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Revealed: Eye-watering salaries of university, PSNI and NHS top brass in Northern Ireland - Queen's pays 87 employees six-figure sums BelfastTelegraph.co.uk Almost 100 employees at Queen's University are earning more than £100,000 a year, it can be revealed. https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/revealed-eyewatering-salaries-of-university-psni-and-nhs-top-brass-in-northern-ireland-queens-pays-87-employees-sixfigure-sums-34192828.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/article34192835.ece/67e01/AUTOCROP/h342/2015-11-12_new_14522150_I1.JPG
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Almost 100 employees at Queen's University are earning more than £100,000 a year, it can be revealed.
Three receive at least £200,000, an analysis of senior staff pay has shown.
The number of individuals on six-figure salaries stood at 87 in 2014 - a rise of 7.4% on the previous year's total of 81.
Eight staff at Ulster University earn £100,000-plus.
The six-figure packages include not just academics, but some senior administrative staff. The vice-chancellors of both universities each receive around £250,000.
The huge financial packages have drawn criticism from the main academics and lecturers' union. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, said: "The excesses of a handful of people at the top in higher education has been an embarrassment for the sector for years now.
"University vice-chancellors have pleaded poverty to keep staff pay down, but often enjoyed bumper pay and expenses deals themselves.
"Staff are rightly tired of the hypocrisy from those at the top when it comes to pay and pensions and the time has come for all staff in our universities to be treated properly and paid fairly."
The issue of public sector pay has been in the spotlight this week after an investigation by the TaxPayers' Alliance campaign group.
It has surveyed a range of public bodies across the UK.
On Monday, the Belfast Telegraph reported how 15 senior officials at Northern Ireland councils received £100,000-plus in one year.
Top-level salaries at health trusts and police forces have also been disclosed.
Details of UK-wide university pay will be made public today.
Figures obtained by this newspaper show 87 staff at Queen's University received £100,000 or more in 2014. Of those, 21 received £150,000-plus.
Employment and Learning Minister Stephen Farry, who is in charge of universities, is paid £80,902.
Prime Minister David Cameron receives £142,500.
Ulster Unionist MLA Robin Swann, who chairs the Assembly's employment and learning committee, expressed surprise at the extent of six-figure salaries at Queen's.
"It is necessary to pay good wages for the best people to run our universities, but I am taken aback by the numbers earning those good wages," he said.
The Belfast Telegraph has previously reported on the salaries of the universities' vice-chancellors.
Professor Patrick Johnston, who has held the top post at Queen's since March 2014, receives a £249,000 package.
Professor Paddy Nixon, the vice-chancellor of Ulster University, is paid £250,000.
NHS: Consultant takes home £350,000
A consultant in Northern Ireland was paid almost £350,000 last year.
The individual, whose name has not been disclosed, works for the Western Health and Social Care Trust. The consultant's pay was almost £70,000 in excess of the second highest earner in Northern Ireland.
A total of 1,065 employees of health trusts received six-figure salaries during the 12 months to April 2014.
The Western Trust had Northern Ireland's highest earner, with a consultant receiving £343,210.They were among 164 staff who were paid in excess of £100,000.
The Belfast Trust, Northern Ireland's biggest health trust, had the highest number of six-figure earners, with 375 receiving £100,000-plus and 10 earning £200,000 or more. The top earners received £250,000. The South-Eastern health trust has 177 staff earning £100,000 or more, including nine on £200,000-plus.
Meanwhile, 175 employees at the Northern Health Trust receive £100,000 or more, including five earning £200,000-plus. There are a further 174 staff at the Southern Health Trust on six-figure salaries, with eight earning £200,000.
A spokesperson for the Health and Social Care Board said: "Health service salaries are nationally agreed. The salary scale for consultants rises to over £100,000 per annum, therefore, given the size of the consultant workforce, all trusts will have a significant number of such salaries. Only a small number of those earning over £100,000 are in non-clinical posts."
Police: Top female officer got £200k in final year in post
Northern Ireland's most senior female police officer received almost £200,000 in her final year with the PSNI, it has been revealed.
Judith Gillespie, who stepped down in March 2014, had the force's biggest remuneration package.
Her £196,543 total may have included a severance payment linked to her departure.
She was one of 65 PSNI officers who received remuneration in excess of £100,000 in the 12 months to April 2014.
Five other officers received £150,000 or more.
Matt Baggott received £194,995;
Alistair Finlay received £154,556;
George Hamilton received £153,745;
Will Kerr received £151,920;
Drew Harris received £151,684.
The salaries were revealed after an investigation by the TaxPayers' Alliance pressure group, which found at least 670 police employees across the UK received remuneration of more than £100,000.
TaxPayers' Alliance chief executive Jonathan Isaby said the packages would raise questions.
"The men and women working in these services do tough, dangerous jobs for which the public are grateful," he said.
"But that only makes it even more infuriating when those at the top continue to get taxpayer-funded deals and pay-offs that are completely out of step with reality.
Ms Gillespie had the highest police remuneration package in Northern Ireland. She joined the RUC in 1982 and rose to the rank of Deputy Chief Constable, a role she held from June 2009 until her retirement in March 2014.
According to the PSNI website, the Deputy Chief Constable receives a basic pay of £160,416.
Thus her £196,543 package may have included a severance payment linked to her departure, or other allowances or benefits.
In March 2011, less than two years into her post as Deputy Chief Constable, Ms Gillespie could have retired with a £500,000 severance payout. Instead she opted to stay on for three more years.
Belfast Telegraph
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Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a much-anticipated notice Thursday that the state will appeal a federal judge’s ruling last month that overturned Florida’s voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. (Photo: AP FILES )
With the November election just around the corner, Gov. Rick Scott is playing it safe regarding one of the country’s thorniest political issues — gay marriage.
Attorney General Pam Bondi filed a much-anticipated notice Thursday that the state will appeal a federal judge's ruling last month that overturned Florida's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. But in the lead-up to Bondi's move, Scott sidestepped questions about whether the state should appeal.
"This is a constitutional matter and it is the responsibility of the attorney general to handle cases involving Florida?s Constitution," Scott spokesman John Tupps said in an e-mail before Bondi's filing.
Tupps’s statement echoed what Scott told reporters this week while on the campaign trail.
But it isn’t that simple.
As part of U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle's Aug. 21 ruling, Scott and Bondi were removed as individual defendants in the case, which is a consolidation of two separate federal lawsuits and involves gay couples married in other states. The lawsuits include challenges to gay couples' inability in Florida to get pension benefits or health insurance for spouses.
Hinkle left standing as defendants, however, two Scott appointees — the secretaries of the Department of Management Services and the Department of Health. Because they answer to the governor, Hinkle wrote that it was "redundant" for Scott to remain a defendant but left the door open for the governor to be added later.
"Rick Scott has been throwing Pam Bondi under the bus for a long time on this issue. He is continuing to hide behind the attorney general but he can't hide any more," said Daniel Tilley, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida representing SAVE Foundation, a Miami-based non-profit whose members include couples involved in the case.
Tilley added: "The fact is he is in effect the client and the client decides how the litigation proceeds. It’s bizarre to suggest as the client that he has no say in this matter. He has all of the say."
The issue of gay marriage poses an election-year challenge for Scott, who has the support of Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger, a lawyer responsible for getting the "Florida Marriage Protection Act" onto the ballot in 2008 and helping get it passed.
Stemberger said Scott has been "solid and consistent" in his opposition to gay marriage.
The governor, who has been saddled by low approval numbers, may not want to alienate Christian conservatives like Stemberger, especially in what is expected to be a tight race against Democratic challenger Charlie Crist.
Crist is unabashedly seeking the support of gay activists, however. The former Republican apologized to the gay community last year for previously throwing his support behind the constitutional ban on gay marriage.
A NIGHT OUT WITH THE GUYS
When is a fund-raising invitation mentioning cigars not just a fund-raising invitation mentioning cigars? When it plays into the narrative a candidate's opponent is trying to build in the campaign.
This week, BuzzFeed published an invitation to a men-only fundraiser held in March to support Republican Congressman Steve Southerland, who's battling Democrat Gwen Graham in what appears to be a tight race in North Florida. An excerpt:
"Good men sitting around discussing & solving political & social problems over fine food & drink date back to the 12th Century with King Arthur's Round Table. ... Tell the Misses not to wait up because the after dinner whiskey and cigars will be smooth & the issues to discuss are many."
Southerland's campaign told BuzzFeed that it was "laughable that an issue is being made over an invitation to a private event hosted on Steve's behalf six months ago." But Democrats, who have been hammering Southerland for not voting for one version of the Violence Against Women Act (he's pointed to his vote for a GOP alternative), were trying to make sure they had the last laugh.
"Congressman Southerland owes North Floridians an apology for his demeaning attitude towards women and his refusal to be honest about his vote against the Violence Against Women Act," said Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Allison Tant. "He should treat his constituents with the respect they deserve and stop telling voters in North Florida one thing while doing another in Washington."
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Plymouth Harbor Market Days, run by the nonprofit group Explore Historic Plymouth, began the season with two farmers’ markets – the Thursday afternoon market at Stephens Field and the Saturday market on the 1820 Courthouse Green. But as of last Thursday, the organization is now hosting a third – this one at The Pinehills.
Plymouth Harbor Market Days, run by the nonprofit group Explore Historic Plymouth, began the season with two farmers’ markets – the Thursday afternoon market at Stephens Field and the Saturday market on the 1820 Courthouse Green. But as of last Thursday, the organization is now hosting a third – this one at The Pinehills.
WHAT
Plymouth Harbor Market Days has added The Market at The Pinehills to its list of farmers’ market locations. The nonprofit Explore Historic Plymouth has dubbed this new market, “The Farmers’ Market at The Market.”
WHEN
The Farmers’ Market at The Market is being held from 10 a.m. to noon every Thursday through the fall.
WHERE
You will find The Farmers’ Market at The Market n the upper parking lot, across from Levis & Sons Gulf.
WHERE ELSE?
In addition to The Market, Plymouth Harbor Market Days farmers’ markets are held at Stephens Field every Thursday and on The 1820 Courthouse Green every Saturday.
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Those moments were full of suspense. Hushed whispers spread quickly across the corridors of the sessions court that an accused in the Shakti Mill gang rape case who had been brought to the court premises had probably given the cops the slip. Seemed like a deja vu of what terror accused Afzal Usmani had done last week.
The ‘news’ spread like wildfire. The police, jail officials and media went into a tizzy. And then after much hullabaloo, it turned out that the rape accused, Siraj Khan alias Sirju, had not been brought to the court premises, after all. Khan was safely lodged within the confines of Thane Central Prison.
It all began at 2.45pm when special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam was about to initiate proceedings and court officials asked all the accused to be brought inside the court. One by one, all the accused in the Shakti Mill gang rape case Kasim Sheikh alias Bangali, Vijay Jadhav alias Nanu and Salim Ansari were herded into the court. However, the fourth accused, Siraj Khan, did not show up. The court officials called out his name again. No response.
Principal judge Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi then asked Nikam of Khan’s whereabouts. After checking with crime branch officials, Nikam told the court that there was confusion and no one had an inkling where Khan was.
However, the three accused present in court were been in police custody as they have been accused in another rape case while Suraj had been sent to Thane prison.
Nikam told the court that the Thane jail authorities had sent written communication that Khan was “not in their custody” but was in the custody of the crime branch.
And this is what triggered all the confusion.
The media present in the court were quick to flash the news that Khan had gone mission. Some went a step ahead to say that he had probably fled.
Later, realising their ignorance of Khan’s presence in their custody, the Thane jail authorities confirmed that Khan was very much in their custody and was in the prison.
Additional director general (prisons) Meeran Borwankar told dna. “Sirju [Khan] is present in Thane jail and has not fled.”
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// naivemain runs the Subscribe example with the naive Subscribe // implementation and a fake RSS fetcher. // +build OMIT package main import ( "fmt" "math/rand" "time" ) // STARTITEM OMIT // An Item is a stripped-down RSS item. type Item struct{ Title, Channel, GUID string } // STOPITEM OMIT // STARTFETCHER OMIT // A Fetcher fetches Items and returns the time when the next fetch should be // attempted. On failure, Fetch returns a non-nil error. type Fetcher interface { Fetch() (items []Item, next time.Time, err error) } // STOPFETCHER OMIT // STARTSUBSCRIPTION OMIT // A Subscription delivers Items over a channel. Close cancels the // subscription, closes the Updates channel, and returns the last fetch error, // if any. type Subscription interface { Updates() <-chan Item Close() error } // STOPSUBSCRIPTION OMIT // STARTSUBSCRIBE OMIT // Subscribe returns a new Subscription that uses fetcher to fetch Items. func Subscribe(fetcher Fetcher) Subscription { s := &sub{ fetcher: fetcher, updates: make(chan Item), // for Updates closing: make(chan chan error), // for Close } go s.loop() return s } // STOPSUBSCRIBE OMIT // sub implements the Subscription interface. type sub struct { fetcher Fetcher // fetches items updates chan Item // sends items to the user closing chan chan error // for Close } // STARTUPDATES OMIT func (s *sub) Updates() <-chan Item { return s.updates } // STOPUPDATES OMIT // STARTCLOSE OMIT // STARTCLOSESIG OMIT func (s *sub) Close() error { // STOPCLOSESIG OMIT errc := make(chan error) s.closing <- errc // HLchan return <-errc // HLchan } // STOPCLOSE OMIT // loopCloseOnly is a version of loop that includes only the logic // that handles Close. func (s *sub) loopCloseOnly() { // STARTCLOSEONLY OMIT var err error // set when Fetch fails for { select { case errc := <-s.closing: // HLchan errc <- err // HLchan close(s.updates) // tells receiver we're done return } } // STOPCLOSEONLY OMIT } // loopFetchOnly is a version of loop that includes only the logic // that calls Fetch. func (s *sub) loopFetchOnly() { // STARTFETCHONLY OMIT var pending []Item // appended by fetch; consumed by send var next time.Time // initially January 1, year 0 var err error for { var fetchDelay time.Duration // initally 0 (no delay) if now := time.Now(); next.After(now) { fetchDelay = next.Sub(now) } startFetch := time.After(fetchDelay) select { case <-startFetch: var fetched []Item fetched, next, err = s.fetcher.Fetch() if err != nil { next = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Second) break } pending = append(pending, fetched...) } } // STOPFETCHONLY OMIT } // loopSendOnly is a version of loop that includes only the logic for // sending items to s.updates. func (s *sub) loopSendOnly() { // STARTSENDONLY OMIT var pending []Item // appended by fetch; consumed by send for { var first Item var updates chan Item // HLupdates if len(pending) > 0 { first = pending[0] updates = s.updates // enable send case // HLupdates } select { case updates <- first: pending = pending[1:] } } // STOPSENDONLY OMIT } // mergedLoop is a version of loop that combines loopCloseOnly, // loopFetchOnly, and loopSendOnly. func (s *sub) mergedLoop() { // STARTFETCHVARS OMIT var pending []Item var next time.Time var err error // STOPFETCHVARS OMIT for { // STARTNOCAP OMIT var fetchDelay time.Duration if now := time.Now(); next.After(now) { fetchDelay = next.Sub(now) } startFetch := time.After(fetchDelay) // STOPNOCAP OMIT var first Item var updates chan Item if len(pending) > 0 { first = pending[0] updates = s.updates // enable send case } // STARTSELECT OMIT select { case errc := <-s.closing: // HLcases errc <- err close(s.updates) return // STARTFETCHCASE OMIT case <-startFetch: // HLcases var fetched []Item fetched, next, err = s.fetcher.Fetch() // HLfetch if err != nil { next = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Second) break } pending = append(pending, fetched...) // HLfetch // STOPFETCHCASE OMIT case updates <- first: // HLcases pending = pending[1:] } // STOPSELECT OMIT } } // dedupeLoop extends mergedLoop with deduping of fetched items. func (s *sub) dedupeLoop() { const maxPending = 10 // STARTSEEN OMIT var pending []Item var next time.Time var err error var seen = make(map[string]bool) // set of item.GUIDs // HLseen // STOPSEEN OMIT for { // STARTCAP OMIT var fetchDelay time.Duration if now := time.Now(); next.After(now) { fetchDelay = next.Sub(now) } var startFetch <-chan time.Time // HLcap if len(pending) < maxPending { // HLcap startFetch = time.After(fetchDelay) // enable fetch case // HLcap } // HLcap // STOPCAP OMIT var first Item var updates chan Item if len(pending) > 0 { first = pending[0] updates = s.updates // enable send case } select { case errc := <-s.closing: errc <- err close(s.updates) return // STARTDEDUPE OMIT case <-startFetch: var fetched []Item fetched, next, err = s.fetcher.Fetch() // HLfetch if err != nil { next = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Second) break } for _, item := range fetched { if !seen[item.GUID] { // HLdupe pending = append(pending, item) // HLdupe seen[item.GUID] = true // HLdupe } // HLdupe } // STOPDEDUPE OMIT case updates <- first: pending = pending[1:] } } } // loop periodically fecthes Items, sends them on s.updates, and exits // when Close is called. It extends dedupeLoop with logic to run // Fetch asynchronously. func (s *sub) loop() { const maxPending = 10 type fetchResult struct { fetched []Item next time.Time err error } // STARTFETCHDONE OMIT var fetchDone chan fetchResult // if non-nil, Fetch is running // HL // STOPFETCHDONE OMIT var pending []Item var next time.Time var err error var seen = make(map[string]bool) for { var fetchDelay time.Duration if now := time.Now(); next.After(now) { fetchDelay = next.Sub(now) } // STARTFETCHIF OMIT var startFetch <-chan time.Time if fetchDone == nil && len(pending) < maxPending { // HLfetch startFetch = time.After(fetchDelay) // enable fetch case } // STOPFETCHIF OMIT var first Item var updates chan Item if len(pending) > 0 { first = pending[0] updates = s.updates // enable send case } // STARTFETCHASYNC OMIT select { case <-startFetch: // HLfetch fetchDone = make(chan fetchResult, 1) // HLfetch go func() { fetched, next, err := s.fetcher.Fetch() fetchDone <- fetchResult{fetched, next, err} }() case result := <-fetchDone: // HLfetch fetchDone = nil // HLfetch // Use result.fetched, result.next, result.err // STOPFETCHASYNC OMIT fetched := result.fetched next, err = result.next, result.err if err != nil { next = time.Now().Add(10 * time.Second) break } for _, item := range fetched { if id := item.GUID; !seen[id] { // HLdupe pending = append(pending, item) seen[id] = true // HLdupe } } case errc := <-s.closing: errc <- err close(s.updates) return case updates <- first: pending = pending[1:] } } } // naiveMerge is a version of Merge that doesn't quite work right. In // particular, the goroutines it starts may block forever on m.updates // if the receiver stops receiving. type naiveMerge struct { subs []Subscription updates chan Item } // STARTNAIVEMERGE OMIT func NaiveMerge(subs ...Subscription) Subscription { m := &naiveMerge{ subs: subs, updates: make(chan Item), } // STARTNAIVEMERGELOOP OMIT for _, sub := range subs { go func(s Subscription) { for it := range s.Updates() { m.updates <- it // HL } }(sub) } // STOPNAIVEMERGELOOP OMIT return m } // STOPNAIVEMERGE OMIT // STARTNAIVEMERGECLOSE OMIT func (m *naiveMerge) Close() (err error) { for _, sub := range m.subs { if e := sub.Close(); err == nil && e != nil { err = e } } close(m.updates) // HL return } // STOPNAIVEMERGECLOSE OMIT func (m *naiveMerge) Updates() <-chan Item { return m.updates } type merge struct { subs []Subscription updates chan Item quit chan struct{} errs chan error } // STARTMERGESIG OMIT // Merge returns a Subscription that merges the item streams from subs. // Closing the merged subscription closes subs. func Merge(subs ...Subscription) Subscription { // STOPMERGESIG OMIT m := &merge{ subs: subs, updates: make(chan Item), quit: make(chan struct{}), errs: make(chan error), } // STARTMERGE OMIT for _, sub := range subs { go func(s Subscription) { for { var it Item select { case it = <-s.Updates(): case <-m.quit: // HL m.errs <- s.Close() // HL return // HL } select { case m.updates <- it: case <-m.quit: // HL m.errs <- s.Close() // HL return // HL } } }(sub) } // STOPMERGE OMIT return m } func (m *merge) Updates() <-chan Item { return m.updates } // STARTMERGECLOSE OMIT func (m *merge) Close() (err error) { close(m.quit) // HL for _ = range m.subs { if e := <-m.errs; e != nil { // HL err = e } } close(m.updates) // HL return } // STOPMERGECLOSE OMIT // NaiveDedupe converts a stream of Items that may contain duplicates // into one that doesn't. func NaiveDedupe(in <-chan Item) <-chan Item { out := make(chan Item) go func() { seen := make(map[string]bool) for it := range in { if !seen[it.GUID] { // BUG: this send blocks if the // receiver closes the Subscription // and stops receiving. out <- it // HL seen[it.GUID] = true } } close(out) }() return out } type deduper struct { s Subscription updates chan Item closing chan chan error } // Dedupe converts a Subscription that may send duplicate Items into // one that doesn't. func Dedupe(s Subscription) Subscription { d := &deduper{ s: s, updates: make(chan Item), closing: make(chan chan error), } go d.loop() return d } func (d *deduper) loop() { in := d.s.Updates() // enable receive var pending Item var out chan Item // disable send seen := make(map[string]bool) for { select { case it := <-in: if !seen[it.GUID] { pending = it in = nil // disable receive out = d.updates // enable send seen[it.GUID] = true } case out <- pending: in = d.s.Updates() // enable receive out = nil // disable send case errc := <-d.closing: err := d.s.Close() errc <- err close(d.updates) return } } } func (d *deduper) Close() error { errc := make(chan error) d.closing <- errc return <-errc } func (d *deduper) Updates() <-chan Item { return d.updates } // Fetch returns a Fetcher for Items from domain. func Fetch(domain string) Fetcher { return fakeFetch(domain) } func fakeFetch(domain string) Fetcher { return &fakeFetcher{channel: domain} } type fakeFetcher struct { channel string items []Item } // FakeDuplicates causes the fake fetcher to return duplicate items. var FakeDuplicates bool func (f *fakeFetcher) Fetch() (items []Item, next time.Time, err error) { now := time.Now() next = now.Add(time.Duration(rand.Intn(5)) * 500 * time.Millisecond) item := Item{ Channel: f.channel, Title: fmt.Sprintf("Item %d", len(f.items)), } item.GUID = item.Channel + "/" + item.Title f.items = append(f.items, item) if FakeDuplicates { items = f.items } else { items = []Item{item} } return } func NaiveSubscribe(fetcher Fetcher) Subscription { s := &naiveSub{ fetcher: fetcher, updates: make(chan Item), } go s.loop() return s } type naiveSub struct { fetcher Fetcher updates chan Item closed bool err error } func (s *naiveSub) Updates() <-chan Item { return s.updates } func (s *naiveSub) loop() {
for { if s.closed { close(s.updates) return } items, next, err := s.fetcher.Fetch() if err != nil { s.err = err
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Traffic jam near Beijing stretches on for days
Road maintenance and the rising number of vehicles in China contribute to 60 miles of gridlock on two highways to the capital.
