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Author Message Nils Høimyr Project administrator Project developer Project tester Volunteer moderatorProject administratorProject developerProject tester Send message Joined: 15 Jul 05 Posts: 184 Credit: 3,503,563 RAC: 1,378 Joined: 15 Jul 05Posts: 184Credit: 3,503,563RAC: 1,378 Message 32563 - Posted: 29 Sep 2017, 13:50:32 UTC Some BOINC clients are still connecting to the old lhcathomeclassic.cern.ch/sixtrack address, that will be phased out soon. If this is the case for you, please re-attach the project to the current LHC@home URL presented in the BOINC manager. (http://lhcathome.cern.ch will redirect your BOINC client to For those who are still running an old BOINC 6 client, please upgrade to BOINC 7.2 or later. (The current BOINC client releases are 7.6.33 or 7.8.) Many thanks for your contributions to LHC@home! LHC@home has been consolidated and uses SSL for communication as mentioned in this thread last year.Some BOINC clients are still connecting to the oldaddress, that will be phased out soon.If this is the case for you, please re-attach the project to the current LHC@home URL presented in the BOINC manager. (http://lhcathome.cern.ch will redirect your BOINC client to https://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome For those who are still running an old BOINC 6 client, please upgrade to BOINC 7.2 or later. (The current BOINC client releases are 7.6.33 or 7.8.)Many thanks for your contributions to LHC@home! Reply Quote ID: 32563 · Vikhrenko Send message Joined: 16 Jan 07 Posts: 1 Credit: 1,487,806 RAC: 348 Joined: 16 Jan 07Posts: 1Credit: 1,487,806RAC: 348 Message 32569 - Posted: 29 Sep 2017, 20:37:15 UTC - in response to Message 32563. Some part (possibly most) of us are still connecting to the old address due to account managers. I informed them (GridRepublic is my case) about the LHC URL change even in 2011 (it was another address change, I think). It's taken years for them to correct the project URL, but they've still left something unfinished - despite the correct URL at the GR site, the BOINC client produces an error (something like "you used the wrong URL for this project..."). Actually, they return the old URL in the acct_mgr_reply.xml file. You can say "abandon that troubling feature!" But like all in our life, account managers have disadvantages and advantages. Finally, the lack of a business process for the project URL changing is a reason for some clients to use the old address, at least for the majority of those who use an account manager. Reply Quote ID: 32569 · Nils Høimyr Project administrator Project developer Project tester Volunteer moderatorProject administratorProject developerProject tester Send message Joined: 15 Jul 05 Posts: 184 Credit: 3,503,563 RAC: 1,378 Joined: 15 Jul 05Posts: 184Credit: 3,503,563RAC: 1,378 Message 32570 - Posted: 30 Sep 2017, 10:34:05 UTC - in response to Message 32569. Last modified: 2 Oct 2017, 8:03:09 UTC Thanks for the heads up. Actually the GRID republic team updated the address to the correct URL some time back. I have sent them a note to ask them to check the xml reply. The BOINC client should also be able to follow a redirect, but will warn from time to time about the URL change. Reply Quote ID: 32570 ·

After years of having the highest teen pregnancy rate in Kansas, Wyandotte County -- home of Kansas City -- got some relief. In 2010, the Obama administration started offering grants to help schools back away from abstinence-only and integrate evidence-based lessons into their sex education. That year, many schools in Kansas stopped teaching abstinence-only, and the state's teen pregnancy rate declined 9 percentage points. That's because the federal Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is proven to delay sexual activity, increase use of birth control and reduce teen pregnancy. It was created as an alternative to Title V, which funds strictly abstinence-only teaching. But more and more states are refusing PREP grants, while continuing to accept Title V funding. It's a trend that worries health officials. “If a 16-year-old gets pregnant, she is more likely to not finish school, and that sets off a bad domino effect for the rest of her life," said Greg Stephenson, personal health services manager at the Wyandotte County Public Health Department. "The impact of these programs goes way beyond sexual health." Less than 50 percent of the nation's high schools meet the CDC’s standards for comprehensive sex education, and this recent trend may worsen the problem. In 2015, Florida, Indiana, North Dakota, Texas and Virginia all opted out of PREP grants. They're joined this year by Kansas and South Dakota. With the exception of South Dakota, the other states that declined PREP funds also accepted Title V funds this year and last year. Most states are awarded a mix of both, with 35 receiving Title V funds and 44, plus the District of Columbia, receiving PREP grants. “Not all of these PREP-funded programs were even comprehensive, sometimes they just covered the bare basics -- but that is still essential,” said Chitra Panjabi, president of the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. States accept the money and then award it to the local health departments and school districts of their choosing. When Stephenson got an email that the state wouldn't be taking the grants this year, he was shocked because PREP seemed to satisfy everyone. “The local government was pushing it, the school board wanted it, parents liked it, we got a green light from everyone. It was amazing." The reason Kansas, and many of the other states, don't want the funds anymore isn't totally clear. Cassie Sparks, public information officer at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the state decided to forgo the funds so localities can apply for them on their own. But the state didn't apply that some logic when they accepted $600,000 in abstinence-only Title V grants this year. In addition, Stephenson is unsure whether local agencies and districts can even apply for the funds. The state's Republican governor, Sam Brownback, falls at the extreme end of conservativism when it comes to reproductive issues. He signed a bill in 2012 that allows pharmacists to refuse filling a prescription if they think it will be used to induce an abortion. He followed that up in 2013 with a set a bills that include blocking tax breaks for abortion providers and defining life as beginning "at fertilization." When states don't take PREP funding, Panjabi said it’s not uncommon for private groups to fund a sex ed program that pushes their own political agenda. She points to an example in Teton County, Wyo., which wasn't granted any PREP funding this year. An anti-abortion group foot the bill to get abstinence-only speaker Shelly Donahue to talk to students at a public school. Donahue is known for her unorthodox speeches on sex, like referring to people who have sex outside of marriage as “chewed pieces of gum.” If Teton County had been awarded PREP grants, there's no way hiring Donahue would have been an option, said Panjabi. (Donahue, by the way, never spoke because of pushback from parents.) As for what’s next for Stephenson and Wyandotte County’s sex education curriculum, it’s all up in the air. Once the PREP funding dries up at the end of this coming school year, there's no money -- or seemingly enthusiasm -- to keep evidence-based sex ed going there. "We are going to try to energize teachers to take it up on their own," said Stephenson, "but they don’t seem to want to."

When Yohan Cohen died, he was lying on the floor of the Jewish supermarket where he worked. Next to him lay three dead bodies. Cohen had been shot in the face and chest by the man wielding two assault rifles. Cohen whimpered and screamed in pain. The gunman asked his other hostages what he should do with him: Should he shoot him so that he finally falls silent? "Don't kill him," the others begged. But at some point, the screaming and whimpering ceased on its own. Cohen, a 20-year-old student, was dead. "We are such stuff as dreams are made on:" Cohen had posted the line from Shakespeare on his Facebook page as a promise of all he had hoped to achieve in life. But now, there were no more dreams left to dream -- everything had ended just as the Shakespeare sentence ended: "and our little life is rounded with a sleep." Cohen died in Paris, in the Hyper Cacher supermarket where, on that Friday in January, 2015, Jews were buying kosher groceries for the Sabbath. The murderer, Amedy Coulibaly, a criminal since his youth who had been radicalized in prison, was carrying two Ceska Sa vz.58 automatic rifles. One of them was the short version, which had once been modified so that it could only fire blanks -- transformed into a harmless noise-maker. But it had since been converted back into a lethal weapon. It was this Ceska that Coulibaly used to shoot Yohan Cohen -- deadly shots from a weapon that should not have been available on the open market any longer. Jan. 9, 2015 was the last day of Cohen's brief life. But it was also the last day of a long lead-up to the crime that took his life. It was a crime that began fully six years and 233 days before Coulibaly walked into the Hyper Cacher store in Paris. The first day was May 21, 2008, the day the European Union announced it was planning to push through stricter rules pertaining to assault rifles. The regulations would allow weapons aficionados to decorate their living rooms with assault rifles if they so desired, but only if they had been deactivated such that they could never again be used to fire live ammunition. The EU said that the new guidelines would contain extremely strict technical standards for such deco-weapons. But then nothing happened -- for six years and 233 days. Worse yet, blank-firing guns and other so-called alarm weapons weren't included in the proposed regulations. If one irreversibly modified an assault weapon into a rifle that could only fire blanks, the EU bureaucrats weren't interested. Brussels was only interested in weapons that could no longer be fired at all, not even blanks. As early as 2013, though, Slovakian police had warned Europe how easy it was to reactivate such modified weapons so that they could once again exert deadly force. The EU knew about it, talked about it and recognized the danger. But did nothing. Until Jan. 9, 2015 when Coulibaly shot and killed four people with such a weapon. Officials in Brussels have since come to the realization about just how easy it is in Europe to obtain an automatic weapon capable of firing live ammunition -- and how difficult it is for the authorities to take action against the flourishing black market. An Uncontrolled Illegal Weapons Market In total, Islamists wielding firearms killed 150 people and wounded 400 in Western Europe in 2015. That includes the January attacks in Paris on the editorial offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and on the Jewish supermarket. It includes the November massacre in the Bataclan and the Kalashnikov attacks on Paris street cafés. It includes the February attack on a synagogue and café in Copenhagen. And the failed, would-be mass murder on the high-speed Thalys train from Amsterdam to Paris. As the attacks in Brussels on Tuesday have once again made clear, Europe and the Europeans have lost their sense of security: The hope that they could keep terror at bay has been exposed as an illusion. The symbol for this lack of security is the illegal weapons market -- a market that the authorities do not have under control. Today, investigators know that they are dealing with an entire arsenal of deadly weapons. It's not just reactivated blank-shooting weapons like Coulibaly's Ceskas or his Tokarev pistol, a weapon which went through the same transformation -- from deadly weapon to blank-firing pistol and back. When European terrorists are looking to acquire a tool of murder, they have a wide range of choices available to them. There are the old reliables like the Russian-made Arsenal revolver model 1895, made in 1932 -- one of which was found in Coulibaly's apartment. Or the Belgian FN Browning of the type obtained by Abdelhamid Abaaoud, a participant in the Paris attacks. But weapons stolen from militaries or police forces are also available, as in the case of the Copenhagen attacks, which resulted in two deaths. And then there are all of the Kalashnikovs from the Balkans that find their way on a variety of paths to Western Europe. Following the Charlie Hebdo attacks, police confiscated two such weapons used in the killings; after the Paris massacres last November, they impounded six of them. SPIEGEL ONLINE Graphic: How weapons get to Western Europe. An international team of journalists belonging to the newly established European Investigative Collaboration , of which SPIEGEL is a member, spent the last three months searching for clues. The reporting has revealed the first precise look at the weapons used in the January and November attacks in Paris and has led to weapons traders and to an alleged French police informant who apparently supplied part of Coulibaly's arsenal. The reporting also shows how easy it would be for terrorists to obtain weapons in Germany as well -- and how one of Germany's most dangerous right-wing extremists did exactly that. Our reporting shows that obtaining a weapon in Europe is hardly an insurmountable hurdle to the carrying out of an attack. Indeed, the EU has essentially fostered an easily accessible weapons bazaar for terrorists. The research reveals years of European Union failures. Death on Command Sometimes, all it takes is two words to uncover the vast ineptitude of officialdom. Or, more precisely, the lack of two words. On Nov. 18, 2015, the European Commission announced a proposal to strengthen firearms control in the EU. The announcement concerned the Firearms Directive, which determines who in Europe is allowed to buy and sell firearms, what is permissible and what is not. The announcement came far too late for Yohan Cohen, the Jewish student, who had by then been lying in a Jerusalem cemetery for 10 months. But the EU finally sought to send a strong signal. Weapons laws in EU member states were to become stricter in the awake of the terror attacks and controls were to be strengthened. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker accompanied the announcement with a few words that likely said more than was intended. "Organized criminals accessing and trading military grade firearms in Europe cannot and will not be tolerated any longer," the statement reads in the French original. "Any longer?" Is that perhaps an open admission that the EU tolerated such a thing for far too long? Is it the admission of European failure? In the official English and German translations, the two words "any longer" are missing. Back in 1991, the EU tried to regulate the proliferating weapons market for the first time. The result was the Firearms Directive, which had primarily a single goal: That of guaranteeing free trade to the degree possible -- even for firearms -- within the European market. The directive expressly excluded alarm weapons. They weren't considered to be firearms. It took 17 years before the EU realized that the greatest danger presented by weapons was not that over-regulation could infringe on free trade, but that criminals could use them to kill and injure people. The result was a modification to the directive in May 2008, one which seemed to contain the solution to the shortcoming of the original directive: "The Commission shall ... issue common guidelines on deactivation standards and techniques to ensure that deactivated firearms are rendered irreversibly inoperable." It sounds good, but the directive lacks two elements -- omissions that would later cost Yohan Cohen and three others their lives in the Hyper Cacher supermarket. First, a date by which all EU member states were to have fulfilled the EU standards. And second, alarm weapons were left out: distress flares, starter pistols and blank-firing guns, all weapons where everything in the rear part of the weapon is still fully functional, including the magazine and the breechblock. Otherwise, it wouldn't be able to fire blanks. A Warning from Slovakia Such weapons are used in films, for firing salutes and by all kinds of crazies and showoffs who want to let out their inner Rambo. For the EU, these kinds of shooters were a blind spot. They were not considered firearms because they did not expel bullets from their barrels, but they also didn't fall under the category of deactivated weapons because they still went "boom." The new 2008 directive contained a fundamental absurdity. It announced strict regulations for weapons that, due to having been deactivated, could no longer shoot -- the decorative weapons. But the EU paid no attention to how live weapons could be transformed into alarm weapons: guns that could still shoot, even if only blanks. Yet it was exactly this category of weapon that was much more interesting for terrorists and other criminals, as the 2015 attacks show. It wasn't a former decorative weapon that was used. On the contrary, Coulibaly had an entire arsenal of once active weapons that had been modified to fire blanks. They were much easier to re-modify such that they could again fire live ammunition. In September 2013, EU member state Slovakia sent out an alert -- in English so that it could be understood everywhere. Slovakia had particularly weak regulations when it came to the modification of deadly weapons into alarm weapons. Two metal pegs in the barrel were considered sufficient. The Slovakian authorities were concerned and they published a poster with 16 images. The poster noted that alarm weapons from Slovakia were being "reactivated increasingly often." All it took, the poster noted, was "simple modifications:" simply removing the two pegs from the gun barrel. It was also extremely easy to purchase such weapons at stores. Buyers only had to be 18 years old and present a valid ID. The poster showed a pistol that that had been transformed into a blank-firing weapon by a company called Kol Arms and a Ceska vz.58 automatic rifle that had undergone the same procedure. Both weapons were later reactivated. The message was heard in Brussels. In October 2013, just a month after the Slovakian warning, a European Commission report noted that law enforcement authorities in the EU were concerned that "alarm guns, air weapons and blank-firers are being converted into illegal lethal firearms." The Commission, the report stated, was aware of "significant differences in deactivation standards between Member States" and that homicides had been committed using such weapons. The report concluded that it was necessary to "evaluate the necessity of legally binding common standards for the whole EU." The report came fully five years after the 2008 Firearms Directive, yet virtually nothing had been done. Now, an evaluation was to take place. When that evaluation was finally completed at the end of 2014, Brussels had succumbed to an oversight: According to EU definitions, deactivation standards only apply to firearms that are made totally unusable. Alarm weapons were again left out. The Slovak alert had fallen through the bureaucratic cracks. It is unclear how that happened, but there are indications that it may have been intentional. In May 2014, there was a meeting in Brussels of EU experts on the weapons black market. When asked about what the consequences were for countries that did not fully implement the 2008 directive, an official with the Directorate-General Enterprise and Industry replied that there had only been a couple of inquiries and that no further steps had been taken. The official noted that the directive was consistent with the "minimum harmonization principle" -- which means there was plenty of leeway. When it comes to other issues, that may be a good thing and work well. The principle that the EU only regulates what is really necessary keeps the union together and people happy. But when it comes to EU security, the principle costs human lives. The freedom of movement for persons and goods becomes laxity, laxity becomes carelessness and carelessness becomes deadly risk. Seven months after the meeting in Brussels, Amedy Coulibaly stormed Hyper Cacher. For years, he had been in close contact with Chérif Kouachi, who, together with his brother Saïd, had created a bloodbath at the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo two days before. By the time Coulibaly took his hostages in the supermarket, the Kouachis had barricaded themselves inside a printing shop outside of Paris. Terrible Condition Inside Hyper Cacher, Coulibaly shot a man in the back as he was trying to run out of the store. He then shot a second person to death and shot Cohen. Coulibaly murdered a fourth person, a student, when he grabbed for one of his weapons. By the time Coulibaly died in a hail of police bullets, he had held 23 people hostage for more than four hours. He was armed with two Ceska vz.58 assault rifles, one of them manufactured in 1961, the other in 1964 -- really nothing but decommissioned military scrap. The French investigation files note that they were in terrible condition. But they killed nonetheless. The Slovakian police poster had warned of exactly this type of weapon, the Ceska vz.58. The ones used by Coulibaly bore the seal of the company Kol Arms, which had modified the first to shoot blanks in 2013 and the second one year later. The second carried the serial number 63622, and fired the bullet which killed Yohan Cohen. Both guns were sold in 2014, before being reactivated. "This kind of reverse modification is much easier than for weapons that have been completely deactivated because it only involves the barrel," a ballistics expert with the Paris police wrote. One can obtain such weapons "via the Internet and in the mail." The extra short model, called a Subcompact, costs slightly more than €500. The longer version, known as Compact, costs between €230 and €280. Coulibaly was also carrying two Russian-made Tokarev TT33s, which cost around €300 each. These weapons, too, were old, manufactured in 1951 and 1952 -- and modified into blank-shooters by Kol Arms in 2014. They too were reactivated by simply removing the two metal pegs from the barrel. Two such Tokarevs were discovered near Marseille in October 2012, followed by more and more such finds. Paris recorded the first reactivated Tokarev in July 2014, according to French investigators. Coulibaly had four of them stashed in his hideout in southern Paris. But how did he get his hands on this arsenal? The last link in the chain is still missing, but the trail leads to a shop in Slovakia, and into the depths of French police work. According to the French investigation, the weapons that ended up in Coulibaly's possession were ordered from this shop -- by a police informant. The informant claims that he made the purchases at the behest of the police as part of an investigation into a network of weapons suppliers. If that is true, if it was a secret service operation carried out by the state, then it spun out of control -- a mistake that four people, including Yohan Cohen, paid for with their lives. Container after Container The shop where Coulibaly's weapons were purchased is called AFG Security and it is located in the town of Partizánske, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Vienna. The store is in the basement of a two-story apartment building on a dead-end road near the train tracks. Stairs lead down below street level and inside, a camouflage net hangs from the ceiling. A bottle of Cabernet, emblazoned with a picture of Adolf Hitler and the words "Mein Kampf," stands in a display case. This shop, located in the middle of nowhere, is the source of thousands of deactivated weapons that have been sold across Europe. Firearms from here have ended up in the hands of Islamist terrorists in France, gangsters in Great Britain and a man who was once one of Germany's most dangerous neo-Nazis. Over the course of years. The AFG website continues to claim that the weapons are just "for fun" -- for the reenactment of World War II battles, for example. But the key part comes later: "Most of the expansion weapons (Eds. Note: alarm weapons) are originals (originally 'sharp') with minor modifications which disable the shooting with original - 'sharp' ammunition." The word "sharp," in the clumsily written English version of the website, refers to the ability to fire live ammunition. The guns are mostly decommissioned weapons from the Slovak military. Container after container of these firearms wound up in the hands of companies like Kol Arms, which then converted them from lethal weapons into alarm rifles. By the time the weapons left AFG Security, they were considered harmless -- at least according to the law. For the lawless, however, they were the hottest new thing on the market. AFG sold an estimated 14,000 alarm weapons abroad, mostly over the Internet, according to the German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA). The agency currently has 33 open investigations into customers in Germany. Many of the shop's customers apparently appreciated how quickly the weapons could be re-converted into active firearms. French investigators recently tried it out for themselves: It took only two hours for a locksmith of modest talent to reopen the barrel. Doing the same with German-made alarm guns isn't nearly as easy. Investigators from several EU countries have been monitoring the shop since 2014 after being tipped off by packages from Germany mailed to Alexander M., alias "Smokey," a serial burglar from London who has since been sentenced to life in prison. The packages included four fully functioning vz.61 Scorpion submachine guns, which are as small and deadly as the name implies. Smokey ordered the guns from jail using his smartphone. Initially, the authorities had no idea who the supplier was. They knew only that the person had been active on the anonymous trading platform Agora on the so-called Darknet. British and German police dispatched cyber investigators to order weapons in a sting operation. The tracking number of the packages led them to a mechatronics student named Christoph K. in the Bavarian city of Schweinfurt. Christoph K. is a slender young man in his mid-twenties with technical ability, good business acumen and few scruples. One morning in January 2015, police raided the campus of the University of Applied Sciences in Schweinfurt where Christoph K. was pursuing his studies. Further arrests and legal proceedings followed all across Europe. 'Unaware of the Consequences' Christoph K. had been reactivating the AFG alarm weapons in his basement workshop and then reselling them for 10 times the price. Four weeks ago, the Schweinfurt regional court sentenced him to four years and three months in prison. Defense attorney Jochen Kaller said his client had been "unaware of the consequences" of his actions. Christoph K. wasn't AFG's only regular German customer. The company's weapons registry, which the BKA has obtained, also includes the name Alexander R., 39, who bought two Kalashnikovs and three dozen Scorpions. In Ferlach, a hub of the Austrian weapons industry, he obtained raw tubes for the new barrels needed to reactivate the weapons. Officials at the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the German domestic intelligence agency responsible for monitoring extremism, had already had Alexander R. on their radar. Back at the end of the 1990s, he had been part of weapons deals with a former leader of Hoffmann, a right-wing extremist paramilitary sports group. At the time of their arrest, police seized close to a dozen submachine guns along with five hand grenades. After his conviction, R. spent more than four years in prison. While in jail, he wrote to his comrades that he planned to destroy "the regime of the Federal Republic of Germany." Police found a pamphlet in Alexander R.'s possession stating that the undercover agents who caught him should be shot and their corpses left with a warning note in their mouths. "Perhaps together with his dick and balls." After his release from prison, Alexander R. initially kept a low profile. But beginning in mid-2013, he began purchasing large quantities of weapons from AFG in Slovakia. Operating under the assumption that the company was under BKA surveillance, R. drove several times directly to Partizànske, where he paid in cash rather than ordering over the Internet. On the telephone, he once spoke of a "Big Chainsaw," a friend of "Beans," terms a regional court in Rhineland-Palatinate is convinced refers to weapons and ammunition. A few months ago, the court sentenced Alexander R. to six years in prison. His application for appeal was rejected on all major points. Meanwhile, the convict hasn't revealed the location of the three dozen submachine guns. Claude Hermant, 52, who had previously worked for the right-wing populist Front National party's security service in France, also placed a major order with AFG in 2014. The stalwart right-winger has paramilitary training and is also known to have spent a few months in jail in Africa, where rumors circulated about his alleged links to a failed coup attempt. Found at the Scene Hermant runs a survival shop near Lille, France. Through the firm, he placed an order with AFG for pistols, submachine guns as well as Ceska vz.58s that had been deactivated by Kol Arms. During a search conducted later, investigators seized an additional 15 vz.58s as well as a Tokarev TT 33 pistol along with cases of ammunition. But three of the weapons Hermant ordered from AFG -- a Ceska and two other Tokarevs -- had already been located. Police found the vz.58 machine gun at Hyper Cacher, where it had been used to kill Yohan Cohen. The two Tokarevs were also found at the scene. So was Hermant an unscrupulous merchant of death? Police also found two reactivated Beretta pistols in his possession. But Hermant told investigators a different story following the Coulibaly attack: He claimed he had purchased the weapons in 2014 with the knowledge of the French federal police, the Gendarmerie, as part of a sting against arms traffickers. He said that some of the weapons had been sent to a dodgy underworld figure based near Roubaix. Hermant claimed that he explicitly asked for permission from his police contact man. The official, Hermant says, gave him the "green light." Police officials have since been forced to admit that Hermant had been a "registered informant" since 2013 and that they were interested in obtaining information about weapons sales and had even told him that. "But I also manage 30 sources -- that's complicated," a police official said at a hearing in Lille convened after the January shootings. The official claimed that no sham weapons deal had taken place under police observation. To this day, the French government has kept its contact reports with Hermant classified. It remains unclear how Hermant's weapons ultimately wound up in Coulibaly's hands. Nor is it clear who provided the Islamist with the other Ceska vz.58. It is known that it was purchased on location from AFG by a Belgian weapons collector. But from that point the trail is lost. The Balkans Bazar On July 23, 2015, a white Mercedes disembarked from the ferry in Rødbyhavn, Denmark, after making the 45-minute crossing from Fehmarn, Germany. Sanel H., a Bosnian man, was at the wheel, but he didn't get far. During a routine inspection, Danish investigators uncovered a cache of weapons in the vehicle, discovering 10 hand grenades and 13 rifles, including four machine guns. Sanel H. told investigators he was acting alone and had no accomplices. Nor did he reveal what he intended to do with the weapons. Officials found a scrap of paper on him bearing the name of the Danish city Aalborg with a telephone number on it, but Sanel H. claimed it wasn't his writing and that he knew nothing about it. Danish police then questioned him about a former police officer from Bosnia. Sanel H. admitted he had known the man, and that he had been "a very honest guy" who had nothing to do with weapons trafficking. Two months later in Aachen, Germany, a police swat unit arrested the "very honest guy" at an autobahn on-ramp. The German authorities had been tipped off by colleagues in Bosnia. They seized 25 hand grenades, two explosive devices and four disassembled Zastava M70s, Serbian Kalashnikov knock-offs. A German accomplice was traveling with the ex-cop in the vehicle. At the same time, police in Bosnia-Herzegovina arrested additional members of the gang. When the Kouachi brothers holed up in a printing shop after the bloody rampage at Charlie Hebdo in January, they were armed with Zastava M70s. Investigators also found an M70 on the floor of the Bataclan concert hall after the November massacre. In addition, police found three of the weapons in the black Seat Leon car out of which some of the terrorists in the November attack fired on people at sidewalk cafes. The Zastavas used in the attack didn't come out of the Slovakian supply chain: They're weapons of the sort that terrorists in Western Europe have always clamored to get their hands on -- old automatic weapons from the Balkans that were never deactivated. There are believed to be almost as many of these faux Kalashnikovs as there are people in the region -- people with very little money and who sell the weapons in order to make some. The Zastava found at Bataclan was delivered to Sarajevo on May 26, 1981. It had been shipped to the local Yugoslavian Territorial Defense Forces, the military reserve units that would later become the core of the Bosnian forces during the civil war when Yugoslavia disintegrated. It is believed that the second of the three Kalashnikovs used in the Bataclan attack likewise originated from the Balkans -- a Chinese Norinco that used to be common in the Albanian military. It's also possible the third weapon used, a machine gun built in 1985 in Bulgaria, may also have come from the region. It is not always possible to trace the paths of weapons used in the Balkan wars. It's also possible that German weapons from the stockpiles of East Germany's National People's Army may have fallen into the wrong hands. During a meeting last September of the EU's Standing Committee on Internal Security (COSI), a French official noted that "the perpetrators at Charlie Hebdo used an automatic rifle from the former GDR." The ballistic reports, which have been obtained by SPIEGEL, provide no evidence to suggest this however. Germany's Left Party made an official request for a response to the claim by the German government, but officials stated that they would not comment "about the origins and dissemination of the weapons because there was still an open investigation." Still, it wouldn't come as a surprise if German weapons had made their way into terrorists' hands. MPi-Ks, the East German version of the Kalashnikov, have surfaced several times in Belgium. It is believed they came from the Balkans and that they had been sawed apart and then welded back together. Belgian security sources claim that decommissioned East German weapons were also sold to parties in the civil war. As for the Bulgarian Kalashnikov used in the Bataclan attacks, it's also possible that it came straight from Bulgaria. As is the case in many former Eastern Bloc countries, Bulgaria is home to massive warehouses filled with stockpiles of old guns. For one study, Bulgaria reported a surplus of more than 46,000 small arms and light weapons. For years, the standard practice for these countries had been to sell whatever could be sold and to destroy what was left over. It's a rule of thumb apparently also followed by Romania (which has a surplus of 1.25 million weapons), Albania (259,000) Serbia (90,000) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (53,000). But those are only the weapons to be found in government arsenals. It's possible that the weapons supplies of private individuals are even larger. When Albanians plundered their army's warehouses in 1997, 550,000 weapons and more than 1.5 billion rounds of ammunition went missing. The EU and the United Nations donated a few million euros to collect and destroy automatic rifles, mortars and hand grenades in the Balkans, but the sum fell far short of what would have been needed to solve the problem. Besides, the suddenly independent Balkan states had neither the money nor the strength or even the will to address the problem. Today, traveling traders buy up the Kalashnikovs and send them north along the roadways. Only a fraction of the hundreds of passenger buses that depart for Western Europe each day are checked, not to mention the vans and private automobiles. Customs officials don't have much of a chance, and some are also bribed, as a report by the French broadcaster Canal Plus recently documented. That is also how the Bosnians who were caught last year in Rødbyhavn and Aachen made it into the EU. Or the Montenegrin Vlatko V., who was stopped last November on the A8 Autobahn with eight Kalashnikovs in his VW Golf. The German government says that such discoveries of weapons from the Balkans are a regular occurrence. In 2014, 264 weapons of war were confiscated by the BKA. But Berlin stops short of calling it a "disconcerting trend." Still, the situation was such that Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the alleged planner of the November attacks in Paris, had no difficulties at all obtaining weapons. Abaaoud died five days after the attacks when police stormed his hideout, but three months prior to the attacks, in August 2015, Reda H., who had returned from Syria, provided testimony about Abaaoud to the French secret service agency DGSI. "He told me that I should find a soft target, a concert, for example, a place with lots of people," Reda H. said of Abaaoud. When it came to weapons, "he said that accessing weapons was no problem at all. I should just tell him what I needed. I think they had a supply network." The Business of Death II Allegedly, things have now improved in Slovakia. A new law was passed last summer forbidding Internet sales and sales to private individuals. The Slovakian Interior Ministry also says that the law includes "new technical standards" to prevent weapons from being reactivated. There has also been a change to the website of AFG. Now, a popup window informs visitors that the pages are only intended for professional weapons traders. Proceeding past the notice is confirmation that the visitor "is a holder of arm licence (sic)." What hasn't been changed is the fact that the Ceska vz.58, modified to only shoot blanks, is still available for €330. The Slovak description of the weapon praises its accuracy over 400 meters in addition to "very satisfactory results over a distance of 800 meters" when targeting groups -- an odd portrayal for a weapon modified to fire blanks. The sentence noting that most of the alarm weapons are originals that have undergone only minor modification so that they cannot fire live ammunition can also still be found on the website. But a salesman at the shop recently sought to reassure a customer: Now, not only are the barrels blocked to live ammunition (using a more secure method than in the past), but the magazines and breechblocks are also modified. Does that go far enough? Or does it just mean that reactivating them will now take four hours instead of two? "The new changes mean that these alarm weapons can no longer automatically reload," says Hamburg-based weapons expert Lars Winkelsdorf. "But they can still shoot. And by way of quite simple modifications, they can be turned back into live, fully automatic weapons. All you need are freely available replacement parts and a bit of work on the barrel." Making purchases over the Internet is likewise still possible for weapons dealers. Or pseudo-dealers, like one of the journalists from the EIC consortium. We wrote an email to AFG saying we wanted to buy alarm weapons of the Ceska vz.58 model. To identify ourselves as a dealer, we used papers that anyone can download from the Internet. AFG immediately registered us as a "wholesaler" and gave us rights to place orders via the Internet. We then ceased all contact with AFG so as not to fall afoul of the law. Does the practice not continue to violate the EU Firearms Directive? A European Union spokesman told us it does not. "The existing directive does not pertain to alarm weapons," he said. The only changes the EU has made are stiffer technical requirements, which will go into force in April, for completely deactivated weapons. But the new requirements don't pertain to alarm weapons because they are merely additions to the directive currently in place. A directive that does not include alarm weapons. The spokesman did note that change may be coming, in the form of the "common criteria concerning alarm weapons to prevent their transformation into fully functioning firearms" that Commission President Juncker proposed. When might that happen? The spokesman was unfortunately unable to say.

This coming May, Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit is celebrating 10 years of life at the core of the birth city of techno with a line-up that brings together legends of the famed genre, popular up-and-comers in the underground world, current house favorites from across the globe and a small roster of signature eclectic acts. This year, those making the pilgrimage to Detroit will be witnessing the first ever Kraftwerk 3D performance at Hart Plaza, with Modeselektor and Dubfire’s Hybrid show both set to complete the headlining spots at the festivals’ main stage over the weekend. Paxahau has also decided to change things around a little, adding different sounds to an Underground Stage that is usually chock-block full of hard techno, also placing Richie Hawtin’s PLAYdifferentlyShowcase at the Beatport stage by the Detroit River – with Richie closing out the night with a two-hour set – and inaugurating the first-ever Acid House devoted stage at the festival with the likes of DJ Pierre, Boys Noize and Nina Kraviz all set to perform. The stage programme and set times are now out, allowing attendees to plan their entire Memorial Day Weekend with as much ease as possible. While there’s bound to be plenty of conflicts with Phase I and Phase II lineups of such size, there is no doubt that as always the entire weekend will be filled with top-notch music and amazing performances. Check out the release below and make sure you also check out our Detroit City Travel Guide to ready yourself for the trip. The guide is complete with recommendations that cover travel, accommodation, food and other activities to do while in the Motor City. Connect with Movement: Official Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Image caption Councillor Waseem Zaffar has resigned from his cabinet post at Birmingham City Council An equality chief who became involved in a row over a four-year-old Muslim girl wearing a headscarf in school has resigned from his cabinet post. Birmingham councillor Waseem Zaffar claimed the school had breached anti-discrimination laws. Mr Zaffar was related to the pupil but did not make that public, the Birmingham Mail said. His resignation comes after a government official reportedly told the council his actions were unfair. More stories from Birmingham and the Black Country In January, Mr Zaffar posted on Facebook that St Clare's Catholic Primary School were refusing to let the pupil wear a headscarf and said he wanted the matter "addressed asap with a change of policy". But the Muslim Women's Network UK, amongst others, said the school was not at fault as young girls are not required to wear headscarves. Image copyright Google Maps Image caption Councillor Waseem Zaffar met St Clare's Catholic school's head to discuss a complaint from the pupil's family Subsequently, Mr Zaffar said speculation about him was a distraction for the council. He said he has also asked the council to set up a "review into all current and historical speculation against me". The Labour councillor for Lozells and East Handsworth stepped down from his role as the city council's cabinet member for transparency, openness and equality. His resignation comes after it was reported that government integration tsar Dame Louise Casey wrote to the council claiming Mr Zaffar's actions had been "grossly unfair and undue". Councillor Ewan Mackey, shadow cabinet member for transparency, openness and equality, has called on the authority to publish all correspondence between councillors and officers relating to the row. Councillor Tristan Chatfield was appointed as his replacement.

In the long tradition of segregationist such as George Wallace, Social Justice Warriors at the University of California, Berkeley have demanded segregated “safe spaces” for students of color as well as “queer” students. And to get their point across, they decided to block entry to White (and Asian) students to campus: We’ve come full circle and now racial segregation and trying to prevent, or at least impede, people from going to an institution of learning has gone from a paragon of racial injustice to a paragon of racial justice. Even the police were powerless to stop this blocking of students! The difference, of course, is that segregation per se to the Social Justice Warriors is not in and of itself bad, and can in actuality be considered a good when the correct students are segregated in the correct way. It is never about access to education, it is about punishing the morally impure races. Tweet

LOS ANGELES — Male millennials who say they regularly watch esports have caught up to regular watchers of hockey, and are approaching baseball numbers, according to a new study from market research firm Newzoo. That's just one of many insights from the study, which surveyed some 60,000 people from 27 countries over the course of three years. Newzoo asked invite-only respondents about which sports they "regularly" watched. Among men aged 21-35, 22% said they were regular esports watchers, just slightly below baseball and better than ice hockey, which fell in the high teens. Some other insights: Of the more than 200 million estimated esports viewers and casual fans, only 60% actually play the games they watch If esports had the same revenue-per-fan as the NBA, it would be a $2.5 billion industry (five times the current amount) Esports is projected to be a $1 billion industry by 2019 76% of esports enthusiasts say watching esports is taking away from hours they used to spend watching traditional sports Newzoo, which focuses on esports, traditional sports and brands, created a snapshot of what the typical fan looks like, too, including the brands they like:

Liz Kendall has said she is “never going to leave the party I love”, after a major Labour donor this week floated the possibility of a potential split if Jeremy Corbyn is elected leader. The leadership contender said she did not believe Labour was headed to a major split, as happened in 1981 with the formation of the Social Democratic Party, and would not leave if it did happen. John Mills, who donated well over a million pounds to Labour under Ed Miliband, predicted that there would be “some sort of split” if Corbyn won. However, in an interview in today’s Independent on Sunday, Kendall rubbishes the idea that she would be on her way out of a Corbyn Labour Party, despite having said that she would not serve on his frontbench. She said: “I am a loyal person: I am never going to leave the party I love, but Jeremy’s politics isn’t right for Labour or the country so I wouldn’t serve in his shadow cabinet if he were to be elected.” “That’s not what I want, and that’s not what I believe will happen. I can no more leave the Labour Party than leave my own family. And you never stop fighting for what you believe in. I won’t quit. I won’t quit this race and I’ll never leave the Labour Party.” Kendall did, however, say that if Corbyn becomes leader in September, Labour “will be out of power for a generation and that will be a betrayal of all of the people we are in politics to serve”. She expands on that idea in an Observer article today, where she writes that “I don’t think it’s principled to give up on electoral victory to make ourselves feel good.” In the piece, she rejects the idea that this contest is a choice between having principles and giving them up in the pursuit of power. She says: “Jeremy Corbyn and his supporters do not have a monopoly on principle. Many do, indeed, have firmly held principles, but they are not the only ones in our party or our movement. “This contest isn’t a choice between heartless pragmatism to win power and purity out of power. I’ve spent this campaign setting out the principles that drew me into the Labour movement and which I’ll keep on fighting for: ending inequality in the early years so every child has an equal shot at life; tackling low pay to build a real living-wage society and giving public sector workers the pay rise they need and deserve; and devolving decisions to communities and councils so people have power and control over their services and lives. “These are our Labour values.” Kendall has come under pressure to withdraw from the race this week, with some arguing that she should throw her weight behind another moderate candidate in order to stop Jeremy Corbyn. She has already dismissed these calls, and today has received support from Corbyn’s campaign. A spokesperson for the left wing candidate said earlier that the calls were wrong: “Calls on Liz Kendall to withdraw from the leadership race are wrong and she is right to reject them. Liz Kendall represents a body of opinion in the party that is as entitled as any to a voice in this contest, particularly given that voting in this election is based on a transferable vote – so that staying in or pulling out has no impact on the final outcome. It would narrow the debate if the field of candidates were reduced. All strands of opinion must be heard and Liz should remain in the race.”

Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton could fight in Manchester and Belfast Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg could box in Manchester and Belfast, says Hearn Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton could sign a two-fight deal to meet in Manchester then Belfast if Eddie Hearn’s offer is agreed. The long-awaited super-bantamweight collision could become a double-header in each fighter’s hometown if Frampton’s representatives return to the negotiating table with Quigg’s Matchroom promoter Hearn. The Manchester man quickly halted Kiko Martinez last weekend on the same night his Northern Irish rival recovered from two knock-downs to defeat Alejandro Gonzalez Jr, and Hearn now wants to arrange their all-British scrap in two cities. I’m happy to commit to a two-fight deal – one in November in Manchester, and one in Belfast in the spring or summer. That’s not a problem. Eddie Hearn He told Sky Sports: “I’m happy to commit to a two-fight deal – one in November in Manchester, and one in Belfast in the spring or summer. That’s not a problem. “A double-header could smooth negotiations. That’s always been discussed. We can agree the split in advance. “If it’s a good fight a rematch will happen anyway. Both guys think they will win the fight and move on. But they’ll probably find that, if the first fight is entertaining which everybody knows it will be, then the biggest money in the division remains a rematch.” Quigg stopped Martinez in two rounds Quigg’s explosive stoppage of Martinez compared to Frampton having to battle back from adversity against Gonzalez Jr hands the Englishman the advantage in negotiations, Hearn believes. But he has confirmed that Matchroom’s original offer to Frampton’s representative still stands – but if the Ulsterman’s management don’t respond, Quigg has another world champion lined up instead. “That offer is still on the table, there was no time-frame,” Hearn said. “Some people have told me to reduce the offer after Quigg’s recent performance! But we don’t need to, it was fair before and it’s even fairer now. “Scott is in a much better position than he previously was following his destruction of Martinez so it’s very difficult for me to revise my offer. Frampton in action against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr “From my conversations with them, Frampton and his team won’t acknowledge that Scott’s stock has risen considerably. However, if they did, it’s a fight that could happen immediately. "It’s going to take someone to swallow their pride for this fight to happen. But after last weekend, it’s difficult for that to be Quigg. “For us, fighting Frampton remains our favourite option but we’re in deep negotiations with Nonito Donaire about a fight in either Dubai or Manchester later this year.”

Kamelot: The Legacy of Roy Khan Timing can be a tricky thing. I had been thinking a lot about Kamelot recently, and the reality of their future without their now ex-vocalist, the mighty Roy Khan. I had to admit, as a fan of the band I’ve harbored worries —- the loss of a vocalist is a shakeup that few bands can endure with continued creative and commercial success and this is amplified in the case of the vocalist being very distinctive. So I had begun to write a piece on my doubts, and the reasons for them and had planned on it being published just before Kamelot announced their new vocalist. Of course, on the day I planned to publish, Kamelot lifted the curtains on the identity of Khan’s long speculated upon replacement: namely Seventh Wonder’s own Tommy Karevik. Well, I’m proud to say that I called it (among others certainly), Karevik had long been one of the candidates on most fans shortlists, he was certainly my favored choice and its not exactly a surprise that he’s been given the position. It makes sense, he seems to fit in with the band vocally, and he did fill in for Khan on select shows in 2010 to proven success. I feel a touch more confident with the band going forward with Karevik, in that they’ll be able to release something that is not a jarring stylistic departure due to a new vocalist being radically different (i.e. Blaze Bailey and The X Factor). My confidence is restrained however, by my speculation of the larger possibility that Kamelot’s future will be defined not by what they have gained, but by what they have lost. Roy Khan’s emotive and expressive vocals are by this point well-known to most of the metal community at large. His smooth delivery, subtle accent, and near perfect inflection and timbre were one of Kamelot’s defining attributes during his tenure with the band. He wielded attributes rarely found in power metal vocalists: richness, texture, depth, and a touch of melancholy. Soon after being introduced to the band through their sixth album Epica, it became apparent to me that there was more to Kamelot than just a great voice; there was intelligent and articulate songwriting at the heart of their music. In this I saw the continuing evolution of a stylistic legacy that the once mighty Queensryche had long ago abandoned. Khan and band founder/guitarist Thomas Youngblood were to me the second coming of the untouchable Geoff Tate/Chris DeGarmo songwriting team that had penned so much of the classic music that I loved in the ‘Ryche. The jump in songwriting quality from Kamelot’s first two albums with original vocalist Mark Vanderbilt (as well as the first Khan vocal-helmed album Siége Perilous), to Khan’s songwriting debut in the masterful The Fourth Legacy was simply immeasurable. Soon after hearing more Khan-Youngblood classic albums such as Karma, and Epica sequel The Black Halo, the deficiencies of many other bands in the genre grew to disproportionate sizes in my eyes. Many of the power metal bands I was listening to in earnest prior to discovering Kamelot now seemed dramatically inferior in comparison; their lyrics trite, subject matter shallow, and musically lacking. I was finding it harder and harder to enjoy many of them to the degree that I once did. In my initiations with Kamelot’s discography, I discovered that Khan’s role as a songwriter and lyricist was a huge factor in the quantum leap that Kamelot took from being a Crimson Glory-soundalike to a truly remarkable, original, and fresh force in modern power metal. Khan’s songwriting legacy within Kamelot is deep and full of nuance. By becoming Kamelot’s lyricist he brought to the songs a poet’s gift, the ability for the band’s songs to shine beyond the music. As for his newly found songwriting partner Thomas Youngblood, he pushed the guitarist to rethink and expand his vision of Kamelot’s sound, right down to fundamentals such as tempos and song structure. His talent for creating vocal melodies and imagining the surrounding harmony arrangements with all their intricacies and subtleties melded with Youngblood’s natural talent for cranking out melodic yet powerful and tastefully restrained riffage, and as a result pushed the guitarist’s budding creativity. Conversely, as seen on The Fourth Legacy album, Youngblood had a more straight ahead metal oriented songwriting approach than that of Tore Østby (Khan’s former Conception band mate and primary songwriter), and this urged Khan to get inventive in terms of how he’d develop and place vocal melodies, as well as adapt the phrasing of his smoother than most delivery to faster, heavier, more aggressively oriented metal. These results were often beautifully intricate, such as in the spectacular “Nights of Arabia” and “The Shadow of Uther”, where the verses and chorus feature alternating vocal tempos and styles to supreme dramatic effect. A further nod to creative expansion was introduced within the band’s repertoire in the form of spare, haunting, acoustic ballads. There Khan’s ability to carry a song’s melody on his vocal chords alone was put on full glorious display, as in “The Sailorman’s Hymn” and “Glory”, both moments where Khan’s lyrical storytelling abilities were allowed to blossom while Youngblood proved that he was as capable of delicate, spacious, finger-plucking as he was flashy, furious soloing. The two band mates meshed together on that album and challenged and improved each other, and it was only the beginning of a jaw dropping body of collaborative work. I keep mentioning Khan’s superlative abilities as a lyricist, and in truth the quality of lyrics don’t seem to be something that most metal fans fixate upon in general for reasons that are easy enough to understand. Most average metal bands get by on rather clunky, clumsy, and often lazy lyrics that work in a utilitarian way at best, while the appreciation of the music itself takes center stage. With Kamelot, Khan’s crystal clear vocals placed up front in the mix naturally put the spotlight upon his lyrics and he connected to listeners with his innate ability to tell stories, create interesting narrative perspectives, and offer elegant poetic verse and inventive phrasing. I’m not the only one who noticed, on the Amazon.com page for the Epica album the prolific reviewer LordChimp wrote: “Khan — in addition to being a prime singer is an outstanding lyricist, full of evocative colors and depth and beautiful diction”. Well put, and he’s not the only one who’s noticed: Kamelot fans have been vocal about their appreciation not only for Khan’s poetic voice, but for his ability to craft detailed concept albums with intricately woven stories, and imaginative narrative perspectives —- and never having it sound forced, or crammed in just for the sake of fitting it all in somehow. They’re referring to moments such as in the ballad “Wander”, where Khan paints a memory of a meeting between the concept album’s tragic protagonists in a setting that is depicted by simple, evocative phrases: “I recall one summers night / Within the month of June / Flowers in mahogany hair / And smell of earth in bloom”. The disconsolate narrator reflects upon the bittersweet agony of this memory in the gently soaring chorus, “Silently we wander / Into this void of consequence / My shade will always haunt her / But she will be my guiding light”. Those last two poignant lines, juxtaposition the path of the two protagonists lives in a starkly elegant manner, and serve as foreshadowing within the greater context of Epica’s Faustian storyline. In the album’s watershed song “Lost and Damned”, Khan twists and bends the verse lyrics to fit over accordion, piano and strings played in loose waltz-like rhythms only to dramatically plunge headlong into one of the band’s most bracing, urgent choruses. The lyrics deliver an appreciable musing on the workings of fate without having to clonk us on the head and actually use the terms fate, or destiny: “Don’t ask why / Don’t be sad / Sometimes we all must alter paths we planned / Only try — Understand / I want to save you / From the Lost and Damned”. Against the Faustian backdrop of the Epica storyline, this song is not only a pivotal moment of action for the album’s protagonist, Ariel, but a brilliantly executed set piece within the story. It is literally Ariel standing in front of the object of his affection, as she weeps, speaking the lyrics out to her, and we know this simply due to Khan deftly penning “Helena don’t you cry / Believe me; I do this for you / Heed my decision now / I will be gone tomorrow noon”. I could sit here listing countless other examples of similar literary devices and dramatic technique found within Khan’s lyrics across his entire spectrum of work with the band, but it’d take forever and this isn’t meant to be a literature lecture —- just one fan’s passion about what the guy brought to metal. When Steph Perry of Rocknotes interviewed Khan back in 2009, she mentioned to him “In the song “Temples Of Gold”, there’s the lyric “little did we know that they were life itself, the days passing by”. That’s just pure poetry. You don’t even need a song behind it“. Khan responded, “The lyrics have always been really important to me. There’s so many bands that, I don’t know how they feel about it themselves of course but there’s a lot of bands that I feel don’t put enough into the lyrics. They focus on the music and song and everything’s great but the lyrics seem to be lacking something. There’s other bands that have brilliant lyrics too and much better lyrics for that matter. In our genre I feel there’s a lot of lyrics that definitely could have been more worked on let’s put it that way. I guess it’s just that I like to play with words, I like to say things in ways that make people stop and think. It’s very important to me. I really like writing lyrics. It doesn’t always take that long though, even though people may think that [laughs].“ His comments regarding his dedication to his craft speak volumes, and he is diplomatic about his perceptions of the lyrics found in other bands’ work, particularly within similar genres —- perhaps too diplomatic. He schooled them all, and ruined Stratovarius for me (sorry Kotipelto!). I consider Khan’s role in Kamelot as vitally important, he was half of the driving force that helped to shape the sound, style, and vision of the band’s work. Their last two albums, Ghost Opera and Poetry for the Poisoned, while not on the same peerless level as their conceptual predecessors, were still packed with memorable songs of sweeping drama, and Khan’s trademark ear for vocal melody and unforgettable lyrics. He never dropped the ball in that regard; where it counted for artistry’s sake, in the studio and forever documented on record. Unfortunately he seemed to struggle with the toll a punishing live schedule was taking on his vocal chords as well as the effects of age (older songs had been noticeably tuned down live to compensate for his diminishing range), and performances had been slightly spotty in his last few years on the road. He seemed to be making a resurgence in the spring/summer of 2010, where his documented live appearances sounded fresh and revitalized, but soon after the hammer was dropped: Khan went on hiatus, citing burnout and exhaustion, and a little over six months later his statement confirming his resignation was officially released. By this point, the stunning shock had worn off and it didn’t come as a surprise, just a profoundly depressing acceptance. There was a curious footnote to that statement, “I am eternally thankful for everything you and KAMELOT have given me and equally sorry that it has to end here. The good news is; God was there after all…” – Roy Khan Many of Kamelot’s songs dealt thematically with universal themes such as love, death, hope, despair, and faith —- in particular the loss and search for faith. Its been interesting as a fan to go back through the albums, and see that particular theme crop up over and over, in a way that I had not noticed before. No one will ever accuse Kamelot of being a religious band, certainly not a Christian band, but it does seem that Khan was quietly embedding a great deal of his personal struggles into his lyrics, even on up to his final album with them, as seen in “Once Upon a Time”: “I won’t stay to stand in line / Or wait for God to shine all over me / I wait for the storm”. His former band mate Youngblood was unable to adequately explain his former singer’s religious awakening, but did credit it with leading the singer down his path to leaving Kamelot. In a recent Q&A by the guitarist on the band’s Facebook page, he unloaded a stunner about Khan’s present activities: “Before making the final choice on the new singer, we did correspond via email. I know he’s in good health, working in Norway. When he quit Kamelot he also chose to quit the music business and seems to be very happy.” Never say never, but that sounds to me like the end of a music career, and while I suppose I’m glad the guy is apparently happy, I find it tragic in the sense that he still has a world of talent that will potentially remain untapped. I was at least hoping for a Conception reunion, a solo album, a guest appearance, anything! Sadly, its a quiet end to a deafening career. Some Kamelot fans grew nervous (and some irate) that Fabio Leone, the band’s choice as a long term touring fill-in could even be considered as Khan’s replacement, and while I admired the guy’s effort when I caught the band live, I quietly agreed with them. Enter Tommy Karevik. I’ve been listening to The Great Escape by Karevik’s previous (and apparently still current) band Seventh Wonder. It and its immediate predecessor Mercy Falls have been striking a chord with me that I’ve been unable to get from them in the past. I’m not sure why, maybe its my subconscious projecting its hopes about a Karevik-fronted Kamelot that’s doing it… regardless, I’m enjoying them, though not loving them. Karevik was apparently chosen on the grounds that he is also a primary songwriter for Seventh Wonder, and a lyricist as well. While I can see some skill in his lyric writing in these songs, its a far cry from the sheer quality that Kamelot fans are used to, or at least this one anyway. He has a pretty good voice, and as I mentioned before, his takes on Kamelot songs when filling in for Khan live were strong. Its unfair to compare him to Roy but to be frank about it, he has huge shoes to fill. A great, passionate new album that showcases his writing abilities in a way that pushes Kamelot forward is the only way to step out of Khan’s immense shadow. I hope he and the guys pull it off, I don’t want my admiration for the band to diminish, and as for Roy Khan himself, I hope he makes a return to music, in any form. If he doesn’t, I’m glad I got to see him live, and glad that he stuck around long enough to build what can rightly be called a legacy. Advertisements

"....usher in a new era of sustainable growth ..." Not the only place you mention growth and sustainable in the same breath. But our current problems are alnost entirely because few if any can understand that growth CAN NEVER BE SUSTAINABLE" it is an oxymoron. The growth myth has been peddled for so long; and no-one in government seems to realise that NOTHING can keep on growing. A minor adjustment to calling it "sustainable" will make little difference. Ask a politician "How will we know when we (the economy) has grown enough?" and you will get a blank look. It is not green growth which has its limits it is growth per se. And until this becomes generally realised we will continue along the slippery slope. Now an INCREASE in green technology, farming et al - THAt would be somethng worth fighting for

