2.0 mi - Thomas County Historical Scty2.5 mi Parks - Thomasville Parks and Rec Dept2.2 mi Universities, Institutes - Southwest GA Technical College1.6 mi - Vashti Center1.7 mi Air business related - Thomasville Municipal Airport4.9 mi Medical care and Hospitals - John D Archbold Memorial Hosp2.1 mi - Southwestern State Hospital4.2 mi College Campuses - Thomas University2.1 mi Local attractions - Thomasville Genealogical History & Fine Arts Library2.3 mi135 N. Broad Street, Thomasville - Thomas County Museum of History2.5 mi725 North Dawson Street, Thomasville - Lapham-Patterson House2.5 mi626 North Dawson St, Thomasville Restaurants nearby - Red Lobster100 ft Address: 254 Liberty Street 82% likes this, based on 15 reviews - Sonny's BBQ2100 ft Address: 14293 U.S. Hwy 19 South Phone: 229-558-9000 59% likes this, based on 23 reviews Cuisine: American - Granddaddy's Barbeque1900 ft Address: 2128 Smith Avenue Phone: 2292259500 70% likes this, based on 58 reviews Price Range: USD 7 - USD 12 - Mom & Dad's Italian Restaurant3200 ft Address: 1800 Smith Avenue Phone: (229) 226-6265 57% likes this, based on 34 reviews Cuisine: Italian - Check-in:from 3 pm - Thomasville Reviews Guest reviews are submitted by our customers after their stay at Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Thomasville Guest reviews

^L_ Luis Fernando Brasília, Brazil L_ is the moniker of the Brazilian producer and sound artist Luis Fernando. Having released his debut album "Love Is Hell" in 2014 through the Berlin-based Antime imprint, he Also received attention with a slew of remixes and contributed to Several compilations, most notably "Hy Brazil Vol. 7" Which was hand-selected by Chico Dub, one of the most important figures in the Brazilian electronic music scene. In 2015 L_ embarked on a successful, two-week long tour Germany with his label mate Antime AAAA and released the dancefloor-orientated more EP 'The Outsider', through Antime Also, in early 2016. Apart from his work as a producer, Fernando regularly hosts workshops on sound design with a focus on film and radio works. Fernando started making music as a young teenager, citing bands like My Bloody Valentine or Nine Inch Nails the inspiration for his first Shoegaze-leaning excursions in the music world. The older he grew, his taste and his own varied output Became Increasingly eclectic. Nowadays, L_ works mostly digital and oscillates between film score-inspired sounds, acidic Techno, Noise and abstract electronic music. However heterogeneous L_'s music might be in terms of stylistics, Fernando cunningly Manages to weave together all elements into integrally closed narratives full of unforeseeable twists Which follow a well thought October logic. The prolific Brasilia-based producer Furthermore Creates continuity through his unmatched sensitivity When it comes to sampling. Fernando, who has researched and taught about the art of sampling, has built up an impressive archive and regularly immerses himself in his surroundings for field recordings. The result of his relentless pursuit is inscribed deeply into his music, Which always unmistakably sound like L_, Whether it is a hard-hitting 130 bpm Techno belter or the richly textured IDM track with Jazz and Noise elements thrown in for good measure. Thus, his music, apart from psychological and literary topics, Often critically explores religious and philosophical themes. Although instrumental predominantly, the music he makes under the moniker L_ Relies heavily on Fernando's sampling techniques Which - apart from Resulting in his distinctive sound signature - allow him to incorporate external references in his work. L_'s music is hence Substantially informed by literature, film and philosophy, Which is Also reflected in the tracks' titles. Fernando Thereby Provides a complex paratext to his sound art Which thusly can be approached from various different perspectives. Not only does L_ transcend musical boundaries, his work can not simply be reduced Also to sound alone. Navigate:Listen Techno Stream Listen Chillout Stream Listen Club Stream User agreement Contacts page Socials:Soundcloud Vkontakte

Advertisement Nick Jonas wants to use his diabetes diagnoses to "encourage" young people to overcome their own "struggles". The ‘Close’ singer was diagnosed with the lifelong autoimmune disease when he was just 13 years old, and has urged people to not be defined by the hardships in their lives and make the world "a better place" by being "kind to someone who needs it". Speaking at the Radio Disney Music Awards over the weekend where he was honoured with the Hero Award, Nick – who was accompanied on stage by a group of young children who also suffer with the disease –. "We all have the power to change the world and make it a better place.. "What I saw as the biggest challenge of my life really did become the biggest opportunity to bring some encouragement to people like these amazing kids and hopefully people like you who are going to have your own struggles in your life." And speaking on the red carpet before the start of the ceremony, the ‘Jealous’ singer – who was formerly a member of the Jonas Brothers with his siblings Joe and Kevin – said it felt "really special" to be receiving the gong. He told ‘Entertainment Tonight’: "It’s really special.."

BRUNSWICK - Smiles, hugs and bream were the catches of the day for Special Olympians who fished, rode horses, played volleyball and picnicked on freshly grilled hamburgers during the annual fishing rodeo Thursday at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The Two-Way Sport Fishing Club has held the half-day event for 11 years, aided by volunteers from the training center, local law enforcement agencies and community organizations. Rebecca Flowers, 12, from Jane Macon Middle School, smiled with pride as she reeled in a fish the size of a salad plate after she got a few fishing tips from Buddy Baker, a Georgia Power Co. retiree and longtime fishing rodeo volunteer. Ashleigh Purvis, 15, and Tiffany Simmons, 20, both of Brunswick High School, were equally pleased with their fish. "It's fun," Ashleigh said. She was among about 160 participants ages 5 to 21 from Glynn County schools and Morningstar Academy casting a line in the rodeo. "A lot of them don't get a chance to go fishing or ride a horse," said Tara Joos, program coordinator for Special Olympics Coastal Georgia, which includes Glynn and McIntosh counties. Joos lauded Mike Evans, the fishing club president and FLETC senior instructor who founded the fishing rodeo and has been the driving force behind it. The event gets bigger and better each year, Joos said. "This means so much to these kids. Mike has made this the highlight of the kids' year. This is kind of their end of year blowout," she said. Evans, who coordinated the event, downplayed his role. He credited the club members, FLETC Director Connie Patrick, rodeo co-sponsors Glynco Federal Employees Credit Union, United Community Bank, Yamaha Corp. and community supporters. "The kids' teachers tell us this is the one event they don't forget. It means so much to them ... and we enjoy doing it," Evans said. The club holds fishing tournaments and other events throughout the year to raise money for the rodeo that just keeps growing. "When we started, we had 35 kids and they fished in inflatable swimming pools," he said. On Thursday, the Special Olympians teamed with about 50 volunteers including fishing club members, C-Boy Stables, FLETC instructors, Glynn County sheriff's deputies, county police and Georgia Department of Natural Resources personnel. Will Howell, 10, of Oglethorpe Point Elementary School, rode tall in the saddle on Savannah, a gentle, patient horse brought to the event by Daryl Moore of C-Boy Stables. Moore's son, Cole, 15, led Savannah with Will on board in a walk around a tree-shaded area next to the softball field. Asked if he was having fun, Will replied with a grin and a nod while gripping the reins tighter. He seemed reluctant at first to trade his mount for a fishing pole, but quickly got into the fun at the center's fish pond. This was the seventh year FLETC has hosted the rodeo. "I think we have more fun than the kids do," said Patrick, who snuck away from her office to join the youngsters at the pond. "It just gets better and better every year." teresa.stepzinski@jacksonville.com, (912) 264-0405

ANCH. Keyes, 34, is charged with kidnapping Koenig just before the teenager was scheduled to close the coffee stand where she worked Feb. 1. The FBI contends Keyes killed the young woman less than a day later. Her body was recovered April 2 from an ice-covered lake north of the city. Keyes, who operated a one-man construction business, was arrested March 11 in Texas. Prosecutors say he had made withdrawals of ransom money using a debit card he stole from Koenig. He was scheduled for a hearing at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday before U.S. District Court Judge Tim Burgess to set a trial date. The hearing had just begun shortly before 2 p.m. when he took off. “He broke his leg irons and tried to bolt out of the courtroom, but he was stopped,” Long said. “He didn’t make it very far.” Leg irons, he said, are like handcuffs around a prisoner’s legs. Marshals have not determined how Keyes broke them. Keyes tried to jump the bar that separates the public from attorney and defendants. “He tried to,” Long said. “One of the deputies grabbed him and I think momentum carried him over.” A marshal used a stun gun to subdue Keyes. The escape attempt ended the hearing, Long said. say.

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Clinton has been making the campaign rounds recently, stumping for house and senate candidates. Wednesday night, he told the crowd of several thousand people at A-S-U why they should vote for Richard Carmona. "I can’t think of a person in America, without regard to party, who is more needed at this moment in our history in the U.S. Senate," the former President told the crowd. For his part, Carmona said he was thankful the 42nd president came to Tempe…calling Clinton “probably the most famous guy in the world.” "To come and help me, I’m humbled and I’m so grateful that he’s coming out to help me to bring all these people here so that they can hear our message," Carmona said. But Carmona's rival 6 term Republican Congressman Jeff Flake dismissed the former president's visit. "If I were Richard Carmona, I’d certainly welcome it…and it helps, I think, for about an hour," he said. Flake says the endorsement helps underscore part of his message. "Richard Carmona has this kind of aura, or tries to put out that he’s an independent, he’s not really a Democrat or Republican. This puts him firmly in the Democratic camp," Flake said. Recent polls have shown the race to be close…but neither candidate says they’re surprised by how close it’s gotten.

Teenager stabbed in north Austin It happened early Sunday morning in the 9400 block of North Interstate 35 near East Rundberg Lane. Sponsored by: Advertisement It happened early Sunday morning in the 9400 block of North Interstate 35 near East Rundberg Lane. Austin police are investigating the death of a 3-week-old boy in southeast Austin Saturday morning. Parker is being held on a combined $1.5 million bond. Austin-Travis County EMS medics were called to the Madison at Walnut Creek Apartments, located at 12113 Metric Blvd., at 10:14 p.m. Friday. At peak staffing, the department will need 206 cars. Some worry that won’t be enough to respond to crime in the city. The Travis County Sheriff’s Office is entering the final stages of their investigation into the homicides. After he was woken up, the Tennessee driver said the bicyclist threw his bicycle at him, according to the indictment. A man wanted for continuous sexual assault of a child may be in the Austin or Bastrop area, Hays County Deputies say. Authorities in Florida say they arrested a man who robbed a bank, stripped naked and ran down the street throwing stolen money — a spectacle… A store clerk staring down the barrel of a gun made a heroic decision to turn the tables on an armed robber. It’s not the first time something like this has happened in the city’s Hyde Park neighborhood. Lt. Aaron Allan was shot multiple times when he approached an overturned vehicle that had crashed. The Austin man murdered Wednesday night was a well known Austin businessman and property owner. While the FBI searched him, he spontaneously said, “My life is over.” While the suspect has mainly targeted Walgreens, he has also hit a Randalls and CVS. Police say a 33-year-old man is wanted in connection to a series of Bread Basket robberies across Austin and Kyle. Three teenagers are in custody in connection to some of the car burglaries from this week. Austin-Travis County EMS was called to the shooting in the 2200 block of Cesar Chavez, at Mildred Street, around 9:34 p.m. The protesters say they came to Austin in response to recent threats facing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. An Austin family who turned to social media to help them find their stolen puppy late Tuesday night has been reunited. Advertisement Important Notice About Our Privacy Policy: We have modified our Privacy Policy to update and clarify our data collection, use, and disclosure practices. By using this site, you agree to the updated Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Advertisement

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Owner: State of Michigan Assessed Value: no assessment Built in 1924 as the Olds Hotel, the building was repurposed as an office building in the 1990s and renamed after Michigan’s 43rd governor. Like many buildings downtown, this impressive block is often overshadowed by the grandeur of the Capitol. Pedestrians studying the building are encouraged to step within and enjoy the soaring atrium that replaces the hotel’s original light court. The details at this building’s base outwardly express its tremendous weight. Replacing the typical, tall individual columns, the supports here seem to have been crushed to stout stubs under the massive building above. Likewise, they have apparently compressed outward, colliding with each other in tightly compacted groups. The frieze immediately above these columns is similarly affected and is squashed out in a pulvinated bulge. Rising above the dense base, limestone is applied to the brick-clad exterior in decorative Beaux-arts details. Rusticated window surrounds, corner quoins and delicate swags enhance the simple massing. The entire building is divided in the classical tripartite manner, both horizontally and in a more subtle vertical arrangement. By pairing two columns of windows and omitting their limestone surrounds, the Capitol façade is discreetly split into three discrete parts. .