"There was one day that I didn't move, not even an inch," said Bai, a resident of Jining in Inner Mongolia, a city at the western end of the traffic jam.
Bai Xiaolong, a 30-year-old truck driver, says it took him five days to make the 350-mile journey from Inner Mongolia to Tianjin, a port city east of Beijing. He spent much of that time reading, text-messaging and sleeping rather than accelerating, he said.
For more than nine days, for more than 60 miles, thousands of Beijing-bound vehicles have come to a virtual standstill on stretches of highways called the 6 and 110 (honest!) that run from Inner Mongolia southeast to the nation's capital.
Chinese officials quoted in the state news media attribute the epic congestion primarily to maintenance projects that began in mid-August and are not scheduled for completion until mid-September. Trucks carrying 8 tons or more of coal or fruit have been responsible for damaging the roadway, officials said, thus necessitating the work.
Motorists who regularly use the route counter that heavy traffic has long been a fact of life.
"The problem is really that there are too many cars and trucks and not enough lanes," Bai said. "We drivers are accustomed to this sort of thing happening."
The two national expressways are heavily traveled by trucks carrying coal from recently opened fields of Inner Mongolia to China's booming coastal cities. Coal provides the majority of the nation's energy, as well as a large portion of its notorious air pollution.
The seemingly endless jam began on the 6 and spread to the 110, which runs parallel, when officials sought to ease the traffic on the 6.
The Global Times, an English-language newspaper with ties to the Communist Party, said the jam had eased somewhat in the last two days, but residents of the region say the congestion simply spilled out onto other roads.
The tie-up has created an economy of its own. Vendors sell boxed lunches, ramen noodles and drinking water to the captive audience, often at jacked-up prices. Roving gangs reportedly have preyed on fatigued motorists, siphoning gasoline as they snooze.
And because of the long-standing problems along the highways, dozens of small hotels have cropped up, catering to drivers who seek a respite to catch more serious sleep.
"Business is good," said Li Chenli, a 40-year-old receptionist at a hotel in Xinghe, a stop along the route. "But we don't like the traffic jam. It's hard for relatives to come to visit. Life is inconvenient. Wherever you go, you're just waiting and waiting."
Traffic is an increasing frustration in China, which has become the world's largest market for new cars. In 2009, sales rose 45%. According to one traffic official, the number of cars on the road in Beijing increases by 1,900 a day.
At this point, the average speed of a car during morning commuting hours in the capital is 14.5 mph and is expected to drop to 9 mph by 2015, according to figures released Tuesday by the Beijing Transportation Research Center to the state news media.
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Planned strikes by engineers on Southern Railway due to start this weekend have been suspended after a breakthrough in last-minute talks.
Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union were due to walk out from 5pm on Sunday for five days, and not work any overtime this weekend, in a dispute over the working week, rosters and productivity.
General secretary Mick Cash said the company had agreed to a phased reduction in the working week to 37 hours by May 2017.
He said: "Southern recognises that the hard work and commitment of our engineering staff has contributed towards the efficient operation of the company over the life of the franchise and any pay offer will be fully cognisant of this fact.
"In recognition of this major breakthrough, it has been agreed to suspend both the strike action and the overtime ban."
Meanwhile, the RMT said the second day of a strike by its members on First Great Western in a separate dispute over new trains was being "solidly" supported.
Southern said in a statement: "During forthcoming pay talks, Southern will make an offer which will include a reduction in the working week, in a phased way, to a 37 hour week by May 2017 as part of a multi-year deal.
"Southern recognises that the hard work and commitment of our engineering staff has contributed towards the efficient operation of the company over the life of the franchise and any pay offer will be fully cognisant of this fact.
"In recognition of this the RMT has agreed to suspend the current dispute."
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Advertisement
Witnesses to last night's terror assault on the capital said they thought the three attackers were jumping from a van to help to the wounded.
They recoiled in horror when the jihadi extremists began punching, kicking and brandishing knives at innocent bystanders.
The attackers - who were all gunned down after armed police arrived within eight minutes - leapt from the van after careering across London Bridge and mowing down up to 20 pedestrians.
One witness said: 'No one was hurt from the van impact but as the men got out the van they started kicking, punching and stabbing victims they ran over. It was a rampage.'
A witness named Eric, who was on the south side of London Bridge when he saw the van on the wrong side of the road, told BBC Radio 5Live: 'It veered to the right and people were trying to run away from it.'
When it stopped, he said three people got out and he thought they were going to help the people who had been hit.
He added: 'But the three people literally started kicking them, punching them, and took out knives. It was a rampage really.'
Horrified witnesses said they initially thought the attackers were leaping from their van to help the injured - they recoiled in horror when they began punching and kicking innocent bystanders and brandishing knives
The rampaging attackers are then reported to have run off towards nearby pubs and restaurants in Borough Market to continue their onslaught.
Earlier, it was reported a woman used her own body to barricade a the door of a restaurant as the three extremists brought bloodshed to the Borough Market area - killing seven people and injuring 48 others.
Taxi driver Aksha Patel said that the one of his passengers, an unnamed woman, blocked the door of the Black and Blue restaurant to prevent the attackers from getting inside.
Though she was only able to hold the door for a few minutes, her heroic actions allowed terrified revellers to flee to safety.
'There was two passengers, they came out of the Black and Blue restaurant', he told Sky News.
'How they described it to me was they were preventing the guys from getting into the restaurant. She knew they were bad people trying to break in.
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A police officer stands guard on Borough High Street. One witness said she saw three people with what appeared to be their throats cut on London Bridge amid the 'utter chaos'
Horrified bystanders ran down Borough High Street as police shouted at them to run to safety
Police arrived at the scene of the attack within eight minutes and instructed revellers to leave the area. On Twitter, Metropolitan Police urged people caught up in the attack to 'run to a place of safety, hide and tell'
'She managed to hold the door for a few seconds but they overpowered her.
'People managed to escape through the rear door so she saved maybe 20 peoples lives'.
It comes after another taxi driver described how he attempted to stop the attackers' rampage by hitting them with his car.
The man named Chris said he spun his vehicle around in an effort to run into the attackers and put a stop to the bloodshed.
'I thought, 'I'm gonna try and hit him, I'm gonna try and knock him down'', he told LBC Radio.
'I was shouting at everybody, just get away from the area, stay back, just run the other way. There were a good few hundred people out there.'
Seven people were killed in last night's attack at Borough Market and London Bridge and 48 others were rushed to six hospitals around London.
Police arrived at the scene within eight minutes and gunned down the three suspects - who were wearing fake suicide belts.
After careering a van across London Bridge and mowing down pedestrians, the jihadi attackers continued their attack around Borough Market.
The mystery driver continued: 'He's veered across the road towards the right hand of where Southwark Cathedral is and rammed it where the steps are.
'He just rammed it towards them, wedged it in between the lamppost and the steps and so he's hit people there.
'They've jumped out of the van and started stabbing people randomly. There was a scattering of people.'
One witness said she saw three people with what appeared to be their throats cut on London Bridge amid the 'utter chaos'.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said armed police patrols are to be increased around the capital and that London Bridge station and tube station are closed.
Witnesses reported hearing 'rapid gunfire' as three jihadi attackers launched their attack - killing seven people and injuring at least 48 - leaving bodies 'strewn' on the road in central London.
One of the casualties was a British Transport police officer who has been confirmed to have received 'serious' but not life-threatening injuries.
Dash cam footage captured by another taxi driver as he drove across London Bridge shows members of the public and paramedics tending to the wounded.
Injured pedestrians can be seen lying on the pavement in the immediate aftermath of a van, which witnesses said careered across London Bridge in an 'S shape' at 50mph.
The three attackers - who were all gunned down by armed police - then began 'randomly stabbing' people in nearby Borough Market.
A white van has reportedly ploughed into 20 people in a suspected 'terror attack' on London Bridge station, amid unconfirmed reports of gunfire and stabbing
Terrifying footage from the scene shows police officers shouting 'Clear the scene now!' as panicked pedestrians flee
Police are treating injured people and carrying them away at the end Thrale Street
The horrific scene unfolded along the Thames in central London
Others said they saw three men, described as being 'of Mediterranean origin', jump out of the van and began 'randomly stabbing people' along Borough High Street with 12-inch long knives.
The car, believed to be a B&Q vehicle, was reportedly veering in an 'S shape' at 50mph across the bridge and has driven towards the Shard and is south of the river. The drivers have not been caught.
Terrifying footage from the scene shows police officers shouting 'Clear the scene now!' as panicked pedestrians flee.
The bridge is in lock down and the area around it is closed with bus routes being diverted, as armed police and a bomb squad attend the scene and boats search the water.
Police were treating injured people and carrying them away at the end Thrale Street. Members of the public were told by police to 'run as fast as they could' westbound.
One eyewitness who wished to remain anonymous told MailOnline: 'I was in Arabica restaurant with a friend in borough market. Suddenly there was commotion and people were screaming. Security guards were yelling at people to get back from the window. About 50 people piled into the restaurant.
'Then I heard two separate bursts of gunfire and people rushed into the restaurant kitchens to hide. It was utter chaos.
'Some people tried to leave the kitchens via the back door but some of us tried to keep people calm. We hid for 45minutes and then were evacuated from the market by armed police.'
A man known only as Gareth, who was inside a restaurant during the attack, told CNN: 'I think it's the first time in my life that I got the feeling that it's absolute game over.
'I've lived in London for 12 years and I lived pretty close to where the previous attack was, as well.
'I came down one evening and just happened to pick the restaurant there by chance.
'It was the fear - looking into my friends eyes and looking to a woman who was about to give birth and seeing the fear in their eyes and trying to calm them down and not being able to make a sound.
'We could hear voices outside of the door and people walking up and down and we had to keep deadly silent because we thought we were going to get gunned down through the door, basically because we could hear the shots outside.'
Dashcam footage captured by a taxi driver as he drove across London Bridge shows paramedics helping injured people on the roadside
The harrowing video shows the immediate aftermath of the attack and injured pedestrians being tended to by members of the public and later paramedics
Police have now confirmed that seven people died in last night's attack at the hands of three jihadi extremists who were gunned down by armed police who arrived at the scene within eight minutes
Police are also responding to an incident at Borough Market
Armed police are said to be at the scene while people have been seen fleeing the 'horrific scene' at the landmark in central London
London Bridge station has been evacuated amid reports of the suspected terror attack
Armed police and a bomb squad are at the scene as boats were seen searching the Thames
Pictures of the white van will be circulated across London.
Tony Murphy, who has a flat opposite Southwark Bridge, said he heard 'rapid gunfire'.
He said: 'I'm actually former military. I heard what was significant gunfire.
'At first I thought it was fireworks but it was so rapid I recognised what it was.
'It went on for quite a long time. The response took about 10 minutes. I immediately text my family and they said they heard it. It was tremendous gunfire.'
Holly Jones, a BBC reporter at the bridge when the incident happened, said a van had swerved off the road into a crowd of pedestrians.
'A white van driver came speeding – probably about 50mph – veered of the road into the crowds of people who were walking along the pavement,' she told BBC News.
'He swerved right round me and then hit about five or six people. He hit about two people in front of me and then three behind.'
Ms Jones later reported seeing a man being arrested by police. She said he was handcuffed and had his shirt off.
Witness Alessandro told the BBC that he saw a van at the end of London Bridge with no driver inside and described the 'five or six' people hit as 'very young'.
He said: 'I was going up the stairs of London Bridge Station. I saw this van going left and right trying to hit as many people as he could. I tried to help people.
'At the end of the bridge we saw a van but we didn't see anyone in the van.
'I think [the driver] went to the end of London Bridge. We didn't see the van stop because we were trying to help people.
'Everything was confused. There were five or six people [hit]. Three of them were conscious. One of them was not talking at all. He was just down.
'The five or six people we tried to help were really young.'
The bridge was seen to be on lockdown. London Bridge and the area around it has been closed due to a 'major police incident', TFL said
Witnesses told the BBC that a white van veered off the road on London Bridge and hit five or six people
Another taxi driver named only as Paul said: 'I was just going over London Bridge and on the left hand side it looked like someone had been knocked off a bike.
'A few yards on I saw another person laying down and a woman screaming.
'A few yards on from that there was a couple of bodies on the right hand side.'
Nick Archer, who was in the London Bridge area, told Sky News: 'We came out (of a bar) on to the road and looked and looked to my left and there is a guy, I thought he was just drinking but he was lying on the floor.
'And then a couple of seconds later, about three police vans flew past. 'He looked in a bad way.'
London Bridge and the area around it has been closed due to a 'major police incident', Transport for London said.
Holly, who said she was just two metres away from being hit by a white van, described the chaos on London Bridge after the attack.
She told Radio 5Live: I was probably two metres away. I saw it hit the people in front of me. I feel just so lucky now.
People were seen running away in panic amid reports of stabbing and gunfire
Armed police are attending the 'horrific' scene alongside ambulances
'It was all a blur, but as much as I can remember it was a male on their own [driving the van]. There are five people on the floor being attended too. There are loads of city police officers helping and boats on the Thames searching.'
The BBC's Holly Jones spoke to a French woman who had been injured in the incident.
She told Ms Jones: 'I don't know where those other two people are. So the police are checking the Thames.
'They were right near the edge of the bridge. It looks potentially they could have been thrown over.'
Witnesses told the BBC that a white van veered off the road on London Bridge and hit five or six people.
One witness wrote on Twitter: 'Passerby says 15-20 people have been run over. Another says 7 or 8.'
'Horrific scene at London Bridge. Bodies strewn over the pavement, B&Q van mounted the pavement. I feel sick,' one witness wrote.
'On a boat travelling under London Bridge. Buses stopped. Police lights everywhere and boats checking the water. Please let everyone be okay!' another added.
Police are dealing with a major incident and all routes are being diverted.'
The Metropolitan Police posted on Twitter: 'We are dealing with an incident on London Bridge, when we have more information we will update this twitter feed.'
London Bridge is closed both ways due to a police incident, Tfl said, warning the public to avoid the area.
Scotland Yard said officers were at the scene and they would update with further information.
London Ambulance said multiple resources were attending the area.
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Authored By Ashley Hopkins
I was eating at a Mexican restaurant yesterday in Dunlap, Tenn., and I started a conversation with a kid wearing an Assassin’s Creed (video game) T-shirt.
I randomly asked him if he was interested in computer programming, and his eyes lit up. He told me he was “messing around with building some websites in Java [a computer language],” but he really wanted to learn Python.
He pulled up a chair, and we started a conversation about computer programming. He told me he has always been interested in technology, but his high school didn’t teach it. After he graduated, he couldn’t get any loans for college, so he started working on cars. He said he loves to refinish old cars but would much rather work in the technology field.
If you haven’t heard about the computer programmer shortage in the United States yet, I will tell you firsthand, it is massive. And it is hitting every city in America. The few cities with enough programmers are already becoming the most lucrative places to start and relocate companies.
This summer at our business incubator, Lamp Post Group, we lost two 24-year-old, homegrown Chattanooga programmers to Seattle’s Amazon.com. Yes, that Amazon! Across the country, they are targeting and pillaging programmers to fulfill their demand. Did I mention that these two young programmers are now making well more than $100,000 a year and getting Amazon stock? Not too shabby for someone’s first real job.
Entrepreneurs Hadi Partovi and his brother, Ali Partovi, have started a massive campaign called Code.org. They are estimating that over the next decade, the United States will need 1.4 million programmer jobs to fulfill the demand. I beg you to watch the video on their website.
So what should we be doing as a community and a country?
We should be pushing our local schools to begin teaching computer programming at an early age.
We need to expose children to programming at an early age and see if it sticks. I have hired a tutor for my 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son to teach them coding. They are loving it! The other day, my daughter was supposed to make a poster for school about the moon, and she asked me if she could make a website instead (proud dad moment). She did, and her teacher at school was blown away. It is now more important than ever for our children to learn this language instead of other foreign languages. It incorporates math and serious problem-solving skills. There are so many free resources online now to learn and teach anyone at any age new skills. Check out https://www.codecademy.com/ and https://www.khanacademy.org/cs.
Get to know top local talent at our major employers, and engage professors at UTC, Chattanooga State, Covenant College, Lee University and Bryan College.
We need to start monthly learning and networking sessions. If any developers are interested, we host some of these meetings at Lamp Post and have people come in from all over town. Send me a message, and I can get you invited.
Programmers are helping each other all over town on specific problems. It is neat to watch unfold, but it also speaks to the potential of our tightly knit community if we are able to recruit programmers here and develop many of our own starting at a young age.
Join the movement to bring affordable housing downtown.
Almost all of the programmers that I know would love to find somewhere to live in our thriving downtown. They love the energy, electric shuttle and walkability of our city. We have to have a strong core to be a successful city, but the core can’t just have tourist attractions and great restaurants-it needs people who call it home.
Support our local forward-thinking library.
They have been leading the charge and getting teens involved with an awesome summer program. This is so next-level.
As Chattanooga begins to emerge as a notable startup city and searches for its niche in the tech world, what is stopping us from being the first city and the first county school district in the South to focus on producing great programming talent out of our schools? Why shouldn’t we be the place in the world that thought a few years ahead of the rest and began cranking out rock-star programmers so that high-paying jobs would swarm our community? Nothing is stopping us but ourselves. We are known for having an ability to build consensus around big ideas in Chattanooga. We talk about it a lot, so let’s live up to our reputation and do something bold for the future. In my opinion, this idea could rank right up there with putting Coca-Cola in a bottle for Chattanooga’s legacy, if we will make the necessary investments in our young people.