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa found on the Reykjanes Peninsula in southwest Iceland. It is the most popular attraction in Iceland drawing people from all across the world. Go here to find the largest selection of Blue lagoon tours in Iceland The Lagoon is just a fifteen-minute drive from Keflavík International Airport, or a thirty-minute drive from Reykjavík, located between the two. It is thus often visited straight after arrival to the country or right before departure. There are few better ways to recharge after a long-flight or action-packed holiday. History The Blue Lagoon started as a pool of wastewater from the Svartsengi geothermal plant in 1976. The first person to bathe there was Valur Margeirsson in 1981. He was met with some resistance prior to taking the first dip as people thought he was mad for wanting to bath in a "blue mud pool". He and others soon began to notice the unusual but remarkable healing qualities of the azure waters. Those with conditions such as psoriasis found the waters immediately soothing for their condition. News quickly spread, and by 1987, the first swimming facilities were officially opened. Since then, the establishment has only grown, from an open pool with no surrounding buildings to a luxurious spa, research centre and hotel. Today The Blue Lagoon is considered to have such notable regenerative qualities because the water is rich in silica and sulphur. A research and development facility on site finds cures and remedies for skin ailments, and silica mud is available for free on the sides of the pool for guests to enjoy a facemask. The temperature in the bathing and swimming area is very comfortable, averaging 37–39° C (98–102° F). The Blue Lagoon also boasts the LAVA Restaurant, the Blue Café and the Lagoon Spa: you can thus enjoy cocktails, health products, delicious meals and treatments such as massages without leaving the premises. Saunas, steam rooms and a small waterfall are also on site. For all of these reasons and more, the Blue Lagoon is considered to be one of the most enjoyable and romantic spots in the country. It is surrounded by a plethora of fantastic volcanic landscapes, and the water itself is opaque and vividly blue. Rising pillars of steam only add to the spa’s fantastic ambience. Things to Note The Blue Lagoon Spa is open throughout the year, and popular in every season. Due to the fact it has a maximum capacity for the comfort of its guests, it is essential that you book several months in advance to ensure your space. The vast majority of the time, you will be turned away at the door without a reservation. More reserved guests might want to be aware that it is a requirement to shower naked in public before entering the lagoon, to ensure that the highest hygiene standards are maintained. Though uncomfortable for some, nudity has little taboo in Icelandic culture, so worry not; no-one’s looking. Those who are travelling on a budget will note that the Blue Lagoon is quite pricey. There are other smaller spas and pools that can be entered for less, such as the Fontana Spa, Secret Lagoon, Mývatn Nature Baths and Krauma Spa. Of course, natural hot pools are free to enter. For more information, you can read articles on the best pools in the country and the best natural hot springs. The Golden Circle is a 300 kilometre (186 mile) route to the three most popular natural attractions in Iceland: the Geysir Geothermal Area, Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park. This sightseeing trail is easy to do within half a day from Reykjavík, either by self-drive or on one of many tours. Some of these tours have additional activities, such as snorkelling or snowmobiling, or are conducted in a unique style, such as by helicopter, or under the midnight sun. Within the three locations of the Golden Circle are some of the clearest examples of Iceland’s fascinating geological forces, magnificent landscapes, and rich culture. The Geysir Geothermal Area The Geysir Geothermal Area is a hot-spring haven in Haukadalur Valley. As could be guessed, it is home to a famous geyser, the name of which has named all others: Geysir itself. Though this feature is currently in a phase of inactivity, its neighbour Strokkur more than makes up for it. Every five to ten minutes, it blasts a column of boiling water to heights that can reach over 40 metres (131 feet). The surrounding area is dotted with fumaroles, hot springs, and mud-pits. There are also two other smaller geysers, Smiður and Litlí-Strokkur, that can be easily visited, as well as a hotel, restaurant, cafe and gift shop across the road. Gullfoss Waterfall The 'Golden Waterfall', Gullfoss one of the most beautiful and powerful waterfalls in Iceland, plummeting 32 metres (105 feet) in two tiers into the river gorge of the popular rafting river Hvítá. It is just a ten-minute drive from Geysir and is the furthest point on the Golden Circle from Reykjavík. Gullfoss was very almost lost in the early 20th century when British developers sought to harness its incredible power for geothermal energy. Though they got the lease to the land, allowing them to go ahead with their plans, they met an unlikely adversary: the daughter of the farmer who owned it, Sigríður Tómasdóttir. This resilient woman refused to see the waterfall, to which she and her sisters paved the first path, destroyed. She, therefore, walked over 200 kilometres (124 miles) to Reykjavík and back multiple times to meet with a lawyer in order to help change the decision. Though the process was arduous and took years, eventually Sigríður managed to exhaust the resources of the businessmen and they withdrew their plans. Because of her, all Icelandic waterfalls are now protected from foreign investors, and she is considered one of Iceland’s first environmentalists and most important historical people. Thingvellir National Park The largest attraction of the Golden Circle is Þingvellir National Park. The Icelandic parliament was founded here in 930 and remained until the year 1798 before moving to Reykjavík, making it the original site of what is now the world’s longest ongoing parliament. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most important places to visit in Iceland. This is not just for its historical and cultural values, but for also its magnificent landscape and dramatic geology. Þingvellir is surrounded by a beautiful mountain and volcanic ranges, as it is located in a rift valley directly between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates. This makes it one of the few places in the world where you can walk between the continents, in the Mid-Atlantic Rift. The daring and qualified even have opportunities to snorkel or scuba dive in this no-mans-land, in a ravine filled with crystal-clear spring water called Silfra. The visibility here can exceed 100 metres (328 feet), revealing incredible geological sites. Though it never freezes over due to the constant flow of water into it, it is 2°C (35°C) throughout the year, thus underwater explorers are always equipped with protective suits. Other sites of note are the magnificent Almannagjá gorge, which you can walk down into to reach the rift valley from the North American tectonic plate, and the beautiful lake Þingvallavatn, the largest lake in Iceland, which gleams to the south of the National Park. Surrounding sites Due to its convenient location in south-west Iceland, it is easy to visit the Golden Circle alongside with many other sites. Those seeking relaxation could head to the Secret Lagoon in Flúðir or Fontana Spa in Laugarvatn, those seeking adventure could book a trip to the ice tunnels of Langjökull glacier, and those seeking culture could visit the Sólheimar ecovillage. For more natural beauty, you can visit the nearby Kerið crater lake. There are many tours that include such bonuses, but if driving yourself, you should check out this guide to great detours off the Golden Circle. East Iceland is a vast area of incredible natural beauty, striking contrasts and fascinating history and culture. It is home to the remote and beautiful East Fjords, many small fishing villages, and an array of wildlife. Services in East Iceland East Iceland has just a few settlements with significant services. The main one of these, considered to be the capital of the region, is Egilsstaðir. Egilsstaðir has restaurants, museums, shops, petrol stations and an array of accommodation options to suit all budgets. It is also home to an airport, meaning those with limited time or without a driving licence can easily reach it from Reykjavík. Seyðisfjörður is another settlement of significance, with services for travellers, and a ferry that goes to Scandinavia. Djúpivogur is another wonderful town that visitors can refresh themselves at. East Iceland is home to the Kárahnjúkar hydroelectric power station, which provides many of the towns with energy. The construction of this has led to a hot debate on Iceland’s ecological footprint and continues to do so, considering that it provides fuel to a controversial aluminium smelter nearby. Nature of East Iceland East Iceland is characterised by many fjords, surrounded by steep mountains. Fishing villages can be found nestled in most of them. Inland, however, is just as beautiful, with much of it being a fertile agricultural area. Woodlands of birch can be found here, the most famous being Hallormsstaðaskógur, the largest forest in Iceland. By this forest, and the town of Egilsstaðir, is the lake Lagarfljót, said to conceal a terrible monster. Many rivers run through the district, and by their estuaries, colonies of seals may be found. The fertile waters also provide food to whales and dolphins, which can infrequently be seen from shore. The impressive mountain Snӕfell, Iceland's highest freestanding peak, can be found in the east. Near here is the highland oasis Eyjabakkar, one of the world's largest nesting places for the pink-footed goose. Reindeer roam the mountains of East Iceland, and this is the only place they can be found. Initially brought over for farming, the industry was never lucrative, and they have roamed free ever since. Many migratory birds are found both inland and in the cliffs in summer, including the elusive puffin. Vatnajökull, Europe's largest glacier, stretches to the borders of East Iceland and can be seen across much of it. Culture of East Iceland Of particular cultural note in the Fljótsdalshérað district is the cultural and historical centre Skriðuklaustur. In the Middle Ages, a monastery stood here, making it the region’s religious centre. In the 20th century, Icelandic author Gunnar Gunnarsson made it his home. Gunnar wrote many masterpieces, including Aðventa, or The Good Shepherd, Svartfugl, or The Black Cliffs, Saga Borgaraettarinnar, or The Saga of the One-Eyed Guest, and the autobiographical novel cycle Fjallkirkjan, which has been translated under different names, such as The Church on the Mountain, Ships in the Sky and The Night and the Dream. The culture of the East today is largely defined by festivals. Seyðisfjörður hosts the annual music festival LungA. The settlement of Neskaupsstaður also hosts two highly popular annual festivals, Neistaflug and Eistnaflug. North Iceland is a beautiful region, hosting some of the best attractions on the island. Home to the Lake Mývatn region, the town of Akureyri (otherwise known as the 'Capital of the North'), the whale-watching hot-spot of Húsavík and the northern parts of Vatnajökull National Park, the North attracts visitors throughout the year. It is divided by fjords and mountain ranges into many beautiful regions. Eyjafjordur Within the bay of Eyjafjörður is Akureyri, a town of 17,000 inhabitants. It is the largest settlement outside of the Greater Reykjavík Area. It is easy to reach via the Ring Road, and many cruise ships land in the port of the town. The older part of Akureyri is particularly worth a stroll, as it contains many historic buildings. The town is also home to many interesting museums, galleries, and the world’s northernmost botanical gardens. If you like skiing or snowboarding, one of the best skiing sites in the country is located nearby. Siglufjordur Siglufjörður straddles the border of Eyjafjörður and Skagafjörður and is most famously home to a charming settlement of the same name. Other than its natural beauty, with huge cliffs bordering the town, Siglufjörður is renowned for its fascinating museums. There is a folk music museum, which comes alive during an annual festival, and the Herring Era Museum. The latter is the only Icelandic museum to win an international award and is much more interesting than it sounds; it explains how Iceland managed to survive a millennium in such harsh climes by relying on the seas. The Vatnsnes Peninsula The Vatnsnes Peninsula gets its fame for two reasons. Firstly, it is the best seal-watching location in the whole country, with colonies hauling out throughout the year. In the town of Hvammstangi, you can visit the Icelandic Seal Centre to learn more about these animals. It is also famous for hosting the coastal rock formation of Hvítserkur. This bizarre feature is said to be a troll frozen by the light of the morning sun, but to most, it appears to be more like an elephant drinking from the ocean. Thingeyjarsysla Þingeyjarsýsla county is home to many incredible sites, particularly due to the fact that the Lake Mývatn region is nestled within it. This beautiful area is renowned for its lava formations, pseudocraters and rich birdlife. Near Mývatn is the impressive lava field Dimmuborgir, which was featured in the Game of Thrones series. There is also the incredible waterfall Goðafoss, a beautiful feature between Lake Mývatn itself and Akureyri. Húsavík is a nearby town, considered the whale watching capital of Europe. In summer, many operators see Humpback Whales every time they leave the port. The Jökulsárgljúfur Canyon is home to some of Iceland's most beloved natural attractions; the river Jökulsá á Fjöllum runs through it and holds several waterfalls including Europe's most powerful, Dettifoss. Nearby to here is the spectacular, horseshoe-shaped Ásbyrgi canyon. Grimsey Far north, straddling the Arctic Circle is Grímsey island, the northernmost inhabited territory of Iceland, with a population of about 100 people. It is renowned for its fishing, its rich vegetation and birdlife, particularly puffins. West Iceland is home to the country’s capital city, Reykjavík, and an array of impressive natural sites. These include Europe's most powerful hot spring, Iceland's most significant lava tube, fascinating glaciers, beautiful waterfalls important historical sites and more. It has three main districts outside of the capital area: Borgarfjörður, the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula, and Breiðafjörður. Though also in the west, the Westfjords and Reykjanes Peninsula are considered to be in separate regions. The Capital Area Iceland’s capital city is Reykjavík, a settlement of 120,000 people (over 200,000 in the Greater Reykjavík Area) that was founded in 870 AD by Ingólfur Arnarson; this makes it the country’s oldest inhabited area. It is a hot spot of culture, with festivals such as Sónar, Airwaves and Secret Solstice, events such as Pride and Culture Nights, and countless museums and galleries. The city is also renowned for its vibrant live music, cabaret and drag scenes, its street art, many sculptures, and its delicious cuisine. Its architecture is particularly of note, with impressive buildings such as Hallgrímskirkja Church and the Harpa Concert Hall. Reykjavík is where most visitors base themselves and the point from which most tour leaves. There is a comprehensive guide to Reykjavík on this site. Borgarfjörður Borgarfjörður is the fjord north of Reykjavík, within which is a wealth of beautiful historical and natural sites. Reykholt, for example, is a tiny village where medieval historian and poet Snorri Sturluson, author of Snorra-Edda and Heimskringla, once lived. Borgarnes, the main village of Borgarfjörður, is one of Iceland’s earliest towns, and home to the fascinating Settlement Centre. In terms of nature, Borgarfjörður is home to the second highest waterfall in the country, Glymur. Other beautiful waterfalls include the magical and peaceful Hraunfossar and the raging rapids of Barnafoss which lie only a stone's throw apart. The area is also home to the longest lava cave in the country, Viðgelmir, the highest flowing hot spring in Europe, Deildartunghver, and just inland is Iceland’s second biggest glacier, Langjökull. Snӕfellsnes The Snӕfellsnes peninsula is a marvellous stretch of land in west Iceland. It is home to a unique mountain ridge with the majestic Snӕfellsjokull glacier and National Park at its westernmost point. The region is often called Iceland in miniature due to its diverse sites, which include beautiful mountains such as Kirkjufell, geological wonders such as the Gerðuberg cliffs, and coastal formations such as Lóndrangar rock pinnacles. Breiðafjörður Breiðafjörður is the fjord that separates the Westfjords from the Snӕfellsnes Peninsula. It is a natural reserve with countless small islands and home to thousands of birds, including puffins. The inner part of Breiðafjörður is the old farm site Eiriksstadir, the home of Eric the Red, the first European to land in Greenland, in the year 984 AD. His son was Leif Ericsson, the first European to land in America, in the year 1000. Akureyri, ‘The Capital of the North’ is a town in the fjord Eyjafjörður in North Iceland. It lies just 100 kilometres (62 miles) away from the Arctic Circle. It is Iceland’s second-largest urban area with a population of about 17,800. Economy Akureyri is an important fishing centre and port, but in the last few years, tourism, industry, higher education and services have become the fastest growing sectors of the economy. An airport is located about three kilometres (two miles) from the centre and a large number of cruise ships lay anchor in its busy harbour. Traditionally Akureyri has survived on fisheries and some of Iceland’s largest fishing companies such as Samherji, have their headquarters there. Other large companies are also based here, such as Vifilfell hf, the largest brewery in Iceland, which produces the famous Kaldi beer. FSA/Akureyri Hospital is a significant employer in the area and is one of two major hospitals in Iceland. Akureyri has excellent facilities for travellers and is located a short drive from many of Iceland’s top natural, cultural and historical attractions. Additionally, one of Iceland's best skiing sites is found by Akureyri, at Hlíðarfjall and it is the location for Ak Extreme, an annual skiing and snowboarding festival. Nature & Landscape Akureyri is surrounded by mountains, the highest one being Kerling at 1,538 metres (5,064 feet). The area around it has rich agriculture and a beautiful mountain ring. The island of Hrísey sits in the middle of Eyjafjörður and Grímsey Island, which straddles the Arctic Circle; both islands belong to the municipality of Akureyri. Hrísey is often called 'The Pearl of Eyjafjörður’ and Grímsey 'The Pearl of the Arctic', and these beautiful and peaceful islands are highly popular with travellers. Both are also home to many puffins. Furthermore, Akureyri is a very popular place to stay due to its proximity to the Lake Mývatn. This is one of the country’s most popular destinations, due to its incredible natural beauty, intense geothermal activity, a wealth of birdlife and many surrounding sites, including Dettifoss waterfall, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. It is also close to the seal-watching capital of Iceland, Hvammstangi, on the Vatnsnes Peninsula. This peninsula is also home to the captivating ‘elephant rock’ formation, called Hvítserkur. The convenience of Akureyri is added to by its position on the Icelandic Ring Road, a route that encircles the country, passing almost every major destination. This means that reaching it from Reykjavík is little trouble, even in winter and the journey takes just under five hours. History & Culture During World War II, Akureyri was an essential site for the Allies and the town grew considerably after the war, as people increasingly moved to urban areas. Akureyri has an active cultural scene, with several bars and renowned restaurants as well as frequent concerts and shows. During the summer there are several notable festivals in Akureyri and its surroundings such as the Vaka Folk festival. Sites of interest in Akureyri include the brand-new Hof concert hall, many museums and the Christmas house which is open all year round. The city boasts the world's northernmost botanical gardens which are located close to the swimming pool which is worth a visit. Akureyrarkirkja church sits in a prized position halfway up the hill upon which most of the city is built. It was completed in 1940 and was designed by one of Iceland's most famous architects, Guðjón Samúelsson, who also was also responsible for arguably Iceland's most famous church, Hallgrímskirkja in Reykjavík. Jökulsárlón is Iceland’s most famous glacier lagoon. Conveniently located in the southeast by Route 1, about halfway between the Skaftafell Nature Reserve and Höfn, it is a popular stop for those travelling along the South Coast or around the Ring Road of the country. Geography As a glacier lagoon, Jökulsárlón is a lake that is filled with the meltwater from an outlet glacier. In this case, it is Breiðamerkurjökull, a tongue of Europe’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull. It stands out, however, due to the fact that it also fills with icebergs breaking from the glacier, some of which tower several stories high. These icebergs, other than their scale, are notable for their colouration. Although they are, as expected, largely white, most are also dyed electric blue in part, with black streaks of ash from eruptions centuries past. When the icebergs finally make it across the lagoon, they either drift out to sea or wash up on the nearby shore. Because of the way they glisten against the black sands of Breiðamerkursandur, this area has been nicknamed ‘the Diamond Beach’. In spite of being a rather recent formation, Jökulsárlón is the deepest lake in the country, with depths of 248 metres (814 feet). With a surface area of 18 square kilometres (7 square miles), it is also growing to be one of the largest. History Jökulsárlón has not been around since Iceland’s settlement; it only formed around 1935. This was due to rapidly rising temperatures in the country from the turn of the twentieth century; since 1920, Breiðamerkurjökull has been shrinking at a dramatic rate, and the lagoon has begun to fill its space. Today, the expansion of Jökulsárlón is accelerating. In 1975, it had less than half its current surface area. In the relatively near future, it is expected that the lagoon will continue to grow until it becomes a large, deep fjord. Though a dark omen for Iceland’s glaciers and ice caps in general, the retreat of Breiðamerkurjökull has resulted in an incredibly beautiful, if temporary, site. This has not been overlooked by Hollywood. Jökulsárlón has been featured in the James Bond films A View to Kill in 1985 and Die Another Day in 2002, 2001’s Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and 2005’s Batman Begins. In 2017, Jökulsárlón was enveloped into the Vatnajökull National Park, thus it is now fully protected by Icelandic law. Wildlife Because of the wealth of herring and capelin that the tides bring into the lagoon, Jökulsárlón is somewhat of a hot-spot for Iceland’s wildlife. In summer, it is a nesting site for Arctic Terns; stay well away from their nesting area, as these birds are notorious for the fierceness with which they protect their eggs, dive-bombing the heads of any they see as a threat. Skuas also nest on the lake’s shores in this season. Seals can be reliably spotted here throughout the year, swimming amongst or else hauling out on the icebergs. Jökulsárlón provides them with a safe haven to rest and socialise, especially considering the waters of southeast Iceland are renowned for their population of orcas. Vatnajökull glacier is the largest glacier in Europe, covering 8% of Iceland’s landmass. It is the central feature of the Vatnajökull National park, found in the south west of Iceland, a popular spot for activities like glacier hiking from Skaftafell, boat tours in the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, and ice caving tours between November and March. Facts about Vatnajokull Vatnajökull has a surface area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres (3127 square miles); though it is rapidly shrinking due to climate change, its recession is not quite as advanced as at other glaciers, such as Langjökull and Mýrdalsjökull. In parts, it is a kilometre deep (over three thousand feet), and its average thickness is around half of that. Vatnajökull also holds the tallest peak in Iceland beneath its ice; Hvannadalshnjúkur is 2,200 metres tall (7,218 feet). It also conceals some of the most active volcanoes in the country, the most notable being Grímsvötn, Öræfajökull and Bárðarbunga. Volcanic activity in the region has occurred on and off throughout the centuries, and many geologists believe that several eruptions are overdue. If their calculations are correct, it would mean significant volcanic activity for Vatnajökull over the scope of the next half-century. Depending on winds, this could result in worldwide consequences in terms of air-travel, agriculture and the general climate. The glacier boasts over 30 outlet glaciers, which are channels of ice that flow out of ice caps but remain constrained on the sides of the valley. The major outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull include Dyngjujökull in the north, Breiðamerkurjökull, and Skeiðarárjökull to the south. To the west, one can find the outlet glaciers Síðujökull, Skaftárjökull and Tungnaárjökull. Numerous rivers run out of Vatnajökull, making up some of the greatest glacial rivers in Iceland. The most notable are: Tungnaá (west) Köldukvísl (west) Þjórsá (west) Jökulsá á Fjöllum (north) Skjálfandafljót (north) Jökulsá á Brú (northeast) Jökulsá í Fljótsdal (northeast) Jökulsá í Lóni (south) Hornafjarðarfljót (south) Jökulsá á Breiðamerkursandi (south) Skeiðará (south) Núpsvötn (south) Hverfisfljót (south) Skaftá (south) Vatnajokull National Park Vatnajökull National Park was established in June 2008 and has slowly grown to include more and more areas. The park now covers an area of 14,141 square kilometres (5,460 square miles), 14% of the country. It is the second largest national park in Europe. Rivers divide the highland plateau to the north of the park. The volcanic table mountain Herðubreið towers over this particular region, along with volcanoes Askja, Snæfell and Kverkfjöll. The canyon Jökulsárgljúfur was carved out by glacial floods centuries ago. At the upper end of the canyon, you'll find Dettifoss, the most powerful waterfall in Europe. Further north, the horseshoe-shaped canyon Ásbyrgi is believed to have formed when Óðinn's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, stepped his foot down from the heavens. East around Snæfell, one can find wetlands and ranges, home to roaming herds of wild reindeer and abundant birdlife. Steep mountain ridges make up the south side of Vatnajökull, where outlet glaciers crawl onto the lowlands. The sandy plains of Skeiðarársandur also lie to the south, and the glacial river Skeiðará runs through this vast desert. One of Iceland's most visited landmarks in the National Park is the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, which sits at the base of the outlet glacier Breiðamerkurjökull. Here, large icebergs that have broken off the glacier float across a vast lake before ending up in the Atlantic Ocean, or washed ashore on the nearby Diamond Beach. This is one of the best seal-watching spots in the country. The Future of Vatnajokull The volume of Vatnajökull reached its peak around 1930 but has since been in a steady process of decline. Because of rising levels of global temperature, Vatnajökull has on average lost about a metre (three feet) of its thickness annually over the past 15 years. If temperature levels continue to rise, the glacier could be all but gone nearing the end of the next century, leaving only small ice caps on top of the highest mountain summits. Efforts are being made to prevent what some say is the inevitable, with reforestation projects going on all around the glacier, a proven method of cooling the area. Time will tell how successful they are. Vatnajokull and Jokulsarlon in Popular Culture The beauty of Vatnajökull National Park has not gone unnoticed by those in film or television. Many famous scenes have been shot here, starting with James Bond: A View to Kill in 1985. Other notable films with scenes here include Batman Begins, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and James Bond: Die Another Day. Most famously, however, many places in Vatnajökull have been used in the HBO Series Game of Thrones, north of the Wall. The Wall itself is constructed with CGI using shots of the glacier. Mývatn is a beautiful lake with many small islands in the north of Iceland, the fourth largest lake in the country. Due to its serenity, birdlife and volcanism, the lake, including its surrounding area, is one of the most amazing natural attractions in the country. Mývatn is, in fact, so beautiful that is was used as a site in the Game of Thrones franchise. In mid-winter it was used to represent the lands North of the Wall, namely Mance Raider’s Wildling camp. Geology Mývatn sits about an incredibly active geothermal area, giving it a unique and beautiful geology. After all, it is close to sites such as Krafla caldera, which contains the notorious Víti volcano, the name of which translates to ‘hell’. Many of the islands here are thus pseudocraters, formed by steam explosions as magma rose beneath pockets of water, and many are bizarre basalt columns, rising vertically from the surface, formed by rapid cooling after an eruption. The high amount of geothermal activity beneath Mývatn, of course, presents the opportunity for bathing in naturally heated waters. This is best done at the Mývatn Nature Baths, a beautiful establishment with serene waters, incredible views, and a reasonable entry fee. Wildlife Mývatn has some of the best bird-watching available in Iceland, although those seeking puffins will need to be at coastal cliffs such as those at Látrabjarg and Dyrhólaey, between May and September. In fact, Mývatn has more species of duck than anywhere else in the world, with thirteen nesting species and many more visitors. Most popular (and common) amongst these is the harlequin duck sometimes referred to as the white-eyed diver after their unique white markings. Mývatn’s surrounding vegetation and plentiful food make it a happy home for voles, mice and rats that have spread all over Iceland, providing tasty treats for Iceland’s only native land mammal, the Arctic Fox. Visitors, however, will have to keep a close eye out for these, as they are experts in camouflage. In terms of flora, the most interesting plant life at Mývatn actually exists just beneath the surface of the water. Marimo are ‘moss balls’, bizarre spheres of fluffy green algae that are found in very few other places around the world, namely Japan (where they got their name), Scotland, Estonia and Australia. Surrounding sites Visitors to Mývatn often wish to spend more than just a single day exploring its many surrounding locations. Primary amongst these is Dimmuborgir, a lava field which truly reflects the dramatic consequences of a volcanism in Iceland. This area is steeped in folklore and is home to the thirteen ‘Santas’ of Iceland, the Yule Lads. It was also here that many of the Game of Thrones scenes were shot such as Mance Rayder's wildling camp at Dimmuborgir and Grjótagjá cave, where Jon and Ygritte shared an evening together. Though this site can be admired from the shore, the water temperature is not monitored and can heat up very quickly, so visitors are asked not to take a dip. Those with an interest in Iceland’s strange geothermal and geological sites should also check out the Skútustadagígar pseudo-craters and the aforementioned Víti crater and its surrounding lava field. There are also several geothermal hot spots around Krafla and the Námaskarð Pass which is a fascinating and primordial place. Lake Mývatn is located on the Ring Road that fully encircles the country, making further sites easily reachable. To the west is the ‘Capital of the North’, Akureyri, a charming town with the highest population outside of the capital area. To the east, you can find the largest waterfall in Iceland, Dettifoss which also happens to be the most powerful waterfall in Europe, and the incredible horseshoe-shaped canyon, Ásbyrgi. This feature was said to have formed by the stomping of one of the feet of Oðinn’s eight-legged horse as it leapt through the sky. Dimmuborgir, or the Black Fortress, is a dramatic expanse of lava in the Lake Mývatn area. Steeped with folklore, it is one of the most popular destinations for travellers to north Iceland. Geology of Dimmuborgir Dimmuborgir was formed in an eruption that occurred in the area 2,300 years ago; the Lake Mývatn area is highly volcanic, as can be further seen in nearby locations such as the geothermal Námaskarð Pass, the hot spring cave Grjótagjá, and the dramatic Krafla fissure. As lava flowed across the area, it passed over a lake, causing it to boil. This both quickened the cooling of the lava and caused pillars of steam to shatter parts of it. After it solidified, Dimmuborgir area became defined by large stacks of rock and many caves and caverns, caused by bubbles of intense steam. As such, many have compared Dimmuborgir to a medieval castle, with its many hidden chambers and its rising towers. Folklore of Dimmuborgir In Icelandic culture, lava caves are allegedly the homes of the nation’s brutal and vile trolls. The most famous of these were the half-troll, half-ogre Grýla and her submissive husband Leppalúði. Grýla was renowned for her insatiable appetite for children, and her gigantic pet cat, that would eat children over the Christmas period for not getting any clothes (encouraging kids to finish their weaving, knitting and sewing chores before the season set in). Grýla and Leppalúði had thirteen sons who lived in Dimmuborgir and are now known as the ‘Icelandic Santa Clauses’ or Yule Lads. On the thirteen nights before Christmas, these trolls come one by one to terrorise Icelanders, each with their own strategy after which they were named. Sheep-Colt Clod, for example, would harass livestock; Skyr-Gobbler would steal and lick the house's supplies of yoghurt-like skyr; and Window-Peeper would stare into houses, looking for things to burgle. Like most frightening Icelandic stories, the Yule Lads were most likely created to keep children from going out into the cold Icelandic winter nights, where many disappeared without a trace for centuries. As the nation modernised, they became mischievous tricksters rather than devilish monsters. Now, they have been ‘Americanised’; rather than traditional Icelandic garb, they wear Santa costumes, and although they still steal skyr, they now also bring gifts. Due to Iceland’s remoteness and fondness for storytelling, the nation developed many unusual Christmas traditions. During the Christianisation of Iceland, Dimmuborgir developed a new set of tales. Many began to believe, due to its starkness, that it was where Satan landed when cast from heaven, and where he created the catacombs to hell. Dimmuborgir in pop culture Dimmuborgir recently saw a surge in popularity, as it was featured on HBO’s Game of Thrones. In the series, it is where Mance Raider held his wildling army. It was shot here in winter. The popular Norwegian black metal band Dimmu Borgir is also named after the area. Húsavík, by Skjálfandi Bay in North Iceland, is a town of just over two thousand people. It is considered to be one of the best places in Europe for whale watching in the summer. Whale Watching in Husavik Húsavík is often nicknamed the whale watching capital of Europe, due to the fact that throughout the vast majority of summers, tour operators have 100% sighting rates. Humpback Whales are the most common species in Skjálfandi Bay. These gentle giants are renowned for being possibly the most entertaining of the great whales to observe, due to the fact they always show their tail before a dive, and exhibit many other behaviours at the surface, such as breaching and fin slapping. Other animals that reside within the bay include White Beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. It is not at all unheard of, however, for Fin and Blue Whales to be seen, nor Orcas or Belugas. Many whale watching tours also include a puffin-watching component. Other Activities in Husavik Húsavík is home to the Húsavíkurkirkja church, a beautiful wooden structure built in 1907 and the civic museum for culture and biology, which amongst other things features a stuffed polar bear and ancient boats, bearing witness to the history of seafaring in Iceland. There is also an Exploration Museum on the spirit of discovery, from early explorations to space missions. Near to Húsavík is the Lake Mývatn area, a place of diverse, natural beauty, with a wealth of geological features. It is also close to the capital of the North, Akureyri. In Húsavík you'll also find cute cafés and restaurants offering tasty treats, and you'll have a gorgeous view over the Skjálfandi Bay. There is a wealth of accommodation options available, from nice hotels to cabins and hostels. History of Husavik Húsavík means ‘the Bay of Houses’, as according to legend, it was settled before the official ‘settlement date’ of 874 AD. Garðar Svavarsson was a Swede who wintered in Iceland in 870 AD. According to legend and Sagas, he left a man called Náttfari and two slaves to tend a farm here. It is said that the town was named after their houses. Dettifoss is a waterfall found in North Iceland, said to be the most powerful in Europe. It is regularly visited on Diamond Circle tours and should not be missed by any visiting the region. Geography Dettifoss is fed by the powerful glacier river Jökulsá á Fjöllum which flows from the largest glacier in Europe, Vatnajökull. The thunderous falls has an average waterflow of 193 metres cubed per second (6,186 cubic feet). It is 100 metres (330 feet) wide and plummets 45 metres (150 feet) down into Jökulsárgljúfur canyon. This canyon is in the northern part of the greater Vatnajökull National Park, the largest national park in the country, thus Dettifoss is well protected. Also within this canyon, fed by the river of Jökulsá á Fjöllum, are two more impressive waterfalls, Selfoss (not to be mistaken with the southern town of the same name) and Hafragilsfoss. Surrounding Sites Dettifoss is located north of the Ring Road that encircles Iceland, bypassing only the Westfjords and Snæfellsnes Peninsula in the west. There are two routes that connect the Ring Road to Dettifoss. However, traversing those in the winter can be difficult, even with a four-wheel-drive vehicle. The most significant settlement near Dettifoss is the town of Akureyri, or ‘the Capital of the North’. With over ten thousand people, it is the largest town outside of the Greater Reykjavík Area. It is an excellent place to stop and rest for those visiting the North or encircling Iceland. Another town of significance in the area is Húsavík, a coastal town that claims the title of the best whale watching town in all of Europe. In summer, operators usually have 100% success rates in terms of sightings. The most common species are humpback and minke whales, white-beaked dolphins and harbour porpoises, although blue, fin, sei, beaked, pilot, beluga and killer whales are seen on rare occasions. Between Akureyri and Dettifoss is the Lake Mývatn area. This beautiful expanse is renowned for its wealth of flora and fauna, particularly its birdlife; dozens of species can be found here, particularly ducks. It is also renowned for its spectacular geology, with its pseudocraters, basalt pillars, and the lava field of Dimmuborgir which is said to be the home of Iceland’s thirteen ‘Santas’, who are traditionally vindictive trolls more than they are jolly gift-givers. Dimmuborgir and Mývatn were both used as a set in the Game of Thrones franchise, for many scenes North of the Wall. Dettifoss, meanwhile, was used in the opening scene of the 2012 film Prometheus, where the black rocks and dramatic scenery allowed it to represent an alien landscape. Another waterfall sits on the Ring Road between Akureyri and Mývatn: Goðafoss. Though not as great as Dettifoss, its history is deeper; it was there in 1000 AD that Iceland’s lawspeaker symbolised the country’s shift from believing in the Old Norse Gods to believing in Christianity by throwing idols into the waterfall. North of Dettifoss, one can find the incredible canyon of Ásbyrgi. This canyon is shaped like a giant horseshoe and filled with verdant greenery. It is so perfectly formed and dramatic that it was originally believed to have been created by the stomping of one of the hoofs of the eight-legged horse of the Old Norse God Odin. Snæfellsjökull is a glacier-capped volcano found on the tip of the Snæfellsnes Peninsula in west Iceland. It stands in a National Park of the same name, one of the only three National Parks in the country. It stands at 1,446 metres (4,744 feet) tall, and on clear days, is visible across the bay from Reykjavík. The stratovolcano beneath Snæfellsjökull is 700,000-year-old. The mountain is actually called 'Snæfell' (Snowy Mountain), though the 'jökull' (Glacier) is often added to help distinguish it from other mountains of the same name. For the first time in recorded history, Snæfellsjökull had no snow or ice at its peak in August 2012, causing concern amongst locals that climate change is threatening the nature of the mountain. History Snæfellsjökull has several small villages surrounding it, including Hellissandur, Rif and Ólafsvík, all of which were some of the busiest commercial and fishing hubs in the country for much of the last millennium. Fishing took off primarily in the 13th-Century, with fishing stations being built in all areas with easy access to the open ocean. The Snæfellsnes Peninsula was a notable centre of this industry, due to the fertile waters within Breiðafjörður bay. One notable example would be the settlement of Dritvík; in spite of its minuscule size today, it once utilised around forty to sixty boats and employed up to six hundred people. Fishing in the region declined during the 19th century due to change in Iceland’s industry and fish stocks, though it is still an important source of livelihood for those living on the Peninsula. The Snæfellsjökull National Park was established in 2001, and tourism is rapidly changing the trade of the area. In Folklore Snæfellsjökull has, for centuries, been considered to be one of the world’s ancient power sites, a source of mysticism, energy and mystery for the peninsula’s superstitious population. The feature takes a prominent role in Bárðar saga Snæfellsáss, a late 14th-century saga that tells the story of Bárður, half-human-half-troll, who became the 'guardian spirit of Snæfellsjökull'. There are many rock formations on and around Snæfellsjökull that are said to be trolls petrified by sunlight, or else homes of the hidden people. On November 5th, 1993, thousands of people came to Snæfellsjökull as some paranormal enthusiasts believed there would be an alien landing; CNN even showed up with a camera crew. Though the evening passed without a galactic invasion, the incident shows the strange significance of Snæfellsjökull to many. In Literature Snæfellsjökull serves as the entrance to a fantastical subterranean world in Jules Verne’s classic 1864 novel 'Journey to The Centre of The Earth.' Given its central place in the novel, Snæfellsjökull has become one of the most popular spots for visitors in Iceland and has inspired a wealth of writers, poets and artists. Since 'Journey to The Centre of The Earth', Snæfellsjökull has appeared in the ‘Blind Birds’ trilogy by Czech science fiction writer Ludvík Souček (partially based on Jules’ work) and in ‘Under The Glacier’, a novel by Iceland’s only Nobel laureate, Halldór Laxness. Nearby Attractions Along with the glacier, attractions on the Snæfellsnes Peninsula include the two nearby basalt cliffs called Lóndrangar and the many fascinating lava formations at the beautiful Djúpalónssandur beach, such as the arch rock Gatklettur. At Djúpalónssandur, one can also test their muscle as historic sailors once did with the four 'strength' stones, Amlóði ('Useless'), Hálfdrættingur ('Weakling'), Hálfsterkur ('Half Strength') and Fullsterkur ('Full Strength'). In the area, one can also explore the Saxhóll volcano crater and 'the singing cave' Sönghellir, which is named after the loud echoes inside. Skógafoss is one of Iceland’s biggest and most beautiful waterfalls with an astounding width of 25 meters (82 feet) and a drop of 60 meters (197 feet). Due to the amount of spray the cascade produces, at least one rainbow is present any time the sun emerges from behind the clouds. Located on the Skógá river, this mighty cascade is clearly visible from Route 1 and is an excellent place to stop and stretch the legs while travelling Iceland’s South Coast. The river below Skógafoss holds a large char and salmon population and is thus a favourite spot for fishermen in the summer. The land underneath the waterfall is very flat, allowing visitors to walk right up to the wall of water. This will get you drenched, although, on a summer’s day, it can be quite tempting. Skógafoss can also be viewed from the top as a steep staircase leads to an observational platform above the cascade. Many nesting seabirds can be found on the route up. Geography Skógafoss is located near the small village of Skógar, south of the Eyjafjallajökull glacier volcano. There you’ll find the Skógasafn folk museum, an open-air museum with both old wooden houses and turf houses, as well as a regional museum with various artefacts from this area. A part of the Skógasafn Regional Museum is the Museum of Transportation, which showcases the history and evolution of transportation, communication and technologies in Iceland. There, you can see how this nation evolved from the age of the working horse to the digital communications of the 21st century. The Skógasafn museum also includes a café and a museum shop, and in the village of Skógar, you will find both a hotel and a restaurant. At the eastern side of Skógafoss, you will find one of Iceland’s most famed hiking routes; the Fimmvörðuháls pass. The 22 kilometre (14 miles) trail takes you along Skógá river, between two glaciers, Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, before ending in the beautiful Þórsmörk valley. Skógafoss is often visited alongside the waterfall Seljalandsfoss, which is just a little further along the South Coast. Both fall from cliffs of the same height, and while Skógafoss is much more powerful, Seljalandsfoss has a cave behind it, which means it can be fully encircled. It is also next to a much lesser known but still awe-inspiring waterfall, Gljúfrabúi. Folklore A gold ring is on display at the Skógasafn museum. According to legend, the ring is from a chest that was owned by Þrasi Þórólfsson, one of the first Viking settlers in the area, who by some accounts was a giant. Folklore states that before his death in 900 AD, Þrasi buried a chest filled with gold in a cave behind Skógafoss waterfall. Many attempts were made to retrieve the chest after Þrasi’s death, and years later, locals managed to grasp a ring on the side of the chest. As they pulled, the ring broke off, and the treasure was lost forever. The ring was then given to the local church before it made its way to the museum. Seljalandsfoss is a waterfall that can be fully encircled, situated on the South Coast of Iceland with a drop of 60 metres (200 feet). Due to the waterfall’s close proximity to the Ring Road and impressive natural features, it is one the country's most famous and visited falls. Majestic and picturesque, it is one of the most photographed features in all of Iceland. Geology and Surroundings Seljalandsfoss waterfall, part of the river Seljalandsá, has its origins underneath the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. The volcano beneath this ice cap was the one that erupted in 2010 and caused havoc at airports across Europe. The cascade of the falls is relatively narrow but falls from a tall cliff that once marked the country's coastline, the sea is now located across a stretch of lowlands and is visible from the site. The most distinguishing feature of Seljalandsfoss is a pathway that stretches all the way around it. The cliffs behind the falls have a wide cavern, and rocks and paths allow guests to fully encircle it in summer. Though a mesmerising opportunity, visitors should be prepared to get dampened due to the perpetual mist of the falls, which also tends to make the rocks of the pathway slippery. Floodlights have been set up on both sides of the waterfall, which impressively illuminate the scene during the night when the midnight sun is not out. The lights were installed in 2001 due to the growing popularity of the falls as a tourist destination. After visiting Seljalandsfoss, it is common for visitors to continue north to the waterfall Gljúfrabúi, which is found partially hidden behind a rock face. Because of Seljalandsfoss extreme popularity, Gljúfrabúi is widely considered the hidden gem of the scene, as it is too often overlooked. Seljalandsfoss is also usually visited alongside the nearby Skógafoss. The waterfall falls from the same height, and while it cannot be encircled, it is much more powerful and steeped in the legend of a giant’s hidden treasure. Visitor Centre Controversy In 2017, it was announced that a visitor’s centre was to be constructed near the falls. The design of the building indicated that it would be seven metres (23 feet) high and 2,000 square metres (21,500 square feet) in size. Landowners in the area opposed to the idea, proclaiming that the centre would greatly alter the natural appearance of the waterfall’s renowned scenery. The project has neither been fully approved nor wholly cancelled, with ideas surfacing of either significantly reducing the size of the construction, or moving the visitor centre’s location further away, for instance to the nearby farmstead Brekkuhorn. Seljalandsfoss in Popular Culture Along with a multitude of South Iceland’s most famous natural attractions, Seljalandsfoss can be seen in Justin Bieber’s music video for his song ‘I’ll Show You’. Please enjoy the video without emulating any antics that will endanger yourself or the environment. The waterfall was also a featured waypoint during the first leg of the sixth season of The Amazing Race, an American reality TV series. Geysir is a famous hot spring in the geothermal area of Haukadalur Valley, found in south-west Iceland. Making up just one of the attractions along the world-renowned Golden Circle sightseeing route, alongside Þingvellir National Park and the mighty Gullfoss waterfall, Geysir is most well-known for having lent its name to geysers all around the world. Geography Though Geysir itself is rarely active these days, Haukadalur Valley boasts a plethora of hot springs and geysers, including the powerful Strokkur, Smiður and Litli-Strokkur. Strokkur is, arguably, the country’s most famous hot spring, shooting vast jets of boiling water from 20 metres (65 feet) up to 40 metres (130 feet) high. Don’t worry about missing this incredible spectacle of nature, as Strokkur erupts every five to ten minutes; just make sure to have your camera ready. Geysir is much larger, but years can go by between eruptions here; it is currently in an inactive phase. When it does erupt, the water can shoot up in the air as high as 70 metres (230 feet). Just a few minutes walk north of Geysir are a wealth of fumaroles emanating steam and gas into the cool Icelandic air. Aside from watching the hypnotic pillars of steam, you will also be able to observe the yellow sulphuric stains along the fumaroles themselves, a result of the earth’s minerals crystallising around the rock bed. At the southern part of the valley, Þykkuhverir, you’ll find various bubbling mud pots. These spooky brown cauldrons are actually fumaroles that boil up through the loose ground; after a dry spell, these mud pools are likely to transform into a hardened fumarole. Nearby Attractions About two kilometres (one mile) from Geysir is a preserved natural pool called Kúalaug. It has room for three to five people at a time, but care should be taken, as the area around the pool is very delicate. The temperature is 39-43°C (102-109°F), depending on where you are positioned in the pool. The water is slightly muddy, as the pool is built on soil, and the bottom is slippery due to algae, so caution is advised when relaxing here. Haukadalur has also seen a rise in reforestation in recent times thanks to continued experiments and research in the area. Today, Haukadalsskógur is one of the largest forests in south Iceland, boasting accessible walking paths (also for wheelchair users), fascinating vegetation and The Tree Museum, built in the memory of forester Gunnar Freysteinsson. History Haukadalur has been inhabited and used as a church site since the Age of Settlement. Given its historic value, it should be noted that scholar, Ari “The Wise“ Þorgilsson, grew up here; it was also where the first pastoral school in Iceland was built. The current wooden church was last rebuilt in 1938 but its architectural style dates back to 1842, making it well worth a visit to see how Iceland looked before industrialisation. For accommodation, Hotel Gullfoss is approximately 7 kilometre from the Geysir area, and closer still is Hotel Geysir on the other side of the road from the attraction, where you will also find a restaurant, café and a souvenir shop. Gullfoss (translated to ‘Golden Falls’) is one of Iceland’s most iconic and beloved waterfalls, found in the Hvítá river canyon in south-west Iceland. The water in Hvítá river travels from the glacier Langjökull, before cascading 32 meters (105 feet) down Gullfoss’ two stages in a dramatic display of nature’s raw power. This incredible site is seen by most visitors, as it is on the Golden Circle sightseeing route. Because of the waterfall’s two stages, Gullfoss should actually be thought of as two separate features. The first, shorter cascade is 11 metres (36 feet), whilst the second drop is 21 metres (69 feet). The canyon walls on both sides of the waterfall reach heights of up to 70 metres (230 feet), descending into the great Gullfossgjúfur canyon. Geologists believe that this canyon was formed by glacial outbursts at the beginning of the last age. In the summer, approximately 140 cubic metres (459 cubic feet) of water surges down the waterfall every second, whilst in winter that number drops to around 109 cubic metres (358 cubic feet). With such energy, visitors should not be surprised to find themselves drenched by the waterfall’s mighty spray. As mentioned, Gullfoss makes up a part of the highly popular Golden Circle sightseeing route, alongside Geysir geothermal area and Þingvellir National Park. Many Golden Circle tours include additional activities that can be taken from Gullfoss, such as ascending the mighty nearby glacier Langjökull and entering its ice tunnels, or snowmobiling along its gleaming surface. History In the early days of the last century, Gullfoss was at the centre of much controversy regarding foreign investors and their desire to profit off Iceland’s nature. In the year 1907, an English businessman, Howell, sought to utilise the waterfall’s energy and harboured ambitions to use its energy to fuel a hydroelectric plant. At the time, Gullfoss was owned by a farmer named Tómas Tómasson. Tómas declined Howell’s offer to purchase the land, stating famously “I will not sell my friend!” He would, however, go on to lease Howell the land without the knowledge of a loophole that would allow him to proceed with his plans. It was Tómas’ daughter, Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who would lead the charge to stop Howell’s ambitions. Having grown up on her father’s sheep farm where she helped pave the first road to Gullfoss, she sought to get the contract nullified, hurriedly saving her own money to hire a lawyer. The ensuing legal battle was an uphill struggle; the case continued for years, forcing Sigríður to travel many times by foot to Reykjavík, a distance of over 100 kilometres (62 miles). Circumstances became so difficult that Sigríður threatened to throw herself into the waterfall if any construction began. Her tenacity, however, resulted in success. In 1929, Howell’s withdrew from the lease, unable to keep up with the costs and difficulties of his plan. The waterfall fell back into the hands of the Icelandic people. Today, Sigríður is recognised for her perseverance in protecting Gullfoss and is often hailed as Iceland’s first environmentalist. As such, she is one of the most famous figures in Iceland’s history. Her contribution is forever marked in stone; a plaque detailing her plight sits at the top of Gullfoss. Interestingly, the lawyer who assisted Sigríður, Sveinn Björnsson, went on to go down in history too; he became the first president of Iceland in 1944. Restaurant / Cafe Besides Gullfoss, visitors can enjoy the views from Gullfoss Cafe, a locally run delicatessen that serves a wide variety of refreshments and meals. The menu has options to tantalise everyone’s taste buds: hot soups, sandwiches, salads and cakes. There is also a shop on site where visitors’ can browse and purchase traditional Icelandic souvenirs. The glacier volcano of Eyjafjallajökull is notorious the world over for causing havoc to air travel in 2010, and stumping television anchors everywhere as they tried to pronounce it. 1651 metres (5427 feet) tall, it is one of the most dominant features of the South Coast. Geography The glacier of Eyjafjallajökull is approximately 100 square kilometres (39 square miles), making it the country’s sixth largest. It sits close to the fourth greatest, Mýrdalsjökull, which also conceals another notorious volcano, this one called Katla. While Eyjafjallajökull’s eruption was huge and disruptive, it pales in comparison to the potential of Katla. Far more explosive, and under much thicker ice, an eruption here in unfavourable wind conditions could have worldwide consequences. The magma chambers between both of these mighty volcanoes are connected, and, unfortunately for us, an eruption at Eyjafjallajökull is usually followed by one at Katla within a decade. Eyjafjallajökull has many glacial outlets, the most famous being Gígjökull. Many rivers flow from its meltwater, and one of these falls into the beautiful South Coast waterfall, Seljalandsfoss, which it is possible to fully encircle. Eruptions Eyjafjallajökull’s most recent eruption was no doubt the most famous in Iceland’s history (although the honour really should go to Laki, the 1783-4 eruption of which caused an ash cloud so great that Europe fell into a famine that many historians believe led to the French Revolution). On March 27th, 2010, magma began to bubble from beneath the surface, and by April 14th, ash was starting to billow from the peak. 800 people were evacuated, in fears not of magma, but of equally dangerous glacial floods, which have decimated Icelandic towns in the past. Animals were ordered to be kept inside, and those with respiratory problems told they should also stay indoors. Air travel across Europe was halted, as, by the evening of April 15th, the ash was already over the UK, Scandinavia, and parts of Germany. Holidaymakers were trapped, waiting for news, and would end up stuck for eight days; in Scotland and Ireland, there were even flights delayed in May due to lingering effects. Thankfully, no one was injured, although the ash is thought to have caused respiratory issues for some in the south of the country. Many farms were also destroyed by the ash and floods, with some farmers still struggling to recover today. Since settlement in 874, Eyjafjallajökull has also erupted in 900, 1612, and from 1821 to 1823. The latter released a huge amount of fluoride which is believed to have affected the bone health of humans and animals alike at the time. Eyjafjallajokull today Eyjafjallajökull is now entirely safe to visit and is seen on most tours of the South Coast in clear weather. In the town of Hvolsvöllur, there is a visitor’s centre on the volcano, which focuses on the experience of one family whose farm, Þorvaldseyri, was one of the many destroyed by the floods, lava and ash. It is very unlikely that Eyjafjallajökull will erupt again any time soon, with hundreds of years between each eruption, but as mentioned, its neighbour Katla might start rumbling... Dyrhólaey Peninsula is a 120-metre promenade famed for its staggering views of Iceland’s South Coast, as well as its historic lighthouse and wealth of birdlife. It is home to a rock arch of the same name. Dyrhólaey, which translates to Door Hill Island, is of volcanic origin and was once an island before joining up to the Icelandic mainland. In ancient times, passing sailors used to refer to Dyrhólaey as ‘Cape Portland’. It is also the southernmost part of the Icelandic mainland, making it a popular stop for sightseers travelling along the Ring Road, and can be found close by the coastal village of Vík í Mýrdal. Other features along the South Coast en route to Dyrhólaey from Reykjavík include the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, and the glacier Eyjafjallajökull. Dyrhólaey Arch Dyrhólaey’s most instantly recognisable attraction is the promenade’s massive rock arch, a result of centuries of erosion. As a result, its name is in direct reference to this enormous arch. In fact, this natural feature is so large and dramatic that one daredevil pilot even flew through it, back in 1993. Boats can easily cruise through its opening. Dyrhólaey Wildlife Dyrhólaey has an abundance of birdlife, the most common year-round being Eider Ducks. Iceland’s favourite winged resident, the migratory Atlantic Puffin, can be found here from May to September. It is one of the best places to reliably locate them, and one of the closest to Reykjavík after the islands in Faxaflói Bay which can be visited by boat from the Old Harbour. While watching puffins, it is striking how little they seem to fear people, as they allow you to get very close. Be aware, however, they do not like to be touched, and if one flies off in a panic, the whole flock might follow it, so be respectful. Features at and around Dyrhólaey From your position atop the promenade of Dyrhólaey, you can enjoy staggering views over Iceland’s black sand beaches, complemented by the glittering waves of the Atlantic on one side, and distant mountainscapes to the other. The most notable stretch of coast here is called Reynisfjara, renowned for its incredible geology, with the sea-stacks of Reynisdrangar jutting up out to sea. If you visit this beach while seeing Dyrhólaey as part of a South Coast adventure, be sure to follow the warning signs and stay away from the water as dangerous sneaker waves here are commonplace. To the north, you will also able to see the creeping glacier, Mýrdalsjökull. This amazing ice cap conceals a secret; beneath its surface is one of the most explosive and notorious volcanoes in all of Iceland, Katla. Long overdue, experts say that it is a matter of when - not if - it will erupt over the coming years. On top of Dyrhólaey stands Dyrhólaeyjarviti, a beautiful old lighthouse that consists of a white, square concrete tower. The first lighthouse in the area was built in 1919; the current construction was completed in 1927. Visitors here will be able to see the lighthouse flicking out beams of white light to sea every ten seconds. Þingvellir National Park is the only UNESCO World Heritage site on the Icelandic mainland and one of the three stops on the world famous Golden Circle sightseeing route, alongside the Haukadalur Geothermal Valley (Geysir) and Gullfoss Waterfall. Just to the south of the park is Þingvallavatn, Iceland’s largest natural lake. Geography The first thing that visitors to the National Park notice is its sheer aesthetic beauty; dried magma fields, covered in Icelandic moss, sit carved by glacial springs and surrounded by a bowl of ancient mountain peaks. Two of the greatest attractions in the park are the exposed North American and Eurasian tectonic plates; it is one of the only regions in the world where you can see geology such as this on land. Visitors are encouraged to walk along the North American tectonic plate, where they can read more about the area’s fascinating formation and history, before descending into the valley below. History Þingvellir can be anglicised to ‘Fields of Parliament’, a nod to the area’s fascinating history and relevance to Icelandic culture. It is here, after all, that the world’s first democratically elected parliament that remains functioning, Alþingi, was formed in 930 AD. It may seem unlikely that Vikings would want to be under such an uncombative government, but the thirty or so clans that lived in Iceland at the time sought to prosper in their harsh new environment. The first gathering was such a success that the meetings became annual, and it became a place where disputes were settled, criminals were tried, and laws to the benefit of all were laid down. This saw the birth of the Icelandic Commonwealth, a time of independence and freedom for the Icelandic people before they became constituents of the Norwegian monarchy. Sessions would continue to be held at Þingvellir until 1798. Though the parliament was removed by the Danish at this time, it returned 1845 to Reykjavík. Another major reason as to why Þingvellir is considered so important to Icelanders is the fact that this is where the decision was made to abandon the belief of Paganism and the Norse Gods; the people adopted Christianity in 1000 AD under threat of invasion from Norway. This turning point in history was left to the pagan lawspeaker, Þorgeir Þorkelsson, who rested on the choice for one day and one night before reappearing to share his decision. To symbolise the country’s change, he threw idols of his old deities into the northern waterfall Goðafoss, the name of which translates to ‘Waterfall of the Gods’. Silfra Fissure Þingvellir is one of the most widely visited attractions in Iceland, in large part due to the fact that it is home to the glacial spring, Silfra fissure, one of the top ten sites in the world for snorkellers and scuba divers. Silfra (meaning ‘Silver’) is a submerged ravine within the park, boasting visibility of up to 100 metres (328 feet) and a temperature just above freezing. Participants in these tours will be attired at the Silfra carpark in neoprene hoodies and gloves, as well as an undersuit and drysuit for thermal protection. Hraunfossar ('Lava Falls' in English) in Borgarfjörður district is a series of beautiful waterfalls formed by rivulets streaming out of the Hallmundarhraun lava field. It is located in West Iceland near another waterfall called Barnafoss. Geography and Surroundings of Hraunfossar The lava field that Hraunfossar trickles through flowed from an eruption of one of the volcanoes lying under the nearby glacier of Langjökull, the second largest ice-cap in Iceland. The waterfalls pour into the Hvítá river from ledges of less porous rock in the lava. The Hvítá river is one of the most popular rivers amongst visitors for two reasons. Firstly, it is the most easily accessible rafting river from Reykjavík, with rapids that are manageable even for total novices. Secondly, it is the river that hosts the mighty waterfall Gullfoss, one of the three sites of the popular the Golden Circle route. Because the area around Hraunfossar used to be the site of constant eruptions, the lava fields are known for their hidden caves. The country's longest cave, Víðgelmir, can be found near the waterfall. This amazing feature is 1,595 metres long (5,200 feet), up to 15.8 metres high (52 feet) and 16.5 metres wide (54 feet). Its geological history may be fascinating, being just a thousand years old, though its human history stirs just as much intrigue as the lava field was once home to bandits and, according to folklore it is the home of trolls. Another major site near Hraunfossar is an incredibly short walk away, and though also a waterfall, could not be more different. Barnafoss surges down a narrow, rocky valley with ferocious power, foaming and churning quite spectacularly. According to legend, however, the force of these rapids led to tragedy. It was said that an old stone bridge once went over the falls, and two boys at a nearby farm, bored at home, attempted to cross it to catch up with their parents at church. However, they felt dizzy due to its height, fell, and drowned. The legend ends in two different ways, with the least interesting saying the mother in grief simply ordered the bridge destroyed. Other tales say that she cursed the bridge using an Icelandic rune so that any who crossed would meet the same fate as her sons. In this version, the bridge and curse were later broken by an earthquake. The story led the waterfall its name; it translates to ‘Children’s Falls’. Settlements near Hraunfossar The nearest settlement of significance to Hraunfossar is Reykholt. This tiny village has a huge history, being home to the legendary writer, chieftain, lawspeaker and poet Snorri Sturluson. Without Snorri, huge amounts of Icelandic, Nordic and even British history would be unknown. He alone at the time catalogued a history of Norwegian kings and their relations with other monarchs through the work Heimskringla, as well as the Norse mythological beliefs through Prose Edda. It is also believed that Snorri first wrote many of the sagas still read today. Reykholt has a centre dedicated to Snorri called Snorrastofa, which discusses his fascinating life as much as his works. Working during the times of Iceland’s tumultuous civil war as a chieftain, lawspeaker and spokesman of the Norwegian king, who had ambitions to take the country, it is a story with as much politics, betrayal, blood and sexual impropriety as Game of Thrones. Hraunfossar is also reasonably close to Borganes, another town with a long history. Here, visitors can see the Settlement Centre with its two exhibitions on Iceland’s past, one is on the first people to reach this island over a thousand years ago, and the other is on Iceland’s most famous saga, Egil’s Saga. Deildartunguhver is a hot spring located in Reykholtsdalur, a district of west Iceland. Deildartunguhver is the highest flowing hot spring in Europe and is widely known for its rapid flow rate of 180 litres (380 pints) per second. Geothermal activity at Deildartunguhver Reykholtsdalur is one of Iceland’s most popular places to see hot springs, along with the Geysir Geothermal Area, the Highlands, the Reykjanes Peninsula, Reykjadalur Valley and Námaskarð Pass. While each of these areas have their appeal, at no other does the water rise with such ferocity. The water at Deildartunguhver hot spring emerges at a constant 97 degrees Celsius (207 degrees Fahrenheit), making it incredibly dangerous for those who venture too close. Thankfully, there are a number of wooden walkways and observation points that lead you around the hot springs without putting you at any risk. Due to the sheer energy bubbling under Deildartunguhver, much of the water is used for heating Icelandic homes. One pipe travels 34 kilometres (21 miles) to Borgarnes, whilst another travels 64 kilometres (40 miles) to Akranes. This means that if you’ve taken a shower or bath within a 64-kilometre radius of Deildartunguhver, you will have touched the water from the hot spring. All Icelandic hot water comes from hot springs such as this, except in some parts of the Westfjords which are now geologically much older than the rest of the country, and thus less active. This is a fantastic example of how Icelanders efficiently use the geothermal energy provided and is one of the major reasons as to why Iceland has such an excellent reputation for green energy. Points of Interest at Deildartunguhver Whilst in the area, many visitors choose to make a stop at Krauma Geothermal Bath & Spa, a fantastic and relaxing complex that makes for a cheaper, more isolated alternative to the Blue Lagoon. Visitors to Kraua will experience the hot water of Deildartunguhver blended perfectly with glacial water from Iceland’s smallest ice cap, Ok (which rhymes with ‘talk’), creating the perfect bathing temperature. Krauma has a total of six pools, a relaxation room and two steam baths. Visitors to Deildartunguhver with an interest in botany will also be able to check out the Blechnum Spicant, aka; “deer fern”, a type of plant that grows nowhere else in Iceland. Surroundings of Deildartunguhver Deildartunguhver is located in west Iceland. The two most notable points of interest nearby are two waterfalls, Hraunfossar and Barnafoss. Hraunfossar, or the ‘Lava Falls’, is, in fact, a series of tiny cascades that trickle through an old lava field. Barnafoss, or ‘the Children’s Falls’, is a more powerful rapid, steeped in a dark legend. Deildartunghver is also near Víðgelmir, the longest lava cave in the country, trailing for 1,595 metres (5,200 feet) beneath the surface of the earth. The most significant settlement near Deildartunghver is Reykholt, a beautiful village with a fascinating history. This settlement was once home to Snorri Sturluson, a historian, writer, chieftain and poet without whom we would know very little of the Nordic mythology, folklore and history at the time. His works, and life--full of politics, betrayal, affairs and war--can be learnt about in the town at the Snorrastofa Centre. Strokkur is Iceland’s most visited active geyser. One of the three major attractions on the world-famous Golden Circle sightseeing route, it is usually visited alongside Gullfoss Waterfall and Þingvellir National Park. Strokkur is found in the Geysir Geothermal Area, titled after the Great Geysir, which lent its name to all others across the world. It is the greatest active geyser on site; Geysir itself is in a period of inactivity. Strokkur erupts more regularly than Geysir ever did, blasting water to heights of around fifteen to twenty metres every five to ten minutes, although it is known to reach up to forty metres. Strokkur and Haukadalur Valley Strokkur is the primary feature of the Haukadalur valley and the main reason why it is one of the most visited sites in the country. While Geysir will very occasionally still erupt to enormous heights, it is nowhere near reliable enough to justify the area’s popularity. Haukadalur valley, however, has many other features that make it worth a visit. The natural beauty of the area is shaped by the forces of the earth; fumaroles, hot-springs, mud-pits and other little geysers are littered around, and the ground itself is dyed vividly by elements such as sulfur (yellow), copper (green) and iron (red). Opposite the main geothermal area in Haukadalur Valley is a restaurant, cafe, hotel and luxury gift shop. Science behind Strokkur Active geysers like Strokkur are rare around the world, due to the fact that many conditions must be met for them to form. They are thus only found in certain parts of highly geothermal areas. The first condition that is necessary is an intense heat source; magma must be close enough to the surface of the earth for the rocks to be hot enough to boil water. Considering that Iceland is located on top of the rift valley between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates, this condition is met throughout most of the county. Secondly, you will need a source of flowing underground water. In the case of Strokkur, this comes from the second largest glacier in the country, Langjökull. Meltwater from the glacier sinks into the surrounding porous lava rock, and travels underground in all directions. Evidence of this flowing water can be found in Þingvellir National Park, where there are many freshwater springs flowing straight from the earth. Finally, you need a complex plumbing system that allows a geyser to erupt, rather than just steam from the ground like a fumarole. Above the intense heat source, there must be space for the flowing water to gather like a reservoir. From this basin, there must be a vent to the surface. This vent must be lined with silica so that the boiling, rising water cannot escape before the eruption. Environmental Issues with Strokkur One of the main reasons that Geysir entered a period of inactivity was due to the fact soap used to be pumped into the vents to make the eruptions more dramatic; it damaged the structure of the vent and prevented water building up. Strokkur, therefore, is guarded against all interference, with chains keeping visitors a good distance away. Unfortunately, however, there have been incidents where people have meddled with its natural state. For example, an artist called Marco Evaristti once poured food colouring into it to make the eruption pink. He defended himself by claiming that nature was open to artists to utiltise and the fact the colouring was all-natural, but he became a pariah amongst many Icelanders, and was arrested and fined (though never paid it). Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Steinib68 Skagafjörður is a fjord in North Iceland. Sauðárkrókur is its largest village. Skagafjörður district is an agricultural hub and has a rich history. Islands & Cape There are three islands in the fjord, Drangey, Malmey and Lundey. Drangey island is the most impressive of these, steep-cliffed, shaped like a fort, and rich with birdlife. For 19 years it was the refuge for the outlaw Grettir Ásmundarsson of Grettis Saga fame. Þórðarhöfði may resemble a traditional island when seen from afar but is actually a cape, the remnants of an old volcano. The cape has beautiful rows of columnar basalt, best seen from the sea. Like many fjords of the north, Skagafjörður has a wealth of animals outside its birdlife. It also has resident seals, and whales and dolphins are often spotted from the shore. History, Culture & activities An old renovated turf farm house is to be seen at Glaumbaer museum, giving a good sense of the rural life of 18th and 19th century Iceland. North Iceland was a bishop’s district of its own and the bishop’s seat was at Hólar in Hjaltadalur valley in the east of Skagafjörður. Hólar today features an agricultural university, and is the seat for an ordaining bishop, who is a woman. Skagafjörður district has some of the best rafting rivers in the country, so rafting there is highly popular, as well as horseback riding. Five of the largest battles in Icelandic history were fought on Skagafjörður in the 13th century civil war. This war was fought between dominant family clans, who could not sort out their issues at the parliament at Þingvellir. The war was greatly exacerbated by the King of Norway at the time. He sought to include Iceland in his kingdom, and sent many vassals to stir up the chieftains and bring many into his fold. The civil war ended when he finally got his way, ending the Icelandic Commonwealth and beginning the first of nearly seven centuries of colonial rule. Reykjanes is a peninsula in south-west Iceland, characterised by immense lava fields, volcanoes and heightened geothermal activity. Volcanic & Geothermal Activity The Reykjanes Peninsula runs along the Mid-Atlantic Rift, where the Eurasian and the North American tectonic plates are drifting apart. Due to this geological setting, the whole peninsula is extremely volcanically active, covered with lava fields, and eruptions and earthquakes are very common here. During the Middle Ages, many eruptions occurred in Reykjanes, but no eruptions have been recorded here for the last 500 years. This is simply a period of dormancy, however; they could start again at any time. Earthquakes are still common. In 2001, one occurred beneath the lake Kleifarvatn and drained it to the extent that it lost 25 per cent of its surface area. Since then, hot springs have been bubbling beneath its surface. The main geothermal areas of Reykjanes, however, are Gunnuhver, Krýsuvik and Svartsengi. Various mud pools and fumaroles can be seen at Gunnuhver, while Krýsuvik is characterised by hot springs and mud pots that bestow multicoloured hues upon the soil. The green crater lake Grænavatn is also an impressive sight. Svartsengi is home to a geothermal power station that produces 76.5 MW of electricity from the 475 litres of 90° C water that gushes from the earth per second. The mineral-rich surplus water fills up the Blue Lagoon spa. Nature & Wildlife Reykjanes' cliffs are teeming with birdlife. Its best-known bird colony resides in Krýsuvikurbjarg which is the nesting place of approximately eighty thousand seabirds. While puffins are not found here, it is an excellent place to spot cormorants, fulmar, and other such species. North of Krýsuvíkurbjarg is the aforementioned Kleifarvatn, the largest lake on the peninsula and one of the deepest in Iceland. On the centre of the peninsula is lake Djúpavatn, a popular fishing destination. Reykjanes is hammered by some of the most breath-taking breaker waves in the world. A short drive from Krýsuvík is Selvogur, where one can witness mighty waves shattering against the rocks. On Reykjanestá, the southwest tip of the peninsula, the waves are known to reach heights of thirty metres (nearly one hundred feet). Because of this, coastal erosion is constantly ongoing at Reykjanes, and if it were not for the eruptions, it would either be much narrower or simply lost to the seas. The peninsula's north side is dotted with fishing villages and towns, most notably Keflavík, Sandgerði, Garður and Vogar. Grindavík town is located on the south shore of the peninsula. Together, the towns and towns Keflavík, Njarðvík, Hafnir and Ásbrú make up the municipality Reykjanesbær which consists of just under 16,000 residents, making it the fifth largest municipality in Iceland. Miðnesheiði Near Keflavík is the Miðnesheiði heath, where the international airport, Leifsstöð (also known as Keflavíkurflugvöllur, or Keflavík Airport) is located. This is the port of arrival for the vast majority of travellers coming to Iceland. The World-Famous Spa On the southern tip of the peninsula is the Blue Lagoon geothermal spa, an ideal place for relaxing and bathing and one of the most-visited attractions in Iceland. Wikimedia, Creative Commons, Photo Credit: Matias Ärje Hvannadalshnúkur, or Hvannadalshnjúkur, is the highest peak of Öræfajökull volcanic glacier in Vatnajökull National Park and the tallest mountain in Iceland. Its latest measurement finds it to be 2,109.6 meters (6952 feet) tall. Due to the fact Iceland is located over a rift valley, where the tectonic plates are pulling apart rather that crushing together, most mountains do not reach over a thousand metres, making it a remarkable sight. Geography of Hvannadalshnúkur Hvannadalshnúkur is a pyramid-shaped peak, that is covered in ice throughout the year. It can be seen from many parts of the country, particularly from the area between the towns of Höfn and Vík on the Ring Road that encircles the country. It forms part of the crater around Öræfajökull, which conceals a particularly violent volcano. It had a massive eruption in 1362, destroying many farms and killing an unknown number of people. The lava wiped out every settlement around it, all the way to the shore, and pumice was so thick that it posed a huge risk to sailors. The area was unsettleable for decades. When people finally returned to it, forty years later, it was named Öræfi, which meant ‘the area without a harbour’. Now, it is synonymous with ‘wasteland’. It had another, although less dramatic, eruption in the year 1727. Even if the consequences were not so widespread, glacial floods pouring from the meltwater of the ice were known to have killed at least three people and destroyed one farm. Wikimedia, Creative Commons, photo credit: Gummao Hiking on Hvannadalshnúkur Hvannadalshnúkur can be hiked near, by taking routes in all different parts of the South Coast, but hiking on it requires experienced mountain guides. The path up the mountain goes through many crevasses, and involves steep inclines over icy ground, both of which pose some dangers to those unfamiliar with the area. Though you do not need to be an expert hiker, a good level of fitness is required. The views from the top are well worth the effort. Other sites in Vatnajökull National Park Vatnajökull National Park is a vast area in Iceland, and Hvannadalshnúkur is just one site that should be visited if heading to the area. Incredibly close by are two of the country’s most popular destinations. One of these is the Skaftafell Nature Reserve. This beautiful oasis is a wonderland of glacial tongues and lagoons, crystal clear streams, waterfalls, mountains and lava landscapes. This reserve was once an independent National Park, before the creation of the greater Vatnajökull park. The second major site is Jökulsárlón, a vast glacier lagoon and Iceland’s deepest lake. This lagoon fills with enormous icebergs, which break from the glacial tongue of Breiðamerkurjökull and slowly cruise their way over to the ocean. This was only enveloped into the park in 2017, but now is entirely protected. While here, it is worth walking to the nearby shoreline, called the Diamond Beach after the icebergs that wash up here. In this area, it is very important not to climb on the ice. When afloat, it is constantly rotating, and the lagoon has shockingly strong currents. When on the beach, they are melting and unstable. Mýrdalsjökull is a glacier in the south of the Icelandic highlands. It is the country's fourth largest ice cap, covering nearly 600 square kilometres (232 square miles), and its highest peak is almost 1500 meters tall. It is most well-known for sitting atop the notorious and explosive volcano, Katla. Mýrdalsjökull is visible from Route 1 on the South Coast, sitting to the north of the village of Vík. It is visited on some snowmobiling, ice caving and helicopter tours, and one of its glacial outlets, Sólheimajökull, is the most popular place in the country for ice-climbing and glacier hiking. Eruptions beneath Myrdalsjokull Since 2010, the world has known of the volcano beneath Eyjafjallajökull; after all, it halted European air travel for over a week and stumped news readers everywhere. Few, however, are aware of the much larger volcano right beside it. Mýrdalsjökull conceals Katla, one of the country’s most active volcanoes, having erupted, on average, once every fifty years since 930 AD. Because of the glacier above it, these eruptions tend to cause enormous ash clouds. It is these ash clouds that lead to flights being grounded, crops and livestock poisoned, and have the potential to change the world’s climate. The last major eruption beneath Katla was in 1918, in which such huge lahar floods occurred that the southern coastline was extended five kilometres outwards. This area is also very susceptible to glacial floods, or 'jökulhlaup', during eruptions, even when the lava does not break through the surface of the ice. These are as dangerous as the lava itself, having wiped out whole Icelandic villages before. Historically, the area was little settled for this reason. Katla is connected to the same volcanic system as Eyjafjallajökull and usually erupts violently a few years after Eyjafjallajökull does. As the ex-president, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson said in 2010: ‘The time for Katla to erupt is coming close… it is high time for European governments and airline authorities all over Europe and the world to start planning for the eventual Katla eruption’ So it is currently several years overdue. Katla is monitored heavily, and roads around it closed when seismic activity increases. All road closures around Iceland can be found on Road and Coastal Administration's website. Tours on Myrdalsjokull While there are no eruptions immediately imminent, tours continue to run onMýrdalsjökull, allowing visitors to enjoy the glacier. It is, for example, possible to snowmobile across its surface throughout the year and take ice caving tours beneath it from October to April, with departures from both Reykjavík and Vík. Considering the ice caves under Vatnajökull glacier are usually only accessible from November to March, this provides a wider window of opportunity for travellers to Iceland outside of the depths of winter. It should be noted that the caves in Mýrdalsjökull do not have the same blue ice, however. Tours around Myrdalsjokull Mýrdalsjökull can be seen on all South Coast tours that reach Vík and beyond in clear weather. It can also be seen from above on helicopter tours that depart from Reykjavík. The best perspectives of the glacier, however, can be found on the popular Fimmvörðuháls hiking trail, which goes between Eyjafjallajökull and Mýrdalsjökull. Part of this hike can be done in a day, or you can take the complete route from Þórsmörk to Skógar on a three-day trek Skaftafell is a nature reserve located in Vatnajökull National Park in the south-east of Iceland. It is an oasis of this nation’s diverse landscapes and features, so beautiful it was once a national park in its own right. Nature of Skaftafell Skaftafell is notable for its rich flora, growing between sands and glaciers, and for its amazing, contrasting scenery. Visitors will find a wealth of natural attractions, from cascading waterfalls to glacier lagoons, geological formations to black sand deserts. The rugged region is known for its fantastic photo opportunities, with many awe-inspiring panoramic views. Like many areas along the South Coast of Iceland, Skaftafell Nature Reserve is known for its glorious hiking trails, often called a ‘hiking paradise’. Unlike in the Highlands, where hikes tend to go on for multiple days, here there are far shorter. There are easy treks that lead to diverse sites such as the waterfall Svartifoss which is surrounded by bizarre and beautiful basalt columns, as well as to glaciers such as Svínafellsjökull. With a qualified guide, it is an excellent region to try your hand at a spot of either ice climbing or glacier hiking; both activities are two of the most authentically Icelandic experiences you can partake in whilst in the country. The nature reserve is also the perfect base camp for those seeking to climb Iceland’s highest peak, Hvannadalshnúkur, or for those wishing to spend a number of days exploring the region's attractions, including Vatnajökull glacier, Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon and the nearby Diamond Beach. Getting to Skaftafell Just off the Ring Road in the south-east of the country, it takes approximately four hours to reach Skaftafell from Reykjavík. The South Coast, however, is one of the regions most popular sightseeing routes, so the journey usually takes much longer, as visitors will want to make several stops along the way. Examples of the beautiful natural features found en route to Skaftafell include the waterfalls Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, the glaciers Mýrdalsjökull and Eyjafjallajökull, the black sand deserts of Sólheimasandur and Skeiðarársandur, as well as the dramatic coastal rock formations at Dyrhólaey and Reynisdrangar. The villages of Vík and Kirkjubæjarklaustur are also along Route 1 if you need to stop and refuel on refreshments. Those who have made it all the way to Skaftafell will want be sure to check out the Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon, a giant lake filled with enormous icebergs breaking from a glacial tongue, and slowly drifting to sea. At the nearby Diamond Beach you can watch them wash upon the shore, and in both the sea and lagoon are many seals which can routinely be spotted. Skaftafell Visitor Center You will find a Visitors Centre at Skaftafell which acts as the main information and meeting point for tour operators and independent travellers. At the Skaftafell Visitor Centre, you will find answers to virtually any questions you might have about the greater Skaftafell area, including its history and geology. The Visitors Centre also contains information about nearby hiking trails, recreational options and accommodation. There is also a hotel at Skaftafell, though it tends to book up very early. Luckily, the south-east is dotted with hotels, cabins and cottages in which you can stay, and the area is not far from the settlements of Höfn or Kirkjubæklaustur. Eyjafjörður is a fjord in North Iceland, over 70 kilometres (47 miles) in length from the mouth to the bottom of the fjord. Features of Eyjafjörður There are high mountains on both sides, the highest being Kerling at 1538 metres (5046 feet). The capital of the North, Akureyri (ca. 18,000 inhabitants), lies at the bottom of the fjord. There is a wealth of culture in the town, with many museums, galleries, and the world’s northernmost botanical gardens. Five smaller fishing villages scatter the shores, and there are many farms inland. Agriculture, fisheries and tourism are the driving industries of the fjord’s economy. Wildlife in Eyjafjörður Eyjafjörður has a wealth of wildlife due to its fertile waters. As such, it is one of the best places in the country for whale watching and puffin watching. Throughout summer, whale-watching tour operators often boast one hundred percent sightseeing rates. The most common species are Humpbacks, White Beaked Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises, but Orcas, Blue and Fin Whales are often spotted too. Puffins nest on the islands of Eyjafjörður throughout the summer months, and many boat tours go out to see them shuffling on the rocks, flying overhead and fishing in the waters. Hveragerði is a town and municipality in the southwest of Iceland. It is often nicknamed ‘the Earthquake Town’ or ‘the Hot Spring Town’, due to the active geological and geothermal forces that define it. Hveragerdi town and services Hveragerði is around 45 kilometres (28 miles) from the capital Reykjavík and takes half an hour to drive to along the Ring Road travelling south. Around 2,300 people live in Hveragerði, most employed in tourism, horticulture or agriculture. There is a service centre in the town with shops, including an alcohol shop, a supermarket, a gas station, an information point, and a cafe. There are several restaurants as well, and just outside it is a popular horse farm. Surrounding the town are nice botanical areas and many recreational activities are available. There are excellent hiking trails as well as nice hotels and a camping ground which is open in the summer months. In terms of culture, a number of museums can be found in Hveragerði, such as the Árnesingar art museum and Hveragerði Stone and Mineral Museum. The town even hosts an annual culture and family festival in August. Geography of Hveragerdi Hveragerði sits on a highly geothermal area. Boiling water runs just beneath the surface of the ground, leading to many hot springs in the nearby hills. This is both a blessing for the town and a curse. In terms of a blessing, it allows greenhouses to flourish, as they can be provided with heat throughout the year. Hveragerði is thus the world’s northernmost producer of bananas, which are grown alongside a host of other fruits and vegetables. Many flowers and herbs are also grown here, and it is considered the centre of botany in Iceland. The boiling water also allows food to be cooked simply by burying it for a few hours, providing the restaurants in the area with unique menus. It also brings the area a wealth of tourism. The curse of this geothermal water is the effect it has on the residents. Stories of hot springs opening overnight in people’s kitchens, bedrooms and living rooms are very common. Also, due to the Mid-Atlantic rift running through Iceland, many earthquakes hit Hveragerði. Fortunately, the houses are built here to withstand tremors, due to how common they are, but there is a lingering knowledge that a powerful earthquake or eruption could cause serious, perhaps irreparable damage to the settlement. The river Varmá runs from the valley of Reykjadalur through the town. This region, which translates to the 'Steam Valley', is an incredibly popular place for hot spring bathing and hiking. A gravel road that leads from Hveragerði takes you to the base of the hiking trail, which winds up, down and around beautiful, scenic hills dotted with fumaroles and mud pits. It ends by a river that is fed by hot springs, meaning it is heated from the top, allowing visitors to choose the perfect place to bathe. There are no indoor changing areas, but screens to undress behind. Þingvallavatn (anglicised to Thingvallavatn, ‘the Lake of the Fields of Parliament’) is a rift valley lake located roughly forty-minutes drive from Iceland’s capital city, Reykjavík. Features of Thingvallavatn Þingvallavatn is partially within the boundaries of Þingvellir National Park, Iceland’s oldest National Park and only one with UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Covering an area of 84 square kilometres (32 square miles), Þingvallavatn is the largest natural lake in Iceland with its greatest depth measuring at 114 metres (374 feet). Þingvallavatn is situated on the Mid-Atlantic Rift, on a part of the ridge known as the Reykjanes Ridge. The lake has only one outflow, the river Sog. Of particular note to biologists and fishermen are the four morphs of Arctic Char that inhabit the lake. The lake’s char are an excellent example of species evolving to fit and adapt to a secluded environment; over ten thousand years, one species of Char has transformed into four different-sub branches. Other fish in the lake include the the Brown Trout and the Three-Spine Stickleback. History and Geology Þingvallavatn takes its name from the historical founding of the Alþingi, which occurred in 930 AD at what is now known as Þingvellir National Park. Þingvellir literally translates to ‘Fields of Parliament’. The Alþingi was the first democratically elected representative parliament in world history (examples such as Ancient Athens were direct, not representative, democracies); Icelanders used to travel by foot or horseback simply to congregate at Þingvellir where they would hear the latest laws and judgements of the island. Þingvellir National Park is also notable for its geology. Given its position on the Mid Atlantic Ridge, the park is one of the only places on the planet where visitors can see both the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates standing exposed from the earth. Footpaths allow you to get up close and personal to the plates, standing right where the ancient settlers once did. In between the tectonic plates lies fields of dried volcanic rock, blanketed with a thick, yet fragile layer of Icelandic moss. Scuba Diving in Thingvallavatn Scuba diving around Þingvallavatn revolves around two sites, Silfra Fissure and Davíðsgjá (David’s Crack), the former being one of the most popular spots on the planet for snorkelling and underwater exploration. Silfra Fissure is situated between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates and is filled with crystal-clear glacial water originating from the Langjökull ice cap. The water measures at between two degrees Celsius all year round, with

Alan Jones: I mean that rubbish program which is called Media Watch, and it is rubbish, and the people in charge of it are rubbish, and the researchers are rubbish... They're rubbish, and junk, have been and always will be, but then they run around sniffing, as I think Paul Keating once said, sniffing bicycle seats to see if they can find out a little bit of rubbish and grub on someone. — Radio 2GB, The Alan Jones Show, 5th February, 2010 Sniffing bicycle seats? Alan, I think you're getting over-excited. Welcome to Media Watch, 2010. I'm Jonathan Holmes. And even before we got to air we managed to upset Mr Jones. We had the temerity to ask if he was being paid for MC'ing the appearances of the Third Viscount Monckton of Brenchley - free market ideologue, professional controversialist, and debunker-in-chief of climate change science. Well, we're happy to pass on to you the news that... Alan Jones: No, we don't get paid for doing any of this. Pleased to do it as a public service to offer a viewpoint that has been denied... Freedom of speech? You're kidding aren't you? Our ABC? You are kidding. — Radio 2GB, The Alan Jones Show, 5th February, 2010 Lord Monckton himself had a rather different take on that: Lord Monckton: ... in fact let's be fair to ABC they have in fact given me quite a lot of coverage around Australia... — Radio 2GB, The Jason Morrison Drive Show, 3rd February, 2010 They have indeed... Deborah Cameron: He's here on a paid lecture tour and he joins me this morning. Christopher Monckton, good morning. — ABC Radio 702, Mornings with Deborah Cameron, 25th January, 2010 Virginia Trioli: He's in Australia on a month-long speaking tour and he joins us now. Lord Monckton, good morning. Thanks for joining us. Lord Monckton: Good morning, Virginia. — ABC2 News Breakfast, 1st February, 2010 Fran Kelly: Also joining us in the Breakfast studio this morning is Lord Christopher Monckton. Lord Monckton, good morning. Lord Monckton: Good morning, Fran. — ABC Radio National, Breakfast with Fran Kelly, 28th January, 2010 Tracy Bowden: You say you are not a scientist, you're a mathematician. Would it be fair to say you're also a showman? Lord Monckton: I don't think that's for me to say. But if you give me an audience, the larger the better, I do enjoy myself. — ABC 7.30 Report, 3rd February, 2010 And enjoy himself, he certainly has. Adoring crowds have flocked to his lectures, and climate change sceptics on commercial talkback radio around the country have fawned on him ... Michael Smith: Lord Monckton, Third Viscount Monckton of Brenchley, is in Brisbane today. I met with him with two lovely blokes... — Radio 4BC, Drive with Michael Smith, 29th January, 2010 Jason Morrison: This man has had an enormous impact, again not that you would necessarily know it in the broader media... — Radio 2GB,The Jason Morrison Drive Show, 3rd February, 2010 You wouldn't know it? It's been hard to escape his Lordship, wherever you looked and whatever you listened to. What's worried us is not that he's been given airtime, but that some of his most contentious statements have gone almost unchallenged in the Australian media. For example: Lord Monckton: I think the United Nations Climate Panel is now a busted flush. For instance, Rajendra Pachauri, its chairman, Sir John Houghton, its former chairman, and a number of other people associated with it, are now under formal criminal investigation in the United Kingdom for filing false accounts of a charity known as TERI Europe of which they are all trustees. For the last three years they have under-declared their income of that charity saying there was less than ten thousand pounds income each... We've now discovered they were getting income certainly in the millions and this wasn't being disclosed. — Radio 2GB, The Alan Jones Show, 25th January, 2010 Those are serious allegations to be throwing around. But Sir John Houghton has told Media Watch: I am not and have never been a Trustee of Teri Europe... I have never received any money at all from Teri Europe... I am writing to Lord Monckton demanding an apology and a public retraction of the libelous statements about me that he has broadcast. — Email from Sir John Houghton to Media Watch, 5th February, 2010 Read Sir John Houghton's response to Media Watch's questions It is true that, following complaints made by Lord Monckton among others, the UK Charity Commission has, it tells us... ...contacted the charity and its advisers for further information and are currently assessing this to determine the Commission's role. — Response from Sarah Gibbs (Press Officer, UK Charity Commission) to Media Watch, 1st February, 2010 Read the UK Charity Commission's response to Media Watch's questions That's it. Hardly a 'formal criminal investigation'. According to TERI Europe: Neither TERI Europe nor its trustees have received any complaint from the Charity Commission about its activities, let alone any allegation of criminal conduct. — Response from TERI Europe to Media Watch, 5th February, 2010 Read TERI Europe's response to Media Watch's questions And then there are Monckton's attacks on global warming science. Few interviewers are equipped to challenge his pronouncements. And even when opposing experts take him on, they find it hard to puncture his iron-clad self-confidence. Lord Monckton: The Barrier Reef Authority has established that sea temperatures in the region of the reef have not changed at all over the last 30 years. Jon Faine: Rupert? Rupert Posner: That's simply not true, I mean... Lord Monckton: I have the figures from the Barrier Reef Authority. I have their chart. I've got it in my slides. I'll be showing it at the ball room of the Sofitel Hotel at 5.30 in Melbourne today. — ABC Radio 774, Mornings with Jon Faine, 1st February, 2010 Well, we weren't at his Lordship's lecture, so we don't know what figures were on his slide. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority says it doesn't measure sea temperatures itself, and doesn't know where his figures come from. But its chief scientist says that what's important is the trend over the past century or so. The peer reviewed science we rely on indicates that there has been an increase in ocean temperatures in the last 130 years and this significantly impacts on the health of corals in the Great Barrier Reef. — Response from Dr David Wachenfeld, (Chief Scientist, Great Barrier Reef Authority Marine Park Authority) to Media Watch, 5th February, 2010 Read Dr David Wachenfeld's response to Media Watch's questions And in fact the leading authority on the topic has sent us this chart which does show a recent rise in sea temperature. View the chart '10-year average sea surface temperatures: Great Barrier Reef' The fact is, Monckton is a superb showman, and radio is not the forum for complex scientific argument. So he's enjoyed a free ride, especially on commercial talkback radio. His hosts bleat about how sceptics are excluded from the mainstream. But do you think any champion of the majority scientific view on this crucial issue is given similar access to their listeners? As Alan Jones would say, you are kidding.