Assuming you have an account and images (henceforth assumed to be photography) to upload, let's get started! Log in and get your digital work ready. Go to and click UPLOAD. It is at the top of the screen, and when you hover over the word it will turn BLUE. Alternatively, you can go to You can click "CHOOSE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS TO UPLOAD" or drag and drop your files. Then you can edit your photos before you upload: - To rotate, hover your mouse over the photo. There will be a semi-circle arrow. Click that until the photograph is oriented to your specification. - To remove a photo from the upload batch, hover your mouse and click the "X" in the top-right corner. It will turn red when your mouse is over the X. Flickr will ask if you are sure: "REMOVED SELECTED ITEM?" Click REMOVE to confirm, or DENY if you've changed your name or made this decision erroneously. To add tags, to multiple or single photos, click ADD TAGS in the LEFT column. Start typing in the bar below. Previous tags will appear as you type. Click ENTER when you have finished typing, or click the tag provided when it appears. If you wanted to enter "Crown Heights" as a tag, Flickr would accept the tag as two, as "Crown" and "Heights." For the neighborhood to appear as ONE tag, you would type "Crownheights." To add to a group, click ADD TO SETS in the LEFT column. Then select the group from the list provided. (To make a new set, click CREATE SET.) You can add your photo to multiple sets, so click DONE when you are satisfied with the sets selected. When you are ready, click UPLOAD PHOTOS at the top right of the screen. The button will be bright blue. Flickr will confirm the number of photos and changes you have made since selecting the photos from your computer or hard drive. If you're not ready, click CONTINUE EDITING. If you're ready to roll, click UPLOAD TO PHOTOSTREAM. When the photos have uploaded, you'll be taken to Your Photostream, with a congratulatory message from Flickr. Good job, you!

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- Sports - High Schools - Schools (A – F) - Schools (G – L) - Schools (M – O) - Schools (P – Z) - MCC - Lumberjacks - Risers - Ironmen - Lakehawks - Clippers - Mustangs - Videos - Whitecaps Sailors spoil Czerwon’s debut By Mark Lewis Local Sports Journal MUSKEGON – The stage certainly was set for drama Thursday night at historic Kehren Stadium as two long-time rivals, host Muskegon Catholic Central and Mona Shores, faced off for the 50th time in as many seasons. The storylines were practically bursting at the seams: MCC’s Steve Czerwon, taking over head coaching duties from Mike Holmes (the school’s first coaching change in 25 years); Mona Shores’ head coach, Matt Koziak, unable to coach his team from the sidelines due to a two-game suspension from the Michigan High School Athletic Association resulting from a minor recruiting violation; and the big school (Division 2 Mona Shores) versus the little school (Division 8 Muskegon Catholic) dynamic. But in the end, it all came down to the visiting Sailors’ performance in the second half, as they scored the final 18 points to win 25-16 after falling behind 16-7 just prior to halftime. “We made some adjustments (at halftime),” said Shores assistant coach Todd Conrad, who coached the squad in Koziak’s stead. “Our defensive line is very inexperienced and they saw a lot of things they haven’t seen before. The kids lowered their pad level, the linebackers kind of dialed it in, and that’s what led to our success in the second half.” On the game’s first drive, the host Crusaders looked like the MCC of old, putting together a dominating 11-play drive, chewing up five minutes of the clock with a mixture of tackle traps and up-the-gut blasts that culminated in an eight-yard TD run by junior back Tommy Scott. Catholic was helped by a late-hit by Shores on the drive’s sixth play, helping to move the ball down to Sailor 21. Then, Shores hurt its own cause on its first drive. After going three-and-out, punter Asantay Brown accidentally downed the ball attempting to receive the snap, giving MCC the ball on the Sailor 13. Eight plays later, and despite working the ball down to the Sailor one (and then committing two penalties), the Crusaders had to settle for a 28-yard field goal to give the home squad the 10-0 lead. The vaunted Sailor offense final put together a scoring drive mid way through the second quarter. Set up by sweep around the right end by sophomore Hunter Broersma that picked up 57 yards, Brown took a misdirection handoff around the left end for the 27-yard score. Catholic led 10-7 . If you thought the Crusaders’ first scoring drive was old school, it’s second, starting with 7:47 remaining in the half, traveled 70 yards in 14 plays, and was capped with an 11-yard QB keeper from Nick Holt around left end to make it 16-7, where the scored stayed at the break after the PAT snap was mishandled. “The first half went about as good as it could’ve for us,” said Czerwon. “We possessed the ball, we sustained drives, and we kept the ball away from them, which was something we knew we’d need to do.” “I knew all we had to do was get our offense the ball more often,” said Conrad. “(Catholic’s) last drive in the first half, they ran us over for eight minutes and punched it in and did exactly what they wanted to do. I knew if we could just get the ball back in our quarterback’s hands, and let him get the ball where it needs to be, we’d be OK.” And they were OK in the second half, as junior quarterback Tyree Jackson started to get into rhythm right out of the gate, going 4-for-5 on the Sailors first drive of the second half, and culminating with a 27 yard Jackson-to-Marquon Sargent TD strike to make it, after a failed extra-point try, 16-13. After a Catholic punt, the Sailors took their second drive 80 yards in 12 plays, giving the Crusaders a bit of their own medicine. While junior DeOntay Moffett did most of the work on the ground, Jackson went 6-for-6, hitting a variety of receivers on bubble screens and quick flat passes, finally connecting with senior Logan Smith from 29 yards away to make it, after the extra point was blocked, 19-16 Mona Shores. The Sailors final score came with under eight minutes left in the game. Brown briefly excited the Sailor faithful with a 90-yard punt return that was called back due to an illegal block call. But Shores fans wouldn’t have to wait very long to cheer again, as Broersma took an option pitch from Jackson around left end and down the east sideline 86 yards for the score. “Shores had success running the ball, and we were concerned, quite frankly, about their slant pass. So we were willing to give them the bubble (screen pass) and they were getting big chunks with it. They run that with such great efficiency and it proved to be the difference.” Without Koziak on the sidelines, one might suspect his absence may account for the squad’s tentative start, though Conrad said the team, not the coaches, must execute the game plan. “Our leadership on both sides of the ball really stepped up in the second half,” said Conrad. “Ultimately, the coaches can’t go out and play for them, and our kids know that. Tyree Jackson is a three-year starter, and he took control in the second half, Cody Snider is a three-year starter at safety, and he took control in the second half on defense. The leadership on both sides of the ball made the difference.” * Note: due to a pressbox error, game stats for this contest will be provided as they are received.

- Sports - High Schools - Schools (A – F) - Schools (G – L) - Schools (M – O) - Schools (P – Z) - MCC - Lumberjacks - Risers - Ironmen - Lakehawks - Clippers - Mustangs - Videos - Whitecaps Local Sports Journal GRAND RAPIDS – The Oakridge Eagles served notice Friday night they are going to be hard to stop, be it in the West Michigan Conference or the Division 5 football playoffs, after outlasting a very tough Grand Rapids West Catholic team 31-25. The Eagles were still smarting from last year’s playoff loss to the Falcons. “It was a big game for us and it all stems from being beaten in the district finals of the playoffs,” said Eagle head coach Cary Harger. “It made the kids hunger for this one to kind of fix things.” And fix them they did. Despite giving up a score to West Catholic in the waning moments of the first half, and trailing 22-19 at the break, Oakridge’s defense stood tall in the second half, limiting the WC offense to just three points. “Looking back, I didn’t realize we held them to only three points in the second half,” admitted Harger. Eagle quarterback Austin Wright got the scoring started with a 39-yard TD pass to Dom Greenawalt. The touchdown gave the skill players a confidence boost, said Harger, particularly Wright. Greenawalt stepped in for All-State running back Dan Shoop, who cramped up during the game. “Dom is an unbelievably tough 135-pound kid, (maybe) a little more than that,” said Harger. “He’s just a never-say-die kid. He’s going to throw every ounce of weight at you.” Andy Cory plunged in from 1 yard out, and teammate Travis Russell connected with Mitch Stanitzek from 11 yards away, to give West the 14-7 lead. Wright went to the air again to get the Eagles within one, connecting with Greenawalt again from 7 yards out, and then Shoop broke an 80-yard TD run to give Oakridge, after two missed PATs, the 19-14 edge. Just before the half, however, Russell delivered his second TD pass, this one to Bryce Witham from 6 yards away, to make it 22-19 at halftime. It was an emotional, hard-hitting game, as Oakridge lost one player to injury and another was kicked out for an altercation during an extra point. The injured player, Alex Torrenga, was later cleared to play next week. Shoop put the Eagles back on top for good with 26-yard TD run that made it 25-22 with seven minutes left in the third quarter. Oakridge fumbled a punt return late in the third, but two plays later got it right back. The Eagles proceeded to march down the field, traveling 85 yards in 11 plays, capped by a 26-yard scoring strike from Wright to Jerik Wambaugh to seal the win. West would add a late field goal, but it wasn’t enough. Harger said it was his team’s ability to play power football and dominate the line of scrimmage that was the difference in the game. “It’s great to get a win on their field now,” said Harger. “It feels good to go over there and get a big win.” The loss doesn’t necessarily take the air out of the Falcons’ playoff pursuit. The squad started 0-3 in 2012 and made it to the Division 5 title game. Wright finished with 9-for-17 passing with 148 yards. Shoop, the workhorse, carried 22 times for 179 yards and a score. Wambaugh added 16 carries for 117 yards, all in the second half, 40 yards of receiving and a TD. West’s Russell was 10-for-32 for 222 yards and two TD passes. Defensively, Oakridge was led by Scott Sittser’s nine tackles, Caleb Cook with seven tackles, Bill Drummond and Greenawalt with six each, and Tony Curry with five stops. The Eagles travel north next Friday to take on rival Montague in the West Michigan Conference opener for both teams.