Ted Alling is a founder of venture capital and small business incubator Lamp Post Group. You can reach him on his blog or on Twitter. The opinions expressed in this column belong solely to the author, not Nooga.com or its employees.
Disclaimer: Nooga.com‘s parent company is Lamp Post Group, but editorial decisions for this publication are made independently of the Lamp Post Group.
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Trump says he would invite Putin to White House, but not now
President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who is fighting off allegations of ties between his election campaign and Moscow, said he would invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the White House but added that now was not the right time for that.The Republican president drew criticism last week from Democrats who accused him of not pressing Putin hard enough at a meeting they held in Germany over Moscow's alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Accusations that Moscow meddled in the election and colluded with the Trump campaign have dominated Trump's first months in office. Russia denies meddling, and Trump says there was no collusion. Trump's comments came as he defended his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who met with a Russian lawyer during the 2016 presidential campaign after he was told she might have damaging information about Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
SEE ALSO :Trump, Pelosi butt heads again but others see possible paths
Trump told Reuters on Wednesday that he did not know about his son's meeting until recently. But in a conversation with reporters later that day, Trump said that "in fact maybe it (the meeting) was mentioned at some point," adding he was not told it was about Clinton. Trump has said he wants to work with Moscow on issues like Syria, and told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One to Paris that he was open to the idea of inviting Putin to the White House at some point. "I don’t think this is the right time, but the answer is yes, I would," when asked if he would extend such an invitation to the Russian leader. The comments were released by the White House on Thursday.U.S intelligence agencies said earlier this year that Russia sought to help Trump win the election by hacking private emails from Democratic Party officials and disseminating false information online.
SEE ALSO :Trump allowed to enforce ban on transgender military
Trump said in the Reuters interview on Wednesday that he had asked Putin last week if he was involved in Russian interference in the campaign, spending the first 20 or 25 minutes on that issue during a meeting that lasted more than two hours. "I said, 'Did you do it?' And he said, 'No, I did not. Absolutely not.' I then asked him a second time in a totally different way. He said absolutely not," Trump said. Washington this week has been fixated on emails disclosed by Donald Trump Jr., showing him eagerly meeting with lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya in June last year - the most tangible evidence of a connection between Trump's campaign and Russia, a subject that has also prompted an investigation by a federal special counsel. Trump Jr. was told by an intermediary that the lawyer had information that was part of Moscow's official support for his father's campaign. Trump said in Paris on Thursday that nothing of substance came of the meeting.
SEE ALSO :White House refutes reports of canceled trade meeting
"My son is a wonderful young man. He took a meeting with a Russian lawyer, not a government lawyer but a Russian lawyer. It was a short meeting. It was a meeting that went very, very quickly, very fast," he said at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron. Trump said it was normal in U.S. politics for campaign teams to look into allegations about their opponents, as his son agreed to do before the meeting in June 2016. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley, a Republican, planned to send a letter on Thursday to the younger Trump to ask him to appear before his committee in a public session, CNN reported. U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the top-ranking Republican in Congress, urged Trump's son to testify. "I think any witness who's been asked to testify in Congress should do that," Ryan said.
SEE ALSO :Trump delays SOTU Address until shutdown ends
Watchdog groups filed a complaint against Donald Trump Jr., Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and former campaign chief Paul Manafort on Thursday with the Federal Election Commission, which oversees elections, arguing the three violated the law by meeting with the Russian.
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December 6, 2016 | 13:59 0 VANDALISM IN NOVI SAD: Exhibit dedicated to Vukovar destroyed (PHOTO)
- The message behind this act is that young and angry world still exists. I am sorry about that, because they probably have it hard in life - said the author of the exhibit "Vukovar - killing of a city", Srdjan Veljovic
Foto: 021.rs
In the passage of Milana Mladenovic in Zmaj Jovina 22 in Novi Sad, the exhibit was placed on 18th November by Srdjan Veljovic " Vukovar - killing of a city", and it has been completely destroyed, after the vandals broke the glasses and ripped the photos.
This is what students in EU are learning about wars in Yugoslavia, Tito and Milosevic
Two days ago writings appeared on the glasses: "What about killed Serbs?", "Bastards", "F*ck you'r Vukovar", and they were smashed last night.
The workers in the nearby stores said for portal 21 that the police was called and now they are waiting for investigation to be completed, while the author of the exhibit said that the intention of this was to remind on destruction of Vukovar.
He adds that he is not surprised by this action.
- Firs impression is that vandals are lazy, because it took them quite a while to notice the exhibit and to react. However, we had that in mind, because the subject causes that kind of reaction. While i chose the photos i picked them to be unquestionable and cleansed of all politics about who started what first, who are "we" and who are "them" - said Veljovic and added:
- The message behind this act is that young and angry world still exists. I am sorry about that, because they probably have it hard in life. So destruction brought them aesthetic comfort, and at least that is some use of the exhibit.
He added that the idea of exhibit was to show that there was a city and that i has been destroyed, and to show that after a quarter of a century, the cards turn.
- It is a entire generation of adult people. We should consider about relationships between us, what could be better? Just like i had fear that my exhibit will cause something like that, there is fear that mine or someone else's children will come in the same situation of something like this happening again - he said and continues:
- Again, opposite of that, there is a paradox that everybody want to leave the territory my generation so passionately fought and butchered for. That energy about missing territories brought the feeling 25 years later that people don't want to live in these areas anymore.
The exhibit was posted by "Art klinika" and "Women in black" on 25th anniversary since the fall of Vukovar and it was supposed to last for a month, and Veljovic said they still haven't decided what are they going do to with it, if they will repeat the exhibit on the same or some other location.
(Telegraf.co.uk / 021.rs)
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Councillor Andy Foster will show Wellingtonians where their brand new inner-city park is.
Wellington City Council has snapped up a forgotten historic park in the central city that was so obscure councillors became lost searching for it.
Flagstaff Hill is accessible only through a labyrinth of walking tracks between Willis St and The Terrace, and councillors admit most Wellingtonians would have never heard of the place.
"It's not the easiest place to find, you access it through some back paths that have some zig zags," Andy Foster said on-site on Thursday.
ASHTEN MACDONALD/ FAIRFAX NZ The hidden inner-city park that Wellington City Council have recently purchased at Flagstaff Hill.
READ MORE:
* Who will buy Flagstaff Hill?
On Wednesday night, the council voted unanimously to buy the 1630 metre square block of land from private developers, with an eye to turning it into a more widely used space.
Foster said he was familiar with the site but admitted some other councillors who voted to buy Flagstaff had struggled to place it on a map.
Several got lost on their way to an on-site meeting.
It is understood the council paid just $150,000 for the site, which has a rateable value of $600,000.
Foster said the plans for developing the park were vague at this stage, but it was hoped more could be done to recognise its historical significance and make people aware it existed.
"Hopefully it becomes a park that sort of sits in the middle of the neighbourhood."
The reserve, which can only be reached on foot from Percival St and Allenby Tce, has strong historical associations with the early European settlement period.
After the Wairau Affray, a bloody confrontation between Maori and Pakeha near Blenheim in 1843, settlers established a series of flagstaffs in Wellington to warn of impending Maori attack.
The first recorded flag was raised on the site in 1857, but it is not known who raised it.
The land was first referred to as Flagstaff Hill in 1891 and the name has remained in use since.
A group of cottages surrounding the site are some of the oldest original cottages in the central city. And while it had been passed between many private owners, including New Zealand Breweries and Massey University, the site has been looked after by the council since 1972.
The owners iuntil now were developers Mike and Gay O'Sullivan, who had plans and consent to build 12 apartments as part of their growing apartment complex behind St George Hotel on Willis St.
Mike O'Sullivan said on Thursday that he was happy to "gift" the site to Wellington, providing the council kept it as park. The "nominal" price had been used to offset the development fees for his other building projects, he said.
"Wellington has been very good to myself and my wife and we wanted to give something back."
Council natural environment portfolio leader Helene Ritchie said Flagstaff Hill was a "green oasis" in one of the most densely populated parts of the city.
"It's a great quiet spot for lunch on a fine day. It could also be a performance or outdoor theatre space. Parts of it could be turned into a community garden."
Foster said one of the first changes could be erecting an actual flag. "The flagstaff is being represented by a dead branch, I think we can do better than that."
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The U.S. Air Force is thinking about replacing the late-1950s- era engines on its Boeing B-52 bombers with modern ones. It should have done that a decade ago, but back then, the Air Force believed that the cost of the new engines would barely be offset by the savings in fuel. This reasoning was based on the assessment that the cost of fuel wasn’t that high, but the service forgot that B-52s are voracious users of air-to-air refuel- ing. By the time the gas comes out of a KC-135 tanker’s boom, the delivery cost has increased by a factor of 15.
This planning deficit is nothing unusual. It would be a tribute to Boeing engineers’ advance planning that the BUFF (Big Ugly Fat, er, Fella) is due to keep flying until at least 2040, when the airplanes will be octogenarians...except that the longevity has been achieved despite the best that military planners could do.
The B-52 was nearly cancelled before a sliver of metal was cut. By the fall of 1948, Boeing had designed a swept-wing, tur- boprop-powered XB-52, but in October a Boeing team at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio, was handed the bad news. Convair had just proposed hanging jet booster engines on the in-production B-36, erasing much of the XB-52’s speed advantage. But, the Air Force planners said, if Boeing could come up with an all-jet, long-range bomber....
That was on a Friday. Boeing’s team, led by aerodynamicist George Schairer and chief engineer Ed Wells, retreated to the Van Cleve Hotel in Dayton. On Monday, they briefed the customer on what was unmistakably the BUFF. (The only embellishment heard in this oft-repeated tale is that they designed it from scratch, when in fact they scaled up some features of the XB-55, a smaller bomber that was never built.) Before the stores closed, Schairer bought balsa wood, tools, paint, and glue, crafting a silver-painted display model that survives today in Boeing’s Chicago headquarters.
The Air Force planned the B-52’s demise again in the mid- 1950s, after Boeing had built about 450 of the bombers. The service was pursuing two replacements: a supersonic bomber burning boron-doped “zip fuel,” and a nuclear-powered air- craft. Neither went well, and in 1957 the Air Force signed on to Boeing’s stop-gap proposal for an improved B-52. Apart from a shorter vertical tail, the B-52G looked a lot like its predeces- sors, but its structure was lighter and its takeoff weight much greater, while integrated wing tanks replaced rubber bladders, boosting payload and range. It was designed to carry a pair of North American GAM-77 Hound Dog cruise missiles, which required heavy-duty pylons under the wings.
But even the B-52G was not the end of the line. Everyone other than the Air Force was becoming convinced that missilessiles, not airplanes, would be the future of nuclear deterrence. The bomber generals hedged their bets by developing Skybolt, a 1,150-mile- range, air-launched ballistic missile. The 20-ton total weight of four Skybolts called for more power, so the B-52H was given the engines from the latest 707 airliner. Unsurprisingly, the project did not go as planned. The last B-52H was delivered in October 1962, and two months later, the Skybolt was scrapped.
B-52s dropped iron bombs in the Vietnam War, and the G and H models were then modified to carry new-generation cruise missiles.The Air Force planned to replace them first with the swing-wing Rockwell B-1A, scrapped in 1977, then a combination of B-1Bs and B-2 stealth bombers.
The B-52G was retired in 1994, but only 21 B-2s were built. The B-52H flew on. No combat aircraft in the world has ever carried a greater load of weapons over a greater range, and the B-52 has wing pylons for long or bulky weapons that won’t fit in the weapon bay. Those two features provide the adaptability that explains the BUFF’s longevity.
In addition to looking at new engines, the Air Force is studying long-range hypersonic missiles. It’s a safe bet that if such a weapon makes it into service, the B-52 will be the first aircraft to carry it. Not bad for an old...fella.
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Like a game of whack-a-mole, Hillary Clinton's secret email server scandal continues this week as the former secretary of state has just one more day to explain to a federal court why she shouldn't have to testify under oath about the system.
On Friday, the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch submitted a request for permission to depose Clinton, along with two other current and former government officials, as part of the ongoing Freedom of Information Act lawsuit looking into aide Huma Abedin's special employment arrangement with the State Department.
'As the primary driving force behind and principal user of the clintonemail.com system, however, Secretary Clinton’s testimony is crucial to understanding how and why the system was created and operated,' the brief argued, calling Clinton a 'indispensable witness.'
The court gave Clinton, along with two other officials – Clarence Finney and John Bentel – until Tuesday to respond.
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Hillary Clinton's email scandal continues this week as the former secretary of state has until tomorrow to respond and explain why she shouldn't have to testify as part of Freedom of Information Act lawsuit
At issue is Clinton aide Huma Abedin's (left) special work arrangement at the State Department. Abedin testified in the suit in late June, while Clinton's former chief of staff Cheryl Mills (right) was deposed in late May
At the heart of the Freedom of Information Act lawsuit is Abedin's double-dipping job arrangement.
In the spring of 2012, Abedin went from being Clinton's deputy chief of staff at the State Department to a senior advisor role, a job with a 'special government employee' status that allowed Abedin to bring in outside income as well.
The longtime Clinton aide, who now serves as the likely Democratic nominee's vice chairwoman of the campaign, then worked for the Clinton-affiliated global consulting firm Teneo.
Abedin also did work for the Clinton Foundation.
The lawsuit originated in September 2013, with the conservative watchdog seeking documentation about Abedin's special arrangement.
By February 2014 the State Department assured the group that it had given them all the necessary documents and so Judicial Watch agreed to dismiss the lawsuit a month later.
In February, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan (pictured) granted Judicial Watch the right to question Clinton's top aides as part of an ongoing Freedom of Information Act lawsuit
A year went by and in March 2015, Judicial Watch asked that the lawsuit be reopened in light of the revelation that Clinton and other aides used private email accounts.
'Hillary Clinton's misconduct and the resulting fraud by the State Department disrupted and ended our federal FOIA lawsuit about Huma Abedin, one of Hillary Clinton's closest political associations,' Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said at the time.
'Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration concealed records and lied to obstruct a federal court and Judicial Watch from finding out about the secret emails,' Fitton continued.
'Time is of the essence. Immediate court action is imperative to retrieve, recover and secure these public records from Mrs. Clinton.'
In February 2016, U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan granted the group the right to question under oath the former secretary of state's closest aides, including Abedin who was deposed last month.
He also opened the door to Clinton being interrogated herself.
'There's been a constant drip, drip, drip of declarations. When does it stop?' Sullivan said. 'This case is about the public's right to know,' added the judge, who was appointed by Clinton's husband President Bill Clinton.
By mid-May Judicial Watch and the Department of State had agreed upon a discovery plan with a number of high-level Clinton aides to be questioned under oath.
Beyond Abedin, Clinton's former chief of staff Cheryl Mills testified, but because she acted as Clinton's counsel after her State Department role, Mills' lawyer could use attorney-client privilege to get the aide out of answering some of the questions.
IT staffer Bryan Pagliano declined to answer questions posed by the group's lawyers.
He invoked the Fifth Amendment 125 different, consecutive times, according to CNN.
Pagliano is the staffer that the Justice Department gave immunity to in order to get information about the email system in a separate federal probe.
Last week the Justice Department closed its case against Clinton, upon recommendation from the FBI, with director James Comey calling Clinton 'extremely careless,' but adding that no reasonable prosecutor would pursue a criminal case.
Judicial Watch cited some of Comey's comments in the request, noting how the FBI director said there were several thousand work-related emails discovered as part of the investigation that Clinton's attorneys did not initially turn in.
The group reminded the court that this goes against previous statements that Clinton had made.
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Here it is people – the complete guide to WordPress security. In this guide I’m going to cover everything you need to know to keep your WordPress site secure. Security requirements will vary – if you’re running a large store, the last thing you need is someone gaining access to your site, gaining access to your customer details, hacking your site and spamming people or even downtime for any length of time.
Whatever size of WordPress site you’ve got or whatever your security requirements are, I’ve got you covered in this guide. Before we get started, I need to go over some security basics.
Security Basics
Your security is ultimately only as good as your weakest link. Many people reading this will be worried about bot attacks – I cover that later – but if someone wants to hack into your site, the biggest weakness is YOU.
Do you do any of the following?
Use the same password for your WordPress site and other sites?
Stay logged in to your WordPress site? (clicking that little ‘remember me’ button?)
Leave your computer unlocked?
Write your passwords down anywhere?
Record your passwords on your computer or online?
Use an account called ‘admin’ on your WordPress site?
Log into your site using plain HTTP rather than secure HTTPS?
Fail to update plugins or themes?
Buy themes which have bundled plugins?
Give admin access to temporary developers?
Install plugins or themes you downloaded illegally, e.g. through torrents?
Use FTP rather than SFTP?
These are the most common weaknesses hackers are exploiting to gain entry to sites, servers and data. How likely you are to be attacked with these various weaknesses depends on how valuable gaining access to your site, servers or data is to would-be hackers. I’m not saying you should stop doing all of these – security is often a balance between being secure and getting on with your work. You often, for example, will need to give admin access to developers but follow this guide and you’ll rest assured that they haven’t left any backdoors on your website.
Firstly, you should ensure you don’t use the password you are using for your WordPress sites for any other websites. Unfortunately, many websites store passwords in plain text meaning an unscrupulous employee could access your password or even sell it on the black market. If you think this is far-fetched, think again. The advent of Bitcoin means hackers are able to sell password lists without giving away their personal identity making password theft far more likely to happen.
Secondly, never leave your computer unlocked – it’s simply really bad practice. Get in the habit of hitting Windows+L or CTRL+ALT+DELETE and then hitting ENTER. Both these methods lock your computer quickly. If you’ve got a mac hit CONTROL+SHIFT+POWER to lock your mac immediately. This only works if you’ve got a password set up for your computer account so make sure you do. If you’re storing passwords on your computer or you’re staying logged into your WordPress website, this adds significant security. You can also set up a screen-saver which locks your computer after a few minutes of activity, so you should do this too in case you forget to lock your computer for some reason. Here’s a guide for locking your PC using a screen saver and here’s a guide for locking your Mac using a screen saver.
Thirdly, if you’re going to record your passwords somewhere – on paper or on your computer or online, keep the paper safe (under your keyboard is not safe) and password protect and encrypt the file that holds your password. If you store your password file online with cloud storage, listen out for hacks made against that company and if one succeeds, change your passwords.
Finally, ensure you have decent virus protection installed on your computer, be diligent about what you download or click on in emails, learn how to prevent phishing attacks made against you and install some anti-malware software like Malware Bytes for the PC or Mac.
I go into more detail about securing everything else below, but get these basics right or you could get hacked at any time, regardless of the other steps you make.
Choosing, remembering and storing passwords
When choosing passwords, there are two major mistakes people make. The first is to re-use a password they use on another website – remember, other sites may be storing your passwords in cleartext (ever been emailed your password?) and the second is that they use a really simple password – e.g. dave123. If you do either of these things, your passwords are at risk of being hacked.
The best technique for passwords is to use a completely random string – bash on your keyboard for a bit and include some numbers and special characters. e.g. asd8u0io9478adupioAUI8034 is a great password (don’t use it now though!)
BUT how are you ever going to remember that password? Well, you don’t have to. You can remember ONE really strong password and store an encrypted, password protected file containing your passwords on your computer or on Dropbox.
You can use BoxCryptor (free for personal use) to encrypt and password protect one of your folders on Dropbox. That way, you always have access to your password file but it’s always protected.
To create strong passwords you CAN remember, use a combination of these techniques:
Use a three or four word phrase that is memorable to you but NEVER guessable from reading your social media profile, reading your snail mail or knowing you in person
Use a mis-spelling of one or more of the words
Replace characters of your choice in this password with another non-alpha-numeric character – e.g. you may choose to always replace ‘x’ with * or ‘i’ with ! or 1 or |. By choosing a couple of character replacements personal to you, you make it far harder for password crackers to guess your password
Capitalise certain characters – e.g. you may choose to capitalise the 2nd letter of the first word, the 4th letter of the 2nd word and the 1st letter of the 3rd word. You then need to remember the password and 241 for 2nd, 4th, 1st characters to be capitalised.
Intersperse non-alpha-numeric characters into your password – e.g. if you have a four word password (with certain characters replaced and some capitalised) then you could separate those words with different characters.