Beef cattle in Kennedyville, Md. (Dreamstime image: Robert Crow) The implications of Matthew Scully’s argument for animal welfare go too far. I am a monster, and so are millions of Americans who hunt, fish, and raise livestock. At least that’s the argument by Matthew Scully, a former literary editor of National Review, who took to these pages to present the case for the abolishment of animal cruelty. It turns out that to Scully, animal cruelty is a broad term, encompassing everything from consuming meat raised via large-scale agriculture to hunting. In Scully’s eyes, harvesting a whitetail buck or taking your daily limit of pintail ducks isn’t “normal” or “praiseworthy,” even if you donate that meat to your local food bank. Apparently all hunters are merely twisted psychopaths who take to the woods every year “for no better reason than the malicious thrill of it.” And don’t think you’re more moral than those wicked hunters, for, as Scully says, “cruelty to farm animals is the beam in our own eye, if we patronize that whole rotten system.” If you’re eating meat, apparently, you’re a monster. Advertisement Advertisement Scully’s moral argument against meat eating sounds great, as long as you don’t think about the mice, rabbits, squirrels, moles, groundhogs, and other creatures great and small killed by the combines in the cornfields and green spaces where our vegetables are grown. Anybody who lives in the country has seen turkey vultures circling and swooping down on the fields where the cornstalks have been reduced to stubble, or the murders of crows that gather to slowly hop and pick their way across the earth, taking sustenance in the animals killed in the raising of vegetables. There’s a hard truth in life that many of us either don’t think about or choose to ignore: We all eat to survive, and that means that something had to die in order for you to live. Chances are, even if you’re the most committed vegan you know, animals died in the making of your last, and next, meal. Advertisement Knowing this and recognizing this doesn’t make you a monster. It makes you mature. It gives you a greater understanding of your place in the world, and the responsibilities we all have to treat the creatures we eat with care and concern. Yes, we should be concerned about wanton cruelty to animals. We should actively work to stop it where we find it. But we shouldn’t define animal cruelty down to the point that eating free-range chicken is comparable to mass murder, nor should we casually condemn millions of Americans for being “trophy hunters” without considering the benefit that their hunting provides. Advertisement Hunting is conservation, and beyond the economic impact in rural areas around the globe provided by hunters, local communities benefit from the meat that is harvested, research dollars are raised to help protect species, and wildlife populations are treated as valuable renewable resources worthy of management and protection. The Dallas Safari Club, for example, is a part of the United Nations’ International Union for Conservation of Nature, while the Safari Club International Foundation has spent $60 million since 2000 on conservation projects and education in 27 countries. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Wild Turkey Federation, among other groups, have purchased tens of thousands of acres of land to protect habitat, restored wetlands and forests, and even reintroduced species into spaces where they once roamed and grazed. Like most Americans, I grew up not really knowing where my food came from. My grandparents all raised at least some of their own food; on my mom’s side as dirt-poor farmers in Dust Bowl–era Oklahoma, and on my dad’s side as inhabitants of a small town in Massachusetts. But my parents moved away from the countryside, and by the time I was raised in the outer suburbs of Oklahoma City, the thought of keeping chickens or heading out to a tree stand on the first day of deer season seemed like a relic of their past. Advertisement Advertisement As I grew older, I became fascinated with America’s countryside. I read and reread Jesse Stuart’s Beyond Dark Hills and Whittaker Chambers’s Witness and Cold Friday (it’s worth noting that most of Chambers’ contributions to National Review were penned while he was a working farmer in western Maryland), soaking in the details of rural life and farming during the first half of the 20th century. I had a romanticized view of agriculture, to be sure, but I didn’t realize that until a few years ago, when our family had found a small farm to call our own. Since then, I’ve become acquainted with cattle farmers who work the same hundreds of acres that their great-great-great-great grandparents did in the 19th century, as well as newcomers who are raising goats, hogs, and sheep on just a few small acres. I’ve met families who contract out with one of the big poultry processors to raise 30,000 chickens at a time, as well as plenty of folks who have just enough chickens to supply eggs for the breakfast table. I’ve met men and women who live to hunt, as well as those who do, in fact, hunt to live. The one person I haven’t met is the one who doesn’t give a damn about the animals under their care or in the wild spaces where they live. As an example, consider what happened to me a couple of weeks ago, on a cold Saturday afternoon. I was giving our hogs some fresh water when our young boar wandered over. Immediately I could tell something was wrong because he was shivering, and despite the cold wind, none of his companions seemed bothered in the slightest. When he turned around, I winced as I saw a portion of his intestine, about the size and color of a ripe plumb, hanging out of his rear end. I quickly called our vet and left a message, and began looking up “rectal prolapse in hogs” on Google. The diagnosis wasn’t good, and was confirmed a few minutes later when the vet called me back. The boar had to be put down. My heart sank as I walked inside the house and loaded a .22 pistol. I wasn’t excited or happy about what I had to do, and I certainly didn’t take any sadistic joy at what was in store. But I walked back outside, aimed the gun at the space between the back of the boar’s ear and his skull, and pulled the trigger. He dropped immediately, twitching on the cold earth. I knelt beside him, murmuring softly and stroking his rough, bristly fur as the life passed out of him. I took no pleasure in his death, but I shed no tears. When the last breath escaped his lungs, I took the carcass over to a table and, with the help of a friend who volunteered to help, began to process the meat for our freezer. We shouldn’t define animal cruelty down to the point that eating free-range chicken is comparable to mass murder. Was it cruel to kill that hog? Or would it have been crueler to let nature take its course? What would have happened if I hadn’t pulled the trigger? In nature, his fellow pigs would have eventually smelled the blood trickling out of his anus and would have eaten him. Pigs have no compunction against cannibalism, because they’re pigs. They don’t know any better. But it still seems like a pretty cruel way to die. Advertisement Scully’s ultimate argument, I suppose, would be that I never should have had that boar to begin with. I can’t agree. In the seven months or so that the young Ossabaw boar walked the earth, he lived a good life. He had plenty of green pasture to eat, a constant source of fresh water, a plethora of lovely and delectable sows to mate with, and more. He got to experience summer sunrises and the taste of morning dew on fields of clover and moonlit nights where crickets and bullfrogs lulled him to sleep. For those of us that believe life is precious, that’s worth something. The goal shouldn’t be to eradicate meat from our diets, it should be to strive to make that life possible for as many animals as possible, including those that end up on our plates. Advertisement Advertisement I recognize that’s also not the experience of most hogs raised on large-scale industrial farms, and I agree with Scully that looking at animals as nothing more than commodities is bad for the soul. But those who are morally opposed to eating meat don’t seem that interested in improving standards. Scully believes that even with better standards for large-scale farming, “we are only refining practices that are better abolished. One day, as Charles Krauthammer predicts, humanity will be done altogether with feeding on animals, for reasons of ethics along with the health and ecological reasons that are also staring us in the face.” Scully implies that he would really like our meat-raising and meat-eating ways to disappear; from the vast hog lots in the Midwest to the small farms in central Virginia where I live. That vision would mean the eradication not just of massive chicken processing plants but also hundreds of varieties of heritage breeds of chicken, cattle, hogs, and other livestock. If we’re not eating these animals, after all, there’s no reason for them to exist. Farmers aren’t going to make a living by running petting zoos. Those animals currently living will be slaughtered, and no offspring will replace them. Tens of thousands of Americans would need to find new employment, have to leave their family farms, and change their way of life. Oh, and it would require massive government regulation and intervention to enact these changes. My friend Trent Marsh, who lives, hunts, farms, and writes in rural Indiana, thinks that Scully’s argument may make sense from the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, or among those Americans who only view animals as a commodity, but it’s different for those raising and hunting these animals. To those Americans, these creatures aren’t abstract ideas or data points. “To the farmer the hog is a partner, both in life and death,” Marsh told me. “For the hunter, the hunted is the embodiment of the wild they seek to protect. These aren’t lives that can be read about in books. They can’t be studied, or made into role-player games for the masses to enjoy. These lives are earned through nights spent tending a laboring sow, or moving a herd of cattle into safer pastures ahead of a blizzard. Because for the farmer, large or small, reliance is a two-way street.” There’s nothing morally wrong with eating meat. But we do owe it to ourselves, and to the animals under our care, to treat them with respect. There’s nothing morally wrong with eating meat. But we do owe it to ourselves, and to the animals under our care, to treat them with respect. Fortunately, it can be done. Joel Salatin of Polyface Farms has been providing a good life for his farm animals as well as a producing a steady paycheck to support his family, and more and more farmers are starting to look at rotational grazing and other practices that will allow a better life for all the creatures on the farm, humans and livestock alike. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, about 75 percent of the nation’s 2.1 million farms are considered “small” in terms of annual sales. Those small farmers can and should be a driving force in adopting practices that allow for a better life for livestock. I would rather support them than try and drive them out of business. Perhaps it’s possible that one day we’ll all eat meat grown in labs and vegetables grown in hydroponic indoor farms in Brooklyn. Maybe one day the guns of hunters will fall silent across the country, and they’ll learn to love quinoa loaf instead of venison backstrap. Would that make life less cruel for the animals in the wild? Would the coyotes and the bobcats suddenly lie down with the mule deer and the rabbits? Of course not, but maybe that’s not Scully’s intent. Maybe it’s really about how vegans feel about their fellow humans, and if we’re treating animals by the rules they want to apply to society, they’ll feel better about their fellow men. Perhaps they even believe that they can make humankind less cruel if we would all replace our Christmas hams with a PETA-approved wheat-gluten loaf (yes, the recipe exists, and no, I won’t link to it or recommend you try eating it). Advertisement Here’s the thing: I don’t believe it would make humankind any less capable of cruelty if we were to stop eating meat. Besides the fact that most of us would be really cranky from the lack of bacon in our diet, we would simply be even more removed from that most basic fact of nature; something has to die in order for us to live. We would be more removed from a fact of civilization, as well: experience is the best teacher. We need more Americans to know what their food looks like before it ends up shrink-wrapped and packaged on a grocery-store shelf. If we want others to treat the animals we eat with more care, we need to find ways to get closer to our food, not farther away from it.

US Dollar Crashes, Gold And Bitcoin Skyrocket As Economic Recovery Lie Is Exposed It’s going to be a long weekend for those holding stocks and believing in the “recovery” lie. Today, the US government released its jobs report and the market was expecting an additional 200,000 jobs were added in May. Instead, the number came in at a paltry 38,000. One analyst, Naseem Aslam of Think Forex UK said, “The U.S. nonfarm payroll data was crazy and completely unbelievable and this is the last set of important data before the Fed meeting. When you look at the data set, it really boggles your mind because the unemployment rate has ticked lower. The productivity picture is even more confusing as it is not increasing.” It can seem confusing IF you fell for the “recovery” story that the Federal Reserve, Barack “Peddling Fiction” Obama and the mainstream media have been peddling. It’s not confusing to us. There was no recovery. And there won’t be. The only slight point of confusion is why the US government allowed these numbers to be released. They have free reign over making up nearly any number they can dream up. They’ve been doing that for decades. As we’ve stated in the past, if you want to get a better gauge of real employment, this stat is the one to watch: Unlike the employment number, the government and the Federal Reserve haven’t figured out how to manipulate this number yet. As can be seen, by this statistic, the US has been in a depression since the start of the millennium. So, why did the government allow such bad job numbers to come out at this time? My guess is that the Federal Reserve needed a reason to not raise rates as they know that even another 0.25% rate hike could implode the worldwide economy and potentially set off a crisis that would be unimaginable in scale. And, we believe the big crisis is planned to begin this fall, or perhaps somewhat earlier, maybe in August like last year. And so, they allowed the bad jobs report to come out and now the Federal Reserve can use it as a reason for not raising rates, yet again. The market immediately saw through it all, though. Within minutes the US dollar took a massive dive by currency standards, falling one entire cent in just a few seconds. Gold skyrocketed, rising 2.5% in a flash. And bitcoin, which already has risen dramatically, by more than 25% in the last week gained another $30 in quick fashion on the news. Gold stocks also soared, with one of our holdings, the Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 3X ETF (NUGT) rising 30% in just a few hours! It was only yesterday, here at the TDV blog, that we posted an interview with TDV’s Senior Analyst, Ed Bugos, entitled “The US Dollar Is The Biggest Bubble On The Planet And Has Just Began To Pop.” A day later and it looks like the US dollar has popped! In that interview Ed outlined three myths that would soon be realized by the markets that will unhinge the US dollar. The three myths are: The US economy is recovering The Federal Reserve will raise rates Foreign central banks are inflating faster than the Fed Today, it looks as though the first 2 myths have just begun to be realized by the market. And the market’s response was very swift! As the markets continue to realize that there is no recovery in the US and that the Fed is not, and cannot, raise rates, we’ll see the dollar continue to crash and gold, silver, precious metals stocks and bitcoin continue to soar. Ed Bugos nailed it yet again. And our subscriber’s portfolios swelled yet again. Here’s a comment from a subscriber, Andrew, who just upgraded to our Premium service on how happy he is to be part of our worldwide group: We are still in the early stages of what is coming. Today may have been just the beginning. If you haven’t already, join us to get the best information and analysis on what is really going on and become a part of our worldwide community of dollar collapse survivors. While other analysts are “shocked” at today’s job report and losing their clients bucket loads of money, subscribe to The Dollar Vigilante newsletter where we are not only not surprised, but fully predicted this… and are making our subscribers a fortune. Anarcho-Capitalist. Libertarian. Freedom fighter against mankind’s two biggest enemies, the State and the Central Banks. Jeff Berwick is the founder of The Dollar Vigilante, CEO of TDV Media & Services and host of the popular video podcast, Anarchast. Jeff is a prominent speaker at many of the world’s freedom, investment and gold conferences as well as regularly in the media. © 2016 Copyright Jeff Berwick - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. Jeff Berwick Archive © 2005-2019 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication.

A rocket fired from Gaza hit Israel’s southern territory on Friday, despite a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, the Israeli army said, according to Agence France-Presse or AFP. No casualties were immediately reported and the military did not confirm how Israel would react to the firing. “A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip hit the Eshkol area in southern Israel,” a spokesperson for the army said, according to AFP, stating that this was the first firing into the region since the ceasefire was agreed upon on September 16. Hamas and Israel engaged in a violent conflict after Israel’s army launched Operation Protective Edge in July, to counter rockets being fired by Hamas. Over 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, while 66 Israeli soldiers and seven civilians were killed between July 8 and Aug. 27, according to an estimate by the United Nations. The ceasefire was negotiated, with the help of Egypt, who are also expected to restart talks in Cairo soon, aimed at maintaining the ceasefire.

BASKING RIDGE, NJ, and LIBERTYVILLE, IL — Verizon Wireless and Motorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), today announced the second-generation DROID X2 by Motorola, designed for the consumer who does everything on their smartphone. Fly through the Web with the DROID X2, which boasts Verizon Wireless’ first dual-core 1 GHz processor for fast webpage loading and Adobe® Flash® Player, allowing Verizon Wireless customers to experience rich content online. The 4.3-inch scratch-resistant and anti-reflective qHD display delivers a sharp, clear view ideal for watching movies, typing emails and playing your favorite games. Never miss a moment using the 8-megapixel camera with continuous autofocus and stunning HD video capture. Use the new Gallery app to view, tag and post photos on sites like Flickr® and Facebook®, all from one place. Additional features: Powered by Android 2.2, to be updated to Android 2.3 Mirror Mode allows you to view and share your photos, videos and downloaded movies on a larger TV via HDMI output Enterprise-ready with security and IT-grade policies, allowing you to use your DROID X2 for work and play Support for Google™ Mobile Services, including Gmail™, YouTube™, Google Talk™, Google Search™ and Google Maps™, as well as access to more than 200,000 apps available to download from Android Market™ Mobile Hotspot capability, allowing you to share your 3G connection with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices Virtual QWERTY keyboard featuring SWYPE technology for quick and easy typing of messages and emails Pricing and availability: The DROID X2 will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on May 19 and in Verizon Wireless Communication Stores on May 26 for $199.99 with a new two-year customer agreement. DROID X2 customers will need to subscribe to a Verizon Wireless Nationwide Talk plan and a smartphone data package. Nationwide Talk plans begin at $39.99 for monthly access and an unlimited smartphone data plan is $29.99 for monthly access. For more information on Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Media can access high-resolution images of DROID X2 in the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.) About Verizon WirelessVerizon Wireless operates the nation’s fastest, most advanced 4G network and largest, most reliable 3G network. The company serves 104 million total wireless connections, including more than 88 million retail customers. Headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 85,000 employees nationwide, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE, NASDAQ: VZ) and Vodafone (LSE, NASDAQ: VOD). For more information, visit www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia. About Motorola MobilityMotorola Mobility, Inc. (NYSE: MMI) fuses innovative technology with human insights to create experiences that simplify, connect and enrich people’s lives. Our portfolio includes converged mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; wireless accessories; end-to-end video and data delivery; and management solutions, including set-tops and data-access devices. For more information, visit motorola.com/mobility. MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC. DROID™ and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved. Used under license. Facebook is a trademark of Facebook, Inc. Adobe and Adobe Flash are trademarks of Adobe Systems Incorporated in the United States and other countries. Flickr is a trademark of Yahoo, Inc. Android, Google, Gmail, YouTube, Google Talk, Google Search, Google Maps and Android Market are trademarks of Google, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. © 2011 Motorola Mobility, Inc. All rights reserved. ####

We’re set to get a blast from the past on November 12th when ex-Apple SVP of iOS Scott Forstall is likely to come out of hiding to testify at the Samsung damages hearing alongside his once colleague Phil Schiller. On Friday, the two sides filed a joint pretrial statement and lists of potential witnesses they may call. Apple’s list includes Phil Schiller, the company’s senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, and Scott Forstall, the former senior vice president of iOS software. Forstall’s departure was announced last October following the widely criticized launch of Apple Maps, which some observers said may have led to his firing. Both Schiller and Forstall also testified in the original trial. Rounding out Apple’s lineup, Susan Kare, who designed the original Mac icons is also on the docket. Apple won an over $1B verdict in the initial trial but the amount was subsequently dropped to $400M by Judge Lucy Koh. Forstall has been out of the public spotlight since his removal by CEO Tim Cook in October of last year.

Optimizing Lever PNG loading The following code took over 9.4 seconds to run: import png for i in range(10) image = png.read_file(dir ++ "frants_boe_villender_test.png") The image to load was a 640x480 RGBA image from a painting of Frants Diderik Bøe, who specialized in still life and landscapes. The program became slow when I added the scanline filtering, so I would expect to know what slows it down. But I am really not on the mood of guessing wrong, so let's run the code through a profiler like this: import png, fs, vmprof vmprof_fd = fs.open(dir ++ "png.vmprof", fs.WRONLY | fs.TRUNC | fs.CREAT) vmprof.enable(vmprof_fd, 0.0001) for i in range(10) image = png.read_file(dir ++ "frants_boe_villender_test.png") vmprof.disable() vmprof_fd.close() The profiler output: 100.0% L3_16 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5 at this post) 100.0% .. L5_39 100.0% png.lc:5 99.6% .... L53_82 99.6% png.lc:53 0.1% ...... L87_90 0.1% png.lc:87 0.1% ...... L90_96 0.1% png.lc:90 49.4% ...... L99_101 49.6% png.lc:99 35.4% ........ L104_117 71.6% png.lc:104 16.9% .......... L117_131 47.9% png.lc:117 0.6% ...... L96_99 0.6% png.lc:96 0.3% .... L142_159 0.3% png.lc:142 0.1% ...... L159_161 37.5% png.lc:159 At the png.lc:53 we have the code that runs a decoding loop: read = (self, data): data = self.z.decompress(data) for byte in data if self.new_scanline self.filter = decode_filters[byte] self.new_scanline = false continue if self.l == 0 u = 0 c = 0 if self.x - self.stride >= self.l l = self.data[self.x - self.stride] else l = 0 else u = self.data[self.x - self.y_stride] if self.x - self.stride >= self.l l = self.data[self.x - self.stride] c = self.data[self.x - self.y_stride - self.stride] else l = 0 c = 0 self.data[self.x] = self.filter(byte, l, u, c) self.x += 1 if self.x >= self.r self.l += self.y_stride self.r += self.y_stride self.new_scanline = true It tells that almost half of the time is spent in the png.lc:99. decode_filters = { 4: (byte, l, u, c): return byte + paeth_predictor(l, u, c) } paeth_predictor = (a, b, c): p = a + b - c pa = abs_int(p - a) pb = abs_int(p - b) pc = abs_int(p - c) if pa <= pb and pa <= pc return a elif pb <= pc return b else return c # TODO: make them into multimethods abs_int = (a): if a < 0 return -a return a The Line 60 is the paeth_predictor . And 73 is the abs_int . Motive There are many C libraries meant for loading PNG images, that I could have integrated into my runtime. Lever is a gradually designed programming language. The observations made about the behavior of the language are used to improve it even further. The intention is to leave in the possibility for changing the language, so that the language can refine over time to meet on newly made discoveries. One of my objectives with Lever is to make it into a high level programming language that obtains good runtime performance own its own, and then supply it with utilities to optimize those implementations to match the performance that is obtainable with the C language. To do this anywhere else, we need to get started with something simple, and it would be preferable to be practical. Therefore I decided to write my own PNG implementation in Lever. First the abs multimethod The abs_int is a crutch that I made because Lever's abs -function only operates on floats. The limitation isn't very elegant though. I've intended to remove it when it becomes more relevant. When you're optimizing code, it would be preferable to start with a version that doesn't have any crutches originating from unimplemented features in the programming language's runtime, so the first obvious thing here is to remove the abs_int and replace it with properly implemented abs multimethod. The implementation of abs is in the runtime/vectormath.py . As pointed out by the documentation for abs(). We replace it with the multimethod implementation: abs_ = Multimethod(1) @abs_.multimethod_s(Float) def abs_float(f): return Float(-f.number) if f.number < 0.0 else f.number @abs_.multimethod_s(Integer) def abs_int(i): return Integer(-i.value) if i.value < 0 else i The Lever runtime needs to be retranslated for the changes to take effect. We can remove the abs_int and replace it with abs in the paeth_predictor. Meanwhile we have time to think about the paeth predictor. When you look at the variable flow, every math operation appears to require the previous value. This is an important observation because we are running on a superscalar processor. Although we are still somewhere on the dark side of the moon when it comes to the instruction-level optimizations. When I run the program again, it now takes 8 seconds to run. 100.0% L3_16 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5) 100.0% .. L5_39 100.0% png.lc:5 99.4% .... L53_82 99.4% png.lc:53 (line 27) 0.9% ...... L96_99 0.9% png.lc:96 0.2% ...... L90_96 0.2% png.lc:90 32.4% ...... L99_101 32.6% png.lc:99 (line 56) 15.3% ........ L104_125 47.1% png.lc:104 (line 60) 0.1% ...... L87_90 0.1% png.lc:87 0.4% .... L136_153 0.4% png.lc:136 0.3% ...... L153_155 62.5% png.lc:153 0.1% .... L125_136 0.1% png.lc:125 0.1% ...... L153_155 100.0% png.lc:153 So in total we shaved 17% with that small change. But it is still the paeth predictor and the PNG decoding loop that's slowing us down. Checking the JIT traces The JIT trace is perhaps showing us something interesting. The following command extracts it for us and places it into the pnglog : PYPYLOG=jit-log-opt:pnglog lever samples/png/png_load.lc This is the first time when I am using the JIT trace to optimize a program, so my function for the printable location only returned the program counter: debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=25 setloc module=<module png>') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=29 getglob module=<module png>') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=32 getloc module=<module png>') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=35 getloc module=<module png>') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=38 getglob module=<module png>') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=41 call module=<module png>') +1119: i119 = int_sub(i118, i110) I adjusted it to provide line counts too. I'm sure it needs something better later on: debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=25 setloc module=<module png>:105') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=29 getglob module=<module png>:105') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=32 getloc module=<module png>:106') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=35 getloc module=<module png>:106') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=38 getglob module=<module png>:106') debug_merge_point(0, 0, 'pc=41 call module=<module png>:106') +1119: i119 = int_sub(i118, i110) After dropping out lots of debug_merge_points , I see that the paeth predictor ends up like this: +916: guard_nonnull_class(p3, ConstClass(Integer), descr=<Guard0x7effcc4a9db0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +941: guard_nonnull_class(p5, ConstClass(Integer), descr=<Guard0x7effcc4a9e08>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +966: guard_not_invalidated(descr=<Guard0x7effcc475e20>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +980: p108 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr107), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +991: guard_value(p108, ConstPtr(ptr109), descr=<Guard0x7effcc475e60>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1000: i110 = getfield_gc_i(p3, descr=<FieldS space.numbers.Integer.inst_value 8 pure>) +1011: i111 = getfield_gc_i(p5, descr=<FieldS space.numbers.Integer.inst_value 8 pure>) +1022: i112 = int_add(i110, i111) +1032: guard_nonnull_class(p7, ConstClass(Integer), descr=<Guard0x7effcc4a9e60>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1071: p115 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr114), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +1089: guard_value(p115, ConstPtr(ptr116), descr=<Guard0x7effcc475ea0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1098: i117 = getfield_gc_i(p7, descr=<FieldS space.numbers.Integer.inst_value 8 pure>) +1109: i118 = int_sub(i112, i117) +1119: i119 = int_sub(i118, i110) +1147: p121 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr120), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +1165: guard_value(p121, ConstPtr(ptr122), descr=<Guard0x7effcc475ee0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1174: i124 = int_lt(i119, 0) +1182: guard_false(i124, descr=<Guard0x7effcc475f20>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1188: i125 = int_sub(i118, i111) +1198: i127 = int_lt(i125, 0) +1202: guard_false(i127, descr=<Guard0x7effcc475f60>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1208: i128 = int_sub(i118, i117) +1218: i130 = int_lt(i128, 0) +1222: guard_false(i130, descr=<Guard0x7effcc475fa0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1235: p132 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr131), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +1246: guard_value(p132, ConstPtr(ptr133), descr=<Guard0x7effcc4c0020>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1255: i134 = int_le(i119, i125) +1262: guard_true(i134, descr=<Guard0x7effcc4c0060>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1268: i135 = int_le(i119, i128) +1275: guard_true(i135, descr=<Guard0x7effcc4c00a0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1281: leave_portal_frame(0) Superfluous guards I even found something I should no longer have there: +980: p108 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr107), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +991: guard_value(p108, ConstPtr(ptr109), descr=<Guard0x7effcc475e60>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1071: p115 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr114), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +1089: guard_value(p115, ConstPtr(ptr116), descr=<Guard0x7effcc475ea0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1147: p121 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr120), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +1165: guard_value(p121, ConstPtr(ptr122), descr=<Guard0x7effcc475ee0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1235: p132 = getfield_gc_r(ConstPtr(ptr131), descr=<FieldP space.multimethod.Multimethod.inst_version 48>) +1246: guard_value(p132, ConstPtr(ptr133), descr=<Guard0x7effcc4c0020>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] Every guard in JIT converts into a conditional and a conditional branch. They ensure that the program diverges from the fast path if it's not applicable. Making the version number pseudoimmutable should help a bit here: class Multimethod(Object): _immutable_fields_ = ['arity', 'multimethod_table', 'interface_table', 'default?', 'version?'] The pseudoimmutability is marked when we expect that a value does not change often. The version number changes when the multimethod is updated. From the perspective of hot loops it is never changed. We still have lots of guards here. +820: guard_nonnull_class(p3, ConstClass(Integer), descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d1a1d8>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +845: guard_nonnull_class(p5, ConstClass(Integer), descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d1a230>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +870: guard_not_invalidated(descr=<Guard0x7f9c21ccbf60>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +870: i107 = getfield_gc_i(p3, descr=<FieldS space.numbers.Integer.inst_value 8 pure>) +888: i108 = getfield_gc_i(p5, descr=<FieldS space.numbers.Integer.inst_value 8 pure>) +892: i109 = int_add(i107, i108) +902: guard_nonnull_class(p7, ConstClass(Integer), descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d1a288>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +935: i111 = getfield_gc_i(p7, descr=<FieldS space.numbers.Integer.inst_value 8 pure>) +939: i112 = int_sub(i109, i111) +956: i113 = int_sub(i112, i107) +970: i115 = int_lt(i113, 0) +974: guard_false(i115, descr=<Guard0x7f9c21ccbfa0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +980: i116 = int_sub(i112, i108) +997: i118 = int_lt(i116, 0) +1001: guard_false(i118, descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d20020>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1007: i119 = int_sub(i112, i111) +1017: i121 = int_lt(i119, 0) +1021: guard_false(i121, descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d20060>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1027: i122 = int_le(i113, i116) +1034: guard_true(i122, descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d200a0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1040: i123 = int_le(i113, i119) +1047: guard_true(i123, descr=<Guard0x7f9c21d200e0>) [p0, p3, p5, p7, p9, p11, p13, p15, p18, p20, p22, p24, p26, p28, p30, p32, p34, p36, p38, p40, p42, p44, p46, p48, p50, p52, p54, p56, p58, p60, p62, p64, p66, p68, p70, p72, p74, p76, p78, p80, p82, p84, p86, p88, p90, p92, p94, p96, p98, p100, p102, p104] +1053: leave_portal_frame(0) And we are down to 7.1 seconds: 100.0% L3_16 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5) 100.0% .. L5_39 100.0% png.lc:5 99.5% .... L53_82 99.5% png.lc:53 (line 27) 0.7% ...... L96_99 0.7% png.lc:96 0.1% ...... L87_90 0.1% png.lc:87 29.9% ...... L99_101 30.0% png.lc:99 (line 56) 12.3% ........ L104_128 41.2% png.lc:104 (line 60) 0.1% ...... L90_96 0.1% png.lc:90 0.2% .... L139_156 0.2% png.lc:139 0.1% ...... L156_158 25.0% png.lc:156 0.1% .... L40_53 0.1% png.lc:40 Somewhat illogically, the time spent in the paeth predictor increased! Conditional branching Another trick to try would be to remove the unnecessary branching by coalescing the conditionals. To do it we need a tool to do it. A select() function does fine. @builtin @signature(Boolean, Object, Object) def select(cond, a, b): return a if cond == true else b The optimizer will likely convert this thing into a conditional move, or so I hope. In every case it should eliminate additional branches that would turn into guards. The paeth_predictor looks like this now: paeth_predictor = (a, b, c): p = a + b - c pa = abs(p - a) pb = abs(p - b) pc = abs(p - c) return select(pa <= pb and pa <= pc, a, select(pb <= pc, b, c)) The results were perhaps illogical. This was not any faster. When I looked into the trace, the guards are still there. Maybe our implementation has the wrong shape? Lets do it in a way that cannot be interpreted wrong: @builtin @signature(Boolean, Object, Object) def select(cond, a, b): return [b, a][cond == true] Even then it does not have the desired effect. Forming a new bytecode instruction that does this shouldn't have any effect either because the call is constant folded away anyway. Reader loop One problem in our reader loop is that we are doing whole lot of work inside it. We are checking bounds and fetching stuff for the filter: data = self.z.decompress(data) for byte in data if self.new_scanline self.filter = decode_filters[byte] self.new_scanline = false continue if self.l == 0 u = 0 c = 0 if self.x - self.stride >= self.l l = self.data[self.x - self.stride] else l = 0 else u = self.data[self.x - self.y_stride] if self.x - self.stride >= self.l l = self.data[self.x - self.stride] c = self.data[self.x - self.y_stride - self.stride] else l = 0 c = 0 # run the filter and update the bounds self.data[self.x] = self.filter(byte, l, u, c) self.x += 1 if self.x >= self.r self.l += self.y_stride self.r += self.y_stride self.new_scanline = true We are doing that for every 1 228 800 bytes. Yet we only have 480 scanlines! We could instead do: prior = self.prior scanline = self.scanline index = self.index data = self.z.decompress(data) while data.length > 0 if index == 0 self.filter = decode_filters[data[0]] data = data[1 .:] L = min(self.y_stride - index, data.length) for i in range(index, index+L) if i < self.stride l = 0 c = 0 else l = scanline[i - self.stride] c = prior[i - self.stride] u = prior[i] scanline[i] = data[i-index] + self.filter(l, u, c) if index + L >= self.y_stride prior = scanline scanline = self.data[self.next_scanline .: self.next_scanline + self.y_stride] index = 0 self.next_scanline += self.y_stride else index += L data = data[L .:] assert index < self.y_stride self.prior = prior self.scanline = scanline self.index = index To always have an empty prior scanline, we initialize it to point to the second scanline. I also flip the addition out of the filter that helps a little bit. It now takes 3.6 seconds at loading those 10 images. 100.0% L3_17 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5) 100.0% .. L5_39 100.0% png.lc:5 99.2% .... L53_85 99.2% png.lc:53 (line 231) 0.2% ...... L90_91 0.2% png.lc:90 1.5% ...... L96_97 1.5% png.lc:96 27.2% ...... L99_110 27.4% png.lc:99 (line 192) 0.5% ...... L93_94 0.5% png.lc:93 0.3% .... L133_150 0.3% png.lc:133 ImageMagick as comparison To compare, if I run copy the image 10 times and then run: time convert *.png converted.jpg It shows me that it's taking 0.225s to do the job and it's not only reading the png but also converting it into jpg. We are at least 10 to 20 times slower than the C program and it is a bit unacceptable. Optimization of method lookup We looked at the trace again with pypy channel and found yet a lookup_method that was unelided. The likely reason was that the method table was not perceived as immutable. This resulted in the following silly pair of guards: +600: p172 = getfield_gc_r(p1, descr=<FieldP space.customobject.CustomObject.inst_custom_interface 8 pure>) +618: p175 = call_r(ConstClass(Interface.lookup_method), p172, ConstPtr(ptr174), descr=<Callr 8 rr EF=4>) +710: guard_no_exception(descr=<Guard0x7f7b2d3a7d00>) [p0, p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, p6, p7, p8, p9, p10, p11, p12, p13, p14, p15, p16, p17, p18, p19, p20, p21, p22, p23, p24, p25, p26, p27, p28, p29, p30, p31, p32, p33, p34, p35, p36, p37, p38, p39, p40, p41, p42, p43, p44, p45, p46, p47, p48, p49, p50, p51, p52, p53, p54, p55, p56, p57, p58, p59, p60, p61, p62, p63, p64, p65, p66, p67, p68, p69, p70, p71, p72, p73, p74, p75, p76, p77, p78, p79, p80, p81, p82, p83, p84, p85, p86, p87, p88, p89, p90, p91, p92, p93, p94, p95, p96, p97, p98, p99, p100, p101, p102, p103, p104, p105, p106, p107, p114, p115, p116, p117, p118, p119, p120, p121, p122, p123, p124, p125, p126, p127, p128, p129, p130, p131, p132, p133, p134, p135, p136, p137, p138, p139, p140, p141, p142, p143, p144, p145, p146, p147, p148, p149, p150, p151, p152, p153, p154, p155, p156, p157, p158, p159, p160, p161, p162, p175, i171, i166] +725: guard_isnull(p175, descr=<Guard0x7f7b2d3ac020>) [p0, p1, p2, p3, p4, p5, p6, p7, p8, p9, p10, p11, p12, p13, p14, p15, p16, p17, p18, p19, p20, p21, p22, p23, p24, p25, p26, p27, p28, p29, p30, p31, p32, p33, p34, p35, p36, p37, p38, p39, p40, p41, p42, p43, p44, p45, p46, p47, p48, p49, p50, p51, p52, p53, p54, p55, p56, p57, p58, p59, p60, p61, p62, p63, p64, p65, p66, p67, p68, p69, p70, p71, p72, p73, p74, p75, p76, p77, p78, p79, p80, p81, p82, p83, p84, p85, p86, p87, p88, p89, p90, p91, p92, p93, p94, p95, p96, p97, p98, p99, p100, p101, p102, p103, p104, p105, p106, p107, p114, p115, p116, p117, p118, p119, p120, p121, p122, p123, p124, p125, p126, p127, p128, p129, p130, p131, p132, p133, p134, p135, p136, p137, p138, p139, p140, p141, p142, p143, p144, p145, p146, p147, p148, p149, p150, p151, p152, p153, p154, p155, p156, p157, p158, p159, p160, p161, p162, p175, i171, i166] Giving the JIT a hint to promote the custom_interface into a constant solves this problem. It means that the lookup_method can be then elided and the JIT can figure out that it never returns anything other than null and instead it just retrieves the value from a storage object. After the improvement the program has shaved down to 2.7 seconds and the paeth filter appears to start becoming a bottleneck again. 100.0% L3_17 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5) 100.0% .. L5_39 100.0% png.lc:5 98.7% .... L53_86 98.7% png.lc:53 (line 231) 0.1% ...... L91_92 0.1% png.lc:91 1.9% ...... L97_98 1.9% png.lc:97 31.8% ...... L100_111 32.2% png.lc:100 (line 192) 0.1% ...... L94_95 0.1% png.lc:94 1.0% .... L134_151 1.0% png.lc:134 0.1% ...... L151_153 14.3% png.lc:151 An insight into JIT It is perhaps that I got some intuition about the behavior of the metatracing JIT when I found out about the above problem. At the start of installing a JIT driver I have to tell it the color of certain variables: jitdriver = jit.JitDriver( greens=['pc', 'block', 'module', 'unit', 'excs', 'function'], #, 'ec'], reds=['frame'], # 'regv', virtualizables = ['frame'], get_printable_location=get_printable_location, get_unique_id=get_unique_id, is_recursive=True) The need to specify red variables is an implementation detail here, but the green variables are needed by the JIT. The greens tell which variables are supposed to stay constant during the JIT translation. When a trace meets a green variable, it puts a guard for it and treats the program as if it that variable remained constant in the program. The information allows the tracing JIT to do deduction and optimize the trace. Variables that can be deduced to be constants, such as the constants inside constants can be implicitly marked green without a guard. In other hand if the guard fails, then the program needs to branch and has to trace again. In a well-tuned JIT, methods that are not dynamically used are promoted into constants. Shifting filter call out of the loop It turns out that we can still squeeze some juice by restructuring the program. Lets take this loop inside the reader loop: for i in range(index, index+L) if i < self.stride l = 0 c = 0 else l = scanline[i - self.stride] c = prior[i - self.stride] u = prior[i] scanline[i] = data[i-index] + self.filter(l, u, c) And replace it with this: self.filter(prior, scanline, data[.: L], self.stride, index) Then we write several smaller loops like this: # average ((prior, scanline, data, stride, offset): for i in range(offset, offset+data.length) u = prior[i] if i >= stride u = scanline[i - stride] + u scanline[i] = data[i - offset] + u // 2 ), This shaves the runtime speed down to 1.9 seconds. It means that one image takes 200ms to load. 100.0% L3_17 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5) 100.0% .. L5_39 100.0% png.lc:5 98.7% .... L53_78 98.7% png.lc:53 (line 231, with 289) 0.8% ...... L85_91 0.9% png.lc:85 4.4% ...... L98_104 4.5% png.lc:98 84.6% ...... L106_126 85.7% png.lc:106 (line 300) 0.8% ...... L93_96 0.9% png.lc:93 0.6% .... L149_166 0.6% png.lc:149 0.2% ...... L166_168 33.3% png.lc:166 The statistics show out, perhaps reassuringly, that the paeth filter constitutes 80% of the runtime. If we would somehow manage to shave it to tenth of its time then it would take only 550ms from the program to run the benchmark. How much faster could it run? Now there's an interesting question: If I optimized just the paeth-predictor loop, how fast could this program run? If I temporarily disable the paeth loop, the app then takes 0.3s to run. So if that part of the program didn't run at all, that would be the limit that we cannot exceed by optimizing that only function in the program. If we managed to optimize all of the inner loops, the vmprofile would then start to look like this: 100.0% L3_17 100.0% png_load.lc:3 (line 5) 10.0% .. L30_41 10.0% png_load.lc:30 86.0% .. L5_39 86.0% png.lc:5 6.0% .... L154_171 7.0% png.lc:154 76.0% .... L53_78 88.4% png.lc:53 (line 231, with 289) The assembler Motivated from the fast paeth filter, I decided to pick up the google/CPU-instructions dataset and implement an assembler that uses those tables. If you are ever building an assembler remember that it helps a whole lot if you have a machine-readable table that tells the encoding and operands for every instruction. While writing my own I also noticed that the encoding task is easy if you break it into two stages. In the first stage you fill up the parameters such as: rex byte operand_op field (for operands that embed into the opcode fields) modrm byte sib byte displacement offset immediate values passed in Doing this kind of scanning through the operands makes it easier to determine what is the size of the displacement field or where the SIB byte belongs to. The CPU-instructions also contains SSE and AVX instructions. And I expected they would require encoding of VEX or EVEX prefix. I didn't do it right yet, but I am sure to return on the subject sometime soon. In any case the proper use of those instructions requires feature detection code. After looking at the mnemonics for a while, I decided to not use them and instead treat them as a form of documentation that describes what semantic the instruction follows. Returns and branches that have far and near versions share the same mnemonic, so I found it a bit risky to just let a program select a certain instruction from the list and run with it. To work around this problem, I gave an unique identifier for every instruction in the list: 5931 XCHG AX r16 [64] [L] Exchange r16 with AX. 5932 XCHG EAX r32 [64] [L] Exchange r32 with EAX. 5933 XCHG RAX r64 [64] Exchange r64 with RAX. 5934 XCHG m16 r16 [64] [L] Exchange r16 with word from r/m16. 5935 XCHG m32 r32 [64] [L] Exchange r32 with doubleword from r/m32. 5936 XCHG m64 r64 [64] Exchange r64 with quadword from r/m64. 5937 XCHG m8 r8 [64] [L] Exchange r8 (byte register) with byte from r/m8. 5938 XCHG m8 r8 [64] Exchange r8 (byte register) with byte from r/m8. 5939 XCHG r16 AX [64] [L] Exchange AX with r16. 5940 XCHG r16 m16 [64] [L] Exchange word from r/m16 with r16. 5941 XCHG r16 r16 [64] [L] Exchange word from r/m16 with r16. 5942 XCHG r16 r16 [64] [L] Exchange r16 with word from r/m16. 5943 XCHG r32 EAX [64] [L] Exchange EAX with r32. 5944 XCHG r32 m32 [64] [L] Exchange doubleword from r/m32 with r32. 5945 XCHG r32 r32 [64] [L] Exchange doubleword from r/m32 with r32. 5946 XCHG r32 r32 [64] [L] Exchange r32 with doubleword from r/m32. 5947 XCHG r64 RAX [64] Exchange RAX with r64. 5948 XCHG r64 m64 [64] Exchange quadword from r/m64 with r64. 5949 XCHG r64 r64 [64] Exchange r64 with quadword from r/m64. 5950 XCHG r64 r64 [64] Exchange quadword from r/m64 with r64. 5951 XCHG r8 m8 [64] [L] Exchange byte from r/m8 with r8 (byte register). 5952 XCHG r8 m8 [64] Exchange byte from r/m8 with r8 (byte register). 5953 XCHG r8 r8 [64] [L] Exchange r8 (byte register) with byte from r/m8. 5954 XCHG r8 r8 [64] [L] Exchange byte from r/m8 with r8 (byte register). 5955 XCHG r8 r8 [64] Exchange r8 (byte register) with byte from r/m8. 5956 XCHG r8 r8 [64] Exchange byte from r/m8 with r8 (byte register). Many of these are the same opcode but with different prefixes or flags. I don't have a method to calculate the size of these, and I do not have a heuristic on selecting them. To represent Addresses in the memory operands, I picked the following format: Address(type, offset, base=-1, index=-1, scale=1) You can have the address without the base register if the additional 4 bytes from offset is tolerable. Now I finally can emit instructions like this: # 1006 LEA r64 m [64] Store effective address for m in register r64. emit(1006, Register(i64, 11), Address(i64, 0, 10, 13)) # ABS on R11 # 1127 MOV r64 r64 [64] Move r/m64 to r64. emit(1127, Register(i64, 13), Register(i64, 11)) # 1289 NEG r64 [64] Two's complement negate r/m64. emit(1289, Register(i64, 11)) # 335 CMOVL r64 m64 [64] Move if less (SF≠ OF). emit( 335, Register(i64, 11), Register(i64, 13)) I linked the loops by running the assembler twice and using ordinary variables for them: emit( 878, Immediate(i8, loop_label - jl1_label)) jl1_label := output.length As long as the instruction numbers and lengths do not change, the second run reaches the fixed point. The paeth decoder written in the assembly such as above looks like this: assert platform.arch == "x86_64" "It just might not work on x86" assert platform.name.startswith("linux") "Also this depends on the SystemV calling conventions." arg_0 = Register(i64, 7) # RDI arg_1 = Register(i64, 6) # RSI arg_2 = Register(i64, 2) # RDX arg_3 = Register(i64, 1) # RCX arg_4 = Register(i64, 8) arg_5 = Register(i64, 9) loop_label = 0 exit_label = 0 ja_label = 0 jl1_label = 0 jl2_label = 0 assemble = (): # 1811 PUSH r64 [64] Push r64. # we need additional register to clobber. emit(1811, Register(i64, 3)) # x .r3 emit(1811, Register(i64, 10)) # .r10 emit(1811, Register(i64, 11)) # .r11 emit(1811, Register(i64, 12)) # .r12 emit(1811, Register(i64, 13)) # a .r13 emit(1811, Register(i64, 14)) # b .r14 emit(1811, Register(i64, 15)) # c .r15 # i = 0 .r0 # 5973 XOR m64 r64 [64] r/m64 XOR r64. emit(5973, Register(i64, 0), Register(i64, 0)) emit(5973, Register(i64, 13), Register(i64, 13)) emit(5973, Register(i64, 15), Register(i64, 15)) # j = offset .arg_4(8) # 1289 NEG r64 [64] Two's complement negate r/m64. # 74 ADD r64 r64 [64] Add r64 to r/m64. # k = j - stride .r1 emit(1289, Register(i64, 1)) emit( 74, Register(i64, 1), Register(i64, 8)) # 878 JL rel8 [64] [L] Jump short if less (SF≠ OF). emit( 878, Immediate(i8, loop_label - jl1_label)) jl1_label := output.length emit(1254, Register(i64, 13), Address(i8, 0, 7, 1)) # [prior .r7 + k .r1] emit(1254, Register(i64, 15), Address(i8, 0, 6, 1)) # [scanline .r6 + k .r1] # loop: loop_label := output.length # 0475 CMP m64 r64 [64] Compare r64 with r/m64. # if i >= length goto exit emit( 475, Register(i64, 0), arg_5) # 0862 JAE rel32 [64] [L] Jump short if above or equal (CF=0). emit( 862, Immediate(i32, exit_label - ja_label)) ja_label := output.length ## Test # emit( 54, Address(i64, 0, arg_0.index), Immediate(i32, 1)) # 1254 MOVZX r64 m8 [64] Move byte to quadword, zero-extension. # x = input[i] emit(1254, Register(i64, 14), Address(i8, 0, 7, 8)) # [prior .r7 + j .r8] # Starting paeth predictor here. a.r13, b.r14, c.r15 # 1006 LEA r64 m [64] Store effective address for m in register r64. # 2327 SUB r64 m64 [64] Subtract r/m64 from r64. #p = a + b - c p.r10 emit(1006, Register(i64, 10), Address(i64, 0, 13, 14)) emit(2327, Register(i64, 10), Register(i64, 15)) emit(1289, Register(i64, 10)) # negate to use LEA again. # 335 CMOVL r64 m64 [64] Move if less (SF≠ OF). # 1127 MOV r64 r64 [64] Move r/m64 to r64. #pa = abs(a - p) p.r10 a.r13 pa.r11 emit(1127, Register(i64, 3), Register(i64, 13)) emit(1006, Register(i64, 11), Address(i64, 0, 10, 13)) # The a.r13 is free now. # ABS on R11 emit(1127, Register(i64, 13), Register(i64, 11)) emit(1289, Register(i64, 11)) # negate to use CMOVL emit( 335, Register(i64, 11), Register(i64, 13)) #pb = abs(b - p) p.r10 a.r13 pa.r12 emit(1006, Register(i64, 12), Address(i64, 0, 10, 14)) # ABS on R12 emit(1127, Register(i64, 13), Register(i64, 12)) emit(1289, Register(i64, 12)) # negate to use CMOVL emit( 335, Register(i64, 12), Register(i64, 13)) # Now we want to compare and CMOVL if relevant. emit( 475, Register(i64, 12), Register(i64, 11)) emit( 335, Register(i64, 11), Register(i64, 12)) emit( 335, Register(i64, 3), Register(i64, 14)) #pc = abs(c - p) p.r10 a.r13 pa.r11 emit(1006, Register(i64, 12), Address(i64, 0, 10, 15)) # ABS on R12 emit(1127, Register(i64, 13), Register(i64, 12)) emit(1289, Register(i64, 12)) # negate to use CMOVL emit( 335, Register(i64, 12), Register(i64, 13)) # Now we want to compare and CMOVL if relevant. emit( 475, Register(i64, 12), Register(i64, 11)) emit( 335, Register(i64, 11), Register(i64, 12)) emit( 335, Register(i64, 3), Register(i64, 15)) # Done with paeth, next we add. #emit(1254, Register(i64, 3), Address(i8, 0, 2, 0)) # [input .r2 + i .r0] # 78 ADD r8 m8 [64] [L] Add r/m8 to r8. emit( 78, Register(i8, 3), Address(i8, 0, 2, 0)) # [input .r2 + i .r0] # 1097 MOV m8 r8 [64] [L] Move r8 to r/m8. # scanline[j] = x emit(1097, Address(i8, 0, 6, 8), Register(i8, 3)) # [scanline .r6 + j .r8] # 0072 ADD r64 imm8 [64] Add sign-extended imm8 to r/m64. # i += 1 emit( 72, Register(i64, 0), Immediate(i8, 1)) # j += 1 emit( 72, Register(i64, 8), Immediate(i8, 1)) # clean a and c emit(5973, Register(i64, 13), Register(i64, 13)) emit(5973, Register(i64, 15), Register(i64, 15)) # k += 1 emit( 72, Register(i64, 1), Immediate(i8, 1)) # 878 JL rel8 [64] [L] Jump short if less (SF≠ OF). emit( 878, Immediate(i8, loop_label - jl2_label)) jl2_label := output.length emit(1254, Register(i64, 13), Address(i8, 0, 7, 1)) # [prior .r7 + k .r1] emit(1254, Register(i64, 15), Address(i8, 0, 6, 1)) # [scanline .r6 + k .r1] # jump loop # 0886 JMP rel32 [64] [L] Jump short, RIP = RIP + 8-bit displacement sign extended to 64-bits emit( 886, Immediate(i32, loop_label - exit_label)) # exit: exit_label := output.length # Restore .r3 we clobbered. # 1638 POP r64 [64] Pop top of stack into r64; increment stack pointer. Cannot encode 32-bit operand size. emit(1638, Register(i64, 15)) emit(1638, Register(i64, 14)) emit(1638, Register(i64, 13)) emit(1638, Register(i64, 12)) emit(1638, Register(i64, 11)) emit(1638, Register(i64, 10)) emit(1638, Register(i64, 3)) # return emit(1901) # RET NEAR emit = (uid, args...): output.extend(asm.encode_ins(uid, args)) output = [] assemble() output = [] assemble() At the point when I was going to write the actual algorithm the loop was supposed to run, I noticed that available registers almost ran out. From here it's easy to run this in the place of the original paeth filter. We copy the assembler output into executable memory region and W^X it. I already have an utility for that: buf = mman.Asmbuf(4096) buf.memcpy(Uint8Array(output)) buf.finalize() Next we need a function handle that we can call. We get one from the FFI: c_type = ffi.cfunc(ffi.int, [ ffi.voidp, ffi.voidp, ffi.voidp, # prior, scanline, data ffi.size_t,ffi.size_t,ffi.size_t]) # stride, offset, length c_func = ffi.cast(buf, c_type) The filter array requires a little rewrite so that the length -field is exposed like above, but otherwise this already works and we can hot-patch the assembler program into the png module: import png png.decode_filters[4] = c_func main_png() Now we can run the original benchmark. Assembler results With the monkey-patched assembly module, our original benchmark now takes 0.6 seconds to run, and the vmprofile report is very closely resembling the removal of paeth decoder: 100.0% L5_200 100.0% fast_paeth.lc:5 100.0% .. L203_217 100.0% fast_paeth.lc:203 6.6% .... L230_241 6.6% fast_paeth.lc:230 92.3% .... L5_39 92.3% png.lc:5 11.0% ...... L149_166 11.9% png.lc:149 3.3% ........ L166_168 30.0% png.lc:166 79.1% ...... L53_78 85.7% png.lc:53 (line 231, with 289) 1.1% ........ L93_96 1.4% png.lc:93 24.2% ........ L98_104 30.6% png.lc:98 4.4% ........ L85_91 5.6% png.lc:85 I did double check that the paeth decoder keeps working. I made a hexadecimal dump from the image and compared the data with the optimized version. Both of them look like this: 35 51 45 ff 36 46 3b ff 1b 1e 19 ff 18 1b 16 ff 33 4f 43 ff 27 3a 2f ff 1b 1e 19 ff 18 1b 16 ff 2c 4a 40 ff 2e 4c 42 ff 2f 4d 43 ff 34 4f 46 ff 27 45 3b ff 29 47 3d ff 2a 48 3e ff 28 48 3a ff 27 47 3c ff 26 44 3a ff 25 43 39 ff 23 43 39 ff You can tell that this data is at least plausibly correct, because of the full alpha channels separating the scanlines into columns of ff -symbols. The closer inspection shows that the assembled version has some errors. It still runs through all the pixels so I'd believe the problem could be something subtle: I won't use the assembled version right yet, so I leave the fix for later iterations. Finally I also made a Vulkan demo that uses the JIT-optimized png module. Here's the screenshot: Hand-written assembly is not practical The assembler optimization is very successful considering that we don't even have to store any compiled executables here and we are still 4 times faster than within the JIT. The problem is that the assembly module here cannot adjust for different calling conventions. It only works on Linux and on x86_64. There are other problems: We have two versions to maintain. And if we discard the old version then we cannot return to JIT-evaluating the code in the case it is more practical for some possible usecase. We had to rewrite the assembler version from the scratch when trying to optimize the program that way. We cannot access all GC records from the assembly. Only the ones that we could naturally pass into C libraries. The produced assembly code is calling-convention dependent and fixed to an operating system. The practical solution would be to run type inference into the original program and then compile it down to assembly codes. It is the reason why I wrote the assembler in the first place, but it is also a subject for a second blog post. Driving it through GLSL filter in Vulkan Finally I made a vulkan application that uses the PNG loader. The full source code can be found at the samples/warpgpu/2_images.lc. After the image has been loaded, we upload it to the GPU by memcopying into mapped location like this: image.mem = gpu.mem.associate(image, [ "HOST_VISIBLE_BIT", "HOST_COHERENT_BIT" ]) data = image.mem.map(ffi.byte, image.offset, image.size) ffi.memcpy(data, png_image.data, png_image.data.length) Of course, this is a bit wasteful because the PNG loader wouldn't really need anything else but two latest scanlines. It could write into the scanline and the image simultaneously to load the image without ever holding the fully decompressed image in the memory. It was nice to start with the simple usecase first though. Finally I checked the image in the GLSL output. It producing the effect by shifting the texture coordinates horizontally using output from a voronoi noise generator: Extra: Lets try SSE & SIMD instructions! At first I thought I wouldn't go this far, but I still had Sunday to go and everyone reading this post would expect me to get into SIMD. So let's go! The feature detection is mandatory if you intend to use SIMD, but the first thing was to check what my CPU actually supports. So I ran the cat /proc/cpuinfo . vendor_id : GenuineIntel cpu family : 6 model : 23 model name : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9550 @ 2.83GHz stepping : 7 microcode : 0x70a cpu MHz : 2003.000 cache size : 6144 KB physical id : 0 siblings : 4 core id : 0 cpu cores : 4 apicid : 0 initial apicid : 0 fpu : yes fpu_exception : yes cpuid level : 10 wp : yes flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe syscall nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx smx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm sse4_1 lahf_lm tpr_shadow vnmi flexpriority dtherm bugs : bogomips : 5666.40 clflush size : 64 cache_alignment : 64 address sizes : 36 bits physical, 48 bits virtual power management: It seems that I can use all the instructions up to SSE4_1. Unfortunately the use of the SSE doesn't require the VEX prefix so I don't have a way to test whether I would get the VEX encoding right. It's no wonder that stereotypical geeks are charismatic white males with fancy beards and no girlfriends! You would need very big wads of cash to stay updated on all the coolest hardware that pushes out of the factories at the constant feed. Quick look into the instruction table tells that I have 565 SIMD operations available. When I discard the operations that work on floating point values, I end up with 361 operations to choose from. Vectorizing the program The first step is to look at the original program and see what we could do for it. To make this easier we break it to break it into extended basic blocks: t = a + b p = t - c ta = p - a pa = abs ta tb = p - b pb = abs tb tc = p - c pc = abs tc c1 = le pa pb c2 = le pa pc c3 = and c1 c2 return a if c3 c4 = le pb pc return b if c4 return c It is surprisingly lot of operations after all. What we are about to do is called auto vectorization in compilers. I guess what we are specifically about to do is called loop vectorization. One important thing is to note that the algorithm has not been defined on bytes. This means that we might get the wrong result if we keep the bytes packed in our registers. We may have to unpack so we are going to need instructions for those. Also we are going to need the instructions to load values into the xmm registers. I think the following is sufficient: PACKSSDW PACKSSDW PACKSSDW PACKSSDW PACKSSWB PACKSSWB PACKSSWB PACKSSWB PACKUSWB PACKUSWB PACKUSWB PACKUSWB PUNPCKHBW PUNPCKHBW PUNPCKHBW PUNPCKHBW PUNPCKHDQ PUNPCKHDQ PUNPCKHDQ PUNPCKHDQ PUNPCKHQDQ PUNPCKHQDQ PUNPCKHWD PUNPCKHWD PUNPCKHWD PUNPCKHWD PUNPCKLBW PUNPCKLBW PUNPCKLBW PUNPCKLBW PUNPCKLDQ PUNPCKLDQ PUNPCKLDQ PUNPCKLDQ PUNPCKLQDQ PUNPCKLQDQ PUNPCKLWD PUNPCKLWD PUNPCKLWD PUNPCKLWD MOVDQA MOVDQU Second I've been looking up what I can find from our instruction table of valid operations. I found the following: t = a + b PADDB, PADDD, PADDQ, PADDSB, PADDSW, PADDUSB, PADDUSW, PADDW, PADDW, PALIGNR [m64, m128] p = t - c PSUBB, PSUBD, PSUBQ, PSUBSB, PSUBSW, PSUBUSB, PSUBUSW, PSUBW ta = p - a pa = abs ta PABSB, PABSD PABSW [m64, m128] tb = p - b pb = abs tb tc = p - c pc = abs tc c1 = le pa pb PCMPGTB, PCMPGTW, PCMPGTD [m64, m128] c2 = le pa pc c3 = and c1 c2 PAND, PANDN [m64, m128] return a if c3 c4 = le pb pc return b if c4 return c It appears that we have m128 for everything so we can use the SSE2 instructions everywhere here. We would also have PHADDW to add packed short integers horizontally. The SIMD instructions do not have conditional operations, so instead we have to use a trick on them. return a if c3 PAND, PANDN, POR, PXOR [m64, m128] c4 = le pb pc return b if c4 return c Here we have everything we need to carry this out now. The final program: result = 1168 MOVDQU [input + i - offset] a = 1164 MOVDQU [scanline + i - stride] b = 1168 MOVDQU [prior + i] c = 1164 MOVDQU [prior + i - stride] al = 1786 PUNPCKLBW a bl = 1786 PUNPCKLBW b cl = 1786 PUNPCKLBW c ah = 1772 PUNPCKHBW a bh = 1772 PUNPCKHBW b ch = 1772 PUNPCKHBW c pal = 1165 MOVDQA al pah = 1165 MOVDQA ah pal += 1395 PADDD bl pah += 1395 PADDD bh pal -= 1742 PSUBD al pah -= 1742 PSUBD ah pbl = 1165 MOVDQA pal pbh = 1165 MOVDQA pah pcl = 1165 MOVDQA pal pch = 1165 MOVDQA pah pal -= 1742 PSUBD al pbl -= 1742 PSUBD bl pcl -= 1742 PSUBD cl pah -= 1742 PSUBD ah pbh -= 1742 PSUBD bh pch -= 1742 PSUBD ch pal = 1369 PABSD pal pbl = 1369 PABSD pbl pcl = 1369 PABSD pcl pah = 1369 PABSD pah pbh = 1369 PABSD pbh pch = 1369 PABSD pch c1l = 1472 PCMPGTD pbl pal c2l = 1472 PCMPGTD pcl pal c4l = 1472 PCMPGTD pcl pbl c1h = 1472 PCMPGTD pbh pah c2h = 1472 PCMPGTD pch pah c4h = 1472 PCMPGTD pch pbh c3l = 1427 PAND c1l c2l c3h = 1427 PAND c1h c2h bl = 1427 PAND bl c4l bh = 1427 PAND bh c4h cl = 1431 PANDN cl, c4l ch = 1431 PANDN ch, c4h bl = 1650 POR bl, cl bh = 1650 POR bh, ch al = 1427 PAND al, c3l ah = 1427 PAND ah, c3h bl = 1431 PANDN bl, c3l bh = 1431 PANDN bh, c3h al = 1650 POR al, bl ah = 1650 POR ah, bh delta = 1387 PACKUSWB al, ah result += 1391 PADDB delta 1167 MOVDQU [scanline], result It's ridiculous! 54 operations that run on 16 bytes of data at once. Next we should allocate registers and produce the program. On Linux we are free to use the whole range of XMM registers without having to store them, so we do so. simd_paeth_assembly = (emit, input_addr, a_addr, b_addr, c_addr, scanline_addr): xmm0 = Register(m128, 0) xmm1 = Register(m128, 1) xmm2 = Register(m128, 2) xmm3 = Register(m128, 3) xmm4 = Register(m128, 4) xmm5 = Register(m128, 5) xmm6 = Register(m128, 6) xmm7 = Register(m128, 7) xmm8 = Register(m128, 8) xmm9 = Register(m128, 9) xmm10 = Register(m128, 10) xmm11 = Register(m128, 11) xmm12 = Register(m128, 12) xmm13 = Register(m128, 13) xmm14 = Register(m128, 14) xmm15 = Register(m128, 15) # register allocation result = xmm0 al = xmm1 bl = xmm2 cl = xmm3 ah = xmm4 bh = xmm5 ch = xmm6 pal = xmm7 pbl = xmm8 pcl = xmm9 pah = xmm10 pbh = xmm11 pch = xmm12 # result = 1164 MOVDQU [input + i - offset] emit(1168, result, input_addr) # a = 1168 MOVDQU [scanline + i - stride] emit(1164, al, a_addr) # b = 1168 MOVDQU [prior + i] emit(1168, bl, b_addr) # c = 1168 MOVDQU [prior + i - stride] emit(1164, cl, c_addr) # ah = 1772 PUNPCKHBW a # bh = 1772 PUNPCKHBW b # ch = 1772 PUNPCKHBW c emit(1772, ah, al) emit(1772, bh, bl) emit(1772, ch, cl) # al = 1786 PUNPCKLBW a # bl = 1786 PUNPCKLBW b # cl = 1786 PUNPCKLBW c emit(1786, al, al) emit(1786, bl, bl) emit(1786, cl, cl) # pal = 1165 MOVDQA al # pah = 1165 MOVDQA ah emit(1165, pal, al) emit(1165, pah, ah) # pal += 1395 PADDD bl # pah += 1395 PADDD bh emit(1395, pal, bl) emit(1395, pah, bh) # pal -= 1742 PSUBD al # pah -= 1742 PSUBD ah emit(1742, pal, al) emit(1742, pah, ah) # pbl = 1165 MOVDQA pal # pbh = 1165 MOVDQA pah # pcl = 1165 MOVDQA pal # pch = 1165 MOVDQA pah emit(1165, pbl, pal) emit(1165, pbh, pah) emit(1165, pcl, pcl) emit(1165, pch, pch) # pal -= 1742 PSUBD al # pbl -= 1742 PSUBD bl # pcl -= 1742 PSUBD cl # pah -= 1742 PSUBD ah # pbh -= 1742 PSUBD bh # pch -= 1742 PSUBD ch emit(1742, pal, al) emit(1742, pbl, bl) emit(1742, pcl, cl) emit(1742, pah, ah) emit(1742, pbh, bh) emit(1742, pch, ch) # pal = 1369 PABSD pal # pbl = 1369 PABSD pbl # pcl = 1369 PABSD pcl # pah = 1369 PABSD pah # pbh = 1369 PABSD pbh # pch = 1369 PABSD pch emit(1369, pal, pal) emit(1369, pbl, pbl) emit(1369, pcl, pcl) emit(1369, pah, pah) emit(1369, pbh, pbh) emit(1369, pch, pch) # We would need at least 4 registers more, so # we need to figure out which ones we can reuse. c1l = xmm13 c1h = xmm14 c2l = xmm15 # If we do some reordering here, we can # reuse pal # c1l = 1472 PCMPGTD pbl pal # c1h = 1472 PCMPGTD pbh pah # c2l = 1472 PCMPGTD pcl pal # c2h = 1472 PCMPGTD pch pah emit(1164, c1l, pbl) emit(1472, c1l, pal) emit(1164, c2l, pcl) emit(1472, c2l, pal) c2h = pal emit(1164, c2h, pch) emit(1472, c2h, pah) emit(1164, c1h, pbh) emit(1472, c1h, pah) # c4l = 1472 PCMPGTD pcl pbl # c4h = 1472 PCMPGTD pch pbh # We can reuse pcl/pch for c4l, c4h c4l = pcl # emit(1164, c4l, pcl) c4h = pch # emit(1164, c4h, pch) emit(1472, c4l, pbl) emit(1472, c4h, pbh) # c3l = 1427 PAND c1l c2l # c3h = 1427 PAND c1h c2h # We can reuse c1* for c3* c3l = c1l c3h = c1h emit(1427, c3l, c2l) emit(1427, c3h, c2h) # bl = 1427 PAND bl c4l # bh = 1427 PAND bh c4h emit(1427, bl, c4l) emit(1427, bh, c4h) # cl = 1431 PANDN cl, c4l # ch = 1431 PANDN ch, c4h emit(1431, cl, c4l) emit(1431, ch, c4h) # bl = 1650 POR bl, cl # bh = 1650 POR bh, ch emit(1650, bl, cl) emit(1650, bh, ch) # al = 1427 PAND al, c3l # ah = 1427 PAND ah, c3h emit(1427, al, c3l) emit(1427, ah, c3h) # bl = 1431 PANDN bl, c3l # bh = 1431 PANDN bh, c3h emit(1431, bl, c3l) emit(1431, bh, c3h) # al = 1650 POR al, bl # ah = 1650 POR ah, bh emit(1650, al, bl) emit(1650, ah, bh) # delta = 1387 PACKUSWB al, ah delta = al emit(1387, delta, ah) # result += 1391 PADDB delta emit(1391, result, delta) # 1168 MOVDQU [scanline + i], result emit(1167, scanline_addr, result) return result The dump of the above program is 288 bytes long. A quick look with ndisasm revealed that the assembler works. Now we have to install the above thing into a loop to have it run. We can reuse most of our old loop: assemble = (): # 1811 PUSH r64 [64] Push r64. # we no longer clobber any registers we should save. # i = 0 .r0 # 5973 XOR m64 r64 [64] r/m64 XOR r64. emit(5973, Register(i64, 0), Register(i64, 0)) # j = offset .arg_4(8) # 1289 NEG r64 [64] Two's complement negate r/m64. # 74 ADD r64 r64 [64] Add r64 to r/m64. # k = j - stride .r1 emit(1289, Register(i64, 1)) emit( 74, Register(i64, 1), Register(i64, 8)) # loop: loop_label := output.length # 0475 CMP m64 r64 [64] Compare r64 with r/m64. # if i >= length goto exit emit( 475, Register(i64, 0), arg_5) # 0862 JAE rel32 [64] [L] Jump short if above or equal (CF=0). emit( 862, Immediate(i32, exit_label - ja_label)) ja_label := output.length simd_paeth_assembly(emit, Address(m128, 0, 2, 0), # input = [input .r2 + i .r0] Address(m128, 0, 6, 1), # a = [scanline .r6 + k .r1] Address(m128, 0, 7, 8), # b = [prior .r7 + j .r8] Address(m128, 0, 7, 1), # c = [prior .r7 + k .r1] Address(m128, 0, 6, 8)) # output = [scanline .r6 + j .r8] # i, j, k += 16 emit( 72, Register(i64, 0), Immediate(i8, 16)) emit( 72, Register(i64, 8), Immediate(i8, 16)) emit( 72, Register(i64, 1), Immediate(i8, 16)) # jump loop # 0886 JMP rel32 [64] [L] Jump short, RIP = RIP + 8-bit displacement sign extended to 64-bits emit( 886, Immediate(i32, loop_label - exit_label)) # exit: exit_label := output.length # return emit(1901) # RET NEAR Now, unlike the original assembly program, we can't use this new implementation in isolation because it only runs through 16-byte chunks at a time. We can't use this new implementation just as it because it churns through 16-byte chunks in one swoop. Therefore we need the JIT version to meet up the beginning and end, so these two have to be combined: make_new_filter = (optimized, ordinary): return (prior, scanline, input, stride, offset, length): # max(0, offset - stride) + 16 must be filled. fast_offset = max(max(0, offset-stride) + 16, offset) fast_index = fast_offset - offset remain_length = length - fast_index last_length = remain_length & 16 fast_length = remain_length - last_length last_index = length - last_length last_offset = offset + last_index ordinary(prior, scanline, input, stride, offset, fast_index) optimized(prior, scanline, input[fast_index .:], stride, fast_offset, fast_length) ordinary(prior, scanline, input[last_index .:], stride, last_offset, last_length) That was already a bit tricky to write. Debugging When we run the code we notice it produces a wrong output. Here's the first two scanlines of the JIT-only version: 7f 83 82 ff 7c 80 7f ff 7f 83 82 ff 7b 7f 7e ff ... 48 52 2f ff 4f 59 36 ff 50 5a 37 ff 4e 58 35 ff 7e 82 81 ff 7b 7f 7e ff 7e 82 81 ff 7a 7e 7d ff ... 50 5a 37 ff 57 61 3e ff 57 61 3e ff 52 5c 39 ff And here's our JIT+SIMD version: 7f 83 82 ff 7c 80 7f ff 7f 83 82 ff 7b 7f 7e ff ... 48 52 2f ff 4f 59 36 ff 50 5a 37 ff 4e 58 35 ff 7e 82 81 ff 7b 7f 7e ff 7e 82 81 ff 7a 7e 7d ff ... 07 07 07 00 0e 0e 0e 00 0e 0e 0e 00 09 09 09 00 It looks a lot like we would have something in our paeth. The first line looks okay, but actually it's running a different filter there. Our filter runs on the second row. Fortunately we can define a software breakpoint. # 852 INT 3 [64] [L] Interrupt 3-trap to debugger. emit( 852, null) But maybe I haste here because my display shows only 16 bytes from the beginning and the end! This means that on the left side our optimized program hasn't been running at all. So our filter is supposed to fill the first 16 bytes so that the actual program can start there like this: pre-fill: AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA scanline+k: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 scanline+j: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 But then we actually start the optimized routine like this: pre-fill: AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA AA scanline+k: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 scanline+j: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 Oops. Here's the fixed version. make_new_filter = (optimized, ordinary): return (prior, scanline, input, stride, offset, length): if length < 32 # if it's so small chunk that our thing breaks return ordinary(prior, scanline, input, stride, offset, length) # max(0, offset - stride) + 16 must be filled. fill_offset = max(max(0, offset-stride) + 16, offset) fast_offset = max(offset, stride) fast_index = fast_offset - offset remain_length = length - fast_index last_length = remain_length & 15 fast_length = remain_length - last_length last_index = length - last_length last_offset = offset + last_index ordinary(prior, scanline, input, stride, offset, fill_offset - offset) optimized(prior, scanline, input[fast_index .:], stride, fast_offset, fast_length) ordinary(prior, scanline, input[last_index .:], stride, last_offset, last_length) It still gives the wrong results but they are more apparent now. Next we use that trap instruction I shown and run the following in the GDB: display /x $xmm0.uint128 display /x $xmm1.uint128 display /x $xmm2.uint128 display /x $xmm3.uint128 display /x $xmm4.uint128 display /x $xmm5.uint128 display /x $xmm6.uint128 display /x $xmm7.uint128 display /x $xmm8.uint128 display /x $xmm8.uint128 display /x $xmm9.uint128 display /x $xmm10.uint128 display /x $xmm11.uint128 display /x $xmm12.uint128 display /x $xmm13.uint128 display /x $xmm14.uint128 display /x $xmm15.uint128 layout asm After the MOVDQU instructions the xmm0-xmm3 looks like this. 1: /x $xmm0.uint128 = 0x00fefefe00ffffff00ffffff00ffffff 2: /x $xmm1.uint128 = 0xff7d7e7aff81827eff7e7f7bff81827e 3: /x $xmm2.uint128 = 0xff7d7e7aff7e7f7bff82837fff7f807c 4: /x $xmm3.uint128 = 0xff7e7f7bff82837fff7f807cff82837f The xmm0 looks very familiar. I think it'll be apparent very soon why this code produces the wrong results. After the punpck{lbw,hbw} have run, the register dump looks like the following: 1: /x $xmm0.uint128 = 0x00fefefe00ffffff00ffffff00ffffff 2: /x $xmm1.uint128 = 0xffff7e7e7f7f7b7bffff818182827e7e 3: /x $xmm2.uint128 = 0xffff828283837f7fffff7f7f80807c7c 4: /x $xmm3.uint128 = 0xffff7f7f80807c7cffff828283837f7f 5: /x $xmm4.uint128 = 0xff007d007e007a00ff00810082007e00 6: /x $xmm5.uint128 = 0xff007d007e007a00ff007e007f007b00 7: /x $xmm6.uint128 = 0xff007e007f007b00ff00820083007f00 It is suddenly painfully apparent that the destination and source register in the unpack operation cannot be the same. So we have to fix those lines like this: # ah = 1817 PXOR ah # bh = 1817 PXOR bh # ch = 1817 PXOR ch # al = 1817 PXOR al # bl = 1817 PXOR bl # cl = 1817 PXOR cl emit(1817, al, al) emit(1817, bl, bl) emit(1817, cl, cl) emit(1817, ah, ah) emit(1817, bh, bh) emit(1817, ch, ch) # ah = 1772 PUNPCKHBW a # bh = 1772 PUNPCKHBW b # ch = 1772 PUNPCKHBW c emit(1772, ah, pal) emit(1772, bh, pbl) emit(1772, ch, pcl) # al = 1786 PUNPCKLBW a # bl = 1786 PUNPCKLBW b # cl = 1786 PUNPCKLBW c emit(1786, al, pal) emit(1786, bl, pbl) emit(1786, cl, pcl) Another iteration of the first entry with a debugger reveals that we calculate a + b - a rather than a + b - c like we should. This fixes that: # pal -= 1742 PSUBD cl # pah -= 1742 PSUBD ch emit(1742, pal, cl) emit(1742, pah, ch) It seems that at the end we end up adding with zero, so that we are actually doing nothing in this program. The only reasonable explanation here is that we mess up the conditionals somehow. After the end of the conditional block, the result looks like this: 1: /x $xmm0.uint128 = 0x00fefefe00ffffff00ffffff00ffffff (result) 2: /x $xmm1.uint128 = 0xff007e007f007b00ff00810082007e00 (al) 3: /x $xmm2.uint128 = 0xff00820083007f00ff007f0080007c00 (bl) 4: /x $xmm3.uint128 = 0xff007f0080007c00ff00820083007f00 (cl) 5: /x $xmm4.uint128 = 0xff007d007e007a00ff00810082007e00 (ah) 6: /x $xmm5.uint128 = 0xff007d007e007a00ff007e007f007b00 (bh) 7: /x $xmm6.uint128 = 0xff007e007f007b00ff00820083007f00 (ch) 8: /x $xmm7.uint128 = 0xffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff (c2h) 10: /x $xmm8.uint128 = 0x00000100010001000000010001000100 (pbl) 11: /x $xmm9.uint128 = 0xffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff (c4l) 12: /x $xmm10.uint128 = 0x00000100010001000000040004000400 (pah) 13: /x $xmm11.uint128 = 0x00000100010001000000010001000100 (pbh) 14: /x $xmm12.uint128 = 0xffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff (c4h) 15: /x $xmm13.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 (c3l) 16: /x $xmm14.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 (c3h) 17: /x $xmm15.uint128 = 0xffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff (c2l) The labels reveal that we have the following state: al, bl, cl, ah, bh, ch c3 = false c4 = true This should mean that the result b is selected. The following instructions should correctly preserve the result. # bl = 1427 PAND bl c4l # bh = 1427 PAND bh c4h emit(1427, bl, c4l) emit(1427, bh, c4h) They did so. Respectively these next ones should zero the cl and ch. # cl = 1431 PANDN cl, c4l # ch = 1431 PANDN ch, c4h emit(1431, cl, c4l) emit(1431, ch, c4h) I think I messed up something again.. Reading out on this reveals that the PANDN inverts the destination and then does AND. It's not exactly what we expected. We have to flip them over and merge with the c3 and c4. The result is still completely wrong: 7f 83 82 ff 7c 80 7f ff 7f 83 82 ff 7b 7f 7e ff ... 48 52 2f ff 4f 59 36 ff 50 5a 37 ff 4e 58 35 ff 7e 82 81 ff fe ff fe 00 fe ff ff 00 fe fe fe 00 ... 06 06 06 00 0d 0d 0d 00 0d 0d 0d 00 08 08 08 00 One of the culprits could be the PCMPGTD . We use it like this: c1 = PCMPGTD pb pa If this actually means 'greater than', then the code is: c1 = pb > pa And the condition was: if pa <= pb and pa <= pc return a elif pb <= pc return b else return c So there we have our problem. I had to think about this a bit and transform it into the correct form. if not (pa > pb or pa > pc) return a elif not pb > pc return b else return c Even then the code is not correct yet. Let's look at the input next. It looks weird because it's upside down. Let's label them and compare them with what we know. input: /x $xmm0.uint128 = 0x 00 fe fe fe 00 ff ff ff 00 ff ff ff 00 ff ff ff a: /x $xmm7.uint128 = 0x ff 7d 7e 7a ff 81 82 7e ff 7e 7f 7b ff 81 82 7e b: /x $xmm8.uint128 = 0x ff 7d 7e 7a ff 7e 7f 7b ff 82 83 7f ff 7f 80 7c c: /x $xmm9.uint128 = 0x ff 7e 7f 7b ff 82 83 7f ff 7f 80 7c ff 82 83 7f prior: 7f 83 82 ff 7c 80 7f ff 7f 83 82 ff 7b 7f 7e ff ... 48 52 2f ff 4f 59 36 ff 50 5a 37 ff 4e 58 35 ff scanline: 7e 82 81 ff 7b 7f 7e ff 7e 82 81 ff 7a 7e 7d ff ... 50 5a 37 ff 57 61 3e ff 57 61 3e ff 52 5c 39 ff This is precise. Next the data is packed into the 6 registers. We see them being cleaned: al: /x $xmm1.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 bl: /x $xmm2.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 cl: /x $xmm3.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 ah: /x $xmm4.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 bh: /x $xmm5.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 ch: /x $xmm6.uint128 = 0x00000000000000000000000000000000 Then they get filled up with data: al: /x $xmm1.uint128 = 0xff00 7e00 7f00 7b00 ff00 8100 8200 7e00 bl: /x $xmm2.uint128 = 0xff00 8200 8300 7f00 ff00 7f00 8000 7c00 cl: /x $xmm3.uint128 = 0xff00 7f00 8000 7c00 ff00 8200 8300 7f00 ah: /x $xmm4.uint128 = 0xff00 7d00 7e00 7a00 ff00 8100 8200 7e00 bh: /x $xmm5.uint128 = 0xff00 7d00 7e00 7a00 ff00 7e00 7f00 7b00 ch: /x $xmm6.uint128 = 0xff00 7e00 7f00 7b00 ff00 8200 8300 7f00 So the problem appears to be that we do the wrong kind of unpacking operation here. We can fix it with PSRLW which shifts bytes right. The beginning of the sequnce started to look right at this point, but it got the rest wrong. I started to realise there is something fairly wrong here. Ok. So we fill our first run like this: 7e 82 81 ff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Then we jump ahead by 16 bytes and we start reading the input from here: 7e 82 81 ff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ ^^ You know what? At this point I realised I cannot do it this way. I can only compute contents on one pixel parallel using this parallelization technique. And it's messy considering what it does. I found yet some more things I did wrong, such as the use of double word operations when I should have used operations on words. After finding those I started getting results that started to seem plausible but compared to the correct output they were still incorrect. Lets leave it to the backburner This was the first time when I've studied the SIMD instructions in detail. The outcome was a complete mess but I learned so much in the process that I'm not even frustrated. The techniques presented here obviously work, but I need to write a compiler to make the machine code solution more practical as a choice.