BUENOS AIRES, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Oil and natural gas output in Argentina’s key energy-producing province of Neuquen was paralyzed by a land-rights protest by an indigenous group on Thursday, state-controlled oil company YPF said in a statement. The indigenous Paynemil community blocked roads as part of a demonstration over “territorial claims” that the statement said had already been settled by provincial authorities. “The company took this decision in order to protect its employees and production installations,” the statement said. It also said it had asked law enforcement authorities to force an end to the roadblocks, which cut off access to the Vaca Muerta shale field and could cause local energy shortages if allowed to continue. Argentina needs $200 billion in investment to develop its vast but barely tapped Neuquen shale fields, but no joint ventures were on the horizon because of low oil prices and uncertainty ahead of the October presidential election, YPF officials said last month. The biggest joint venture so far was a 2013 pact with Chevron Corp, under which the two companies have put about $3 billion in the Belgium-sized Vaca Muerta formation. (Reporting by Nicolas Misculin; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

BBC Radio 4 Prayer for the Day, 11 February 2017 Good Morning As we head into Valentine’s week, we will be surrounded by ideas of love and I’d like to begin with the love of home and family as equal to romantic love. C.S. Lewis writes about it as one of the four great loves; ‘Storge’, the nurturer. As enduring as the mountains. If I get the rare chance to sit on a rocking chair, no matter where it is, I feel a sense of home. I almost hear my great-grandmother creaking back and forward, holding conversation with visitors crammed into the front room around the clipper gas fire. Wooden clock keeping a rhythm. Her generation loved those chairs. Her’s was simple. Wooden, not too big, but it was at the centre of everything. And I remember that look she gave me before she checked the scones; because that glance meant I had the unusual permission to sit on her rocking chair for a while. All of us in truth were step-family or extended family in one way or another, even distant cousins or just taken in; ‘they’re like family,’ we would say. Even those who weren’t there, because they’d passed away or, like my great Aunt Margaret, in a bungalow up the road. Even they were somehow present. Like the love of a family had a mysterious fullness. A shape: a place to belong. We don’t all find a sense of home in the first place we look, but this love is so strong and lingers so long that that even a sense of it, a visit, an experience can stay with us. And it’s found in many places. I’ve been lucky to have God-parents whose home has been my home. Or the first time I went into St Edwards Chapel in Westminster Abbey I felt I’d come home. There are old familiar mountains I return to, the daily office can surround me like family. Gracious God, may we celebrate the generosity of family love as equal to other loves and give thanks for the gift of belonging. As enduring as the mountains. Amen

<|rating-pg|> MRRL Hall of Fame DICK WAGNER DICK WAGNER Although he is not an instantly recognized name to the average music fan, Dick Wagner is a Michigan rock and roll treasure. Wagner was first voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends online Hall of Fame in 2008 as the leader of The Frost, one of the greatest Michigan bands of the Grande Ballroom era. Prior to that, Wagner had been the main songwriter, producer, and lead singer of The Bossmen, Mid-Michigan’s first important garage-rock band. Wagner also wrote and produced a number of other memorable singles for a variety of young Michigan bands during the 1960’s before forming a highly respected, but short-lived, power trio, called Ursa Major. For all intents and purposes, Dick Wagner’s solo career began when he was still the leader of two important Michigan bands, The Bossmen and The Frost. The Bossmen were one of the first groups to become immensely popular on the teen dance club circuit around the state in the 1960’s, especially at Daniel’s Den, Mid-Michigan’s premier nightspot for young rock and rollers. Inspired by the songwriting of Lennon and McCartney, Wagner began penning a series of Beatles-inspired and radio-friendly singles, starting with “Take A Look My Friend”, that received significant airplay on stations like WKNX in Saginaw, WTAC in Flint, WLAV in Grand Rapids, and WJIM in Lansing in early 1965. Besides being the best guitarist and one of the top singers in the state, Wagner, in his mid-twenties, was something of an elder statesman to the bevy of teen bands that emerged in the wake of the British Invasion. Writing more songs than he could record with The Bossmen, Wagner started offering some of his compositions as well as his record production skills to some of these up-and-coming Mid-Michigan groups. Dick Wagner, Cherry Slush manager Jim Leach, and Terry Knight at Daniel's Den. The first of these was The Bells Of Rhymny, a band of Saginaw high school teens who had done their first recording session in 1966 at the small Art Schiell Studio in Bay City a few weeks after ? And The Mysterians had recorded the classic “96 Tears” there. The group played the demo recordings for Wagner, who was living in Saginaw, to get his opinion. Liking what he heard, Wagner offered to produce the group’s first 45 and gave them one of his songs, “The Wicked Old Witch”, for one side of the single, backed with the band original “She’ll Be Back”. The songs were recorded in Detroit and released on Wagner’s Dicto record label. The second, and most important, single that Wagner wrote and produced for the group was “I Cannot Stop You”. Released under the band’s new name of The Cherry Slush, the song was recorded at the Audio Recorders studio in Cleveland, Ohio. Wagner had written a particular horn line that he wanted to feature, so he brought in two local trumpet players to enhance the band’s sound. Released first on the small Coconut Groove label, “I Cannot Stop You” became a regional smash and was picked up for national distribution by USA Records out of Chicago. The horns in Wagner’s production helped make the record happen, and it gave both The Cherry Slush and their producer their first single on the Billboard charts in 1968. Wagner began working with Tonto & The Renegades from Grand Ledge, Michigan, during the early days of The Frost. The band knew Wagner from playing several gigs with The Bossmen on the teen night club circuit. He had been impressed with their first single, “Little Boy Blue”, and it was agreed that he would provide two songs and produce their second 45. Dick Wagner's record production receipt from the Tonto & The Renegades recording session in January, 1968. “The Easy Way Out” and “Anytime You Want Some Lovin’” were recorded at Dave Kalmbach’s Great Lakes Recording Studio in Sparta, Michigan. Wagner was paid $200 for his production which included writing horn parts for both songs, playing the controlled guitar feedback on “The Easy Way Out”, and bringing in Donny Hartman of The Frost to play harmonica on “Anytime You Want Some Lovin’”. The 45 was a big regional hit, and Columbia Records was interested in signing the band and distributing the record nationally, but the Vietnam War and the draft board quickly put an end to that dream. The Fabulous Pack, featuring future Grand Funk founders Mark Farner and Don Brewer, also recorded two of Wagner’s songs. Farner had left Terry Knight & The Pack in 1966 after a disagreement with Terry Knight. He knew Wagner and was asked to join The Bossmen. Farner was with the band when they recorded their big regional hit “Baby Boy” in Cleveland. He also sang backing vocals on “Rainy Day”, a song that Wagner recorded at the same session. Wagner wrote string parts for the song, hired a string quartet from the Cleveland Symphony, and then conducted them on what would become The Frost’s first single when it was released on Date Records in 1967. Mark Farner returned to Terry Knight & The Pack after The Bossmen broke up. After Knight left the group to pursue a solo career, Farner and Brewer changed the name of the band to The Fabulous Pack. The renamed band’s next two singles would include Dick Wagner compositions. “I’ve Got News For You” was the b-side of their cover of “Harlem Shuffle” in late 1967; and “Wide Trackin’”, a song Wagner had written for use in an advertising campaign for Pontiac’s new ‘wide tracking' automobiles, was the a-side of The Fabulous Pack’s first single of 1968. After The Bossmen split, Wagner was invited to New York City to audition for the part of lead singer for Blood Sweat and Tears. Al Kooper was leaving the band, and Wagner spent a weekend in the Big Apple learning material and rehearsing with the band to be his replacement. Wagner lost out to David Clayton Thomas, however, and returned to Michigan to put together The Frost. While Farner and Brewer would go on to incredible success in Grand Funk Railroad, Wagner’s Frost would miss grabbing the brass ring despite producing three high quality albums and some seemingly ‘can’t miss’ singles in large part because Vanguard Records seemed unable to break the band outside of the Midwest. Wagner met a young booking agent named Dennis Arfa near the end of The Frost who convinced him to move to New York after the band’s demise to form a trio with keyboardist Billy Joel and drummer Rick Mangone. Originally set to be named World War III, things changed dramatically when Joel dropped out of the project due to personal strife in his marriage. Wagner then recruited Greg Arama, former bassist for Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes to form a more traditional power trio called Ursa Major. The new band signed a recording contract with RCA, and Arfa brought in Bob Ezrin to produce the band’s eponymous debut LP, “Ursa Major”. Wagner wrote all of the songs for the album, which received positive reviews, and they went on the road to promote it, opening first for Beck, Bogart and Appice, and then Alice Cooper. Despite the successful tour, neither the album nor the single, "Let The Music Play", got much support from RCA; but worst of all, the band could not seem to get along. Wagner ended up firing Arama and Ursa Major broke up a short time later. In 1972, Bob Ezrin brought Wagner in to add a guitar part to Lou Reed’s “Berlin” album. As a result, Wagner was asked to put together a band for Reed’s European tour and he recruited Steve Hunter, formerly of Detroit featuring Mitch Ryder, as co-lead guitarist. When the tour returned to America several of the shows were recorded. The first half of these was released as “Rock n Roll Animal”. The LP became Lou Reed’s first American gold record and is generally considered to be one of the best live albums ever recorded, primarily due to the dueling guitars of Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter. Reed was unhappy about the attention given to the musicians on both the tour and the album, however, and fired the band before his next scheduled tour. Alice Cooper had first met Wagner in 1969 after his band had relocated to Detroit. During the early 70’s Wagner had done some session work with the group on their “School’s Out”, “Billion Dollar Babies”, and “Muscle Of Love” albums. After Dick was fired by Lou Reed and Alice had split from his original band, Wagner was invited to write songs with Cooper and be the lead guitarist in a new backing group that would support his solo career. The result of this collaboration was the “Welcome To My Nightmare” album. The hit single from the LP started out as a song that Wagner had originally written for the Frost in 1968 called “Keep Movin’ On”, but had never recorded. He played it for Cooper as they were working on song ideas, never thinking that Alice would be interested in recording a ballad. Cooper said he liked the song but not the lyrics, and proceeded to write the words for “Only Women Bleed” in under an hour. Thus, a very successful songwriting relationship was developed between the two where Wagner would write the music and Cooper would pen the lyrics. Wagner on tour with Alice Cooper. Released as “Only Women” so as not to scare off squeamish radio programmers, the song became the first Wagner song to reach the Top 20 on Billboard’s Hot 100. It also kicked off one of the largest and highest grossing tours in rock and roll history; and took the concept of theatrical performances to new heights behind basically the same band that had successfully backed Lou Reed, again featuring the twin guitar attack of Wagner and Hunter. The tour and the # 5 hit album helped put two more Wagner-Cooper songs from the LP, “Department Of Youth” and “Welcome To My Nightmare”, into the Hot 100. The popularity of the show led to a prime-time TV special called Nightmare, featuring Vincent Price, that aired in April of 1975. In September of that same year, a concert film of the tour called Welcome To My Nightmare was shot at London’s Wembley Stadium and released to theatres the following year. It was Wagner's first appearance on the silver screen. The follow-up album to “Welcome To My Nightmare” was titled “Alice Cooper Goes To Hell”. Wagner and Cooper wrote the songs for the album while on vacation with their wives in Hawaii, and the album was recorded at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles. Bolstered by the hit ballad “I Never Cry”, the LP peaked at # 27 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. In 1977, Wagner signed with Atlantic Records as a solo artist despite being courted by the legendary Clive Davis at Columbia. Dick wrote all the songs for the album titled “Richard Wagner”; but the humorous reference to the classical composer of the same name, insisted on by his producer and manager, was lost on the record-buying public, most still somewhat unfamiliar with the name 'Dick' Wagner, let alone ‘Richard’. Despite being produced by Bob Ezrin and featuring some musical heavyweights like Steve Hunter on guitar, Funk Brother Bob Babbitt on bass, and Ernie Watts on sax, the project failed to get much promotion from Atlantic Records and did not chart. That same year, Wagner produced Mark Farner’s first solo album following the break-up of Grand Funk. Recorded in Toronto and composed of songs co-written by Wagner and Farner, the album veered away from what had made Farner great in his previous band. They also failed to write a radio-friendly single to push the LP, and Wagner’s slick production received poor reviews in the music press. By the time the “Lace And Whiskey” album was released, it was apparent that Alice Cooper’s alcohol problem had gotten the best of him. Wagner and Cooper wrote another impressive single called “You And Me”, and it became their fourth consecutive ballad hit when it reached # 9 on Billboard’s Hot 100. The “Lace And Whiskey” LP, however, only reached # 42 in Billboard. It was the first Alice Cooper album to fail to reach the Top 40 since “Easy Action” in 1970. The subsequent King Of The Silver Screen tour was something of a letdown and signaled the beginning of a change in the careers of both Alice Cooper and Dick Wagner. Cooper had himself hospitalized in a New York sanitarium for treatment, during which time “The Alice Cooper Show”, a live album featuring Wagner, was released. As revealed in his memoir, Not Only Women Bleed, Wagner was also battling some demons. First, a sexual addiction that may have pre-dated The Frost, and also a full-blown addiction to cocaine that started in the 1970’s. After returning from rehab, Alice Cooper had begun hanging out with Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyricist. The plan was to bring Taupin into the Cooper-Wagner songwriting partnership for Alice’s new album, “From The Inside”. Cooper wanted the album to reflect his feelings from being treated for his alcoholism. Wagner co-wrote seven of the album’s songs with Cooper and Taupin; the standout track being “How You Gonna See Me Now”, a # 12 hit single. The album only charted at # 60, however, even though Wagner still considers it one of Alice Cooper’s masterpieces. Wagner and Cooper then traveled to Toronto to write the songs for the last album on his contract to Warner Bros Records. They would write one song each day and record it the following day. Cooper was drinking again, and each night he and Wagner would gather at the piano in the hotel lounge and entertain the other guests. The album was titled “Da Da”, and features Wagner on both guitar and bass. In his memoir Wagner described it as follows: “The record is an eclectic collection of songs - and one of our best albums, in my opinion”. “Da Da” failed to chart in the U.S., however, and Wagner went on to write; “Although critically acclaimed, it was a commercial flop. But I attribute that to Warner’s lack of interest in Alice at that point in time”. Besides working with Alice Cooper, Wagner did a good deal of session work for other artists after moving to New York City in the 1970’s. He appeared on "Get Your Wings" by Aerosmith, “Destroyer” by Kiss, “Here Comes the Flood” by Peter Gabriel, “Aqua Show” by Elliott Murphy, and “Fearless” by Tim Curry. In addition, his song “Just As I Am” was the last big hit for Air Supply. Wagner’s addiction had reached the point in the 1980’s to where he was now smoking crack cocaine as well as snorting it. His life as a coke addict on a death trip was interrupted, however, by a phone call from his ex-wife Judy, the mother of his two sons. She had recently become involved with the San Antonio Coalition on Child Abuse, and she asked Wagner if he would consider writing a song about the sensitive subject. Starting off with the melody of the children’s song “Ring Around The Rosie”, Wagner started working on the song that, in two days, would become “Remember The Child”, one of his most powerful compositions. Writing about the tragic subject of child abuse helped Wagner realize that he needed do something about his self-destructive behavior. Judy invited Wagner to come to San Antonio and live with her and the kids. It gave him the opportunity he needed to leave behind the drug-filled lifestyle he had fashioned for himself in New York. Judy also offered to pay for the “Remember The Child” recording sessions with members of the San Antonio Symphony. The song eventually came to the attention of John Bradshaw, the leading proponent of the “inner child concept” who contacted Wagner about using “Remember The Child” as the theme song for his upcoming PBS series, Homecoming. Wagner then joined Bradshaw's national tour of his Inner Child seminars. Wagner credits Bradshaw’s teachings and friendship for helping him get past his drug addiction. His song, in turn, helped Bradshaw achieve his goal of reaching people on a deeper level. Wagner is justifiably proud that “Remember The Child” is being used by therapists worldwide as a catalyst for evoking feelings from their patients. Unfortunately, Wagner fell back into the drug scene after he relocated to Nashville to kick-start his songwriting career. Nothing much came of his time in Music City, and at one point he had to hock all of his guitars for money to live on. An invitation from Bob Dyer and Dick Fabian to travel from Nashville to Saginaw to perform a Bossmen reunion to benefit the YMCA brought Wagner back to Michigan. In the 60’s, the two WKNX Deejays held regular Saturday night dances at the Saginaw YMCA, turning it into the 'Y A-Go-Go'. The Bossmen were big attractions at those dances. For the benefit, Wagner joined up with original members Pete Woodman on drums and Lanny Roenicke on bass, but Bobby Caldwell was recruited for keyboards since Warren Keith had passed away five years prior. Wagner also reunited with Mary Ann Reynolds-Burtt, former President of the Bossmen fan club, at the event. He invited her to be his manager, and Mary Ann invited him to stay with she and her husband in Saginaw. One of Wagner’s dreams was to have his music played live with an orchestra, and Reynolds-Burtt helped make that happen by putting Wagner with Leo Najar, the conductor and musical director of the Saginaw Bay Orchestra. Najar took Wagner’s songs and arranged them for a fifty-eight piece orchestra at the Remember The Child Concert at Saginaw Valley State University. The show drew three thousand people and raised money for five separate child abuse and neglect councils in the Saginaw Valley area. In 1999, Wagner performed with original members Donny Hartman and Bobby Riggs at The Frost 30th Anniversary Concert at Saginaw’s Heritage Theatre. The reformed group also recorded the single “This Band Can Rock And Roll Forever” b/w “In The Middle Of The Night” to kick off a short reunion tour. Now based in Michigan, Wagner met Marshall Block at a songwriter’s seminar and recorded a solo album of mostly acoustic versions of important songs from his career at Block’s digital studio at his home in Fenton, Michigan. Wagner titled the album, “Rock HitStory”. Working with Block inspired Wagner to open his own studio in downtown Saginaw. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, Wagner’s Downtown Digital Studios lost money, and in 2005 he closed the operation and moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In Arizona, Wagner formed a production company called Desert Dreams Productions with partners Suzy Michelson and Alex Cyrell. The new company got off to a good start, but in July of 2007, Wagner suffered a massive heart attack and nearly died. That same night while still in the hospital, he suffered a stroke that resulted in kidney failure and paralysis of his left arm. After the blood clot was removed from his brain, Wagner had to go through a long period of therapy, which included having relearn how to play the guitar. It took over four years, but in the fall of 2011 Wagner made his triumphant return to the stage at a number of shows in Michigan, including two at White’s Bar in Saginaw, located next door to where Daniel’s Den once stood. Wagner's comeback in 2011 at White's Bar. In January of 2012, Not Only Women Bleed, Vignettes from the Heart of a Rock Musician, Dick Wagner’s revealing and entertaining book about his life and his rock and roll career, went on sale as an eBook. A hardcover edition of the book was issued later in the year. In June 2012, Dick Wagner was voted into the MRRL online Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He had been previously voted into the Hall in 2008 as a member of The Frost. He has also had five of his compositions (“Mystery Man”, “Rock And Roll Music”, “Anytime You Want Some Lovin’”, “The Easy Way Out”, and “I Cannot Stop You”) voted Legendary Michigan Songs. Sadly, Dick Wagner passed away at age 71 in Scottsdale, Arizona, on July 30, 2014, of respiratory failure following a cardiac procedure. VIDEO: Watch Dick Wagner perform “Only Women Bleed” with Leo Najar and the Saginaw Bay Orchestra at his MRRL biography. The site did a more complete review of Not Only Women Bleed in 2012. You can read it at