Preparing for the worst and backing up your WordPress site off-site
Hacking isn’t the only way your WordPress site can be destroyed – it could be destroyed by a storm, a fire, bankruptcy of your hosting company or user-error – e.g. you might run the wrong command on your server and delete everything by mistake, so backing up is not only to protect you from hacking. If you’re not backing up your WordPress site, DO NOT rely on your host doing it for you. It’s easy to set up.
Install Updraft Plus (it’s free) Set up off-site backups inside Updraft plus – they have a myriad of options included in the free version. I prefer backing up to Dropbox. NOTE: The free version of Updraft plus backs up your files in clear-text meaning if someone gets access to your dropbox, they will get access to your database password (stored in wp-config.php). If you have everything else set up properly (specifically don’t allow remote MySQL log ins), your server will still be secure even if this happens. For ultimate security, back up to an encrypted storage drive. You can also backup using SFTP to another server you own/rent.
Preventing WordPress bot attacks
This is probably the most common complaint from new WordPress users. This problem really came to light back in 2013 when a massive Botnet was discovered which was growing by the day – basically, it’s hacking into poorly protected WordPress sites using the ‘admin’ username and commonly used passwords. Every hacked WordPress site was then added to the botnet and used to hack other sites.
Never, ever have an account called ‘admin’. If you have an admin account, you can safely remove it by creating a new user called something else, give that user admin privileges, log out then back in as that other user then delete the ‘admin’ account and assign all posts and pages to your new admin user. Install Wordfence (it’s free) and configure it properly to lock out failed attempts, email you every time a user with admin privileges logs in and some other nice things If you go for the paid version of Wordfence, there are some more features (e.g. block Russia, China and the Ukraine as that’s where a lot of hackers originate) but the free version is fine
Stop hackers snooping on your WordPress login traffic and passwords
If you don’t have an SSL certificate on your website, this means every time you log in to your website your username and password is being sent in plain text. That sounds scary right? Anyone could read it? Well, not quite anyone. People who could access your passwords include anyone with access to any router between your computer and your server. e.g. If you’re at home, that’s your own router (sneaky child? borrowing the neighbours ‘free’ wifi? accesing your WordPress site from Starbucks or an internet cafe?), your ISP (probably safe-ish, but depending on security there, any employee could sniff your password) and then routers on the way to your server as well as your hosting company.
To prevent this, you need an SSL certificate and you need to ensure all logins use SSL. SSL used to be expensive, but not any more. Get yourself a free Cloudflare account and within 24 hours you’ll have an SSL certificate you can use to prevent traffic and password sniffing. Cloudflare is also useful for preventing bot-attacks since it remembers offending IP addresses and protects you from future attacks from that IP address.
Get a Cloudflare account Modify your wp-config.php file to force SSL login and SSL for all dashboard access. There’s a guide here, but basically – add the following two lines to your wp-config.php file:
define( 'FORCE_SSL_LOGIN' , true);
define( 'FORCE_SSL_ADMIN' , true);
Now all logins will switch to using your cloudflare SSL certificate and no-one will be able to snoop your passwords as they will no longer be in plain-text.
Mitigating Wordpress back-door attacks
This is a tricky one to prevent completely. This is why you should always have daily backups running to an off-site location. A back-door attack is where some code on your site (e.g. in a plugin you installed) contains a security vulnerability. There have been quite a few problems like this recently including the Rev Slider vulnerability and just today the Fancybox vulnerability, both providing complete access to your server.
To avoid this, you need to update your plugins before you get hacked. You can also make sure you use trusted plugins, but it’s very difficult without reading every line of code to be 100% sure that a plugin is secure.
Another technique to implement back-door attacks is developers you hire, inserting their own back-doors directly into your code. They may modify the core WordPress files to do this. If so, Wordfence will alert you if it’s properly configured.
Update plugins as updates appear Choose auto-update for WordPress (you’ve got daily backups in case something goes wrong, right?) Set up Wordfence to scan for any code changes made by developers or plugins Consider using a ‘sandboxed’ developer version of your website with different admin users and passwords when you’re hiring an external developer. This way you can test and scan on your dev.yourdomain.com site for any security vulnerabilities before they have the chance of hitting your live server. Only give admin access to people you trust – you should know their address at minimum
A note about themes with bundled plugins – e.g. themes from Themeforest:
If you’re buying themes on Themeforest or any other themes which come with bundled plugins, the plugin will not inform you about updates and it will not be updateable using the normal WordPress update method. This is because the theme author has bundled the plugins files which were up-to-date at the time of writing the theme, directly into the themes folders.
If you have a theme like this, stick an alert on the emails from Themeforest. It’s possible to configure Gmail, for example, to watch for emails from the Themeforest email address which contain the word ‘upgrade’ or ‘update’. You can even combine this alert with a service like IFTTT to send you an SMS but a Gmail alert is probably enough. Update your themes religiously – if something goes wrong, rollback using Updraft or restore using Updraft.
Keep your server and your database secure
Many hosts have terrible security – they allow remote login for MySQL (where are the WordPress users using remote MySQL login rather than SSH login??), they email you root passwords, they allow FTP rather than SFTP. If you’ve got a host like this, consider changing.
Configure your server to disallow MySQL login. Get your developer/host to do it or if you have SSH access to your server, this is simple – log in and run: sudo mysql_secure_installation Use key authentication to access your server using putty/SSH. There’s a guide here. Use SFTP to access your server files. Ideally, use key authentication for this too as described here. Use different passwords for your FTP account, your root server account and your WordPress admin account.
Mitigating against Wordpress denial of service attacks
A denial of service attack is where a botnet hits your server with thousands of simultaneous requests, ideally for large files or complex pages. If your server is poorly configured, it won’t keep up and it’ll fall over preventing your legitimate users from accessing your site. I would say this is on the softer side of hacking, since any damage is temporary – they don’t actually gain access to your site, they just prevent others accessing it – still, it’s a security concern so here’s what to do:
Set up W3 Total Cache and page caching. This will mitigate the problem should a botnet attack you for some reason. Ideally set up Nginx and Varnish too. Configure Wordfence to block repeat offenders. There are options to lock out IP addresses if they access more than X pages in less than Y seconds. Install and configure Cloudflare – it does some work to block denial of service IP addresses. Consider installing fail2ban – it operates at a level above WordPress, so it’s even more lightweight on your server and has been mitigating against denial of service attacks for ages.
A note about installing Cloudflare:
To set up and configure Cloudflare, I recommend using 2 plugins – W3 Total Cache with the (free) Cloudflare add-on – you just click addons in W3 Total cache, choose Cloudflare then from the General tab you can scroll down and enter your Cloudflare details. The other plugin I recommend you use in conjunction with W3 Total Cache is the Cloudflare plugin created by Cloudflare. This second plugin doesn’t increase your security, but it does fix problems you’ll experience with identifying where users originate from in Google Analytics or Wordfence.
Consider using two-factor authentication for ultimate log-in security
If you’ve set up SSL, used strong passwords, and all the rest of the guide above you’re going to have a really secure site, but for the ultimate in log-in security you should consider using two-factor authentication.
What happens is you log-in to your WordPress site using your username and password, then the site sends you an SMS to your phone. You enter the code received on your phone into the login page and only then are you allowed to log-in. It’s more secure because you have to have the phone with you. Wordfence offers this option if you do decide you want this additional layer of security.
Summary
I think I’ve covered everything you need to know about WordPress security. If there’s anything you think I’ve missed, or anything you’d like me to elaborate on, let me know in the comments below.
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Ferguson v. McKiernan was a 2007 Pennsylvania Supreme Court case in which, in a 3–2 decision, the court reversed a lower court ruling requiring sperm donor Joel McKiernan to pay child support.[1][2]
Factual background [ edit ]
Joel McKiernan met Ivonne Ferguson in May 1991, with their relationship becoming intimate several months later. In 1993, Ferguson expressed a desire to have another child. However, after finding out that her tubal ligation was irreversible, Ferguson submitted to in vitro fertilization (IVF) in order to conceive another child. During this process, she asked McKiernan to deliver his sperm so that she could use it for the IVF procedure. While he was initially hesitant to do so, she convinced him by promising that she would not track him down for any child support afterwards.[3]
Ferguson gave birth to male twins (Travis and Tyler)[4] on August 25, 1994. Afterwards, McKiernan mostly maintained his anonymity until Ferguson found his phone number and filed for child support in May 1999.[3]
Decision and appeals [ edit ]
While both a trial and a Superior Court ruled in favor of Ferguson,[3][5] their ruling was overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a 3–2 vote on December 27, 2007.[1] In the majority opinion (joined by Justices Ralph Cappy and Ronald Castille), Justice Max Baer upheld the validity of the verbal contract between Joel McKiernan and Ivonne Ferguson had and held that McKiernan had no obligation to pay child support.[1][4]
In his opinion, Justice Baer cited the Uniform Parentage Act and wrote that holding sperm donors responsible for paying child support would make them less likely to donate their sperm, which in turn would limit the reproductive prerogatives of would-be mothers. Justice Baer also noted the spread of unconventional methods of sperm donation in Pennsylvania in recent years. Finally, Baer rejected the causation argument in favor of forcing Kiernan to pay child support and pointed out that, were it not for McKiernan's actions, she would not have had children unless another, anonymous donor had given sperm, and she thus would not have been entitled to any child support.[1]
Dissents [ edit ]
In their dissents, Justices Thomas Saylor and J. Michael Eakin argued that there is no basis in Pennsylvania public policy for the court's ruling. In addition to this, in his dissent, Justice Eakin pointed out that relying on the 2002 Uniform Parentage Act is misplaced since this act was not adopted by the Pennsylvania General Assembly.[3]
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Despite that all we do is electronic, you can almost smell it. You can see it in the volatility of crypto choices.
Fear and greed rule crypto at the moment.
Are you skeptical of that statement? You’re wondering what’s changed lately from the previous three years? Let’s take a look at some recent events and compare what’s happening to what should be happening.
Before we do that, it might do us all well if we look at the movie “Wolf of Wall Street.” I know, I know – it’s been overplayed in regards to people creating avatars on Twitter, and trying to emulate the behavior of the very worst that the movie represents – it glorifies greed, and then also shows how ordinary people can be talked into buying worthless pink sheet stocks.
Not all pink sheet stocks are worthless – some are legitimate. But too many are not… What does Investopedia say about pink sheet stocks? Here is one definition:1
Pink Sheets stocks lack liquidity and are often thinly traded, which can make them volatile. The bid-ask spread is wide, and investors need to be patient and cautious when putting in any buy or sell order. In addition, despite some of the quality companies, many are worthless. Because Pink Sheets is not an exchange, but a quotation service, it is unregulated and can therefore result in scams or other potentially harmful investments. Minimal to no transparency or fundamental information is available for many of the stocks, while some are subject to various schemes. The Pink Sheets also disallows margins and short selling, which can be either a positive or negative depending on the investor’s viewpoint. As a result of the aforementioned downsides, investors need to be cautious. Buyer Beware!
Does the above description remind you of anything in crypto?2
Here’s my stance on Iota: I believe that Iota is a very promising technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if it is used for a decent share of the market for micropayments.
Eventually.
It is by no means a mature technology in the same league as Ripple or XRP. Ripple and XRP are used in production applications for banks and financial institutions. You just read the tweet from an Iota investor above, and less than two months ago, Iota was “down” for almost 48 hours.3
Unproven Technology Rewarded with Investment
Other than the illustrative example above, I won’t mention any of the other crypto choices by name, because my goal is not to create fear, uncertainty, or doubt in those specific choices, but let’s face it; XRP has a lot more going for it than other choices above it in the market cap listings on coinmarketcap.com. So why is the crypto market rewarding unproven technology?
When markets are immature or unregulated, any new entrant can be pumped – either intentionally or unintentionally. This is done intentionally in some cases, with small groups of individuals profiting off of temporary price dips (shorting) or price hikes (going long / accumulation). Even traditional markets are not immune to this type of behavior, but it can be more readily spotted and stopped when done in an obvious fashion.
In crypto, there is nobody minding the store.
In fact, what I’ve seen instead is that ICOs are listing in a free-for-all fashion and it’s very difficult to discern between those with a sparkling whitepaper and a con artist and those that have a real team and a solid business plan. We see it also reflected in the market choices of investors. Which coin is being covered by the press? And when we talk about press, which news outlet are we talking about? Is each news outlet really trust-worthy and impartial, or do they exhibit a preference for some coins over others?
XRP Is Different
XRP is backed by a solid company – Ripple. Ripple has been around since 2012, and was started by some of the best visionaries in the business.4 5 Chris Larsen is still with Ripple, working diligently as the Executive Chairman to open new markets seemingly every month. One after another, I watched with excitement this autumn as Ripple announced movement into India, Singapore, and China!
A few months earlier, to promote active trading of XRP, Ripple voluntarily decided to lock up a clear majority of its supply in a cryptographically secure escrow vault. This means that, for all practical purposes, 55 billion XRP has been removed from the supply.
The announcement of the escrow on December 7, 2017 was followed by a dramatic jump in XRP demand,6 and the following tweet by one XRP fan:7
This brings the amount of XRP “in circulation” to roughly 38.7 billion.8 That’s XRP in the hands of investors and business partners. Ripple now has custody of 6.2 billion, and most of us know that 5 billion of that probably cannot be touched due to ongoing litigation with R3. That means that Ripple could be considered to have access to just a fraction of its previous amount – 1.2 billion.
Considering that Ripple only sells .2% of market volume,9 it’s probably just the right amount for Ripple to retain.
Ripple Walks the Talk
This is a company that has a solid ethical compass. They didn’t need to disclose the fact that their subsidiary company, XRP II sells XRP programmatically, but they thought it was the right thing to do. There is no law requiring Ripple to report exactly what percentage & basis points they’re selling, but they decided it was the right thing to do. And there was no law forcing them to lock away the clear majority of XRP using a crypto-condition; but again, they decided it was the right thing to do.
They’ve earned my trust.
If you’re here, and you’re reading this, then you know history. Markets that are irrational will not last. While they may enjoy a temporary party while regulators grapple with how to approach crypto, believe me; it will end at some point.
We’ve Seen Irrational Market Behavior Before
I’m not saying that crypto is in a bubble – because it’s not. It’s a nascent industry, and it is moving and growing slower than other technological innovations like the Internet, because of the nature of its technology. Blockchain technology has to do with how the plumbing works. It’s not flashy and glitzy, like a new website back in the year 1999. Instead, it’s more gradual, and has to do with changing from a centralized technological model to a more decentralized mode.
This trend towards decentralized technology is still very much ongoing and at the beginning – organizations haven’t yet been punished for being laggards to the table.
But Things Are About To Change
While other coins may pause and soak up the easy money from new investors, Ripple is not slowing down. If anything, Ripple has switched to a much higher gear, with a critical and time-sensitive energy that is amazing to watch! They’ve standardized their software offerings, using the catchy “X” moniker.10 11 12 Then they hosted the SWELL conference for all worldwide banks.13 They then hosted all of the world’s central banks at Carnegie Hall.14 They then standardized the xCurrent offering that will be used at each of the Japanese Bank Consortium (JBC) banks.15
Ripple is a rare living organism – it’s a market and industry-leading company with a solid foundation; and it has pragmatic, rational leadership.
They are making updates to xRapid to standardize the offering and to shield banks from direct crypto interaction. Banks are conservative. They don’t like to take unnecessary risks, and that includes exposing themselves to any sort of regulatory risk from a KYC or AML perspective. (see the panel video that discussed these issues at SWELL16)
Ripple Understands Banks
They should! They’ve been working with banks since the company’s inception in 2012. Ripple has patiently listened to the pain points of banks dealings’ with correspondent bank problems and they’ve studied the costs of cross-border value transfer.17 18 Each pain point has been studied and addressed by their comprehensive solutions.
The apex of that knowledge was demonstrated at SWELL for all banks to see. While crypto day-traders may have been disappointed that the price of XRP didn’t moon overnight, banking C-level executives were very impressed by Ripple, and attended SWELL in droves to hear keynote speakers like Dr. Ben Bernanke talk about the blockchain technology revolution. Ripple is the most trusted organizational name when it comes to explaining this new technology to financial industry representatives.
Ripple Has Earned the Market’s Respect
And believe me, that respect is begrudging! In the West, the beginnings of the crypto markets roots rested firmly in a set of political leanings collectively labeled “crypto-anarchist.” You can still see those roots today, as some of those young ideologues have now become wealthy.
It’s interesting to me to see how those crypto-anarchists are so quick to capitalize financially on the ideals of their fellow crypto enthusiasts. It’s like the wild west on some chat forums – with each coin creator waiting to accept easy money. And some of those initial crypto-anarchists see nothing wrong with the current system.
Why would they? It’s worked for them so far. Nobody has cried foul at their seemingly incoherent belief systems – most call for the downfall of the banks and the traditional financial system, while at the same time are cashing out their crypto holdings for fiat currency to live normally like the rest of us.19 20 Does that seem right or ethical to you?
To me, Ripple tells it like it is. They haven’t lied to me – they are right about banks; banks will not go away. But our traditional financial system can be made better. Crypto can be made better too.
What Should Crypto Be Like?
You might rightly ask me at this point – what do I think crypto should be like, if not like it is today?
Crypto has the potential to democratize financing and money. I’m very excited by the prospect of ICOs being used for positive uses – for nonprofits and new technology innovations that otherwise might be overlooked.
When young people want to save their hard-earned dollars, they should be able to choose a crypto-currency that is deflationary, over fiat currencies controlled by elites that are more concerned with macro-economics than individuals’ personal efforts at obtaining and growing wealth over generations. Our next generation deserves open currency – choices that they can make; that governments should not obstruct!
That means the survival of XRP. And Bitcoin. And all of our deflationary investments.
But that doesn’t mean unregulated markets. The crypto market right now is unregulated just by the sheer fact of its decentralized technology. But that’s not going to be enough; to help us survive and achieve a true economic shift towards individual freedom, we all need to band together to achieve something collective. Something that the crypto-anarchists don’t want in some cases…. collective self-regulation.
Self-Regulating Market
One of the services that SBI is aiming to provide is a ratings service.21 This is very
forward thinking by SBI. It aims to create something akin to Morningstar ratings or Moody’s.
While I applaud SBI, I believe that the crypto industry as a whole should create a decentralized rating service that rates all crypto-currencies along a standardized set of criteria. This would provide investors with a clear system where the crypto-currency with clear advantages can get equal air time with a legacy option that is popular based solely on press coverage.
It would also provide a positive model for world governments to follow.
Let’s say that world governments would like to approve trading of crypto-currencies on regulated markets only.
Ratings for Exchanges
World governments should provide some way for crypto exchanges to pursue an international standard of KYC and AML, so that crypto markets can be considered “regulated markets.”
This will pave the way for crypto to become listed as legitimate choices next to other assets on traditional retail exchanges. Remember, the fact that the Bitcoin market was unregulated was one of the primary reasons for the refutation of the Winklevoss application for an Bitcoin ETF.22
If exchanges had some way to pursue an international standard, then the entire industry could rate a crypto-currency as meeting this criteria.
I predict that the entire crypto industry is heading towards a point very quickly when it will need to confront these challenges – the prices of some of the crypto-currencies will prompt governments to take action one way or the other; if the crypto-anarchist crowd doesn’t think they will, they are mistaken. Governments will absolutely take action to protect the finances of its citizens if it hears any significant outcry.
While the political climate is not yet ripe for aggressive action, believe me; there are some major financial and political interests that are waiting to strike back at the inflow of capital that crypto is receiving. The money is not coming from nowhere – there is a significant redistribution of wealth happening, and it will prompt action at some level.
It’s up to our crypto industry to take action before the governments traverse the wrong path.
Ripple Knows This
However smart I think I am, I’m always amazed at how Ripple and its chosen business partners are three steps ahead.
SBI realized at some point in 2017 that they needed to expand aggressively into crypto. They recently released plans for an entire vertical integration of crypto, from mining for proof of work systems, to doing the aforementioned rating service for crypto choices. SBI is clearly seeing the big picture.
I recently blogged about how SBI’s plans will massively impact XRP volume and liquidity in my last entry here. In addition, Ripple is now focusing in on XRP with laser intensity. The standardization of their technology offering, xRapid, was just the first step. Once they’ve made xRapid palatable to banks and can shield institutions from any negative side effects of using crypto, banks will be able to achieve massive savings by using xRapid.23 And they won’t be afraid of crypto.