Loren Coleman, director of the International Cryptozoology Museumin Portland, Maine, said Sykes’s finding could be the “number one story in cryptozoology”—the study of hidden, or unverified, animals—”for the decade.” Coleman, who also appears in the upcoming documentary, said he thinks Sykes’s findings likely explain only one of the Yeti varieties that have been reported. “That’s one of the problems with the word ‘Yeti,’” Coleman said. “It’s an umbrella term for three different varieties. There’s the small kind, there’s a man-sized type, and then a larger one that is known as Dzu-Teh. I must assume what he’s looking at are samples from the larger-sized one that many of us in the field have speculated was a form of bear.” The above scaled chart was created by Tyler Stone, and he is to be credited for it. He says it was “culled from other sources.” If, as Sykes’s findings suggest, the Dzu-Teh is indeed the same species of early polar bear that once roamed the Arctic, it is unlikely to have a white fur coat, as often shown in popular depictions of the Yeti, since it was one of the first polar bears to branch off from brown bears. That, Coleman said, actually strengthens Sykes’s case that the larger Yeti is an ancient polar bear species. “It’s one of the myths of the Abominable Snowman and Yeti that they’re white,” Coleman said. “The native people actually describe them as brown and reddish-brown.”

Scientists Grow A Simple, Human Liver In A Petri Dish Enlarge this image toggle caption Courtesy of Takanori Takebe/Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine Courtesy of Takanori Takebe/Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine Japanese scientists have cracked open a freaky new chapter in the sci-fi-meets-stem-cells era. A group in Yokohama reported it has grown a primitive liver in a petri dish using a person's skin cells. The organ isn't complete. It's missing a few parts. And it will be years --maybe decades — before the technique reaches clinics. Still, this rudimentary liver is the first complex, functioning organ to be grown in the lab from human, skin-derived stem cells. When the scientists transplanted the organ into a mouse, it worked a lot like a regular human liver. "It's a huge step forward," George Daley, from the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, tells NPR's Rob Stein. "There have been groups that have attempted to generate liver cells, and that's been promising," says Daley, who wasn't involved in the current study. "This is the first attempt to regenerate the organ by mixing the cells that are critical components of that organ." Several labs around the world have been trying to grow organs on plastic scaffolds, which offer a three-dimensional surface on which cells can stick. This approach has been used to make tracheas from a person's own cells. And doctors have even transplanted these synthetic organs into a handful of patients. But more complex organs – kidneys, pancreases and livers – have been elusive. So Takanori Takebe and a team at the Yokohama City University tried a more laid-back strategy: They let the cells build their own scaffold. The team took some liver cells (made from a person's induced pluripotent stem cells) and then mixed them with two other cell types — one that makes blood vessels and one that builds connective tissue to hold an organ together. Five days later, Takebe was "completely gobsmacked," by what he saw in the petri dish, he told reporters Tuesday, with the help of a translator. The cell mixtures had assembled into tiny 3-D structures that looked and acted like miniature livers, or "liver buds," as Takebe calls them. The proto-organs were only about 5 millimeters tall, or half the height of a Lego brick. But the liverettes built their own blood vessels, which allowed Takebe and his team to test-drive them in mice. They plucked the liver buds from the petri dish and then connected them to blood vessels in a mouse. About 10 days later, the buds started working. They broke down human drugs and made blood proteins, as a regular liver would. One proto-organ even saved a mouse from liver failure, Takebe and his colleagues report in the journal Nature. The results are "extremely encouraging," says stem-cell scientist Stuart Forbes, from the University of Edinburgh. "But there's a significant amount of further research [required] before we could translate this to a clinical therapy for patient," he tells Stein. First off, the organs are too small to be useful. Doctors would need thousands of them to help a person with liver damage. And the little buds don't form a full liver. They're missing bile ducts, or the tubes that drain away toxins. Plus, Forbes says, there's still a big question about safety. Stem cells tend to form tumors. And the current study doesn't look at the long-term effect of the transplanted liver. "To perform this in humans, we'd like to see a lot of safety testing," Forbes says.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Coyotes co-owner Anthony LeBlanc set off an array of reactions recently when he told The Arizona Republic that he wasn’t happy with attendance over the first three months of the season. Some locals thought he was blaming the fans. Some outsiders cited it as proof that hockey will not work in the desert. A chorus of semi-informed analysts assumed he was planting the seeds for the team’s inevitable move in five years, when it can exercise an out-clause by reaching $50 million in losses. The speculation escalated from there, fueled mainly by a lack of details or sound analysis. Mikkel Boedker scored late in regulation and Keith Yandle’s second goal of the night beat Edmonton in ovetime, 4-3 Tuesday night. FULL STORY >> But with the New Year dawning after Tuesday night’s 4-3 overtime win over the Edmonton Oilers before a second straight packed house at Jobing.com Arena — and with 14 of the team’s final 20 games before the Olympic break to be played at home — LeBlanc and co-owner George Gosbee are eyeing better days for the franchise they purchased less than five months ago. FOX Sports Arizona caught up with both owners on Tuesday to clarify the attendance comments and get the duo’s thoughts on an array of issues facing the team as 2014 begins. FSAZ: Anthony, given the rampant speculation regarding your attendance comments, can you clarify what you meant? LeBlanc: "First off, I should apologize if my comments were not taken in the manner in which they were intended. Those comments were an onus on us to do a better job. At the end of the day we have very high expectations for ourselves as an ownership group. "But having said that, we are approaching 20 percent higher attendance than the last time we played games in the fall, which was the 2011-2012 season. We just want them to be up higher, and we’re working very hard to do just that." FSAZ: There have been rumors that you are giving away an inordinate amount of complimentary tickets? LeBlanc: "Have there been games where we have comped a fair amount of tickets? Absolutely. We went into this expecting comps for some games, but we also had the expectation that the comps would average out exactly where we agreed to with the City of Glendale, and that is still what we anticipate. I can’t tell you the exact number because that is confidential information, but our average number of comp tickets is substantially below the average being bandied about." Gosbee: "I’m not sure where this giving away huge numbers of tickets rumor has started, but it’s less than in any seasons past. That’s the way things used to be done around here a while ago, but to be honest, there’s no incentive now. You used to have to reach the 14,000 per game benchmark for the league’s revenue sharing, but that’s not the case any more. The league changed that. "Our owners aren’t even giving away tickets to friends. We instituted this culture where if you want tickets, you can go buy them and then give them away. That’s the culture that we set. We don’t want to do what they did in the past." FSAZ: Attendance has historically lagged in the months of October, November and December here. Your group didn’t take over the club until August. How much did that late start impact your ability to alter history? LeBlanc: "I don’t want to put ourselves in a situation where we are making excuses but we started this long process probably two to three months later than our business plan anticipated. "Despite that, we will finish the first half of the calendar year with substantially higher attendance than the first half of the last year we had fall games. Our goal is to average 15,000 for this year even though, quite frankly, that was the model we set for next year, not this year." FSAZ: The City of Glendale recently reported about a $1.6 million loss in the Coyotes deal for the quarter. Was that in any way surprising or misleading? LeBlanc: "I think it is somewhat misleading because it doesn’t include all of the parking revenue and the supplemental funds that will go into escrow that we put into place to cover the city because those details haven’t been provided yet. Those numbers also don’t include any form of sales tax. And we are getting ready to announce another major concert in a couple of weeks, which means huge revenue for the city. Gosbee: "We went into this saying we were going to do three years of losses, so if we’re looking at that after a couple of months, no it’€™s not concerning and it’s not surprising. I’ve got to tell you that I’ve never gone into a business deal before where you could look at six different revenue drivers and every single one of them is working. We were hoping that three out of six would work; we have all six cylinders firing, and it’s a great feeling." FSAZ: Has parking revenue made an impact? LeBlanc: "From our perspective, parking revenue is coming in line with what we budgeted. There is a lag between the games and the reporting of parking revenue to the city — and an even bigger lag in the reporting of supplementary fund money going to escrow for the city. That number will not be reported until the end of the year, and that’s $1.50 per ticket. That’s upwards of a million dollars." FSAZ: George, you have said that corporate sponsorships and suite sales are up. Can you provide any tangible evidence or numbers? Gosbee: It’s up over 50 percent from last year. Everything is up quite dramatically, and it’s all pure numbers now. There’s nothing misleading about the numbers that we’re printing." FSAZ: Did the daily drama of the sale prepare you for the drama of the first three months of the season or has it surprised you? In three months, the team has had a scorching hot start fueled by uncharacteristically high offensive numbers, your captain contracted a rare illness, your goalie has been involved in three of the most unusual goals in NHL history, your blue line has been a revolving door of injuries, and you play in a conference where the top eight teams would all enjoy home-ice advantage if they played in the Eastern Conference. LeBlanc: Compared to the process of dealing with high-powered lawyers and municipal governments (laughs)? Even though this has been a bizarre season, this is the fun part. This is the part we all enjoy — the part we were all looking forward to." FSAZ: Back to attendance, do you think these back-to-back sellouts are a harbinger of what’s to come? Do you expect attendance to jump? LeBlanc: "I hope so. I know we broke single-game suite record again (Tuesday against Edmonton) after we just set it against Chicago. "To see these two games, which we didn’t budget to sell out — we thought they’d sell well, but not sell out — actually sell out is very encouraging. What’s the old A-team saying? ‘I love it when a plan comes together.’ "I think a multitude of things are driving this. I hate to reflect back on the last four years but finally, people have realized it’€™s behind us and it’s safe to get behind this team. "We haven’t played as well as we’d like, at least on the score sheet, but we’re still an exciting team to watch. We’re well-coached, well-managed, and we are a winning franchise in a very tough conference. "We’ve hired some good people to the staff at the upper management level. We have a solid sales and marketing team and for the first time in a long time, they have been able to go out and sell this team unencumbered." FSAZ: George, you had said in the past that the team does not need an attendance increase to make it? Is that accurate? Gosbee: "We’d all like to see a ticket spike, but there are other revenue drivers in sports now. Corporate sponsors — the TV deal in Canada helped us out a whole lot. There are a lot of things that work now in professional sports, especially in a pure revenue sharing model that allows a small market team to not be so reliant on ticket sales any more. That was one of the biggest drivers of us buying the team, that it would not be so reliant on ticket sales any more. It was buying 1/30th of the NHL and managing the team in Phoenix. All you need to do is look at the economics of sports. The whole game has changed. "That said, our No. 1 focus now is getting people in the building, because all of those other areas are set. It helps revenue and it’s nice to play in front of a full house, but it’s not the biggest driver in the sport any more." FSAZ: How much will the new Canadian TV deal and increased revenue sharing impact your bottom line? LeBlanc: "It’s significant. We’ve said all along that we weren’t just buying the Phoenix Coyotes, we were buying buying 1/30th of the NHL and it has nothing but upside, when you look at that TV deal, league revenues being up and other factors. "(Wednesday’s) Winter Classic in Michigan will have over 100,000 people in the stadium. It just shows what kind of growth this league can have." FSAZ: You are already spending more than you expected on payroll due to a fluid offseason market? Can the team add payroll as it makes new deals, or is it more prudent to hold the line for now until revenue increases? Gosbee: "We’re opportunity driven. We’re not shy about spending some money. The problem is a lot of teams are right at the salary cap, a lot more than you’ve seen in a long, long time, so we’ll see what happens, but we’re in a very, very good position to seize on some opportunities if they come up." FSAZ: What is your take on the team’s play thus far? Impressed, disappointed, or right where you thought it would be? LeBlanc: "The team is on track to be north of 100 points. To me, a 100-plus point season is a very respectful season. If you’d have told me at the start of the season we’d be on pace for 100-plus points, I’d have been ecstatic. "At the same time, we want to be better. If we get 105 points, we’ll ask ‘why didn’t we hit 110?’ But if the season ended today we’d be in the playoffs despite some tough injuries and tough circumstances. It just shows the character of this team. "We’ve been without our captain for a while now, but we’re going to get him back, sooner rather than later. Other than (Zbynek) Michalek, we’re relatively healthy. Mike Smith is showing flashes of the season he had two years ago, Mike Ribeiro is definitely showing the offensive talent that made Don Maloney want him here, and our defense is back to playing the way Dave Tippett wants a defense to play. So we’re very optimistic." Follow Craig Morgan on Twitter

My Journey to Philly Begins Getting There Months ago, I decided that I would be in Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention purely to be part of a ‘million voter march’ to make sure that Bernie would get the Democratic nomination. When Senator Sanders gave his endorsement to the anti-democrat, Hillary Clinton, I almost caved into my overwhelming depression and considered giving up the trip. A ‘vacation’ seemed to be a waste of money and effort – I was only going for the protests and what good would that be after he had already endorsed HRC? And I’m not talking about my own money – I don’t have any (semi-retired). It was my children who offered to send me there to represent their voices as well – they are all berners. My oldest son and his wife gave me some (a lot!) of their frequent flyer miles for the plane. My youngest son paid for my Airbnb. My daughter gave me spending money. Would I be wasting their money and efforts? I thought, “Am I being fair to my children? Is this just an obsession of mine for which they will pay the price?” A determination somehow compelled me to go. Maybe the driving force was the jealousy I felt when I read of other people’s plans online; so many groups of protesters were making plans for Philly. Or, it could have been my perception that I (along with millions of others) was somehow invisible to a party that I had valued for most of my adult life – I wanted to remind myself that I am indeed real. Somehow I felt a call towards the city itself -- the place where our country started – as though it had something to teach me about politics. I’m not referring to the schmoozing in the political arena where career party members would celebrate their questionable ‘win’; instead, I needed some context, some realism that went beyond my perceptions of the backstabbing, lying, and sometimes criminal Hillary Clinton campaign that made the whole process of voting seem futile. I wanted to hear the crowds of today’s political revolution mingle with the echoes of the battles of our first revolution and the loudness of the marches reverberating through those same streets. So, I packed an ‘occupy kit’, complete with kerchiefs, eye wash, backpack, and comfortable shoes. I downloaded apps to my phone: ACLU, metro schedules, Lyft, Uber, Periscope, and Firechat. I scoured facebook and other sites to put important events into my google calendar. I felt semi-prepared as I headed for the City of Brotherly Love. Philadelphia Although I live in Arizona now, I was born near Pittsburgh. I had always looked at modern-day Philly as that ‘other’ city on the eastern edge that melded with New York, Delaware, and New Jersey. It was merely a different group of sports fans (and I hate sports) with a different accent and they were all terrible drivers (anyone not from Pittsburgh doesn't know how to drive). I knew that it had some touristy kinds of historical places; but, that had seemed to me to be just some kind of bait to get people to visit the crumbling, deteriorating city. I was oh so very, very wrong! I didn’t notice any different ambience at the airport. It just seemed to be an ill-planned hodgepodge of buildings, ramps, and other structures stewed in a very hot and humid air – as if the city planners wanted to trap visitors into an impenetrable maze of unforgiving concrete. The cab ride made me feel as though I was back on the winding bridges and roads of the Steel City, but nothing notable. At the Airbnb, the cute row house was welcoming, homey, and again had that familiar moist eastern feel to it. The only thing notable that I did that Friday night was to eat a cheesesteak hoagie (yummy). The Arch Street Meeting House On Saturday morning, when I got to the meeting house for the People’s Convention, something began to change inside of me. I was annoyed that the street vendor couldn’t find my size for a Bernie shirt that I loved; but the annoyance seemed to be more from being delayed outside of the property – something was drawing me towards the gate and I felt impatient to continue beyond the roadside. As I stepped through to the other side of the wall, it felt like coming home, as though familiar faces would begin to surround me. Although I didn't know any of these people, I nonetheless, perceived them to be my ‘friends’. The building had been erected by The Society of Friends in 1804 on land donated by William Penn who was also a Quaker. I found myself kind of creeping through and around the property and the house. I was in awe of the history that was captured in the various displays situated throughout the interior. It was as though I wanted to ‘consume’ the totality of it while savoring each piece of it – and using it all for sustenance to continue the movement of our own political revolution. What was the most odd, is that while I had planned on diving into the discussions of the convention and meeting some of the speakers personally, I instead remained aloof. I felt more like an observer than a participant. It was not for a lack of welcome; everyone smiled and mingled. And, though I had intended to be involved in that richness of conversations inside, I found my attention drifting to the sounds of the floorboards creaking, the occasional bursts of air that came through the doors, and the smells of ancient wood mixed with human scents. It didn't seem important to understand every word that was said -- the importance was the fervor with which the words were delivered. It somehow seemed that this building not only expected this, but demanded and desired the energy of the people who were milling about throughout the interior. I seemed to just absorb a lot of what was going on. Sometimes I even engaged in a few rigorous discussions when I would walk somewhere outdoors to have a cigarette. One such exchange was with a gentleman there to help out with the setup and teardown. As he was a union member, we talked about unions, Arizona being a right-to-work state, and how the Democratic party was dumping working, middle class people like we are garbage. But, even then, it felt as if our voices were repeating words that were already there, ringing in the garden -- as if we were reading aloud from a treasured book written long ago that we had found left under a hedge. It was as though this place was on a loop that repeated our struggles and triumphs, and the recording of the total moments could be replayed in each moment. I couldn’t quite tell if it was the heat that was overwhelming, or the weight of the sacred meaning of it all. But, I kept going outside for breezes and cigarettes. Benjamin Franklin While I have always believed that Ben Franklin was a genius, a wise printer, and an enlightened founder, I never particularly felt anything more than a historical curiosity about him. That changed after I walked about 100 feet down Arch Street. I happened upon a cemetery and inquired at the gate as to who was buried there. When I was told Ben Franklin, I purchased entry just for a quick peek. I hadn’t anticipated that I would feel tearful when reading his epitaph (which he wrote himself). The air was changed, the sounds of the street were fading, and a hushed moment wrapped itself around me. There was something profound that dwelt here -- some secret that I wished to find. I suddenly wanted to know just who this man was. As I continued through the paths along the graves, the humbled feeling of inadequacy unexpectedly welled up inside of me. It was as though I now knew why I had felt so invisible lately. The greatness that was represented by the many graves there seemed to knock the breath from me-- I didn’t seem to deserve to breathe the air that had been exhaled from their lungs so long ago. And, yet, I felt welcome; it was as if these men and women had stories to tell me and were anxious to get started. While I sauntered through pathways, felt the shade embrace me and the slight breezes touch my face, I thought, “If I could live in this city, I would come every day to this spot and read a different biography each time until I knew all of the people resting here.” A sparrow followed me around and alit on some of the stones nearby; it seemed fitting. When I was exiting through the gate, I struck up a casual conversation with someone standing at the souvenir stand. He mentioned that Ben Franklin attended church with his family at Christ Church, just a few blocks away. Since there was time before Nina Turner and Jill Stein would be speaking at the meeting house, I hurried to the church. Luckily, I got there moments before they closed it for a private wedding. I sat in the Franklins’ pew, soaked in as much of the scene as I could in the two minutes allowed to me, and left to go back to the People’s Convention. Upon returning to the convention, I sat down in the shade of a tree. I guzzled a bottle of Gatorade and used my kerchief to wipe the sweat from my skin. Such a hot day! I looked around and thought, “Ben Franklin walked these grounds. Did he melt in the summers, too?” If the founding fathers could wear wool in this kind of heat, I suppose we should bear it as well. Maybe it is that kind of intensity that makes a political revolution boil to the surface. Would we be able to invent a better future the way they had? Later, after Jill Stein would speak inside, the journalists would interview her outside in the shade -- right there on the very spot where I had conjured the image of Ben in my mind's eye. I felt again, the overlapping loops of one moment holding an eternity of moments. When I get to Chapter 2, I will write more about Nina and Jill. Previous Philadelphia Intro to Journey

MSNBC MSNBC anchor Chuck Todd grilled BuzzFeed Editor Ben Smith on Wednesday for his decision to publish a dossier of unverified memos that included explosive claims about President-elect Donald Trump. The two engaged in a lengthy back-and-forth about whether BuzzFeed's publication of the memos was ethical, with Todd at one point accusing Smith of publishing "fake news." "I know this was not your intent … but you just published fake news," Todd said on his show "MTP Daily." Smith rejected the label and doubled down on the defense he offered in a note to his staff on Tuesday. "I think people love to throw the term 'fake news' around to diminish anything they don't like," Smith said. "This was a real story about a real document that was really being passed around between the very top officials of this country, and then the question you say is, OK — it's OK for you, Chuck Todd, to see this document, it's OK for me to see it, OK for John McCain, OK for the CIA, why is not OK for your audience?" he added. CNN reported on Tuesday that top US intelligence officials presented Trump and President Barack Obama with a summary of classified documents that made explosive claims about Trump and his ties to Russia. CNN's article did not describe the contents of the documents, saying they had not been "independently corroborated." Shortly after CNN published its report, BuzzFeed published its own article containing the original 35 pages of leaked intelligence memos. Although BuzzFeed acknowledged the information was unverified, its publication of the documents immediately raised questions among journalists. "You made a knowing decision to put out an untruth, or at least something you haven't proven true yet," Todd told Smith on Wednesday. But Smith argued that news outlets "no longer have the luxury" of sitting on sensitive information and that they have an obligation to let their readers decide the truth for themselves. "I think this is a place where sunlight is a disinfectant, where it is important to show your audience what you have," he said. Todd fired back, "There was a line — when does the line become yelling 'fire' in a theater?" Trump denied the contents of the document at a press conference Wednesday morning and called BuzzFeed a "failing pile of garbage" for publishing it. Watch the interview:

With the major party presidential conventions now behind them, candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are in a tug-of-war fight on the campaign trail. Here in Michigan, Republican nominee Trump has his work cut out for him. If the election were held today, a brand new EPIC MRA Poll of eligible Michigan voters shows Democrat Clinton would win the race by 10 points, 46% to 36% with 17% undecided. The survey, released first to WXYZ/Channel 7, the Detroit Free Press and our statewide media partners in Lansing, Flint and Grand Rapids, sampled 600 respondents. The poll also matched the major political party candidates against Libertarian Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein. In that 4-way contest, Clinton leads by 11 points (43%) compared to Trump at 32%, as well as Johnson and Stein at 8% and 3%, respectively. Bernie Porn, President of Lansing-based EPIC MRA summed up the race this way, “With former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton currently enjoying a double-digit lead, New York businessman Donald Trump has a lot of ground to make up. If this trend continues after Labor Day, then the numbers will become even more important and potentially devastating.” Trump is winning among independent men in Michigan; Clinton does the best among independent women. In what has been a non-typical presidential campaign, Michiganders dislike Trump and Clinton more than they like them. Sixty-three percent give Trump an unfavorable rating, 30% give him a thumbs up. Clinton gets a 51% unfavorable rating, 41% approve of her. Our statewide poll also asked likely November voters if they thought Michigan’s economy was improving. Fifty-five percent said yes, which closely resembled their thoughts in our March survey. Governor Rick Snyder’s job disapproval rate still lingers around 66%, improved just slightly from a dismal 69% in our spring 2016 poll. Only 32% believe he is doing a good job. And finally, the job rating for President Barack Obama is 52% negative and 47% positive. The latest EPIC MRA survey was conducted July 30 – August 4 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.0%. Poll questions and responses:

Democracy is a wonderful thing, except when it’s not, but it’s often difficult to know when it is and when it isn’t. It all depends on, well, politics — or the whims of the governor, which in New Jersey is often pretty much the same thing. So, according to Gov. Chris Christie, it’s a good thing to have a vote on a civil right — same-sex marriage — but not a good thing to have a vote on local charter schools. Odd, because there is a historic tradition of voting on local school issues — New Jersey loved it so much we used to do it two or three times a year — while referendums on broad social issues are rare. The contradiction — hypocrisy? — was set up nicely the other day when Assembly committees acted on the two issues. The Assembly Judiciary Committee, on a party-line vote, released a gay marriage bill; the Assembly Education Committee, also on a party-line vote, approved a bill allowing local voters to decide whether they want to pay for charter schools in their communities. In the Judiciary Committee, the Republicans were for referendum and the Democrats were not. In the Education Committee, the opposite was true. While the panels were meeting, Christie was at a town hall meeting and he repeated his insistence that same-sex marriage go to a referendum. "The fact is, they don’t trust the people of New Jersey to decide," he said. He made the comment at a charter school — and the governor has repeatedly said he would veto any bill allowing referendums on charter schools. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines." There is a surprising consistency in this dual duel over whether New Jersey residents should have to the right to decide these issues and that is the sense that voters would disapprove both. Some backers of gay marriage believe a referendum would result in its defeat. It’s happened 31 times in the United States, so it’s not an unreasonable fear. Nothing like an issue that implicates both religion and sexual behavior to ignite the conservative opposition. Just ask John Kerry. He might have been elected president in 2004 if Ohio also had not put a same-sex marriage referendum on the ballot the same election day. And fear of defeat is precisely the rationale of opponents of votes on charter schools. "If it goes on the ballot, no new charter school will ever be approved," says Carlos Perez, chief executive officer of the New Jersey Charter Schools Association. He told the Assembly Education Committee whenever local communities in other states have voted on charter schools, they have defeated them. It’s the "interest groups," he says. Teacher unions. School board groups. They will come out to defeat charter schools. "Charter schools are new to a community," he says. "They won’t have the resources to mount a campaign and they’ll be up against very well-organized groups." Just to add one more turn of the screw, consider this: There is talk of compromise once the school charter vote bill gets to the Senate. That’s where it died last year, laid to rest by state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), the Education Committee leader with close ties to Steve Adubato Sr. He’s the Democratic political boss who — like Camden boss and fellow charter school supporter George Norcross — often supports Christie. Adubato also just happens to run a charter school in Newark. The compromise is this: Votes on charter schools would be allowed in suburbs, otherwise known as "high-performing" districts, but not in cities. So, democracy might be a good thing in education, too, but only in suburbia. "No," insists the Rev. Toby Sanders, the president of the Trenton school board. He also testified before the Assembly Education Committee. "That would reinstate the era before Brown vs. Board of Education." It would be, he said, a return to "separate but equal." "It would treat communities where the residents are brown and black differently from communities where most residents are white," Sanders said. "It would set back civil rights."

A Mexican man who has spent most of his career marketing soft drinks, wine and spirits and now lives in Pakistan selling condoms and other family planning methods for a living, is bound to be an intriguing subject for a profile. The fact that he heads a company that has had two condom ads banned on the grounds of indecency in the last three years only serves to heighten the sense of mystery about him. Enter Juan Enrique Garcia, Country Managing Director at DKT International, a company that “treats the family planning business not as a health problem but as a marketing problem.” With his sandy hair and medium physique, Garcia is not particularly distinctive looking, and if he were to don a shalwar kameez, he could easily pass off for a Pathan. However, the name and the accent are dead giveaways of his South American ethnicity. Garcia’s approach to contraceptives is refreshingly different. When he arrived in Pakistan in April 2012 to set up DKT, the first thing he did after hiring an HR manager was to draw up a landscape of family planning in Pakistan. “What I found was that the advocacy job done by the government and others was very good but that people were looking for options and an upgrade in terms of products.” As a result of his findings, he identified three opportunities: penetrating into rural areas because companies such as Greenstar and Marie Stopes had been focusing on urban and semi rural areas; delivering a message that was different, inviting and suggestive rather a tutorial; and finally, showing that family planning can be fun. The first opportunity was fulfilled by opening 850 small Dhanak clinics across Pakistan where community midwives offer maternal and neo natal child care, while the clinics market Heer IUDs (one of DKT’s products) to women. “There are very few pharmacies selling family planning products in the rural areas, so we created our own distribution system through the clinics,” explains Garcia. In the urban areas, DKT markets family planning through the sale of pills, injectibles and condoms, which come in three different brands. Prudence, the premium brand which competes with international brands such as Durex and Trojan; OK, aimed at people who are looking for straightforward family planning; and then Josh, which is the company’s largest selling and fastest growing brand and fulfils the brief of making family planning fun and exciting. “There are very few pharmacies selling family planning products in the rural areas, so we created our own distribution system through Dhanak clinics.” Garcia knows a thing or two about distribution and making products fun. When he started his career at Coca-Cola after completing a Bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering, his first job was in mass media and marketing. However, when he decided to return to the company after pursuing a Master’s in Financial Management in London to “reinforce my financial acumen,” he began working as distribution manager. That, however, didn’t last very long and Garcia switched to Seagram beverages where he was in charge of Martell cognac and wines. When Seagram was acquired by Pernod Ricard, the second largest producer of liquor and spirits in the world, Garcia’s work acquired a new dimension and he started travelling to France frequently. This is where he picked up many insights about the consumers of alcoholic beverages. “No one drinks to get drunk,” says Garcia, “so what you are really selling is the experience of alcohol. For cognac, you sell tradition and heritage, for vodka, you sell to the niche that loves fun and the night life. Marketing alcohol is complicated because the shopper is very different from the consumer, in that the shopper makes his decision based on the 20 or so brands he sees on the shelf and the motivation is very different, whereas a consumer usually goes to a bar or a café and chooses a drink based on his mood.” “No one drinks to get drunk, so what you are really selling is the experience of alcohol. For cognac, you sell tradition and heritage, for vodka, you sell to the niche that loves fun and the night life." Having learnt plenty from the French, whom he calls “difficult people to work with, but very knowledgeable about marketing spirits,” Garcia tried his hand at entrepreneurship, exporting his own brand called Factor Tequila to Colombia, Italy and Japan. While the brand did well, Garcia confesses that he likes to have a “boss and an organisational structure” so he sold his shares and went off to Tanzania to work with Pepsi. The motivation for the move was the opportunity to work as an expatriate in an underserved market. Working on a small old production plant in North Tanzania, about an hour away from the Serengeti, Garcia was literally in the middle of nowhere, but he put his industrial engineering, distribution and marketing background to use to increase Pepsi’s distribution and strengthen the brand in a Coke dominated market. Within a year Coke poached Garcia and put him to work at their much larger production plant in Tanzania, making him in-charge of country operations. Seeing my surprise at his return to Coke, Garcia exclaims, “my t-shirt is red, it is very red and my heart is red. I only drank Pepsi when I was working for Pepsi, otherwise it has always been Coke. When I go to the cinema in Pakistan and they only serve Pepsi, I tell them, ‘no thanks, I’ll drink water instead!’” Speaking of Pakistan, Garcia says that when he was asked to come here to set up an office for DKT, he didn’t really have an opinion about the country. “As a Mexican, Pakistan did not mean anything to me. The connotation was very neutral.” Although Garcia and his wife have adjusted easily to Pakistan and he is all praise for the quality of life that expats enjoy in Karachi, he has had quite a challenging time navigating the minefield that is family planning. “I have seen resistance in terms of changing behaviour towards family planning,” he explains “because Mexico was in a similar situation in the late 70s and 80s, but working in Pakistan is challenging because I am trying to find the boundaries and be respectful.” “Over 60% of our sales are for strawberry condoms and we haven’t even advertised them!” Although Garcia says he puts 20 Pakistanis in a room and makes them vet all of DKT’s new products and promotions before release, clearly this strategy was not effective enough in terms of the Josh ads. Garcia’s response is nonchalant; “We take it as a learning and we will try to ensure that we bring something different next time.” “Perhaps the communication was a bit too much for a conservative country like Pakistan,” I suggest. “I don’t know about that” comes the prompt rejoinder. “Over 60% of our sales are for strawberry condoms and we haven’t even advertised them!” So what is next for this Mexican who has crossed the boundaries without even trying very hard and who is anything but the usual kettle of fish? “I plan to stay with DKT because I like the business and I am convinced about the mission. As per company policy, my time in Pakistan will be up in one year and then I will move somewhere else.” In the meantime, it would not be entirely beyond the scope of imagination to expect some more family planning fireworks from Mr Garcia.

The Tovala, a gadget that initially launched on Kickstarter, can bake, broil, and steam your food. It is not a microwave. Okay? Get it? Not a microwave. It’s designed to work with prepackaged and shipped meals from Tovala, like “sunflower satay tofu steak” and “curried turkey meatballs.” They show up in a box at your front door, like any other meal subscription service, with the dishes packed into metal tins. You scan the meals’ box with the Tovala, which triggers an entire cooking cycle that involves baking, broiling, and steaming. It might sound like you’re just popping a TV dinner in the microwave, but that isn’t what you’re doing because this isn’t a microwave. Three single-serving meals weekly cost $36 while three, two-serving meals cost $72 per week. The device itself costs $399. You can see how that process works here: Your browser does not support HTML5 video. You can cook your own meals with Tovala by using its companion iOS / Android app, although the device is clearly optimized for those packaged meals. So now you know: the Tovala is not a microwave; it’s a smart oven, like others created by companies like June, that’s designed to sell you proprietary meal pods. It’s available through Tovala’s website. Exciting times.

As you may know, while Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, her town was one of the few in Alaska to charge rape victims for their own forensic exams – i.e., for the medical exams necessary to gather evidence to catch the rapists. At the time, Palin’s own police chief said the town didn’t want to pay for the exams because it would be a “burden” on taxpayers (i.e., tax cuts were more important than women who were raped). Others suspect that Palin didn’t want to pay for the exams because they often include emergency contraception (conservatives think emergency contraception is abortion), and Palin believes that women should be forced to carry their rapist’s baby to full term (ask her, it’s true). Palin’s spokesman only gave one brief quote saying how outrageous this story is. Yes, it is outrageous. Then, we heard nothing from Palin. Not that Sarah Palin refusing to talk about anything is news. John McCain would like nothing better than for us to put Sarah Palin a 72-year-old-with-serious-cancer’s one heartbeat away from the presidency without knowing a single thing about this woman’s credentials for being president (other than that she wears lipstick and can see Russia from her kitchen window). So, let’s give Sarah Palin the benefit of the doubt. Let’s assume that as mayor Sarah Palin was so clueless, so hands-off, so out of it and in over her head that she had no idea what her underlings were doing, she had no idea that her hand-picked police chief was charging rape victims for their own exams, and even that she had no idea that her police chief was doing interviews with the local paper defending that policy – her city’s own policy – in a very public battle with the state legislature. Let’s give Sarah Palin all of that, and just assume that she was a blithering idiot as mayor of Wasilla. Let Sarah Palin come forth and say publicly that she is in favor of public funding for rape kits that include emergency contraception. John McCain voted against Biden’s legislation that would have, among other things, required funding for such exams. Let Palin and McCain publicly endorse rape kits including emergency contraception, and then we’ll put this story to rest.

For more than a decade, the Clinton Global Initiative was the star-studded marquee attraction during the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, a place where heads of state, celebrities, billionaire philanthropists and business people mingled, made deals and gave away millions, sometimes billions, of dollars. But after Bill and Hillary Clinton announced the end of their signature conference during last year’s presidential campaign, Michael R. Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York and billionaire, has stepped unto the breach. On Wednesday, Mr. Bloomberg will host a reorganized and rebranded Bloomberg Global Business Forum at the Plaza Hotel, drawing a high-powered crowd and speakers from Tim Cook, the chief executive of Apple, to President Emmanuel Macron of France. In a symbolic passing of the guard, Mr. Clinton will be the first speaker on the day’s agenda almost exactly a year after he urged attendees “you have to keep this alive” in a farewell address at the last Clinton Global Initiative.

I have mixed feelings about this week's landmark court decision striking down EU regulations on the curvature of fruit and veg. As a rule, I like my cucumbers straight and my bananas curved. I'm cool on EU regulation 1677/88 (if memory serves) requiring Class One cukes to curve less than 10mm every 10cm. But on bananas I'm a bender. The notorious EU regulation 2257/94 stating that bananas must be "free of abnormal curvature" and should be at least 5.5 inches long makes no sense, unless it was drafted by Paula Jones while still in shock. But, frankly, I had no idea the EU were the ones in favour of uncurved bananas. I seem to remember during the "transatlantic banana split" of a few years ago that it was we in North America who were on the side of the straight banana and you in Europe who were the curvy ones. The banana war of the late Nineties was the turn-of-the-millennium version of those 19th-century imperial disputes where the Great Powers line up behind one obscure tribe or another and stage a proxy war. In this case, it was something to do with the different spheres of influence of Fyffes, Europe's banana supremo, and Chiquita, America's top banana. The US championed the cause of Latin-American bananas - these are the so-called "dollar" bananas: tall, straight, and thick-skinned, much like the Americans themselves. The Europeans, meanwhile, were on the side of Afro-Caribbean-Pacific bananas: short, bent, and with a pronounced aroma, much like the Europeans themselves. Yet, despite the preceding slur, I'm personally drawn to the furtive, stooped, crooked European fruit. The dollar banana strikes me as pretty tasteless by comparison: it makes a witty and amusing touch for your headgear on Carmen Miranda night at the golf club, but is less effective in your standard banana cream pie. As I understand it, the only people in Europe who like straight bananas are the Germans, who lacking any former colonies in the Caribbean were obliged to import their bananas from Latin America (this may be why so many bigshot Nazis retired there). The biggest banana consumers in the world, the Germans have a psychologically complex relationship with the fruit. Konrad Adenauer famously brandished a banana in the Bundestag, calling it "paradisical manna", and thus became the only European politician to appear with a banana as a matter of policy until that monkey who got elected mayor the other week. Yet, after reunification, West Germans referred to East Germans disparagingly as "bananen" because the delicacy had been so rare on the other side of the Berlin Wall ("Ja, ve haff nein bananen"). At the same time, the biggest-selling vibrator in Germany was a battery-operated banana and the biggest-selling condom was banana-flavoured. I gather there are EU regulations on the shape and size of condoms, so presumably the popular banana Eurocondom conforms to directives on both banana size and condom size. I don't believe the banana question would ever have reared its ugly head had not tariff-free dollar bananas for Germany been written into the original Treaty of Rome. Conversely, the rest of Europe's banana supply - almost entirely curved - was governed by the Banana Regime of the 1957 Lome Convention. The German banana exemption was the Trojan horse by which the straight banana penetrated the European hinterland. And there things rested until the 1993 EU Banana Regime attempted to reconcile the curved bananas of the Lome Convention with the straight bananas of the Treaty of Rome and wound up getting taken to the WTO and infuriating the Americans. At the height of the subsequent banana war, Brussels was putting tariffs on straight bananas. With hindsight, it seems the height of hypocrisy to defend the curved banana against the straight banana when, on the equally vexed question of cucumber curvature, the EU instituted mandatory straightening.

Most people are surprised to learn that there are an estimated 5,000 captive tigers in America. That’s more than all wild tigers across Asia. Almost 95 percent of captive tigers are privately owned, often by people not trained to care for animals in general, let alone tigers. In April 2016, the US government tightened regulations around captive tigers and made it more difficult for these animals to filter into and bolster the illegal wildlife trade. More than 450,000 WWF supporters called on the US government to help make these new federal rules happen. It was a significant win for tigers. But more needs to be done. The new rules protect some tigers and not others, and remaining legal loopholes leave captive tigers vulnerable to wildlife traffickers and the international trade in tiger parts – the same trade that is the primary threat to wild tigers. The current practice of allowing public contact with tigers -- specifically with young cubs -- for “tiger encounters” or photo opportunities means that private owners have a financial incentive to breed a constant stream of tiger cubs to supply their operations. However, once those tigers reach a certain size and age, they become less desirable for public contact and less profitable, while at the same time becoming vastly more expensive to feed and house. Most US sanctuaries capable of caring for unwanted big cats are full to overflowing and must turn unwanted animals away. Because there is still little federal regulation requiring the tracking of captive tigers in the US, these animals can be easily exploited by wildlife criminals pushing tigers and tiger parts into the illegal wildlife trade. When that happens, their availability helps to sustain a market that also drives the poaching of tigers in the wild. WWF is calling for greater oversight and protection of all captive tigers, and you can help. Ask for a ban on public contact with tigers - of any age.

When Thomas Jefferson visited the “Unquachog Indians,” in June 1791, he noted that the tribe “constitute the Pufspatock Settlement in the town of Brookhaven, South Side of Long Island.” The settlement was conveniently located in the backyard of his friend William Floyd’s plantation, where Jefferson and his longtime wingman James Madison happened to be crashing. Jefferson made an effort to document the language of the tribe, many of whose members tilled his host’s fields: “Cow Cowsen; Horse Hofses; Sheep Sheeps; to cut with an axe poquetahaman; handsome worecco; ugly nechowuchayuk.” He concluded: “There remain but three persons of this tribe who can speak its language: They are old women, from two of these, brought together, this vocabulary was taken, a young woman of the same tribe was also present who knew something of the language.” Harry Wallace, the current chief of the Unkechaug Indian Nation, trying to learn at least an approximation of his native tongue, has an Algonquian-language app on his iPhone. “I’m gettin’ there,” he said from behind a large cluttered desk in his office, a small cedar-paneled lodge set behind Poospatuck Smoke Shop and Trading Company in Mastic, Long Island. It was early August; 65 miles away on Manhattan Island, Mike Bloomberg—modern-day equivalent of the Great White Father—was not happy with Chief Wallace and the Unkechaug. This is because the chief and his tribe were making big bucks selling millions of packs of cigarettes tax-free, many of these to residents of New York City, which imposes a $1.50-per-pack tax of its own. Exactly how many New Yorkers were getting smokes under cover of the Unkechaug is not easy to answer. An Independent Budget Office report estimated that in 2006, around 207 million packs were bought by city smokers. No tax was paid on a quarter of these (only a fraction of the untaxed smokes were bought on Indian reservations). But Bloomberg has declared war on smoking, and wherever there is smoke, he wants his cut. So last September, the city filed a motion in federal court against a group of Unkechaug retailers, claiming hundreds of millions in lost city tax revenue. Wallace was still recovering from last night’s “sweat”—several important dudes, dome-shaped lodge, a pit of hot rocks in the middle, much perspiration, a prayer song or two—at an undisclosed location. It was the culmination of a week of mourning for Benny Miller, a 22-year-old tribe member who died in a motorcycle accident. His death mobilized Unkechaug near and far to return to the reservation, to mourn and sing: the honor song during the wake, the various burial and prayer songs throughout. Geronimo’s refrain, “They’re not satisfied until they get all of it,” is never far from Chief Wallace’s mind. But signals were still pointing toward victory for the Unkechaug: Only weeks prior, a New York State Appellate Court ruled that the Cayuga Indian Nation could continue selling untaxed cigarettes to non-Indians. He pushed a button on a speakerphone connected to the smoke shop. “Can I get two cups of coffee in here?” he said in a baritone. The chief is 55, broad-shouldered, and has long thick salt-and-pepper hair, which he wears in a tight ponytail. Various New York State Bar plaques line the walls. It was Wallace who opened the first smoke shop back in 1991, with the intention of making a little money, sure, but as a declaration too—the Unkechaug’s sovereign right to exploit whatever economic advantages the Indians’ sovereignty affords. The Unkechaugs, like all recognized tribes, are exempt from state and many federal taxes, but beyond this their economic status is murkier, based on whatever arrangement the state and the Indians can agree on. In 1994, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that New York is entitled to collect taxes on Indian sales of cigarettes and motor fuel to non-Indians. Coming up with a way of enforcing that tax has been the trouble. Their tribal rights have been questioned before, in various ways. Among the papers on the chief’s cluttered desk was a folded-up family tree. In 2006, Gristedes Food Inc. filed a suit—almost all of it since dismissed—questioning the legitimacy of the residents’ native heritage. Gristedes claimed that Unkechaug vendors, located some 65 miles from their nearest supermarket, were unfairly cutting into their profits. Fortunately, the tribe keeps excellent records. The first time such an accusation was made was back in 1935, when publishing scion and notorious cad William Shepherd Dana bought the Floyd estate and claimed that the tribe were, essentially, squatters. The chief laid out the genealogy for me. “So you start with me, Harry Wallace,” he said, consulting the family tree before him. “Then it went to my mother, Lydia Anne Davis, and then it went to her parents, Charles Davis and Lydia Anne Davis. My grandmother has the same name.” He paused and looked up over his reading glasses, then rattled through a few more names. “Now, Sylvie Hicks and Jerusha Lott were sisters. Their mother was Sybel Lott, and Sybel Lott—we have historical documents—was from a very prominent Indian family.” She was a direct descendant of Chief Nowedonah, and Wallace believes it’s a good bet she was one of the elderly women Jefferson spoke to.

CBS Corp. is expanding its digital streaming service internationally and will be available to Canadians sometime next year. In the U.S., the service known as CBS All Access boasts more 9,000 episodes from the network's daytime, prime time and late-night content, plus selected offerings from specialty channels owned by CBS such as Showtime, without the need for a cable television subscription. American subscribers also have access to CBSN, a 24/7 news service. In Canada the service is likely to look a little different. Some CBS shows are already available on Netflix in Canada, and Canadian broadcasters own the digital rights to many CBS shows in Canada. Last year, for example, Bell Media announced it had acquired the exclusive rights in Canada to the forthcoming CBS Show Star Trek: Discovery, which will have its debut episode air on CTV later this year before being broadcast on Space and Z. It was also announced the show would later be available to stream on Bell's streaming service, CraveTV. "This is the beginning of what CBS hopes is a Netflix competitor worldwide," technology analyst Daniel Bader of Mobile Nations told CBC News in an interview, "but the irony here is that CBS is expanding without its hit show." In the U.S., All Access includes CBS's extensive back catalog of hit shows including The Big Bang Theory, Madam Secretary and NCIS, as well as the daytime soap The Young and the Restless. There's also a selection of classic hit TV series like Cheers, Beverly Hills 90210 and Taxi, none of which were originally CBS shows. But in Canada the company has already signed deals for the shows with Bell, Netflix and others for digital streaming rights, so they likely won't be included. In the U.S., the service costs $5.99 US a month, or $9.99 for a version with no commercials. Pricing details for Canada were not included in CBS's release on Monday, but "if it's any more expensive in Canada than $9.99 subscribers may balk at it," Bader said. Canada has been identified as the first foreign market, but more will follow. The service launched in the U.S. in October 2014, and is on track for four million subscribers by the end of the year. CBS had initially forecast that number would grow to eight million in the U.S. alone by 2020, a figure the network now calls "conservative." "CBS All Access is growing faster than we anticipated domestically, and now represents a whole new opportunity internationally as well," CBS chair Leslie Moonves said. "By going direct to consumer around the world, we will facilitate new connections between the global audience and our industry-leading premium content."

By Chris Hanson | March 07, 2013 ADVERTISEMENT As of March 1, Biomass Power Louisiana, a subsidiary of Biomass Secure Power Inc., secured a six-month option to lease a site where it is proposing to build a new pellet plant. The plant is a four-phase project set to be completed over several years. Phase one consists of three production lines capable of producing 340,000 tons of white wood pellets a year from whole trees and chipped fiber. Upon completion, the first phase will have the capacity to produce 1 million tons annually. The scope for the first phase will be released April 2013, with construction beginning summer 2013. Torrefied pellets will be incorporated into the first production line in the second phase. Upon securing a buyer for the torrefied pellets, all lines developed during phase one will be modified to produce either standard grade or torrefied pellets, depending on the request. In addition to the Baton Rouge Plant, Biomass Secure Power is proposing to develop storage and chipping facilities at the Port of Natchitoches on the Red River. From there, they would store and process logs before shipping to the main plant in Baton Rouge. The wood pellets are destined for Europe, and the company is currently in talks with Asian and European power plants for long term off-take agreements. The plant is partially funded by the Port of Baton Rouge by using municipal bonds sponsored by the port authority.

Payment Card Data Including CVV Codes Leaked "We have got 899 totally separate consumers of the Regpack service...who send their data direct to Regpack who pass payment data onto BlueSnap for processing," Hunt explained in a blog post. "Unless I am missing a fundamental piece of the workflow... it looks like accountability almost certainly lies with one of these two parties." Around 324,000 users have likely had their payment records stolen either from payment processoror its customer; however, neither of the company has admitted a data breach.BlueSnap is a payment provider which allows websites to take payments from customers by offering merchant facilities, whereas RegPack is a global online enrollment platform that uses BlueSnap to process the financial transactions for its online enrollments.The data breach was initially reported on July 10, when a hacker published a link on Twitter, pointing to a file containing roughly 324,000 records allegedly stolen from Waltham, Massachusetts-based BlueSnap.The tweet has since been deleted, but Australian security expert Troy Hunt took a copy of it for later review to analyze the data and after analyzing, he discovered that the leaked payment records are most likely legitimate.The data contains users' details registred between 10 March 2014 to 20 May 2016 and includes names, email addresses, physical addresses, phone numbers, IP addresses, last four digits of credit card numbers, even CVV codes, and invoice data containing details of purchases.According to Hunt, who owns '' breach notification service, some evidence like file names containing 'BlueSnap' and 'Plimus' in it suggests that the data comes from BlueSnap.Plimus is the original name of BlueSnap, which was rebranded after private equity firm Great Hill Partners acquired it for $115Million in 2011.However, since April 2013, Regpack has been using BlueSnap's payment platform, it could be possible that the stolen data has come from Regpack.Whatever the source is, but the primary concern here is that more than 320,000 stolen users financial information is floating around the web.Although the payment data does not contain full credit card numbers, as Hunt stressed, cyber criminals can still misuse the compromised information, particularly the CVV codes that are highly valuable payment data, which can be used to conduct "card not present" transactions.Also, the last four digit of any user's credit card number can also be used for identity verification that's very useful in conducting social engineering attacks.Hunt contacted BlueSnap as well as Regpack, but they both denied suffering a data breach. He has also loaded as many as 105,000 email addresses into Have I Been Pwned , so you can search for your address on the site to check whether you are impacted by the breach.

Janet Napolitano, who as President Obama’s homeland security secretary has one of the broadest and most challenging portfolios of any Cabinet member, announced Friday that she is stepping down to become president of the University of California system. Napolitano has been a central figure in the debates over immigration and counterterrorism policies while also managing the government’s response to tornadoes, hurricanes and other natural disasters. Her resignation comes at a critical time for the Obama administration, as Congress debates a controversial bill to overhaul the nation’s immigration laws. Napolitano’s departure has been in the works for several months, and she plans to leave her post in early September, according to two administration officials. A former governor of Arizona and a Democrat once seen as a potential candidate for national office, Napolitano, 55, will exit the political stage to run one of the country’s largest public university systems. In a statement released Friday morning, she said that serving in the Obama administration to help protect Americans from harm “has been the highlight of my professional career.” 1 of 26 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × Who’s who in Obama’s second-term Cabinet View Photos What you need to know about the president’s revamped team. Caption What you need to know about the president’s revamped team. President Obama’s Cabinet The president appoints 16 members to his Cabinet, in addition to many other high-profile positions. Some members of President Obama’s first-term Cabinet announced their departure after the first term ended, and the president has nominated replacements for many of them. Here is how the second-term team is shaping up. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. “We have worked together to minimize threats of all kinds to the American public,” she added. In addition to being on the front lines in the politically charged immigration debate, Napolitano helped lead the responses to deadly tornadoes in the Midwest and Hurricane Sandy, which ravaged the Northeast last year, as well as the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the H1N1 virus. Some of her actions have come under scrutiny. Critics faulted her for playing a role in toughening airport security procedures, including through the introduction of full-body scanners. More recently, she was questioned by Congress on whether DHS agencies missed clues about the perpetrators of the Boston Marathon bombings. Obama thanked Napolitano for her more than four years of service, saying, “Janet’s portfolio has included some of the toughest challenges facing our country.” “The American people are safer and more secure thanks to Janet’s leadership in protecting our homeland against terrorist attacks,” Obama said in a statement. “I’ve come to rely on Janet’s judgment and advice, but I’ve also come to value her friendship.” An early political backer of Obama’s who was sworn in as homeland security secretary in 2009 on the first day of his administration, Napolitano was among a handful of Cabinet officials to remain in their posts into his second term. She had given no public indication that she would leave, although she was seen as a possible successor to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. should he depart. Administration officials said Napolitano, who had extensive law enforcement experience in Arizona, did not hide her desire to be attorney general and grew discouraged about her prospects as Holder stayed well into Obama’s second term. One administration official familiar with Napolitano’s thinking cautioned that she simply seized what she considered to be a great career opportunity, calculating that after serving longer than any other homeland security secretary, it was time for a new challenge. “The process was underway for some time, but it didn’t formalize until recently, and she informed the president when she made her decision,” said the official, who requested anonymity to speak about the process. Republicans on Capitol Hill generally praised Napolitano’s tenure. Sen. John McCain said that his fellow Arizonan had “served our nation with honor” and that he had “never doubted her integrity, work ethic or commitment to our nation’s security.” Who will replace her? Administration officials declined to speculate immediately on a possible replacement, but they stressed that the position itself is a difficult one to fill. DHS, created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, is sprawling and complex, with 240,000 employees spread across 22 government agencies. It oversees issues ranging from the weather to natural disasters to airport and border security to drug interdiction to protection of the president. Both Obama and President George W. Bush tapped governors — who manage sprawling bureaucracies in their own states and must develop expertise across a range of issues — to head the department. In Napolitano’s case, she came into the job with a law enforcement background as a former state attorney general and U.S. attorney, as well as experience administering a large government and grappling with immigration issues at Arizona’s border with Mexico. Douglas B. Wilson, a top Pentagon official during Obama’s first term, said Napolitano’s legacy will be revamping the once-troubled Federal Emergency Management Agency and managing the 21 other disparate agencies that fell under her control. “In an organization that faces drama every day, she was a no-drama leader,” said Wilson, a longtime friend. “She is very, very good at taking combinations of individual fiefdoms and playing to their strength to get the best out of them individually and making them into an effective collective.” In seeking a replacement, Obama may try to avoid a contentious confirmation battle with the Senate at a time when he is pushing a controversial immigration bill. Two DHS agency heads who maintain particularly good relations with congressional oversight agencies are seen as possible contenders: W. Craig Fugate, the current FEMA administrator, previously worked for two Republican governors in Florida as the state’s emergency management director. Fugate is well-liked by the White House and has been credited with improving FEMA since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. John S. Pistole, head of the Transportation Security Administration and a former deputy director of the FBI, has built good relations with Congress despite objections over recent proposed changes to screening procedures at airports. If Obama wanted a seamless transition, he could tap Rand Beers, who has been Napolitano’s acting deputy, or Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban-born lawyer who ran the department’s Citizenship and Immigration Services and was recently nominated to become deputy DHS secretary. Other potential replacements include former Navy secretary Richard Danzig, retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad W. Allen or New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, whom Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) personally recommended on Friday. ‘Remarkably gifted’ Napolitano will be the first woman to run the 10-campus University of California system, according to the Los Angeles Times, which first reported her appointment Friday morning. Napolitano’s lack of an education background makes her an unusual pick to lead an academic institution. She has roots in California, though: As a student at Santa Clara University, she became the university’s first female valedictorian. Sherry Lansing, a UC regent and former film industry executive who headed the search committee, said in a statement that “those who know her best say that a passion for education is in her DNA.” Lansing described the search as “extensive,” saying the committee reviewed more than 300 potential nominees but that Napolitano was “a remarkably gifted candidate” and received a unanimous vote of recommendation from the committee. “While some may consider her to be an unconventional choice, Secretary Napolitano is without a doubt the right person at the right time to lead this incredible university,” Lansing said. Juliet Eilperin and Ed O’Keefe contributed to this report.

Conservative star Ben Shapiro spoke at the University of California at Berkeley on Thursday night amid extraordinary security measures – costing around $600,000 – prompted by fears of an outburst by violent agitators possibly descending on the campus. All the precautions were to ensure that the 33-year-old conservative could deliver a speech on a college campus that was home to the Free Speech Movement in the 1960s. The scene was a stark change from Shapiro’s 2016 UC Berkeley talk, where the security costs were minimal. “No violence, no nothing. And now we are spending well into six figures so that I can say many of the same things. It's utterly absurd,” Shapiro told the audience Thursday. Metal detectors, concrete barriers and police barricades put the campus on effective lockdown. “Conservatives here have done something amazing. They’ve achieved something incredible,” he added. “If you look outside, there’s K-bar everywhere. They’ve built basically these structures to keep Antifa from invading the premises. "So that means Berkeley has achieved building a wall before Donald Trump did.” Local police officers, who were allowed to use pepper spray against violent demonstrators after receiving approval this week from the Berkeley city council, arrested at least three people armed with weapons before the event, reiterating that no weapons are allowed near campus. But the violent protesters known as Antifa, or “anti-fascists” – spooked by the security – did not show up to shut down Shapiro’s speech in their usual fashion and instead were allegedly in the audience challenging him, the Washington Times reported. The talk by Shapiro -- author of the bestsellers "Brainwashed," "Porn Generation" and "Project President" -- was met with resistance mostly from Berkeley students who were heard chanting, “Speech is violent, we will not be silent!” and accusing Shapiro, an observant Orthodox Jew, of being a white supremacist or neo-Nazi. “Thanks to Antifa and the supposed anti-fascist brigade for exposing what the radical left truly is,” he told the massive audience, despite a last-minute decision by the university to reportedly seize all unclaimed tickets to prevent entry to late-ticket buyers. “All of America is watching because you guys are so stupid. It's horrifying, I am grateful, and you can all go to hell, you pathetic, lying, stupid jackasses," he added. He celebrated the police for ensuring the event occurred, saying “These are the folks that stand between civilization and lawlessness." He added that “the only people who are standing between those ATMs and the Antifa are the police, and all they get from the left is a bunch of crap.” The event remained cordial despite students’ disagreements with Shapiro, who was questioned on his views regarding abortion, economics and general politics. He was not interrupted by any protesters inside the venue. In the speech aftermath, some more-confrontational protesters came out, shouting at the police officers and scuffling with counter-protesters. Two more people were reportedly arrested – bringing the total number arrested to five. Among the protesters was By All Means Necessary (BAMN) ringleader Yvette Felarca, who was recently arrested for allegedly inciting a riot, Fox News reported. A crowd led by Felarca marched down a street, shouting “Nazi scum off our streets,” according to Berkleyside, while counter-protesters also marched down. The police had separated the two factions to ensure no large clashes occurred.

Your browser does not support iframes. . Matt Kemp is clearly one of the best athletes on the field today…but as the common expression goes – behind every great man, is the love and support of a mother. Kemp is not afraid to show his “momma’s boy” side either, and its a very nice sight to see. If you were to visit Matty in his Beverly Hills home, you would be welcomed by the sweet Oklahoma mother, Judy Henderson. She is not only loving, but incredibly supportive of Matt as well. She is a nurse by day, and Kemp’s good luck charm by night. Not to mention, follows her son on Twitter. After last year’s NL MVP voting results were announced, Ms. Henderson took to twitter and tweeted her feelings in just one word: @dodger27mom: heartbroken. She then went on to be supportive of Matt by saying: “@dodger27mom: so very proud of Matt for all his accomplishments. He is my MVP and the greatest son EVER.” If that doesn’t make you fall in love with the woman that Kemp adores so much, I don’t know what will. But I do have something that will help. She also took a mini warning shot to Braun in her next tweet that I found to be pretty funny. “@dodger27mom: Congrats to Ryan Braun. He had a phenomenal year! But beware next year!” So far so good for her predictions! I’d like to wish Ms. Henderson, along with ALL the mothers of the players, coaches, staff, and fans a very special Mother’s Day. Advertisements

A new experimental drug appears to improve the muscle function of boys with muscular dystrophy, increasing the distance the boys can walk in six minutes compared to when they began taking it a year before. Those results are "incredibly promising," says Lee Sweeney, chairman of physiology at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, who studies muscular dystrophy and was not involved in the study. "They don't ever improve once they start going down. The fact you can improve them is not something that happens normally. That's not random." The most common form of the disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, affects only 13,000 American boys; girls almost never get it because is caused by a defect of a gene on the X chromosome, of which girls have a second copy. The new medicine, eteplirsen, is targeted at the 13% of those boys whose muscular dystrophy is caused by a certain type of mutation. Without treatment, patients' muscles continually weaken, leaving them wheelchair-bound; they frequently die by their 30s. Eteplirsen, if successful, will be a huge victory for muscular dystrophy patients and researchers, who have never had a treatment that might make any of these kids get any better. The results are also a big win for Sarepta Therapeutics, the Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company that developed the drug. Sarepta's shares have more than quadrupled since it first released data from the 12-patient study in July, showing that eteplirsen increased the amount of a key muscle protein, dystrophin. Thirty-six-week results released in August showed that the 4 patients who got the top dose of the drug could walk 69 meters further in six minutes than those who started on placebo. (Sarepta shared the data with me yesterday under the condition that I not publish a story until this morning.) Now 48-week data show those four boys who got the drug actually walking 21 meters further than they could when the study began. The patients who began the study on placebo were switched to getting eteplirsen at 24 weeks. Those "delayed treatment" patients appear to be stabilizing too, with their six-minute walk test scores increasing 10 meters since the 36 week result, although they are still down 68 meters from the beginning of the study. The patients who got the top dose of eteplirsen were able to walk 89 meters further than those who started placebo, and the difference was statistically significant. The number of muscle fibers that tested positive for dystrophin increased 47% in patients who had been receiving eteplirsen since the beginning of the study and 38% in the patients who started on placebo and switched to eteplirsen after 24 weeks. "This is the best-case scenario that anybody could have scripted out," says Chris Garabedian, Sarepta's chief executive, of the new data. But there are still some reasons for caution. In the study, eteplirsen, which is given intravenuously for sixty minutes once a week, was given at a dose of 50 milligrams per kilogram to four patients and 30 mg/kg to another four. Another four patients got placebo. Two of the patients in the 30 mg/kg group got dramatically worse early in the study, apparently because their disease had progressed before the drug could begin to work. That complicates the reading of the results. Another problem may be the size of the study: just twelve patients. For comparison, another Duchenne drug targeting a small slice of patients with a particular genetic mutation, atalauren from PTC Therapeutics, was studied in a trial of 174 patients. (It failed to show a dramatic benefit.) Sweeney, who worked on the PTC drug, says that he knows some patients are hoping the FDA will approve eteplirsen just based on this data. He says that while the results are very convincing, it's possible that more patients will need to be studied. A super-fast regulatory approval may be "too much to hope for." Garabedian says that it's impossible to know what the FDA will say until Sarepta meets with the agency later this year. He does point to some drug approvals that reflected data from similarly small numbers of patients. Cerezyme, from Sanofi's Genzyme division, was approved after a study in 12 patients, and Genzyme's Myozyme was approved after a study in just 18 patients; both drugs were for incredibly rare diseases. Novartis' Afinitor and Alexion's Soliris were also approved for tuberous sclerosis and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, respectively, after similarly small studies, but both of those drugs were already approved for other uses that had required much larger studies. (Update, 10/4/2012: On Twitter, JQ points out that although Myozyme had an 18-person pivotal trial, there was a second, 21-patient study, too. See the original drug label, here.) Even if another study is required, it might be done relatively quickly. And Sarepta is developing other drugs to treat muscular dystrophy in a way that may lay the groundwork for the medicines in the future. Eteplirsen is an oligonucleotide (roughly speaking, its chemistry resembles that of DNA). It works because many cases of muscular dystrophy are caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene (incidentally, one of the longest genes in the body) that make the entire genetic code for the protein shift by one letter. By skipping a single missing letter, the drug makes a shorter but effective version of dystrophin. Eteplirson works by causing the body's gene-reading sofware to skip a part of the dystrophin gene called exon 51. But Sarepta is working on other exon-skipping drugs that skip exon 45 and exon 50, which could help 9% and 5% of Duchenne patients, respectively. In the long run, it's possible that Sarepta could develop a framework for approving drugs that use its chemistry in all Duchenne patients that might be helped. Eighty-five percent of Duchenne patients have the exon-skipping gene. This might pave the way for the way regulators will have to think about drugs in the future, when many medicines might target small, genetic differences that only a small number of people have. But before it can forge that path, Sarepta has to get eteplirsen approved. And there is competition. Another exon 51-skipping drug, developed by Prosensa, a Dutch biotech, and partner GlaxoSmithKline, is expected to have results from a large study later this year. In results from a 12-patient study of that drug published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, there was a small improvement in six-minute walk time.

The Yomiuri Giants overcame the mistake that put them in an early hole against the Hiroshima Carp. The Carp weren’t as fortunate on the game’s final play. Hayato Sakamoto hit a game-tying home run in the sixth, Shuichi Murata hit a go-ahead single in the seventh, and the infield pair combined to record the final out of Yomiuri’s 3-2 win when Hiroshima’s Masato Akamatsu overran third base in Game 1 of the Central League Climax Series Final Stage at Tokyo Dome. Akamatsu was on second with the Carp trailing by a run and down to their final out. He took off on an infield single by Ryosuke Kikuchi, but made a critical base-running mistake at third, which allowed Giants shortstop Sakamoto to make a quick throw to Murata, who made the tag and sealed the win. “I had it in my head the runner might take too big of a turn at third,” Sakamoto said. “So I came up throwing and the timing was perfect.” The win was particularly sweet for Murata after his throwing error in the second allowed two Carp runners to score. “It was my error that gave away the first score of the game, so it’s fitting I got the last out on defense,” Murata said. For Hiroshima, it was a tough way to lose a close game. “They just played better than us,” Carp first baseman Kila Ka’aihue said. “We played good, we fought hard, we gave it everything we had. They got two more (big) hits than we did. They beat us; we didn’t beat ourselves.” Yomiuri, which began the series with an automatic one-game advantage as CL champion, leads the final stage 2-0. The Giants can advance to the Japan Series with two more wins. “On the field, we’ve won only one game, so we have two more,” Murata said. “We can’t let up and have to keep fighting until the end.” That leaves the Carp, enjoying a revival of sorts after 22 moribund years without reaching postseason play, with a difficult challenge to overcome. “We had to win four out of six games anyhow,” Hiroshima’s Brad Eldred said. “We still gotta win four games.” The Carp don’t have much time to dwell on the loss with Game 3 scheduled for Thursday night. “It’s tough to lose like that,” Eldred said. “Even given the circumstances, we still would’ve had to get a hit there. Even if he’s safe at third, Kila’s got a chance, but there are no guarantees. You can’t really worry about it a whole lot.” Sakamoto conversely hopes Game 1 was the start of something big. Yomiuri’s star shortstop slumped to a .256 average this year, but followed a pair of strikeouts with a game-tying solo homer that just got over the wall in left, in the sixth inning on Wednesday. “It was good that he wasn’t too hesitant in that at-bat,” Giants manager Tatsunori Hara said. “I can’t really give him a perfect grade, but after he struck out (with the bases loaded in the third) he took advantage of his next opportunity and came through. That’s something Hayato does well.” Murata collected three of Yomiuri’s six hits, while Jose Lopez drove in the Giants’ first run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the third. “I was focused on the pitches I wanted to swing at and was able to make good contact,” Murata said. Kikuchi led both teams with four hits, after flying out in his first trip to the plate. The Carp failed to record an RBI and will need more production at the plate to win the series. The two teams put on a good show for a crowd of 45,107 that included Rachel Robinson, widow of Brooklyn Dodgers legend Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in 1947 and spent 10 years in the majors. The Hall of Famer’s last appearance with the Dodgers came in Japan during the team’s 1956 goodwill tour. Rachel Robinson, visiting the country for the third time and accompanied by daughter Sharon, eagerly took in the action on the field. She is in town to help promote the release of the move “42,” which chronicles her late husband’s move to the major leagues. Tetsuya Yamaguchi threw a scoreless inning to earn the win in relief and Kentaro Nishimura worked the ninth to record the save. Hiroshima’s Ryoji Yokoyama gave up Murata’s hit in the seventh and was charged with the loss. The Carp are expected to send ace Kenta Maeda to the mound in Game 2 in hopes of getting back into the series, with Tomoyuki Sugano likely to pitch for the Giants. “We’ve got some momentum going, and Hiroshima will still be on a roll,” Murata said. “So it’s going to be a tough game.” Staff writer Kaz Nagatsuka contributed to this report.