. 2015 BOARD OF GOVERNORS EMMY® AWARD Hockey Day Minnesota: From St. Paul to Kuwait FOX Sports North, Minnesota National Guard, Minnesota Wild Hockey Club, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Serving Our Troops The men and women stationed out of Saint Paul’s Holman Field — home base to the Minnesota National Guard 34th Combat Aviation Brigade and 2-147th Assault Helicopter Battalion — would’ve missed out on an unofficial state holiday while deployed to the Middle East. But, FOX Sports North, the Minnesota Wild and the Metropolitan Airport Commission partnered with Serving Our Troops and the Minnesota National Guard to fill the void, customizing a major civic event in an effort to link Minnesota hockey with the men and women serving us overseas. Hockey Day Minnesota, an annual event for “the state of hockey,” was transformed into a special military tribute. Hosted at Saint Paul’s Holman Field, the 2015 experience incorporated unique interactions with soldiers and their families as the local community dropped the puck for a truly special message from home. The team effort was apparent, both at the event and throughout FOX Sports North’s telecast, which commemorated the first time hockey had ever been played on an active airport tarmac, requiring FAA approval. Spectators and viewers noticed a strong military presence with two UH-60 Blackhawks, a CH-47 Chinook and a C-130 Hercules aircraft surrounding the newly constructed, refrigerated rink. Thousands of viewers across a five-state area saw footage of a floor hockey game being played by Minnesota National Guard members stationed overseas as well as special features highlighting soldiers stories and their ties to the game of hockey. Plus, FOX Sports North incorporated live interviews with soldiers and updates from Camp Beuhring in Kuwait where the network had a production team posted. The military theme extended to Hockey Day Minnesota at the Xcel Energy Center that evening, as Sgt. Jason Brubaker announced “Let’s Play Hockey” before the Wild game. There was also a special ceremonial puck drop coordinated via video feed between Lt. Colonel Jeff Merricks from Kuwait and his family in St. Paul. Additionally, Serving our Troops and the National Guard worked with the Wild to transport a number of special hockey greats to Kuwait to spend time with the deployed soldiers. FOX Sports North provided a platform, the Minnesota Wild contributed resources, the Metropolitan Airport Commissions assisted with logistics, Serving our Troops organized details and the Minnesota National Guard served as a connector to the military community. Together, the organizations orchestrated a one-of-a-kind event, and the opportunity to bring a small piece of home to those who fight for our freedom.

Red Bull Racing Australia co-driver Paul Dumbrell has confirmed that next weekend’s ArmorAll Gold Coast 600 event could be his last in the V8 Supercars Championship as he considers a complete retirement from racing. Dumbrell had raced full-time in the V8 Supercars Championship for nine years before opting to step back into a co-driver role at the end of 2011 in order to allow him to concentrate on his business commitments, where he serves as an executive on a number of companies. The 31-year-old reunited with long-time friend Jamie Whincup to co-pilot the reigning champion’s #1 Red Bull Racing Australia Holden Commodore in this year’s Pirtek Endurance Cup rounds, the Sandown 500, Bathurst 1000 and Gold Coast 600. The pair had also combined to win last year’s Bathurst 1000 and backed that up with victory in this year’s Sandown 500. But his lack of regular racing experience came to a head during last weekend’s race at Mount Panorama, where two off-track moments in his final stint conspired to ensure he and Whincup would finish as runners-up to the victorious Ford Performance Racing duo of Mark Winterbottom and Steve Richards. “It’s such a long day and everything has to go right, you can’t be missing that tiny little one percent,” Dumbrell told the Speed Café website. “Not racing full-time I struggled in the race with race craft and all of those sorts of things. I made a few rookie errors which really cost us. “I’ve got to sit down with the team and with Roland after the Gold Coast and analyse whether it’s right for me and right for the team to go around again.” Dumbrell reiterated that any decision to step away from the cockpit would be permanent. “It’s like full-time driving; once you make the call to stop, you’ve got to be true to yourself and not come back,” he added. “I’ve seen a lot of people in all types of sport trying and come back and it generally ends in tears. Generally you don’t go as well as you’d like to have done or what you did previously. “I’m content with what I’ve done. Even second at Bathurst, you can’t be too disappointed about it. “I’ve got a lot to do with business, family and so on, and there are other things I’d like to do as well, like the Iron Man World Championships (which clash with Bathurst). “I’m going to be here for a short time, not a long time in the sport.” Should Dumbrell step away, the team will have a few candidates to consider as his replacement, one of which is Scott Pye, who drives for Paul Dumbrell’s brother’s team, Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport. Pye has endured a difficult rookie season with LDM – suffering a huge accident in the second round at Tasmania – but bounced back with a terrific drive last weekend at Bathurst, where he and co-driver Paul Morris finished in sixth place. It is understood that Red Bull Racing Australia team owner Roland Dane – who is also Pye’s manager – is considering moving his protégé into the Australian Porsche Carrera Cup next year, which would make him eligible for co-driver duties.