Ripple Is The Future
Banks are going to use Ripple technology. Heck – they are already using Ripple technology – at over 100+ customers.24
Whether its xCurrent utilizing an ILP-based system of money transfer, or xRapid to augment Nostro account liquidity, or xVia for corporate payments, Ripple tech is here to stay. It’s become a household name, and is respected throughout banking as the number one source for blockchain technology.
Unlike its competitors, Ripple technology is being used in production now.
That’s a key point, and it differentiates Ripple from others like R3. While Corda (R3’s platform) may eventually be used to create a small “banking island,” Ripple’s goal is to connect all banks using standardized international protocols like ILP.
XRP Is Ours
XRP is heading towards a more decentralized network than Bitcoin in 2018.25 Ripple doesn’t control XRP, or the XRP Ledger. We do.
The XRP Community is an informal collection of forums and chats where we all get together to discuss XRP technology and grow community-sponsored applications. This includes any company that’s not Ripple. As a result, there has been a number of creative applications built on XRP, including the Toast Wallet, and Cointal, a distributed crypto trading platform.
The latest entry was put out by a small company called Secure Block Chains. It is the Reservoir application, and it provides the ability for XRP investors to escrow their XRP for long-term holding, and then release their holdings at a user-specified time. This is the same crypto-condition that Ripple is using to secure billions of dollars worth of XRP.
As usual, I don’t personally endorse any product – please do your own research and use at your own risk. For more information about Reservoir, please see their website here: https://www.secureblockchains.com/reservoir
These are just examples of how the XRP community is building quickly to surround the crypto-currency that traditional FIs and banks are slowly turning towards. Once xRapid is firmly ensconced in banks’ toolboxes, watch as XRP volume increases to levels far beyond that of anything that crypto has seen to date.
XRP investors are ready for this ascension.
My Prediction: 2018 Belongs to XRP
2017 signaled the eminent entry of retail investors into the crypto markets. It also was the year that contained the first salvos of regulation, as the US, China, and other countries implemented varying degrees of guidance for crypto-currency operators and ICO creators.26 27
2018 is going to see a few things:
Rise and Plateau of Bitcoin prices
xRapid Adoption en mass
Rise of XRP
I’ve labeled it “Rise of XRP.” It seems pretty low-key, right? I mean, I could be talking about anywhere from a 100 % return, to a 1,000 % return with that label, right? But I’m not.
I’m talking about something far beyond that in potential.
Of course, you’re going to receive my usual caveats about investing, and also I’ll remind you that there are no guarantees – and that you should always do your own research! But ultimately, just ask me where my money is. Maybe you can guess.
Sources:
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Ted Leonsis thought he'd won. He was in his mid-20s and had already sold his first company for tens of millions of dollars.
Then he got on a plane with mechanical issues and, while preparing for a crash landing, realized how little he'd really accomplished to that point.
"I had at a young age a reckoning," Leonsis, the billionaire owner of the Washington Wizards and a former AOL exec, recalled in a Facebook Live interview with Mashable on Wednesday, which you can watch below. "My reckoning was I started praying ... I tried to cut a business deal. The best line I could come up with was, 'Let me get through this and I'll leave more than I take.'"
He survived — and then began wondering how to make good on that deal. His first step: Make a list of 101 things he wanted to achieve in his life.
Now 59 and a self-declared "Internet old guy," Leonsis says he has checked off 82 items on that list. There are some simple and humble goals including falling in love and taking care of his parents.
And then there are bigger goals, like becoming a billionaire, buying a sports team, winning an Emmy and giving back to charity — all now crossed off. Leonsis owns numerous Washington D.C. sports teams, including the NBA's Wizards, NHL's Capitals, WNBA's Mystics and a new Arena Football League franchise.
Meanwhile, he remains an active businessman, sitting on the board of numerous companies and serving as a partner in Revolution Growth, a venture capital firm he co-founded.
Part of the secret, he says, was just making the list. "If you don't metric it, you can't measure it," he says, echoing the technology world he comes from.
More than that, though, Leonsis also has become a very careful steward of his own time.
Leonsis wakes up by 5am each morning, works for a "couple hours real fast" then exercises on the treadmill and resumes his work day.
Maximizing his time also means avoiding frivolous activities — most notably meetings.
"I've learned not to have a lot of meetings," he says. "I think that meetings are the biggest productivity killer imaginable. I hate decks, I hate PowerPoints. I want to be involved with outcomes, I don't want a lot of discussion around process."
In the wide-ranging interview, Leonsis also talks about why so many wealthy techies are buying sports teams, the challenges involved in running digital media companies today and the problem with the rise of billion-dollar startup "unicorns."
"I've lived through a lot of these cycles and the thing that always amazed me when I first heard the term 'unicorn' was it's mythical and they die when it gets too cold. Why do we want to say they're unicorns?" he said. "They all played into the hands of sharky venture capitalists."
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UPDATE: Amazon to create thousands more jobs in N.J.
PARAMUS -- After you beat 'em, join 'em.
Amazon has posed an existential threat to brick-and-mortar bookstores for years. But starting in 2015, the e-commerce giant began opening physical bookstores of its own, and is now bringing one to New Jersey.
Amazon plans to open a bookstore at Garden State Plaza in 2017, said Deborah Bass, a spokeswoman for the company.
Bass said the store is hiring workers, but declined to go into further specifics.
Garden State Plaza is one of five locations where Amazon plans to open brick-and-mortar bookstores. The other locations are in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Columbus Circle, Manhattan.
The selection in Amazon bookstores is determined on customer data, like ratings, pre-orders, sales and popularity on Goodreads--a book review website owned by Amazon. Every book is displayed with the Amazon customer rating and a review.
Amazon devices like the Echo, Kindle, Fire tablet and Fire TV will also be available.
Asian-style grocery chain plans Rt. 17 store
Amazon is credited with crippling big bookstore chains like Borders--which had a store at Garden State Plaza before filing for bankruptcy in 2011. Amazon opened its first physical bookstore in November 2015 in Seattle.
The company may be responding to trends in physical book sales, which have increased steadily for four years, while e-book sales shrunk 13 percent in 2016, Business Insider reported. At the same time, independent booksellers in New Jersey say they are doing well despite competition from Amazon.
Amazon is definitely not abandoning web sales, however. It's buying up warehouse space in northern New Jersey to speed up delivery.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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The latest congressional report on Operation Fast and Furious found that the gunwalking-program-turned-scandal was the result of a “deliberate strategy created at the highest levels of the Justice Department aimed at identifying the leaders of a major gun trafficking ring.”
The report is the second installment in a three-part series from Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Sen. Chuck Grassley and House oversight committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa.
That “deliberate strategy,” congressional investigators argue, sprang from “a series of speeches about combating violence along the Southwest border” that Attorney General Eric Holder delivered shortly after taking office.
“Although [the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives] ATF did not officially open the Fast and Furious investigation until the fall of 2009, the groundwork for the strategy that would guide the operation began shortly after new leadership took control of the Department of Justice nine months earlier,” the report reads. “On February 25, 2009, just one month after Attorney General Eric Holder took office, he gave a speech noting the danger of the Mexican drug cartels, focusing on the Sinaloa cartel in particular.”
On Feb. 25, 2009, Holder said the drug cartels “are lucrative, they are violent, and they are operated with stunning planning and precision” and, under his leadership, he promised “these cartels will be destroyed.”
A little more than a month later, on April 2, 2009 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, congressional investigators say Holder “gave further insight into the department’s new strategy for combating these dangerous cartels.”
“He spoke about the development of a prosecution and enforcement strategy with respect to firearms trafficking, noting that the ‘administration launched a major new effort to break the backs of the cartels,’” the report reads. “In particular, the attorney general said that the Justice Department was committed to adding ‘100 new ATF personnel to the Southwest Border’ and that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) would add ‘16 new positions on the border.’ Most importantly, the attorney general noted that there must be ‘an attack in depth, on both sides of the border, that focuses on the leadership and assets of the cartel.’”
Shortly after that April 2, 2009 speech by Holder, congressional investigators say “a Firearms Trafficking Working Group was formed.” Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer, the head of DOJ’s Criminal Division, led the working group. It was tasked with “exploring and recommending proposals to enhance law enforcement efforts to curb firearms trafficking, focusing specifically on investigation, interdiction, training, prosecution, and intelligence-sharing.”
Later, on June 30, 2009, congressional investigators say Deputy Attorney General David Ogden argued that the border between the U.S. and Mexico was the “front line” to fight firearms trafficking. The report lays out how Ogden “also said that ATF and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would sign a new agreement to ‘ensure coordination between the departments on firearms investigations.’”
Then, on Aug. 19, 2009, that working group presented its recommendations to Holder in a memo. “The recommendations section of this August 2009 memo included many of the previous public comments by Attorney General Holder and Deputy Attorney General Ogden,” the congressional report says of that memo.
“The document went on to recommend “intelligence-based, prosecutor-led, multi-agency task forces,’” congressional investigators write. “It suggested that under its new model, ‘we develop priority targets through the extensive use of intelligence,’ which would allow it to ‘build cases, coordinating long-term, extensive investigations to identify all the tentacles of a particular organization.’”
Congressional investigators say that Ogden then took that memo and disseminated it to the department heads for the ATF, FBI and DEA, among others. “The deputy attorney general also formed a Southwest Border Strategy Group, which he headed, responsible for implementing the new strategy,” the report reads. “The strategy group’s first meeting was on October 26, 2009, when it assembled to discuss the new strategy.”
“The meeting invitation included Deputy Attorney General Ogden and his deputies Ed Siskel and Kathryn Ruemmler (both of whom would later leave the Justice Department for the White House Counsel’s Office); Assistant Attorney General Breuer and his deputies, Jason Weinstein, Kenneth Blanco, and Bruce Swartz; ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson and Deputy Director William Hoover; the U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona, Dennis Burke; and the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, B. Todd Jones, then serving as chair of the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee,” the report continues, adding that the congressional committees investigating Fast and Furious “were unable to ascertain any further details regarding this meeting.”
From that memo, ATF’s Phoenix Field Division was mostly interested in “key language” on page seven. That language reads, “Thus, given the national scope of this issue, merely seizing firearms through interdiction will not stop firearms trafficking to Mexico. We must identify, investigate, and eliminate the sources of illegally trafficked firearms and the networks that transport them.”
The congressional investigators then quote ATF Phoenix Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge George Gillett as saying “that this specific language became the blueprint for Operation Fast and Furious.”
“The content of that plan specifically addressed wanting ATF not to focus on straw purchasers, but to focus on cartels and larger complex conspiracy type investigations,” Gillett said.
“So this strategy in October 2009 handed down by the DAG’s office, actually from the Phoenix perspective, was well-timed and provided us with direction on how to proceed in these types of firearms trafficking investigations,” he added.
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NEW YORK -- Unaoil, the Monaco-based company at the center of an international bribery scandal, threatened this week to prevent publication of an investigation into its business practices.
Australia’s Fairfax Media and The Huffington Post on Wednesday published the results of a six-month investigation into Unaoil paying bribes on behalf of major corporations doing business in the Middle East. The reporting was supported by hundreds of thousands of leaked emails and documents.
Before the articles were published, attorneys representing Unaoil and its owners, the Ahnsani family, requested that Fairfax Media -- which owns major Australian outlets like The Age newspaper -- turn over all copies of confidential information or data possessed by its journalists, Nick McKenzie and Richard Baker.
“We also request that Fairfax desist from publishing any material concerning our clients until such time that our clients have been able to verify that their confidential data is not being used to make scandalous and defamatory allegations,” Rebekah Giles, an attorney in the Sydney office of law firm Kennedys, wrote in a March 29 letter.
Giles wrote that the firm’s clients reserved the right to seek “urgent interlocutory relief" -- in other words, an injunction to possibly prevent publication. That threat now seems moot, since Fairfax Media published the results of its investigation online Wednesday and in in its print edition on Thursday.
Giles did not respond to a request for comment.
In a separate article on Wednesday, McKenzie described the bribery investigation's unusual genesis. It began after he received a letter from a source, who asked that he place an advertisement in a French newspaper using the code name “Monte Christo.”
McKenzie and the source communicated back and forth for several months and finally met in Europe. The award-winning journalist described being introduced later to additional sources and eventually receiving large chunks of information, including tens of thousands of Unaoil emails.
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POTUS Trump Slams DOJ For ‘Politically Correct’ Version of Travel Ban
President Trump lashed out at the DOJ on Monday morning for pushing a ‘politically correct’ and ‘watered down’ version of his travel ban. He also complained about the ‘slow’ and ‘political’ court system.
President Trump went on a tweetstorm Monday morning and slammed the Justice Department for submitting a watered down version of his original travel ban to the Supreme Court. President Trump is calling for tough action following yet ANOTHER Islamic terrorist attack in the UK.
People, the lawyers and the courts can call it whatever they want, but I am calling it what we need and what it is, a TRAVEL BAN! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
The Justice Dept. should have stayed with the original Travel Ban, not the watered down, politically correct version they submitted to S.C. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
President Trump calls for swift action.
The Justice Dept. should ask for an expedited hearing of the watered down Travel Ban before the Supreme Court – & seek much tougher version! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
In any event we are EXTREME VETTING people coming into the U.S. in order to help keep our country safe. The courts are slow and political! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 5, 2017
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Owen Jones is joining forces with pro-Corbyn campaigning group Momentum in a push to seize the seats of several current and former Tory cabinet ministers.
The new Unseat campaign will target Boris Johnson, Amber Rudd, Justine Greening and Phillip Davies, all of whom saw their majorities slashed in the general election. Another MP, Stephen Crabb, who has been linked to an organisation which claims that homosexuality and bisexuality can be “cured”, will also face Momentum’s efforts on the doorstep.
The group seeks to create a series of “Portillo moments”, a reference to the unseating of the Tory defence secretary in the 1997 Labour landslide victory.
The Hastings seat of Rudd, the home secretary, was held by Labour as recently as 2010.
The campaign days, scheduled to begin in Greening’s Putney seat in early September, will then head to Shipley, represented by Davies, and Welwyn Hatfield, which is occupied by Shapps.
Jones said: “That Philip Davies sits in our House of Commons is a cause for national embarrassment. His repeated attempts to thwart and trash legislation to protect women from male violence reveal him as an unpleasant bigot. But we can defeat him. His majority was over 9,600 in 2015; this year, it more than halved.”
“Stephen Crabb voted against equal marriage and has links to so-called ‘gay cure’ advocates. This opponent of civil rights had a nearly 5,000 majority in 2015; now it’s just 314.
“If we campaign now, whenever the next election is called, we will defeat them both. Thousands of campaigners knocking on doors at the last election helped win Tory seats Labour had never before won – and turned Tory safe seats into marginals.”
Joseph Ejiofor, a member of Momentum’s national co-ordinating group, said: “Labour offered a clear and viable alternative in the recent general election and now Conservative cabinet members like Boris Johnson, Amber Rudd and Justine Greening are no longer sitting in safe seats.
“As the architects of Tory policies that have done huge damage to this country, Momentum are teaming up with journalist Owen Jones to campaign vigorously in their seats and take them for Labour at the next election. We helped create a ‘Portillo moment’ for Nick Clegg in Sheffield Hallam in June, and we plan to do the same for senior Conservative MPs next time around.”
Momentum tweeted:
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London’s international fish trade can be traced back 800 years to the medieval period, according to new research published today in the journal Antiquity.
The research, led by archaeologists from UCL, Cambridge and UCLan, provides new insight into the medieval fish trade and the globalisation of London’s food supply.
Archaeologists analysed data from nearly 3,000 cod bones found in 95 different excavations in and around London. They identified a sudden change in the origin of the fish during the early 13th century, indicating the onset of a large-scale import trade.
Lead author Dr David Orton, UCL Institute of Archaeology, said: “It's a truly remarkable shift. We had expected a gradual increase in imports as demand grew along with the city's medieval population – thought to have quadrupled between AD 1100 and AD 1300 – but this is something else: evidence for locally caught cod drops off suddenly when the imports come in.
“What did this mean for the local fishing industry? Until we've looked at other fish species and other towns we can't be sure, but the start of this long-range trade may well be an important message about changes in supply and demand.”
Cod were traditionally decapitated as part of preservation for long-range transport, meaning the researchers knew that head bones found during excavations must represent fresh fish from relatively local waters. Vertebrae, by contrast, might be either local or imported.
Comparing frequencies of the two over time, the researchers discovered the sudden switch 'from heads to tails' during the early 13th century. To confirm that the vertebrae were from distant waters, the team used biochemical signatures to match some of the individual bones to their most likely sources, with the results supporting the archaeological data perfectly: from the middle of the 13th century, the majority of sampled bones have signatures suggesting an origin in the far north, probably Arctic Norway.
Co-author Dr James Barrett, University of Cambridge, added: “This discovery clarifies an important rapid shift in the demand for distant food resources of one of Europe’s major centres. It shows us that local fishing could no longer keep up with this demand, that London’s ecological footprint was increasingly extensive and that growing trade connections were making the world a smaller place in the century before the spread of the Black Death”.
The research also shows a temporary drop in imports in the late 14th century that might reflect the Black Death's impact on European trade, plus a further surge in imports from around AD1500 - coinciding with the beginnings of trans-Atlantic trade and the arrival of cod from Newfoundland on European markets.
This kind of archaeological data-mining is made possible by London's archaeological contractors – particularly Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), who each year excavate dozens of sites threatened by development and who opened their database to the researchers – and by the London Archaeological Archive and Research Centre that curates the resulting finds and data.
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Episode 471: The Eddie Murphy Rule
Enlarge this image toggle caption Paramount/The Kobal Collection Paramount/The Kobal Collection
On today's show, we talk to commodities traders to answer one of the most important questions in finance: What actually happens at the end of Trading Places?
We know something crazy happens on the trading floor. We know that Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd get rich and the Duke brothers lose everything. But how does it all happen? And could it happen in the real world?
Also on the show: The "Eddie Murphy Rule" that wound up in the the big financial overhaul law Congress passed in 2010.
Today's special guest co-host is Roman Mars, host of 99% Invisible. (Check out their episode on the design of U.S. currency.)
Music: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "Overture, Marriage Of Figaro" and The Silhouettes' "Get A Job." Find us: Twitter/ Facebook/Spotify/ Tumblr. Download the Planet Money iPhone App. Yes, there's a spoiler in this post. But the movie came out 30 years ago. Deal with it.
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Will Cain and Jonathan Coachman react to Mike Tomlin responding to Terry Bradshaw's comments being critical of the Steelers head coach. (1:51)
PITTSBURGH -- In his sharp criticism of Mike Tomlin last week, Terry Bradshaw called the Pittsburgh Steelers coach a “great cheerleader guy” and said he doesn't know what Tomlin actually does. People who know Tomlin well or are in the Steelers building on a weekly basis have some answers.
Tomlin's impact is felt on Wednesdays at 8:20 a.m., the first team meeting of the week. For about 40 minutes, Tomlin addresses his entire roster in a large conference room, a projector screen to his back.
Tomlin goes no-huddle with his game video breakdown, and players must be ready for a pop quiz on the upcoming opponent.
"He's saying the offensive check, the defensive check, he's fully into it," center Maurkice Pouncey said. "When he's in there calling out checks, he'll be asking questions like, 'In this formation, what's the check we're looking for?' Sometimes you get head coaches who don't do all the positions. He's all the way in."
Mike Tomlin is one of just eight coaches to reach 100 wins in 10 NFL seasons. Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Film work is just one of many requirements of an NFL head coach. Coaches must also manage everything from locker-room personalities to the media to practice organization. Tony Dungy, who hired Tomlin as a defensive backs coach in Tampa Bay in 2001, calls that process "creating an atmosphere for being successful."
The way Dungy sees it, defending Tomlin's credentials isn't necessary because of his 102 wins in 10 years -- the 100-in-10 feat accomplished by just eight NFL coaches, Dungy included. But Dungy saw early in Tomlin's career that his understudy can "find different ways to reach people."
"He found a way to communicate with all his guys among a very diverse group," Dungy said. "He understands how to get the maximum out of his players and have teams play better as a unit. He's done that [in Pittsburgh]."
A coach's reputation is often defined by football acumen, and Steelers players say Tomlin does not lack in this area.