A FINE GAEL TD has sharply criticised Fianna Fáil for its “two-facedness” saying the party’s call for a referendum on the EU fiscal compact “beggars belief”. Jerry Buttimer has slammed the opposition party’s call for a referendum on the deal which promotes greater fiscal discipline among EU nations, before the Attorney General (AG) has had an opportunity to consider whether or not one was needed. He said that while he “wouldn’t be afraid of a referendum” it was important to wait for the advice of the AG. Buttimer said that Fianna Fáil’s stance was an example of the ‘Punch and Judy” politics which the party’s leader had said he would not engage in. “If you look at their approach to Europe when in government and look at what they’ve done now, it beggars belief,” he told TheJournal.ie. “Micheál Martin, on his first day in the new Dáil, said he was going to end ‘Punch and Judy’ politics. He’s now engaging in ‘Punch and Judy’ politics.” The Cork South Central TD said that there was “a level of two-facedness” from Fianna Fáil in its stance on the referendum issue. “The Taoiseach has said if we have to have a referendum, we will have it. It’s important to wait for the AG’s advice. In the interim what we have to have is a strong debate across as many fora as you can on what this fiscal compact is about.” He said that the attitude of the opposition parties to the referendum issue was a “sideshow” and insisted that it was important to wait on the advice of the Attorney General, Marie Whelan. “I fully understand that there are people who believer that a referendum is necessary,” he said. He added: “If we need to have one, let’s have it. Let’s have a debate on issue before us, not on sideshows. It’s about the importance of Europe. It’s about the future of Europe, more importantly it’s about the future of our country.”

Finding the horizon Our design was approaching seven years old. That’s like 114 in web years. We were in desperate need of a redesign, and everyone knew it. We actually pushed out a first version of the style guide last year that was specifically for desktop. I was surprised at how quickly it spread internally. We weren’t even close to completing it, but the need was so large that even an inkling of a design system was enough to make a significant impact. The problem was that the first style guide was built around a concept, not a final product. The concept was off the mark — it was minimal and clean and all that, but it just wasn’t us. How could we break years of patterns that our customers were now obsessed with, but were also holding us back from evolving? The answer for us was to start with mobile. The constraints that the phone provided just made solving those problems so much easier. I remember breathing a deep sigh of relief. We could do this. Landing on a Design So we decided to start small by re-imagining what Salesforce would look like as a mobile app. We developed mood boards, personality concepts, and brand filters. We sat in dark rooms and asked ourselves deep, existentialist questions like, “Is a button really a button?” We ended up with a handful of key templates and a fairly neutral aesthetic. A few of the core Salesforce1 templates. In light of the simplicity of the interface, we developed an icon system to imbue some personality into the visual design. The icons are colorful, slightly whimsical, and are also customizable. Customers can pick a metaphor and a color and the icon is programmatically generated, giving them control over branding the different sections of their Salesforce application.

This post was contributed by a community member. As a couple who've recently embarked upon a quest to brew the perfect cup of coffee, meeting the folks from Revolution Roasters was like meeting a group of people taking a parallel journey. We're both driven by the novelty of the pursuit, yet experienced enough to speak about its stages, and the push to learn how to do this right is what's driving us. At certain coffee houses (our recent favorites are just over the bridge: Joe The Art of Coffee in Rittenhouse, and Ultimo), there's a very intricate process to achieving an excellent cup of brewed-to-order coffee that's not unlike threading a needle. The exact same thing happens with roasting, and that is what I found so neat about the operation at Revolution. Its founders are new to the roasting game, but they take their work seriously, and with a lot of the excitement you get when learning something fresh. Steve McFadden, Justin Ettore and Joe Demarest started their whole enterprise because they felt passionately that there aren't enough coffee roasters in South Jersey from which to buy very fresh beans. "Our short-term goal is to really establish ourselves as a premiere coffee roaster in the Collingswood area by providing high-quality coffee at a fair price," Ettore said. "We all really like the small-town feel and want to become one of the local, established businesses that people are proud to recommend." For our town to have access to ultra-fresh beans is a wonderful thing. A long-term plan could see the trio begin a wholesale or retail business, or maybe a mix of both. Revolution Roasters takes its name from its founders' interest in bringing their modern business approach to a factory (The Factory) setting. The Revolution logo shows coffee beans inside a gear, trading on both the coffee grinding imagery as well as its founders' desire to become another piece of the cottage-industry puzzle here in town. Its plain brown coffee bags also evoke the simpler, blue-collar aesthetic of a brown-bag lunch. Lets get down to the coffee. The current beans Revolution offers are Guatemalan: a fair-trade Chajul and Royal Select, water-processed decaf. Both are roasted to a point called "City Plus:" heated until a certain point that leans more towards a darker-but-not-too-dark roast. Coffee beans as they're heated act somewhat similar to popcorn: if you leave the popcorn in too long, it burns; take it out too quickly, and some kernels aren't popped. But coffee beans have a very complex DNA, and doing certain things at any stage in the process can make subtle and unique flavor changes. This delicate magic happens all in a span of 15 minutes from start to finish. To find that perfect setting for the beans at Revolution Roasters, McFadden keeps a close eye on the clock, the temperature, and, at certain moments, adjusts the flame to control the rise of the temp. He also records the temperature at two- and then one-minute intervals, so if a batch comes out particularly good they can then replicate the process. After about six or seven minutes, you hear the first "crack." The process continues on for another few minutes until just before a second crack occurs. In the future, the trio plans to offer multiple varieties from light, to medium, to dark roasts; however, for now Revolution Roasters are producing the medium/dark roast I saw. If you're looking for a taste profile, think Starbucks blonde roast. If you're interested in buying the bags—and we think it's a very worthwhile purchase—they're being sold at The American Table. Revolution Roasters updates are also available via Facebook, or their website. You can also stop by on Second Saturday at The Factory to speak with the guys and maybe check out their test roast of an Indonesian Sulawesi. They will have a tent at the Crafts and Fine Arts Festival and hope to be in the Collingswood Farmers Market sometime this Fall.

Acquiring an Amstrad CPC 464 Intro Earlier this year I took steps to remedy a glaring gap in my computer collection. The omission was the lack of any Amstrad 8-bit machines. These computers had some significance in the UK in the mid-1980s and hence deserve a place in any classic computer collection worthy of the name. In particular I wanted the first model released, the cassette-based CPC 464. It's best to get the first or the last in my opinion and the first in this case had funky coloured keys which made it stand out from crowd. Part of the attraction of computer collecting for me is the industrial design of these machines and I just love the look of this model. Figure 1. The very-retro looking Amstrad CPC 464 in this New Zealand advertisement No expectation of a monitor These machines were sold in New Zealand in the mid-1980s and SOMETIMES can be seen on Trade Me, our national auction site. Such appearances are a rare event though, and I'd resigned myself to eBay UK as a source if I wanted one in the next few months. The fact I was buying it from the other side of the world raised another issue. These machines were sold with their own monochrome or colour monitor. In fact the monitor doubled as a power source for the computer. Now monitors, as you know, are hellishly expensive to ship and prone to breakage...if indeed one can be found where the owner is prepared to ship and pack it! Luckily there appeared to be a solution. Someone has developed a SCART interface+PSU device specifically for the missing-monitor problem. This means any TV with a SCART input could play the role of an Amstrad CPC monitor. Yay! Actually, not yay. The problem is SCART is a very rare interface in New Zealand. Even though our TVs are PAL like the Europeans, SCART as an interface is scarce. So a SCART+PSU unit was only 1/2 the battle. I also needed to get some kind of SCART input to composite video output gizmo so I could plug these chained adapters into a standard TV/Monitor here in NZ...and hope that it all worked! eBay UK I didn't buy the first CPC 464 I saw on eBay. I monitored the auctions for a month or two just to get a feel for prices and what was available. The Amstrads appeared to be common, with a new one appearing every few days or so. Sometimes with software, sometimes without. Often scruffy but sometimes not. Sometimes even with a monitor but without exceptions these were pickup-only. No chance of the latter for me. At the same time I was looking for computers I was also seeking those adapters. I found both types which looked like they might do the job; a SCART+PSU package and a SCART <--> Composite video and audio adapter. I ordered one of each. They arrived before I'd found a machine. Figure 2. SCART adapter and power adapter combo (left) and SCART two-way video/audio converter (right) Eventually I saw a CPC 464 listing that took my eye. It was an untested unit but in pristine "as-new" condition. The description suggested it had been stored and never used, a claim that was supported by removable labels still being over some of the card edges. Figure 3. Sign of a rarely used machine? Labels over the ports. Buying untested is always a risk but I'm now at the stage in this hobby where a museum-ready appearance trumps any faults in the electronics, mainly because I feel I have a chance of fixing the latter. Besides, this one seemed to have never been switched on. I was confident that it would go. Bought! While it was on its way here on the high seas (or more likely in the belly of a 767) I also picked up a tidy user manual from eBay UK. I always like to get some documentation for my machines. First impressions Two things struck me immediately on arrival. One was just how pristine it really was. It was a beautiful specimen and those nifty coloured keys looked just as good as I thought they would. The second was the length! Here it is next to a Sinclair Spectrum and Commodore 64! Attach a handle and you could play cricket with it! Figure 4. Dimensions of the CPC 464 compared to the competition Actually I was more impressed than I thought I would be. Although lacking the gravitas of a business-oriented IBM XT or clone it seemed a pretty solid piece of engineering for a home computer. The only criticism I have regarding the keyboard layout is the location of those cursor keys. They will be used a lot so why not have them below the numeric keypad, so your palm could rest on the desk? Testing with a composite monitor Ok, I now had the machine but would it go? After chaining the SCART+PSU adapter then SCART--> composite video adapter and connecting the computer to one end and a composite monitor/TV to the other, the switch was thrown. Success!!! A boot screen appeared telling me I was in Amstrad BASIC. But....No colour. Monochrome only. Hmm... I loaded in the WELCOME tape and went though the demos. Graphics, sound, 80 columns...everything worked just fine..but in glorious black and white. Damn! Some more reading on these SCART---> Composite video output adapters on the web showed that they were far from the perfect solution. It seemed they worked sometimes and sometimes not, depending on the time of the month, where the moon was in the zodiac and whatever other variables were on offer at the time! Oh well... Figure 5. Amstrad CPC 464 booting up fine on a colour TV...but in mono! Arrgg.. Perhaps an RF modulator then? Amstrad was not so naive as to think monitors would never be lost or become unbundled from their machines over time hence they did sell an RF modulator/external PSU as an accessory. This allowed monitor-less units to be plugged into a TV. Perhaps this would solve my problem. I saw one of these advertised on eBay and bought it. Alas no. It worked in a fashion but no colour was forthcoming. No matter how much I fiddled with the tuning, monochrome was all it could display. Figure 6. RF Modulator for the Amstrad CPC 464. Alas still only mono for me! Serendipity I wondered if anyone on the New Zealand Computer Forums had used one of these adapters or had experience with a solution? I posted a note. That note resulted in a solution...in fact the PERFECT solution. By happy chance one of the members had a spare Amstrad CPC colour monitor unused and surplus to requirements. It worked, it was in reasonable condition and he was happy to donate it. Not only donate it but deliver it too, when he was up my way (2 hours from where he lived)! Much gratitude to Michael Railton from Wellington (aka asci). Someone to whom I owe a beer or two. Figure 7. A donated Amstrad CPC colour monitor Stocking up with software Now that I had a complete machine and in colour it was time to stock up on software. Actually I already had some. While I was waiting for the computer to arrive, I'd discovered a repository of classic software in CDT format at this repository and this one. I also found a program called CDT2WAV. You could use the latter to convert tape images in CDT format to WAV files, and directly output audio from the PC through the soundcard while this process was going on! Figure 8. WAV to real tape using CDT2WAV To get this audio and hence programs into the machine I used a couple of methods. The first was to record the audio onto a blank cassette tape, using a stand-alone tape recorder I had for one of my other machines. I'd then play the tape in the Amstrad itself. The second was to use one of those gadgets modeled like a cassette tape, designed to take sound from portable CD or MP3 players and play it in a car's cassette recorder...as if a tape was being used. Although not quite as elegant (You couldn't close the cassette bay) , I found this worked just fine as well, and allowed direct loading straight from the PC soundcard. Figure 9. Car cassette adapter being deployed to load software directly from the PC I soon had "The Welcome Tape", "Roland on the Ropes" and 3-D Grand Prix copied onto cassette tapes, and "Harrier Attack" and Head over Heels" loading successfully from the PC. I did want more but things didn't go entirely smoothly. There were some titles that spat the dummy during loading despite my best efforts such as "Get Dextor", "Gryzor", "Robocop", "Target Renegade" or "Fruity Frank". I'll need to revisit these sometime and try to get good tapes copied as they are all class titles. I don't think this non-loading was anything to do with the Amstrad cassette deck itself. It might be a function of the original CDT image or perhaps the Amstrad was just uber-sensitive to the volume input. The games don't photograph well, but many can be seen in the YouTube video I made on the machine. As well as these Internet-sourced programs, some others on their original cassettes with original packaging also came my way via a Trade Me lucky dip. These included such exotic titles as "Mask 2", "Tobrouk", "Blood Brothers", "Wizball", "Avenger (Way of the Tiger II)", "Artura", "Micky Mouse (the computer game)", "Gary Linker's Super Star Soccer", "Thing bounces back" and "Gothik". Figure 10. Real cassette software. I also came across an Amstrad joystick! Summary So, I now have what I wanted. A fully complete Amstrad CPC 464, working, looking good and with some software titles to strut its stuff. If you haven't already seen it, check out the YouTube video and my description in the Collection section. Figure 11. Amstrad CPC 464. The full package. Tez 4th August, 2015 P.S. I also have a surplus to requirements a SCART/PSU cable and one dodgy SCART <--> audio+video adapter. Any takers? (-: P.P.S. My Amstrad adventure doesn't end here. See my CPC 6128 acquisition and my external disk drive fix.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Ann WarrenSanders: 'Damn right' I'll make the large corporations pay 'fair share of taxes' House to push back at Trump on border GOP Sen. Tillis to vote for resolution blocking Trump's emergency declaration MORE (D-Mass.) renewed her attacks on Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHouse committee believes it has evidence Trump requested putting ally in charge of Cohen probe: report Vietnamese airline takes steps to open flights to US on sidelines of Trump-Kim summit Manafort's attorneys say he should get less than 10 years in prison MORE on Saturday, blasting the Republican presidential nominee as a “fraud” who espouses racism. ADVERTISEMENT “The last thing we need is a president that fans the flames of hatred and division,” she said in a speech to the National Council of La Raza in Orlando, Fla. She hammered Trump for his racially motivated attacks on Judge Gonzalo Curiel, who is overseeing lawsuits against the now-defunct Trump University. Saying that he “whined” about being treated unfairly, Warren called Trump out for directing his “army of campaign surrogates to step up their attacks on Judge Curiel.” “That’s the kind of human being Donald Trump is, and that’s why he must never be president of the United States,” she said. Warren called on the Hispanic organization to fight Trump’s candidacy and vote for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonSanders: 'I fully expect' fair treatment by DNC in 2020 after 'not quite even handed' 2016 primary Sanders: 'Damn right' I'll make the large corporations pay 'fair share of taxes' Former Sanders campaign spokesman: Clinton staff are 'biggest a--holes in American politics' MORE. “We cannot be a country ruled by hatred and bigotry,” she said. She added: “We will never build Donald Trump’s stupid wall.”

Credit: Marvel Comics Credit: Marvel Comics Diamond Comic Distributors released their May 2013 sales charts and market share data Friday morning, and girl-power ruled as the debut of Marvel's new female-only mutant team X-Men was the best-selling comic book of the month, leading Marvel to what is now its relatively standard position above both Market Share categories. DC's Batman #20 was the second best-selling titles and the 'Big 2' split the Top 10 comic book chart 6 Marvel, 4 DC. Credit: BOOM! Studios BOOM! Studios (via its kaboom! imprint) made a rare appearance on top of a Market Share chart as its Adventure Time Vol. 1: Playing With Fire original graphic novel was the bestselling trade/GN, supplanting The Walking Dead's usual domination, at least for one month. Market Share wise there were great surprises. Marvel again led both categories with 37.44% Unit share and 33.36% Dollar share, to DC's 30.84% Unit and 28.27% Dollar share, making it a much closer horse race than last month . But as has also become typical, overall industry sales are up again over the same period last year, but with a caveat this month. Both comic book and graphic novel Dollar sales were up around just 1% over May 2012 (with comic book Unit sales actually down a little under 3%). Both May 2012 and 2013 were five-week shipping months, so comparisons are fair, but it should be noted that sales were up 9.76% vs. April 2013 and May 2012 was a relatively huge sales month. Comichron estimates overall industry sales were $44.68 million in May 2012, up over 24% over April 2012's estimated $36 million and a whopping 43.76% over May 2011 sales. Does May 2013's sales indicate that maybe the market has reached its peak with about $45m in overall monthly sales? We'll let Comichron tackle that question when they weigh in with their analysis later Friday. The May 2013 Market Share and Comparative Sales Data charts, along with Top 10 Comic Books and Top 10 Graphic Novels charts follow below. Again look for more analysis of May’s sales from Comichron soon. TOP COMIC BOOK PUBLISHERS RETAIL MARKET SHARE PUBLISHER SHARE MARVEL COMICS 33.36% DC COMICS 28.27% IMAGE COMICS 7.48% IDW PUBLISHING 6.28% DARK HORSE COMICS 4.73% DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 3.50% BOOM! STUDIOS 2.97% EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD 1.57% AVATAR PRESS INC 0.92% ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.90% OTHER NON-TOP 10 10.02% UNIT MARKET SHARE PUBLISHER SHARE MARVEL COMICS 37.44% DC COMICS 30.84% IMAGE COMICS 8.11% IDW PUBLISHING 4.77% DARK HORSE COMICS 4.36% DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT 3.30% BOOM! STUDIOS 2.63% ZENESCOPE ENTERTAINMENT INC 0.82% AVATAR PRESS INC 0.76% EAGLEMOSS PUBLICATIONS LTD 0.37% OTHER NON-TOP 10 6.60% COMPARATIVE SALES STATISTICS DOLLARS UNITS MAY 2013 VS. APRIL 2013 COMICS 6.95% 5.42% GRAPHIC NOVELS 15.79% 5.88% TOTAL COMICS/GN 9.76% 5.46% MAY 2013 VS. MAY 2012 COMICS 0.97% -2.62% GRAPHIC NOVELS 1.00% 3.17% TOTAL COMICS/GN 0.98% -2.15% YEAR-TO-DATE 2013 VS. YEAR-TO-DATE 2012 COMICS 15.04% 12.25% GRAPHIC NOVELS 12.01% 11.45% TOTAL COMICS/GN 14.07% 12.19% TOP 10 COMIC BOOKS RANK DESCRIPTION PRICE VENDOR 1 X-MEN #1 $3.99 MAR 2 BATMAN #20 $3.99 DC 3 JUSTICE LEAGUE #20 $3.99 DC 4 AGE OF ULTRON #7 $3.99 MAR 5 AGE OF ULTRON #8 $3.99 MAR 6 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #9 $3.99 MAR 7 SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #10 $3.99 MAR 8 JUSTICE LEAGUE OFAMERICA#3 $3.99 DC 9 ALL NEW X-MEN #11 $3.99 MAR 10 DETECTIVE COMICS #20 $3.99 DC TOP 10 GRAPHIC NOVELS

France’s heavy reliance on nuclear baseload energy is leaving it short of power, and the country faces blackouts and soaring power prices this winter. French grid operator RTE last week warned consumers about rolling blackouts in winter and energy analysts predicted soaring power prices after more than one-third of the country’s nuclear plants had to be shut down because of safety concerns over its reactor vessels. France has often been used as an example by anti-renewable activists, particularly those within the fossil fuel industry and conservative parties, to argue that the sort of events that occurred in South Australia in the past few months – a couple of half-hour surges in prices and a state-wide blackout – could only happen in a renewables dependent grid. But France’s heavy reliance on nuclear – it supplies around three-quarters of its electricity – leaves it terribly exposed when something goes wrong, such a generic design fault. The French regulator has ordered the closure of up to 24 ageing nuclear power plants so that a crucial steel component could be reviewed after investigations into the disastrous delays and cost overruns at its next generation plant at Flamanville revealed major faults, which have been repeated in at least 18 other generators. France used the standardisation to build its reactor fleet quickly and cheaply, but environmental groups have been warning for years that the discovery of such a generic fault could incapacitate a large part of the fleet. RTE has now warned that even using the remaining fleet at full capacity (they normally operate at a relatively low capacity of around 70 per cent) would leave it some 10GW short of power at times this winter. This will leave it dependent on other countries – Belgium, German, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and the UK – to make up the difference. But on occasions when that extra supply could not be delivered (Belgium, for instance, also has problems with its nuclear reactors), then blackouts were inevitable. Analysts have also warned that French power prices will likely hit the local cap of 3,000 Euros/MWh. They argue that the cap should be lifted to more than €10,000. (The cap in Australia is $A14,000/MWh but has rarely been hit in Australia since large amounts of wind and solar entered the market). “That this winter we will hit that price cap in France is almost a certainty,” Nicolaj Janss Lafond, senior cross-border trader at Engie, told a conference in Amsterdam last week. “At some point this winter France is going to have the need to import from the UK in the most expensive hours.” Reuters said the potential power cuts exposed the vulnerabilities of France’s dependence on nuclear power. “During some periods of the day in winter, and during some days, we may need to use exceptional measures to guarantee the balance of electricity demand and supply on the network,” RTE President Francois Brottes told reporters at a news conference last week. These measures would include more power imports, particularly renewables-rich Germany, but could also include paying industrial groups to switch off machinery and rolling blackouts in part of the country. Most homes in France, which has been slow to implement energy efficiency measures because they were encouraged to use as much power as they can to justify the nuclear investment, rely on electricity for heating, so blackouts in winter will be highly sensitive. RTE says it will ask households to lower their thermostats by around 1° to 2°, avoid using washing machines and dishwashers between 8am and 1pm and from 6pm to 8pm, and to switch off lights in empty rooms. The longer-term issues are also significant. The French power generator EdF, which operates the nuclear power plants, is strapped for cash and has to borrow to pay dividends. But it faces huge bills in coming years – with estimates ranging from €50-€80 billion – to upgrade its ageing fleet to meet standards. It faces an even bigger bill should it choose to replace the ageing nuclear reactors once they get to the end of their life, or need further upgrades. The new generation French reactors in France and Finland are running a decade over-due and at three times the cost. The faults discovered in Flamanville mean that the reactor may never be completed. But EDF has nevertheless won a contract from the UK government to use the technology to build a nuclear plant at Hinkley C, regarded by many critics as potentially the biggest white elephant ever built. This comes as the biggest market for nuclear reactors – China – experiences a massive slowdown in projects on fears about the costs and the fact that it may have gone too far, too fast. Even under the most optimistic plausible scenario, nuclear could never provide more than 10 per cent of the country’s power.

This feature of git is too cool not to blog about: git bisect, and more specifically, git bisect run. “git bisect” is a tool that facilitates a binary search of changes to your git repository to help find where a bug was introduced. You can walk through the process manually using “git bisect {good,bad,skip}“, or if you can write a script that automates checking for the bug, you can use “git bisect run scriptname” to have git do all the work for you. The script should return 0 if the bug does not exist, and some other number (except 125) if the bug does exist. In my case, Cappuccino’s “steam” build tool was failing, so I wrote a simple script that would test it by trying to run “steam” on Foundation: #!/bin/sh # install a known working copy of the build tools pushd ../tmp/Tools sudo sh install -tools popd ../tmp/Tools-tools # build whatever version of Cappuccino git bisect has checked out for us rm -rf $STEAM_BUILD ant release # install the freshly built tools pushd $STEAM_BUILD/Cappuccino/Tools sudo sh install-tools popd # run steam on Foundation to see if the built tools work rm -rf $STEAM_BUILD pushd Foundation steam RETURN=$? popd # return the recorded return value exit $RETURN I provided “git bisect start” with a known bad commit and a known good commit, then ran “git bisect run”: git bisect start c1e882ace1dd29aea98d9247db304fe5d5077df7 d6c0f8802a2fd3a07e14418de7744ae04ae4499e git bisect run ../test.sh Sure enough, a few minutes later “git bisect” reported exactly which commit caused the problem:

Participants and Samples Figure 2. Figure 2. Data Generation and Sample and Data Filtration for the End Point of Primary Clinical Malaria among Children 5 to 17 Months of Age. Vaccine recipients were considered to be out of interval for the dose regimen if they did not receive booster vaccinations according to the schedule specified by the trial protocol. The sample cards used were Whatman FTA cards. PCR denotes polymerase chain reaction. Figure 2, and Fig. S2 in the Supplementary Appendix, summarize sample size and follow-up information for the per-protocol group of participants who were 5 to 17 months of age; in this cohort, P. falciparum genetic data were analyzed from 1181 RTS,S/AS01-vaccine recipients and 909 control-vaccine recipients in whom the primary clinical malaria end point was confirmed, as well as from 284 RTS,S/AS01-vaccine recipients and 208 control-vaccine recipients in whom the parasite-positivity end point was confirmed. Fig. S3 and S4 in the Supplementary Appendix show this information for the per-protocol group of infants who were 6 to 12 weeks of age, and Fig. S5 through S8 in the Supplementary Appendix provide information on the samples studied for both end points and age categories for the NANP–NVDP repeat amplicon. Complexity of Infection Figure 3. Figure 3. Complexity of Infection and Frequencies of 3D7-Matched Malaria among Children 5 to 17 Months of Age with the Primary Clinical Malaria End Point. The denominator for the frequencies in Panels B through D is the number of samples representing the primary clinical malaria end point that had sequence data available. Ag denotes Agogo, Ba Bagamoyo, Kil Kilifi, Kin Kintampo, Kom Kombewa, Kor Korogwe, La Lambaréné, Li Lilongwe, Na Nanoro, and Si Siaya. The majority of samples from participants with primary clinical malaria in both age categories (68% of samples from infants 6 to 12 weeks of age and 65% of samples from children 5 to 17 months of age) had complex infections, defined as being founded by two or more distinct parasite lineages. In the older age category, the distribution of complexity of infection was shifted toward fewer parasite lineages in RTS,S/AS01-vaccine recipients than in control-vaccine recipients (complex infections in 61% vs. 71% of samples, P<0.001 by Wald test) (Figure 3A), whereas in the younger age category there was no evidence of a different distribution between the RTS,S/AS01 and control groups (67% and 70%, respectively; P=0.43) (Fig. S10 in the Supplementary Appendix). This observation for the older age category is concordant with findings in two phase 2 trials of the related RTS,S/AS02 vaccine,31,32 and there were fewer 3D7-matching full-amplicon haplotypes in infections of high complexity in the RTS,S/AS01-vaccinated group than in the control group (Fig. S11 in the Supplementary Appendix). Population Variation Profile We searched for a sieve effect based on perfect 3D7 match–mismatch in the C-terminal of the circumsporozoite protein at three scales: the full-amplicon haplotype (95 amino acids), four described epitopes or polymorphism cluster haplotypes (10 to 17 amino acids apiece), and 25 individual polymorphic positions. In the category of children 5 to 17 months of age, the frequency of haplotypes with an exact match to the 3D7 vaccine strain across all polymorphic positions varied considerably among study sites (Figure 3B). In addition, there was a lower frequency of 3D7-matching haplotypes among RTS,S/AS01-vaccine recipients than among control vaccine recipients, especially at geographic sites with at least a 5% frequency of 3D7-matching haplotypes in the control-vaccine group. Similar differences were evident with respect to the epitope haplotype frequencies (Figure 3C). The frequency of alleles matching the 3D7 vaccine strain at individual polymorphic positions was variable (Figure 3D). In the category of infants 6 to 12 weeks of age, the frequencies of 3D7 matching at all three scales in the RTS,S/AS01-vaccinated group were similar to those in the control-vaccinated group (Fig. S10 in the Supplementary Appendix). C-Terminal Region Sieve Effects Figure 4. Figure 4. Cumulative Incidences and Vaccine Efficacy against the Primary Clinical Malaria End Point among Children 5 to 17 Months of Age. Shown is the cumulative incidence of 3D7-matched malaria (Panel A) and 3D7-mismatched malaria (Panel B) among RTS,S/AS01-vaccine recipients and control-vaccine recipients during 12 months of post-vaccination follow-up, the cumulative vaccine efficacy (one minus the ratio [RTS,S/AS01 vs. control] of cumulative incidences of the first or only episode of clinical malaria with a specific haplotype) against 3D7-matched and 3D7-mismatched malaria over the entire post-vaccination follow-up period (Panel C), and the cumulative vaccine efficacy and hazard-ratio vaccine efficacy (one minus the ratio [RTS,S/AS01 vs. control] of instantaneous incidences of the end point under the assumption that incidences are proportional over time) against 3D7-matched and 3D7-mismatched malaria at 12 months after vaccination, with tests for differential haplotype-specific vaccine efficacy (Panel D). The I bars in Panel D indicate 95% confidence intervals. Figure 5. Figure 5. Vaccine Efficacy against the Primary Clinical Malaria End Point among Children 5 to 17 Months of Age. Shown are the cumulative vaccine efficacy (Panel A) and hazard-ratio vaccine efficacy (Panel B) for the prevention of clinical malaria in which parasites were matches or mismatches with the RTS,S/AS01 vaccine strain (3D7) at each haplotype locus. Estimates were stratified according to study site. For each haplotype locus, the calculation of haplotype-matched vaccine efficacy included only clinical malaria end-point events with samples in which parasites matched 3D7 at the given locus; the calculation of haplotype-mismatched vaccine efficacy included only clinical malaria end-point events with samples in which parasites mismatched 3D7 at the given locus. Asterisks indicate that the difference in efficacy was significant (Q value ≤0.2 for all 28 multiply compared haplotype loci and unadjusted P≤0.05 for the full circumsporozoite protein C-terminal amplicon). FWER denotes family-wise error rate. Through 1 year after vaccination, we detected 139 clinical malaria cases with a perfect full-amplicon 3D7 match (Figure 4A) and 1951 cases that were mismatched (Figure 4B). During this period, the cumulative vaccine efficacy against clinical malaria with a perfect full-amplicon 3D7 match was 50.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 34.6 to 62.3), and that against mismatched clinical malaria was 33.4% (95% CI, 29.3 to 37.2), with vaccine efficacy significantly higher against matched malaria (P=0.04 by Wald test for the sieve effect) (Figure 4D and Figure 5A). The covariate-adjusted analysis gave almost identical results (Table S5 in the Supplementary Appendix). The cumulative vaccine efficacy was higher against matched malaria than against mismatched malaria throughout the follow-up period; for example, during the period through month 6, vaccine efficacy against matched malaria was 70.2% (95% CI, 56.1 to 79.8), and that against mismatched malaria was 56.3% (95% CI, 51.1 to 60.9) (P=0.05 for the sieve effect) (Figure 4C). Cumulative vaccine efficacy and sieve effects for the circumsporozoite protein C-terminal also varied in magnitude among study sites when the sites were analyzed individually in the older age category (Table S6 in the Supplementary Appendix). The hazard-ratio vaccine efficacy over the 12 months of post-vaccination follow-up was also higher against 3D7-matched malaria than against 3D7-mismatched malaria (62.7% [95% CI, 51.6 to 71.3] vs. 54.2% [95% CI, 49.9 to 58.1]; P=0.06 for the sieve effect) (Figure 5B, and Table S7 in the Supplementary Appendix). The overall vaccine efficacy was similar to the efficacy against mismatched malaria, because more than 90% of the infections were mismatched (Figure 4D). Post hoc analysis defining the haplotypes of a malaria case as “any match” or “no match” to 3D7 also identified a sieve effect for the circumsporozoite protein C-terminal (P<0.001 for the cumulative vaccine efficacy sieve effect; P=0.002 for the hazard-ratio vaccine efficacy sieve effect) (Tables S8 and S9 in the Supplementary Appendix). In contrast, the cumulative and hazard-ratio vaccine efficacies were similar against full-amplicon–matched malaria and full-amplicon–mismatched malaria in the category of infants 6 to 12 weeks of age (P=0.58 for the sieve effect) (Tables S10 and S11 and Fig. S12 in the Supplementary Appendix), as well as against SERA-2–matched malaria and SERA-2–mismatched malaria in both age categories (P values for the sieve effect >0.30) (Tables S12 through S15 and Fig. S13 and S14 in the Supplementary Appendix). Table 1. Table 1. Cumulative Vaccine Efficacy against Primary Clinical Malaria. Among the participants who were 5 to 17 months of age, there were also significant cumulative vaccine efficacy sieve effects (Q value ≤0.2) for the Th2R and Th3R epitopes, the Th2R–Th3R LD haplotype, and the DV10 region (Figure 5A), as well as for the individual amino acid positions 299, 301, 317, 354, 356, 359, and 361 (Table 1). The cumulative vaccine efficacy tended to decrease with the number of mismatches with 3D7 at these seven amino acid positions (Fig. S15 in the Supplementary Appendix). Hazard-ratio analyses of epitopes and regions (Figure 5B) and individual amino acid positions (Table S7 in the Supplementary Appendix) yielded differential vaccine efficacy results that were consistent with those from the cumulative vaccine efficacy analysis, at reduced levels of significance. In the younger age category, vaccine efficacy against malaria that matched 3D7 at individual circumsporozoite protein C-terminal amino acid positions was similar to that against malaria with mismatches (all Q values >0.20) (Tables S10 and S11 in the Supplementary Appendix). No evidence of sieve effects was found for individual positions in either age category for the SERA-2 locus (Table S12 through S15 in the Supplementary Appendix). For the parasite-positivity end point at 18 months after dose 3, in the older age category, the estimates of vaccine efficacy tended to be higher for circumsporozoite protein C-terminal 3D7-matched malaria than for 3D7-mismatched malaria (e.g., vaccine efficacy, 53% vs. 30%; P=0.19 for the full amplicon), although none of the differences were significant (Table S16 in the Supplementary Appendix). In contrast, there was no evidence at all of a sieve effect for the circumsporozoite protein C-terminal in the younger age category with regard to this end point (Table S17 in the Supplementary Appendix), and there was no evidence of a sieve effect for SERA-2 in either age category (Tables S18 and S19 in the Supplementary Appendix). NANP–NVDP Repeat Region In 3137 samples representing the clinical malaria end point with sequence data that could be evaluated from the B-cell epitope repeat region, the NANP–NVDP repeat count ranged from 37 to 44, with a mode of 40 repeats. There was a nonsignificant trend toward declining cumulative vaccine efficacy with increasing NANP–NVDP repeat count in the older age category (P=0.07) (Fig. S16 in the Supplementary Appendix) and no significant differential vaccine efficacy according to repeat count in the younger age category (P=0.89) (Fig. S17 in the Supplementary Appendix). We did not assess the dependence of vaccine efficacy on NANP–NVDP repeat amino acid sequences because the vaccine construct contains a truncated repeat region (18.5 NANP–NVDP repeats).

0 By now, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the first teaser trailer for Rian Johnson‘s Star Wars: The Last Jedi in all its full-color glory and have pored over every frame of it to glean its many secrets. But for something a little more subdued and a little more candid, we now turn to a selection of behind-the-scenes shots from the movie’s production shot by Johnson himself. The only other person, besides the official set photographer, allowed to take photos behind the scenes, Johnson captured fun snaps of stars Oscar Isaac, Daisy Ridley, and Anthony Daniels in action, along with a touching throwback image for the late Carrie Fisher. We’ve got a long wait until the film’s debut, so I fully expect to see more from the massive marketing machine behind the eighth installment in the Skywalker Saga. And while the reveals will certainly be most welcome, I’m hoping we get to see more from Johnson himself. Hopefully, as one of the many fans of his filmography, we’ll also get to see some nods back to his previous films, like Brick and Looper, as nice Easter eggs. Also starring John Boyega (Finn), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Gwendoline Christie (Captain Phasma), Dohmnall Gleeson (General Hux), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), and Andy Serkis (Snoke) with Benicio Del Toro and Laura Dern, Star Wars: The Last Jedi will open on December 15, 2017. Check out the behind-the-scenes shots from Star Wars: The Last Jedi, courtesy of Johnson’s Instagram account: A post shared by Rian Johnson (@riancjohnson) on Apr 14, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT A post shared by Rian Johnson (@riancjohnson) on Apr 14, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT A post shared by Rian Johnson (@riancjohnson) on Apr 14, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT A post shared by Rian Johnson (@riancjohnson) on Apr 14, 2017 at 7:36pm PDT

The Central Intelligence Agency is funding a scientific study that will investigate whether humans could use geo-engineering to alter Earth's environment and stop climate change. TheNational Academy of Sciences will run the 21-month project, which is the first NAS geo-engineering study financially supported by an intelligence agency. With the spooks' money, scientists will study how humans might influence weather patterns, assess the potential dangers of messing with the climate, and investigate possible national security implications of geo-engineering attempts. The total cost of the project is $630,000, which NAS is splitting with the CIA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and NASA. The NAS website says that "the US intelligence community" is funding the project, and William Kearney, a spokesman for NAS, told Mother Jones that phrase refers to the CIA. Edward Price, a spokesman for the CIA, refused to confirm the agency's role in the study, but said, "It's natural that on a subject like climate change the Agency would work with scientists to better understand the phenomenon and its implications on national security." The CIA reportedly closed its research center on climate change and national security last year, after GOP members of Congress argued that the CIA shouldn't be looking at climate change. The goal of the CIA-backed NAS study is to conduct a "technical evaluation of a limited number of proposed geo-engineering techniques," according to the NAS website. Scientists will attempt to determine which geo-engineering techniques are feasible and try to evaluate the impacts and risks of each (including "national security concerns"). One proposed geo-engineering method the study will look at is solar radiation management—a fancy term for pumping particles into the stratosphere to reflect incoming sunlight away from the planet. In theory, solar radiation management could lead to a global cooling trend that might reverse, or at least slow down, global warming. The study will also investigate proposals for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Read more at The Atlantic Cities. (Image via Mihai Simonia/Shutterstock.com)

The British Labour party has suffered a humiliating by-election defeat after losing a seat it has held since the 1980s to the Conservatives. The Cumbrian seat has been held by the party since it was formed in 1983 but Tory Trudy Harrison won it by 2,147 votes in a historic victory. It is the first time a governing party has taken a seat from the opposition for decades. Ms Harrison polled 13,748 votes to 11,601 for Labour's Gillian Troughton. The stunning Tory victory will heap pressure on Jeremy Corbyn over his divisive leadership of the party. Labour's majority in the constituency at the general election was just 2,564. But for an opposition party to lose a seat to the party of power in a mid-term vote is extremely rare. The last time it happened was the 1982 Merton, Mitcham and Morden by-election, although technically it was a Conservative gain from SDP as the sitting MP had defected from Labour to the SDP before the poll. Before that, the closest comparable case was Sunderland South in 1953. Labour earlier held Stoke-on-Trent Central after seeing off a concerted challenge from Ukip leader Paul Nuttall. But Mr Corbyn admitted the party had failed to get its message through in Cumbria. He said: "Labour's victory in Stoke is a decisive rejection of Ukip's politics of division and dishonesty. "But our message was not enough to win through in Copeland. "In both campaigns, Labour listened to thousands of voters on the doorstep. "Both constituencies, like so many in Britain, have been let down by the political establishment. "To win power to rebuild and transform Britain, Labour will go further to reconnect with voters and break with the failed political consensus." The Conservatives increased their vote share by more than 8% in Copeland, while Labour's was down by nearly 5%. Ms Harrison said her victory showed "the people are ready for change". She told Sky News: "I think we ran an extremely positive campaign and it was a campaign that represented the needs of this area. "And I know this area because I have lived here all of my life. "I think that, and the combination of Jeremy Corbyn's views on nuclear in an area which is so dependent on Sellafield and on Moorside, contributed to my win tonight." In Stoke, Gareth Snell secured a comfortable win of 7,853 to his challenger's 5,233, to be elected as the city's new MP. Ukip campaigned hard in the constituency in the hope of capitalising on its overwhelming support for Brexit. But Mr Nuttall's campaign was hit by a series of setbacks, including being forced to apologise for a false claim on his website that he lost "close friends" in the Hillsborough disaster. Mr Snell also faced a rocky campaign after it emerged he had described Jeremy Corbyn as an "IRA-supporting friend of Hamas" and called Brexit a "massive pile of s**t". But the seat has been held by Labour since it was created in 1950 and the party secured a 5,179 majority in 2015. Labour secured a 2,620 majority but its vote share fell by around 2%, while Ukip's went up by the same amount. Mr Nuttall said Ukip was "not going anywhere" and insisted the party's "time would come". "There's a lot more to come from us," he said. "We are not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere."

Ready to fight back? Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nation’s journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and we’ll send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Sign up for our Wine Club today. Did you know you can support The Nation by drinking wine? As I write, news comes that a man with a long psychiatric history has driven his car into several groups of pedestrians in Dijon, France, declaring himself to be “acting for the children of Palestine.” While the French prime minister mentioned “the ravages of propaganda on fragile minds,” no one has blamed the children of Palestine. Ad Policy In the United States, news was still fresh that Ismaaiyl Brinsley, also a man with a history of untreated mental disease, shot his ex-girlfriend in the stomach, then took a bus to New York and executed two police officers, declaring himself to be acting on behalf of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. Here, however, there were torrents of blame. Patrick Lynch, head of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, announced that Mayor Bill de Blasio had “blood on his hands” for sympathizing with protesters against police misconduct. Former New York governor George Pataki called the killings the “predictable outcome of divisive, anti-cop rhetoric” by Attorney General Eric Holder. Former police commissioner Ray Kelly blamed “the reality” that stop-and-frisk policies had been an issue in the campaign, as though policing policy should never be a matter of electoral politics. Rudolph Giuliani, seeking higher moral ground, also blamed President Obama. And within hours of the tragedy, Fox News was furiously blaming its usual lineup of villains: Al Sharpton, soft-hearted liberals, soft-headed academics, outside agitators, and anyone who’d joined in any protest anywhere in the United States since last August, when Brown was shot in Ferguson. On TV, a commentator asked with great earnestness if Brinsley’s rampage was “connected to national events.” There are, of course, many crimes committed in the name of national events—or Jodie Foster, or Andy Warhol, or space aliens. Jared Lee Loughner shot a congresswoman, Gabrielle Giffords, whom he reportedly despised from afar. Aurora, Colorado, mass shooter James Holmes was a Batman fan and carried out his rampage at a screening of the latest Dark Knight film. And in Adam Lanza’s horrific school shooting at Sandy Hook, no motive was ever established. So before we lay responsibility at the feet of any more politicians or movements or hip-hop or the pope, let’s acknowledge what these particular incidents have in common: “untreated mental illness” in our land of guns aplenty. A quick definitional primer may be in order, since so many recent shootings have involved either psychosis of some sort—mostly schizophrenia—or post-traumatic stress disorder. Schizophrenia is an incurable brain disease that, in its more paranoid manifestations, can cause delusions of persecution, distorted perceptions of reality, illusions of grandeur, magical thinking and auditory hallucinations (or “voices”). While it is not surprising that such confusion could occasionally lead to aggression, untreated schizophrenics are much more frequently the victims of violence. Often incapable of responding rationally to commands, they are disproportionately among those jailed or killed by police untrained to handle mental illness, as in the cases of Keith Vidal, Dontre Hamilton, Michelle Cusseaux and James Boyd, all schizophrenic civilians recently killed by police. Post-traumatic stress disorder is occasioned by exposure to violence or an invasion so deep that it bypasses the capacity for language. Flashbacks are one symptom. Rarer is compulsive behavior that re-enacts some version of the original assault: perhaps promiscuity if one has been molested, or explosive or violent behavior if one has survived war. It is a suspected cause behind Iraq veteran Bradley William Stone’s recent murder of his ex-wife and five members of her family. Rates of PTSD are also disproportionately high among police and prison guards, indicating broad disrespect by policy-makers for the stresses of the job. If there is no funding for screening, counseling or treatment, or if police officers are underpaid or untrained or overworked, or if their higher-ups force on them unfair profiling practices that all but guarantee their presence will be resented on the street—this state of affairs endangers public space no less than common criminality. I offer none of this as a definitive explanation for any act of violence. But given clear evidence that Ismaaiyl Brinsley was mentally unsound, it is remarkable that the media could assign direct cause-and-effect to the atmospherics of news. If Brinsley had tweeted that William Shakespeare made him do it, would Fox & Friends be blaming teachers’ unions for troubling the waters? It is its own kind of madness to blame these murders on those who do no more than debate the proper use of force by police, as Fox and others have done. (As in: guns don’t kill people, public discourse and protestors without guns do.) This response chills freedom of expression, not least by using one psychotic individual as the stand-in for a national debate in desperate need of actual resolution. If Brinsley becomes the embodiment of “Black lives matter” or the Willie Horton–ized face of “Hands up, don’t shoot!”, then no use of force by the police can ever seem too excessive. No wonder we need stop-and-frisk—“they” are executioners! Lest we lose sight of the issue: approximately 80 percent of African-American men between 16 and 24 have endured unsolicited stops by the New York Police Department. Only 10 percent of whites in the same age cohort have. This does not reflect inherent criminality, but rather a pattern of discrimination. To observe that much, to discuss it and to push to change it is not the equivalent of “stoking hatred.” By the same token, we can surely agree that any individual who commits unprovoked homicide in disregard of our laws must be restrained, either in well-maintained hospitals or prisons. And that goes for us all—unstable police officers no less than the Jared Loughners and Ismaaiyl Brinsleys of the world. One unjust killing does not rank in heinousness above another.

The traffic tickets have come back to bite Jon Jones. The former UFC light heavyweight champion was arrested Tuesday for a probation violation, according to the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center website. TMZ was the first to report the news. Jones turned himself in to authorities at around 10 a.m. local time. He was arrested by officers from Probation & Parole, not the Albuquerque Police Department, and taken to the detention center. Jones remained in custody as of Tuesday afternoon. No bail has been set. Jones was pulled over in his vehicle by an officer from the Albuquerque Police Department on Thursday night and given five tickets, including one for drag racing. Jones denied any wrongdoing in an interview Monday with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. On Monday, the Albuquerque PD also released the officer's body camera footage of the Jones traffic stop. An emotional Jones could be heard cursing at the officer and denying he had been drag racing. At one point, Jones called the cop a "f*cking liar" and a "pig." Jones was ticketed for drag racing, having a loud, modified exhaust on his car, an illegible license plate, unable to maintain a traffic lane and exhibition driving, an APD spokesperson confirmed with MMA Fighting on Monday. The tickets would not have resulted in an arrest, except Jones was on probation after pleading guilty to a felony hit-and-run charge in September. A Bernalillo County judge granted Jones a conditional discharge at the time in the April 2015 case. Jones had to complete 18 months of probation and 72 appearances of community service and his felony would be wiped clean. In January, Jones was ticketed for driving without a license, registration and proof of insurance. He was cleared of those tickets last week and his probation was not affected, but the judge warned him to stay out of trouble. Jones is supposed to face Daniel Cormier in a light heavyweight title fight at UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas. "UFC is aware that Jon Jones turned himself into the Albuquerque Police Department this morning for a potential probation violation stemming from a traffic stop last week," the UFC said in a statement. "UFC has been in touch with Jones' legal team and will have no further comment until the organization has had appropriate time to gather necessary information."