Dead Snow(2009)-5/10->Dead Snow is a lot of fun and it's really bloody,but its just mindless.The acting helps a bit. Cinema Komunisto(2010)-8/10->Cinema Komunisto builds up nicely,using archive images as its basic storytelling technique and the music is pretty good. Night Of The Living Dead(1968)-9.5/10->NOFTD uses realistic elements,terrific music and thrilling dialogue to create a compelling story of survival and it might feature two of the best character studies about zombies and humans in movies.Not as scary as it should be. Dawn Of The Dead(1978)-10/10->More entertaining(and scarier) than its predecessor,Dawn Of The Dead is everything the precedent was and more. Day Of The Dead(1985)-8/10->Day Of The Dead isn't as good as the first two,but it works both as a horror and a drama. Land Of The Dead(2005)-9/10->Introducing us to a new breed of zombies and a new world,Land Of The Dead is smarter than Day Of The Dead and even better in camerawork and acting. 1408(2007)-8/10->Cusack's performance really stands out throughout this frightening,well-made adaptation of Stephen King's story. Ashes Of Time(1994)-3/10->Amazing camerawork can't make up for a boring,pointless and so-called poetic storyline. Diary Of The Dead(2007)-6/10->With Diary Of The Dead,Romero brings us a combination between mockumentaries and FPS videogames.There is some bad acting and it isn't scary enough,but Romero also smartly combines political issues with gore. Survival Of The Dead(2009)-4/10->It is often funny and the camerawork is pretty good,but we've seen everything in here before. Dawn Of The Dead(2004)-9.5/10->Dawn Of The Dead is electric because of its visual part and acting and also its ability to respect the original and also go out on a limb on its own.Zack Snyder's best film so far. Shaun Of The Dead(2004)-9/10->It's original,inventive,surprisingly scary and extremely funny.Terrific acting. The Crazies(1973)-7/10->The Crazies is original and scary,but its acting lets it down and also its sudden plot twists. The Crazies(2010)-8.5/10->The remake is much more scarier than the original,more unsettling,darker and well acted.Its final plot twist is too unbelievable. Martin(1977)-8.5/10->Romero's entry in the vampire horror genre is not strictly about blood sucking fiends it's actually desecrates the rules of vampires,by developing an intriguing premise into a compelling story that mixes moral values with scares.Good ending. Creepshow(1982)-10/10->Creepshow is a mix of hilarious dark humor and effective scares,that features a great script from Stephen King and psychedelic editing.One of the best anthologies yet to come and Romero's second best work after Dawn Of The Dead. Monkey Shines(1988)-8/10->This might not seem like a Romero film in the first 40 minutes,but it slowly develops into a startling study on humanity and fear. Bruiser(2000)-6/10->Its editing is impressive and Stormare gives it all in his secondary role,but it lacks scares and its plot is tangled up. Niciun comentariu: Trimiteți un comentariu

2008/03/31 Billy Bragg's 'I Keep Faith' Solo and other videos From 'Mr.Love And Justice'! From Dave, Peace and Soul! :) 2008/03/30 From The Jam From New Zealand (Courtesy of Jo Macklin & Tony Foulkes) and others after gig. They were real gentlemen, very humble and friendly to everyone but particularly towards Ben my son. To give you an idea he described it as 'the best night of his life'... It included: as well as meeting them, and the thrill of first concert, he actually sat on the stage for second half of the concert, got the set list, and was given the plectrums of Bruce Foxton and Russell Hastings. As well as being special for him, I can honestly say it was a truly amazing experience for everyone there. We already know they are great songs but the performance was superb and a fantastic atmoshpehere. Weller or not, I'd really recommend any fan of the music to see them. Interestingly David Moore from the band was telling us afterwards that Weller 'has given them his blessing' now - the apparent associated big increase in Jam (and weller) cd sales after their 07 tour may have helped.... - not that it really made any difference to the concert as we all thoroughly enjoyed it regardless. Malice It's too bad Going underground The Gift 2008/03/29 Eton Rifles Rang Again by Steve Walden. seeing The Rifles. They had promised a special surprise for tonights gig. Waiting outside to get in, rumours were that a certain Mr Weller would be there! Although their set was quite short at only 40 minutes, they were obviously coming back for an encore, and a keyboard and mic were brought on stage. The Rifles returned, to introduce a special guest, Paul Weller!!! He then accompanied The Rifles on keyboards and backing vocals for She's The Only One. However, the best part of the night followed, as Weller picked up his guitar, and the opening chords of the most appropriate song from his back catalogue rang out, and to a fantastic reception from the crowd Eton Rifles rang out again!! At the end of the gig it was that song that was the most talked about part of a great evening!! Download the single for free Talking, the video: Repeat Offender She's got standards Mick did it again! A new Small faces' pictures album. 2008/03/27 Roger Daltrey applauds Kenney Jones' courage Daltrey says that he was glad that Jones, who joined the band in 1979 after the death of Keith Moon and was forced out of the band by Daltrey a decade later, chose to participate in the film and shed light onto the band's career: "It took a lot of courage for Kenney to do that, and indeed for people like (former manager) Chris Stamp. You know, it's a painful part of their past. I'm sure it's still painful for him to have to revisit. The great thing is we're still all friends out of all this and we respect each other and we love each other." Supergrass Hub Session on BBC 6. Enjoy! Paul said once than Danny is one of his favourite drummer (The little Keith Moon?) 2008/03/26 Graham Day / Fay Hallam. Don't they look MOD? Fay Hallam website Fay Hallam Trinity are a mixture of 60s, 70s, Mod, Psychedelic and Pop with a big splash of Hammond Organ thrown in. They embark on a SECOND European tour this year, and have four new songs available for download now. Click on the shop to buy the first album, Realm, the single and EP. Fay Hallam, Sean Kelly and Russ Baxter have previously been band members of Phaze, The Discords, Prime Movers, Phaze and Makin' Time which included Martin Blunt of The Charlatans. "Realm" really is one of those untouchable albums within the canon of a. Kahlil Breithaupt for Hammondbeat 2007 2008/03/25 The Zombies, The story in French (Erudit rock) Comme nombre de formations anglaises de la première partie des sixties, les ZOMBIES, créés en 1963 à St Albans, sont à la fois influencés par le rhythm'n'blues américain et l'émergence des Beatles. A peine sortis du lycée, Colin Blunstone (né le Ironiquement, par la suite, cet album très mélancolique et superbement orchestré, deviendra un objet de culte pour la critique rock au même titre que le "Forever Changes" de Love. En 1969, sans Blunstone, avec le guitariste Rick Birkett et le bassiste Jim Rodford, les Zombies se reforment une première fois, mais se séparent tout aussi vite Avec Jim Rodford, Rod Argent forme Argent, un des groupes importants du progressif anglais, réalisant huit albums jusqu'à sa séparation en 1976. Paul Atkinson se reconvertit dans la production de disques. II est mort le 1er avril 2004 à Santa Monica en Californie. Quant à Colin Blunstone, il retrouve lui aussi le chemin des studios en 1969 sous le pseudonyme Neil MacArthur pour une reprise de "She's Not There" avant de reprendre son nom au début des années 70 et de se lancer dans une carrière solo dont les deux premières productions, "One Year" avec "Say You Dont Mlnd" et "I Can't Live Without You" (Epic UK 71) et "Ennismore" avec "I Dont Believe In Miracles" (Epic UK 72), sont des petites merveilles. La mélancolie se transformant en une fade mièvrerie pop, la suite présente moins d'intérêt. En 1991, les Zombies se reforment pour une réunion sans lendemain : "New World" (Essential UK 91). En 2001, Colin Blunstone et Rod Argent s'associent à nouveau pour "Out Of The Shadows" (Red House UK 2001) ; puis reprennent le nom de Zombies "As Far As I Can See" (Rhino US 2004) ; "Llve At The Bloomsbury Theatre, London" (Absolute UK 2005). Compilations : "Live At The BBC" (Rhino US 86) ; "The Collection" (Castle UK 88) ; "The EP Collection" (See For Miles UK 92) ; "Zombie Heaven" coffret 4-CD (Big Beat UK 97). A complete Respond records history by Flavio Candani (Cheers the cap!) Flavio Candani (The Capt Stax) Complete tracklisting: WEARING YOUR JUMPER / A CRAZE PSCR-5482/ WEARING YOUR JUMPER/ SHE IS SO DUB, BUT NOT MUTE / KEEPING THE BOY AMUSED/ KEEPING THE BOY AMUSED (instr.) The New Super Supergrass is out! 2008/03/24 You Should have been inspired to check... To discover one of the most stunning interview ever... Elvis Costello? A Small Faces' fan (from Mick, Brent, etc.) "A lot of the things we borrowed were form things I'd been passionate about some time earlier, so I could look back at them affectionately. For instance I knew all teh Small Faces' records backwards when I was 13, but I didn't have the occasion or the ability or the platform to use what I'd learned from them until I was 23. So when we were doing something like You Belong To Me, and it ended up like Whatcha Gonna Do About It crossed with The Last Time, I didn't worry about it. The references were so fleeting. " An Elvis Costello radio sound Bootleg, Aging gracefully to celebrate it! :) Live at the Fillmore, 1996, part one. rapidshare. Live at the Fillmore, 1996, part two. Divshare. 2008/03/23 Martin Scorsese's "Shine a light" trailer. Dedicated to my so beloved Dad, 66 years old and more MOD than many people even if he doesn't know it himself. We went to see the Stones in the Stade de France together and it was great (hey, they are their best self tribute band in a way). This man worked all his life with very difficult kids (they weren't alright at all) and he helped them as much as he can without asking a thank. Top Man. And he has the same hairs than Ian McLagan, don't you think? Cheers, old man! :) Contest Answers... A stroll across music, museum, etc. A program for a Lazy Sunday. 1) What the main difference between the two "Maybe I'm amazed" version in the Faces CD box? He produced it for Carleen Anderson on her best Album, Blessed Burden. Soul providence, the last one, is very good too. She made a little squeek on stage with Paul, remember? The "Across the universe" verse and chorus. She's a great soul sister! Her official Website Actually, I did shoot it at the Imperial War Museum under the wing of a RAF plane of WW1. Dedicated to Henry Allingham, 111 years old, the oldest survivor of the WW1 in british troops, Absolute respect, really. 4) Why this photo, even if it's not the same Weller is related to Paul in a way? Well I have fantastic answers to this question with "Written in the stars, Above the clouds, etc", The question has been imagined by a sick mind (mine). I also had this funny and intelligent one : Because it’s a place where you can observe “Kosmos”, what “It’s written in the stars”, and the “Shadow of the sun”. Actually this museum is in Greenwich and I have visited it this year. In 1999, Paul Weller played in Greenwich naval college for a Japanese TV. That was the link. I know, this is the sick serial killer aspect of my mind... Astronomy galleries The South Building at the Royal ObservatoryThe Weller Astronomy Galleries are part of the Royal Observatory's recent spectacular £15 million redevelopment which also includes the Peter Harrison Planetarium and Lloyd's Trust Learning Centre. The galleries are located in the South Building at the Royal Observatory (see floor plans). 5) Paul Recently asked to someone "have you forgiven me because I nicknamed you Smokey..."? Who is it? It was Billy Bragg during the Red Wedge tour, Mr Love and Justice man. They've been on the blog several times. But one day, Bragg recalls, "We were in the studio and Wiggy [Bragg's longtime friend and guitarist] played this snaky riff and it just got to me - just got to me. And I was, like, 'Oh, jeeze, then, you know what we could do with this? We could do this and this and go there and do this.' So me and him sat around playing that snaky riff and moving it around and eventually the words came out." The song was "Must I Paint You A Picture." Bragg says: "'Picture' was when I realized the soul feeling I'd felt all those years and was finally able to get it out. I remember playing it to Paul Weller. He came 'round my house and I played it for him and when it ended he looked at me and said, 'That's a soul song,' as if I shouldn't be writing soul songs. Of course he didn't actually say, 'You know, you're a bloody folksinger; why are you writing soul songs? I'm supposed to be the soul singer.' But the first time I toured with him, with Style Council, I'd just written 'Levi Stubbs' Tears' and I played it at soundcheck. He came up to me and said, 'Levi Stubbs? Of The Four Tops?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah,' and he just looked at me; he didn't say anything, but he gave me that same look. The complete page It was in Jonathan Ross' show in 1991. Flavio sent us the audio file and it's been on the blog's tape for a week or more. Of course, there was Heard it through the Grapevine with Amy Winehouse, What's going on and Abraham Martin and John, Performed 11. November 1993 on a session for Virgin Radio in the UK and 14, December 1993 on WEQX radio session in Latham, N.Y. Martin Beck's great page learnt me he also played How sweet it to be loved by you, composed by Holland/Dozier/Holland in Paris, 11/14/2002 and performed by Marvin too. "If that had been my aim, the album would have been full of the Small Faces and the Beatles or whatever, but I tried to make it more objective. There was nothing more to add to those songs. Obviously, I tried to pick good songs, but not songs that were so close to the heart that it would be impossible to try and interpret them, they're so ingrained.' Black and white suits: 10) The lead guitarist of this band was a major influence on Paul's style of guitar playing. Paul was and still is a big fan. Who is it? Wilko Johnson. 12) Who is the new Paul Weller's drummer? (This one is a joke...) I had many funny answers but I don't want to fight with anyone. Someone made a cool proposition: Sting... Tracie Young video (Courtesy of Flavio) Tracie Young performed this song, from her album Far From The Hurting Kind, live on The Infernal Racket Show on 91.8 Hayes FM. We interviewed her about her time spent with The Jam, when she appeared on the Beat Surrender single and was on Top Of The Pops with them too. We also asked her about being in The Style Council and she also told us what she has been up to since, which is being a Radio Dj. 2008/03/22 Jam in Pinkpop festival 1980 (and Utrecht, December). Chose your own version (Pinkpop or/and Utrecht) The Who, view from a backstage pass. Check the Who Website to know more about it. 2008/03/21 KCRW Session, 2003. Illumination tour. Download link 2008/03/20 Courtesy of Andy and Reflex record store... Ohio? Birds? The loner live (Courtesy of Claire Watkins. lol). We all know than Neil Young is one of Paul's inspirations (Birds, Ohio) and than he likes the songwriter. Here is an amazing live bootleg collection bring up to you by my friend Mike! :) 102 Ambulance Blues 2007-10-20 Spokane WA 103 Sad Movies 2007-12-03 Boston MA 104 Kansas 2007-12-03 Boston MA 105 Harvest