Pouncey said Tomlin watches every practice rep on film. He runs an open-door policy in which guys can come into his office and watch film or just talk. He lets his experienced coaches do their jobs without meddling.
Tight end Jesse James said Tomlin might work more on defensive game-planning during the week because that's his specialty, but for offensive players, his input on situational football is invaluable. For example, Tomlin once reminded Pouncey about defensive tackles who shed a block a certain way, requiring a quick block at the line of scrimmage. He notified James about the Ravens' tendencies on third-and-short.
"He's definitely not the CEO type," James said. "He coaches a lot."
Putting young players on blast for competitive purposes is a Tomlin staple, according to former Steelers quarterback and current Steelers television analyst Charlie Batch. In the team meetings, Tomlin is known to call out two players from the same position, point to them on film and say he has only "one hat" -- or game-day job -- available for them.
That means they must battle in practice for precious reps on Sundays.
"He once had Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown fighting for one spot," recalled Batch, a Steeler from 2002-12. "He let the whole team know we were all going to watch it all unfold. Those two practiced their asses off [as a result]."
Managing people might be the head coach's most crucial job, and Tomlin has his share of diverse personalities to contend with -- from confident Ben Roethlisberger to flashy Antonio Brown to imposing James Harrison. Tomlin spends time with players at their lockers or in the cafeteria, talking about everything from college bowl games to something he saw in practice.
With 60-plus players, including the practice squad, plus coaches and personnel evaluators, those conversations add up.
"From downstairs to up here, he has to hear everyone's complaints and problems, trust me," Pouncey said.
The Bradshaw critique confused many in the Steelers building, in part because, as Batch and others have pointed out, Bradshaw didn't visit the team in Pittsburgh to make a first-hand evaluation.
But if daily improvement has a cumulative effect on Sunday results, then Dungy doesn't see anything to argue.
"To say he's not doing the greatest job, the results don't bear that out," Dungy said. "It's really not worth a conversation, if he has results."
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Making great coffee hinges on many different factors, but one of the most important—and underrated—is the grinder. The Lido 2 is a hand-cranked workhorse that was designed by two coffee obsessives, who engineered it to the highest standards of brewing perfection.
Doug and Barb Garrott are the proprietors of Orphan Espresso, which deals vintage espresso machine parts from rural Idaho. Over the past few years they have been designing manual grinders as an alternative to the mediocre retail models that countless coffee drinkers rely on. The Lido 2 is the pair's latest model, and the Garrotts are working tirelessly to get their creations assembled fast enough to fulfill overflowing pre-orders.
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Why all the fuss in the first place? Grinding coffee is an essential part of creating a properly brewed and great tasting cup. Cheap grinders, the kind found in most people's homes, consist of spinning blades that chop the beans in a chaotic whirlwind. This creates inconsistent grounds; some bits are large and chunky, while some turn to dust. Those discrepancies can greatly affect the taste of your final brewed cup.
A better solution is a burr grinder, which uses two ridged pieces of metal or ceramic to crush the beans to a selected size based on how close together the burrs sit. Electric burr grinders go for around $150 at the low end, but if you want to brew quality espresso you can end up paying upwards of $1000. The Lido 2, selling for $175, provides a relatively cheap alternative that strives to maintain superb grind quality with just a bit of elbow grease.
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There are plenty of other hand grinders out there; some, like the popular Hario Skerton, can be had for $50 or less. The problem is that these grinders lack the precision to maintain a truly consistent grind. As you put pressure on the grind-crank, the upper burr tilts to one side, making for uneven grind size.
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When it came to designing the Lido 2, the Garrotts had this problem in mind, and came up with a dual bearing design that keeps the burr completely stable. Here is Doug Garrott walking through the Lido 2 improvements:
Very few people have their hands on a Lido 2 so far, so genuine evidence of its performance is scant. But based on Orphan Espresso's reputation, and the response to their previous efforts on forums like coffee geek haven home-barista.com, the Lido 2 is expected to work quite well.
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$175 seems like a lot for a manual coffee grinder, and if you are only brewing regular coffee at home, something like the Baratza Encore might be a more convenient entry-level option. But if you are going for true espresso, the Lido 2 is a solid high-quality money saver. Pre-order it here.
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Overview (3)
Mini Bio (1)
Amy Locane was picked out of a cattle call of hundreds to test for a popular series at the age of 12 in NYC. She didn't get that part, but was soon cast as a series regular in the NBC sitcom, Spencer. Commercials, Soaps, and more featured TV roles followed, and the Ms. Locane was cast as the lead in feature films. She is best known for her role as Allison in the hit cult classic Cry Baby, a 90's musical comedy in which Amy played opposite Johnny Depp. Ms locane was then cast as a series regular in the series, Melrose Place. Amy gained massive popularity in these roles and has a loyal fan base. With over 15 leading roles in films to her credit, she most recently worked on the Hallmark Channel. Amy lives on the East Coast.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: anonymous
Spouse (1)
Mark Bovenizer (17 May 2008 - 2015) ( divorced) ( 2 children)
Trivia (12)
Graduated from Villa Victoria Academy (high school) in New Jersey for high school. she was in the Ceramics Club and Concert Choir.
Was discovered by a photographer who took a picture of her while she was sitting on a swing in a park. He sent it to a New York agent.
Was a model and commercial actress before becoming a familiar face on such New York-based soaps as One Life to Live (1968) and Loving (1983).
Has weakness for chocolate chip cookies.
Tested for the TV series Punky Brewster (1984).
Was picked out of a cattle call by photographer Richard Avedon to do test shots for Calvin Klein
In 2006 she became engaged to Mark Bovenizer,.
At age 35 she gave birth to her first child. Daughter Paige Cricket Locane Bovenizer was born on January 23, 2007, at 9:40 pm in Princeton, New Jersey. Weighing 6 lb. 5 oz., she arrived a month early.
Best known for her role as "Sandy Louise Harling" in the original cast of Melrose Place (1992).
Daughter Avery Hope Bovenizer born 21 January 2009.
Charged with vehicular homicide and assault by auto following an automobile accident in Montgomery Township, NJ, June 27, 2010, in which it was alleged that while driving drunk she crashed into another vehicle, killing the passenger and critically injuring the driver. She pleaded not guilty. Trial was held in Somerville, NJ, in 2012, at which she was convicted of vehicular manslaughter and assault by auto. She was sentenced to a total of three years in prison, and was paroled in 2015. While incarcerated she was a member of the Puppies Behind Bars program. PBB trains prison inmates to raise service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive detection canines for law enforcement (inmates are interviewed and screened before being accepted into the program. No one who has committed a heinous crime is permitted to work with dogs). Since being paroled she has worked at an organization called Steered Straight. She goes to high schools throughout the state and speaks to students about her accident and incarceration and tries to deter people from making the same mistake she did, and about the dangers and consequences her actions have had on her victim's family and her family alike. She has been clean and sober since the crash.
Personal Quotes (1)
I realized early on that I always hated girls who used their femininity to get what they wanted.
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For small and medium enterprises (SMEs), a big issue is the availability of working capital and the cost of financing it. (See the earlier blog post on the productivity of working capital.)
SMEs that supply to big corporations are usually at their mercy for payment of invoices. If the buyer is in monopsony, the supplier’s bargaining position is even weaker. Nor can they afford to pursue legal remedies against recalcitrant corporate customers. Such remedies will be costly, protracted and may ruin the business too.
‘Factoring’ is the answer. SME suppliers discount their receivables and bills of exchange with banks who buy them (with or without recourse to the SME, in the event of non-payment) at a discount and then collect the proceeds from the corporate buyer.
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The idea was included in the report of the Raghuram Rajan Committee on Financial Sector Reforms in 2008. Then, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) appointed a working group which submitted its report in November 2009. The RBI then issued a concept paper in 2014. The draft guidelines were then issued, followed by final guidelines. Receivables Exchange of India (RXIL), India’s first Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS), started operating only in January 2017.
The time taken underscores the glacial pace at which crucial reforms that would lift the economy on to a higher growth path are pursued.
The world over, on providing working capital to small suppliers, things are moving much faster (ht: Gulzar).
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Six months later, hurdles to the smooth functioning of RXIL are emerging. Companies are wary of uploading invoices lest competitors come to know about their suppliers. Second, this is important “since TReDS is a transparent system, they (companies) necessarily would have to settle the suppliers’ invoices within 45 days of acceptance of goods/services rendered”.
From a policymakers’ point of view, starting from the panel discussion on agriculture and the posts on India’s informal, small and large factories, eight interventions are becoming clearer:
(1) Risk mitigation in the form of a functioning crop insurance market with the government bearing the premiums payable to cover not only yield, output but also realisation risks
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(2) Irrigation coverage – canals, inter-linking of rivers (long-term and huge capital commitment), rainwater harvesting (ongoing and needs top-level ownership like in the case of ‘Swachh Bharat’)
(3) For informal enterprises, financing via Mudra loans but with performance caveats
(4) For small enterprises, working capital access – discounting, factoring, etc
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(5) For small and informal enterprises – revamp, redesign and re-energise the skilling initiative. Make contributions to skilling the CSR-compliant (if not already done). Tie it up with big corporations. I do not know if there is further work to be done on the Apprenticeship Act. It has been passed. Have the rules been framed under the Act been notified and circulated?
(6) For all – stable, reasonable tax regime that is non-vindictive and non-usurious in its administration. An immediate fallout of it is GST rationalisation of rate structures and further lowering of rates. Bet on economic activity and not on economic policing.
(7) The government to expend fiscal resources on bearing more labour payroll deductions for entrepreneurs (increase the salary cut-off limit for government reimbursement)
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(8) Follow through on corporate tax rate reduction with elimination of ad hoc exemptions
Without any trace of immodesty, I would venture to state that if the Indian government could focus on these eight areas for the next 18 months, it will have done a lot to relieve the economy of the strains and stresses it is facing now.
This piece was first published on the writer’s blog, ‘The Gold Standard’, and has been republished here with permission.
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The first planet to be discovered using a telescope has an oddly featureless view. Most of our limited knowledge of Uranus (and the incredible featureless picture below) comes from a single flyby mission by the Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986.
Uranus has some surprising features that are not well understood:
#1: Uranus is tilted on its side
While most planets go around the Sun like a spinning top, Uranus goes around like a rolling ball. Uranus is titled 98 degrees on its side making the poles directly face the Sun.
Tilt of Earth compared to Uranus. Source: Wikipedia
It is suspected that a past collision with an Earth-sized planet caused Uranus to tip on its side. A more recent proposal that’s more promising is a collision-less scenario where a close encounter with a large body causes the tilt.
#2: Uranus has very little heat of its own
Uranus emits about as much heat as it absorbs from the Sun, meaning it has very little heat of its own. Other planets like Jupiter and Saturn for example, emit more heat than they receive from the Sun, as shown in the figure below:
Heat absorbed (from the Sun) vs. heat emitted by the planet. Source: Planetary Atmospheres by F. W. Taylor
Even the similar-sized Neptune has much more internal heat than Uranus does, making Uranus the coldest planet in the Solar System. As to why Uranus has so little internal heat is not known yet. It is possible that the supposed past collision with an Earth-sized planet would have expelled a lot of Uranus’ heat in the process.
#3: Uranus has unusual weather patterns
With very little internal heat, it is expected that weather patterns on Uranus are driven primarily by sunlight. Increase in atmospheric activity and storms is expected during the equinox — when the equator of Uranus faces the Sun directly. To everyone’s surprise, 7 years after the equinox in 2007, 8 massive storms were observed on Uranus. The largest of those storms was about half the size of the Earth.
Infrared images of Uranus taken on Aug 6, 2014, using adaptive optics on the 10-meter Keck II telescope. The white spot is an extremely large storm that was brighter than any feature ever recorded on the planet. Source: NASA
Such unexpected activity clearly shows that something is happening on Uranus that we don’t understand. Uranus is more active than what our current models tell us.
#4: Uranus has a weird magnetic field
The magnetic field of Uranus does not originate from its geometric center. Moreover, unlike the Earth’s magnetic field which mostly aligns with its rotational tilt, the magnetic field of Uranus doesn’t.
The unusual magnetic field of Uranus, as determined by Voyager 2 during the 1986 flyby. Source: Wikipedia
Having the planet spin in a different direction to the magnetic field causes the magnetic field of Uranus to tumble every day, acting as a repeating ON/OFF switch for charged particles from the Sun. As to why the magnetic field is displaced off-center and tilted with respect to the planet’s rotation axis is not known yet. But the fact that Neptune too has a displaced and titled magnetic field means that the answer might have to do with the general composition and internal structure of such Ice Giants.
Why we need an orbiter around Uranus?
A 5-day flyby mission can only tell you so much about a planet. Moreover, remote observations are not sufficient to help understand the various mysteries surrounding Uranus. Putting an orbiter around Uranus (like the ones around Jupiter and Saturn) will help us not just understand Uranus but also the past of our Solar System. The fruitfulness of understanding Ice Giants like Uranus/Neptune goes beyond that. Have a look at this graph showing the number of exoplanets discovered of each type:
A histogram showing the number of exoplanets discovered by each type. The blue bars represent previously verified exoplanets and the orange bars represent Kepler’s newly verified planets as of May 2016. Source: Wikipedia
The category of planets called Sub/Mini-Neptunes are the most common type as per our observations. Understanding Uranus & Neptune is thus the key to understanding how a giant fraction of all planets form and behave.
The good news is that a Uranus orbiter+probe is proposed to be launched in the 2030s.
An artist’s concept of the Voyager 2 spacecraft approaching Uranus in 1986. Source: The Planetary Society
Look here it comes to the ringed cyan-blue,
Telling us about the world anew..
On its side are worlds very few,
Oh Galaxy, its such a lovely view.
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Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat drives against Center Josh Harrellson of the New York Knicks in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images) Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat drives against Center Josh Harrellson of the New York Knicks in Game Five of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals. (Photo by Marc Serota/Getty Images)
Josh Harrellson is the latest to join the defending NBA champion Miami Heat. The Heat announced the deal via their official Twitter account
It isn’t a guaranteed deal and Harrellson will have to compete for a spot on the Heat roster during training camp.
Harrellson appeared in 37 games for the Knicks during the 2011-12 season, but battled injuries. The 23-year-old big man averaged 14.6 minutes per game, 4.4 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game.
He was effective when he was on the court for the Knicks. Per 36-minute averages, Harrellson averaged 10.8 points per game and 9.6 rebounds per game.
Harrellson was dealt to the Houston Rockets in the deal that brought Marcus Camby to the Knicks in July. The Rockets waived Harrellson after completing the trade.
Will the Knicks miss Harrellson? Sound off below…
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We have to catch Weedle and Sentret anyway for stardust and XP. Everyone evolves a lot of Furret, and those of you that aren’t into power leveling (e.g. being level 30+ and finding the diminishing returns of stardust investments after level 30 not so attractive) can get quite a few Beedrill too, if your biome is “buggy” enough.
Movesets
The only viable moveset for Furret is Quick Attack / Hyper Beam (the same as one of Raticate’s best movesets), while for Beedrill several movesets are good, just avoid Aerial Ace. Beedrill’s best moveset for general-purpose prestiging is Poison Jab / Sludge Bomb.
Typing
Furret is Normal, with Normal moves. So it usually receives and deals neutral damage. Notable exceptions: it resists Lick (e.g. Snorlax), it’s weak to Rock Smash (e.g. Rhydon) and it’s NVE against Rock (e.g. Rhydon, Tyranitar).
Beedrill is Bug/Poison, with its strongest moves being Poison. So its moves are neutral against pretty much everything typically found in gyms, except they are bad against Ground and Rock (so avoid using against Golem, Rhydon and Tyranitar, which anyway have their specific counters). It suffers Zen Headbutt (Snorlax, Blissey) and Psychic (Blissey) but it resists Dazzling Gleam (Blissey as well).
Stats
Beedrill, with its 169/150/130 stats (P = sqrt (D x S) / A = 0.83) is more attack-oriented, i.e. quite high DPS but not particularly resilient. The stats ratio is in the same range as Parasect, Venomoth, Sunflora and Machoke, and it’s still bulkier than Arcanine, Exeggutor, Charizard, Victreebel or Primeape at the same CP.
Furret, on the other hand, is quite tanky: 148/130/170 stats (P = sqrt (D x S) / A = 1.00) mean that it’s in the same range as Nidoqueen, Poliwrath, Bellossom and Muk and just slightly less tanky than Vaporeon at the same CP.
Performance
According to my CP efficiency calculator, here is the relative performance of Beedrill and Furret (in terms of combined time and revive efficiency) against some of the most common defenders gym sitters:
Defender Furret QA/HB Beedrill PJ/SB Benchmark Vaporeon 58% 62% Parasect Snorlax 72% 70% Poliwrath Dragonite (Hyper Beam or Dragon charge move) 53% 56% Cloyster Flareon 52% (43%) Magcargo Blissey (Hyper Beam or Dazzling Gleam) (timeout) 77% Machamp
These rankings are done with a 0%-70%-30% dodge setting, i.e. dodge only specials and more likely to dodge if using a non-Super-Effective fast move (because it doesn’t delay the “Defender used Charge Move” message).
In addition, Beedrill with X-Scissor is a great prestiger against Exeggutor with a Grass charge move, due to its 0.64x resistance to Grass and its 1.56x Super Effectiveness against Grass/Psychic.
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With his erotic classic In the Realm of the Senses from 1976, the Japanese director Nagisa Oshima achieved the distinction of popularising auto-erotic strangling in the US. Will Korean film-maker Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden be able to claim anything comparable? This film’s addictive and outrageous sexiness might just create an international fad for filing down your lover’s crooked tooth in the bath with the finely serrated surface of a thimble. It’s a quasi blowjob scene that sounds bizarre in print. On screen, it was so extraordinary that I almost forgot to breathe.
The Handmaiden: the return of erotic cinema Read more
Park is the veteran of extreme cinema, renowned for his brutal Vengeance trilogy: Sympathy for Mr Vengeance, Oldboy and Lady Vengeance. Now with co-writer Jeong Seo-kyeong he has adapted the novel Fingersmith by British author Sarah Waters – a humid story of crime, love and betrayal that he has transplanted from Victorian London to Japanese-ruled colonial Korea of the 1930s. From this source material, he creates a horribly delicious suspense thriller to compare with Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca or Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Les Diaboliques, a drama of double-cross and triple-cross, with some headspinning point-of-view shifts in which Park turns his camera into the most unreliable narrator possible. Halfway through the film, there is a whiplash twist, a spectacular convulsion that flips everything on its head and restarts the story, so that the audience can fully savour the gamey taste of treachery.
Park has three outstanding actors: Ha Jung-woo plays “Count” Fujiwara, a devilishly handsome career criminal and phoney nobleman who recruits pickpocket Sook-hee, played by Kim Tae-ri, to insinuate herself as a handmaiden in the household of a hideous plutocrat and book-dealer. This loathsome old man forces his heiress niece, Hideko, played by Kim Min-hee, to read pornography aloud to his dinner-jacketed guests to induce them to buy his forbidden rare volumes. Sook-hee’s job is to persuade Hideko to accept the Count’s secret marriage proposal and elope when the time is right: the handmaiden’s chaperone presence is vital for this plan. The fake Count explains that once he has emptied his new bride’s bank account, he plans to have Hideko banged up in a lunatic asylum, and Sook-hee can have some of her jewels. But Hideko and Sook-hee find themselves explosively attracted to each other. Who is seducing whom?
The exquisitely beautiful Kim Min-hee is excellent as Hideko with all her gamine innocence, petulance and entitlement, and Kim Tae-ri is superb as the handmaiden herself: smart, worldly, talented in the ways of deceit and yet with an unsuspected streak of romance. Ha Jung-woo swaggers and struts superbly as the predator-conman: his sneery conceit is really funny.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Outrageous sexiness … Ha Jung-woo and Kim Min-hee. Photograph: Allstar/Aazon Studios
The film is drenched with eroticism: it permeates the surfaces and textures, the rituals of teacher and pupil – the preposterous pretext for the Count’s visits is that he is teaching her to paint – and of course in the secret theatre of sex that plays out in the world of mistress and maidservant. In the licensed intimacy of Hideko’s bedroom, Sook-hee is allowed to undress Hideko, who playfully pretends to be the servant by undressing her in turn. In the manner of classic Victorian erotica, the handmaiden demonstrates to her awestruck mistress in bed exactly what she can expect on her wedding night.