United Kingdom's planned withdrawal from the European Union Timetable for the exit process, December 2018 Brexit ( or ; a portmanteau of "British" and "exit", is the impending withdrawal of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU). It follows the referendum of 23 June 2016 when 51.9 per cent of voters chose to leave the EU. Withdrawal has been advocated by Eurosceptics, both left-wing and right-wing,[1][2][3] while pro-Europeanists, who also span the political spectrum, have advocated continued membership. The UK joined the European Communities (EC) in 1973 under the Conservative government of Edward Heath, with continued membership endorsed by a referendum in 1975. In the 1970s and 1980s, withdrawal from the European Communities was advocated mainly by the political left, with the Labour Party's 1983 election manifesto advocating full withdrawal.[2] In the late 1980s, opposition to the development of the EC into an increasingly political union grew on the right, with Margaret Thatcher – despite being a key proponent of the European single market – becoming increasingly ambivalent towards the EC.[2] From the 1990s, opposition to further European integration came mainly from the right, and divisions within the Conservative Party led to rebellion over the Maastricht Treaty in 1992. The new UK Independence Party (UKIP) was a major advocate of a further referendum on continued membership of what had now become the European Union, and the party's growing popularity in the early 2010s resulted in UKIP being the most successful UK party in the 2014 European Parliament election. The cross-party People's Pledge campaign was also influential in bringing about a referendum. The Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron pledged during the campaign for the 2015 UK General Election to hold a new referendum—a promise which he fulfilled in 2016 following the pressure from the Eurosceptic wing of his party. Cameron, who had campaigned to remain, resigned after the result and was succeeded by Theresa May, his former Home Secretary. She called a snap general election less than a year later, but lost her overall majority. Her minority government is supported in key votes by the Democratic Unionist Party. On 29 March 2017, the Government of the United Kingdom invoked Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 at 11 pm UK time,[4][5] when the period for negotiating a Withdrawal Agreement will end unless an extension is agreed.[6] May announced the government's intention not to seek permanent membership of the European single market or the EU customs union after leaving the EU[7][8] and promised to repeal the European Communities Act of 1972 and incorporate existing European Union law into UK domestic law.[9] A new government department, the Department for Exiting the European Union, was created in July 2016. Negotiations with the EU officially started in June 2017, aiming to complete the withdrawal agreement by October 2018. In June 2018, the UK and the EU published a joint progress report outlining agreement on issues including customs, VAT and Euratom. In July 2018, Cabinet agreed to the Chequers plan, an outline of proposals by the UK Government. In November 2018, the Draft Withdrawal Agreement and Outline Political Declaration, agreed between the UK Government and the EU, was published.[10] On 15 January 2019, the House of Commons voted 432 to 202 against the deal, the largest parliamentary defeat in history for a sitting UK government.[11][12] The broad consensus among economists is that Brexit will likely reduce the UK's real per capita income in the medium term and long term,[13][14] and that the Brexit referendum itself had damaged the economy.[15] Studies on effects since the referendum show annual losses of £404 for the average UK household from increased inflation, and losses between 2 and 2.5 per cent of UK GDP.[16][17][18] Brexit is likely to reduce immigration from European Economic Area (EEA) countries to the UK,[19] and poses challenges for UK higher education and academic research.[20] As of November 2018 , the size of the "divorce bill"—the UK's inheritance of existing EU trade agreements—and relations with Ireland and other EU member states remains uncertain. The precise impact on the UK depends on whether the process will be a "hard" or "soft" Brexit. Analysis by HM Treasury has found that there is no Brexit scenario that is expected to improve the UK economic condition.[21] A November 2018 Treasury publication regarding the potential impact of the Chequers proposal estimated that within 15 years the UK economy will be 3.9% worse off compared with staying in the EU.[22] Terminology and etymology In the wake of the referendum of 23 June 2016, many new pieces of Brexit-related jargon have entered popular use. Backstop A term referring to the government's proposal to keep Northern Ireland in some aspects of the European Union Customs Union and of the European Single Market to prevent a hard border in Ireland, so as not to compromise the Good Friday Agreement. (See Irish border question.) In principle, it is a temporary measure while the United Kingdom identifies and develops a technology that operates customs, excise and other controls as between the UK and the EU, without any evident border infrastructure, and there must be compliance with section 10 of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, on "Continuation of North-South co-operation and the prevention of new border arrangements." Blind/Blindfold Brexit Coined in September 2018 to describe a scenario where the UK leaves the EU without clarity on the terms of a future trade deal.[23][24] EU and British negotiators would then have until 31 December 2020 to sign off on a future trade deal, during which time the UK will effectively remain a member of the EU, but with no voting rights.[25][26] Brexit Brexit (like its early variant, Brixit)[27] is a portmanteau of "British" and "exit". The first attestation in the Oxford English Dictionary is a Euractiv blog post by Peter Wilding on 15 May 2012.[28][29][30] It was coined by analogy with "Grexit", attested on 6 February 2012 to refer to a hypothetical withdrawal of Greece from the eurozone (and possibly also the EU).[31] At present, Brexit is impending under the EU Treaties and the UK Acts of Parliament, and the current negotiations pursuant thereto.[32][30] Brexiteer/Brexiter Those supporting Brexit are sometimes referred to as "Brexiteers",[33][34] or "Brexiters".[35] Alternatively, the term "Leavers" has also been used in media outlets.[36][37] Canada Plus This is shorthand for a model where the United Kingdom leaves the European Union and signs a free trade agreement. This would allow the UK to control its own trade policy with non-EU countries, but would require rules of origin agreements to be reached for UK–EU trade. It is likely this would lead to trade being less "free" than joining the EFTA, and result in additional border controls being required, which is an issue of contention, particularly in Ireland. The Canadian – European Union deal took 7 years to negotiate, but Brexiteers argue it would take much less time between the UK and EU as the two participants already align on regulatory standards.[38] Divorce bill It is expected that the UK will make a contribution toward financial commitments that it approved while still a member of the EU, but are still outstanding. In the first phase of negotiations the total amount was referred to as the single financial settlement, or just the settlement. Especially in the media, this has been called an exit bill or divorce bill, while the EU talk of settling the accounts.[42] While serving as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab said the UK will not pay its financial settlement to the EU in a no-deal scenario.[43] The Withdrawal Agreement published in November 2018 states that the financial contribution will be £39 billion. Managed no-deal "Managed no-deal Brexit"[48] or "managed no-deal Brexit"[49] was increasingly used near the end of 2018, in respect of the complex series of political, legal and technical decisions needed if there is no withdrawal agreement treaty with the EU when the UK exits under the Article 50 withdrawal notice. Norway Model or Norway-plus This is shorthand for a model where the United Kingdom leaves the European Union but becomes a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area, possibly with the addition of a customs union ("plus"). EFTA and EEA membership would allow the UK to remain in the single market but without having to be subject to the Common Fisheries Policy, Common Agricultural Policy, and the European Court of Justice. The UK would be subject to the EFTA court, which largely shadows the ECJ, have to transfer a large amount of EU law into UK law, and have little say on shaping EU rules (some of which the UK will be compelled to take on). The UK would also have to allow freedom of movement between the EU and UK, something that was seen as a key issue of contention in the referendum.[50] Remainer Those in favour of the UK remaining in the EU are sometimes referred to as "Remainers".[51] The derogatory term "Remoaner" (a portmanteau of "remainer" and "moaner") is sometimes used by pro-Brexit media outlets.[52][53] Background The "Inner Six" European countries signed the Treaty of Paris in 1951, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). The 1955 Messina Conference deemed that the ECSC was a success, and resolved to extend the concept further, thereby leading to the 1957 Treaties of Rome establishing the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom). In 1967, these became known as the European Communities (EC). The UK attempted to join in 1963 and 1967, but these applications were vetoed by the President of France, Charles de Gaulle.[54] After de Gaulle relinquished the French presidency, the UK successfully applied for membership and the Conservative prime minister Edward Heath signed the Treaty of Accession in 1972.[55] Parliament passed the European Communities Act later that year[56] and the UK joined Denmark and Ireland in becoming a member of the EC on 1 January 1973.[57] The opposition Labour Party contested the October 1974 general election with a commitment to renegotiate Britain's terms of membership of the EC, believing them to be unfavourable, and then hold a referendum on whether to remain in the EC on the new terms.[58] Labour won the election, and in 1975 the United Kingdom held its first ever national referendum, asking whether the UK should remain in the European Communities. Despite significant division within the ruling Labour Party,[59] all major political parties and the mainstream press supported continuing membership of the EC. On 5 June 1975, 67.2 per cent of the electorate and all but two[60] UK counties and regions voted to stay in;[61] support for the UK to leave the EC in 1975 appears unrelated to the support for Leave in the 2016 referendum.[62] Comparison of results of 1975 and 2016 referendums The Labour Party campaigned in the 1983 general election on a commitment to withdraw from the EC without a referendum, although after a heavy defeat Labour changed its policy. In 1985, the Thatcher government ratified the Single European Act – the first major revision to the Treaty of Rome – without a referendum. In October 1990, under pressure from senior ministers and despite Margaret Thatcher's deep reservations, the United Kingdom joined the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM), with the pound sterling pegged to the deutschmark. Thatcher resigned as Prime Minister the following month, amid Conservative Party divisions arising partly from her increasingly Eurosceptic views. The United Kingdom and Italy were forced to withdraw from the ERM in September 1992, after the pound sterling and the lira came under pressure from currency speculation ("Black Wednesday").[64] Under the Maastricht Treaty, the European Communities became the European Union on 1 November 1993,[65] reflecting the evolution of the organisation from an economic union into a political union.[66] Denmark, France, and Ireland held referendums to ratify the Maastricht Treaty. In accordance with British constitutional convention, specifically that of parliamentary sovereignty, ratification in the UK was not subject to approval by referendum. Despite this, the British constitutional historian Vernon Bogdanor wrote at the time that there was "a clear constitutional rationale for requiring a referendum" because although MPs are entrusted with legislative power by the electorate, they are not given authority to transfer that power (the UK's previous three referendums all concerned the transfer of parliamentary powers). Further, as the ratification of the treaty was in the manifestos of the three major political parties, voters opposed to ratification had no way to express that opposition. For Bogdanor, while the ratification of the treaty by the House of Commons might be legal, it would not be legitimate – which requires popular consent. The way in which the treaty was ratified, he judged, was "likely to have fundamental consequences both for British politics and for Britain's relationship with the European Community.”[67][68] This perceived democratic deficit directly led to the formation of the Referendum Party and the United Kingdom Independence Party. Referendum Party and UKIP In 1994, Sir James Goldsmith formed the Referendum Party to contest the 1997 general election on a platform of providing a referendum on the nature of the United Kingdom's relationship with the EU.[69][70] The party fielded candidates in 547 constituencies at that election, and won 810,860 votes—2.6 per cent of the total votes cast—[71] but failed to win a single parliamentary seat due to the vote being spread across the country. The Referendum Party disbanded after Goldsmith's death in 1997. The UK Independence Party (UKIP), a Eurosceptic political party, was also formed in 1993. It achieved third place in the UK during the 2004 European elections, second place in the 2009 European elections and first place in the 2014 European elections, with 27.5 per cent of the total vote. This was the first time since the 1910 general election that any party other than Labour or the Conservatives had taken the largest share of the vote in a nationwide election.[72] UKIP's electoral success in the 2014 European election is documented as the strongest correlate of the support for the leave campaign in the 2016 referendum.[73] UKIP won two by-elections (triggered by defecting Conservative MPs) in 2014; in the 2015 general election, the party took 12.6 per cent of the total vote and held one of the two seats won in 2014.[74] Opinion polls 1977–2015 Both pro- and anti-EU views have had majority support at different times since 1977.[75] In the European Communities membership referendum of 1975, two-thirds of British voters favoured continued EC membership. In a statistical analysis published in April 2016, Professor John Curtice of Strathclyde University defined Euroscepticism as the wish to sever or reduce the powers of the EU and, conversely, Europhilia as the desire to preserve or increase the powers of the EU. According to this definition, the British Social Attitudes (BSA) surveys showed an increase in Euroscepticism from 38 per cent, in 1993, to 65 per cent in 2015. Euroscepticism should, however, not be confused with the wish to leave the EU: the BSA survey for the period July–November 2015 showed that 60 per cent backed the option to continue as an EU member and 30 per cent backed the option to withdraw.[76] Referendum of 2016 Negotiations for EU reform In 2012, Prime Minister David Cameron initially rejected calls for a referendum on the UK's EU membership,[77] but then suggested the possibility of a future referendum to endorse his proposed renegotiation of Britain's relationship with the EU.[78] According to the BBC, "The prime minister acknowledged the need to ensure the UK's [renegotiated] position within the European Union had 'the full-hearted support of the British people' but they needed to show 'tactical and strategic patience'."[79] On 23 January 2013, under pressure from many of his MPs and from the rise of UKIP, Cameron announced that a Conservative government would hold an in-or-out referendum on EU membership before the end of 2017, on a renegotiated package, if elected in the 7 May 2015 general election.[80] This was included in the Conservative Party manifesto for the election.[81][82] The Conservative Party won the election with a majority. Soon afterwards, the European Union Referendum Act 2015 was introduced into Parliament to enable the referendum. Cameron favoured remaining in a reformed European Union, and sought to renegotiate on four key points: protection of the single market for non-eurozone countries, reduction of "red tape", exempting Britain from "ever-closer union", and restricting EU immigration.[83] In December 2015, opinion polls showed a clear majority in favour of remaining in the EU; they also showed support would drop if Cameron did not negotiate adequate safeguards for non-eurozone member states, and restrictions on benefits for EU citizens.[84] The outcome of the renegotiations was announced in February 2016. Some limits to in-work benefits for new EU immigrants were agreed, but before they could be applied, a country such as the UK would have to get permission from the European Commission and then from the European Council.[85] In a speech to the House of Commons on 22 February 2016, Cameron announced a referendum date of 23 June 2016, and commented on the renegotiation settlement.[86] He spoke of an intention to trigger the Article 50 process immediately following a leave vote, and of the "two-year time period to negotiate the arrangements for exit."[87] Campaign groups A "Vote Leave" poster in Omagh Northern Ireland , saying "We send the EU £50 million every day. Let's spend it on our NHS instead." The official campaign group for leaving the EU was Vote Leave[88] after a contest for the designation with Leave.EU.[89][90] The official campaign to stay in the EU, chaired by Stuart Rose, was known as Britain Stronger in Europe, or informally as 'Remain'. Other campaigns supporting remaining in the EU included Conservatives In,[91] Labour in for Britain,[92] #INtogether (Liberal Democrats),[93] Greens for a Better Europe,[94] Scientists for EU,[95] Environmentalists For Europe,[96] Universities for Europe[97] and Another Europe is Possible.[98] Referendum result The result was announced on the morning of 24 June: 51.89 per cent voted in favour of leaving the European Union, and 48.11 per cent voted in favour of remaining a member of the European Union.[99][100] Comprehensive results are available from the UK Electoral Commission Referendum Results site. A petition calling for a second referendum attracted more than four million signatures,[101][102] but was rejected by the government on 9 July.[103] United Kingdom European Union membership referendum, 2016 National result Choice Votes % Leave the European Union 17,410,742 51.89% Remain a member of the European Union 16,141,241 48.11% Valid votes 33,551,983 99.92% Invalid or blank votes 25,359 0.08% Total votes 33,577,342 100.00% Registered voters and turnout 46,500,001 72.21% Voting age population and turnout 51,356,768 65.38% Source: Electoral Commission National referendum results (without spoiled ballots) Leave: 17,410,742 (51.9%) Remain: 16,141,241 (48.1%) ▲ Demographic analysis of voters According to Thomas Sampson, an economist at the London School of Economics, "Older and less-educated voters were more likely to vote 'leave'... A majority of white voters wanted to leave, but only 33 per cent of Asian voters and 27 per cent of black voters chose leave. There was no gender split in the vote, with 52 per cent of both men and women voting to leave. Leaving the European Union received support from across the political spectrum... Voting to leave the European Union was strongly associated with holding socially conservative political beliefs, opposing cosmopolitanism, and thinking life in Britain is getting worse rather than better."[14] Econometric studies show "first, education and, to a lesser extent, age were the strongest demographic predictors of voting behavior... Second, poor economic outcomes at the individual or area level were associated with voting to leave... Third, support for leaving the European Union is strongly associated with self-reported opposition to immigration, but not with exposure to immigration."[14] Resignations, contests, and appointments After the result was declared, Cameron announced that he would resign by October.[104] He stood down on 13 July 2016, with Theresa May becoming Prime Minister after a leadership contest. George Osborne was replaced as Chancellor of the Exchequer by Philip Hammond, former Mayor of London Boris Johnson was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and David Davis became Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn lost a vote of confidence among his parliamentary party, and an unsuccessful leadership challenge was launched. On 4 July, Nigel Farage announced his resignation as leader of UKIP.[105] Irregularities Irregularities have been alleged in the conduct of the referendum campaign. On 11 May 2018, the Electoral Commission found against Leave.EU, which ran a separate campaign to the official pro-Brexit group Vote Leave, following its investigations into alleged irregularities during the referendum campaign.[106] Leave.EU's co-founder Arron Banks has stated that he rejects the outcome of the investigation and will be challenging it in court.[107] In July 2018, the UK Electoral Commission found Vote Leave to have broken electoral law, spending over its limit.[108] Also, the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee released an interim report on Disinformation and ‘fake news’, stating that the largest donor in the Brexit campaign, Arron Banks, had "failed to satisfy" the Committee that his donations came from UK sources, and may have been financed by the Russian government.[109] Litigation There has been litigation to explore the constitutional footings on which Brexit stands after the Miller case and the 2017 Notification Act: Procedure for leaving the EU Letter from Theresa May invoking Article 50 Withdrawal from the European Union is governed by Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. Under the Article 50 invocation procedure, a member notifies the European Council, whereupon the EU is required to "negotiate and conclude an agreement with [the leaving] State, setting out the arrangements for its withdrawal, taking account of the framework for its future relationship with the [European] Union". The negotiation period is limited to two years unless extended, after which the treaties cease to apply.[117] There was a discussion whether parallel negotiation of withdrawal terms and future relationships under Article 50 are appropriate (Chancellor Merkel's initial view) or whether Britain did not have the right to negotiate future trade with the EU27 as this power is arguably reserved to the EU as long as the UK is a member (the view of a European Commission lawyer).[118] Although the 2015 Referendum Act did not expressly require Article 50 to be invoked,[119] the UK government stated that it would expect a leave vote to be followed by withdrawal.[120][121] Following the referendum result, Cameron resigned and said that it would be for the incoming Prime Minister to invoke Article 50.[122][123] The Supreme Court ruled in the Miller case in January 2017 that the government needed parliamentary approval to trigger Article 50.[124][125] Subsequently, the House of Commons overwhelmingly voted, on 1 February 2017, for a government bill authorising the prime minister to notify an intention to leave under Article 50,[126] and the bill passed into law as the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017. Theresa May then signed a letter invoking Article 50 on 28 March 2017, which was delivered on 29 March by Tim Barrow, the UK's ambassador to the EU, to European Council President Donald Tusk.[127][128][129] It had been argued that the Article 50 withdrawal process could be halted unilaterally by the British government,[130] with which opinion the author of Article 50 itself, Lord Kerr, expressed agreement.[131] The European Parliament's Brexit committee said that unilateral revocation, regardless of its legality, poses a substantial moral hazard, with an EU member state potentially able to abuse it to blackmail the Union.[132] The reversibility of notifications under Article 50 was subject to litigation, which a cross-party group of Scottish politicians and the Good Law Project referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.[133] The UK government sought to block this referral, ultimately in the UK Supreme Court, but it was unsuccessful in this attempt.[134] On 10 December 2018, the ECJ ruled that a country could unilaterally cancel its withdrawal from the EU, by simple notice, provided that it did so prior to actual departure, unconditionally and in good faith.[135] However the Government's immediate response was that it had no intention of exercising that right.[135] Both parties to the withdrawal negotiation are bound by Article 50 (3) of the Treaty, which states explicitly that the EU treaties will cease to apply "from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after" the withdrawal notification unless the EU Council and UK agree to extend the two-year period.[136] The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, in section 20 (1), defines the leaving time as 23:00 on 29 March 2019 GMT (UTC+0) which is 00:00 on 30 March 2019 CET in Brussels.[137][138][136][139][140] Negotiations Timing The British and EU negotiators agreed that initial negotiations, relating especially to residency rights, would commence in June 2017 (immediately after the French presidential and parliamentary elections), and full negotiations, relating especially to trading agreements, could commence in October 2017 (immediately after the German federal election, 2017).[141][142][143] The first day of talks was 19 June.[142] History On 28 June 2016, Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel, and on the following day European Council President Tusk, stated that the UK could remain in the European Single Market (ESM) only if the UK accepted its four freedoms of movement: for goods, capital, services, and labour.[144][145] In October, Prime Minister Theresa May emphasised that ending the jurisdiction of EU law and free movement from Europe were the UK's priorities, along with British and EU companies having maximum freedom to trade in the UK and the ESM.[146][147] In November 2016, May proposed that Britain and the other EU countries mutually guarantee the residency rights of the 3.3 million EU immigrants in Britain and those of the 1.2 million British citizens living on the Continent, in order to exclude their fates being bargained during Brexit negotiations.[148] Despite initial approval from a majority of EU states, May's proposal was blocked by Tusk and Merkel.[149] In January 2017, the Prime Minister presented 12 negotiating objectives and confirmed that the UK government would not seek permanent single market membership.[150] The European Parliament's lead negotiator Guy Verhofstadt responded that there could be no "cherry-picking" by the UK in the talks.[151] The statutory period for negotiation began on 29 March 2017, when the UK formally submitted a letter notifying withdrawal. The letter called for a "deep and special relationship" between the UK and the EU, and warned that failure to reach an agreement would result in EU-UK trade under World Trade Organization terms, and a weakening of the UK's co-operation in the fight against crime and terrorism. The letter suggested prioritising an early deal on the rights of EU citizens in the UK and vice versa, and stated that the UK would not seek to remain within the ESM. Instead, the UK would seek a free trade agreement with the EU.[152] In response, Merkel insisted that the EU would not discuss future co-operation without first settling the terms of leaving the EU; Verhofstadt referred to the letter as "blackmail" with regard to the point on security and terrorism, and EU Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the UK's decision to quit the bloc was a "choice they will regret one day".[153] On 29 April 2017, immediately after the first round of French presidential elections, the EU27 heads of state accepted negotiating guidelines prepared by Tusk.[154] The guidelines take the view that Article 50 permits a two-phased negotiation, in which the UK first agrees to a financial commitment and to lifelong benefits for EU citizens in Britain, and then negotiations on a future relationship can begin.[155] In the first phase, the EU27 would demand the UK pay a "divorce bill", initially estimated as amounting to £52bn[156] and then, after additional financial demands from Germany, France, and Poland, to £92bn.[157] A report of the European Union Committee of the House of Lords, published on 4 March 2017, stated that if there is no post-Brexit deal at the end of the negotiating period, the UK could withdraw without payment.[158] On 22 May 2017, the European Council authorised its negotiators to start the Brexit talks and it adopted its negotiating directives.[159] The first day of talks took place on 19 June, where Davis and Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit, agreed to prioritise the question of residency rights, while Davis conceded that a discussion of the Northern Irish border would have to await future trade agreements.[160] On 22 June 2017, Prime Minister May guaranteed that no EU citizen living legally in the UK would be forced to leave, and offered that any EU citizen who lived in the UK for more than five years until an unspecified deadline between March 2017 and March 2019 would enjoy the same rights as a UK citizen, conditional on the EU providing the same offer to British expatriates living in the EU.[161] The Prime Minister detailed her residency proposals on 26 June, but drew no concessions from EU negotiators,[162] who had declined to expedite agreement on expatriates by the end of June 2017,[163] and who are hoping for European courts to continue to have jurisdiction in the UK with regards to EU citizens, according to their negotiation aims published in May 2017.[164][165] The second round of negotiations began in mid-July 2017. Progress was made on the Northern Irish border question; UK negotiators requested a detailed breakdown of the "divorce bill" demand; and the EU negotiators criticised the UK's citizenship rights offer.[166] David Davis did not commit to a net payment by the UK to the EU with regards to the requested divorce bill, while Michel Barnier would not compromise on his demand for the European Court of Justice to have continuing jurisdiction over the rights of EU citizens living in the UK after Brexit,[167] rejecting the compromise proposal of a new international body made up of British and EU judges.[168] On 16 August 2017, the UK government disclosed the first of several papers detailing British ambitions following Brexit, discussing trade and customs arrangements.[169] On 23 August, Theresa May announced that Britain will leave the EU Court of Justice's direct jurisdiction when the Brexit transition period that is planned after March 2019 ends, but that both the British courts and the EU Court of Justice will also keep "half an eye" on each other's rulings afterwards as well.[170] One of the UK government's position papers published in August called for no additional restrictions for goods already on the market in the UK and EU.[171] The third round of negotiations began on 28 August 2017. There was disagreement over the financial settlement; The Irish Times explained that British negotiators referred to the seven-year Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF or Maff) for the period 2014–2020 agreed by member states and the EU parliament as a "planning tool" for the next period rather than a legally-binding financial obligation on member states. The British case is that the MFF sets ceilings on spending under various headings and is later radically revised during the annual budget process when real legal obligations on each state arises. This contrasts with the EU Commission's methodology for calculating the UK Brexit bill which involves dividing the MFF into the shares historically agreed by each member state.[172] On the Irish border question there was a "breakthrough", with the British side guaranteeing free movement of EU citizens within the Common travel area constituting Ireland and the United Kingdom.[173] On 5 September 2017, Davis said that "concrete progress" had been made over the summer in areas such as protecting the rights of British expats in the EU to access healthcare and over the future of the Irish border, while significant differences over the "divorce bill" remained.[174] On 9 September, the EU Commission published several negotiating papers, including one in which the EU concedes/declares that it is the responsibility of the UK to propose solutions for the post-Brexit Irish border. The paper envisages that a "unique" solution would be permissible here; in other words, any such exceptional Irish solution would not necessarily be a template for post-Brexit relationships with the other EU members.[175] On 22 September 2017, May announced further details of her Brexit proposal.[176][177] In addition to offering 20 billion euros over a two-year transition period and continued acceptance of European immigrants,[178] she also offered a "bold new security relationship" with the EU which would be "unprecedented in its depth" and to continue to make "an ongoing contribution" to projects considered greatly to the EU and UK's advantage, such as science and security projects.[177][176] She also confirmed that the UK would not "stand in the way" of Juncker's proposals for further EU integration.[177][176] Barnier welcomed May's proposal as "constructive,"[179] but that it also "must be translated into negotiating positions to make meaningful progress".[179] Similarly, President of France Emmanuel Macron was adamant that the EU would not begin negotiations on future EU-UK relationships until "the regulation of European citizens, the financial terms of the exit, and the questions of Ireland" were "clarified" by the UK.[180] The fourth round of talks began on 25 September, with Barnier declaring he had no mandate from the EU27 to discuss a transition deal suggested by Prime Minister May. Davis reiterated that the UK could honour commitments made during its EU membership only in the context of a future "special partnership" deal with the EU.[181] At the European Council meeting of 19/20 October 2017, the 27 leaders of the EU states were to decide whether or not to start trade negotiations with the UK.[171] However, Davis has conceded that so soon after the German elections on 24 September, a German coalition government may not be in place in time for making this decision in October, delaying any European Council decision until their December meeting.[182][183] EU negotiators have stated that an agreement must be reached between Britain and the EU by October 2018 in order to leave time for national parliaments to endorse Brexit.[179] On 9 October 2017, May announced to the British Parliament that Britain could operate as an "independent trading nation" after Brexit if no trade deal is reached with the EU.[184] In December 2017, EU leaders announced an agreement to begin the next phase of negotiations, with talks on a transition period after March 2019 to begin in early 2018 and discussions on the future UK-EU relationship, including trade and security, to begin in March.[185] On 10 June 2018, the Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar cleared the path for the June negotiations by postponing the Irish border question until the final Brexit deal in October 2018.[186] On 19 June 2018, the UK and the EU published a joint statement outlining agreements at the negotiators' level. Michel Barnier praised the "dedication and commitment" of the negotiating teams, and said progress had been made in issues like customs, VAT and the European nuclear agreement, Euratom.[187][188] On 12 July 2018, Prime Minister May and part of the cabinet published a proposal for agreement on future relations between UK and EU. It is by media called the Chequers plan. On 14 November 2018 a lengthy meeting of the Cabinet approved a Draft Withdrawal Agreement.[189][190] The following day, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, his Cabinet colleague Esther McVey and several junior ministers resigned their posts because of their disagreement with the contents of the document.[191] On 19 December 2018 the EU Commission announced its "no-deal" Contingency Action Plan in specific sectors, in respect of the UK leaving the European Union "in 100 days' time."[192] Post–Article 50 British legislation European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 In October 2016, Theresa May promised a "Great Repeal Bill", which would repeal the European Communities Act 1972 and restate in UK law all enactments previously in force under EU law. Subsequently renamed the European Union (Withdrawal) bill, it was introduced to the House of Commons on 13 July 2017.[193] On 12 September 2017, the bill passed its first vote and second reading by a margin of 326 votes to 290 votes in the House of Commons.[194] The bill was further amended on a series of votes in both Houses of Parliament. After the Act became law on 26 June 2018, the European Council decided on 29 June to renew its call on Member States and Union institutions to step up their work on preparedness at all levels and for all outcomes.[195] The Withdrawal Act fixes the period ending 21 January 2019 for the government to decide on how to proceed if the negotiations have not reached agreement in principle on both the withdrawal arrangements and the framework for the future relationship between the UK and EU; while, alternatively, making future ratification of the withdrawal agreement as a treaty between the UK and EU depend upon the prior enactment of another act of Parliament for approving the final terms of withdrawal when the current Brexit negotiations are completed. In any event, the act does not alter the two-year period for negotiating allowed by Article 50 that ends at the latest on 29 March 2019 if the UK has not by then ratified a withdrawal agreement. The Withdrawal Act which became law in June 2018 allows for various outcomes including no negotiated settlement. Additional government bills A report published in March 2017 by the Institute for Government commented that, in addition to the European Union (Withdrawal) bill, primary and secondary legislation will be needed to cover the gaps in policy areas such as customs, immigration and agriculture.[196] The report also commented that the role of the devolved legislatures was unclear, and could cause problems, and as many as fifteen new additional Brexit Bills may be required, which would involve strict prioritisation and limiting Parliamentary time for in-depth examination of new legislation.[197] In 2016 and 2017, the House of Lords published a series of reports on Brexit-related subjects, including: Euratom The Nuclear Safeguards Bill 2017–19, relating to withdrawal from Euratom, was presented to Parliament in October 2017 and began its Report Stage in January 2018.[198] Voting on the final outcome Replying to questions at a parliamentary committee about Parliament's involvement in voting on the outcome of the negotiations with the EU, the Prime Minister said that "delivering on the vote of the British people to leave the European Union" was her priority. The shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, commented that the government did not want a vote at the beginning of the process, to trigger Article 50, nor a vote at the end.[199] Developments since the referendum of 2016 Elections Opinion polls in the fortnight following the referendum suggested that the immediate reaction in the Netherlands and other European countries was a decline in support for Eurosceptic movements.[200] A general election was held on 8 June 2017, announced at short notice by the new Prime Minister Theresa May. The Conservative Party, Labour and UKIP made manifesto pledges to implement the referendum, although the Labour manifesto differed in its approach to Brexit negotiations, such as unilaterally offering permanent residence to EU immigrants.[201][202][203][204] The Liberal Democrat Party and the Green Party manifestos proposed a policy of remaining in the EU via a second referendum.[205][206][207] The Scottish National Party manifesto proposed a policy of waiting for the outcome of the Brexit negotiations and then holding a referendum on Scottish independence.[208][209] Compared to the 2015 general election, the Conservatives gained votes (but nevertheless lost seats and their majority in the House of Commons). Labour gained significantly on votes and seats, retaining its position as the second-largest party. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and Sinn Féin also made gains in votes and seats. Parties losing votes included the SNP, Liberals, Greens, and especially UKIP.[210] On 26 June 2017, Conservatives and the DUP reached a confidence and supply agreement whereby the DUP would back the Conservatives in key votes in the House of Commons over the course of the parliament. The agreement included additional funding of £1 billion for Northern Ireland, highlighted mutual support for Brexit and national security, expressed commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and indicated that policies such as the state pension triple lock and Winter Fuel Payments would be maintained.[211] Economy Six weeks after the referendum, the Bank of England sought to cushion the potential shock to the economy by lowering interest rates to the record low of 0.25%, introducing quantitative easing, and creating 70 billion pounds of new money, thereby depreciating the pound sterling and encouraging commercial banks to pass on lower borrowing costs.[212] A rise in inflation outpaced wage growth for most of 2017, with inflation gradually rising to 3%, before receding again as a year-long "wage squeeze" attributed to the referendum ended in February 2018 and wage growth caught up with inflation. Since the referendum, absolute employment has continuously risen to previously unrecorded levels, and by early 2018 relative unemployment reached its lowest level (4.2%) recorded since 1975.[213] During 2017 the UK continued to be the favourite European destination for foreign physical investment (as distinct from company takeovers), creating 50,000 new jobs, ahead of Germany (31,000 jobs) and France. Factors mentioned were sterling devaluation since the referendum, broadband, and American investment.[214] Immigration Official figures for June 2017 (published in February 2018) showed that net EU immigration to the UK had slowed to about 100,000 immigrants per year, corresponding to the immigration level of 2014. Meanwhile, immigration from non-EU countries had increased. Taken together, the two inflows into the UK result in an only slightly reduced net immigration of 230,000 newcomers in the year to June 2017. The Head of the Office of National Statistics suggested that Brexit could well be a factor for the slowdown in EU immigration, but cautioned there might be other reasons.[215] UK Government's legal advice Following an unprecedented vote on 4 December 2018, MPs ruled that the UK government was in contempt of parliament for refusing to provide to Parliament, the full legal advice it had been given on the effect of its proposed terms for withdrawal.[216] The key point within the advice covered the legal effect of the "backstop" agreement governing Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the UK, in regard to the customs border between the EU and UK, and its implications for the Good Friday agreement which had led to the end of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and specifically, whether the UK would be certain of being able to leave the EU in a practical sense, under the draft proposals. The following day, the advice was published. The question asked was, "What is the legal effect of the UK agreeing to the Protocol to the Withdrawal Agreement on Ireland and Northern Ireland in particular its effect in conjunction with Articles 5 and 184 of the main Withdrawal Agreement?" The advice given was that:[216] The Protocol is binding on the UK and EU [para 3], and anticipates a final future resolution of the border and customs issues being reached [para 5,12,13]. But "the Protocol is intended to subsist even when negotiations have clearly broken down" [para 16] and "In conclusion, the current drafting of the Protocol ... does not provide for a mechanism that is likely to enable the UK lawfully to exit the UK wide customs union without a subsequent agreement. This remains the case even if parties are still negotiating many years later, and even if the parties believe that talks have clearly broken down and there is no prospect of a future relationship agreement." [para 30] Delay of vote on Withdrawal Agreement On 10 December 2018, the Prime Minister postponed the vote in the House of Commons on her Brexit deal. The announcement came minutes after the Prime Minister's Office confirmed the vote would be going ahead.[217] Faced with the prospect of a defeat in the House of Commons, this option gave May more time to negotiate with Conservative backbenchers and the EU, even though they had ruled out further discussions.[218] The decision was met with calls from many Welsh Labour MPs for a motion of no confidence in the Government.[219] The Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, described the government as being in "disarray". The European Research Group, the segment of the Conservative Party that favours a "hard" Brexit, opposes the Prime Minister's proposed Withdrawal Agreement treaty. Its members strongly object to the Withdrawal Agreement's inclusion of the Irish backstop.[220][221] ERG members also object to the proposed £39 billion financial settlement with the European Union and state that the agreement would result in the UK's agreement to continuing to follow EU regulations in major policy areas;and to the continuing jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice over interpretation of the agreement and of European law still applicable to the UK.[222][223] Sir Ivan Rogers, the UK ambassador to the EU at the time of the 2016 referendum, publicly commented on 13 December 2018 that the EU was always adroit at reframing things that have already been agreed, such as the Irish backstop, in ways that "make the medicine slip down".[224] Vote on Withdrawal Agreement On 15 January 2019, the House of Commons voted 432 to 202 against the deal, which was the largest majority against a United Kingdom government ever.[11][225][226] Soon after, a motion of no confidence in Her Majesty's Government was tabled by the opposition,[227] which was rejected by 325 votes to 306.[228] Second vote on the withdrawal agreement On 24 February, Theresa May announced that the next vote on the withdrawal agreement would be on 12 March, just 17 days away from Brexit. [229] Domestic impact on the United Kingdom The Department for Exiting the European Union (DExEU) produced reports on the economic impact on 58 industries of Britain leaving the EU. The Labour Party made a freedom of information request for details about the reports, but DExEU said that publishing the information would undermine policy formulation, and that it needed to carry out policymaking in a "safe space".[230] Labour then proposed a motion of a rarely-used type known as a "humble address" in the Commons on 1 November 2017, calling for the papers to be released; the motion was passed unanimously. The leader of the house, Andrea Leadsom, said that there could be some delay while ministers decided how to release the information without prejudicing Brexit negotiations.[231] Immigration Long-term impact KPMG, based on a 2017 survey of 2,000 EU workers in the UK, estimated that about a million EU citizens working in the UK saw their future in Britain as over or hanging in the balance.[232] A 2017 paper by King's College London economists Giuseppe Forte and Jonathan Portes found that "while future migration flows will be driven by a number of factors, macroeconomic and otherwise, Brexit and the end of free movement will result in a large fall in immigration from EEA countries to the UK."[233] According to a 2016 study by Portes, "The spectrum of options for UK immigration policy post Brexit remains wide... However, almost any plausible outcome will result in an increase in regulatory burdens on business; a reduction in the flows of both unskilled and skilled workers; and an increase in illegal working. The key question for policymakers will be how to minimise these negative impacts while at the same time addressing domestic political demands for increased control without antagonising our EU partners to the point of prejudicing other key aspects of the negotiations. This will not be an easy task."[19] Will Somerville of the Migration Policy Institute wrote that "Future migration levels are impossible to predict in the absence of policy and economic certainty", but estimated immediately after the referendum that the UK "would continue to receive 500,000 or more immigrants (from EU and non-EU countries taken together) per year, with annual net migration around 200,000".[234] The decline in EEA immigration is likely to have an adverse impact on the British health sector.[235] According to the New York Times, Brexit "seems certain" to make it harder and costlier for the NHS, which already suffers from chronic understaffing, to recruit nurses, midwives and doctors from the rest of Europe.[235] Immediate effects Official figures in March 2017 indicated that EU immigration to the UK continued to exceed emigration, but the difference between immigration and emigration ("net migration") had fallen to its lowest for three years.[236] The number of EU nurses registering with the NHS fell from 1,304 in July 2016 to 46 in April 2017.[237] Economic effects Immediate effects Research on the effects that have already materialised in the United Kingdom since the referendum results show that the referendum result pushed up UK inflation by 1.7 percentage points, leading to an annual cost of £404 for the average British household.[16] Another study on the effects that had already materialised found that by September 2018, the economic costs of the Brexit vote were already 2% of GDP.[17][238][239] A September 2018 analysis by the think tank Centre for European Reform showed that the losses amounted to 2.5% of GDP.[18] Another analysis found, using the synthetic control method, that the Brexit referendum caused a decline in trade in the subsequent two years.[240][241] According to a Financial Times analysis, the Brexit referendum results had by December 2017 reduced national British income by between 0.6% and 1.3%, which amounts to almost £350 million a week.[242] University of California, Berkeley, economist Barry Eichengreen said in August 2017 that some of the adverse effects of uncertainty brought about by the Brexit referendum were being made apparent, as British consumer confidence was down and spending had declined to its lowest level in four years.[243] In November 2017, it was reported that European banks had reduced their UK-related assets by €350bn in the 12 months after Brexit vote, and that the trend was expected to increase ahead of the March 2019 Brexit deadline.[244] A 2018 analysis by economists at Stanford University and Nottingham University estimated that uncertainty around Brexit reduced investment by businesses by approximately 6 percentage points and an employment reduction by 1.5 percentage points.[245] A 2019 analysis by University of Cambridge economists and a 2018 analysis by University of Maryland and University of Michigan economists found that uncertainty about the United Kingdom's future trade policy which resulted from the Brexit referendum result depressed the United Kingdom's international trading activity from June 2016 onwards.[246][247][248] A 2019 analysis found that British firms substantially increased offshoring to the European Union after the Brexit referendum, whereas European firms reduced new investments in the UK.[249][250] Long-term economic analyses There is overwhelming or near-unanimous agreement among economists that leaving the European Union will adversely affect the British economy in the medium- and long-term.[a] Surveys of economists in 2016 showed overwhelming agreement that Brexit would likely reduce the UK's real per-capita income level.[252][253][254] A 2017 survey of the existing academic literature found "the research literature displays a broad consensus that in the long run Brexit will make the United Kingdom poorer because it will create new barriers to trade, foreign direct investment, and immigration. However, there is substantial uncertainty over how large the effect will be, with plausible estimates of the cost ranging between 1 and 10 per cent of the UK's income per capita."[14] These estimates differ depending on whether the UK stays in the European Single Market (for instance, by joining the EEA), makes a free trade agreement with the EU, or reverts to the trade rules that govern relations between all World Trade Organization members.[14] In January 2018, the UK government's own Brexit analysis was leaked; it showed that UK economic growth would be stunted by 2–8% for at least 15 years following secession from the EU, depending on the leave scenario.[262][263] Most economists, including the UK Treasury, argue that being in the EU has a strong positive effect on trade and as a result the UK's trade would be worse off if it left the EU.[264][265][266][267] According to a group of University of Cambridge economists, under a "hard Brexit" whereby the UK reverts to WTO rules, one-third of UK exports to the EU would be tariff-free, one-quarter would face high trade barriers and other exports risk tariffs in the range of 1–10%.[268] A 2017 study based on data from 2010 found that "almost all UK regions are systematically more vulnerable to Brexit than regions in any other country. Due to their longstanding trade integration with the UK, Irish regions have levels of Brexit exposure, which are similar to those of the UK regions with the lowest levels of exposure, namely London and northern parts of Scotland. Meanwhile, the other most risk-exposed EU regions are all in southern Germany, with levels of risk which are typically half that of any UK or Irish region, and one third of that displayed by many UK regions. There is also a very noticeable economic geography logic to the levels of exposure with north-western European regions typically being the most exposed to Brexit, while regions in southern and eastern Europe are barely affected at all by Brexit, at least in terms of the trade linkages... Overall, the UK is far more exposed to Brexit risks than the rest of the EU."[269] After the referendum, the Institute for Fiscal Studies published a report funded by the Economic and Social Research Council which warned that Britain would lose up to £70 billion in reduced economic growth if it did not retain Single Market membership, with new trade deals unable to make up the difference.[270] One of these areas is financial services, which are helped by EU-wide "passporting" for financial products, which an Oliver Wyman report for a pro-EU lobby group estimated indirectly accounted for up to 71,000 jobs and £10 billion of tax annually,[271][not in citation given] and some banks announced plans to relocate some of their operations outside the UK.[272] According to a 2016 article by John Armour, Professor of Law and Finance at Oxford University, "a 'soft' Brexit, whereby the UK leaves the EU but remains in the single market, would be a lower-risk option for the City than other Brexit options, because it would enable financial services firms to continue to rely on regulatory passporting rights."[273] A 2017 study found, on the basis of "plausible, empirically based estimates of the likely impacts on growth and wages using relationships from the existing empirical literature", that "Brexit-induced reductions in migration are likely to have a significant negative impact on UK GDP per capita (and GDP), with marginal positive impacts on wages in the low-skill service sector."[274][14] It is unclear how changes in trade and foreign investment will interact with immigration, but these changes are likely to be important.[14] Former Governor of the Bank of England Mervyn King commented that warnings of economic doom regarding leaving the EU were overstated and that the UK should leave the single market and probably the customs union in order to gain more opportunities, which would lead to improved British economic performance.[275] Short-term economic analyses Short-term macroeconomic forecasts by the Bank of England and other banks of what would happen immediately after the Brexit referendum proved to be too pessimistic.[256][276] The assessments assumed that the referendum results would create greater uncertainty on financial markets and in business and reduce consumer confidence more than it did.[276] According to Oxford University economist Simon Wren-Lewis, "short term unconditional macroeconomic forecasts are extremely unreliable" and they are something that academic economists do not do, unlike banks.[277] Wren-Lewis notes that long-term projections of the impact of Brexit, on the other hand, have a strong empirical foundation.[277] University of California, Berkeley, economist Barry Eichengreen wrote that economists "have had little success at reliably predicting when and why uncertainty arises" and that it is unclear how severe the impact of uncertainty actually is.[243] King's College London economist Jonathan Portes said that "short-term economic forecasting is very unreliable". He compared short-term economic forecasts to weather forecasts and the long-term economic forecasts to climate forecasts: the methodologies used in long-term forecasts are "well-established and robust".[276] Other economists note that central bank forecasts are not intended for pinpoint accuracy.[276] London School of Economics economist Thomas Sampson notes that it is harder to assess the short-term impact that the transition process to Brexit will have, but that long-term assessments of the post-Brexit period are more reliable.[14] According to the Financial Times, economists are in agreement that the short-term effects are uncertain.[256] On 5 January 2017, Andy Haldane, the Chief Economist and the Executive Director of Monetary Analysis and Statistics at the Bank of England, said that the BoE's own forecast predicting an immediate economic downturn due to the referendum result was inaccurate and said there was strong market performance immediately after the referendum,[278][279][280] although some have pointed to prices rising faster than wages.[281] Haldane said that the field of economics was "to some degree in crisis" because of its failure to predict the financial crisis of 2007–2008, and added that the Brexit economic forecast was only inaccurate in its near-term assessment, and that over time, the Bank still expected that Brexit would harm economic growth.[279] Imperial College London economist David Miles responded to Haldane, saying that there was no crisis in economics, and that economists did not purport to be able to forecast with full certainty or predict the precise timing of events.[282] Miles said that it was widely acknowledged among economists that short-term forecasts, such as the BoE's, are unreliable.[282] Financial sector According to economist Barry Eichengreen of the University of California, Berkeley, London’s future as an international financial centre depends on whether the UK will obtain passporting rights for British banks from the European Union. If banks located in the UK cannot obtain passporting rights, they have strong incentives to relocate to financial centres within the EU.[283] Loss of agencies Brexit requires relocating the offices and staff of the European Medicines Agency and European Banking Authority, currently based in London.[284] The agencies together employ more than 1,000 people and will respectively relocate to Amsterdam and Paris.[285] The EU is also considering restricting the clearing of euro-denominated trades to eurozone jurisdictions, which would end London's dominance in this sector.[286] Energy According to a 2017 study by University of Exeter and Chatham House researchers, there are considerable benefits for the UK to be integrated into the European energy market. The study notes, "if the UK wants to enjoy the economic benefits of remaining part of what is an increasingly integrated European electricity market then, as European legislation is currently drafted, it will not only have to forgo an element of autonomy through accepting legislation and regulations made collectively at the EU level, but it will also lose much of its voice in that decision making process, effectively becoming a rule-taker rather than a rule-maker."[287] Fishing The combined EU fishing fleets land about 6 million tonnes of fish per year,[288] of which about 3 million tonnes are from UK waters.[289] The UK's share of the overall EU fishing catch is only 750,000 tonnes (830,000 tons).[290] This proportion is determined by the London Fisheries Convention of 1964 and by the EU's Common Fisheries Policy. The UK government announced in July 2017 that it would end the 1964 convention in 2019. Loss of access to UK waters will particularly affect the Irish fishing industry which obtains a third of its catch there.[291] According to an analysis by researchers at Wageningen University and Research, Brexit would lead to higher prices in seafood for consumers (because the UK imports most of its seafood). British fishermen would be able to catch more fish, but the price for UK fish would decline. As a result, the analysis found that Brexit would result in a "lose-lose situation" for both the UK and the EU, and for both British consumers and the fishing industry.[292] According to a 2018 study, "Brexit poses a major challenge to the stability of European fisheries management. Until now, neighbouring EU Member States have shared the bounty of the living resources of the seas around Britain. Taking full responsibility for the regulation of fisheries within the UK's Exclusive Economic Zone will cut across longstanding relationships, potentially putting at risk recent recovery and future sustainability of shared fish stocks."[293] Health A 2019 study in the Lancet suggested that Brexit would have an adverse impact on health in the UK under every Brexit scenario, but that a No-Deal Brexit would have the worst impact.[294] The study found that Brexit would deplete the National Health Service (NHS) workforce, create uncertainties regarding care for British nationals living in the EU, and put at risk access to vaccines, equipment, and medicines.[294] Higher education and academic research According to a 2016 study by Ken Mayhew, Emeritus Professor of Education and Economic Performance at Oxford University, Brexit poses the following threats to higher education: "loss of research funding from EU sources; loss of students from other EU countries; the impact on the ability of the sector to hire academic staff from EU countries; and the impact on the ability of UK students to study abroad."[20] The UK received more from the EU for research than it contributed[295][296] with universities getting just over 10% of their research income from the EU.[297] All funding for net beneficiaries from the EU, including universities, was guaranteed by the government in August 2016.[298] Before the funding announcement, a newspaper investigation reported that some research projects were reluctant to include British researchers due to uncertainties over funding.[299] Currently the UK is part of the European Research Area and the UK is likely to wish to remain an associated member.[300] Sports and culture Brexit will have an effect on sports and culture. Before Brexit, people from EU/EEA countries need minimal bureaucracy to play or perform in the UK. After Brexit, any foreigner wanting to do so more than temporarily will need a work permit. At present, before Brexit, such work permits for non-EU team players can be tricky to get, especially for young or lower ranked players.[301][302] Scotland As suggested by the Scottish Government before the referendum,[303] the First Minister of Scotland announced that officials were planning an independence referendum due to the result of Scotland voting to remain in the European Union when England and Wales voted to leave.[304] In March 2017, the SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon requested a second Scottish independence referendum in 2018 or 2019 (before Britain's formal exit from the EU).[305] The UK Prime Minister immediately rejected the requested timing, but not the referendum itself.[306] The referendum was approved by the Scottish Parliament on 28 March 2017. Sturgeon called for a "phased return" of an independent Scotland back to the EU.[307] After the referendum, First Minister Sturgeon suggested that Scotland might refuse consent for legislation required to leave the EU,[308] though some lawyers argue that Scotland cannot block Brexit.[309] On 21 March 2018, the Scottish Parliament passed the Scottish Continuity Bill.[310] This was passed due to stalling negotiations between the Scottish Government and the British Government on where powers within devolved policy areas should lie after exit day from the European Union. This Act allows for all devolved policy areas to remain within the remit of the Scottish Parliament and reduces the executive power upon exit day that the UK Withdrawal Bill provides for Ministers of the Crown.[311] The Bill gained Royal Assent on 28 April 2018.[310] Transport Aviation The United Kingdom Government issued a guidance document on aviation in September 2018.[312] The nature of the United Kingdom's aviation agreements can be divided into three main categories: European Union - 27 EU countries that are part of the European Common Aviation Area (ECAA) ECAA partnerships with non-EU countries - 17 non-EU countries with agreements such as Eurocontrol and EU–US Open Skies Agreement Air Service Agreements (ASA) - bilateral agreements between the United Kingdom and 111 countries Flights between the UK and EU are enshrined into the European Common Aviation Area. The UK Government's aviation guidance document states that post-Brexit: "UK and EU licensed airlines would lose the automatic right to operate air services between the UK and the EU without seeking advance permission. This would mean that airlines operating between the UK and the EU would need to seek individual permissions to operate".[312] In the event that no agreement can be made between the UK and EU, it is the intention of the UK Government to allow permission for existing flights to the UK to remain unimpeded in the expectation this will be reciprocated by EU countries.[312] The loss of automatic access to the European Common Aviation Area will affect airlines; for instance a British registered airline cannot operate intra-EU flights, nor can a European registered airline operate domestic UK flights. Some British airlines have created European divisions to resolve the issue such as Easyjet which formed easyJet Europe in July 2017. The UK has sought to replace the existing partnerships the EU has with the 17 non-EU countries. By the end of 2018, the UK had concluded individual air service agreements (ASA) with the United States,[313] Canada[313] Switzerland,[314] Albania, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Montenegro and Morocco. Such agreements supersede EU agreements made on behalf of the United Kingdom (by virtue of its EU membership) and mean flights to and from these countries will continue as scheduled post-Brexit.[312] Lastly, most countries have separate bilateral air service agreements (ASA) with the United Kingdom which permit flights to and from the country. The UK has such agreements with 111 countries around the world, including Brazil, China and India. These bilateral agreements are independent of the EU and are not dependent on the UK's membership of the EU. As stated in guidance document on aviation issued by the United Kingdom Government in September 2018, "for airlines from one of the 111 countries with whom the UK has a bilateral ASA, including China, India and Brazil, there will be no change [post Brexit]."[312] The European Aviation Safety Agency will no longer cover UK airlines.[315] Rail The French minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau, said in September 2018 that trains in the Channel Tunnel may no longer be allowed into France in the event of a no-deal Brexit.[316] Discussions were carried out in October between the British Department for Transport and the rail transport authorities of France, Belgium and the Netherlands.[317] A temporary authorisation for three months was eventually agreed in February 2019, in order to ensure transport continuity in the event of a no-deal Brexit.[318] Road traffic The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is written by the UN, not the EU, allowing road traffic between the UK and EU even without a deal. The UK will remain in the European Common Transit Convention (CTC) after Brexit.[319] This would apply to any new trading relationship with the EU, including after exit with no Withdrawal Agreement treaty.[320] The CTC applies to moving goods between the EU member states, the EFTA countries (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland) as well as Turkey, Macedonia and Serbia. The CTC, with its supplementary Convention on the Simplification of Formalities in the Trade of Goods, reduces administrative burdens on traders by removing the need for additional import/export declarations when transiting customs territories, and provides cashflow benefits by allowing the movement of goods across a customs territory without the payment of duties until the final destination.[321] In the event of a "no-deal" Brexit, the number of permits available to haulage drivers will be "severely limited": the Department for Transport proposes to allocate these by lottery.[322] Even with a customs union, the experience of Turkish hauliers suggests that significant difficulties and delays will occur both at the border and within some countries.[323] Shipping Ferries will continue, but with obstacles such as customs checks.[324] New ferry departures between Ireland and the continent will emerge.[324] Impact of Brexit on bilateral UK relations International agreements The Financial Times said that there were approximately 759 international agreements, spanning 168 non-EU countries, that the UK would no longer be a party to upon leaving the EU.[325] This figure does not include World Trade Organization or United Nations opt-in accords, and excludes "narrow agreements", which may also have to be renegotiated.[325] Security Concerns have been raised that Brexit might create security problems for the UK. In particular in law enforcement and counterterrorism where the UK could use the European Union's databases on individuals crossing the British border. Security experts have credited the EU's information-sharing databases with helping to foil terrorist plots. British leaders have expressed support for retaining access to those information-sharing databases, but it could be complicated to obtain that access as a non-member of the EU. Brexit would also complicate extradition requests. Under a hard Brexit scenario, the UK would lose access to basic law enforcement tools, such as databases comprising European plane travel records, vehicle registrations, fingerprints and DNA profiles.[326] In December 2018, Conservative MEPs approved a new plan to fight terrorism that calls for the EU to have a close security partnership with the UK post-Brexit. [327] Options for continuing relationship with the EU The UK's post-Brexit relationship with the remaining EU members could take several forms. A research paper presented to the UK Parliament in July 2013 proposed a number of alternatives to membership which would continue to allow access to the EU internal market. These include remaining in the European Economic Area,[328] negotiating deep bilateral agreements on the Swiss model,[328] or exit from the EU without EEA membership or a trade agreement under the WTO Option. There may be an interim deal between the time the UK leaves the EU and when the final relationship comes in force. Border with the Republic of Ireland The UK/Republic of Ireland border crosses this road at Killeen (near Newry ), marked only by a speed limit in km/h. (Northern Ireland uses mph.) There is concern about whether the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland becomes a "hard border" with customs and passport checks on the border,[329] and whether this could affect the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland.[330][331][332] In order to forestall this the European Union proposed a "backstop agreement" within the Withdrawal Agreement that would put Northern Ireland under a range of EU rules in order to forestall the need for border checks. Although the UK government has signed off on proposals including the backstop, it regards the idea of having EU rules applying in Northern Ireland only as a threat to the integrity of the UK, and also does not want the UK as a whole to be subject to EU rules and the customs union indefinitely.[333] In late October 2018, the National Audit Office warned that it was already too late to prepare the necessary Irish border security checks in the event of a no-deal Brexit – a weakness that organised crime would be quick to exploit.[334] Until March 2019, both the UK and Ireland will be members of the EU, and therefore both are in the Customs Union and the Single Market. There is freedom of movement for all EU nationals within the Common Travel Area and there are no customs or fixed immigration controls at the border. Since 2005, the border has been essentially invisible.[335] Following Brexit, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will become a land border between the EU and a non-EU state which may entail checks on goods at the border, depending on the co-operation and alignment of regulations between the two sides. It is therefore possible that the border will return to being a "hard" one, with fewer, controlled, crossing posts and a customs infrastructure. Both the EU and the UK have agreed this should be avoided.[336] Research published on 18 February 2019 by Irish Senator Mark Daly and two UNESCO chairmen indicated that reinstating a hard border would result in the return of violence.[337][338][339][340] Border with France The President of the Regional Council of Hauts-de-France, Xavier Bertrand, stated in February 2016 that "If Britain leaves Europe, right away the border will leave Calais and go to Dover. We will not continue to guard the border for Britain if it's no longer in the European Union," indicating that the juxtaposed controls would end with a leave vote. French Finance Minister Emmanuel Macron also suggested the agreement would be "threatened" by a leave vote.[341] These claims have been disputed, as the Le Touquet 2003 treaty enabling juxtaposed controls was not an EU treaty, and would not be legally void upon leaving.[342] After the Brexit vote, Xavier Bertrand asked François Hollande to renegotiate the Touquet agreement,[343] which can be terminated by either party with two years' notice.[344] Hollande rejected the suggestion, and said: "Calling into question the Touquet deal on the pretext that Britain has voted for Brexit and will have to start negotiations to leave the Union doesn't make sense." Bernard Cazeneuve, the French Interior Minister, confirmed there would be "no changes to the accord". He said: "The border at Calais is closed and will remain so."[345] Gibraltar and Spain Cars crossing into Gibraltar clearing customs formalities. Gibraltar is outside the customs union, VAT area and Schengen Zone Gibraltar is outside the European Union's common customs area and common commercial policy and so has a customs border with Spain. Nevertheless, the territory remains within the European Union until Brexit is complete. During the campaign leading up to the referendum[346] the Chief Minister of Gibraltar warned that Brexit posed a threat to Gibraltar's safety.[347] Gibraltar voted overwhelmingly (96%) to remain in the EU. After the result Spain's Foreign Minister renewed calls for joint Spanish–British control of the peninsula.[348] These calls were strongly rebuffed by Gibraltar's Chief Minister[349] and questions were raised over the future of free-flowing traffic at the Gibraltar–Spain border.[350] The UK government states it will only negotiate on the sovereignty of Gibraltar with the consent of its people.[351] In February 2018, Sir Joe Bossano, Gibraltar's Minister for Enterprise, Training, Employment and Health and Safety (and former Chief Minister) expressed frustration at the EU's attitude, suggesting that Spain was being offered a veto, adding "It's enough to convert me from a supporter of the European Union into a Brexiteer".[352] In April 2018, Spanish Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis announced that Spain hopes to sign off on a bilateral agreement with Britain over Gibraltar before October so as not to hinder a Brexit transition deal. Talks between London and Madrid had progressed well. While reiterating the Spanish long-term aim of "recovering" Gibraltar, he said that Spain would not hold Gibraltar as a "hostage" to the EU negotiations.[353] The predecessor of Dastis, José Manuel García-Margallo (who had been very combative in the Gibraltar dispute during his ministerial spell) had asked Dastis during the later's inauguration to not waste the chance to advance in the Spanish claim for the territory.[354] After the successful 2018 vote of no confidence in the government of Mariano Rajoy and Josep Borrell becoming the new Foreign minister, the later assured the diplomatic stance of Spain remained the same as with Dastis, "with the same negotiating team and the same approach".[355] Relations with CANZUK countries Pro-Brexit activists and politicians have argued that for negotiating trade and migration agreements with the "CANZUK" countries – those of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.[356][357] Numerous academics have criticised this alternative for EU membership as "post-imperial nostalgia".[358][359][360] Economists note that distance reduces trade, a key aspect of the gravity model of trade, which means that even if the UK could obtain similar trade terms with the CANZUK countries as it had as part of the Single Market, it would be far less valuable to the UK.[361][362][363] Consequences of withdrawal for the EU Structure and budget Shortly after the referendum, the German parliament published an analysis on the consequences of a Brexit on the EU and specifically on the economic and political situation of Germany.[364] According to this, Britain is, after the United States and France, the third-most important export market for German products. In total Germany exports goods and services to Britain worth about €120 billion annually, which is about 8% of German exports, with Germany achieving a trade surplus with Britain worth €36.3 billion (2014). Should there be a "hard Brexit", exports would be subject to WTO customs and tariffs. The trade weighted average tariff is 2.4%, but the tariff on automobiles, for instance, is 9.7%, so trade in automobiles would be particularly affected; this would also affect German automobile manufacturers with production plants in the United Kingdom. In total, 750,000 jobs in Germany depend upon export to Britain, while on the British side about three million jobs depend on export to the EU. The study emphasises however that the predictions on the economic effects of a Brexit are subject to significant uncertainty. With Brexit, the EU would lose its second-largest economy, the country with the third-largest population and "the financial capital of the world", as the German newspaper Münchner Merkur put it.[365] Furthermore, the EU would lose its second-largest net contributor to the EU budget (2015: Germany €14.3 billion, United Kingdom €11.5 billion, France €5.5 billion).[366] Thus, the departure of Britain would result in an additional financial burden for the remaining net contributors, unless the budget is reduced accordingly: Germany, for example, would have to pay an additional €4.5 billion for 2019 and again for 2020; in addition, the UK would no longer be a shareholder in the European Investment Bank, in which only EU members can participate. Britain's share amounts to 16%, €39.2 billion (2013), which Britain would withdraw unless there is an EU treaty change.[367] Council of the European Union Analyses indicate that the departure of the relatively economically liberal UK will reduce the ability of remaining economically liberal countries to block measures in the Council of the European Union.[368][369] According to the Lisbon Treaty (2009), decisions of the Council are made by qualified majority voting, which means that a majority view can be blocked should at least four members of the Council, representing at least 35% of the population of the Union, choose to do so. In many policy votes, Britain, allied with other northern EU allies (Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian and the Baltic states), had a blocking minority of 35%. The exit of the UK from the European Union means that this blocking minority can no longer be assembled without support from other countries, leading to speculation that it could enable the more protectionist EU countries to achieve specific proposals such as relaxing EU budget discipline or providing EU-wide deposit guarantees within the banking union.[370][371] European Parliament UK MEPs are expected to retain full rights to participate in the European Parliament up to the Article 50 deadline. However, there have been discussions about excluding UK MEPs from key committee positions.[372] The EU will need to decide on the revised apportionment of seats in the European Parliament in time for the next European Parliament election to be held in May 2019 (with the parliamentary term starting in June), when the United Kingdom's 73 MEPs will have vacated their seats. In April 2017, a group of European lawmakers discussed what should be done about the vacated seats. One plan, supported by Gianni Pittella and Emmanuel Macron, is to replace the 73 seats with a pan-European constituency list; other options which were considered include dropping the British seats without replacement, and reassigning some or all of the existing seats from other countries to reduce inequality of representation.[373][374] Legal system The UK's exit from the European Union will leave Ireland and Cyprus as the only two remaining common law jurisdictions in the EU. Paul Gallagher, a former Attorney General of Ireland, has suggested this will isolate those countries and deprive them of a powerful partner that shared a common interest in ensuring that EU legislation was not drafted or interpreted in a way that would be contrary to the principles of the common law.[375] Lucinda Creighton, a former Irish government minister for legal affairs, has said that Ireland relies on the "bureaucratic capacity of the UK" to understand, influence and implement EU legislation.[376] World Trade Organization Questions have arisen over how existing international arrangements with the EU under World Trade Organization (WTO) terms should evolve. Some countries – such as Australia and the United States – wish to challenge the basis for division (i.e., division between the UK and the continuing EU) of the trade schedules previously agreed between them and the EU, because it reduces their flexibility.[377] Various EU leaders said that they would not start any negotiation before the UK formally invokes Article 50. Jean-Claude Juncker ordered all members of the EU Commission not to engage in any kind of contact with UK parties regarding Brexit.[378] In October 2016, he stated that he was agitated that the British had not developed a sense of community with Europeans during 40 years of membership; Juncker denied that Brexit was a warning for the EU, envisaged developing an EU defence policy without the British after Brexit, and rejected a suggestion that the EU should negotiate in such a way that Britain would be able to hold a second referendum.[379] On 5 November 2016, Juncker reacted to reports of some European businesses seeking to make agreements with the UK government, and warned: "I am telling them [companies] that they should not interfere in the debate, as they will find that I will block their path."[380] Juncker stated in February 2017 that the UK would be expected to pay outstanding commitments to EU projects and pensions as part of the withdrawal process, suggesting such bills would be "very hefty."[381] German foreign secretary Frank-Walter Steinmeier met Britain's foreign secretary Boris Johnson on 4 November 2016; Johnson stressed the importance of British-German relationships, whereas Steinmeier responded that the German view was that the UK should have voted to stay in the EU and that the German priority now was to preserve the remaining union of 27 members. There could be no negotiations before the UK formally gives notice. A long delay before beginning negotiations would be detrimental. Britain could not keep the advantages of the single market but at the same time cancel the "less pleasant rules".[382] Newly appointed prime minister Theresa May made clear that negotiations with the EU required a "UK-wide approach". On 15 July 2016, she said: "I have already said that I won't be triggering article 50 until I think that we have a UK approach and objectives for negotiations – I think it is important that we establish that before we trigger article 50."[383] According to The Daily Telegraph, the Department for Exiting the European Union spent over £250,000 on legal advice from top Government lawyers in two months, and had plans to recruit more people. Nick Clegg said the figures showed the Civil Service was unprepared for the very complex negotiations ahead.[384] In the wake of the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union, the Department for International Trade (DIT) for striking and extending trade agreements between the UK and non-EU states was created by Prime Minister Theresa May, shortly after she took office on 13 July 2016.[385] It employs about 200 trade negotiators[386] and is overseen by the Secretary of State for International Trade, currently Liam Fox. On 17 January 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May announced a series of 12 negotiating objectives in a speech at Lancaster House. These consist of an end to European Court of Justice jurisdiction, withdrawal from the single market with a "comprehensive free-trade agreement" replacing this, a new customs agreement excluding the common external tariff and the EU's common commercial policy, an end to free movement of people, co-operation in crime and terrorism, collaboration in areas of science and technology, engagement with devolved administrations, maintaining the Common Travel Area with Ireland, and preserving existing workers' rights. She also confirmed, "that the Government will put the final deal that is agreed between the UK and the EU to a [meaningful] vote in both Houses of Parliament, before it comes into force."[387] The Government has stated its intention to "secure the specific interests of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as those of all parts of England". Through the Joint Ministerial Committee on EU Negotiations (JMC(EN)), the Government intends to involve the views of the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly in the process of negotiating the UK's exit from the EU. For instance, at the January 2017 meeting of the JMC(EN), the Scottish Government's proposal to remain in the European Economic Area was considered.[388] EU negotiator Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament's chief negotiator, said that: "All British citizens today have also EU citizenship. That means a number of things: the possibility to participate in the European elections, the freedom of travel without problem inside the union. We need to have an arrangement in which this arrangement can continue for those citizens who on an individual basis are requesting it." The suggestion being an “associate citizenship”.[389] An EU meeting to discuss Brexit was called for 29 April 2017, Donald Tusk stating that the "priority would be giving "clarity" to EU residents, business and member states about the talks ahead". Barnier called for talks to be completed by October 2018 to give time for any agreement to be ratified before the UK leaves in March 2019.[390] Sinn Féin called for a referendum to create a united Ireland, following the Northern Ireland majority decision (56% to 44%) to vote no to Brexit and 2 March election to the Northern Ireland Assembly wherein Sinn Féin increased its number of seats.[391] In early May, Jean-Claude Juncker said that the UK leaving the EU was a "tragedy" and that it is partly the responsibility of the EU. "The EU, in many respects has done too much, especially the Commission", including "too much regulation and too many interferences in the lives of our fellow citizens". The European Commission has, following the "Better regulation" initiative, in place since before Brexit, reduced the number of legislative proposals from 130 to 23 per year.[392][393] Post-referendum opinion polling Following the EU referendum, there have been many opinion polls on the question of whether the UK was "right" or "wrong" to vote to leave the EU. The results of these polls are shown in the table below. Cultural references Visual arts Düsseldorf carnival parade in February 2018 The response of artists and writers to Brexit has in general been negative, reflecting a reported overwhelming percentage of people involved in Britain's creative industries voting against leaving the European Union.[407] Responses by visual artists to Brexit include a mural, painted in May 2017, by the secretive graffiti artist Banksy near the ferry port at Dover in southern England. It shows a workman using a chisel to chip off one of the stars on the European Union Flag.[408] In his 2017 art exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in London, the artist Grayson Perry showed a series of ceramic, tapestry and other works of art dealing with the divisions in Britain during the Brexit campaign and in its aftermath. This included two large ceramic pots, Perry called his Brexit Vases, standing on plinths ten feet apart, on the first of which were scenes involving pro-European British citizens, and on the second scenes involving anti-European British citizens. These were derived from what Perry called his "Brexit tour of Britain."[409] Novels In Daphne du Maurier's 1972 novel Rule Britannia the UK is brought to the brink of bankruptcy after withdrawal from the EEC.[410] Ali Smith's 2016 novel Autumn has been described by the Financial Times as the first serious Brexit novel.[411] One of the first novels to engage with a post-Brexit Britain was Rabbitman by Michael Paraskos (published 9 March 2017). Rabbitman is a dark comic fantasy in which the events that lead to the election of a right-wing populist American president, who happens also to be a rabbit, and Britain's vote to leave the European Union, were the result of a series of Faustian pacts with the Devil. As a result, Rabbitman is set partly in a post-Brexit Britain in which society has collapsed and people are dependent on European Union food aid.[412] Mark Billingham's Love Like Blood (published 1 June 2017) is a crime thriller in which Brexit sees a rise in xenophobic hate crime.[413] In the novel The Remains of the Way (published 6 June 2017), David Boyle imagines Brexit was a conspiracy led by a forgotten government quango, still working away in Whitehall, originally set up by Thomas Cromwell in the sixteenth century during the reign of King Henry VIII, and now dedicated to a Protestant Brexit.[414] Post-Brexit Britain is also the setting for Amanda Craig's The Lie of the Land (published 13 June 2017), a satirical novel set ten years after the vote to leave the European Union, in which an impoverished middle class couple from Islington in north London are forced to move from the heart of the pro-European Union capital, to the heart of the pro-Brexit countryside in Devon.[415] Brexit is also the baseline for Douglas Board's comic political thriller Time of Lies (published 23 June 2017). In this novel, the first post-Brexit general election in 2020 is won by a violent right-wing former football hooligan called Bob Grant. Board charts the response to this of the hitherto pro-European Union metropolitan political elite.[416] Stanley Johnson's Kompromat (scheduled for July 2017) is a political thriller that suggests the vote to leave the European Union was a result of Russian influence on the referendum, although Johnson has insisted his book is not intended to point the finger at Russia's secret services, but is "just meant to be fun."[417] Theatre In June 2017, the National Theatre in London presented a play by Carol Ann Duffy, entitled My Country; a work in progress. An allegorical work, the play uses the device of a convention called by the goddess Britannia, who is concerned about the future of the British people.[418] The play differs from some artistic responses in that Duffy and the National Theatre-based the attitudes of the characters in part on the responses of ordinary people in interviews that were conducted by the regional offices of the UK Arts Councils, but excluding responses from London and the south-east of England, where most people voted not to leave the EU. As a result, according to Dominic Cavendish, writing in The Daily Telegraph, "the bias is towards the Leave camp".[419] Film In 2016, the television director Martin Durkin wrote and directed an 81-minute long documentary film titled Brexit: The Movie, which advocated with the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. The film was produced by the production company Wag TV with a budget of £300,000.[420] The production costs were sourced primarily through crowdfunding via Kickstarter alongside a £50,000 contribution from the hedge fund Spitfire Capital. In May 2016 the film premiered in Leicester Square, with notable figures such as Nigel Farage and David Davis (who later became Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union) in attendance. A documentary film was released in 2018, called Postcards from the 48%, which is described on the film's website as: "A documentary film made by and featuring those who voted Remain, the 48%, to show the other 27 EU Member States that it was far from a landslide victory and just why we are fighting to stay part of the EU."[421] A review on Shadows on the Wall[422] wrote: "This is a comprehensive, factual exploration of the issue, grappling with the referendum, its ramifications and the way the split vote has fractured British society."[423] A television drama film written by James Graham and directed by Toby Haynes, named Brexit: The Uncivil War (simply Brexit in the US), was released in January 2019.[424] It depicts the lead-up to the 2016 referendum through the activities of the strategists behind the Vote Leave campaign, that prompted the United Kingdom to exit the European Union.[425] It aired on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom on 7 January, and aired on HBO in the United States on 19 January.[426] Benedict Cumberbatch stars as Dominic Cummings, the Campaign Director of the official designated Brexit-supporting group, Vote Leave.[427] Establishment of pro-European political organisations Following the Brexit vote, there have been several attempts to set up a new pro-European political party.[428][429] Examples include 'The Democrats' (a proposal by former Daily Mail political editor James Chapman), 'The Radicals' (proposed by Jeremy Cliffe, former Berlin bureau chief of The Economist), the Renew Britain party,[429] the Advance Together party and United for Change. So far, none of these parties have had any candidates elected. In 2017, newly elected Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable criticised 'pop up' anti-Brexit parties formed following the 2016 referendum, saying of those groups' policies "...it is the kind of ideology-free, technocratic, authoritarian centrism that would be more at home in, say, Singapore" and "Voters beware."[430] See also Notes References Further reading

Category: Industrial Radiation — Industrial Applications The following question was answered by an expert in the appropriate field: Q A Sterilization, the killing of bacteria (or any types of cells), on medical instruments is primarily achieved by the radiation causing severe damage to the cell's components and to the cell's chromosomes, specifically the DNA. "Severe damage" to DNA is multiple breaks in the long DNA ladder-like structure. Radiation (for example, gamma rays, x rays, or beta and alpha radiation) has enough energy to ionize atoms and molecules; that is, it can create charged particles and free radicals. In cells, the water can be ionized to form free radicals, somewhat like H-plus (H+) and OH-minus (OH-) radicals found in acids (for example H+Cl-) and bases (for example, Na+OH-). The free radicals made inside a cell's nucleus can cause damage to the cell's components and breaks in the DNA structure (the radiation may also directly cause ionizing breaks in the DNA's chemical chain). If enough damage is done to the cell's DNA, which acts as the cell's control mechanism, the cell cannot function properly or reproduce and the result is cell death (sterilization). Radiation is used to sterilize medical instruments by first sealing a clean, but not bacteria-free, instrument in an air-tight bag. The bag and instrument are then placed in a very large field of radiation that can penetrate the bag—for example, gamma radiation, x rays, or high-energy electrons. These ionizing radiations can kill the bacteria (cells); and the air-tight bag will keep the instrument sterile until the bag is opened in the medical facility. Look at the E-Beam Services, Inc., website for more information. Hope this helps and thanks for your question. John P. Hageman, MS, CHP

Blackberry and the government of India are on course for a head on collision. India wants Blackberry to be like everyone else and stop its encryption while Blackberry has so far resisted the government's request.With barely 24 hours left for a decision, intelligence agencies are confident that Blackberry is going to blink first. Sources have told NDTV that there is no way that they can compromise India's security.The main concern is the email service and the messenger chat service.Currently the messenger service and emails cannot be cracked. Security agencies suspect terrorists and money launderers could use these and escape detection. So, to stop this, the government wants Blackberry to give the key to its servers.These servers have licenced software from Blackberry. The software encrypts all emails and chats. But Blackberry refuses to handover the codes to Indian security agencies because its USP is to provide the most secure cellphone communication.However, reports suggest Blackberry has compromised with the US, Saudi Arabia and even China, allowing them access to encrypted communication.The Blackberry's parent company Research in Motion (RIM) has refused to react although it told The Economist magazine that "any claims that we provide, or have ever provided, something unique to the government of one country that we have not offered to the governments of all countries, are unfounded".Now Indian telecom companies are backing the government."RIM must understand that India is a developed economy with a growing market and it must address the security concerns of the country," said Cellular Operators Association of India. The government hopes that a growing Indian market will be difficult for Blackberry to ignore and it will accept the government's demands.

President Barack Obama took a break from a week-long government shutdown to weigh in on perhaps the second-most contentious issue in the nation’s capital: Changing the Washington Redskins nickname. “If I were the owner of the team and I knew that the name of my team — even if they’ve had a storied history — was offending a sizable group of people, I’d think about changing it,” Obama told the Associated Press during an interview. I agree with Obama. With his ground-breaking comments, Obama has made history once again: He is perhaps the first sitting president to say he would consider changing the Washington Redskins nickname – and his truth could not have come at a better time in the debate. “All these mascots and team names related to Native Americans, Native Americans feel pretty strongly about it,” Obama said Saturday. “And I don’t know whether our attachment to a particular name should override the real, legitimate concerns that people have about these things.” Obama is using his second term in office – and his White House bully pulpit — to confront racism and, in this case, the president is calling out the Redskins for its racially offensive nickname. The Washington Redskins nickname is not only offensive – it’s racist. Native Americans have argued for years that the name offends them, but Redskins owner Dan Snyder has refused requests from Native Americans and others to change the name, which originated during the 1930s. But take a moment to reflect on the magnitude of Obama’s statement. As America’s first black president who has already told the nation that he has experienced racial discrimination and outright bigotry, Obama now wades into a highly emotional issue where he is essentially firing a shot over Synder’s bow by using five simple yet powerful words: “If I were the owner…” Obama is a brilliant politician. He doesn’t make statements on the fly; he doesn’t utter comments without thinking it through; and he certainly would not inject himself into this hornet’s nest if he didn’t feel passionate about the cause. The president could have simply said nothing and let others argue the issue. But he didn’t. So why should Obama bother to talk about a sports issue and the Redskins changing its nickname? Because it’s not just a sports story – the “Redskins” nickname is a longstanding symbol of how American citizens are still being demeaned and who better to support Native Americans than America’s first black president. “As the first sitting president to speak out against the Washington team name, President Obama’s comments are truly historic,” said Oneida Indian Nation representative Ray Halbritter. “The use of such an offensive term has negative consequences for the Native American community when it comes to issues of self-identity and imagery.” Perhaps nothing will change. Synder will probably ignore Obama and it will be business as usual in the Redskins front office. Lanny Davis, a Redskins attorney, said the name is “our history and legacy and tradition.” “We at the Redskins respect everyone,” Davis said in a statement. “But like devoted fans of the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Blackhawks (from President Obama’s home town), we love our team and its name and, like those fans, we do not intend to disparage or disrespect a racial or ethnic group.” Davis doesn’t get it – and he’s not trying to get it. The other nicknames Davis mentioned are not racially offensive. Meanwhile, Robert Klemko, a writer for “Monday Morning Quarterback,” a Sports Illustrated website, announced that the site will no longer use the “Redskins” name. “I know that our site, we’ve talked about it, and we’re not going to use Redskins in our writing,” Klemko told CBS Sports Radio. “We’re going to say ‘Washington football team.’ And it’s not something we’re going to publicize or write about. We’re just not going to do it.” Good for Klemko. Native Americans have been fighting to get the Washington Redskins to change its name for the past 40 years when about a dozen American Indian representatives in 1972 demanded of then-team President Edward Bennett Williams that the Redskins get rid of a nickname they characterized as a “derogatory racial epithet.” Undoubtedly, there will be those who will read this column and be angry. Outside my barber shop recently, a black man bristled at the notion of changing the name of his beloved Redskins. But minutes earlier, the same brother also argued that Obama must aggressively address the concerns of black people in America. So Obama should push an agenda for African Americans but ignore Native Americans who view the Washington Redskins nickname as racist? Obama admits that he is more familiar with basketball than football, but the Redskins nickname is more about racism – something the president knows all too well. (Photo: AP) Also On Black America Web:

WASHINGTON - MARCH 17: U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) speaks during a news conference to announce his vote on the health care reform legislation March 17, 2010 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Kucinich said he will vote in favor of the health care reform legislation.. Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images Rep. Dennis Kucinich, a liberal establishment in the House, conceded defeat Tuesday night in Ohio's 9th district Democratic primary to longtime Rep. Marcy Kaptur. The Democratic primary was overshadowed Tuesday night by the competitive contest in Ohio's Republican presidential primary between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum. The Democratic contest, however, was also hard-fought. Kucinich made his concession speech just past midnight Wednesday, when Kaptur had a 24-point lead with 84 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press. Both well-known Democrats, the 15-term Kaptur ended up competing against the eight-term Kucinich after Ohio lost two congressional districts because of the state's declining population. Kaptur started the race with an edge in the new 9th district, which retained more of her old district than Kucinich's. Kucinich told Hotsheet in December that he would approach the race "in the spirit of friendship," but ultimately, the race became heated. In his concession speech, the AP reports, Kucinich charged his opponent "ran a campaign lacking in integrity, filled with false truths." During the campaign, Kucinich -- an outspoken anti-war liberal -- attacked Kaptur for voting to fund "Bush's wars," voting for the Patriot Act, backing the Keystone XL pipeline and opposing gay marriage, among other things. Kaptur, meanwhile, slammed Kucinich for voting against bills that would have brought in funds for new manufacturing jobs and veterans' care. Outside groups also jumped into the mix: For instance, the Texas-based political action committee Campaign for Primary Accountability ran an ad charging Kaptur of paying her taxes late. After the results were in, Kaptur said on MSNBC that voters were interested in jobs and the economy. "Our people are bread and butter people, they want to grow this economy," she said. "They expect the president and expect representatives in the Capitol to represent those interests strongly, and I think that's what they voted for tonight." Now that she has the Democratic nomination, Kaptur will run in the 9th district against Samuel Wurzelbacher -- also known as "Joe the Plumber" from the 2008 presidential campaign -- who won the GOP nomination. In another notable Ohio congressional race, seven-year incumbent Republican Jean Schmidt was surprisingly defeated in the GOP primary by outsider Brad Wenstrup, a podiatrist and former Cincinnati mayoral candidate. Wenstrup was holding a 6-point lead with 99 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP.

theconcealedweapon: silversarcasm: strawberreli: brownroundboi: silversarcasm: there’s nothing feminist about calling people ‘manchildren’ or ‘manbabies’ considering that word has a history of being used against disabled people in the ongoing infantilisation of us in order to deny us autonomy!!! stop it!! This all day. Thank you for reminding us of ableism. Ugh. serious question, this also includes pissbabies y/y? Absolutely, both the infantilisation and the use of incontinence as a bad thing here make it really grossly ableist Also, it implies that men act entitled because they’re immature and not because they’re doing exactly what society expects of them, especially because one of the most dangerous acts of male entitlement is grown men preying on teenage girls and thinking that teenage girls should be flattered by a grown man’s attention because grown men are somehow superior to teenage boys.

Funded! Thank you, everyone, for your support. Please watch the updates for news on the book. Last year I ran a Kickstarter project for Transforming Collections -- project page here -- a printed introduction to third party Transformers toys and accessories. The final book came in at 80-pages and turned out great . . . but there are always more toys and now it's time for a sequel. NOTE: If you're unfamiliar with the third party scene I recommend checking the first project for an overview . . . and then come back here and grab both books before they're gone! Format Just like Transforming Collections, Transforming Expectations will be an 80-page 8" x 8" full-color hardcover book. My plan is to print the book at the exact same printer I used for the first book so that the two of these fit together perfectly as a set on your shelf. Same cover and paper stocks, exact same processes -- Photoshop and InDesign, with final files delivered to the printer as PDF -- and a better level of final control over the finished pages since my photography and editing process improved as I assembled the first book. Contents In addition to photos of third party Transformers toys and accessories, Transforming Expectations will include sections on retooling, product packaging, and even the comics and collectible cards of the third party toys. The idea is to offer some examples of what the third party manufacturers have been producing and not to provide you with a complete catalog of every box or comic out there. Some of the toys already photographed for the book include pieces from FansProject, iGear Toys, Impossible Toys, and Mech iDeas. Scheduling Transforming Expectations is set to ship to the printer in late April for a release to backers in June of 2014. It is possible the book will finish earlier, but I do not plan for that to happen.

Euromelanoma exists to promote and share information on skin cancer prevention, early diagnosis and treatment. We are led by a network of European dermatologists who generously give up their time to serve this cause. Our activities are focused on reaching three key audiences; the general public; the scientific community; and European and national policy makers. For the public, through the Euromelanoma website (which has been visited by over one million people) and a yearly public awareness campaign, we promote understanding of skin cancer, its prevention, early detection and treatment. This activity culminates in public screenings during an annual ‘Euromelanoma Screening Day’. To date, over 450,000 people have received free skin examinations. For dermatologists and the broader healthcare community, we regularly share knowledge and best practices through scientific publications in order to improve care for skin cancer patients. For governments, we host special events to ensure the treatment of skin cancer is fully recognised and supported in healthcare systems and policies. Since it was established in 1999 by six Belgian dermatologists (T. Maselis, M. van Daele, C. Pirard, V. del Marmol, B. Richert, and K. de Boulle), Euromelanoma has spread rapidly across the Continent and is now active in 33 countries

Honda has confirmed that it will enter next month’s FIA GT World Cup in Macau with a single NSX GT3 for Renger van der Zande, marking the car’s international debut. The Japanese manufacturer will field a solo works entry for the Nov. 16-19 race, with JAS Motorsport providing operations, led by team director Stefano Fini. It will mark the car’s first race outside of North America, ahead of worldwide customer sales beginning next year. “Honda has just started its NSX GT3 global sales program for the 2018 season and we are very grateful that the FIA and promoter have given us the green light to enter this prestigious event,” Fini said. “Our target is to put on a good showing with Renger van der Zande, an international sports car championship-winning driver with lots of experience of GT3 machinery and of the Guia circuit. “Our hope is that participation in this event with the NSX GT3 will create greater interest in GT racing globally.” The 31-year-old Dutchman, who finished runner-up in the event in 2014, will get his first laps in the mid-engined Acura in a test at Monza on Friday. “I’ve shared a track with the NSX GT3 in the IMSA Sports Car Championship this year and had noticed how stunning it is to look at, so to be able to drive the manufacturer car for Honda at Macau is an incredible opportunity for me,” van der Zande said. “Macau is the perfect place to showcase a car like this because the circuit has everything, and with my experience of racing there eight times, I’m sure we can put on a good show for Honda and for the fans.” Honda will make a total of 12 cars available to customers for next year, with two already having been confirmed for a to-be-announced client in Japan, according to Honda Performance Development President Art St. Cyr. Up to three cars could be competing in the WeatherTech Championship next year.

(CNN) The officer charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black man in South Carolina has been fired as anger continues to build around his case. A video shows Officer Michael Slager , who is white, firing eight shots at 50-year-old Walter Scott as Scott has his back to him and is running away. Scott, who was unarmed, was struck five times. The FBI is investigating, and once again, a shooting involving police has sparked national outrage. "I have watched the video, and I was sickened by what I saw," North Charleston police Chief Eddie Driggers told reporters Wednesday. The mayor spoke at the same news conference that was repeatedly interrupted by protesters, who chanted: "No justice! No peace!" They called for Mayor Keith Summey to step down. Summey told reporters that the city has ordered an additional 150 body cameras "so every officer on the street" in the city will have one. That is in addition to 101 body cameras already ordered, he said. Just before the conference was set to begin, demonstrators walked in. They were led by a man wearing a "Black Lives Matter" T-shirt who shouted, "This is what democracy looks like!" Demonstrators in North Charleston say other officers on scene of Walter Scott shooting need to be investigated. A photo posted by @martinsavidge on Apr 8, 2015 at 6:42am PDT Scott's shooting stirred memories of the Michael Brown case in Ferguson, Missouri , where an unarmed black teenager was killed by a white police officer. A grand jury declined to indict the officer in that case. But not everyone agreed that Scott's case is like Brown's or that race was a factor. I said it when Michael Brown was executed and I'll say it again... Walter Scott did NOT have to die.... https://t.co/hZKRc6Vfcn — Sean Davis (@SDavisMedia) April 8, 2015 "We can't get into the brain of another individual, so we can't state that," Scott family attorney Chris Stewart said. "I think it would be irresponsible to say that and try and inflame a community or anything of that nature." If you compare Walter Scott to Michael Brown you are a true moron. Walter Scott was an innocent man. Michael Brown was far from innocent. — Republican Girl Life (@RepubGirlLife) April 8, 2015 An autopsy of Scott showed that he "sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the back of his body," and his death was the result of a homicide, the Charleston County Coroner's Office said. Asked whether CPR was performed on Scott after Slager shot him, Driggers said: "In the end of it (the video), what I saw was (what I) believed to be a police officer removing the shirt of the individual and performing some type of life-saving (procedure), but I'm not sure what took place there." The North Charleston Police department was not legally obligated to but chose to hand the case over to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, according to a news release from Scarlett A. Wilson, the Ninth Judicial Circuit solicitor. Though Wilson said she is subject to rules that limit what she can say publicly, she stated: "My role is to hold accountable those who harm others unlawfully, regardless of profession. This office does not dictate nor comment upon police policy, training and procedure. I am, however, deeply concerned when those who are sworn to serve and protect violate the public's trust." Use of stun gun questioned Slager pulled Scott over on Saturday morning for a broken taillight, authorities have said. The beginning of the video shows the two men standing close to each other. Any words exchanged between Scott and Slager are not audible on the released tape. It's also unclear what happened before Scott started to run away, or why he ran. The officer initially said that he used a Taser stun gun on Scott and that Scott tried to take his weapon. "Shots fired and the subject is down," Slager said, according to police reports. "He took my Taser." Before the officer started firing his gun, a dark object falls behind him and hits the ground. It's not clear whether that is the Taser. Later in the video, when the officer approaches Scott's body, he drops a dark object next to the man. It's not clear whether that is the Taser. JUST WATCHED North Charleston Police chief: It's a tragic event Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH North Charleston Police chief: It's a tragic event 03:13 It's unknown whether Scott took the officer's Taser or whether the officer picked the object up and moved it closer to the body. When Scott's brother Anthony saw the video, he was convinced the officer had lied, he told CNN. JUST WATCHED Brother wants Walter Scott's death to change policing Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Brother wants Walter Scott's death to change policing 01:34 "There was not a struggle for the Taser," Anthony Scott said. "I didn't believe my brother would have done that anyway." To Anthony Scott, the videotape shows his brother was "running for his life" away from the officer. "I think my brother was thinking he was not going to be shot, no one would have thought that," Scott said. The video shows Walter Scott attempting to run away. His back is to the officer, and he is a few yards away when the officer raises his gun and fires. A man walking to work on Saturday recorded the video and provided it to the family. That man, Feidin Santana, spoke to NBC's Lester Holt. He said there had been a struggle between the two men on the ground before he started recording, and that the officer was in control. When asked how he felt about the fact that Slager has been charged with murder, Santana said that "no one can feel happy." "He has his family and Mr. Scott also has his family. But I think, you know, he made a bad decision. And, you know, you pay for your decisions in this life," he told NBC's Holt. "Mr. Scott didn't deserve this. And there were other ways that can be used to get him arrested. And that wasn't the proper way to do that." If convicted of murder, Slager could face life in prison or the death penalty. Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Joe Gilliard looks over a fence April 9, 2015, at the spot where Walter Scott was shot and killed by a police officer April 4 in North Charleston, South Carolina. The officer, Michael Slager , has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Scott , an unarmed 50-year-old. Video captured by a bystander showed Slager shooting Scott as he ran away. Hide Caption 1 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Chasyn Carter, right, embraces Candice Ancrum during a candlelight vigil outside North Charleston's City Hall on Wednesday, April 8. Hide Caption 2 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon holds a candle as he joins the City Hall protest on April 8. Hide Caption 3 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Darrell Mikell, Aaron Moses, Justin Lewis and Quin Dalton stand April 8 near the site where Scott was shot and killed. The person in the background is unidentified. Hide Caption 4 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Protesters interrupt a press conference with North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey on April 8. Hide Caption 5 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting People protest Scott's shooting as they rally outside North Charleston's City Hall on April 8. Hide Caption 6 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Some of those rallying outside North Charleston's City Hall held signs and wore shirts that said "Black lives matter." Scott was black. Slager is white. Hide Caption 7 of 8 Photos: Reactions to Walter Scott shooting Scott's cousin Barbara, right, and her mother, Evaliana Smalls, lay flowers at the lot where the shooting took place. Hide Caption 8 of 8 Outrage on social media "People are upset, people are pointing out how wrong the officer was for gunning down Mr. Scott," South Carolina State Rep. Justin Bamberg said as he stood alongside Anthony Scott on Wednesday. #WalterScott received 11,000 mentions on Twitter in just one hour Wednesday; 243,000 mentions in 24 hours. #RIPWalterScott is also trending, as is #MichaelSlager. Bamberg said he hasn't heard of anyone acting out violently to protest the shooting. He and Scott stressed they don't want that to happen. "Things are in play now, and this officer is in the process of being prosecuted," Bamberg said, imploring anyone listening to him speak on CNN: "We ask that you let the justice process run its course." That message was echoed by Walter Scott's mother, who said she feels "forgiveness in my heart, even for the guy that shot and killed my son." "He was a loving son, a loving father. He cared about his family and ... no matter what happens, it will not replace my son," Judy Scott told CNN's Anderson Cooper. The investigation The Justice Department said it would "take appropriate action in light of the evidence and developments in the state case." "The South Carolina Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation concurrent with the S.C. Law Enforcement Division and are providing aid as necessary to the state investigation," the Justice Department said in a statement. JUST WATCHED South Carolina police officer charged with murder Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH South Carolina police officer charged with murder 02:41 "The Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and the South Carolina U.S. Attorney's Office will work with the FBI in the investigation." Whether Scott's civil rights were violated will be part of the Justice Department's investigation. In the meantime, Slager remains behind bars. He was denied bail at a bond hearing Tuesday night, CNN affiliate WCIV reported. Slager will remain in custody unless a circuit court sets his bond, a court spokesman told CNN. The court has not set a date for that hearing. According to WCIV, Slager initially said through his attorney, David Aylor, that he followed the appropriate policies and procedures. But Aylor later told CNN that he no longer represents the officer. It's not clear whether Slager has found a new attorney. A CNN examination of Slager's police job application indicates he has been an employee of the North Charleston Police Department for about five years and five months. Instead of wearing his police uniform, Slager now wears a jail uniform.