NewsJake Bugg Announces New Album ‘Shangri La’, Releases Single ‘What Doesn’t Kill You’Written by Mike Hohnen on September 24, 2013During fans. The clip kicks off with a sound bite of the young singer songwriter explaining the themes he wanted to explore on the new album – the harsh reality of street life.The Rick Rubin-produced Shangri La is shaping up to be a much more pumping affair than Bugg’s self-titled 2012 debut. What Doesn’t Kill You sees the young crooner getting his garage rock on, and it seems to fit him well. Speaking on the album to Lowe, Bugg explained that there was no sign of the dreaded “difficult second album”:.” Shangri La has been given an international release date of Monday, 18th November. Local release details are sure to be announced shortly.Watch: Jake Bugg – What Doesn’t Kill You(Via Gigwise)

Your decision to give a gift to New Brunswick Community College not only changes the life of a student – it creates a stronger community. We have a number of choices that make it easy to give to NBCC. There are several ways you can help to make a difference in the life of a student. Your options include a gift of cash, equipment or an in-kind gift, a legacy gift through planned giving, a memorial gift and more. Learn more Whether you’re passionate about helping students succeed or supporting a specific program or campus, you can choose to direct your gift to where you feel it will help most. Each year, donors give generously and help transform the lives of our students and the communities these graduates later serve. We are tremendously appreciative of our donors’ generosity. These stories reflect the impact your gift can have on the life of a student. Celebrating our world class partners - NBCC is proud to recognize those whose generosity and partnership are helping to transform lives and communities. Full-Time Programs Online Courses Part-Time Courses How to Apply Admission Requirements Tuition & Fees Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards

Melbourne off to a flying start Published on LEUT Robert White (author), LEUT Owen Higgins (photographer) Location(s): Lord Howe Island Topic(s): 725 Squadron, 816 Squadron, HMAS Melbourne (F05), Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit  HMAS Melbourne has continued to ‘gather strength’ in 2017 conducting MH60-R ‘Romeo’ Helicopter first of class flight trials. Whilst off the East coast of Australia, the embarked Romeo, ‘Cobra 09’, was required to land ashore to conduct mission essential calibration of equipment following maintenance. With the nearest airfield being Lord Howe Island, the decision was made to close to disembark the helicopter ashore there. Arriving on the morning of 3 February to a spectacular sunrise over the Island, Cobra 09 was launched and flight personnel landed via the ship’s rigid-hulled inflatable boats. Lieutenant Ryan Brack from the United States Navy, said that it was an amazing experience being able to land ashore on such a pristine island. “It was an honour to be part of the crew for what was the first time in history, a Romeo visiting Lord Howe Island,” he said. Lieutenant Brack is currently working with the Navy’s Aircraft Maintenance and Flight Trials Unit to assist with bringing the Romeo capability online within the Fleet. Clive Wilson, the Operations Officer from Lord Howe Maritime, was extremely welcoming and ready to lend a hand throughoutMelbourne’s visit, assisting with the transportation of maintainers from the lagoon to Lord Howe Island Airfield. Mr Wilson, a Lord Howe Island native, noted that Melbourne is the first of its class to visit Lord Howe Island and told the shore party that it was always a pleasure to have Navy people in town. He was also very happy to welcome back the ship’s Commanding Officer who he had first met in 2006 when Commander Bourne visited the island as Commanding Officer of landing craft, HMAS Brunei. Melbourne currently has 28 personnel embarked from the Flight Trials Unit, 725 and 816 Squadrons in order to conduct the trials. These trials will ensure Navy can safely operate the Romeo aircraft from the Adelaide class frigates, and expand Navy’s war-fighting capability.

Of. There are only around 2,000 active Navy SEALs — and they endure maybe the hardest military training anywhere in the world. A retired SEAL explains that during the rigorous training known as "hell week," "you stay up for 120 hours ... and you get about 3 or 4 hours sleep." Here trainees swim with their hands bound behind their backs, a feat only excellent swimmers can pull off. Fewer than 10,000 Navy SEALs have ever lived. But their influence on American war-fighting has been huge. SEALs stands for sea, air, and land. The SEALs now operate in a number of landlocked countries, like Afghanistan. It's a result of the force's long evolution. Though they were not then called by that name, "the SEALs were born in World War II — of two oceans, for two kinds of demolition work." In the Pacific, they cleared the way for amphibious landings by destroying underwater obstacles ... ... and they "blew open the gateway to Europe for D-Day." For expertise in this type of unprecedented demolition work, the US Navy turned to Draper Kauffman, a nearsighted US Naval Academy graduate who had failed to gain commission, but had successfully disarmed a 500-pound bomb at Pearl Harbor. Kauffman created the training program known as hell week in Fort Pierce, Florida. ""Every time you see guys lifting up a log, that started right here at Fort Pierce," as did "boat teams going out through the water," says Rick Kaiser, a retired SEAL Master Chief. Alongside engineers, the Navy combat demolitions units that preceded the SEALs blasted open 5 of the 16 corridors drawn in the plans to invade Normandy. More than one in two NCDU members died in the effort. In the Pacific, combatants known as "naked warriors" operated in advance of amphibious assaults, destroying obstacles and measuring the depth of the waters around them. The covert Office of Special Services Maritime Unit used new scuba gear, submersible canoes to transport individuals, and even floating mattresses like the one pictured here. In the Korean War, their services of the SEALs' predecessor groups would again be needed. During the war, SEALS were sent to cut the cables mooring Soviet-supplied mines in Wonsan Harbor. Korea marked the first time that SEAL-type operators moved their work inland — although they continued to carry out missions at sea. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy would call for the creation for forces that could conduct "paramilitary operations, and ... unconventional wars." The next year, SEAL teams One and Two were born, stationed in California and Virginia. Just ten days after their creation, some Navy SEALs were deployed in Vietnam in an advisory role before taking up arms themselves in 1966. "We had rules of engagement, but I recalled no restrictions whatsoever," says Rick Woolard, a retired SEAL captain. "In fact, it was a playground." The Navy SEALs have their share of tragedies, too. In the invasion of Grenada in 1983, four US Navy SEALs died after parachuting in heavy winds and rain. SEALs were also involved in the Black Hawk Down incident ten years later. The failure of the US mission in Somalia led to "the Mogadishu effect": the US withdrew it troops from the Horn of Africa, while "fear of public humiliation underscored many future US foreign policy decisions." During the war in Afghanistan, however, a team of SEALs may have prevented a disaster. In late 2002, a team of SEALS was sent ahead of a group of helicopters in the restive Shahikot Valley, where they encountered a small group of Al Qaeda militants equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun ... They waited to open fire until just before the helicopters' approach, then called in a gunship to help them kill those that had fled — possibly saving the lives of the soldiers flying in behind them. The documentary touches on one of the SEALs' most iconic operations: the raid that ended Osama bin Laden's life on May 2, 2011. It recounts how 23 SEALs made a 90-minute trip aboard two prototype stealth helicopters to to bin Laden's compound in Pakistan. "On the third floor, they found and killed the world's most wanted terrorist." For over 70 years, the SEALs and their predecessors faced the biggest military challenges that the times threw at them — whether it was destroying enemy ships and mines, or killing terrorists deep in enemy territory.

The Jersey Shore cops may call it disorderly conduct, but to Wayne Chrebet, spending a half-hour in a police station in the wee hours of Sunday morning was “a bonding experience” with his future brother-in-law after a night of harmless fun. “Nothing happened,” Chrebet said last night at the Marriott Marquis, where he was being honored at the Thurman Munson Dinner for his work raising money for retarded children. “I didn’t punch anybody, I didn’t shove anybody, I didn’t put my hands on anybody,” he said. “We’re in the process of clearing it up and I’m pretty sure the charges will be dropped.” Chrebet, Colts running back Keith Elias and two of Elias’ brothers, Brian and Gregory, were arrested following a scuffle at the Bamboo Bar in Seaside Heights. Brian Elias is engaged to Chrebet’s sister, Jennifer. “We had a nice night, and at the very end, this thing had to happen,” said Chrebet, who said the incident began as a fight between two women escalated when Brian Elias got involved in the fracas. According to Chrebet, he was taken into custody when police mistook his restraining of Brian Elias for a brawl. “I had my arms around him, trying to pull him away,” Chrebet said. “The police said, ‘We’re sorry, but we’ve got to take somebody.'” Chrebet was given a summons and released. And there was a bright side to the incident. “For the first time, nobody’s asking me about Keyshawn,” he said.