The Handmaiden is about pornography, albeit pornography of the high-minded connoisseur kind from the Gutenberg age: rare books. Hideko has to read aloud from sub-Sadean material and then – in a fantastically twisted scene – pose on a kind of porn trapeze with a male mannequin. And porn’s undertow of shame has a political dimension. It is a cousin to the mortification of submitting to colonial rule. But sex is the sanctuary from pornography in The Handmaiden, the sex that Hideko and Sook-hee enjoy is the refuge from porn and its furniture of abuse and control.
As for the wealthy book-dealer himself, Kouzuki (Jo Jin-woong) is never allowed to take away from our ersatz Count’s charismatic-villain prerogative, but he is certainly potent and malign, associated with an image familiar from Park’s earlier film Oldboy: an octopus. Maybe Park was inspired by Luis Buñuel’s Viridiana, with its story of the disturbed man and his obsession with his niece. It is certainly a brilliant adaptation of Sarah Waters’ original novel and a film about something that most other movies can only guess at: pleasure and rapture.
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In the meantime, they say, fiscal constraints are colliding with the requirement set forth in a 1963 Supreme Court decision, Gideon v. Wainwright, that poor people accused of serious crimes be provided with lawyers paid for by the government.
Last week, Jared Blacksher found his case sent to the Missouri Supreme Court — not over the accusations that he had stolen prescription pain pills and a blank check, but over the issue of whether the state’s public defender system is in such dismal shape that it ought not be forced to represent him.
The public defender’s office had pleaded with the judge, repeatedly, not to assign it Mr. Blacksher’s case. It was just the latest example of public defenders, charged with representing the poor and indigent, saying they cannot take a case because they have too many already and not enough staff to handle them all. Public defenders in jurisdictions from Florida to Minnesota to Arizona have either sued over their caseloads or refused to take new cases.
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The judge in the Blacksher case rejected the public defender’s pleas not to be forced to take it. “It flies in the face of our Constitution,” Judge John S. Waters told his Christian County courtroom here last month. “It flies in the face of our culture. It flies in the face of the reason we came over here 300 and some-odd years ago to get out of debtors’ prison.”
“I’m not saying the public defenders aren’t overworked,” Judge Waters said, but, “I don’t know how to move his case and how to provide him what the law of the land provides.”
But last Friday, the Missouri Supreme Court issued an order temporarily rescinding the assignment of public defenders in Mr. Blacksher’s case, at least until the court can consider legal briefs on the question of the public defenders’ latest demand to refuse cases.
Mr. Blacksher’s case, which could now be delayed for several months, has become the center of a debate that long predates it in this state. To some, the signs of stress on the public defender system here have become overwhelming, even frightening: almost all the public defenders’ 35 trial division offices lately carried caseloads that would require more than the total number of staff hours available in a month — in some cases, more than two times the hours available, said Cat Kelly, deputy director for the Missouri State Public Defender System.
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“Missouri’s public defender system has reached a point where what it provides is often nothing more than the illusion of a lawyer,” an outside report asked for by the Missouri Bar concluded last year.
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Yet some county prosecutors here are deeply skeptical of the defenders’ complaints. With the state facing $550 million less in general fund revenues than a year ago, they say, defenders are no more burdened than the next department.
“They say this every year,” said Ron Cleek, the prosecuting attorney in Christian County, which includes Ozark, adding that he wondered whether some at the defenders offices might “want to think about what time they come in and when they go home.”
“We all work hard,” Mr. Cleek said. “They just need to suck it up and get out there and get it done.”
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Missouri’s state auditor has announced her office will examine the public defender system to determine whether it is, indeed, overburdened.
Around the country, the indigent are defended by a hodgepodge of systems and financing sources. In some places, private lawyers are appointed by judges; elsewhere, statewide public defender networks (like Missouri’s) have been created. Other jurisdictions use some combination of methods.
The public defenders in Missouri and elsewhere all ultimately pose a larger question: How far can defenders be stretched before they no longer provide poor people with the legal help ensured by Gideon?
“Is someone in prison who might have been acquitted if we had had more resources?” Rod Hackathorn, the public defender for a three-county district that includes Ozark, asked the other day. “You don’t know. I’m sure that it’s happened, and I don’t know who it has happened to. And that’s the scariest part of this all.”
Mr. Hackathorn’s district is one of two in the state to begin announcing this summer that it was turning down cases, including Mr. Blacksher’s. Nine others are taking steps to do the same.
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So far, results for poor defendants are murky. In cases involving those not in custody, some judges have sidestepped the entire question, quietly advising defendants to wait for the start of a new month (and a fresh monthly caseload count) — at which point their cases will be assigned to a public defender once more. In more serious cases, like Mr. Blacksher’s, judges have rejected the public defenders’ claims of “unavailability.”
Hours after the State Supreme Court’s decision in Mr. Blacksher’s case, Mr. Blacksher, who is charged with burglary and forgery, seemed oblivious to what had happened and mystified by his brush with the debate over public defenders.
From the Christian County Jail, where he has been held since July, unable to afford bail, Mr. Blacksher, 22, said he had heard nothing of the delay in his case and was still expecting to be called from his cell for a hearing — which had once been set for last Friday — on its merits.
Just a day earlier, he had met with his assistant public defender and had agreed, he said, to plead guilty in exchange for a prison sentence that would most likely run several months. So far as he knew, he said, the public defender was still his lawyer, and his hearing might come any minute.
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The Scotland Under-21 international midfielder Ryan Gauld, nicknamed “Baby-Messi” by team-mates, has completed a remarkable transfer from Dundee United to Sporting Lisbon for an undisclosed fee.
The 5ft 6in 18-year-old, who made his United debut in May 2012, has agreed a six-year deal with the Portuguese club, with the contract including a €60m buy-out clause.
United confirmed in a short statement that the move remained subject “to the usual formalities”, but that “everyone at the club wishes Ryan sincere best wishes in his future career”.
Speaking before the move was confirmed, United’s manager Jackie McNamara told STV: “There comes a time when it’s too good to turn down, not just financially but for the player himself. If it’s the right club it could be life changing.”
Gauld, a former Dundee United ball-boy, told the Observer last year why he felt a move abroad might suit his style and attributes better than joining a major club in England.
“When I’ve been growing up, I watched the Spanish leagues and prefer the style of that. Getting the ball down and being patient with the buildup play. In England, it’s maybe more direct. If you are a winger you are expected to take on a full-back and get a cross in. If it’s abroad, you can turn out, keep the ball and just keep the attack going.
“Abroad you see more players who are smaller in stature. In England, it’s more athletes. Me being a smaller guy, I need to think about what’s best for me and what’s best around me and I think being abroad is the best culture of football for me.”
McNamara told the BBC in December he expected Gauld to go on to become a “British great”.
“He’s going to be a massive star in our national team, there’s no doubt about that. I have been fortunate in my career to be working with some really good young players … but, for me, Ryan, you look at him and he’s still like a wee boy, his size there, but he flies into tackles, he goes for headers, and he’s only going to get stronger and quicker.
“Everybody can see the talent the boy has. For me, he’s one of these boys who will always strive to be better. His vision, his ability is just fantastic. Upstairs, his football brain is way beyond his years, way beyond anything I’ve seen.”
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The Trump administration on Wednesday revoked federal guidelines specifying that transgender students have the right to use public school restrooms that match their gender identity, taking a stand on a contentious issue that has become the central battle over LGBT rights.
Officials with the federal Education and Justice departments notified the U.S. Supreme Court late Wednesday that the administration is ordering the nation’s schools to disregard memos the Obama administration issued during the past two years regarding transgender student rights. Those memos said that prohibiting transgender students from using facilities that align with their gender identity violates federal anti-discrimination laws.
The two-page “Dear colleague” letter from the Trump administration, which is set to go to the nation’s public schools, does not offer any new guidance, instead saying that the earlier directive needed to be withdrawn because it lacked extensive legal analysis, did not go through a public vetting process, sowed confusion and drew legal challenges.
The administration said that it would not rely on the prior interpretation of the law in the future.
[Read the Trump administration’s letter to schools]
(McKenna Ewen,Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)
The departments wrote that the Trump administration wants to “further and more completely consider the legal issues involved,” and said that there must be “due regard for the primary role of the States and local school districts in establishing educational policy.” Although it offered no clarity or direction to schools that have transgender students, the letter added that “schools must ensure that all students, including LGBT students, are able to learn and thrive in a safe environment.”
Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that his department “has a duty to enforce the law” and criticized the Obama administration’s guidance as lacking sufficient legal basis. Sessions wrote that the Department of Justice remains committed to the “proper interpretation” of the anti-discrimination law known as Title IX but said deference should be given to lawmakers and localities.
“Congress, state legislatures, and local governments are in a position to adopt appropriate policies or laws addressing this issue,” Sessions said.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos echoed that sentiment, saying that this is an issue “best solved at the state and local level. Schools, communities, and families can find — and in many cases have found — solutions that protect all students.”
DeVos also gave assurances that the department’s Office for Civil Rights “remains committed to investigating all claims of discrimination, bullying and harassment against those who are most vulnerable in our schools,” and she noted that she considers “protecting all students, including LGBTQ students, not only a key priority for the Department, but for every school in America.”
The decision — delayed in part because DeVos and Sessions hit stalemates regarding timing and specific language — drew immediate condemnation from gay and transgender rights advocates, who accused President Trump of violating past promises to support gay and transgender protections. Advocates said the withdrawal of the federal guidance will create another layer of confusion for schools and will make transgender students, who are already vulnerable, more so.
“Attacking our children . . . is no way to say you support and respect LGBTQ people,” said Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality.
(Reuters)
Others said the practical effect on the nation’s schools would be muted, in part because a federal judge already had blocked the Obama guidance in response to a lawsuit from 13 states that argued it violated states’ rights. And it is possible the U.S. Supreme Court could settle the matter soon, as it plans to consider a Virginia case involving a transgender teenager who was barred from using the boys’ bathroom at his high school.
[Gavin Grimm just wanted to use the bathroom. He didn’t think the nation would debate it.]
The Trump administration’s move drew cheers from social conservatives who oppose the idea that a student can identify as a gender that differs from their anatomy at birth.
Vicki Wilson, the mother of a child at Fremd High School in Palatine, Ill., said she sympathizes with children who have “difficult personal issues” to deal with, but thinks that “young men shouldn’t be permitted to deal with those issues in an intimate setting like a locker room with young women.”
School district officials in Palatine, bowing to federal pressure, allowed a transgender girl to change in the girls’ locker room at her school. “No school should impose a policy like this against the will of so many parents,” Wilson said during a news conference organized by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal organization.
[Illinois group sues Obama administration over transgender students’ bathroom access]
The administration’s letter was the source of some disagreement between the two issuing departments, with Sessions eager to rescind the Obama administration’s guidance as court proceedings in related cases approached, and DeVos keen to leave it in place. Unlike Arne Duncan, Obama’s education secretary for seven years, DeVos does not have a close personal relationship with the president she serves; she also lacks the experience and political capital Sessions garnered as a Republican senator.
Sessions is widely known to oppose expanding gay and transgender rights, and DeVos’s friends say she personally supports those rights. The new letter is sure to ignite another firestorm for DeVos, who is fresh off her contentious nomination fight and has drawn protests from parents and teachers who believe she is unqualified for the job.
The letter also puts Trump squarely in the middle of the civil rights debate: Despite a flurry of activity in the early weeks of his presidency, Trump had not previously waded into the issue of gay and transgender rights.
[Trump: Rescind Obama’s transgender directives, but ‘protect everybody’]
Trump declined to sign an executive order last month that would have dramatically expanded the rights of people, businesses and organizations of faith to opt out of laws or activities that violate their religion, such as same-sex wedding ceremonies. Many took it as a sign that he would take a more liberal approach on gay issues than his Republican cohorts.
But in an interview with The Washington Post last year, then-candidate Donald Trump had indicated he would rescind the guidance based on the belief that it was a matter best left up to the states.
In the daily news briefing Wednesday, White House spokesman Sean Spicer played down the reports of disagreement within the administration — saying the debate came down to timing and some specific wording — and reiterated the states’ rights argument.
“The president’s made it clear throughout the campaign that he’s a firm believer in states’ rights,” Spicer said.
The Obama administration’s guidance was based on the position that barring students from bathrooms that match their gender identities is a violation of Title IX because it amounts to sex discrimination.
Many advocates contend the guidance merely formalized what courts have increasingly recognized: That discrimination against gay and transgender people is a form of sex discrimination because it is rooted in stereotypes about men and women. As a result, they believe transgender people already have the right under Title IX to use their preferred bathroom.
The new letter scrambles the calculus for a number of lawsuits working their way through the courts, particularly the case of Gavin Grimm, a transgender Virginia teen who sued his school board for barring him from the boys’ restroom. The case is scheduled for oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court next month. A lower court cited the Obama administration’s position on transgender student rights in siding with Grimm.
Grimm said he was disheartened that the Trump administration is withdrawing the guidance. The Gloucester, Va., school board continued to bar him from the boys’ bathroom even after the Obama guidance was issued, but Grimm said the directive was “incredibly empowering.”
“It certainly bolstered hope that the future for transgender students was looking up in a way that it hadn’t been previously,” Grimm said.
Amber Briggle, the mother of a 9-year-old transgender boy in Denton, Tex., said she views the Trump administration’s position as a temporary setback and hopes that the Supreme Court will affirm transgender students’ rights. But the withdrawal of the Obama directive is a blow, she said, because the guidance made her feel that Washington cared about children like hers and understood the support they need.
“I just don’t think my family matters to the Trump administration,” she said.
Catherine Lhamon, who headed the Obama Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights, said in a sworn declaration that the administration developed the guidance after receiving discrimination complaints from parents of transgender children and questions from teachers and administrators who were having to develop policies with regard to their transgender students.
In 2011, the Education Department received two complaints of discrimination against transgender students in schools. By 2016, that number had leapt to 84, according to the declaration filed in federal court.
In a kindergarten class where students line up by gender to go to the bathroom, “a student has to decide which line to get into, and the teacher has to decide which line to accept that student into, and both of them have to field questions from other students in the class,” Lhamon said in an interview. “Any of those choices raises potential for discrimination and potential for harm that all of the students and teachers in a school have to navigate. It’s not an abstraction for the people who live it every day.”
Lhamon said the withdrawal of the guidance and the notion that the federal government needs more time to consider the issue of transgender accommodations creates chaos in schools and sends a damaging message to children.
Without federal guidance, schools are likely to look to their state governments for clarity, said Francisco Negron Jr., chief counsel for the National School Boards Association.
That could open up battles across the country similar to one last year in North Carolina, when the legislature voted to require people in public buildings to use the restrooms that correspond with the sex listed on their birth certificates.
Fifteen states have explicit protections for transgender students, according to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group; lawmakers in several other states are working to restrict bathroom access for transgender students. The American Civil Liberties Union, which tracks the legislation, said legislators in 14 states filed 20 bills that could lead to restroom restrictions for transgender people, with some proposing that states penalize schools that violate those restrictions. So far, five of those bills have failed.
Many school districts held off on writing restroom policies as they waited for the outcome of the Grimm case. Among them was Fairfax County, Va., one of the largest districts in the nation, which was preparing to draft regulations on restroom access for transgender students to reflect its nondiscrimination policy.
Elizabeth Schultz, a Fairfax County School Board member who opposes expanding the protections, said she hopes the new Trump administration action will lead the district to abandon its efforts.
If the threat of revoking federal funds “is no longer wielded against our local authority, there’s no precipitating reason to continue,” she said.
Read more:
Obama administration directs schools to accommodate transgender students
Gavin Grimm just wanted to use the bathroom. He didn’t think the nation would debate it.
Supreme Court takes up school bathroom rules for transgender students
Parents of transgender children speak out as election results put LGBT advocates on defense
Trump could reverse Obama’s actions on college sex assault, transgender rights
Robert Barnes and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.
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Tom Cable will be the Oakland Raiders' head coach for the 2009 season, a source close to another candidate for the job told ESPN's Michael Smith.
The source said the Raiders informed the other candidate Wednesday of their decision to go with Cable. A second source with knowledge of the Raiders' operation also told Smith the Raiders have settled on Cable.
ESPN reached Raiders senior executive John Herrera, who denied that the club had decided on Cable as its coach.
"The decision has not been made," Herrera said. "That's not correct. At some point here we will have a head coach, but as of now that decision has not been made. We are assembling a staff as you know, but a decision on the head man has not been made."
Cable served as interim head coach in 2008 after the in-season firing of Lane Kiffin. Cable has been considered the front-runner ever since he helped the Raiders finish the season with consecutive victories while winning three of their last six games. As interim Raiders coach, Tom Cable recorded a 4-8 record. Kirby Lee/US Presswire
Still unclear are the status of contract negotiations with Cable and when the Raiders' decision will be announced.
In other news, the Raiders added two more assistant coaches to their staff, making Paul Hackett their quarterbacks coach and hiring Dwaine Board to mentor the defensive line.
Hackett, a 40-year coaching veteran, assisted the Raiders' coaching staff with special projects last season. The former head coach at USC and offensive coordinator with the Jets and Kansas City will be in charge of JaMarcus Russell's development in Oakland.
Board was the Seattle Seahawks' defensive line coach from 2003 to '08. He also spent 23 years in the Bay Area with the San Francisco 49ers as a player and assistant coach.
Information from ESPN's Michael Smith and The Associated Press was used in this report.
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A youth orchestra was asked to leave a shopping centre after complaints that it was too noisy.
The Robin Hood Youth Orchestra was playing a mixture of traditional Christmas and classical music to raise money for charity.
But its three-hour session was cut short after the Victoria Centre in Nottingham received complaints about the noise on Saturday.
The orchestra, made up of 40 students aged between 11 and 18 with a musical ability of grade four and above, had been booked to play between 10am and 1pm but was told to finish at 11am.
Intu, which runs the Victoria Centre, said it was forced to stop the music after receiving a number of complaints about the noise levels.
Ian Burton, head of Nottingham Music Service, said the orchestra performed outside in Trinity Square after leaving the centre.
Burton said: "Our orchestra is well known for playing with energy and enthusiasm, which is why they get such a fantastic response from audiences.
"When our initial venue on Saturday (where we had a large, enthusiastic audience) cut our concert short it took us only a few moments to find another venue that was more than happy for us to perform."
A spokesperson for Intu said: "We received a number of complaints about the noise levels in the centre on Saturday so unfortunately we had to ask the Robin Hood Youth Orchestra to finish its performance earlier than planned after two sets.
"We're committed to supporting local groups and charities here at Intu Victoria Centre and have invited the Robin Hood Youth Orchestra back into the centre to perform on a smaller scale."
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Torment was the only feeling left in Theon's miserable life. But who was this 'Theon'? The only name he ever went by now is Reek. The dejected, pitiful wriggling worm of a man. Reek was now officially the definition of ceaselessness anguish. Reek peered down from where he hung on the X shaped wooden fixture, where his arms and legs were spread. His head seemed to wilt. He appeared lifeless and limp by resting his chin on his chest. It had splotches of magenta and violet bruises. All of those deep carvings scattered among his body were constantly oozing syrup like blood. While some of them remained clotted scabs, Ramsay made sure to make them deeper every day by running a blade in the same motion with a grin on his face as he etched through Reek's skin. All Reek could do was to blubber and howl in agony. His arms and legs were no help as they jerked when he struggled to twist free of his restraints making his wrists and ankles sore from the friction of the tight, dry, leather. In this lighting of the chamber Reek could barely make out the shape of the engravings left by Ramsay. What did it matter anyway? It had been at least six hours since Ramsay went out to do some errands. He even left a good bye gash right above both his left and right knee using a trench club. The precise blow had left four deep holes in his flesh from the rusty spikes on both legs. The Two immense bruises were starting to form since he bid farewell. The bloody weapon now propped up against a wall along with other torcher devices in a corner. They were now sitting in a puddle of rain water from a leak in the ceiling. The storm was defiantly getting worse, you could hear the rain crashing down outside. It was soothing just listening to it. Reek listened for every time the thunder roared and every flash of lightning that managed to make its way into the cell. Reek took a deep breath and winced as the cuts among his belly stretched. He then slowly exhaled into the cold damp atmosphere. Perhaps the gods pitied him enough to give him a sliver of peace. Suddenly fingers dug into the hairs on the back of his head and forcefully yanked back, causing his neck to bend backwards. Reeks gaze met with Ramsay's, his pale lead eyes had a fresh devious flicker to his gaze. Flashes of lightning revealed faint splotches of blue among the silvery irises but there was something else about his gaze that caught him off guard. What could be hiding behind those beautiful eyes? Wait, 'beautiful'? Reek thought to himself. Did he just admire Ramsay for a second? Reek instantly shook the notion as his eyes averted Ramsay's, darting every which way only to meet Ramsay's every so often. Ramsay's lips curled, revealing his perfect teeth creating a vicious looking grin. "Don't look so worried now, I was planning on returning you know. Were you growing bored without me? I didn't mean to stay away for too long. You know how errands are. One minute you think something might be very important to you and then the next you find yourself finding it utterly small and pathetic. Kind of like your cock!" Ramsay's voice bounced off the walls and rattled inside Reek's head causing more aches.