The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska across Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. Completed in 1942 at a length of approximately 1,700 miles (2,700 km), as of 2012 it is 1,387 mi (2,232 km) long. The difference in distance is due to constant reconstruction of the highway, which has rerouted and straightened out numerous sections. The highway was opened to the public in 1948.[1] Legendary over many decades for being a rough, challenging drive, the highway is now paved over its entire length.[2] Its component highways are British Columbia Highway 97, Yukon Highway 1 and Alaska Route 2. An informal system of historic mileposts developed over the years to denote major stopping points; Delta Junction, at the end of the highway, makes reference to its location at "Historic Milepost 1422."[2] It is at this point that the Alaska Highway meets the Richardson Highway, which continues 96 mi (155 km) to the city of Fairbanks. This is often regarded, though unofficially, as the northern portion of the Alaska Highway, with Fairbanks at Historic Milepost 1520.[2] Mileposts on this stretch of highway are measured from Valdez, rather than the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway is popularly (but unofficially) considered part of the Pan-American Highway, which extends south (despite its discontinuity in Panama) to Argentina.[3] History [ edit ] Proposal [ edit ] [4] Overview map for routes A and B, 1938 Proposals for a highway to Alaska originated in the 1920s. Thomas MacDonald, director of the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads, dreamed of an international highway spanning the United States and Canada. In order to promote the highway, Slim Williams originally traveled the proposed route by dogsled. Since much of the route would pass through Canada, support from the Canadian government was crucial. However, the Canadian government perceived no value in putting up the required funds to build the road, since the only part of Canada that would benefit was not more than a few thousand people in Yukon. In 1929 the British Columbia government proposed a highway to Alaska to encourage economic development and tourism. American President Herbert Hoover appointed a board with American and three Canadian members to evaluate the idea. Its 1931 report supported the idea for economic reasons, but both American and Canadian members recognized that a highway would benefit the American military in Alaska. In 1933, the joint commission proposed the U.S. government contribute $2 million of the capital cost, with the $12 million balance borne by the Canadian and BC governments.[5] The Great Depression and the Canadian government's lack of support caused the project to not proceed. When the United States approached Canada again in February 1936, the Canadian government refused to commit to spending money on a road connecting the United States. The Canadians also worried about the military implications, fearing that in a war between Japan and North America, the United States would use the road to prevent Canadian neutrality. During a June 1936 visit to Canada, President Franklin D. Roosevelt told Prime Minister W. L. M. King that a highway to Alaska through Canada could be important in quickly reinforcing the American territory during a foreign crisis. Roosevelt became the first American to publicly discuss the military benefits of a highway in an August speech in Chautauqua, New York. He again mentioned the idea during King's visit to Washington in March 1937, suggesting that a $30 million highway would be helpful as part of a larger defense against Japan that included, the Americans hoped, a larger Canadian military presence on the Pacific coast. Roosevelt remained a supporter of the highway, telling Cordell Hull in August 1937 that he wanted a road built as soon as possible.[6] By1938, Duff Pattullo, the BC premier, favored a route through Prince George. The U.S. offered either a $15 million interest-free loan, or to cover half the construction costs.[5] The attack on Pearl Harbor and beginning of the Pacific Theater in World War II, coupled with Japanese threats to the west coast of North America and the Aleutian Islands, changed the priorities for both nations. On February 6, 1942, the construction of the Alaska Highway was approved by the United States Army and the project received the authorization from the U.S. Congress and Roosevelt to proceed five days later. Canada agreed to allow construction as long as the United States bore the full cost, and that the road and other facilities in Canada be turned over to Canadian authority after the war ended. It proved unimportant for the military because 99 percent of the supplies to Alaska during the war were sent by sea from San Francisco, Seattle and Prince Rupert.[7][better source needed] A caterpillar tractor with grader widens the roadway of the Alaska Highway, 1942 Soldiers of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers meeting in the middle after completing construction of the Alaska Highway The Americans preferred Route A, which starting at Prince George, went northwest to Hazelton, along the Stikine River, by Atlin, Teslin and Tabish Lakes, and from Whitehorse, Yukon to Fairbanks, Alaska via the Tanana Valley. However, the route was vulnerable to possible enemy attack from the sea, experienced steep grades, heavy snowfall and there were no airbases along the way. The Canadians favored Route B, also starting at Prince George, but followed the Rocky Mountain Trench up the valleys of the Parsnip and Finlay Rivers to Finlay Forks and Sifton Pass, then north to Frances Lake and the Pelly River in the Yukon. From there it went to Dawson City and down the Yukon Valley to connect the Richardson Highway to Fairbanks. The advantages of this inland route was the safe distance from enemy planes, and 209 miles shorter with lower elevations enabling lower construction and maintenance costs. The disadvantages were the bypassing of respective airbases, and Whitehorse, the principal town in the Yukon. Optional variations in the southern portion of this route were via Vanderhoof to the west or Monkman Pass to the east. Route C, the Prairie option, advocated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, was the only practical one. It was far enough inland from enemy planes and it linked the airfields of the Northwest Staging Route that conveyed lend-lease aircraft from the United States to the Soviet Union. This option encountered more level terrain, not ascending a pass over 4,250 feet. There was also a railhead at Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and a winter trail from there to Fort Nelson, 300 miles to the northwest. It followed the Rocky Mountain Trench toward Dawson City before turning west to Fairbanks.[8] Construction [ edit ] The official start of construction took place on March 8, 1942, after hundreds of pieces of construction equipment were moved on priority trains by the Northern Alberta Railways to the northeastern part of British Columbia near Mile 0 at Dawson Creek. Construction accelerated through the spring as the winter weather faded away and crews were able to work from both the northern and southern ends; they were spurred on after reports of the Japanese invasion of Kiska Island and Attu Island in the Aleutians. During construction the road was nicknamed the "oil can highway" by the work crews due to the large number of discarded oil cans and fuel drums that marked the road's progress.[9] On September 24, 1942, crews from both directions met at Mile 588 at what became named Contact Creek, at the British Columbia-Yukon border at the 60th parallel; the entire route was completed October 28, 1942, with the northern linkup at Mile 1202, Beaver Creek, and the highway was dedicated on November 20, 1942, at Soldier's Summit. The road was originally built mostly by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a supply route during World War II. In 1942, the Army Corps of Engineers assigned more than 10,000 men, about a third were black soldiers, members of three newly formed "Negro regiments".[11] There were four main thrusts in building the route: southeast from Delta Junction, Alaska, toward a linkup at Beaver Creek, Yukon; north then west from Dawson Creek (an advance group started from Fort Nelson, British Columbia, after traveling on winter roads on frozen marshland from railway stations on the Northern Alberta Railways); both east and west from Whitehorse after being ferried in via the White Pass and Yukon Route railway. The Army commandeered equipment of all kinds, including local riverboats, railway locomotives, and housing originally meant for use in southern California. Although it was completed on October 28, 1942, and its completion was celebrated at Soldier's Summit on November 21 (and broadcast by radio, the exact outdoor temperature censored due to wartime concerns), the "highway" was not usable by general vehicles until 1943. Even then there were many steep grades, a poor surface, switchbacks to gain and descend hills, and few guardrails. Bridges, which progressed during 1942 from pontoon bridges to temporary log bridges, were replaced with steel bridges where necessary. A replica log bridge, the Canyon Creek bridge, can be seen at the Aishihik River crossing; the bridge was rebuilt in 1987 and refurbished in 2005 by the Yukon government as it is a popular tourist attraction. The easing of the Japanese invasion threat resulted in no more contracts being given to private contractors for upgrading of specific sections. Some 100 miles (160 km) of route between Burwash Landing and Koidern, Yukon, became nearly impassable in May and June 1943, as the permafrost thawed, no longer protected by a layer of delicate vegetation. A corduroy road was built to restore the route, and corduroy still underlays old sections of highway in the area. Modern construction methods do not allow the permafrost to thaw, either by building a gravel berm on top or replacing the vegetation and soil immediately with gravel. The Burwash-Koidern section, however, is still a problem as the new highway built there in the late 1990s continues to experience frost heave. Pincers on Japan and Look to the North both 1944 productions were National Film Board of Canada documentaries that depicted the construction of the Alaska Highway.[12][13] Post war [ edit ] The original agreement between Canada and the United States regarding construction of the highway stipulated that its Canadian portion be turned over to Canada six months after the end of the war.[14] This took place on April 1, 1946, when the U.S. Army transferred control of the road through Yukon and British Columbia to the Canadian Army, Northwest Highway System. The Alaskan section was completely paved during the 1960s. The lower 50 miles of the Canadian portion were paved in 1959,[15] but the remainder was largely gravel. Now completely paved (mostly with bituminous surface treatment), as late as the mid-1980s, it comprised sections of winding dusty road sandwiched between high quality reconstructed paved segments.[16] The Milepost, an extensive guide book to the Alaska Highway and other highways in Alaska and Northwest Canada, was first published in 1949 and continues to be published annually as the foremost guide to travelling the highway. The settlement of Destruction Bay was originally a work camp for the highway. The British Columbia government owns the first 82.6 miles (132.9 km) of the highway, the only portion paved during the late 1960s and 1970s. Public Works Canada manages the highway from Mile 82.6 (km 133) to Historic Mile 630. The Yukon government owns the highway from Historic Mile 630 to Historic Mile 1016 (from near Watson Lake to Haines Junction), and manages the remainder to the U.S. border at Historic Mile 1221. The State of Alaska owns the highway within that state (Mile 1221 to Mile 1422). The Alaska Highway was built for military purposes and its route was not ideal for postwar development of northern Canada.[17] Rerouting in Canada has shortened the highway by approximately 35 miles (56 km) since 1947, mostly by eliminating winding sections and sometimes by bypassing residential areas. The historic milepost markings are therefore no longer accurate but are still important as local location references. Some old sections of the highway are still[when?] in use as local roads, while others are left to deteriorate and still others are plowed up. Four sections form local residential streets in Whitehorse and Fort Nelson, and others form country residential roadways outside of Whitehorse. Although Champagne, Yukon was bypassed in 2002, the old highway is still completely in service for that community until a new direct access road is built. Rerouting continues, expected to continue in the Yukon through 2009[needs update], with the Haines Junction-Beaver Creek section covered by the Canada-U.S. Shakwak Agreement. The new Donjek River bridge was opened 26 September 2007, replacing a 1952 bridge. Under Shakwak, U.S. federal highway money is spent for work done by Canadian contractors who win tenders issued by the Yukon government. The Shakwak Project completed the Haines Highway upgrades in the 1980s between Haines Junction and the Alaska Panhandle, then funding was stalled by Congress for several years. The Milepost shows the Canadian section of the highway now to be approximately 1,187 miles (1,910 km), but the first milepost inside Alaska is 1222. The actual length of the highway inside Alaska is no longer clear because rerouting, as in Canada, has shortened the route, but unlike Canada, mileposts in Alaska are not recalibrated. The BC and Yukon governments and Public Works Canada have recalibrated kilometre posts. The latest BC recalibration was carried out in 1990; using its end-point at the border at Historic Mile 630, the Yukon government has recalibrated in three stages: in 2002, from Mile 630 to the west end of the Champagne revision; in fall 2005, to a point just at the southeast shore of Kluane Lake, and in fall 2008, to the border with Alaska. There are historical mileposts along the B.C. and Yukon sections of the highway, installed in 1992, that note specific locations, although the posts no longer represent accurate driving distance. There are 80 mileposts in B.C., 70 in Yukon and 16 in Alaska with a simple number marker of the original mile distance. There are 31 "historic signs" in B.C., 22 in Yukon and 5 in Alaska, identifying the significance of the location. There are 18 interpretive panels in B.C., 14 in Yukon and 5 in Alaska which give detailed text information at a turn-off parking area. The portion of the Alaska Highway in Alaska is designated Alaska Route 2. In Yukon, it is Highway 1 and in British Columbia, Highway 97. The portion of the Alaska Highway in Alaska is also unsigned Interstate A-1 and unsigned Interstate A-2. Route markings [ edit ] A monument at the southern terminus of the Alaska Highway (Dawson Creek) The Canadian section of the road was delineated with mileposts, based on the road as it was in 1947, until 1978, and over the years, reconstruction steadily shortened the distance between some of those mileposts. That year, metric signs were placed on the highway, and the mileposts were replaced with kilometre posts at the approximate locations of a historic mileage of equal value, e.g. km post 1000 was posted approximately where historical Mile 621 would have been posted. Reconstruction continues to shorten the highway, but the kilometre posts, at 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) intervals, were recalibrated along the B.C. section of road in 1990 to reflect then-current driving distance. The section of highway covered by the 1990 recalibration has since been rendered shorter by further realignments, such as near Summit Pass and between Muncho Lake and Iron Creek. View of the highway at Mile 1,337, facing east Based on where those values left off, new Yukon kilometre posts were erected in fall 2002 between the B.C. border and the west end of the new bypass around Champagne, Yukon; in 2005, additional recalibrated posts continued from there to the east shore of Kluane Lake near Silver City; and in fall 2008, from Silver City to the boundary with Alaska. Old kilometre posts, based on the historic miles, remained on the highway, after the first two recalibrations, from those points around Kluane Lake to the Alaska border. The B.C. and Yukon sections also have a small number of historic mileposts, printed on oval-shaped signs, at locations of historic significance; these special signs were erected in 1992 on the occasion of the highway's 50th anniversary. The Alaska portion of the highway is still marked by mileposts at 1-mile (1.6 km) intervals, although they no longer represent accurate driving distance, due to reconstruction. A monument at the northern terminus of the Alaska Highway ( Delta Junction The historic mileposts are still used by residents and businesses along the highway to refer to their location, and in some cases are also used as postal addresses. Residents and travelers, and the government of the Yukon, do not use "east" and "west" to refer to direction of travel on the Yukon section, even though this is the predominant bearing of the Yukon portion of the highway; "north" and "south" are used, referring to the south (Dawson Creek) and north (Delta Junction) termini of the highway. This is an important consideration for travelers who may otherwise be confused, particularly when a westbound travel routes southwestward or even due south to circumvent a natural obstacle such as Kluane Lake. Some B.C. sections west of Fort Nelson also route more east-to-west, with southwest bearings in some section; again, "north" is used in preference to "west". Since 1949 The Milepost, an exhaustive guide to the Alaska Highway and all other routes through the region, has been published each year. The community Wonowon, British Columbia, is named by its location at mile 101, spoken "one-oh-one". Proposed U.S. Route 97 designation [ edit ] U.S. Route 97 Location Alaska Route 2 Existed proposed, but never designated–present The portion of the Alaska Highway in Alaska was planned to become part of the United States Numbered Highway System, and to be signed as part of U.S. Route 97. In 1953, the British Columbia government renumbered a series of highways to Highway 97 between the U.S. border at Osoyoos, U.S. 97's northern terminus, and Dawson Creek. In 1964, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) approved an extension U.S. 97 from the Yukon border to Livengood along Route 2, conditional to Yukon renumbering its portion of the Alaska Highway; the Yukon government declined to renumber its portion of the highway and approval was withdrawn in 1968.[18] Route description [ edit ] The pioneer road completed in 1942 was approximately 1,680 miles (2,700 km) from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction. The Army then turned the road over to the Public Roads Administration, which then began putting out section contracts to private road contractors to upgrade selected sections of the road. These sections were upgraded, with removal of excess bends and steep grades; often, a traveler could identify upgraded sections by seeing the telephone line along the PRA-approved route alignment. When the Japanese invasion threat eased, the PRA stopped putting out new contracts. Upon hand-off to Canada in 1946, the route was 1,422 miles (2,288 km) from Dawson Creek to Delta Junction. The route follows a northwest then northward course from Dawson Creek to Fort Nelson. On October 16, 1957, a suspension bridge crossing the Peace River just south of Fort St. John collapsed. A new bridge was built a few years later. At Fort Nelson, the road turns west and crosses the Rocky Mountains, before resuming a westward course at Coal River. The highway crossed the Yukon-BC border nine times from Mile 590 to Mile 773, six of those crossings were from Mile 590 to Mile 596. After passing the south end of Kluane Lake, the highway follows a north-northwest course to the Alaska border, then northwest to the terminus at Delta Junction. Postwar rebuilding has not shifted the highway more than 10 miles (16 km) from the original alignment, and in most cases, by less than 3 miles (4.8 km). It is not clear if it still crosses the Yukon-BC border six times from Mile 590 to Mile 596. Interstate Highway System [ edit ] Interstate A1 and Interstate A2 Location Canada to Tok (A1) Tok to Delta Junction (A2) Length 325.38 mi (523.65 km) Existed 1976–present The Alaska portion of the Alaska Highway is an unsigned part of the Interstate Highway System east of Fairbanks. The entire length of Interstate A-2 follows Route 2 from the George Parks Highway (Interstate A-4) junction in Fairbanks to Tok, east of which Route 2 carries Interstate A-1 off the Tok Cut-Off Highway to the international border.[19][20] Only a short piece of the Richardson Highway in Fairbanks is built to freeway standards. Major intersections [ edit ] The following is a list of major intersections along the Alaska Highway:[21][22][23] Bypassed road segments still in use [ edit ] Bypassed segment still in use, west of Fort Nelson, 2005 Fort Nelson [ edit ] Mile 301 to 308, now local residential feeder roads Wildflower Drive, Highland Road, Valleyview Drive Whitehorse [ edit ] Mile 898, now local residential road just west of Yukon River Bridge Mile 920.3 to 922.5, now the southern and northern portions of Centennial Street; middle portion is Birch Street Mile 922.5 to 922.7, now a portion of Azure Road Mile 924, now a portion of Cousins Airfield Road Mile 925.5 to 926.9, now Parent Road (east end overlooks Alaska Highway/Klondike Highway junction) Mile 927.2 to 927.7, now Echo Valley Road Mile 928 to 928.3, now Jackson Road Mile 929 to 934, now Old Alaska Highway Mile 968, now entrance road to Mendenhall River Subdivision Champagne-Aishihik traditional territory [ edit ] Mile 969 to 981, Champagne loop (bypassed in fall 2002 by 8.6-mile (13.8 km) revision) Mile 1016, Hume Street in Haines Junction including access to First Nation subdivision Alaska [ edit ] Alaska-Canada Military Highway (Segment) U.S. National Register of Historic Places Bypassed segment still in use, southeast of Delta Junction Location About 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Delta Junction Nearest city Delta Junction Coordinates Built 1904 ( ) NRHP reference # 13000543[24] Added to NRHP July 31, 2013 Mile 1348,[25] one 2.5-mile (4.0 km) bypassed section of the original route, about 37 miles (60 km) southeast of Delta Junction, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as "one of the few sections of the road in Alaska virtually unchanged." The unpaved road is used by local residents to access Craig Lake,[26][27] and is signed as Craig Lake Trail. Other former segments have deteriorated and are no longer usable. More recent construction projects have deliberately plowed up roadway to close it. See also [ edit ] References [ edit ] Route map: KML is from Wikidata

Ashley Cadwallader of Smalls announced late last night that she would be quitting the band and flying home from tour immediately. Check out a message from someone close to the situation while we wait to hear back from Cadwallader below after the jump. *The original version of this post has been updated following PropertyOfZack taking prior conversations with Ashley Garcia into account while shaping this post that shed light on issues stated not to be present with this decision. Update 3: Ashley Garcia Statement On Leaving Smalls Update 2: POZ Exclusive: Smalls Release Statement On Ashley Cadwallader Split Update: On My Honor Frontman Releases Statement On Smalls Controversy As it has come out, my best friend, Ashley Cadwallader has quit her band Smalls tonight after her Long Island show. Ashley has talked to me the past two months about this tour, often worried that things wouldn’t go as well as she’d hope after her coming out as gay to her friends, family, and bandmates. One bandmate being her ex. At points she was done, she was going to get up and quit the band because she just couldn’t do it because she was so upset at how her ex was treating her after the break up because he just couldn’t believe she was gay. I told her many times that things would be okay, that she has an amazing opportunity getting to do this tour with two really great and talented bands, and that she should try and stick it out. Ashley took my advice and went on the tour and has toughed it out the past two and a half weeks across the US. All this made me question the advice I had given my friend. I would often get frantic phone calls in the middle of the night with her on the other end saying she was done, but I continued to tell her to keep going at least until she got out East. Lots of people, even today, have to shelter the fact that they are gay. Often times by making themselves be in unhappy relationships in order to not lose the people close to them. It’s an incredibly hard step for many and to be told you’re not really gay and just confused is a huge slap in the face of the person that has come out. The same argument that is often used by religious fundamentalists is what was used against Ashley. Being told that you’re just confused about being gay just so someone can keep you around for their own selfish reasons is completely wrong. Even one of Ashley’s bandmates called Ashley’s current girlfriend an “experiment” as well as calling two non-heterosexuals in my band “poser gay.” If you planned on going to one of the last dates of the current tour, please still do so as our good, good friends in On My Honor (who are one of my favorite pop punk bands and all around amazing musicians) are still playing and could use the support.

Spurs line up audacious bid for Song as ex-Arsenal star seeks Barcelona exit Tottenham will make an ambitious move for former Arsenal midfielder Alex Song if they qualify for the Champions League next season. Song left Spurs’ north London rivals Arsenal for Barcelona in a £15m deal last summer but has found first-team opportunities hard to come by at the Nou Camp. The Cameroonian is unlikely to go back to Arsenal having left the club on bad terms and the Sunday People report that Spurs are ready to pounce. Limited opportunities: Alex Song has been unable to hold down a first team place at Barcelona following his £15m move from Arsenal, and now Tottenham are interested in signing him Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas is willing to let midfield trio Scott Parker, Tom Huddlestone and Jake Livermore leave in the summer and he wants 25-year-old Song to compete with Mousa Dembele and Sandro for a starting place. If Spurs - currently three points adrift of fourth place - do not finish in the top four, however, chairman Daniel Levy is unlikely to fund a move for Song as signing a striker remains the club’s main priority. Former club: Song in action for Arsenal against Everton Barcelona are looking to recoup the £15m they paid Arsenal for the midfielder.

We had some doubts about the authenticity of the clown who bought the $999 I'm Rich iPhone app, but Armin Heinrich-the German author of the application-has confirmed that not only one moron, but eight dumbasses actually bought the application. According to him, there are more waiting to get it: I am sure a lot more people would like to buy it-but currently can't do so. I have no idea why they [Apple] did it [retire the application] and am not aware of any violation of the rules to sell software on the App Store. The App is a work of Art and included a "secret mantra"-that's all. Advertisement The fact is that he's right. If there are people wanting to buy a piece of useless software for $999, why not let them do it? After all, people buy even more expensive crap that is completely useless, from paintings to collectibles to other commercial software. The market decides if a product is worth its price tag or not. And at least eight people got this, even if one is claiming that it was an accident. Accident or not, the fact is that Heinrich has pocketed $5,600 and Apple received $2,400 in 24 hours. Not bad for a bad graphic and a silly phrase. [LA Times]

Screenwriter Julian Fellows blasts TV executives for being obsessed with 'mythical' younger audience Screenwriter Julian Fellowes said that TV is for a 'more adult' audience Television executives are obsessed with pandering to youthful audiences, an Oscar-winning screenwriter claims. Julian Fellowes, who wrote Gosford Park and Young Victoria, said broadcasting bosses should stop seeing age as a problem. He said TV was run by children of the 1960s who were caught up in the cult of youth and wanted to believe they were still young at heart. 'One of the agreeable things about TV is that it is for an older, more adult audience,' said Mr Fellowes. 'You often hear talk about trying to get a young audience but television is not really for a young audience. 'They have a different way of spending their time. Very few in their teens and twenties will watch TV in the traditional way. 'I can't tell you the number of discussions I've had about this mythical youth audience. It fascinates me that very few TV executives seem to feel empowered to embrace the older audience.' Mr Fellowes, 60, said that attitudes change by the age of 30: 'The age thing should not be seen as a problem for television. We should not lose sight of the older audience. The age of TV is 30 until death.' He told Broadcast's TV Drama Forum that the industry needed to learn from the 1990s series Cold Feet. He claimed it had been repeatedly turned down by executives because it focused on the over-30s - the precise reason it became so popular. Fellowes cited 1990s series Cold Feet as a perfect example of the ideal TV show ITV, which has commissioned his new drama Downton Abbey, has axed shows popular with older audiences including Heartbeat, The Royal and Kingdom. Laura Mackie, ITV's director of drama, said: 'ITV aims to make drama that appeals to a broad audience and Julian is right in saying that drama viewers tend to skew older. 'That said, a number of our series including Wild At Heart and Married, Single, Other do have appeal to the young and we always aim for as diverse an audience as possible'. On camera: Screenwriter Fellowes also starred in BBC family drama Monarch Of The Glen A BBC spokesman said: 'The average age of our drama audience is 55 and while it is vital that we continue to cater for them - and equally our younger viewers - the defining quality for us is always how good a script is.'

JACKSONVILLE -- Former UCF running back Storm Johnson missed the first couple weeks of his rookie season with an ankle injury. Johnson, a seventh-round pick, has been itching to get another shot at some playing time since returning to practice last week, and on Wednesday the former Knights starter finally looked at full health. "I would think that if this wasn’t his best practice in the last month it would be hard to beat because he really performed well today," Jaguars coach Gus Bradley said. "I don’t know if he’s completely healthy off that ankle but he came out with a certain edge to him today, and it was really good to see. Very impressive what he did today." Speaking before practice, Johnson said he hoped to show coaches he was full-go and ready to contribute. If he keeps up his form, it may be tough to keep him off the field. "Based on his performance he’s going to be in the conversation as far as how do we get him up," Bradley said, when asked if Johnson had earned some reps on Sunday against the San Diego Chargers. "We’re looking at that right now but we need to see it again tomorrow." Email at ptenorio@tribune.com. For more soccer news, visit OrlandoSentinel.com/OnThePitch or follow on Twitter @oslions.

eCKo eSports has a number of players attending the Domination Cup, one of them who has been at the top of his game in the Melbourne LAN scene is RivaL. Could you tell us a little about your self and why you have entered the Domination Cup. Hi, my name is Henry Yum, I’m a Zerg player, playing for eCKo eSports. I decided to join the Domination Cup, because I find LAN tournaments to be exciting, and because it is held in Melbourne, it is easy for me to attend to as well. Are you at School/Uni? What are you studying at the moment? I am currently studying psychology at RMIT. What is your poison? (Favourite drink) Favourite drink would have to be cold water as it allows me to stay hydrated and refreshed after a meal or when I get up in the morning. Do you have a favourite food? There are a lot of foods that I love from different cultures, so it is hard to pick one specific food as my favourite. If I had to pick, I would pick pasta, as it is fast, easy and delicious =). Favourite Colour? Favorite colour would have to be Blue What would you do if you won Lotto? I would save up the money, ask advice and get multiple opinions on what I should do with it, and also help out others whenever I am given the opportunity because I’m so rich. Could you please describe your play style in three words. Macro, Defend, Overwhelm. Who do you look up to, take inspiration from, in the StarCraft 2 community? When I am motivated to learn and improve, I look up to, and get inspired by soO. I try to learn by watching him play because he is so solid. Who are looking forward to matching up with in the Domination Cup? I am excited to play against Petrify, as there was a clash between us in the past when he accused me of stream cheating against him multiple times when we hit each other on ladder. So hopefully if I can win the series in a LAN, he may actually believe me. Who are you looking to avoid in the Domination Cup? I am looking to avoid Probe, as I think he is a very strong PvZ protoss player, and I also dont want us to team kill each other and knock one of us out to the losers bracket. Other players I would want to avoid are MightyKiwi, Wally, and Alopex, they are great players, and they will only be stronger at the upcoming LAN. Any special message or call out to anyone in the Cup? Calling out Pezz, my rival from Melbourne for an intense series. Also a big thanks to Lalor (rezyn8) for hosting this event. Looks like the King Henry has targeted a few of his former team mates from Silicon Sports. Either way whenever RivaL plays the games are going to be very entertaining. Stay tuned for more interviews as we head towards the Domination Cup on November 29! Enter the Domination Cup Today! The Domination Cup is Supported by

Money from the Department for International Development has helped pay for a controversial programme that has led to miscarriages and even deaths after botched operations Tens of millions of pounds of UK aid money have been spent on a programme that has forcibly sterilised Indian women and men, the Observer has learned. Many have died as a result of botched operations, while others have been left bleeding and in agony. A number of pregnant women selected for sterilisation suffered miscarriages and lost their babies. The UK agreed to give India £166m to fund the programme, despite allegations that the money would be used to sterilise the poor in an attempt to curb the country's burgeoning population of 1.2 billion people. Sterilisation has been mired in controversy for years. With officials and doctors paid a bonus for every operation, poor and little-educated men and women in rural areas are routinely rounded up and sterilised without having a chance to object. Activists say some are told they are going to health camps for operations that will improve their general wellbeing and only discover the truth after going under the knife. Court documents filed in India earlier this month claim that many victims have been left in pain, with little or no aftercare. Across the country, there have been numerous reports of deaths and of pregnant women suffering miscarriages after being selected for sterilisation without being warned that they would lose their unborn babies. Yet a working paper published by the UK's Department for International Development in 2010 cited the need to fight climate change as one of the key reasons for pressing ahead with such programmes. The document argued that reducing population numbers would cut greenhouse gases, although it warned that there were "complex human rights and ethical issues" involved in forced population control. The latest allegations centre on the states of Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, both targeted by the UK government for aid after a review of funding last year. In February, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh had to publicly warn off his officials after widespread reports of forced sterilisation. A few days later, 35-year-old Rekha Wasnik bled to death in the state after doctors sterilised her. The wife of a poor labourer, she was pregnant with twins at the time. She began bleeding on the operating table and a postmortem cited the operation as the cause of death. Earlier this month, India's supreme court heard how a surgeon operating in a school building in the Araria district of Bihar in January carried out 53 operations in two hours, assisted by unqualified staff, with no access to running water or equipment to clean the operating equipment. A video shot by activists shows filthy conditions and women lying on the straw-covered ground. Human rights campaigner Devika Biswas told the court that "inhuman sterilisations, particularly in rural areas, continue with reckless disregard for the lives of poor women". Biswas said 53 poor and low-caste women were rounded up and sterilised in operations carried out by torchlight that left three bleeding profusely and led to one woman who was three months pregnant miscarrying. "After the surgeries, all 53 women were crying out in pain. Though they were in desperate need of medical care, no one came to assist them," she said. The court gave the national and state governments two months to respond to the allegations. Activists say that it is India's poor – and particularly tribal people – who are most frequently targeted and who are most vulnerable to pressure to be sterilised. They claim that people have been threatened with losing their ration cards if they do not undergo operations, or bribed with as little as 600 rupees (£7.34) and a sari. Some states run lotteries in which people can win cars and fridges if they agree to be sterilised. Despite the controversy, an Indian government report shows that sterilisation remains the most common method of family planning used in its Reproductive and Child Health Programme Phase II, launched in 2005 with £166m of UK funding. According to the DfID, the UK is committed to the project until next year and has spent £34m in 2011-12. Most of the money – £162m – has been paid out, but no special conditions have been placed on the funding. Funding varies from state to state, but in Bihar private clinics receive 1,500 rupees for every sterilisation, with a bonus of 500 rupees a patient if they carry out more than 30 operations on a particular day. NGO workers who convince people to have the operations receive 150 rupees a person, while doctors get 75 rupees for each patient. A 2009 Indian government report said that nearly half a million sterilisations had been carried out the previous year but warned of problems with quality control and financial management. In 2006, India's ministry of health and family welfare published a report into sterilisation, which warned of growing concerns, and the following year an Indian government audit of the programme warned of continuing problems with sterilisation camps. "Quality of sterilisation services in the camps is a matter of concern," it said. It also said the quality of services was affected because much of the work was crammed into the final part of the financial year. When it announced changes to aid for India last year, the DfID promised to improve the lives of more than 10 million poor women and girls. It said: "We condemn forced sterilisation and have taken steps to ensure that not a penny of UK aid could support it. The UK does not fund sterilisation centres anywhere. "The coalition government has completely changed the way that aid is spent in India to focus on three of the poorest states, and our support for this programme is about to end as part of that change. Giving women access to family planning, no matter where they live or how poor they are, is a fundamental tenet of the coalition's international development policy."

I needed a break from the super crowded insanity of E3 2017, and was looking for something to take my mind off my sore feet. I was near the Xbox booth when I remembered Super Lucky’s Tale, a very cute looking classic platformer that originally appeared on the Oculus Rift from the Microsoft press conference. I couldn’t think of a better way to relax than collecting some doo-dads and hanging out with adorable creatures, so I got in the long line. Seriously...there were long lines aplenty this year. A History of Platforming Super-Lucky's-Tale E3-2017-3.jpg I love a good classic 3D platformer. I grew up on them, and I still play Mario 64 and Banjo-Kazooie almost every year. There’s something so immensely satisfying about the gradually increasing difficult curve, the therapeutic satisfaction of collecting items, and the adorable aesthetics that are such a strong counterpoint to the hyper violent realism of many modern games. I like those too, and spend most of my time with them, which makes the shift to a cartoony world of anthropomorphized creatures and round edges all the more satisfying. You'll see what I mean when you see the trailer. Inspired By a Cute Story It’s obvious Super Lucky’s Tale is inspired by the old school platformers that had their heyday in the 32 and 64 bit era. It’s an unapologetic collect-a-thon. That means running and jumping, defeating cute enemies, and collecting objects for no particular reason. Collecting trinkets to increase replayability has always been a staple of this genre, and that’s certainly been embraced here. The game looks great, and it’s adorable. Adorable almost to the point of distraction, but once I let the saccharine environment and character designs flow over me like a sea of sugar water I surrendered. Everything from fat round bees to adorable mini golems populate this world, and it left me smiling. The main character is a fairly standard platformer protagonist, and I learned nothing about him whatsoever from the demo. He’s a fox that wears a cape and can dive into the earth which is pretty awesome, but I have no idea what his deal is other than that he likes collecting things. I’m not looking for Mass Effect level storytelling here, but hopefully he’ll be a little more interesting in the finished game. I played what I assume was an early stage on an Xbox One X dev kit, and there was collection aplenty. From coins to letters to jewels, there were things to pick up for god knows what reason as far as the eye could see. Just what I was looking for. Super Lucky’s Tale made a camera control choice that is both liberating and disappointing. It’s a platformer that gives you limited perspective control, meaning the camera is not fully rotatable. This is a bit sad, in that it limits the interesting environments to an essentially 2.5D dimensional plane. I’m accustomed to exploring a world in many dimensions, and fully 3D platformers have been around for decades now. This limited perspective is not my preference, but it does have some advantages. The choice to strictly control the camera pretty much eliminates the perspective issues that even the most polished platformers run into. By limiting the options to a few angles and a first person perspective, you’re not getting stuck behind things, and you’re not losing track of your character. That’s pretty great, especially if you’re new to video games. This game is definitely young child friendly, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s hard to talk about Super Lucky’s Tale without mentioning Yooka-Laylee, which is an even more blatant throwback to the golden age of the 3D platformer. They share a similar aesthetic, and clearly draw from the same well of inspiration, though they do have very distinct personalities. I like the full 3D camera control of Yooka-Laylee, but that game had some serious technical problems that Super Lucky’s Tale may have completely avoided by limiting that control. I’ll certainly be curious to see what the full game brings to the table. A Hopefully Lucky Tale Super Lucky’s Tale absolutely scratches that old school platformer itch. It’s an adorable, polished, joyful game that I look forward to playing despite being no doubt well past the target demographic. Now if you’ll pardon me, I just finished setting up my N64, and need to collect some more music notes because reasons. Check out this new version of Super Lucky’s Tale when it’s released for Xbox One on November 7th.

In anticipation of the final chapter of The Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy, THE WORLD'S END, making its debut, director Edgar Wright recently held an art show with nineteeneightyeight, featuring a some truly awesome work by a slew of different artists, who all captured slices of Wright's work in various mediums. There's a TON of work to admire, collecting snapshots of the director's work from Spaced, SHAUN OF THE DEAD, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD, HOT FUZZ, THE WORLD'S END, and more! I love seeing the work from these type of themed art shows as they always produce such amazing stuff. As an artist and film geek, this is truly inspirational stuff that celebrates two crafts (graphic art and film) at once. Below is a smattering of pieces I found to be really great, but you can check out the full roster over at nineteeneightyeight's page here. Scan below for some greatest hits and don't forget to catch THE WORLD'S END, opening in theaters nationwide at midnight!

AT-AT The whole point of a troop transport is to get fighters and their equipment to the front lines without exhausting them in the process. To do it, a troop transport needs range and speed to achieve the element of surprise during an advance, and armor to protect the troops and gear inside. Which makes us wonder what the Star Wars weaponeers were thinking when they debuted the AT-AT in The Empire Strikes Back. The name stands for "All Terrain All Transport," but even with all these longstanding rules for making a good ride, the designers gave the Empire a bunch of top-heavy four-legged walkers that are vulnerable, slow and easy to spot. I don't want to come off like someone who doesn't support quadruped robots on the battlefield. There's a time and a place where this design makes complete sense, such as the four-legged robots that could serve as battlefield mules for foot soldiers to haul gear or wounded troops. Four legs is an advantage to a robot mule that needs to keep up with Marines on a long-range combat patrol through rough terrain. However, they are not well suited for front-line action. Scaling up a 4-legged design to mammoth AT-AT walkers brings few advantages, and numerous disadvantages. Sure, the AT-AT could step over many obstructions, like trees and boulders. But steeper inclines and the inability to roll upright—it's awfully boxy for such a maneuver; a barrel shape would help—makes this a dangerous ride. Although the engineers of the Star Wars universe have perfected dynamic stability, allowing a legged robot to recalibrate its balance after each step just like a person does, we're still left with a nagging question. Why choose legs at all? The walker advances at a ponderously slow pace, making a ton of noise in the process. AT-ATs are so large they can be spotted visually and on radar. Since there's no element of surprise here, an Imperial general might as well fly a large ship or hovercraft to the target. Of course, the movie explains that the walkers' mission is to take down the Rebels' shield generator, but why that shield doesn't extend to the ground—allowing the mammoth AT-ATs to get through—confounds me. If they can walk through, why couldn't the Empire simply launch low-flying aircraft or high-speed hovercraft to ferry troops? The AT-AT even fails at its primary advantage, the fact that it's armored vehicle. Sure, it's built solidly. But these things have such well-known weak spots that rebels arm their fighters with harpoon cables to trip them up. (What else are they good for, hunting space whales?) Yes, Hoth fell to the Empire, but the invasion would have been quicker, easier, and more effective with waves of smaller, conventional ground vehicles backed by close air support.

Coordinates: The Ofira Air Battle was one of the first air battles of the Yom Kippur War. On 6 October 1973, Egypt launched a massive surprise attack on Israel that included over 200 Egyptian aircraft participating in an opening airstrike. In one of the first engagements near Israeli Air Force Base Ofir at Sharm el-Sheikh, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, two Israeli Phantoms reportedly engaged 20 Egyptian Air Force MiG-17s and their eight MiG-21 escorts on their way to attack Israeli positions in the area. By the end of the brief six-minute battle, seven MiGs were confirmed to have been shot down according to Israeli account.[1] The remaining MiGs disengaged and the Israeli Phantoms returned to their base.[2] Prelude [ edit ] In the summer of 1973, Libyan Arab Airlines Flight 114 accidentally flew over the Sinai. It was intercepted by the IAF and ordered to land but refused and was subsequently shot down. IAF high command feared this might lead to a reprisal against El-Al aircraft en route to South Africa and back and therefore maintained fighter aircraft on quick reaction alert (QRA) at Ofir.[3] These aircraft were also meant to counter the threat posed to the small Israeli Navy Red Sea flotilla and the Hawk missile batteries guarding the Red Sea straits from Egyptian MiGs at Hurghada.[4] Base commander at the time was Ya'acov 'Yak' Nevo.[3] Two IAF 107 Squadron F-4E Phantoms were present at Ofir on Yom Kippur, October 6, 1973, when war broke out. These were manned by four airmen: pilot Amir Nahumi with navigator Yossi Yavin and pilot Daniel Shaki with navigator David Regev, all relatively inexperienced at the time.[5] At 9:00 AM they were issued a red alert by the controller. At 1:50 PM the sirens were sounded. Several approaching low-flying formations were spotted on radar, yet the controller did not scramble the pair, failing to realise the significance of the attack. No longer waiting for the order to scramble, Nahumi ordered the mechanics to start up the planes and took off. Shaki joined him.[6] Nahumi later described the scene:[5] “ I decided to take off, and seconds later the runway was bombed. Had we waited any longer we would have been unable to do so. There were seven four-ship formations of MiG-17s and MiG-21s. ” Battle according to the Israeli account [ edit ] Israeli F-4E Phantom. Flag markings on nose credit the aircraft with 3 combat kills. Soon after take off, the MiGs began bombing the runways. Nahumi ordered Shaki to dump the detachable fuel tanks and to take the west end of the base while he would take the east one. Nahumi then shot down one MiG with a Sidewinder missile. He turned back toward the base and crossed the path of two MiGs bombing it. These rose and flew away. The base's MIM-23 Hawk battery held fire to avoid hitting the Israeli aircraft, and two MiGs dived down to destroy it. Nahumi started to chase the leading MiG flying as low as possible and fired his Gatling gun but missed. The MiG aborted its bombing mission. Nahumi tried to chase it, but found out his left engine had suffered a compressor stall, presumably following a cannon burst. After a short period of flying on one engine he managed to restart the engine and broke away from the MiG to attack its partner's tail. The MiG turned sharply toward him. Nahumi pulled up until he was facing the MiG and shot it down as it passed by. The second MiG fled.[5][7] Nahumi then saw another pair of MiG-17s attacking a communications unit near the bay. These were startled to encounter Nahumi and one of them fired its air-to-surface missiles at the Phantom. The Phantom shot down that MiG with a guided missile from a distance of 600 meters. Shaki, meanwhile, had shot down three planes and was looking for the fourth, when MiG-21s attacked. One of them found itself in an inferior position and descended at a speed of 500 knots to sea level, hit the water and bounced back up twice, before pulling up and flying away. Shaki was running out of fuel and decided to land on the damaged runway. Nahumi was then blinded by a flash of light reflecting from another pair of MiGs trying to escape. Nahumi shot one down and its partner fled to the safety of the mountains. Nahumi had also almost run out of fuel and decided not to give chase.[8] Aftermath [ edit ] Nahumi and Shaki consulted the forward air controller and decided to land on the parallel runway, which was shorter but less damaged. Once on the ground, they began preparing their planes for another Egyptian attack, which never materialized.[9] The four airmen were later awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for their performance during the battle.[3] Egyptian account [ edit ] According to the Egyptians, Ras Nasrani Air Base, the former Egyptian name of Ofir,[10] was indeed among several Israeli bases in the Sinai targeted by the Egyptian air strike on October 6, in which around 220 aircraft took part.[11] The MiG-21 aircraft escorting the MiG-17s in the airstrike against Ras Nasrani were part of the No. 25 Sqn of the EAF's 102nd Air Wing. The MiG-21s did not participate in the ground attack, and according to the pilots, no aerial opposition was ever encountered.[12] Egyptian commanders claim that five aircraft were lost in the opening airstrike of the war altogether; Saad El Shazly, the Egyptian Chief of Staff, stated that total losses from October 6 up to the morning of October 7 were five aircraft.[13][14] Another Egyptian commander, Abdel Ghani el-Gamasy, reported just five aircraft losses for the entire air strike as well, as do other sources.[12] Another source mentions the loss of seven aircraft to Israeli fighters and several others to anti-aircraft fire.[15] Simon Dunstan mentions the claim that the air strike resulted in a total of five Egyptian aircraft losses (although without specifying which air bases were attacked),[16] yet nevertheless places Egyptian losses for the opening strike at "nearly 40 aircraft".[17] References [ edit ] Bibliography [ edit ] Aloni, Shlomo (2001-02-25). Arab-Israeli Air Wars 1947–1982 . Osprey Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 1-84176-294-6. Aloni, Shlomo (2004). Israeli Phantom II Aces . Osprey. ISBN 1-84176-783-2. Cohen, Eliezer (1990). The Sky is not the Limit: The Story of The Israeli Air Force (in Hebrew). Tel-Aviv: Sifriyat Maariv. English: Cohen, Eliezer (1994-03-10). Israel's Best Defense: The First Full Story of the Israeli Air Force . Airlife Publishing Ltd. p. 504. ISBN 1-85310-484-1. English: Nordeen, Lon; Nicolle, David (1996). Phoenix Over The Nile - A History of Egyptian Air Power 1922–1994 . Smithsonian. p. 239. ISBN 978-1-56098-626-3. Pollack, Kenneth M. (2004-09-01). Arabs at War: Military Effectiveness, 1948–1991 . Bison Books. p. 717. ISBN 0-8032-8783-6. Yonay, Ehud (1993-04-13). No Margin for Error: The Making of the Israeli Air Force (1st ed.). Pantheon. p. 426. ISBN 0-679-41563-7.

A young woman in an Indian television commercial airing now is reluctant to be caught on camera as her fair-skinned friends take selfies at a café. “In a moment, I’ll be photo ready,” says the woman, shown applying Procter & Gamble’s Olay Natural White cream. The announcer intones: “From the first use, get an instant glow. With seven fairness benefits.” Ads for skin-lightening cosmetics have for years played on some Indians’ insecurities about their skin tone, helping create a $600-million-year-business in the South Asian country. Some of the most cringe-worthy commercials, however, may soon be disappearing. India’s ad watchdog this week issued new guidelines barring spots that portray dark-skinned people negatively. The Advertising Standards Council of India says people with dark skin shouldn’t be shown as “unsuccessful in any aspect of life,” especially “in relation to being attractive to the opposite sex, matrimony, job placement, promotions and other prospects.” "Because of the proliferation of products -- more than a dozen brands and even for men -- there was a need to say something specific about ads not being disparaging to people with darker skin," said Partha Rakshit, the ad council’s chairman. Mr. Rakshit said ads by the big consumer-products firms, including Hindustan Unilever, had become less pointed lately. But problems with some advertisers and a rising number of complaints by offended consumers prompted the new guidelines. Procter & Gamble said it agrees with and will comply with the new guidelines. Hindustan Unilever, 52%-owned by Unilever PLC, said it was consulted in the creation of the new guidelines and will comply with them. The company sells skin lighteners under its Fair & Lovely brand. “We are fully committed to these guidelines,” a company spokesman said. Advertisers that fail to comply with the guidelines can be forced to take commercials off cable television under India’s cable-TV rules. The new guidelines apply to regular advertisements and infomercials, which critics say are more likely to offer negative portrayals of darker-skinned people. So-called fairness creams, skin bleaches and lotions have flourished in India. Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and cricket heartthrob Virat Kohli are both big promoters of men’s fairness products. An Indian pharmaceutical company even markets a feminine hygiene product called Clean & Dry Intimate Wash, which it says “restores discolored skin, giving it a fair, glowing look.” A commercial for that product depicts a woman being ignored by a man. But after she starts using the wash -- the results of which are illustrated with a drawing showing shadows disappearing from a woman’s crotch -- he can’t keep his hands off her. A spokesman for the company declined to comment on whether the product whitens skin. The preference for lighter skin leads men and women to boast of fair skin in matrimonial ads in the hope of securing a match. “V. fair handsome govt. doctor seeks suitable bride” and “slim and fair bride wanted” are some recent examples in ads in the Hindu newspaper. Nandita Das, a Bollywood actress who is the face of the Dark Is Beautiful campaign that battles prejudice against people with dark skin, says the new ad guidelines are a step in the right direction to rein in an industry that has created a “dark-skin complex” to make money. “Too many young girls and now boys are losing their confidence,” because Indian society and advertising glorifies lighter skin tones, she said in an emailed statement. Advertising executives say that the new guidelines aren’t likely to hurt sales of whitening products. “I have always believed you can sell a beauty product to a woman without making her feel less beautiful,” said Zenobia Pithawalla, executive creative director at advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather. “When you sell a fairness product, what you are really selling is hope.” Ms. Pithawalla said the guidelines say that dark skin shouldn’t be shown as a problem. “However nothing stops a brand from making 'skin darkening' a concern,” she said, referring to darkening from sun exposure or pollution. In a 2010 ad for Hindustan Unilever’s Fair & Lovely, a young woman looks dejected after losing out in a dance audition. Her victorious -- and fair-complexioned -- rival offers some advice: Use skin-whitening cream. “You’re so talented, why should you be behind the curtain?” the winning dancer says in the commercial from 2010, handing over a tube of Fair & Lovely lotion. “Here, take this.” Corrections and Amplifications: A previous version of this article said the new guidelines for fairness ads do not apply to infomercials. On Thursday the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting told broadcasters they would apply to infomercials as well. Follow Shanoor on Twitter @shanoorseervai.

On the third anniversary of the Cast Lead onslaught, we remember the anonymous soldiers who fired on a red car, in which a father, Mohammed Shurrab, and his two sons were returning home from their farm lands. It is not fair that the officer who then served as GOC Southern Command of the Israel Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, will be the only one remembered on this anniversary. Indeed, the list of fighters who should be mentioned and recalled is long. We will remember the pilot who delivered the bomb that killed Mahmoud al-Ghoul, a high-school student, and his uncle Akram, an attorney, at the family's home in northern Gaza. We will remember the soldiers who analyze photographs taken by drones, who decided that a truck conveying oxyacetylene cylinders for welding, owned by Ahmad Samur, was carrying Grad rockets - a decision that led to an order to bomb the vehicle from the air which, in turn, led to the deaths of eight persons, four of them minors. IDF soldier during Operation Cast Lead. Bloomberg We will remember the soldiers who turned the Abu Eida family home in eastern Jabalya into a base and place from which to shoot, and confined in one room an elderly invalid, a blind woman and two older women. We will remember how these soldiers did not allow these four persons to go to the restroom for nine days. We will remember the soldiers who herded members of the Samouni family into one house and were themselves positioned 80 meters from it when it was shelled, with all its residents inside, under orders from brigade commander Ilan Malka - someone else whom we will remember, of course. The list goes on and on, and we ask forgiveness from those we haven't cited due to lack of space. But on this occasion we shall especially remember the soldiers at a certain post in the eastern part of Khan Yunis. On Saturday, January 17, 2009, at 8:46 (a day before the cessation of the attacks ), I received the following letter from the United States in my inbox: "My father and two brothers were attacked yesterday [Friday, January 16th] while driving home from their farm. One brother [Kassab - 27] died, but the father [Mohammed Shurrab - 64] and the remaining brother [Ibrahim - 17] are now wounded and stranded in an Israeli Defense Force (IDF ) controlled area. They were attacked between 1:00-1:30 P.M. local time during the cease-fire time, and emergency services are unable to reach them." The IDF did not allow an ambulance to approach this area; the letter writer, Amer Shurrab, believed that media pressure would help bring about such authorization. "We are very desperate, and trying as many avenues as possible to get aid to reach them. If you know even a foot soldier who might be able to push the ball by calling a local commander we would really appreciate any help," he wrote. Shurrab did not know that while he was writing this desperate appeal to a person he did not know, his second brother was already dead, after bleeding in his father's arms for 10 hours. The bereaved brother also did not know that from 6 A.M. that same Saturday, Tom, a field worker for the Physicians for Human Rights nonprofit organization, was in touch with me. Keep updated: Sign up to our newsletter Email * Please enter a valid email address Sign up Please wait… Thank you for signing up. We've got more newsletters we think you'll find interesting. Click here Oops. Something went wrong. Please try again later. Try again Thank you, The email address you have provided is already registered. Close This was a case of death on via live broadcast: Until the battery of the father's cell phone went dead, Shurrab phoned his relatives in Gaza and the United States, as well as the Red Crescent and the Red Cross, Tom from PHR, and local journalists. The humanitarian cease-fire, as it was called by the IDF, had lasted on that Friday from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M. The father, who was driving, and his two sons passed an IDF checking position, and were allowed to continue on. Around 1 P.M. they reached the Abu Zeidan supermarket, in the Al Fukhary neighborhood in eastern Khan Yunis, whose residents had fled at the start of the ground attack. The neighboring house, the largest building on the street, had been turned into an army base two weeks beforehand. Shots were fired from this base at the Shurrab car. Wounded in his chest, Kassab got out of the jeep, collapsed and died. Ibrahim jumped out of the vehicle, and was then wounded in his leg by unrelenting gunfire. The father was wounded in the arm, but managed to drag his surviving son to a nearby wall. He saw a tank, and soldiers coming and going. The soldiers could see him. At 11 P.M., 10 hours after the shooting, still pinned against the wall, the father noticed that his bleeding son was becoming cold and that his breathing was becoming labored. He managed to carry his son back to the gunshot-riddled vehicle, hoping it would be warmer there. But half an hour after midnight, between Friday and Saturday, the son drew his last breath, in his father's arms. All this occurred some 50 or 100 meters from the soldiers. Periodically, the newly bereaved father spoke on the phone with Tom who, stationed in his Tel Aviv home throughout the night, joined the Red Cross in efforts to persuade the army to allow an ambulance to come immediately to the scene. The European Gaza Hospital is located some two kilometers, a one- or two-minute ride, from this area. Around 9:30 Saturday morning Tom was informed that the IDF had given authorization for the ambulance to come at noon that day. At the time, the IDF Spokesman relayed that, "In general, during the cease-fire the IDF opened fire only when rockets were fired at Israel, or shots were fired at the IDF. We are unable to investigate and retrieve the facts of every incident, or to verify or deny each piece of information that is brought to our attention. The ambulance's entry was allowed only after an assessment was made of the situation in the field, and a decision was reached that operational conditions allowed such entry. The wounded persons [!!] were evacuated by the Palestinian health ministry, and brought to the hospital in Rafah." I well remember those anonymous solders who destroyed the Shurrab family. Upon my arrival at the site on January 24, I discovered that they had left behind not only the usual images of destruction, and the routine filth, at the Palestinian home from which they fired shots against this family: They also left behind the inscription, "Kahane was right."

car2go Expands Service to Port Columbus Photo via car2go. Ever since car2go launched in Columbus in October, they’ve continued to expand their service footprint. First to OSU, then to Easton, and tomorrow service will expand to include Port Columbus. The expansion is significant as it makes Columbus only the second city to offer car2go access from an airport location. “Our members have asked for it, and we listened,” said Nicholas Hill, Location Manager for car2go Columbus. “car2go’s convenient and flexible one-way transportation service will provide members with the added benefit to get to and from Port Columbus International Airport with complete ease.” The service expansion comes by way of a partnership with The Parking Spot, a near-airport parking company that will have dedicated spaces for car2go vehicles starting tomorrow, May 1st. “Our partnership with car2go further enhances our commitment to providing innovative transportation solutions to and from the airport,” said Chris Maguire, Sales Manager of The Parking Spot. “We focus on hospitality, and this added level of airport accessibility to members in the Columbus community is a tremendous complement to our business.” The dedicated parking spaces are located at 1399 Stelzer Road. Members will not have to pay The Parking Spot for using the spaces, but will be charged a $10 service fee billed to the car2go member account for each trip taken to or from The Parking Spot. A shuttle bus will then take drivers from The Parking Lot to the main Airport entrance. Reserving a car2go in advance is recommended for travelers landing in Columbus to ensure that one is waiting at The Parking Spot upon arrival. For ongoing discussion on car2go, CLICK HERE to visit our Messageboard. For more information, visit columbus.car2go.com. Related Articles: No related articles. About the Author Walker is the co-founder of ColumbusUnderground.com and TheMetropreneur.com along with his wife and business partner Anne Evans. Walker has turned local media into a full time career over the past decade and serves on multiple boards and committees throughout the community. Tags:

The top ranked Duke Blue Devils dropped a two point decision to No. 7 Kansas on Tuesday as part of the 2016 State Farm Champions Classic in New York. Despite the setback, there's no reason to think this year's team isn't still the favorite. Here's why... 1. Duke Has Heart; Lacks Firepower For Now The Blue Devils faced foul trouble, a short bench, and an overall shaky performance from both its best player and best post option. Against a near unanimous preseason Final Four selection. Accordingly, Duke fell behind by double figures. And then the team fought back with big shots, big stops, and the kind of grit you saw against Wisconsin in 2015’s title game and throughout last season. And, as you saw several times last season, Duke’s fight was enough to get the team to the cusp of winning, but the lack of depth and firepower couldn’t get them over the hump. Luckily, unlike last season, there is help on the way as Coach Krzyzewksi and company will be adding Jayson Tatum, Marques Bolden, and Harry Giles to the roster in the coming days and weeks which will add rebounding, defense, and scoring. When they return, the big three will cure a lot of the problems Duke had to overcome against Kansas on Tuesday. What doesn’t need curing, however, is the fight this team seems to have. When Kansas pushed the lead to 10 with just over eight minutes remaining it seemed like the Blue Devils were done. Coach K said after the game that his team didn’t have a good look to it on the court or in the huddle. And then they fought back and tied the game with under 10 seconds left. Sure, they ultimately came up short, but having that kind of fight and showing the kind of character you’d expect from a group of upperclassmen who have been to the top of the college basketball world is invaluable when you also have elite talent. And there’s more on the way. 2. Coach K Has His Rotation Already The mantra for the second half of the 2015 season was “Eight Is Enough” referring to the Blue Devils finishing the season with only eight scholarship players. Throughout his tenure at Duke Mike Krzyzewski has varied his rotation within a man or so of eight players getting major minutes in crucial games. Some years it’s nine. Others it’s seven. From the outside looking in, this year’s number will apparently be nine players when the three freshmen return. After playing the entirety of the available scholarship roster against Marist, things got tight against Grand Canyon early as the visitors held a lead for more than eight minutes. And so Coach K shortened the rotation while his team regained control of the game to a primary six of Grayson Allen, Luke Kennard, Matt Jones, Amile Jefferson, Chase Jeter, and Frank Jackson. Noticeable absent were Javin DeLaurier, Jack White, and Antonio Vrankovic. The same six man rotation was seen against Kansas in a game that was tight throughout. In fact only DeLaurier registered in the box score, earning less than a minute against the Jayhawks. When Giles, Tatum, and Bolden are back, each will command at least 25 minutes per night which will reduce minutes for some of the top six, but also will seemingly further reduce the already limited roles for the end of the rotation guys in tightly contested games. 3. Far Be It For Us To Question…But…. That short rotation seemed to really bite Duke at the end of the game. Sure, the Blue Devils rallied, but fouls began mounting and ultimately took Amile Jefferson out of the game. Would it have been possible to maybe rotate in a big, athletic guy like DeLaurier or a big, strong center like Vrankovic to simply rebound and, if nothing else, absorb some of the many whistles heard throughout the night? Having Jefferson in the game at the end (instead of DQ’ed on the bench) could have given Duke a chance to, perhaps, better defend a dribble drive by Frank Mason. And you wonder if Jefferson’s length or even DeLaurier’s would have provided Mason a bit more resistance that was provided by Matt Jones sagging off. It seems like rotational questions are asked by onlookers each and every year in the Blue Devils’ corner of the college basketball world, and it’s likely that this won’t be an issue going forward as the three kids get healthy, but it was something to note against Kansas. 4. The Best Scorer Isn’t The NPOY Candidate Grayson Allen is fearless. Grayson Allen is very tough. In fact, he played hurt (again) against Kansas and took his usual share of hard fouls. But what Grayson Allen also is, is in a slump. Against Kansas he shot 4-of-15 from floor and 1-of-7 from the perimeter. Some of that was due to injury. Some of that is due to the early season slump. Through three games Allen has missed 28 of 43 field goal attempts (.348) and is only 7-of-24 from the perimeter (.291). As with everything with Duke, he’ll likely benefit from the Blue Devils being at full strength when teams cannot just key in on him, but some of Allen’s issues stem from decisions with the ball and almost seeking out too much contact off the bounce. With their junior lead struggling so much early, it’s hard to ignore the emergence of Luke Kennard as, potentially, Duke’s most complete scorer. Kennard was efficient and dynamic on Tuesday, leading all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-10 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds (a point of emphasis for him in the offseason) and handed out five assists. Kennard still struggles on defense in man to man situations, but his offensive bag of tricks is enough to keep him well ahead of the game and he’s established himself as Duke’s most consistent offensive threat. It will be interesting how the offensive pecking order shakes out when everyone is back, but it’s a fair bet that Kennard’s ability find and place himself in scoring opportunities will translate as well as anyone’s stats to this point. 5. Chase Jeter Has The Potential To Be Really Good Jeter didn’t play much last year, and there’s a line of thinking that he will have a reduced role when the team is healthy. While that may indeed happen down the line, the sophomore acquitted himself well enough on Tuesday. Jeter was active inside and played well against bigger players such as Landen Lucas and much bigger players such as Udoka Azubuike. Jeter still didn’t finish some of the baskets he probably should have, but there were a number of times he looked confident, fluid, and assertive. As a player who, age-wise, is a freshman, it’s certainly a big positive to get this kind of experience against top competition early in the season. With so much roster turnover coming in April, Jeter could be in line to earn these kinds of minutes over the next two years if he continues to improve at his current rate.

Turner has made a massive commitment to harness the power of the Force. The Time Warner division has struck a nine-figure deal with Disney for basic cable rights to 10 “Star Wars” movies, and it has set a separate agreement with 20th Century Fox for the original 1977 blockbuster. The deal to make TBS and TNT the TV home of the “Star Wars” canon underscores the value of marquee film franchises at a time when networks are desperate to lock up high-end content with built-in audience appeal. The sale of the 11 movies — four of which have yet to be released — has been in the works for nearly a year. NBCUniversal’s USA Network and Fox’s FX Networks were known to have been among the contenders for the package. The value of the deal is estimated by industry sources to be at least $250 million over a license term that runs through at least 2022, given the release schedule for the later titles. Last year’s global blockbuster “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which raked in $2 billion at the worldwide box office, is believed to have commanded a license fee of around $35 million-$40 million. The four other upcoming titles are believed to be in the same range. Turner and Disney declined to comment on financial terms of the pact. The eye-popping “Star Wars” pact comes on the heels of Warner Bros. setting a deal with NBCUniversal cablers for the eight films in the “Harry Potter” franchise, plus the new “Fantastic Beasts” installments. That deal was also valued at more than $250 million. NBCUniversal had more incentive to spend big on “Harry Potter” because of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter’s hugely successful association with Universal theme parks. “Force Awakens” is the first of a trilogy that will continue with “Episode VIII” in 2017 and “Episode IX” in 2019. Two more stand-alone pics are also coming: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” set for release on Dec. 16, and a young Han Solo saga set for 2018. “Force Awakens” will arrive on Turner in early 2018 after completing its pay TV run on Starz, which began Sept. 10 and extends through February 2018. “Rogue One” will be available to Turner in 2019. The six older “Star Wars” titles will begin airing over six consecutive nights on TNT starting Sept. 20. The cabler also has “Star Wars” movie marathons set for Sept. 24-25. It will set another marathon of the six pics leading up to the Dec. 16 bow of “Rogue One” — a marketing push that will help Disney and help TNT draft off the box office buzz for the refurbished “Star Wars” universe. “The ‘Star Wars’ movies and characters are beloved across generations, captivating audiences and breaking box office records around the globe for nearly four decades,” said Deborah K. Bradley, executive vice president of networks optimization, content strategy and commercialization for Turner. “Through this deal, TNT and TBS will be the exclusive basic cable home of one of the most iconic, enduring and valuable movie franchises of all time, giving viewers the chance to watch this amazing collection from the very beginning.” Turner will also be granted on-demand rights to offer the movies on its ad-supported streaming and VOD platforms. It’s understood that the deal terms even specify a minimum ad load for Turner’s streaming/VOD plays of the “Star Wars” pics. That’s in part to differentiate that window from Disney’s other premium digital distribution options for the titles. Industry sources noted that the deal was complicated by the fact that the newer titles (other than “Force Awakens”) will be coming to basic cable after more than yearlong run on Netflix. Disney set a groundbreaking pay TV output deal with Netflix that covers its theatrical releases for 2016-2018. The exposure for the titles on the streaming giant added a wrinkle to determining the value of the titles in the ad-supported cable window. Despite the hefty price tag, Disney still retains the option of selling the newer titles to broadcast TV for limited airings after Netflix’s pay TV window ends. Fox holds the TV rights to the original film, which it distributed theatrically for director George Lucas back in the day. Disney scooped up the “Star Wars” world with its $4 billion purchase of Lucasfilm in 2012.