NET NOTES CHARLOTTE – When Kerry Kittles was waylaid with a troublesome knee earlier this season, he described the pain as similar to a “toothache.” Tuesday night in Toronto, he was inadvertently flattened by Keith Van Horn’s shoulder. This pain in the left side of his face was different. “Nah, this wasn’t a toothache. And this hasn’t exactly gone away,” said Kittles, who nevertheless was back in the starting lineup here last night against the Hornets as the Nets sought to sweep a back-to-back road set. “I took some pain killers and I’m feeling a lot better. It was painful, but after the pain-killer it felt a lot better. Overnight, I took another and it felt a lot better.” Kittles left the game Tuesday with 1:34 left in the first quarter and went for X-rays which proved negative. Kittles was turning to get back on defense while Van Horn went in to rebound. As Kittles turned, he plowed right into Van Horn and “I didn’t know what happened.” He took a shot to the mouth from Doug Christie’s head. He took a bunch of elbows to the ribs from the arsenals of Charles Oakley, Kevin Willis and Antonio Davis. And yet rookie Evan Eschmeyer stayed on the court for the final 15:20 Tuesday in Toronto for what may have been the Nets’ biggest victory of the season, a 100-93 upset of the sizzling Raptors. “This was great. I got a chance for whatever reason and we were able to beat a good team,” said Eschmeyer, who made all four of his shots, mainly jump hooks, and complemented his eight points with seven rebounds. “I’ve been shooting it (jump hook) for eight, nine years. I said all along that will come. Offense comes in time. I’m just out there mainly concerned with defense and rebounding.” And staying alive. Kittles and Eschmeyer were not the only casualties Tuesday. Jim McIlvaine was floored by Vince Carter – and called for blocking. McIlvaine, also back starting last night, admitted he passed out “for a bit” after catching a Carter elbow in the right side of the face. That’ll teach him to play defense. As expected, Jayson Williams underwent foot surgery when a screw was placed in the fractured bone at the base of the fifth metatarsal in his left foot yesterday, one week after he suffered the injury. The Nets labeled the surgery, performed by Dr. Russell Warren, a success. Williams was placed in a non-weight bearing cast and there was no time-frame presented on when he would begin rehabilitation. The Nets center/forward was trying to work his way back from a fractured leg and torn meniscus suffered last April and had received medical clearance for practice when the latest setback occurred.

CERES, Calif. – Rep. Gary Condit showed little affection for his wife or other women, Condit’s former bodyguard told The Post yesterday. “He was never real compassionate,” said Vincent Flammini, sitting on the front porch of his mobile home. “I never saw him kiss his wife on the lips, never saw them hold hands, never even saw him hug her.” When he was with other women, it was much the same, said the ex-bodyguard, who also served as Condit’s driver. Describing a rendezvous in the San Francisco Mall between Condit and stewardess Anne Marie Smith, Flammini said, “The congressmen seemed almost disinterested. “They just sat across from each other, drinking lattes,” Flammini said. “There was no touching.” Privately, Condit would sometimes boast about his conquests. Late last summer, the ex-bodyguard said, Condit told him about a new woman in is life. “He told me about her anatomy,” Flammini said. ” ‘She had breasts like melons, a small waist, dark curly hair, and a body that was outrageous,’ ” he quoted Condit as saying. The woman wasn’t identified by name. Meanwhile, Condit’s wife, Carolyn, remained loyal and never acknowledged she knew about her husband’s affairs, Flammini said. Flammini, a burly 62-year-old weight lifter, said he has received dozens of death threats since he first spoke to a reporter last month. He said his former boss was always secretive, even about mundane matters such as a visit to a mall to buy a shirt. “All of his garbage needed to be specially torn up or shredded. That was just Gary,” Flammini said. He said Condit had grown temperamental in recent years, particularly after Gov. Gray Davis, a Condit ally, was elected in 1998. Condit “saw himself as a very powerful man,” Flammini said. “When the Democratic convention was in L.A., he had me park in front of his hotel while he went in and shaved. The police told me to move, even though I was with a congressman. “When Gary came out and saw the car moved, he started screaming and hollering, calling me a f—ing idiot.” Flammini left Condit’s staff last year because of high blood pressure. He denied any malice toward Condit.

ON her just-released disc, “Silver Lining,” Bonnie Raitt seems to have forgotten the touch of gray in her copper top and that she’s used up 52 years of her life, but in concert at the Beacon Theater, the weight of time made her gig drag like a ball and chain. During that one-night stand Thursday, the blue-eyed blues singer, tapping music from her 30-year career, offered a very mixed show that ranged from a couple of extraordinary moments to extraordinarily boring. It should be noted that the raggedness of the concert went unnoticed by the sold-out house that totally adored her in the mopey, dopey ballads of her late career and the country blues of her youth. Musically, Raitt didn’t lay an ostrich egg, but this show had no pizazz. She said she was excited to be performing for the crowd, but there was little evidence of it as she sang and accompanied herself on electric and acoustic guitar. Her laid-back attitude made it seem nearly every song was being performed by rote. She did a few of her own compositions, a few of her famous covers and piled the plate with new tunes. Odd as it may seem, there was no attempt to build the show’s excitement through Raitt’s extensive song book. The program seemed slapped together, willy-nilly. Raitt did light a fire early in the show during a new song called “Fool’s Game” when she and her back-to-basics band bent the tune’s New Age blues into a Crescent City second-line march. Raitt seemed to feel that piece as she sang and played bottle-neck slide guitar, cocking her hip to the beat with sexy body English. But as quickly as she had the show rolling, she lost momentum with a sleepy ballad of adult contemporary music followed by a snoozer that managed to drag despite its 4/4 reggae tempo. Still, Raitt’s vocals can thrill, and she proved that during “Angel of Montgomery.” John Prine wrote the tune, but Raitt owns it. With years on her side, she sang the song of reminiscences with an authority and passion that gave you the shivers. The audience loved everything Raitt did at this concert, but on “Angel,” she deserved the standing ovation she received. Raitt’s guitar work was intact, especially on gut-busters like “Gnawin’ on It,” which she wrote with slide guitarists Roy (chops, not chaps) Rogers. Yet in the end, it was a very unmemorable concert. If this show was indicative of where Raitt’s at these days, when she returns to play Central Park’s SummerStage series this year, unless it’s a freebie, you might want to give it up and let her go.

When is a deadline not a deadline? We may learn that tonight. The expectation has been that Carlos Beltran will sign someplace today because after midnight, the Astros lose negotiating rights, and a sense has permeated these negotiations that Houston is the front-runner. But if Beltran decides not to stay in Houston, there are no time constraints for him to continue negotiating with the Mets and Cubs and to hope the Yankees eventually emerge as suitors. So there is a chance this may not be Decision Day 2005, after all. Houston GM Tim Purpura said, “The only thing we know is that for the Astros, we’ll either be in it or out of it by midnight eastern [tonight].” The Mets are believed to have offered Beltran the seven years at $112 million his agent, Scott Boras, said is a bottom line to even negotiate, and they continue to wait to see if that is good enough to bag the best free agent available. One baseball insider suspected that if tonight’s deadline passes, principal owner Fred Wilpon would be willing to offer up to eight years and $120 million, reasoning, “When you’re talking about that kind of money, what difference does it make?” The person also pointed out that, much like the Yankees with Bernie Williams and Kevin Brown next year, the Mets will have Mike Piazza’s $15 million salary coming off the books after 2005. Thus, Beltran’s $15 million salary could simply replace Piazza’s on the payroll. The Yankees continued to focus on completing the Randy Johnson trade, with the big lefty likely to take a physical Monday before being introduced at a Tuesday press conference. As of late yesterday afternoon, there were still no George Steinbrenner-issued marching orders to jump late and hard into the Beltran negotiations. For the Yanks to get involved at this late date it would take a gale-force switch of direction by Steinbrenner and/or the Beltran negotiations going beyond the deadline tonight, which would make the center fielder’s ultimate signing date more open-ended. Yankees officials said yesterday that unless Steinbrenner was acting on his own, there continued to be no contact with Boras. But what will happen should the Mets’ lingering pursuit of Beltran cut into the Johnson splash the Yankees are expecting next week? Could that finally be the prod that rocks Steinbrenner from what passes for financial restraint into full-throttle pursuit of a replacement for Williams? Yankees officials say they are braced for the Mets to get Beltran, and do not feel as if that will push Steinbrenner into the negotiations. An AL official who has dealt previously with Boras believes tonight’s deadline will pass because “if it was going to be the Astros, this would have been done already. Boras knows he can go beyond the deadline, keep the Mets where they are, see if all the headlines linking Beltran to the Mets drives George crazy and always just go to the Met money in the end if the Yankees never blink.” Astros officials went into their final 24 hours of these negotiations with this hope – that Beltran had the most powerful voice in the outcome. Astros executives fretted that if the decision were motivated mostly by Boras that Beltran would go to the top bidder, and Houston knows it cannot win that contest. Houston owner Drayton McLane did have another conversation with Boras yesterday. The Astros reportedly are at $105 million for seven years, a more impressive number when you consider there is no state income tax in Texas. While there has been some speculation Baltimore could be a sleeper team for Beltran, the Cubs could be the ones to watch. Chicago is definitely in the hunt, and a few executives said they would not be surprised if the Cubs made an offer approaching $112 million.