In my last two posts, I have discussed the significance of scriptural names and how names were regarded as a form of prophecy. Individuals would look to their name to understand their life mission and purpose. Their name became the basis for their personal identity. This applied not only to individuals, but to entire peoples as well. Matthew Bowen wrote an interesting piece about how the name Nephi helped shape the cultural identity of the Nephite nation. Nephi is derived from the Egyptian root nfr, which means “good,” “fair,” or “beautiful.” This meaning is introduced through wordplay when Nephi tells us that he was “born of goodly parents.” The Nephites thought of themselves as the good guys, so to speak, and they tried to live up to the meaning of their name. But a name, like a patriarchal blessing, doesn’t guarantee that the promise will be fulfilled. The fulfillment depends on righteousness, and sometimes promises are fulfilled in unexpected ways. Eventually the Nephite nation degenerated, and at the end of the Book of Mormon, Mormon lamented that the Nephites “delight in everything save that which is good” (Moroni 9:19). They had become the very antithesis of their name. In this post, I would like to focus on the Jaredites. Like the Nephites, their sense of cultural identity came from the name of their founder and progenitor. This name takes on a prominent role throughout the book of Ether. It is a common thread that weaves together a rich tapestry of seemingly unrelated ideas. My study of the name Jared unexpectedly led me to some sensitive and potentially controversial topics: temple garments, race and the priesthood, and the ultimate destiny of America. The name Jared means “descent” or “to descend.” The exploration of descent is a long journey with many twists and turns. Are you ready to go down this rabbit hole? Let Us Go Down At a basic level, descent means to go down – to travel from a high place to a low place. The story of the Jaredites begins at a time when the people had just recently begun to descend from Ararat, the mountain where Noah’s ark landed. The name Jared (or yared) is linguistically related to Ararat. Both words come from the root rd or rt, and Ararat actually contains the name Jared (ar + yaret). In Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus wrote that “the Armenians call this place, αποβατηριον ‘The Place of Descent.'” So from this mountainous region around Ararat, the descendants of Noah began to descend, spread out, explore the land, and establish nations. From Shem, Ham, and Japheth sprang the various nations of the earth. Chapter 10 of Genesis, which lists seventy descendants of Noah, is sometimes referred to as the Table of Nations. Each of these descendants traveled to a different part of the world to claim an inheritance. Jared was no different. He too desired to claim an inheritance. But instead of simply wandering off to explore, he asked his brother to pray and ask God where they should go. This simple act of faith had far-reaching consequences. And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance. (Ether 1:38) The Lord answered their prayers and instructed them to gather their flocks and herds and head to the valley which was northward. He promised to meet them there and then lead them to a choice land. And it came to pass that Jared and his brother, and their families, and also the friends of Jared and his brother and their families, went down into the valley which was northward, (and the name of the valley was Nimrod, being called after the mighty hunter) with their flocks which they had gathered together, male and female, of every kind. (Ether 2:1) From this verse, we can guess that Jared and his family had not ventured far from the mountains around Ararat. Today, these mountains are called the Taurus and Zagros Mountains, and they extend from Turkey through northern Iraq and into the southern part of Iran. Looking at a map, we can see that the valley of Nimrod is probably the Kura River valley in modern day Azerbaijan. From there, their route to the promised land likely went across Central Asia and Siberia. West Siberia is very low in elevation, and during this time the land was probably covered with water, which explains the need for barges. In the valley of Nimrod, the Lord, keeping his promise, visited the brother of Jared and gave him instructions on how to get to the promised land. And it came to pass that when they had come down into the valley of Nimrod the Lord came down and talked with the brother of Jared; and he was in a cloud, and the brother of Jared saw him not. (Ether 2:4) Here we have deliberate wordplay on the name Jared. This is interesting by itself, but what is especially intriguing is that this same wordplay also occurs in the Old Testament. And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. (Genesis 11:4-7) The story of the Jaredites begins with the confounding of the languages at the great tower. Even though Jared is not specifically mentioned in the Genesis account of the tower, his name is hidden in the text. The Book of Mormon fits seamlessly into the Old Testament narrative (and vice versa). Evidently, this literary device is not just a random pun; it is meant to teach us something important. Original Skin The book of Ether informs us that Nimrod is the name of the valley which was northward, “being called after the mighty hunter.” Nimrod is only given brief mention in the Bible, but there is no shortage of extra-Biblical writings about this character. He is traditionally described as the person who organized the building of the Tower of Babel. He was a mighty hunter and also a builder of cities. He founded Babylon and several other great cities. Looking at the name Nimrod, we can see that it also contains the root rd. So Nimrod is somehow related to Jared and the idea of descent. In most of the Jewish writings about Nimrod, he is described as a very evil person. His name became the basis for the Hebrew word marad, which means “to rebel.” But in the book of Ether, nothing is mentioned about Nimrod’s character or whether he was good or bad. He is just described as a “mighty hunter.” Evidently, Nimrod desired to build a great empire. During a time when the people were going their separate ways, Nimrod was trying to unite the various nations under common leadership. What better way to unite the people than to launch a massive construction project? The tower was to be the first pyramid, a temple representing the mound of creation that rose up to heaven from the primordial waters (see Moses 7:14). Nimrod would have succeeded in this endeavor if it weren’t for the fact that the various clans had been separated for too long. Their languages had started to evolve, and they couldn’t understand each other. Can you see that Nimrod’s dream was to build Zion? He tried to create a righteous, unified society. He was successful in building a great civilization. Babylon was a place of culture and learning. But Babylon became the symbol of worldliness, the very antithesis of Zion, and the opposite of Jerusalem. So what went wrong? The problem was Nimrod’s claim to authority. Like Lucifer, he desired to unite everyone under him, thus exalting himself above his fellow man. His unity was achieved through power and dominance. Nimrod believed he had the right to rule because of a special garment that he wore. This garment was none other than the coat of skins given to Adam in the garden of Eden. The Book of Jasher explains that this garment was passed down through the generations from Adam to Noah, but then Ham stole it. Ham gave it to his son Cush who then gave it to his son Nimrod. And Nimrod became strong when he put on the garments, and God gave him might and strength, and he was a mighty hunter in the earth, yea, he was a mighty hunter in the field, and he hunted the animals and he built altars, and he offered upon them the animals before the Lord. And Nimrod strengthened himself, and he rose up from amongst his brethren, and he fought the battles of his brethren against all their enemies round about. And the Lord delivered all the enemies of his brethren in his hands, and God prospered him from time to time in his battles, and he reigned upon earth. (Jasher 7:30-32) The rd root in Nimrod and Jared is the basis for the Hebrew word radah, which means “to rule” or “have dominion.” This is the root found in Genesis 1:28 when the Lord said that man would have dominion over the animals. Nimrod’s dominance over the animals as a hunter contrasts with Adam’s husbandry. Adam named the animals and took care of them, along with the rest of the garden. This theme of hunting versus husbandry is prominent throughout the Book of Mormon. Husbandry means to manage the resources that are entrusted to you and try to preserve them. Hunting is taking what you want, when you want it. Nimrod felt that it was his right to dominate people and animals because of his special garment. Nimrod’s claim on the garment was based on his descent. But this was an illegitimate claim, because his grandfather Ham had stolen the garment from Noah. The story of how Ham acquired the garment is only indirectly mentioned in the Bible, and we have to read between the lines to understand what really happened. And Noah began to be an husbandman, and he planted a vineyard. And he drank of the wine, and was drunken; and he was uncovered within his tent. And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father’s nakedness. And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. (Genesis 9:20-25) This is a very enigmatic passage that has puzzled readers of the Bible for centuries. Why would Noah curse Canaan, the younger son of Ham, for something that Ham did? There is more to the story than what the text gives us. Jeffrey Bradshaw has pointed out that this story brings up temple themes, and that the curse upon Canaan corresponds to the curse on the serpent in the garden of Eden. I would like to focus on a separate but related aspect of this story. I have found that the scriptures have many layers of meaning, and different interpretations of the same passage can be equally valid. The incident with Noah and the tent was something too shameful to say outright. “Uncovering nakedness” is a euphemism. This euphemism probably developed because of what Ham did. And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: (Leviticus 20:11) The language suggests that Ham slept with his mother, the wife of Noah. He was able to accomplish this act by putting on the garment of his father, the coat of skins, and pretending to be Noah. Thus by uncovering his father’s nakedness, Ham was able to deceive his mother. She conceived, and the child she delivered was Canaan. Upon discovering the truth, Noah cursed Canaan, the child of this incestuous union. Ham kept and hid the garment, but Shem and Japheth made a copy or substitute for Noah in order to give him some sense of dignity. There are other theories about what happened, but I feel confident about this because the same event is mirrored later on in the Bible. Why would Ham want to do such a thing? Surely it wasn’t because of a perverse attraction to his mother. I think it was a show of dominance and power. Ham probably felt resentful toward his father for denying him the right to rule. So he claimed this right for himself and dishonored his father out of spite. It’s important to point out here that the curse upon Canaan is symbolic of the fall of Adam – the original descent from Eden. Canaan was cursed to be a “servant of servants.” But that doesn’t mean he was guilty of sin. He did not deserve the curse, but yet he was affected by the actions of his parents. In the same way, we are all born into a fallen world because of Adam’s transgression, even though none of us did anything to deserve such a curse. We don’t get to choose our parents or the circumstances of our birth. Some people are born into rich families, others into poor families. Some people are born slaves, while others are born princes. God allows undeserved inequality to exist in the world. Does that make him unjust? When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit, they saw their nakedness and were ashamed. Their bare skin symbolized their bare sin. Thus the skin represents their fall or descent. They tried to cover themselves, but no covering could hide their transgression. Only when God provided them a coat of skins to cover their original skin were they able to overcome the effects of their descent and have their dignity restored. As time went by, the descendants of Ham established dominance throughout the land. The sacred garment was passed down to Nimrod’s descendants, and they viewed it as a symbol of power and priesthood authority. We’ll revisit the story of the garment in a bit, but first let’s return to the Jaredites. The Royal Descent Jared means to go down, but like the English word descent, this word also refers to lineage and genealogy. The Hebrew word yalad, which appears to be related to Jared (l=r), means “to beget.” Consider the way Moroni introduces his abridgement of the Jaredite record. But behold, I give not the full account, but a part of the account I give, from the tower down until they were destroyed. And on this wise do I give the account. He that wrote this record was Ether, and he was a descendant of Coriantor. (Ether 1:5-6) Moroni then proceeds to give the lineage of Ether all the way back to Jared, listing thirty generations in total. This genealogy is the descent of the Jaredites. A Jaredite is “one who descends,” or in other words, a descendant. But a descendant of whom? The book of Ether says a lot about the Jaredites, but what I find interesting is what it doesn’t say. Moroni does not quote from the Jaredite record directly, but instead he tells the story in his own words, as if he chose to censor or sanitize the record. There is no mention of priests or priesthood, no sacrifices or religious ordinances, no synagogues or temples, no laws of morality or commandments. In fact, there is hardly any mention of religion at all. This is in stark contrast to the record of the Nephites, which is full of references to the law of Moses and other Jewish practices. It’s not that the Jaredites did not have a religion or a priesthood. I think they probably did, but Moroni deliberately chose to not mention such things. The Book of Mormon narrative leads us to believe that the Nephites had no contact with the Jaredites, and that Coriantumr and Ether were the only surviving Jaredites. But the naming patterns indicate otherwise. We know that some of the Jaredites survived and intermarried with the descendants of Lehi. But why would the authors of the Book of Mormon choose to hide this information? This might seem odd, but as I will explain in a bit, the Bible also presents a sanitized history. This distortion of reality doesn’t make either book any less inspired. On the contrary, it teaches a valuable spiritual lesson. I have come to realize that there are no mistakes in the Book of Mormon (see Mormon 8:17). The things we perceive to be errors are actually opportunities to ask questions and gain new insights. If we look carefully at the Jaredites and their names in particular, it becomes apparent that Jared and his brother were descendants of Ham through Cush, and they were close relatives of Nimrod. The name Ham (khem) shows up as kum or cum in names such as Kumen, Cumorah, Cumeni, Kumenonhi, Kishkumen, Moriancumer, and Teancum. Cush shows up as kish in Kish, Kishkumen, Riplakish, and Akish. (Incidentally there is an ancient city in Mesopotamia called Kish which is named after Cush.) The name Nimrod is also preserved in names such as Nimrod, Nimrah, Emer, and Omer. In addition to Jared’s line, it seems likely that the friends of Jared were also descendants of Ham. The Egyptians were also Hamites, and the name Cush is usually associated with the land south of Egypt, in modern-day Ethiopia and Sudan. This explains the Egyptian cultural ideas and the Bantu language connections that are found in the Book of Mormon. The descendants of Ham who settled in Africa were relatives of the Jaredites, and both groups of people came from the same Afro-Asiatic stock. Reading between the lines, we can see that the Jaredites thought of themselves as royalty. When Jared desired an inheritance, he hoped for a “land which is choice above all the earth.” He felt that his family deserved the best. Jared was influential and had many friends. Twenty-two of his friends, with their children, came with him to the promised land (see Ether 6:16). This loyalty shows that they respected Jared’s leadership. They had plenty of resources to bring with them on their journey: flocks and herds, swarms of bees, birds, and even an aquarium full of fish (see Ether 2:2). They had the manpower to build barges. This family was not poor. The mentioning of deseret is not a random detail. The word deseret contains the same root as Jared (des + yaret). The record informs us that this word refers to a honey bee, but clearly there is more to it than that. And they did also carry with them deseret, which, by interpretation, is a honey bee; and thus they did carry with them swarms of bees, and all manner of that which was upon the face of the land, seeds of every kind. (Ether 2:3) Hugh Nibley connected deseret with the Egyptian word deshret, the name of the Red Crown of Lower Egypt. Deshret means “red,” in reference to the red desert land that surrounds the black (khem) fertile land next to the Nile. It is apparent to me that deshret is the source for our modern English words desert and red. The curly wire that sticks up from the Deshret crown is thought to represent the proboscis of a honey bee. The bee was a sacred insect in many cultures. It was seen as a symbol of renewal and fertility. As the waters receded after the flood, the bees helped pollinate and give new life to the land. Thus deseret, the symbol of fertility, became the royal insignia, a sign of the royal descent, as its very name indicates. During the time of Abraham, descent from Ham was considered to be a sign of royalty: Now, this priest had offered upon this altar three virgins at one time, who were the daughters of Onitah, one of the royal descent directly from the loins of Ham. (Abraham 1:11) So by mentioning deseret, Moroni is letting us know that the Jaredites claimed the right to rule. But Moroni does not consider this claim to be valid, because it is through Ham, the one who stole the sacred garment. This is the secret that Moroni doesn’t mention explicitly but doesn’t hide either. That is why there is no mention of priesthood or religion. Moroni did not recognize their claim to the priesthood. The Egyptians, like the Jaredites, claimed the priesthood and the right to rule through their Hamitic descent. During the time of Abraham, the Hamites under Pharaoh controlled not only Egypt but also Mesopotamia (where Abraham grew up) as well as Canaan, the land which was later given to the children of Israel. In Abraham 1:27 we read: Now, Pharaoh being of that lineage by which he could not have the right of Priesthood, notwithstanding the Pharaohs would fain claim it from Noah, through Ham, therefore my father was led away by their idolatry; What does it mean that Pharaoh was “of that lineage by which he could not have the right of the priesthood”? Was it because of the curse upon Canaan and/or the descendants of Ham? If not the line of Ham, what particular lineage had the right of the priesthood? Let’s take a closer look. Without Descent Abraham grew up in Hamite territory. His original name Abram means “high father,” and in the introduction of his record he explains that he sought for the “blessings of the fathers.” And, finding there was greater happiness and peace and rest for me, I sought for the blessings of the fathers, and the right whereunto I should be ordained to administer the same; having been myself a follower of righteousness, desiring also to be one who possessed great knowledge, and to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge, and to be a father of many nations, a prince of peace, and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God, I became a rightful heir, a High Priest, holding the right belonging to the fathers. (Abraham 1:2) He goes on to explain that the priesthood “was conferred upon me from the fathers” (Abraham 1:3). So does that mean that Abraham received the priesthood from his father Terah? According to the Bible, Abraham is a descendant of Shem through Eber, hence the word Hebrew. This gives us the impression that Abraham was not related to Nimrod and the other Hamites. But I believe this is an example of sanitization due to the Jewish idea that Ham’s descendants were cursed. It would have been awkward to explain why Abraham was part Hamite. According to tradition, Abraham’s father Terah was a high priest to Nimrod, a descendant of the original Nimrod. How could Terah be a priest among the Hamites without being a Hamite himself? The Bible seems to obscure the fact that the descendants of Ham intermarried with the descendants of Shem. In Genesis 10, Asshur, the founder of Nineveh, is listed as a son of Shem, but he is also mentioned right after Nimrod, indicating that those families intermingled. The Jews focused on Abraham’s Semite lineage in order to distance themselves from Egypt and the Canaanites. Though Rubeus Hagrid is a fictional character, he appropriately observed that “there isn’t a wizard alive today that’s not half-blood or less.” Abraham was a mudblood. In Abraham’s record, he makes no mention of his Semite heritage, and we have no reason to believe he is not a descendant of Ham. He grew up among Hamites and his father was a Hamite priest. The names of his brothers, Haran and Nahor, contain the root hor, which probably ties back to the Assyrian god Ashur and the Egyptian god Horus. Even if he was a pure Semite, how would that qualify him for the priesthood? Modern revelation tells us that the firstborn son of Noah was not Shem but Japheth (see Moses 8:12). Abraham did not receive the priesthood from his father Terah. In fact, in order to receive the priesthood, he had to forsake his earthly descent, including any land inheritance. Now the Lord had said unto me: Abraham, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee. (Abraham 2:3) This verse sounds like something that Jesus said: And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Matthew 19:29) Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek (see D&C 84:14). Melchizedek is a mysterious character whose name means “king of righteousness.” And how did Melchizedek get the priesthood? We are told in D&C 84 that he “received it through the lineage of his fathers, even till Noah.” That statement doesn’t give us very much information. Melchizedek’s genealogy is deliberately hidden from us, because it doesn’t matter. The higher priesthood is “without descent.” For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. (Hebrews 7:1-3) By obtaining the priesthood from Melchizedek, Abraham was able to achieve his desire of becoming a “prince of peace.” Since Melchizedek was the King of Righteousness, that makes him a father figure to Abraham. This is all symbolic. In order to obtain the true priesthood, we have to forsake our earthly descent and make Christ, the King, our father. As we give up our earthly inheritance, we become the children of Christ and we are adopted into his royal family. Through Abraham, the blessings of the priesthood have gone forth unto the world. Those who receive the priesthood become Abraham’s children, whether or not they are literal descendants of Abraham. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God. (D&C 84:34) In the scriptures there are several examples of individuals who received the birthright despite not being the firstborn: Jacob instead of Esau, Joseph instead of Reuben, Ephraim instead of Manasseh, Nephi instead of Laman. Joseph Smith was not the firstborn son, yet he was the one who inherited his father’s name. God is trying to make a point. The priesthood is patriarchal, but the most important qualification for the priesthood is righteousness. When we receive the priesthood, we become the firstborn. The story of the Jaredites is focused on descent and lineage. All the major conflicts were due to disagreements among family members and rivals about the right to rule. Sibling rivalry and the constant obsession with descent proved to be their downfall. Brothers and sons couldn’t be trusted. Potential rivals were kept under house arrest, living out their entire days in captivity. And he begat Heth, and Heth lived in captivity all his days. And Heth begat Aaron, and Aaron dwelt in captivity all his days; and he begat Amnigaddah, and Amnigaddah also dwelt in captivity all his days; and he begat Coriantum, and Coriantum dwelt in captivity all his days; and he begat Com. (Ether 10:31) A notable exception to this pattern of jealousy and dysfunction is the relationship between Jared and his brother. It appears that Jared was the firstborn, but yet when it came to spiritual or priesthood matters, Jared deferred to his brother. The brother of Jared is described as being “highly favored of the Lord.” This expression was understood by the Egyptians to indicate royalty. So that means the brother of Jared was probably superior in righteousness and deserved the birthright. But yet, the brother of Jared never desired or tried to claim the right to rule. The end of the book of Ether describes battles between Coriantumr the king and a number of rivals (Shared, Gilead, Lib, and Shiz). Which of these men was the rightful heir to the throne? If we look carefully at the genealogy, we can see that none of them were heirs. The rightful king was Ether. Ether’s grandfather Moron was the king, but he had been brought into captivity. Ether made no claim to the throne. He just preached to the people and told them to repent. Likewise, Jesus was of royal descent in the line of David. He should have been king of the Jews, but he did not seek for worldly power and did not claim the throne. The priesthood is a patriarchal system of government, but it is more than that. It is a school designed to teach men how to overcome their lust for power and status. The reality is that the priesthood cannot be claimed. It can only be received when God chooses to give it. There is no earthly lineage that has the right of the higher priesthood, and no particular lineage is denied the priesthood. Pharaoh’s claim was not valid because it was based on his Hamitic descent. The Order of Melchizedek is the Order of the Son of God. It is without earthly descent. What Goes Down Must Come Up Nimrod was a city-builder who desired to build a society of peace and harmony by uniting the people under him. He failed because of his obsession with descent. But where Nimrod failed, Melchizedek succeeded. Melchizedek built the righteous city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is not just a place; it is an idea. This idea developed before the children of Moses came out of Egypt. It originated with Nimrod and the descendants of Ham, who were likely inspired by the ancient city of Enoch. Melchizedek lived in the land of Canaan, and like Abraham, we have no reason to believe he wasn’t a descendant of Ham. Melchizedek’s name, “king of righteousness,” is a title that was applied to rulers of Babylon and Assyria such as Sargon, Hammurabi, and Ashurbanipal. Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness; But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father. (Alma 13:17-18) Because of Melchizedek’s success in establishing a city of peace, the name Salem (or shalom) came to mean “peace.” Thus Jerusalem means “abode of peace.” But before Melchizedek, Salem meant something different. We find the earlier meaning in the record of the Jaredites. And it came to pass that the brother of Jared…went forth unto the mount, which they called the mount Shelem, because of its exceeding height, and did molten out of a rock sixteen small stones…(Ether 3:1) So Salem originally referred to a high place. That makes sense, because Jerusalem is high in elevation compared to the river Jordan. The name Jordan has the same root as Jared (yrd) and also means “descend.” If you are traveling from Babylon to Jerusalem, you first have to descend to Jordan, then ascend up into the mountains. Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:14) The journey to Jerusalem with its descent and then subsequent ascension up the mountain symbolizes the fall and then our subsequent redemption from the fall. To get back to God, we have to pass through the waters of baptism (Jordan) and then go up to the temple (Salem). Nimrod tried to redeem mankind from the fall by building a temple, but he failed. The brother of Jared learned that it’s not the physical building itself that is special. The temple is made holy by the faith and humility of those who enter it. At the top of Mount Shelem, the brother of Jared expressed his humility before the Lord. Now behold, O Lord, and do not be angry with thy servant because of his weakness before thee; for we know that thou art holy and dwellest in the heavens, and that we are unworthy before thee; because of the fall our natures have become evil continually…(Ether 3:2) The faith of the brother of Jared was so strong that he could not be kept from within the veil. He saw the finger of the Lord. This was not what he expected, and he fell down with fear. And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear. And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen? (Ether 3:6-7) After the brother of Jared fell, the Lord invited him to rise up again, thus symbolizing redemption from the fall. And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie. And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you. (Ether 3:12-13) The brother of Jared entered into the presence of the Lord. He had descended from a high place, but he was able to go back up again. Wrongs Made Right Let’s return now to the story of the stolen garment. The garment passed from Ham to Cush and then to Nimrod. Though Nimrod possessed the garment, it was not rightfully his. But still, God prospered him and gave him according to his desires. He was able to become a mighty hunter and a powerful leader. Even though Ham had committed sin in stealing the garment, Nimrod was not a party to this action, and God did not punish Nimrod for it. So in this way, God was just. But to be truly just, God still had to right the wrong committed by Ham. As I described earlier, Abraham received the priesthood from Melchizedek, and so the garment belonged with Abraham’s posterity. The sacred priesthood garment was restored to the line of Abraham through Esau, the hairy, ruddy son of Isaac. Esau was a hunter. Nimrod, the heir to the original Nimrod, was also a hunter, and a bitter rivalry heated up between the two. One day, when Nimrod was out hunting, Esau concealed himself and then killed Nimrod. The story is found in the book of Jasher. And Nimrod and two of his men that were with him came to the place where they were, when Esau started suddenly from his lurking place, and drew his sword, and hastened and ran to Nimrod and cut off his head… And when Esau saw the mighty men of Nimrod coming at a distance, he fled, and thereby escaped; and Esau took the valuable garments of Nimrod, which Nimrod’s father had bequeathed to Nimrod, and with which Nimrod prevailed over the whole land, and he ran and concealed them in his house. And Esau took those garments and ran into the city on account of Nimrod’s men, and he came unto his father’s house wearied and exhausted from fight, and he was ready to die through grief when he approached his brother Jacob and sat before him. (Jasher 27:7-11) After killing Nimrod, Esau had satisfied his anger and bloodlust and didn’t care about anything else. He arrived home exhausted and hungry to the point of death. Jacob offered him a bowl of soup in exchange for his birthright. Thus Jacob obtained not only the birthright, but also the sacred coat of skins. Later, when Isaac was old and losing his eyesight, Jacob received the blessing that was supposed to go to Esau, the firstborn. He accomplished this by covering his hands and neck with goat skins and pretending to be Esau, thus deceiving his father. This deception is a repetition or mirroring of events that had taken place during the time of Noah. But this time, the result was a blessing, not a curse. Jacob’s mother was not a victim; she had actually come up with the idea herself. And the blessing was rightfully withheld from Esau because he had already sold his birthright. Jacob was nervous about the whole thing, but his mother Rebekah assured him: My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. (Genesis 27:12-13) Rebekah’s willingness to take upon herself the curse is symbolic of the Savior taking upon himself the effects of the Fall. Esau was upset about what happened, but eventually Jacob and Esau were reconciled. In the end, everyone got what they deserved. The message here is that the justice of God is perfect. We are born into a place of unfairness, a fallen world. We don’t choose the circumstances of our birth. We don’t choose what kind of skin we have, whether hairy or smooth, light or dark. But somehow, God will make everything right. It might not happen in our lifetime, but eventually, everything will balance out, and all injustices will be corrected. A Remnant Preserved Jacob or Israel was the father of twelve sons. He gave the sacred garment to his eleventh son Joseph. This coat has been incorrectly translated as a “coat of many colors.” We all know the story of what happened. The older brothers were jealous of Joseph, and they sold him into slavery. They took the coat and dipped it in blood, giving Jacob the impression that Joseph had been killed by wild animals. Joseph eventually became ruler over all of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, and he saved his family during the famine. In the book of Jasher, there is a detail about the coat that is not found in the Bible. And they hastened and took Joseph’s coat and tore it…(Jasher 43:13) Besides dipping the coat in blood, they also ripped it into pieces. Jacob retained a piece of the coat until the end of his life. In his old age, after his son had been restored to him, he made a prophecy that a remnant of Joseph’s descendants would be preserved. This was a prophecy about the children of Lehi. When Captain Moroni was concerned about the Nephites and their commitment to liberty and righteousness, he tore his garment and lifted it up. This was to remind the people that they were the remnant of the seed of Joseph that was to be preserved. Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain. Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment. The Nephites saw the words of Jacob as a prophecy concerning their ultimate destiny. But in the end, this prophecy was not fulfilled the way they expected. Over time, the Nephites turned from their righteousness and were destroyed. A remnant of the seed of Joseph was preserved, but it wasn’t the fair ones, the Nephites. It was the dark-skinned Lamanites. The story of Joseph in Egypt is symbolic on several levels. The torn coat represents the scattering of Israel. Joseph helping his brethren represents the Book of Mormon and the latter-day missionary effort. But at a more fundamental level, the journey to and from Egypt symbolizes the fall and the atonement. The children of Israel went down into Egypt, then out into the wilderness, through the waters of Jordan, and back up to Jerusalem. This is the journey of the temple: down from Eden and then back up again. It is also the journey of the brother of Jared: down from Ararat, into the valley of Nimrod, through wilderness and many waters, and then up into Mount Shelem. For the Jaredite nation, the promised land (the land northward), represented Egypt, the land of descent. Near the end of the Jaredite history, the prophet Ether prophesied concerning Lehi’s seed. He knew that the promised land would pass to the Nephites. In giving this prophecy, he referenced the story of Joseph in Egypt. For as Joseph brought his father down into the land of Egypt, even so he died there; wherefore, the Lord brought a remnant of the seed of Joseph out of the land of Jerusalem, that he might be merciful unto the seed of Joseph that they should perish not, even as he was merciful unto the father of Joseph that he should perish not. Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; (Ether 13: 7-8) Can you see that Ether is equating America with Egypt? The Jaredites, being descendants of Ham, identified with the Egyptians more than the Hebrews. In the Bible, Egypt often comes across as the enemy. But the Jaredites had a different perspective. It was because of the hospitality of the Pharaoh that Joseph and his family were able to survive. Because Egypt received and nurtured the children of Israel for a time, the Jews were able to survive and eventually go back up to mount Zion. In Every Curse, a Blessing; In Every Blessing, a Curse I had hoped to avoid a discussion about race. But as I delved in, I realized that the subject of race is central to the idea of descent. Prior to the 1978 revelation which extended the priesthood to all worthy males, various folk doctrines were perpetuated by church members and leaders in order to explain the priesthood ban. The common story was that black skin is a sign of the curse placed upon Cain. Some explanations went a step further, claiming that black people were less valiant in the preexistence and therefore deserved to be cursed. Fortunately, we’ve started to move beyond the racism of the past. But something to keep in mind is that the supposed curse of Cain and/or Ham is a very old idea. And the scriptures reveal that black skin has almost always been viewed as a curse. That doesn’t make it right, but theological justification of racism is nothing new. In the Bible, the Hamites and the Hebrews are presented as opposites – black and white. Egypt was the land of Ham, and it’s very name was Khem or Kemet, which means “black.” In Egyptian art, the people are usually depicted with brown or reddish brown skin. Sometimes women are painted with a lighter shade of brown. So they were not as black as the Ethiopians, but not white either. The Jews and the Egyptians did not like to have dealings with each other, yet their histories and destinies are intertwined. If it weren’t for Egypt, the family of Jacob would have perished. Joseph married Asenath, an Egyptian. Abraham went to Egypt and had a child through Hagar, an Egyptian woman. Moses married a Cushite (see Numbers 12:1). There are more connections than either side would care to admit. The same contrast between black and white occurs in the Book of Mormon. In the primary narrative, the good guys (the Nephites, the “fair ones”) are white, and the bad guys (the Lamanites) have dark skin. The Hebrew word for “fair” or “beautiful” (the equivalent of the Egyptian nfr or Nephi), is yapheh, derived from yaphah. One of the additional meanings of yaphah is “to be bright.” This seems to imply not only beauty but also light skin. The Bible informs us that when Abraham and his wife came into Egypt, “the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair” (Genesis 12:14). Her light skin was admired by the men of Egypt. Likewise, Potiphar’s wife must have admired Joseph’s light skin. The interesting twist is that in the book of Ether, the roles are reversed. The good guys are dark, and the bad guys have light skin! The Jaredites, being a mixture of Cushites and other descendants of Ham, almost certainly had dark skin. They might not have been black, and genetically they were probably closer to Asians, but they were definitely not white. The name Cush has always been associated with dark skin. Can the Cushite change his skin, or the leopard his spots? (Jeremiah 13:23) So for the Jaredites, dark skin was a sign of the royal descent. The rebellious Jaredites are described as being “exceedingly fair.” And when Corihor was thirty and two years old he rebelled against his father, and went over and dwelt in the land of Nehor; and he begat sons and daughters, and they became exceedingly fair; wherefore Corihor drew away many people after him. (Ether 7:4) The wicked Jaredites used fair skin to lure people over to their side. A daughter of one of the kings used her beauty and fair skin to overthrow her father. And now, therefore, let my father send for Akish, the son of Kimnor; and behold, I am fair, and I will dance before him, and I will please him, that he will desire me to wife; wherefore if he shall desire of thee that ye shall give unto him me to wife, then shall ye say: I will give her if ye will bring unto me the head of my father, the king. (Ether 8:10) Apparently, this group of wicked, fair-skinned Jaredites was still a problem even near the end of the Jaredite history. But he [Coriantumr] repented not, neither his fair sons nor daughters; neither the fair sons and daughters of Cohor; neither the fair sons and daughters of Corihor; and in fine, there were none of the fair sons and daughters upon the face of the whole earth who repented of their sins. (Ether 13:17) Likewise in the Nephite narrative the roles were sometimes reversed, with the Lamanites being righteous and the Nephites being wicked. Samuel, a Lamanite, preached to the Nephites but they wouldn’t listen. They had become so confident in their goodness and righteousness that they didn’t think they needed to repent. After all, they were the good guys. Though race has sometimes been used to separate God’s chosen people from those outside the covenant, those societies that reached the pinnacle of righteousness practiced interracial marriage. After Christ’s visit to the Nephites, the people “were married, and given in marriage” (4 Nephi 1:11). This means that they married across clans and across races. There were no Lamanites, “nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God” (4 Nephi 1:17). What about the curse of Cain? Does it mean anything? If we look at the actual wording of the curse, we can see that the curse was not dark skin, but infertile land. Cain was told that the land “shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength” (Genesis 4:12). The mark set upon Cain was to protect him from enemies. So his curse was accompanied by a blessing. We don’t know if the mark was dark skin, but the book of Moses makes it clear that the descendants of Cain were black: …and they were a mixture of all the seed of Adam save it was the seed of Cain, for the seed of Cain were black, and had not place among them. (Moses 7:22) So from the very beginning, black people were separated out and persecuted because of their skin color. The book of Moses also describes a dark-skinned people called the Canaanites who lived before the flood: …and the people of Canaan shall divide themselves in the land, and the land shall be barren and unfruitful, and none other people shall dwell there but the people of Canaan; For behold, the Lord shall curse the land with much heat, and the barrenness thereof shall go forth forever; and there was a blackness came upon all the children of Canaan, that they were despised among all people. (Moses 7:7-8) Notice again how dark skin is associated with barren land. The actual curse was upon the land, but the dark skin became associated with the curse. Among the Jews, the color black became associated with things that are burnt. In Hebrew, the name Ham means “hot” or “burnt.” Famines cooked the land like an oven, and dark skin looked like it had been burned. Our skin was black like an oven because of the terrible famine. (Lamentations 5:10) But everything depends on your perspective. Among the Egyptians, the color black represented fertility. The fertile land was black (khem), whereas the barren desert land was red (deshret). Remember that deshret or deseret, the honey bee, was chosen as royal insignia because it gives life to the land. When Ham committed a horrible sin, Noah cursed Ham’s son and called him Canaan, a name that was already associated with a curse. Now this king of Egypt was a descendant from the loins of Ham, and was a partaker of the blood of the Canaanites by birth. From this descent sprang all the Egyptians, and thus the blood of the Canaanites was preserved in the land. The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden. When this woman discovered the land it was under water, who afterward settled her sons in it; and thus, from Ham, sprang that race which preserved the curse in the land. (Abraham 1:22-24) When this verse mentions the “blood of the Canaanites,” it is not talking about Canaan, the son of Ham. It is talking about the dark-skinned Canaanites who lived before the flood and were cursed. Abraham is associating dark skin with this curse. But are dark-skinned people really cursed? Not from God, they’re not. They are only cursed if people think they are cursed. Then they have to suffer the consequences of persecution and racism. God gave us different skin colors to teach us something. Skin is an inheritance. It is a sign of our genetic descent as well as our spiritual descent (the fall). We do not get to choose our skin color. Our status here on earth has nothing to do with the preexistence. None of us deserve what we were born with. We are affected by the actions of our biological parents and our original parents, Adam and Eve. Skin and inheritance affect us, but ultimately do not control our destiny. Everything depends on our perspective. Behind every curse is a blessing, and behind every blessing is a curse. We came here to earth to gain knowledge, specifically the knowledge that everything has its opposite. It’s through the union of opposites that we make progress. There and Back Again With the understanding that the curse on the skin is actually a curse on the land, we can start to see that the sacred garment given to Adam has additional symbolism. The coat of skins represents the promised land and those who possess it – the land which is “choice above all the earth.” It is America, especially the land northward, the place where it all began. In my geography model, the land northward is Mesoamerica, and by extension all of North America. The Garden of Eden was a fertile, fruitful place. But because of the fall, Adam and Eve were forced to go to a land that did not automatically yield fruit. Thus their nakedness symbolizes the barren earth. The coat of skins represents the promise that man will inherit Eden, the fertile land, once again. Joseph Smith taught that the Garden of Eden was in North America. So this land, along with the coat of skins, was possessed as an inheritance by the descendants of Adam down to Noah. The sacred garment was then passed to the descendants of Ham (through Nimrod), and the promised land passed to the Jaredites (also descendants of Ham). But then the garment was taken from the Hamites (Nimrod) and given to the children of Abraham (Esau and then Jacob). Likewise, the promised land was taken from the Jaredites and given to the Nephites. After Jacob gave the sacred garment to Joseph, it was ripped into pieces, while a remnant was preserved. Likewise, the Nephite nation was divided and eventually destroyed, while the Lamanite remnant was preserved upon the land. The story of mankind began in Eden, where Adam partook of the fruit and then fell. The fall eventually took man far away from his original home. The fall also introduced descent and racial differences. Going down from Ararat, the descendants of Adam spread out into all the nations of the earth. But man’s hope has always been to ascend back up again and become united in a Zion society. Nimrod tried to build a righteous city and a tower to heaven, but he failed because the Lord confounded the languages. The civilization that Nimrod founded, Babylon, became the antithesis of Zion. On the surface, the book of Ether appears to be a confusing record of kings and battles. But we have to realize that all of it is allegorical. The great Jaredite nation symbolizes the rise and eventual fall of Babylon. Even in small details there are hidden spiritual messages. Despite not having the rights of the priesthood, the Jaredites were blessed and had great potential. They fell because of their desire for power and status – their obsession with descent. The end of the book of Ether describes the battles of the last king, Coriantumr. At one point, Coriantumr was wounded in his thigh: And Shared wounded Coriantumr in his thigh, that he did not go to battle again for the space of two years, in which time all the people upon the face of the land were shedding blood, and there was none to restrain them. (Ether 13:31) This brings to mind the story of Jacob wrestling an angel and getting injured in his thigh (see Genesis 32:24-28). This battle is symbolic of the wrestle we all experience – the internal battle between our spiritual longings and the natural man. Jews do not eat the sciatic nerve in remembrance of Jacob’s injury. The thigh or sciatic nerve is the place where the legs connect with the torso. The head and torso represent our higher emotions. The limbs represent the lower emotions, the means of implementation. Satan attacks us by causing us to disconnect our higher desires from our actions. Despite having spiritual desires, we end up turning to materialism. Our outward actions might seem pious, but we are as whited sepulchers. Coriantumr recovered from this injury, but later was injured in his arm. And it came to pass that he fought with Lib, in which Lib did smite upon his arm that he was wounded; nevertheless, the army of Coriantumr did press forward upon Lib, that he fled to the borders upon the seashore. (Ether 14:12) Injuries to our extremities set us back, but as long as we can maintain our inner spiritual core, we won’t perish. And it came to pass that Shiz smote upon Coriantumr that he gave him many deep wounds; and Coriantumr, having lost his blood, fainted, and was carried away as though he were dead. (Ether 14:30) Coriantumr recovered again, but the Jaredite civilization came to an end as Coriantumr and Shiz fought to the death. Coriantumr smote off the head of Shiz, thus symbolizing the fact that the people had completely lost all reason. For a time, the Jaredites had been a great nation. They rose up, but in the end, they fell. The descent of the Jaredites was complete. And it came to pass that when Coriantumr had leaned upon his sword, that he rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz. And it came to pass that after he had smitten off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after that he had struggled for breath, he died. And it came to pass that Coriantumr fell to the earth, and became as if he had no life. (Ether 15:30-32) The fall of Coriantumr is mirrored in the Bible with the story of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Nebuchadnezzar saw an idol, a statue which symbolizes the great civilizations of the world. The golden head of this statue represents Babylon. In the dream, a stone cut from the mountain rolled down and broke the idol at its feet, and it fell. The children of Abraham were able to build a holy city, Jerusalem. But the people turned from righteousness, and Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon. Yet, a remnant of Joseph was preserved and taken to a different land. This land will be the place of the New Jerusalem. The Jaredites inherited the promised land first, but they defiled it and it became cursed unto them. Because of deforestation and drought, the land northward was barren and infertile. At first the Nephites feared to venture into the land northward because of the great curse. Now Lachoneus did cause that they should gather themselves together in the land southward, because of the great curse which was upon the land northward. (3 Nephi 3:24) In the twilight of the Jaredite civilization, the prophet Ether had reason to be sorrowful. But he was given a vision of this land’s ultimate destiny. It would be the home of the New Jerusalem. For behold, they rejected all the words of Ether; for he truly told them of all things, from the beginning of man; and that after the waters had receded from off the face of this land it became a choice land above all other lands, a chosen land of the Lord; wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof; And that it was the place of the New Jerusalem, which should come down out of heaven, and the holy sanctuary of the Lord. And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city unto the Lord; wherefore, it could not be a new Jerusalem for it had been in a time of old; but it should be built up again, and become a holy city of the Lord; and it should be built unto the house of Israel— And that a New Jerusalem should be built up upon this land, unto the remnant of the seed of Joseph. (Ether 13:2-6) Zion is a place for those who bring themselves down into the depths of humility. As we humble ourselves, we are lifted up (see Matthew 23:32). As we set aside our earthly descent and make Christ our father, we will be given a new inheritance. The various nations of the world will come together to build a temple, and the languages will no more be confounded (see Isaiah 54:4). Joseph’s coat of many colors, though torn and stained with blood, will be pieced together. The various races will unite in Zion. Their original skin will be covered, and their garments will be made white. And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel. And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham. (Ether 13:10-11) Wrongs will be made right, and all injustices will be corrected. And when these things come, bringeth to pass the scripture which saith, there are they who were first, who shall be last; and there are they who were last, who shall be first. (Ether 13:12) We descended down, but we will come back up. We went to a dark place, but we will see the light. Our journey takes us there and back again.

(CNN) Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats declined to comment Tuesday on the report that President Donald Trump asked him to publicly deny evidence of cooperation between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 election "I don't feel it's appropriate to characterize discussions and conversations with the President," Coats told the Senate armed services committee in response to a question about the allegations from Sen. John McCain of Arizona. But Coats did say that politicizing intelligence was inappropriate — and that he'd made that position clear to the Trump administration. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the panel, asked Coats hypothetically whether it would be appropriate if a president reached out to a director of national intelligence to make a request to deny evidence of cooperation. "I made clear in my confirmation hearing for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, my role and the role of the director of national intelligence is to provide intelligence information relevant to policy makers so they can base their judgments on that," Coats said. "Any political shaping of that presentation for intelligence would not be appropriate. I have made my position clear on that to this administration and I intend to maintain that position." Read More

(CNN) -- A plane carrying 18 people crashed Sunday, killing eight, while landing in Bolivia, according to state news agency ABI. Ten other people were injured in the crash at the Riberalta airport, 1,000 kilometers (about 620 miles) from La Paz, the capital, said Jose Luis Pereira, the hospital director in Riberalta, the news agency added. The plane, which belongs to local airline Aerocon, departed from Trinidad, and according to some witnesses, went off the runway and caught fire after hitting some brush, the news agency said. The bodies of seven people have not been identified so far because they were charred after the impact, ABI said. Some witnesses said that it was pouring rain at the time of the crash and that because of a lack of equipment, it was hard to rescue the victims. President Evo Morales sent his condolences to the families of the victims and is asking for an investigation into what happened and possible drastic sanctions, the news agency said. According to the government, this is the fourth accident for Aerocon since 2012.

Minister of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development Coralee Oakes was in Fort St. John this afternoon to announce $60,000 in funding for the World U-17 Hockey Challenge. The cash will be going towards supporting both Fort St. John and Dawson Creek in their bids, and to ensure the hosting committee will be able to put on the best event possible. In a release Oakes stated, “This tournament will bring some of the best youth hockey players in the world to our province and provide them with the opportunity to showcase their talents on a world stage. For many athletes, this will also be their first opportunity to wear the maple leaf and represent their country.” Ticket plans for the event are expected to be finalized with the steering committee on Wednesday. Details will be announced in late August, early September.

A 55-year-old man presented to the emergency department with a 1-week history of severe headache. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain with and without gadolinium-based contrast agent revealed a rim-enhancing mass (4.5 cm in diameter) in the right temporal lobe. At the time of surgery for tumor resection, fluorescein was administered intravenously ( ); Panel A shows the baseline condition before injection. The intact blood–brain barrier of normal brain parenchyma prevents the uptake of fluorescein; however, a tumor can disrupt the blood–brain barrier and allow for the accumulation of the fluorophore. In this patient, within the first 35 seconds after the injection, fluorescence was first evident in arterial vessels (Panel B), then in the smaller veins, and then in the larger veins (Panel C). By 35 seconds after the injection, fluorescein had begun to accumulate in the tumor tissue (Panel C). At 86 seconds, the fluorescein within the cortical veins had begun to fade, providing a sharp contrast between the tumor (Panel D, area inside the dashed line) and normal surrounding tissue; a small area of blood obscures some tumor tissue. Pathological studies revealed a glioblastoma, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging confirmed gross total resection of the tumor. Four weeks after surgery, the patient began to receive external-beam radiation therapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. At follow-up 2 months after surgery, he had no symptoms of headache and did not have any neurologic deficits.

PISCATAWAY — Saheela Ibraheem wasn’t sure any college would want to admit a 15-year-old. So the Piscataway teen hedged her bets and filled out applications to 14 schools from New Jersey to California. "It’s the age thing. I wanted to make sure I had options," said Saheela, a senior at the Wardlaw-Hartridge School in Edison. In the end, 13 colleges accepted her — including six of the eight Ivy League schools. After weeks of debate, Saheela settled on Harvard. She will be among the youngest members of the school’s freshman class. "I’ll be one of the youngest. But I won’t be the youngest," the soon-to-be 16-year-old said. Saheela is among the millions of high school seniors who had to finalize their college decisions by Monday, the deadline for incoming freshman to send deposits to the school of their choice. Nationwide, this year’s college selection process was among the most competitive in history as most top colleges received a record number of applications. Saheela joins a growing number of New Jersey students going to college before they are old enough to drive. Last year, Kyle Loh of Mendham graduated from Rutgers at 16. In previous years, a 14-year-old from Cranbury and two of his 15-year-old cousins also graduated from Rutgers. For Saheela, her unusual path to college began when she was a sixth-grader at the Conackamack Middle School in Piscataway. Eager to learn more about her favorite subject, math, the daughter of Nigerian immigrants asked to move to a higher-level class. The school let her skip sixth grade entirely. By high school, Saheela said, she was no longer feeling challenged by her public school classes. So, she moved to the Wardlaw-Hartridge School, a 420-student private school, where she skipped her freshman year and enrolled as a 10th-grader. Her three younger brothers, twins now in the ninth grade and a younger brother in second grade, all eventually joined her at the school. School officials were impressed Saheela, one of their top students, didn’t spend all her time studying. "She’s learned and she’s very smart. But she keeps pushing herself," said William Jenkins, the Wardlaw-Hartridge School’s director of development. Saheela also excels outside the classroom. She is a three-sport athlete, playing outfield for the school’s softball team, defender on the soccer team, and swimming relays and 50-meter races for the swim team. She also sings alto in the school choir, plays trombone in the school band and serves as president of the school’s investment club, which teaches students about the stock market by investing in virtual stocks. Saheela began applying to colleges last fall. Her applications included her grade point average (between a 96 and 97 on a 100-point scale) and her 2,340 SAT score (a perfect 800 on the math section, a 790 in writing and a 750 in reading). She was delighted when she got her first acceptance in December from California Institute of Technology. "I was so excited. I got into college!," Saheela said. More acceptances followed from Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Cornell, Brown, Williams College, Stanford, University of Chicago, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Washington University in St. Louis. On March 30, she got her sole rejection letter — from Yale. Saheela isn’t sure why the Ivy League school didn’t want her. "My parents were thinking it was the age thing," she said. Saheela was torn between going to MIT and Harvard. A visit to both campuses last month made the choice easy. "She went to Harvard and she fell in love with the place," said Shakirat Ibraheem, her mother. Saheela said she wants to major in either neurobiology or neuroscience and plans to become a research scientist who studies how the brain works. As for her own brain, Saheela insists she is nothing special. She credits her parents with teaching her to love learning and work hard. Her father, Sarafa, an analyst and vice president at a New York financial firm, would often study with her at night and home school her in subjects not taught at school. "I try my best in everything I do," Saheela said. "Anyone who’s motivated can work wonders." Editor's note: An earlier version of this story mistakenly reported the number of Ivy League colleges. There are eight. Saheela Ibraheem did not apply to Dartmouth College. Related coverage: • Mendham Township 16-year-old boy is among youngest to graduate from Rutgers University • Video: Kyle Loh becomes one of the youngest graduates of Rutgers University

It was another huge week in the fight to legalize marijuana across the United States. Some of the biggest news comes from the District of Columbia, where the U.S. Senate voted to make medical marijuana available to veterans. Other highlights include another push in Ohio to legalize a recreational marijuana market in 2016 and news that two marijuana initiatives in Massachusetts may join forces to ensure an end to prohibition in the next election. Read all about this and more in the High Times Legislative Roundup for November 16: Federal: U.S. Senate Passes Bill to Allow Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana The U.S. Senate passed a measure last week that could allow veterans living in medical marijuana states to have access to those programs without issue. Lawmakers voted in approval of a portion of the FY2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill, which will stop the federal government from spending funds to prevent VA doctors from discussing medical marijuana with their patients. The bill would also protect veterans, who do take advantage of their state’s medical marijuana program, from being penalized by the department for a failed drug screen. The bill now heads to the negotiation table for possible inclusion in a federal spending bill. Massachusetts: Two Groups Battling Out to Legalize Weed Two groups are fighting each other to legalize marijuana statewide in 2016. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and Bay State Repeal have both launched signature collecting campaigns in hopes of getting their respective initiative on the ballot next year. Both need around 65,000 signatures by the beginning of December to qualify. If they are both successful, voters will have to choose between the two proposals. However, there is possibility the two groups will join forces to prevent confusion at the polls. Kansas: Group Working to Legalize Medical Marijuana Bleeding Kansas, a group working to legalize medical marijuana across the state, are working to get the state legislature open to discuss the issue of medical marijuana once the session resumes. A report from KSNT indicates the organization is currently collecting signatures for their petition that they hope to present to state lawmakers in early 2016. Arizona: Ballot Initiative Has 100,000 Signatures Arizona is on its way to legalizing a statewide cannabis industry. Last week, the Campaign to Legalize Marijuana Like Alcohol announced that they have collected 100,000 signatures. The group still needs around 50,000 more to make it on the November ballot, which shouldn’t be an issue considering they have until July 2016 to make it happen. Ohio: Another Push to Legalize in 2016 Ohio marijuana advocates are picking up the pieces of the ResponsibleOhio debacle and moving forward with a more sensible plan to legalize marijuana in 2016. Legalize Ohio are campaigning to put the Cannabis-Control Amendment on the ballot next year. The proposal seeks to legalize recreational marijuana without monopolizing on the market. The group needs to collect 360,000 signatures by the beginning of July 2016 to get the issue put in front of the voters in next November’s election. New Jersey: Medical Marijuana Bill Signed by Governor Christie Governor Chris Christie signed a medical marijuana law last week that will allow patients to be administered medical marijuana in schools and other facilities that serve the disabled. Now kids with access to medical marijuana will have the ability to consume non-smokable forms of the medicine in an area designated by the school. It was announced last Thursday that Lark School in South Jersey has established policies that will allow the consumption of cannabis oil starting Monday. Colorado: Working to Put Tighter Rules on Doctors The Colorado State Medical Board is working to draft regulations for the medical marijuana program that would place more restrictions on physicians who make MMJ recommendations. In September, a preliminary set of rules was released, which received an almost immediate chastising by many patients and businesses that worry the state is trying to eliminate the medical sector. The latest guidelines, which are set to be presented at a hearing on November 19, still have some worried that many patients will be forced into the black market or recreational sector. Florida: Broward County Decriminalizing Pot Possession Last week, Broward County commissioners approved a measure to ease the penalties associated with the possession of marijuana. Similar to other cities across the state, anyone busted for carrying a small stash of weed (under 20 grams) would be eligible for a ticket rather than a misdemeanor charge. Essentially, officers will hand out citations for the offense as long as the pot possession is not connected to a violent crime or driving under the influence. Fines would range between $100-500 for the first three incidents – all others would be treated as a criminal offense. Washington: Spokane To Eliminate Misdemeanor Pot Offenses The Spokane City Council has voted in support of a measure to expunge the records of people with convictions for misdemeanor marijuana possession. The proposal, which was modeled after a failed bill introduced in the state legislature earlier this year, was unanimously approved 6-0, putting Spokane stoners on course for having their records vacated by the courts early next year. Officials say that over 1,800 people could benefit from this ordinance. North Carolina: Legalizes Industrial Hemp North Carolina has legalized industrial hemp. A bill that was sent to Governor Pat McGory last month has automatically gone into effect after several weeks of inaction. The new law will allow North Carolina University to establish a pilot program to study how legal hemp production might impact the state. Governor McGory said that while he believes there were good intentions behind the bill, he has a few concerns that prompted him not to grace it with his signature. [link: ]

NSW election 2015: Coalition vows to 'push back' against ice scourge, Labor wants to boost police numbers Posted The number of roadside drug tests in New South Wales will triple and new laws will tackle the drug ice if the Coalition is re-elected later this month, Premier Mike Baird has announced. Opposition Leader Luke Foley, on the campaign trail in Sydney, said if Labor won government, the police force would be boosted by an extra 480 officers. NSW voters head to the polls on March 28. Mr Baird was in Dubbo in the state's west to help launch the start of the Nationals' election campaign. He said ice, or methamphetamine, was a scourge on society and it was time to "push back". Mr Baird said along with increased drug tests, a Coalition government would also halve the threshold needed for a charge of supply, and require pharmacies to keep electronic records of pseudoephedrine sales. Pseudoephedrine can be used to make ice. "We are saying to those drug peddlers, those suppliers, those manufacturers, don't do it, we know the harm you are causing across New South Wales and we are determined to stop you," he said. "These measures we strongly believe will do that. Enough is enough, it's time we pushed back, to make a difference and that is what we are doing. "We have consulted widely with health professionals, the police, [and asked] what tools do we need to ensure we start winning this war? "The three key things we are doing, we are ensuring we are tripling the amount of drug-driving testing across New South Wales. "Over 13 per cent of fatalities on our roads, it's found drivers have drugs in their body. That must stop." Mr Baird said the Government would also invest in three rehabilitation services on the mid-north coast, western Sydney and the Illawarra. Labor promises to increase NSW police force by 480 officers Meanwhile, Mr Foley said Labor's initiative to boost police numbers would be rolled out this year, with 180 officers deployed by August and another 100 officers each year until 2018. Last week Mr Baird announced an additional 310 police if his Government was re-elected. "Labor's plan for the state involves using the profits from our electricity network to keep delivering more police, more paramedics, more nurses and more teachers," he said. "That's why I can go further than Mr Baird, because we will use the profits from the electricity network to deliver more frontline workers, including rank-and-file police." Mr Foley said the plan would cost $70 million and include $54 million for salaries, and nearly $20 million for training. "Our police put their lives on the line day in and day out, protecting our community and Labor will support them by giving them the resources they need to do their job," he said. "We will boost our police force with extra officers to ensure that our local police stations are properly staffed. "By putting more police on our streets we can ensure that we further drive down crime and anti-social behaviour that impact all members of our community." Greens launch campaign with social housing plan The Greens officially launched their state election campaign on Saturday, announcing plans to tackle long-term unemployment and boost social housing. Greens MP John Kaye was also in Sydney and said, if elected, his Government would spend $4.5 billion of borrowed funds on social and affordable housing, with the aim of 20,000 new and affordable units over the next four years. "The Greens have been guided by housing experts, we think that these housing units should be available across the city," Mr Kaye said. "It shouldn't be that because you are in an affordable housing unit you have to be out in the west." Mr Kaye said the Greens opposed power privatisation, but the party had already outlined an alternative strategy to borrow an additional $20 billion for infrastructure, which would be paid back by raising property and poker machine taxes. "We'll have a number of new ideas focusing on the longer term unemployed and also looking at affordable housing," Mr Kaye said. "There's plenty of money in the state without privatising the wires and poles, to build an economy that is fit for the 21st century." Topics: government-and-politics, elections, states-and-territories, nsw

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during an event to welcome the Clemson Tigers to the White House on Monday. Alex Wong/Getty Images Buried in a footnote in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ unanimous opinion upholding the bulk of the injunction blocking Donald Trump’s travel ban, there is a moment of reckoning in which the panel addresses whether the president’s tweets constitute binding statements of executive intent. In making a determination that the second version of the executive order exceeds the statutory authority granted to the president, the panel finds that the order “does not provide a rationale explaining why permitting entry of nationals from the six designated countries under current protocols would be detrimental to the interests of the United States.” The panel then drops a footnote to add the following observation about the president’s actual intentions in enacting the order: Indeed, the President recently confirmed his assessment that it is the “countries” that are inherently dangerous, rather than the 180 million individual nationals of those countries who are barred from entry under the President’s “travel ban.” See Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump), Twitter (June 5, 2017, 6:20 PM), https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/871899511525961728 (“That’s right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won’t help us protect our people!”) (emphasis in original). Put aside for a second the legal glory that lies in that “emphasis in original,” a parenthetical that does so much work while doing nothing at all. What’s really vital is that the footnote also does away with the claim that such tweets should be ignored or swept aside, noting a CNN piece that reported “the White House Press Secretary’s confirmation that the President’s tweets are ‘considered official statements by the President of the United States.’ ” The question of how seriously the courts should be taking the president’s informal and spontaneous tweets is a serious one, and—as was discussed on this week’s Amicus podcast—a question that hasn’t thus far been treated with great rigor. In a new article on presidential speech and the courts, Cardozo Law School’s Kate Shaw notes that the judicial branch shouldn’t take casual presidential comments too seriously. She argues, however, that there is a subset of cases in which presidential speech reflects a clear manifestation of intent to enter the legal arena, among them cases touching on foreign relations or national security and those in which government purpose constitutes an element of a legal test. Based in part on Sean Spicer’s assurance that Trump’s tweets are official statements, the per curiam panel of the 9th Circuit has just ruled that the president’s Twitter commentary clearly falls in the category of speech that belongs in the legal arena. What does it mean that courts may now begin to take the president’s tweets seriously? Beyond the implications for the travel ban, the notion that Trump’s Twitter feed is its own binding constitutional stream of consciousness invites all sorts of other delightful legal interventions. For one thing, the somewhat charming letter sent last week by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University now looks like a more serious complaint. The letter, which was sent by the Knight Institute’s Executive Director Jameel Jaffer, argues on behalf of a group of Twitter users that the First Amendment precludes him from blocking people on social media. The letter, which at least implies that it may be followed with a lawsuit, describes the Trump Twitter feed as a designated public forum and a curated series of official statements. Thanks to the 9th Circuit, that characterization now has more teeth. The finding by the 9th Circuit also gives some force to another fanciful enterprise, the daringly named COVFEFE Act, a piece of legislation introduced Monday by Rep. Mike Quigley, a Democrat from Illinois. The Communications Over Various Feeds Electronically for Engagement Act amends the existing Presidential Records Act to include “social media,” a move that could make it illegal for the president to delete his tweets. We’ve been told by the White House at various points to take the tweets seriously, to take them seriously but not literally, and to take them not at all seriously. The courts now seem to have decided to go with door No. 1. I know what you’re thinking here, so let’s just say it aloud: Why are the federal courts wasting valuable time looking at the president’s Twitter feed when they could be assessing his executive authority? And why are legal journalists writing about it? One might answer those questions with yet another question: Why is the president wasting time he could be spending making the country safer by tweeting threats at the federal courts? Your move, Mr. President. We’d submit that tweeting “see you in court” isn’t helpful given that the courts have now made plain that they see you, too.

Click to hear the audio story. Two businesses, one in Saint George and one in Logan, are applying for a permit to serve alcohol. Both have been told by state governing authorities that officials from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints must provide written approval before the licenses can be issued. Owners of two eating establishments, La Frontera - a Mexican food franchise in St. George, and Even Stevens - a Utah sandwich shop that recently opened in Logan, applied for liquor licenses. But both were denied by the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, even though Even Steven’s was given its stamp of approval by the city of Logan three weeks ago. As it turns out, Even Stevens is located right across the street from the Logan LDS Tabernacle, which is in violation of Utah's law. Vickie Ashby, the public information officer with the DABC. She said if an applicant for an alcohol or liquor license is within 600 feet of a community location - which can be any churches, libraries, parks, schools or any community places - business owners need to have written consent from the governing authority before the license can be approved. Click to hear the full interview with Vicky Ashby. “So if it’s a city park, it would come from the city or if it’s a church it would come from the LDS Church,” she said. Until recently, the LDS Church wasn’t vocal about the sandwich shop’s liquor license request. But church officials informed the DABC that the LDS church’s silence isn’t tacit approval. Or in other words, just because church representatives haven’t explicitly spoken out against the liquor license requests, it shouldn’t be assumed by the DABC that the LDS Church approves of the request. If La Frontera and Even Stevens don’t get approval, officials then have to prove that there is an unmet need for an establishment in the area that is allowed to serve alcohol. Ashby said the restaurants could get approval at the next month’s DABC meeting if they get the required signatures or they fulfill a need. Click here for a follow-up story.

Back to back picks from 1976 here at DFAY. There must have been something in the water during those June shows, but the band certainly had a joie de vivre that came through in the music. Clearly they were glad to be back out on the road. Ship Of Fools was played a total of 225 but only 8 of those surfaced in 1976. One of the interesting things about this song to me, lyrically, is how it aged with the band. The original lyrics is “thirty years upon my head,” but this changed to forty, and even fifty as Jerry got older. It’s interesting to think that even as the song’s protagonist gets old he still hasn’t learned his lesson and continues to make the same mistakes with each performance of the song. Was Jerry trying to tell us something? I guess we’ll never know. I always liked the chord progression of this song too, and that diminished 7th chord (if I recall correctly) provides some really great tension against a rather delicate melody. I used to think it was a bit odd and didn’t fit, but now I welcome the dissonance. It’s funny how the little things grow on you like that. Here we have a very slow and deliberate take on this tale of caution. As was the case at times the song has a ton of breathing room. The drums are almost played at a snail’s pace, and Phil is clearly the bridge here. He’s really front and center and on display for everyone’s enjoyment. Donna’s vocals are warm and on key as is Keith’s piano playing. He balances straight block chords and minor runs with precision here. Jerry finally takes a solo and it’s a very slow one. It’s almost like Jerry doesn’t have a lot to say, but he’s speaking very slowly so that there can be no mistake about what he’s saying. Listen to Weir during the chorus after Jerry’s solo, he’s doing some really cool stuff. The sound fills out a bit more with only a couple of minutes left in the song. Keith plays some double stops that you expect to keep the crescendo going, but instead drops the song back down for a calm, serene finish. Complete Setlist 6/9/76 Previous Ship Of Fools DFAY Selections

In its press release on Wednesday, Germany's Federal Constitutional Court said that the petitions for the issue of temporary injunctions that would block the ratification of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) had been "unsuccessful for the most part." But "for the most part" does not mean "entirely". Indeed, in the aftermath of the ruling, the roles of winners and losers are not as clear as they may have seemed at first glance. It would, of course, be going too far to say that the verbal lapse of court President Andreas Vosskuhle was a Freudian slip. Right in the first sentence of the text of the ruling, Vosskuhle involuntarily caused a wave of laughter when he said that the petitions were "for the most part well-founded" -- which would have meant that the plaintiffs had won. Vosskuhle corrected himself with a laugh, saying that the petitions were actually "unfounded." But the slip of the tongue reflects a deeper truth. Nobody seriously believed that the plaintiffs, led by the stubborn conservative Bavarian politician Peter Gauweiler, would win an outright victory. But the court's ruling contains a number of details that could cast a shadow over the winning side's victory, and possibly grant a not insignificant triumph to the other side -- which is why Gauweiler himself spoke of a "huge success." That applies to the reservations that the Karlsruhe-based court has now set as conditions for the ratification of the ESM by Germany. The court ruled that the €190 billion ($245 billion) limit on Germany's liability must continue to apply, even if the treaty allows for a different interpretation -- unless it involves an increase in the capital stock with the express consent of the German respresentative on the ESM board (and with a prior decision by the Bundestag, Germany's federal parliament). Another reservation involves the rights of parliament. The court ruled that the ESM's confidentiality requirements cannot be permitted to preclude the Bundestag from receiving "comprehensive information" about the fund's operations. The question of how exactly these legal declarations are supposed to be implemented is likely to cause headaches among legal experts in the German government and the president's office. Berlin-based lawyer Ulrich Karpenstein, one of the experts involved in the background in the legal proceedings, says that a unilateral interpretative declaration on these points which "authorizes a withdrawal from the ESM treaty only in the event of a serious violation" would be enough. But it is doubtful whether this right to withdraw from the treaty, which would apply exclusively in the event of a serious violation, is really enough to satisfy the provisions that the Constitutional Court has laid down. In the ruling, the court says that Germany "must express clearly that it does not wish to be bound by the ESM Treaty in its entirety if the reservations made by it should prove to be ineffective." According to the German parliament's attorney of record, Martin Nettesheim, this means that the German government must affix a formal reservation under international law and, at the very minimum, must inform and solicit a response from the other euro-zone member states and provide them with a reasonable deadline within which to enter any objections. It's possible that, and this is one of the delicate issues, given the character of the ESM, the silence of the other member states would not be sufficient. They might have to officially accept these reservations. That would mean that the treaty would only be ratified in Germany once all had agreed -- or if it hadn't heard from the other states within a 12-month period. Nettesheim said he didn't believe the other countries would "take a stand against these points." If they did, though, "we would have a major problem." In any case, one thing is certain: It won't happen slapdash, either, because the other member states have to be given sufficient time to consider Germany's reservations. 'ESM Will Be Sufficient for Ireland and Cyprus, But Not Spain Or Italy' Meanwhile, the statements made by the Constitutional Court about the European Central Bank (ECB) are already making supporters of a permanent bailout fund with sharper teeth nervous. Volker Beck, a legal affairs expert with the Green Party in parliament, said he found "irritating" what the court had said about the relationship between the ECB and the ESM. The Karlsruhe ruling explicitly states that the ESM cannot "become a vehicle of unconstitutional state financing by the European Central Bank." The Constitutional Court's interpretation of the ESM treaty itself is that it stipulates that the permanent euro bailout fund can only borrow money on capital markets and not from the ECB. Under the clear guidelines provided by EU law, the justices said the ESM treaty could only be interpreted to mean that "borrowing operations" with the ECB are "not permitted." That's why Beck fears that the ESM will be robbed of "part of its possibilities for taking action," because it would not have the ability to "increase its firepower" through borrowing from the ECB. But it is precisely this limitation that has attracted praise from the petitioners in the case. Christoph Degenhart, a Leipzig-based constitutional law professor who represented the more than 37,000 people who had joined together under the group Mehr Demokratie, or "More Democracy," to file the constitutional complaint, said he "wasn't entirely unsatisfied" with the ruling. "The main goals have been reached." The attorney said the Constitutional Court had demanded the necessary reservations. Additionally, it had interpreted the treaty in so-called conformity with the constitution and thus rendered the ESM "hardly manageable any more," particularly in relation to the ECB. "The ESM will still be sufficient for Ireland or Cyprus, but no longer for Spain or Italy," he said. Besides, the current ruling is just a preliminary one. The justices have limited their detailed remarks to the points raised through the ratification of the ESM and the fiscal pact that accompanies it. The justices have also noted explicitly that they will also review the role of the ECB more precisely during the main proceedings about the issue still to come, which necessarily will follow, and that this will include closer scrutiny of the question of whether the ECB's bond purchases go beyond what is currently permitted under the EU treaties. For his part, Degenhart feels certain that "further limitations will be imposed." The fact that the Constitutional Court justices have a need for clarification on several issues and that they consider those issues to be urgent, suggests this will actually happen: The court has said that it already plans to hear further oral arguments this fall.

Buy Photo University of Michigan football player Grant Perry sits in Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk's courtroom Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, after he was sentenced to 12 months probation. (Photo: MATTHEW DAE SMITH/Lansing State Journal)Buy Photo LANSING - University of Michigan football player Grant Perry was sentenced Friday afternoon to 12 months probation stemming from an incident outside an East Lansing bar last October. Perry, 20, pleaded guilty in June to one count of resisting a police officer, a felony. He also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of assault and battery. In exchange, prosecutors dropped two counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct and an alcohol charge. The incident stems from an Oct. 15 disagreement in East Lansing where a woman accused Perry of grabbing her in a sexual manner outside a bar. Related: U-M football player Grant Perry pleads to felony; sex assault charges dropped Assistant Ingham County Prosecutor Christina Johnson on Friday described Perry's actions as a "crime of arrogance, entitlement and power," though she said she doesn't believe there was a sexual intent in what he did. The victim, a Michigan State University student at the time of the incident, told Judge Joyce Draganchuk that she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after the incident. "I was afraid of walking from class to class," she said. "I was afraid to enjoy my senior year of college because I felt that any stranger who looked at me also would do whatever they wanted to me without remorse... I would cry walking from my car to the door of my apartment and have panic attacks when I had plans to leave my apartment." The State Journal does not typically identify reported victims of sexual assault. Perry is not allowed to consume alcohol during his probation and must stay away from bars or establishments that sell alcohol. He also must serve 60 hours of community service. Draganchuk also granted Perry's request to be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act. His convictions will be set aside during probation and if he successfully completes the terms of his probation they will be vacated. The court records are sealed unless his HYTA status is revoked. His attorney, Frank Reynolds, said during the hearing that he and his client are fighting to maintain Perry's athletic scholarship at the University of Michigan. If Perry violates the terms of his probation he would be re-sentenced, and face up to two years in prison. Perry spoke briefly during the hearing in Ingham County Circuit Court, apologizing to the victim and to police officers involved in the incident. “I’m ready to put this behind me and continue to move forward," he said through Reynolds after the hearing. More: Police release report on Michigan State football sexual assault probe Perry told Draganchuk during the June 28 plea hearing that the incident began when he and his friends "tried to cut in line" then got into an argument with the victim. "I proceeded to push her out of my way," he said. Perry, a junior wide receiver from Royal Oak, also said he "tried to wriggle away" from East Lansing police when they arrived on the scene. After Perry's initial suspension, the wide receiver was reportedly working out with the team earlier this year. Coach Jim Harbaugh told the Detroit Free Press last week that Perry would continue to work out with the team until his case is resolved. Related: Michigan DE Rashan Gary compared to Jadeveon Clowney, traffic cone “He’s preparing for the season, and he’s going to practice,” Harbaugh said. “He’s not going to represent the team in games until that’s come to a conclusion.” David Ablauf, director for football communications at the University of Michigan, did not return calls and emails Friday afternoon regarding Perry's status with the team. Check back for updates. Contact Christopher Haxel at 517-377-1261 or chaxel@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisHaxel. Read or Share this story: http://on.lsj.com/2vAqNLE

Tamra Judge’s feud with her oldest daughter, Sidney Barney, may soon take a major turn for the worse. According to a new report, the Real Housewives of Orange County star may soon be served with a cease and desist order from her child, who recently put her on blast on Facebook by telling her fans and followers that Judge has refused to stop talking about her and their family drama publicly. “It seems like this is what it is going to take to keep Tamra from talking. Sidney wishes it hadn’t come to this point, but it seems that it has,” a source close to Sidney Barney told Radar Online on August 14. As the insider explained, Sidney Barney’s only wish is that her mother stops talking about the relationship. However, despite her claims of abuse and neglect, the reality star and mother of four claims she was never abusive or hurtful to her children in any way. The source also said that Sidney Barney wants her mother to leave her alone and feels that her behavior has been unacceptable. Tamra Judge and her daughter appeared to be on the verge of a reconciliation with one another earlier this year, and in May, Judge was seen at Barney’s graduation. However, after sharing a collage of photos of the two of them together and with the rest of their family, they reportedly had a falling out, and their relationship became a hot topic on The Real Housewives of Orange County. A post shared by Tamra Judge (@tamrajudge) on Aug 6, 2017 at 5:39pm PDT Tamra Judge and Eddie Judge recently arrived home from a vacation in Aruba, where they renewed their wedding vows alongside Judge’s two youngest children, Sophia and Spencer. In regard to her family drama, Judge has been active with her fans and followers on social media. In one particular post from earlier this month, she revealed that her mother, Barney’s grandmother, was extremely upset about Barney’s Facebook post. A post shared by Tamra Judge (@tamrajudge) on Jul 11, 2017 at 10:43am PDT To see more of Tamra Judge and her family, including husband Eddie Judge and their co-stars, Vicki Gunvalson, Shannon Beador, Lydia McLaughlin, Meghan King Edmonds, and Peggy Sulahian, tune into new episodes of The Real Housewives of Orange County Season 12 on Mondays at 9 p.m. on Bravo. [Featured Image by Charles Sykes/Bravo]

President Trump likes to says things like, “Obamacare’s dead, it’s gone.” More traditional Republicans — i.e., ones who don’t talk like characters in Goodfellas — express the same idea in more highbrow terms. “You have to remember the law is in what the actuaries tell us [is] a death spiral,” Paul Ryan told reporters earlier this year. Actually, the actuaries have never said this. A death spiral isn’t just a term people who hate Obamacare get to use to predict that the law is going to fail because they hate it. It’s a specific phenomenon that can happen to insurance markets, in which the risk pool gets increasingly unhealthy, driving up prices and forcing healthy people out until the price level is unsustainable. Independent private-sector analysts, like S&P and the American Academy of Actuaries, have both found that the exchanges are not in a death spiral. But it’s not only the private sector that has reached this conclusion. Last week, as Topher Spiro noticed, the federal government said the same thing. Here is a June 30 report by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. CMS is run by Trump’s own appointee, Seema Verma, and he has cited its findings in the past. Here is the paragraph where CMS finds that the customers on the Obamacare exchanges have not been getting sicker: The “risk score” is a measure of the health status of enrollees. If the exchanges were going into a death spiral, the risk scores would be rising fast. They’re not, according to Trump’s own government.

If you love both detectives and science fiction, there’s a chance you’re a really fun person. But what would it be like to be a detective in the future? Sure, no one analyzes clues like The Doctor, and Spock and Data tackle a sort of whodunit from time to time, but what about your bonafide sci-fi gumshoes? Here are six of the best detectives from science fiction literature. Simone Pierce (Depth, by Lev AC Rosen) Out this week, the latest novel from genre-bender Lev AC Rosen takes place in a future New York City that is partially submerged thanks to the melting of the polar ice caps. Both a straightforward noir plot-twister and a art heist caper, finds Rosen’s protagonist, private detective Simone Pierce, in search of “The Blonde,” a woman who may or may not have killed her husband and set Simone up for the crime. Sharp, witty, and tough, Simone is a woman we root for not just because she’s in the mystery, but because she seems like a real person. Dr. Wendell Urth & Elijah Baley (Various stories, Isaac Asimov) In real life, Isaac Asimov was mildly agoraphobic, famously disliking air travel and vacationing. It seems only natural, then, that he dreamed up a futuristic detective who solves mysteries in space by never leaving Earth (in fact, Dr. Wendell Urth pretty much doesn’t leave his house). How does he do it? He reads a lot, he’s really smart, and people just keep coming to him. As with many great detectives, Asimov asserts that imagination is the key ability when it comes to solving the most important mysteries. Like, say, a murder on the moon. That said, Asimov’s more enduring gumshoe is probably Elijah Baley, a far-future police detective who finds himself dealing with a robot partner in The Caves of Steel. Conrad Metcalf (Gun, With Occasional Music , by Jonathan Lethem) Many think Motherless Brooklyn was Jonathan Lethem’s debut novel, but it actually this wonderful sci-fi mashup of Raymond Chandler sensibilities and Philip K. Dick action. In a world where radio broadcasts contain few words and language is occasionally replaced by flashes of color, Conrad Metcalf is a dry-witted detective of the old school. But whereas Chandler’s Philip Marlowe was a bitter and numb for reasons unknown, Metcalf is numb because everybody in this future is on some serious, mind-deadening drugs. Rick Deckard (Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, by Philip K. Dick) Though specifically more a bounty hunter/assassin than a detective, there’s definitely a noir haze around the protagonist of this classic Dick novel (a description that holds true of Harrison Ford’s cinematic interpretation as well). Tracking down and discovering who is a replicant and who isn’t might be Deckard’s job (though in the book he just wants a “real” animal of his own), but the biggest mystery for readers to solve is whether Deckard is human at all. Eve Dallas ( The In Death series, by J.D. Robb) Romance novelist Nora Roberts is also one of the hardest-working science fiction writers on the planet. In addition to her regular persona=, Roberts writes stories of mid-21st century detective Eve Dallas under the double initial nom de plume. If you’re looking for page-turning SF mysteries, the exploits of Eve Dallas are basically unbeatable. Sherlock Holmes He’s the most famous detective of all time, but you could (well, I have) argue that Holmes is inherently science fictional, if only because he uses forensic science and deductive reasoning in a fantastically fictional manner. However, Sherlock Holmes has also appeared in plenty of conventionally science fiction-y science fiction stories. One great anthology is called Sherlock Holmes in Orbit, while another more contemporary collection—The Improbable Adventures of Sherlock Holmes—features everything from alternate universe Sherlocks, to time travel, to basically any other improbable trope not present in the Conan Doyle canon. Lest you think the well runneth dry, there’s also last year’s Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets, a compendium of time-hopping Holmesian tales. Who is your favorite SF detective?

MAY 21, 2014: Paramedics and police were trying to help Constantino Garcia when demonstrators threw bottles, bricks, rocks, and other heavy objects at them. Garcia was still clinging to life when a officer began giving him CPR. Protesters hurled a bottle that hit the officer in the head, injuring him. Paramedics then rushed the victim into an ambulance so they could continue giving CPR. Advertisement 1 killed during riot in Salinas; Demonstrators turn violent against police Share Shares Copy Link Copy A riot broke out and a homicide happened Wednesday night near where an emotional anti-police protest was staged on Del Monte Avenue in Salinas.Soon after the sun set Wednesday and darkness fell over the East Salinas neighborhood, one person who was standing near the protest was slain.Constantino Garcia, 23, of Salinas, was on the sidewalk outside his house on Mae Avenue and Del Monte Avenue when he was shot multiple times at 9:07 p.m., police said. Paramedics and police were trying to help Constantino Garcia when demonstrators threw bottles, bricks, rocks, and other heavy objects at them.VIDEO: Protesters clash with police in East SalinasConstantino Garcia was still clinging to life when a officer began giving him CPR. But a protester hurled a bottle that hit the officer in the head, injuring him. Paramedics then rushed the victim into an ambulance so they could continue giving CPR.Police released the following statement: "As officers arrived in the area to render aid to the victim and investigate the shooting, many people who had gathered in the area to protest started to throw bottles, sticks, rocks and bricks at the responding officers and the EMS personnel. While an officer was conducting CPR on the shooting victim, a bottle hit the officer in the head preventing him from rendering aid to the victim while on scene. The shooting victim was quickly taken away in an ambulance and to a local hospital where he died from his injuries. The shooting victim was a local resident of the neighborhood who was standing on the sidewalk in front of his home. Constantino Garcia had recently moved to Salinas with his wife and child."Detectives said at least 100 people witnessed the homicide, however, "at this time, no witnesses have come forward to assist with the investigation."Witnesses refused to help police identity who the gunman was, and no suspects were arrested in connection to the victim's death.East Salinas residents had been protesting all day on Del Monte Avenue where Salinas police shot a man Tuesday. A witness recorded the man's death on video and uploaded it on YouTube.VIDEO: Frame by frame analysisAfter the riot broke out Wednesday night, 911 dispatchers told law enforcement officers across Monterey and Santa Cruz counties to respond for mutual aid. Emergency lights and sirens were seen and heard racing through Moss Landing on Highway 1 toward Salinas. Salinas police officers wearing riot gear told the crowd to back up because they were establishing a radius around the homicide scene. The crowd did not move back until the mutual aide officers arrived from the Monterey County Sheriff, Watsonville, Santa Cruz, and the Monterey Peninsula.At 11 p.m., police arrested 26-year-old Diego Ruiz on charges of inciting a riot and resisting arrest."Diego was in a crowd of demonstrators near the shooting scene at Del Monte Avenue and Mae Avenue. He taunted officers, antagonized a police K9, and moved through the crowd gathering followers. He was seen looking back into the crowd several times and encouraging others to join him. (He) eventually approached a group of officers and began challenging them while taking a fighting stance," officer James Godwin said.A Seaside police officer who had responded to the call for mutual aide took Ruiz into custody and booked him into the Monterey County Jail.Demonstrators declared officers used racist judgment and unnecessary force while killing three Hispanic men in three separate incidents in 2014.March 20: Angel Ruiz was armed with an Air soft pellet gun outside a restaurant on Constitution Boulevard when he was fatally shot by police.May 9: Osman Hernandez, 26, was armed with a lettuce knife when police shot him in the head outside Mi Pueblo in a busy shopping center on East Alisal Street. Hernandez was clutching a lettuce knife and ignoring police commands when he was shot, according to the police chief.May 20: An unnamed man armed with gardening shears was followed by police down North Sanborn Road before he was shot dead in front of several witnesses, including one witness who was recording with a camera. Police said he had threatened to kill a woman and tried to break into her home.A petition was created Wednesday on Change.org called Justice Salinas. By 5:40 p.m, more than 2,000 people had signed the petition.PHOTOS: 3 officer-involved shootings in Salinas"We completely understand that there is genuine concern and questions that need to be answered. We want to be able to come forth with all the facts,” police Cmdr. Vince Maiorana said. "It's a horrible situation when you have lost of life. We take investigations seriously no matter who is involved, so I just hope people don't rush to judgment." Anyone with information on Wednesday night's homicide is urged to call Detective Zuniga or Detective Gonzalez of the Salinas Police Department Investigations Bureau at 831-758-7929 or 831-758-7127.

Cleveland's defense did the job again against Tampa Bay, coming up with key stops and forcing turnovers. The snap count distributions for the Browns' defenders against the Buccaneers are listed below. [Week 9 offensive snap counts for Cleveland can be found here] Defensive Line Desmond Bryant Ahtyba Rubin Sione Fua Billy Winn Ishmaa'ily Kitchen 78% 50/64 plays 47% 30/64 plays 42% 27/64 plays 41% 26/64 plays 39% 25/64 plays Desmond Bryant: 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). Billy Winn: No stats registered (blocked field goal on ST). Ahtyba Rubin: 2 assists (2 combined). Ish'maaily Kitchen: 3 assists (3 combined). Sione Fua: 1 tackle, 2 assists (3 combined). Thoughts: The Browns wanted to take it easy on Billy Winn with this being his first game back, so Sione Fua actually saw more snaps than him. The defense only allowed Bobby Rainey to have 4 carries for 7 yards in the second half. Inside Linebacker Karlos Dansby Craig Robertson Chris Kirksey Tank Carder 100% 64/64 plays 56% 36/64 plays 33% 21/64 plays 2% 1/64 plays Karlos Dansby: 4 tackles, 1 assists (5 combined). Craig Robertson: 1 tackle, 3 assists (4 combined). Chris Kirksey: 1 tackle, 1 assist (2 combined). Tank Carder: No stats registered. Thoughts: For the second game in a row, Craig Robertson played more snaps than Chris Kirksey and did a very sound job. You can see the improvements in Robertson's game from a year ago, and he also tipped a punt on special teams. Tank Carder played one snap and came on a blitz when Cleveland was burned with a RB screen pass. Outside Linebacker Paul Kruger Jabaal Sheard Barkevious Mingo Eric Martin 75% 48/64 plays 72% 46/64 plays 58% 38/64 plays 2% 1/64 plays Jabaal Sheard: 2 assists (2 combined). 1 pass defended. Paul Kruger: 2 tackles (2 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit. Barkevious Mingo: 2 tackles, 2 assists (4 combined). 1 sack, 1 tackle for loss, 1 quarterback hit, 1 pass defended. Eric Martin: No stats registered. Thoughts: I'll admit -- I thought we'd be able to destroy Oniel Cousins a lot more than we did. With that said, he was still a liability on enough plays for the Browns' defense to take advantage as Paul Kruger and Barkevious Mingo notched sacks. Cornerback Joe Haden Buster Skrine Justin Gilbert K'Waun Williams 100% 64/64 plays 100% 64/64 plays 25% 16/64 plays 19% 12/64 plays Joe Haden: 2 tackles, 1 assist (3 combined). 3 passes defended. Buster Skrine: 7 tackles, 2 assists (9 combined). Justin Gilbert: 1 tackle (1 combined). 1 pass defended. K'Waun Williams: No stats registered. Thoughts: Joe Haden had another A+ day at cornerback, breaking up three passes, including one that he tipped into the arms of Donte Whitner for an interception. It was a rough day in coverage for Buster Skrine, but what should I expect in a matchup of a 5-9 cornerback vs. a 6-5 receiver? Kudos to the Buccaneers for taking advantage of that. Safety Tashaun Gipson Donte Whitner Jim Leonhard Johnson Bademosi 100% 64/64 plays 100% 64/64 plays 11% 7/64 plays 2% 1/64 plays Tashaun Gipson: 3 tackles, 2 combined (5 combined). 1 interception, 1 pass defended. Donte Whitner: 5 tackles, 3 assists (8 combined). 1 interception, 1 pass defended. Jim Leonhard: No stats registered. Johnson Bademosi: No stats registered. Thoughts: Donte Whitner has arrived. He logged his first interception of the season, and he should have had a strip, sack, and recovery in the first half, had Desmond Bryant's hands-to-the-face penalty not negated it. Whitner also made some hits behind the line of scrimmage. Tashaun Gipson made another interception and was so close to taking it to the house before being tripped up. Johnson Bademosi played on the same down that Tank Carder did.