During a sacrifice, King Attalus presses two words into the liver of the slaughtered animal. Engraving by Bernhard Rode, ca. 1780. Wikimedia Commons Now 78 years old, Hermann Nitsch is a founding member of the Viennese Actionists, an art movement that captured the public’s attention during the 1960s for its extreme performances involving ritual sacrifice, crucifixions and sex. Nitsch’s work in the years since has continued to utilize animal blood, as a catalyst for both performance and painting. But, while the use of animal blood has certainly attracted attention to Nitsch’s art, it has also drawn its fair share of criticism, most recently leading to the cancellation of a planned 2015 exhibition at Mexico’s Museo Jumex. Once again, animal rights activists are out for Nitsch’s blood—specifically for that of a bull the artist plans to sacrifice on June 17 as part of a performance for Hobart, Australia’s Dark Mofo festival, an annual music and arts event organized by the Museum of Old and New Art. A Change.org petition with over 6,000 signatures posted by the group Animal Liberation Tasmania is calling for the performance to be removed from the festival’s programming on the grounds that it “trivializes the slaughter of animals for human usage, and condemns a sentient being to death in the pursuit of artistic endeavors,” reports the Art Newspaper. The festival is billing Nitsch’s “Australian exclusive” as a “bloody, sacrificial ritual performance.” A page for the event includes a biblical quote, courtesy Matthew 26:26, “Take and eat; this is my body,” as well as a short film documenting some of the artist’s past work for those unacquainted (complete with a warning flagging it as not suitable for viewers under 18), depicting a crucified man drinking what appears to be blood, which pours from his mouth down the front of his naked figure. “Intensity is not a war. Intensity is not a killing,” Nitsch told Vice’s the Creators Project whild discussing his work in a 2015 interview. “Intensity is a painting by Cézanne. That’s intensity. A performance with blood and meat. That is intensity.” But while Nitsch’s unique brand of sacrifice has animal activists up in arms over whether or not it’s seemingly right to shed blood for art, how much do Nitsch’s performances differ from sacrifice performed for any other reason, religion or otherwise, considering that the practice has been maintained by humans for millennia? The ancient Greeks sacrificed animals to their deities, often consuming the meat and entrails to complete a ritual. Pre-Columbian Mayan and Aztecs are known to have practiced human sacrifice, and debate continues in the scientific community as to whether or not the Vikings did as well. And today, the artistic output of all the aforementioned cultures are both revered and preserved in the collections of the world’s most prestigious institutions. Nitsch and the Viennese Actionists began their unorthodox artistic practices decades ago, but ritual sacrifice has continued to be performed by other artists (see our interview with Vincent Castiglia, who regularly uses his own blood to make paintings), musicians, and in some cases even captured on film in some of Hollywood’s most notable big budget titles, in the years since. In director Francis Ford Coppola’s award-winning 1979 film Apocalypse Now, a water buffalo is killed in a ritual by machetes, an event which was not simulated and resulted in the death of animal who had allegedly been marked for slaughter. And in 2004, the Norwegian black metal band Gorgoroth performed their now legendary Black Mass concert in Krakow, a show which featured sheeps’ heads impaled on spikes, nude models crucified on stage and a bath of sheeps’ blood. In Coppola’s case, Apocalypse Now won several Golden Globes, the Palm d’Or at Cannes and a few Oscars, and Gorgoroth became subject to police investigation, their concert footage confiscated and they were dropped from the rest of their tour. Viennese Actionist Hermann Nitsch performing one of his ritual sacrifices. Leopold Nekula/Sygma, Getty Images Ritual sacrifice for religious purposes continues throughout the world today. Nepal’s Gadhimai Mela Festival near Kathmandu, which takes place every five years and honors a Hindu goddess, features the slaughter of over 500,000 animals, including buffalo, goats and pigeons. And in 2015, New York’s Supreme Court ruled to allow the Orthodox Jewish community to continue practicing a 2,000-year-old tradition of killing live chickens in the streets for Rosh Hashana. Responding to the protest against Nitsch’s pending performance, MONA founder David Walsh wrote in a blog post, “I want the audience to ponder why meat for food is okay (at least people aren’t protesting at Mona’s barbeque) but meat for ritual or entertainment isn’t.” “The animal to be used is specifically on the market for slaughter. The carcass will be sourced locally, and the animal will be killed humanely, adhering to Australian standards,” said Dark Mofo creative director Leigh Carmichael in an email to the Art Newspaper. Carmichael clarified in an interview with ABC Radio Hobart that the bull would not actually be killed during the three-hour show, but “slaughtered humanely before the performance,” and that actors would simply be “using the carcass,” adding that “it is the artist’s intention that the meat be eaten after the event.” In his interview with ABC Radio, Carmichael emphasized that Dark Mofo has focused on “exploring ancient ritual and ceremony” since it began in 2013. Nitsch’s performance happens to be preceded by his early work in the 1950s with the Orgien Mysterien Theater, which nodded (not very subtly) to the Greek tragedies and Great Dionysia celebrations, with performers wearing white smocks against a backdrop of orchestral music, often fusing ritualistic symbolism from both Pagan and Christian ceremonies. There is an episode of History Channel’s Vikings which explores that culture’s alleged sacrificial practices in depth. Characters make a pilgrimage to the temple at Uppsala, where every nine years they sacrifice nine of every animal—chickens, goats, and so on—along with nine humans. The episode focuses on humanizing its sacrificial victims, and parsing the purpose of such extreme sacrifice. Since the show never shies from violence, viewers witness the entirety of the exhaustive bloody ritual, which is both horrifying and incredibly moving. Of course, the show is fictional, and its dramatization is only meant to stir audiences. On the other hand is Nitcsch’s work; if his performances are truly attempting to explore ancient ritual and ceremony (as the festival suggests) and intensity (as he suggests) then the sacrifice of an animal as a means for creating a very real, unavoidable and visceral experience about life and death isn’t necessarily justified but it is an effective vehicle for exploring such themes. “Some artists use paint, he (Nitsch) uses blood and meat. It is pretty powerful stuff, it is confronting, and it certainly makes me question my own ethical take on the work,” said Carmichael. Whether activists like it or not—and I’m not arguing whether Nitsch is right or wrong in his actions—art and history have set a strong precedent for blood sacrifice. No matter if it’s in tribute to art or God or anything else for that matter, there’s no substitute for the real thing.

posted by Carl Weiser at 3/10/2008 08:11:00 AM ▪ What might have actually happened in Ohio and Texas? Tin foil hat? ▪ Clip:[Laura Ingraham]: "Rush, I understand that the Rush Limbaugh audience is mobilizing in Texas for Hillary. Am I hearing that right?"[Rush Limbaugh]: ." Well, there is one key difference. The votes were counted honestly and it was conducted in a fiar manner when Clinton won. She didn't have a biased Secretary of State doing things like using a company who had contributed to her campaign supplying the computers for the people to "vote" onshe didn't have any political supporters making illegal purges of the voting rollsshe didn't have anyone to purposely shortchange cvoting machine allocation in places where her opponent just happened to be strongestshe didn't have an army of political allies stirring up racial hatred and challenging voters in places where her opponent was strongestalthough she had the current governor's support, she didn't have him using state police to intimidate voters at polling places like his predecessor did in loyal service to the Chimpy McHitlerBurton war machine and all of its illegal activitiesetcetcetc meantime,I just ordered Barbara Olson's in depth revelation book on Hillary;"Hell to Pay" and Gary Aldrich's "Unlimited Access" an FBI agents look into the Clinton White House.I've just finished re-reading Olson's last book on The Clintons;"The Final Days".All Clinton Kool-Aid drinkers should read that one and walk away sober about Bill and Hill from doing so. from OSU Election Law:Sunday, March 9 Pay Attention to ProvisionalsThat.-snip KUCINICH says 10,000 Republicans crossed over to vote against him in his district alone: Run time: 05:23 anonymousincincinnati,Add "Feel Your Pain" to your list of bedside reading...It's a real hoot!! It's amazing how HRC has already lost, yet still thrashes the DNC and the momentum that Dems currently hold. The longer she keeps it up, the stronger McCain becomes!The Clinton Horror Film that Wont End!Be The Change. Vote OBAMA! Use The Force. Vote SKYWALKER! What did she steal Ohio too? Right-Wing Jesus Freak Nutjob Culture of Corruption Alert!, wait, Spitzer's a Democrat. Never mind. It will all be a distant memory 24 hours from now. There was never any doubt in my mind that Hillary would win Ohio. This state will never support an African American candidate for anything, I don't care how good he is. Racial bias in this state overrides even common sense. What a shame. Anon wingnut 3:04-At least Spitzer had sex with a woman. Had he belonged to the Gay Old Pervert party he would been wearing a diaper ala Senator Vitter and been caught with a young paigeboy.The Clinton's are better people than the criminal, idiot Chimp in office that we have now will ever be. "This state will never support an African American candidate for anything,"WTF????HelloooooooooooooAuhhhhhhh KEN BLACKWELL???????????Oh...I know.He's a house N*****, like Colin Powell, right??If Walter Williams would run, I'd quit my job and work for him pro-bono.Pathetic!!!!. "Rural" in Ohio is code for white. Check the demographics of the counties Ms Rodham Clinton won.Pathetic excuse for a candidate evokes the "white southern " Dixiecrat strategy to "win."At least George Wallace didn't cloak his true beliefs in the veil of PC ! "white southern " Dixiecrat strategy to "win."Of course, we're back to the 1930'sThat's why the counties of Virginia have elected more Americans of African decent to the office of Sheriff!!!!!!!PATHETIC RACE B.

ATLANTA - A group of medical and business organizations is launching a campaign Wednesday to try to convince voters to support a $10 increase in car tags to fund a statewide network of trauma-care facilities. While session, legislators agreed to let voters decide on the November ballot whether to change the constitution and add a fee to tags. Supporters of the constitutional amendment - which will be labeled "No. 2" on the ballot - hope the fee will raise $80 million a year to upgrade emergency rooms, buy helicopters and hire the trauma specialists to be on duty 24 hours a day. At the beginning of the year, a law took effect adding $200 to speeding tickets for anyone caught driving more than 85 mph on a four-lane roadway or 75 mph on two lanes. But in the first eight months of the year, that program only has brought in $6 million in fines from 29,000 tickets, according to Susan Sports of the Department of Driver Services. Plus, those fines don't automatically go to trauma care because the legislature could use the money for other purposes. The coalition behind the Yes Amendment 2 campaign is kicking in more than $1 million. Television ads will begin airing in Atlanta on Wednesday and in the rest of the state next month. Medical professionals are frustrated that they lose 400 to 700 Georgians in wrecks each year because specialized trauma centers aren't spread evenly across the state to get patients treatment within the critical 60 minutes.

So much for building a working relationship between the Athens-Clarke County Commission and the Clarke County Board of Education. After coming together for several local redistricting meetings, the commission and school board decided Tuesday to call it quits on the joint effort and go their separate ways. State law mandates local governments adjust their political districts every 10 years to reflect changes in the population. Since October, the two groups had been working toward a common district map that would apply to both bodies. Tuesday's meeting was supposed to be when the commission and school board selected a final map from the three proposals circulated during several public meetings last month. At the last minute, however, the school board announced it wanted to explore two different options -- either adding or subtracting a district from the current eight-member design. An odd number of members would keep the school board from having tie votes. While this may make the board's meetings easier, such a change could make elections more costly and lead to confusion among voters. With seven or nine members, the school board's districts would not be the same as the commission's eight regular districts. County Board of Elections Superintendent Dot Barrett warned commissioners and school board members that having different districts would increase costs because of the need for additional ballots and voting machines. Having voting precincts split along school and commission lines would also make it harder for voters to determine who their representatives are. School board members said they will further discuss their redistricting plans at the board's agenda-setting session tonight. Despite the breakdown in talks with the school board, the commission decided Tuesday to go ahead with its plans to adopt a newly drawn map. Commissioners voted to modify the county's eight regular districts and two superdistricts. In adopting the plan, commissioners opted not to pursue a proposal that would have eliminated the superdistricts in favor of having 10 regular districts. We are extremely disappointed in the school board's decision to abandon the joint redistricting process and go out on its own. The board now appears to be on the verge of making a substantial change without giving residents even one opportunity to discuss it publicly. The decision to add or subtract a seat on the school board should not be rushed or taken lightly. It requires thorough review and input from as many people as possible. None of this has taken place so far. It is difficult to understand why the school board has waited until the 11th hour to raise such a major issue. If the board believed this was such a pressing matter, why didn't it begin this discussion months ago? Until the school board can present compelling evidence that its work is significantly hindered by having eight members, we cannot support a plan that would saddle the county with two sets of local political districts. To move forward on such a plan without proving how the benefits outweigh the costs would show utter disregard for common sense and the best interest of county residents. Published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, December 6, 2001.

[tag: science] Multilocus sequence analysis of Borrelia bissettii strains from North America reveals a new Borrelia species, Borrelia kurtenbachii Reference: and Tick-Borne Diseases, 1 (4), pp. 151-158. Related documents:This repository does not currently have the full-text of this item. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided below. (Contact Author) Official URL: Related URLs: Abstract Using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), we investigated the phylogenetic relationship of spirochaete strains from North America previously assigned to the genospecies Borrelia bissettii. We amplified internal fragments of 8 housekeeping genes (clpA, clpX, nifS, pepX, pyrG, recG, rplB, and uvrA) located on the main linear chromosome by polymerase chain reaction. Phylogenetic analysis of concatenated sequences of the 8 lad showed that the B. bissettii clade consisted of 4 closely related clusters which included strains from California (including the type strain DN127-C19-2/p7) and Colorado that were isolated from Ixodes pacificus, I. spinipalpis, or infected reservoir hosts. Several strains isolated from I. scapularis clustered distantly from B. bissettii. Genetic distance analyses confirmed that these strains are more distant to B. bissettii than B. carolinensis, a recently described Borrelia species, which suggests that they constitute a new Borrelia genospecies. We propose that it be named Borrelia kurtenbachii sp. nov. in honour of the late Klaus Kurtenbach. The data suggest that ecological differences between B. bissettii and the new Borrelia genospecies reflect different transmission cycles. In view of these findings, the distinct vertebrate host-tick vector associations and the distributions of B. bissettii and B. kurtenbachii require further investigation.