Ramsay let go of Reeks hair and shoved his head back into place. He then hobbled to the table that stood a couple feet away from where Reek hung dragging a leather covered box behind him, and placed the large trunk on top. The trunk was a hassle to drag all the way to the chamber due to the fact that it was almost twice his size. He took a moment to take a few breaths and ran a hand through his thick drenched hair. With his back facing Reek, Ramsay then opened the trunk and dipped his arm inside. Fear washed over Reek as he watched Ramsay rummage through the dark trunk, whatever was in there defiantly meant that Ramsay was planning something horrendous. Ramsay could feel Reek watching his every move. He smiled to himself bashfully as his cheeks became warm and started to turn into a light tint of pink. Ramsay quickly reached into his coat and pulled out his flask. He took a swig from it, and then quickly tucked it back inside his coat. This way if his face was still rosy it would look like it was the alcohol's doing. Ramsay glanced over his shoulder, looking Reek up and down. He then turned back to the trunk and pretended to continue searching for something. "He's too conscious, there's no way I'll be to surprise him. I have something great in store and there is not a chance that I'll let it go to shit." Ramsay thought. He was prepared for this and one thing for sure, Ramsay hated it when plans failed. Ramsay pulled a clear vile containing a lime green liquid, he twisted and pulled out the cork making a loud squeak then POP sound. Ramsay sharply turned around on the back of his heels threw the cork over his shoulder, marching over to Reek and stood right in front of him. A shiver went down Reek's spine, his hands suddenly became clammy and his pupil shrunk. "Say aaaah." ~ 3 He cooed, a grin flashed upon his face. Reek was unsure on whether He should obey Ramsay's orders or refuse to do as he wished. His jaw opened slowly as his bottom lip quivered. Ramsay grew very impatient in mere seconds. With one hand he gripped Reek's jaw and pulled it open, and with the other hand shoved the vile into his mouth. Reek instantly gagged on the sour concoction as it filled mouth and ran down his throat. He accidentally inhaled at the same time as he swallowed, causing him to cough sending bullets of spit and green fluid up into the air and then crash down on his own face. "What a careless guzzler you've turned out to be. I expected better manners from a rejected royal. Have some class!" Once Reek drank half of the liquid Ramsay removed the glass and slapped Reek across the face. Reek suddenly felt a rush of dizziness and soreness on his cheek. Right when he was about to make a remark his eyes became heavy, soon enough everything went dark from there. His body refused to let him open his eyes; he was now falling into a deep coma. Ramsay set the half empty glass on the table next to the chest and turned back to Reek. At first Ramsay wasn't sure where to start although he did know for a fact that a lot of time now rested in his hands. He should probably start setting up for his arrangement.
Something was stopping him in his tracks. Ramsay continued to stand there motionless, watching the sleeping Reek from a distance. He slowly took a few steps towards Reek, he then stood still again midway to watch him closely. Ramsay then forced himself to walk up to the unconscious Reek and gripped a handful of his hair. He lifted Reek's limp head and forced it to bounce around multiple times before he concluded that Reek was truly into a deep trance. Reek didn't even wince or quietly yelp. Reek continued to breathe quietly as he rested. He was obviously still alive, to Ramsay's relief he hadn't used too much of the poison. Just the perfect amount to keep him knocked out cold. Ramsay gently let go of Reek's locks. He reached into his coat once more and pulled out his handkerchief, Ramsay lightly wiped off the juice that Reek had spat on himself. A soft muffled groan rumbled in Reek's throat, it made Ramsay jump a little. He was used to hearing him making this sound when he was asleep, it was normal sleep noises that Reek usually made but it surprised Ramsay. Normally Ramsay would not be this close to Reek as he slept. Usually Ramsay would be too busy sharpening his knives or tending to other Bolton duties. It was strange to Ramsay. He had never seen someone at peace for a very long time. Ramsay snapped out of his trance, He knew he should get started on the preparations. After all this was his special gift for Reek and himself. Ramsay whispered to himself "We have come so far haven't we Reek?" Ramsay grabbed Reek's chin and pulled his heavy limp face up to his. He could feel Reek take in slow rhythmic breaths as he continued to sleep in his sedated form. Ramsay knew he should be preparing for the 'great surprise' he had in store, but He found himself lost in the mesmerizing smell of Reek. Wait a minute, Ramsay inhales Reek's scent. His face crinkles in disgust, Reek defiantly smelled like shit and urine for the most part but there was a sweet lingering smell like pine sap. Ramsay let go of Reek's chin, it instantly drooped just like a smelly rag doll. A tortured, drugged up, rag doll. Ramsay began to deploy his plan. He took a couple steps closer and untied him from the post he usually hung on for torturous events; Ramsay hadn't realized how heavy he was. Usually he would get someone else to do all of this extra work. However, Ramsay felt that if this 'incident' were to spread throughout the kingdoms his name would be tainted. If his father were to even find out that Ramsay had mounted another man he would think lesser of him. As Ramsay continued to catch his breath he glanced down at Reek where he left him, sprawled on his belly among the cold floor. Ramsay quickly fetched a wooden wheelbarrow, he somehow managed to get him in there in a matter of minutes after an awkward struggle to get the limp body in a manageable position to place him into the damn thing. Ramsay had later been able to successfully sneak Reek to Ramsay's bedroom without anyone noticing. There was a squeaky wheel on the wheelbarrow and he most certainly did not want any attention drawn to him. So Ramsay had to carry Reek up to his bedroom. He constantly had to cling to the railing with one hand the whole climb while the other secured Reek onto his shoulder. Ramsay nearly lost his balance, with Reek's weight atop of his shoulder he teetered on a step, instinctively both of his hands shot for the railing. His gripped dismissed Reek's body and tumbled onto a couple of stairs below. It wasn't that bad of a tumble to be fair, Reek skidded down at least five or six steps. It made Ramsay cringe, not because he was worried about Reek….well maybe a little. But he hated that he had to exert more energy to retrieve Reek and then climb the same stairs again. When Ramsay finally made it to his room he hastily went over to his bed and plopped on the soft crimson cot he had dragged Reek onto the bed with him. While Reek's upper body was dangling off the bed his lower half was near Ramsay's face. But he didn't care; He was tired at this point. Too tired to even make a clever remark about his situation. He knew the medicine would wear off in a couple of hours, Ramsay still had time to relax. After Ramsay's short rest he continued to work, Ramsay had then spread Reek's limps on his bed and tied each arm and leg with rope onto the bed's four banisters. Ramsay then started to undress and slipped into a more suitable attire for this occasion, a pink bathrobe with a black X streaked across the midsection. As it was also time for Reek to change apparel. Or in his case be stripped of what ever cloth that was left on his scarred body. Ramsay had been in such a rush he forgot to remove Reek's clothing before he had tied him up. "No matter." Ramsay grabbed one of his daggers from atop his dresser and cut Reek's clothes off. It was only after one more hour when Reek finally awoke. Reek's head felt so sore and dizzy. It was hard enough to open his eyes. But they soon fluttered open but then started to squint as the light shining through the window disturbed his vision. He then started to twist his limbs expecting to still be hanging in the torcher chamber, but to Reek's surprise he found himself restrained not in mid-air but laying down on a soft bed. Reek then also felt light breeze brush in between his thighs. Instinctively he tried to close the gap by buckling his knees together, but could not due to the restraints. He felt very vulnerable as his legs were spread in such a fashion. The way he was angled seemed awkward to him as he could not see past his bare spot where his penis once was, it was as if he were trying to look over a rounded hairy hill. But then a familiar face came into view from across the room, his head looked like it was in between his legs. It was Ramsay. "My Kraken has finally awoken!" Ramsay roared, he then crackled at his own little joke. He took a moment to admire his own banter; Ramsay almost forgot to compose himself he was just so full of excitement, his lips were curled into a joyous grin. "No more time to waste…Its time to get started…" He thought. Ramsay's face quickly transformed into a zealous stare. He looked as if he were a famished dire wolf. Ramsay's eyes seemed to have grown more vibrant as his urge for pleasure and causing convulsion. Ramsay stood up in an instant, discarded his pink robe and sprinted towards the bed. He then clambered onto the dazed Reek and crammed his hard staff into the barren hole of where Reek's penis used to once happily erect itself. Now fully awake Reek began to scream as Ramsay slammed his penis over and over again into his…well, 'man' hole. No, his man-gina. Ramsay's strokes intensified as Reek's pain seemed to get worse. The inside of Reek's barren muscles felt good on Ramsay's penis as with each stroke blood began to
Trickle out and onto both of them and the bed. Once this started to become too repetitive Ramsay removed his penis soaked in Reek's blood and happily strode over to his dresser. As Reek bayed in agony from behind Ramsay found what he was looking for, a wood carving he had been working on for a while. It was Ramsay's favorite hobby for the past couple of months and it only took him yesterday to finally finish it. He turned around with the craft in his hands looking quite pleased with himself. Still in agony Reek peered over to find Ramsay walking back towards him but with some kind of smoothed log with a spike at one end with the opposite end rounded. When Ramsay got close enough Reek now knew what it was that Ramsay held. A wooden penis. To Reek's surprise there were a couple of details he soon noticed about it. It had designs on it. On the head of the penis Ramsay had carved a single curved line underneath a hole for the nose and two dots above it making it appear to be a happy face. Then on the front of the staff there was a carving of the Bolten symbol and on the back of the staff was a squid representing house Grey Joy. Without warning Ramsay held the wooden penis firmly with the spike facing Reek and stabbed the masterpiece into his old spot where Reek's real penis used to be. Reek wailed loudly in tremendous pain, it was sore enough down there but now it felt as if he were to die right there from so much torment. He wished. "How do you like your new woodie?! Took me a while to find the right material but it was worth it!" the new penis was comically bigger than Reek's original penis's size. So now if Reek were to escape this madman he would then look as if he had a massive boner everywhere he went. The thing would probably refuse to stay in his trousers (If he were to get new ones, that is.) His house sign was facing himself while house Bolton's symbol must be facing Ramsay. Why Ramsay had went out of his way to carve his house's symbol? This confused Reek considering he would least expect this gesture from Ramsay. After all he was Reek's main source of torment. The rest of the evening was filled with more pain and suffering, well for Reek that is. Ramsay was having the time of his life, he had never felt so pleasured in a long time, ever since his wife died. She had been a waste of space anyways. After some more pleasure and pain the two of them cuddled together peacefully. Or perhaps Ramsay slept peacefully while Reek was quietly sobbing and felt sore all over. Ramsay turned his head towards Reek, He was so close to him that he could feel his breath. With tears filling Reek's eyes running down his face still Reek peered back at Ramsay. Out of no where Reek jolted towards Ramsay without any rational thoughts in his thick skull, and kissed Ramsay passionately on the lips. Ramsay did not expect this at all, as his face turned a deep rosy blush. It took a moment for Ramsay's mind to register what was happening, after four or five more lingering seconds he came to his senses and slapped Reek across the face and covered his own mouth. Ramsay's eyes averted wile Reek had continued to stare wistfully at Ramsay. Finally Ramsay's eyes met with Reek's only Ramsay's blush had become a deep crimson now. "Who the fuck gave you the right to make the first move?" and with that Ramsay grabbed the hair behind Reek's head and forced him towards his face and proceeded to make out. Even if Reek did smell like shit, it was a pretty good kiss.
The end
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Copper Peak to be reinvented as world’s largest summer ski Jump
on 2013-11-25
After a FIS inspection was held at Ironwood in earlier November, plans have been released to modernize former Copper Peak ski flying hill and convert it into the world's biggest large hill.
Press release by Copper Peak / USA Ski Jumping
November 22, 2013
Copper Peak to be Reinvented as World’s Largest Summer Ski Jump
2014 Winter Exhibition will be delayed
IRONWOOD, MI (November 22, 2013) – The Federation of International Skiing (FIS) has granted Copper Peak its approval to move forward with extensive renovations that will transform the hill into the largest summer ski jump in the world. The full facility plan includes a USA Ski Jumping National Training Center, which will allow athletes to use the Peak from the middle of June to October and through the winter. Originally built as the only ski flying hill in North America, Copper Peak will be reshaped to meet exacting FIS standards for ski jumping. The winter exhibition that was to be held at Copper Peak on February 28 through March 2, 2014 will be delayed due to immediate construction preparation. All funds already collected will be returned to ticketholders.
The original plan presented to FIS included only renovations sufficient to permit the 2014 Winter Exhibition. However, FIS sees far greater potential for Copper Peak and has recommended a new focus on renovating the hill for expanded usage. This is due in part to the booming international popularity of summer ski jumping. Europeans in particular have embraced the sport because of its more temperate weather for fans and fewer technical variables for skiers. The renovation will reposition Copper Peak as a premier destination for prestigious competitions, such as the FIS Summer Grand Prix – an event that draws the world’s top ski jumpers.
The potential regional economic and publicity impact of the restoration is significant. “Copper Peak is on the verge of international prominence,” said Mike Holland, former ski flying world distance record holder and USA Ski Jumping Chief of Club Support. “U.S. and world ski jumping communities are abuzz with excitement over plans to modernize Copper Peak. Soon, large crowds will flock to Ironwood in the winter AND summer to watch the best men (and women!) ski jumpers in the world.” Under this plan, Copper Peak will expand its possible ski jumping usage from three days a year in the winter to include as many as 50 days during the summer season, and draw potentially thousands of additional international visitors.
“What’s about to happen at Copper Peak is just plain amazing,” adds Bryan Sanders, a 1992 Winter Olympian and Chief of Competition for Copper Peak. “The Peak is reinventing itself 44 years after it first opened and 20 years after it was last used. We will embark immediately with plans to modernize the facility for both winter and summer use, and both day and nighttime use. Once complete, the Peak will attract elite athletes from around the world at both winter and summer competitions, possibly as early as 2015.”
Kris Severson, former Copper Peak flyer and sports producer, is also excited at the prospect. “The recommendations from the recent FIS visit were extremely positive. They view Copper Peak as an international ski jumping landmark. This is like a gold medal for U.S. ski jumping.”
Copper Peak opened in March 1970, and remains the largest ski jump on the American continent. Some of the world's greatest ski jumpers and ski flyers, including Olympic champions from Scandinavia and other parts of Europe, started their early flying careers at Copper Peak. From 1970 to 1994, ten ski flying competitions took place on the Peak. Although there have been no competitions since then, for decades Copper Peak has drawn more than 10,000 visitors per year as the top tourist attraction in the Western Upper Peninsula.
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Re-Ranking Every NHL Team's Prospect Pool After the 2016 Trade Deadline 0 of 30 Matt Slocum/Associated Press Monday's NHL trade deadline and the days leading up to it saw teams with Stanley Cup ambitions load up for playoff runs, and that (rightly) is where most of the media focus has gone. However, it also saw sellers add draft picks and prospects in the hopes of being better in the future, which is what we're focused on today. In this slideshow, we consider the additions and subtractions from each team's prospect system, players such as Conner Bleackley (above), who was dealt from the Colorado Avalanche to the Arizona Coyotes. We provide a spotlight on each team's top prospect and a necessarily brief general overview of each club's pipeline and ranked the teams based on the overall strength of their prospect groups. What makes a prospect? For our purposes, a prospect is any player eligible for the NHL's Calder Trophy this year who is not an established NHLer. For example, the Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin is eligible for the Calder, but there's no question as to which league he should be playing in now and for the next 15 years. It's important to remember teams with good young players in the NHL will be penalized under this system, as their young players are not considered part of the prospect pool. Additionally, bad teams with high picks tend to do better than longtime contenders just because they have higher-end talent waiting in the wings. Read on for our ranking of all 30 NHL prospect pools.
30. Chicago Blackhawks 1 of 30 Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Phillip Danault and Dennis Robertson. Top prospect: Nick Schmaltz. Schmaltz is an exceptionally gifted offensive player, particularly when it comes to setting up his teammates. He has just four goals but 30 points overall in 28 games at the college level, which represents an impressive step forward from previous campaigns. System overview: The Chicago Blackhawks lack elite talent, which isn't a surprise given how good the team has been; part of what gives Schmaltz the edge over some of the other players in the system is he offers the kind of high-end scoring potential that is in such short supply. Chicago has some interesting role players up front (Ryan Hartman is a fascinating prospect despite his modest offensive potential) and has done a good job of picking up defensive prospects from other organizations, including players such as Ville Pokka, Gustav Forsling and Erik Gustafsson. Overall, though, it's a shallow system.
29. Los Angeles Kings 2 of 30 Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Valentin Zykov, Scott Sabourin. Top prospect: Adrian Kempe. Kempe was the Los Angeles Kings' first-round pick in 2014, and he plays a Los Angeles-style game. He has a solid 6'1" frame and plays physically, excelling in traffic and on the cycle. He was only a couple of days away from being eligible for the 2015 draft, yet he's already playing in the AHL and doing rather well as a rookie pro. System overview: The Kings are a tough team to grade because, like most successful NHL teams, they lack really high-end prospects. What they have is a bunch of guys who will play at a major league level. For a team with a core locked up for the long term, that's basically the primary need. L.A.'s drafting and development system provides cheap young players for depth roles/trading at the deadline and the occasional player such as Kempe when it gets the chance to draft a little bit earlier.
28. Edmonton Oilers 3 of 30 Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Martin Gernat. Top prospect: Griffin Reinhart. The No. 4 selection in the 2012 draft, Reinhart brings impressive size and exceptional on-ice intelligence to the organization. His skating and ability with the puck could be improved upon, however, and his development has not gone as hoped for since his draft day. System overview: The Edmonton Oilers have a bunch of interesting prospects behind Reinhart, but they all play left defence, and for the most part they are secondary talents. Laurent Brossoit looks ready for an NHL promotion after two strong AHL campaigns—averaging .918 and .919 save percentages, per Elite Prospects—and is a top-end goaltending prospect. There are also a couple of useful forwards bouncing around in the system, with Jujhar Khaira and Anton Slepyshev of particular interest. For the most part, though, the cupboard is bare. Edmonton's best prospects (including Connor McDavid and Darnell Nurse off last season's list) have almost all entirely made the jump to the NHL, and there isn't a lot behind them.
27. New York Rangers 4 of 30 Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Aleksi Saarela, Ryan Bourque. Top prospect: Brady Skjei. A 2012 first-round pick, the New York Rangers drafted Skjei primarily for his shutdown ability, with Red Line Report comparing the 6'3", 206-pound defenceman to longtime Ottawa Senators rearguard Chris Phillips. Skjei's game has translated well to the AHL as a rookie, and he's shown puck-moving ability, making him something more than the typical stay-at-home blueliner. System overview: Winger Pavel Buchnevich is a whisker back of Skjei for top spot on this list, but after him, the forward cupboard is awfully bare, particularly with the departure of Saarela and the graduation of Oscar Lindberg. Defence is in a similar way; outside of Ryan Graves, there aren't a lot of players worth mentioning. New York entered the year relatively stacked in net, and despite some disappointing performances (notably from Mackenzie Skapski) the team has at least three and perhaps as many as five legitimate goalie prospects. Igor Shestyorkin is probably the best of the bunch, but there's a lot of talent there.
26. San Jose Sharks 5 of 30 Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Timo Meier. A big winger who has gradually improved his skating, Meier generally gets top marks from scouting organizations for his work ethic and his scoring skill. His point totals are down from last season, though, in large part as a result of a collapse in goal-scoring; he went from 44 goals in 61 games down to just 24 goals in 43 contests this year in the QMJHL. System overview: Ever so gradually, the San Jose Sharks' list of prospects has been improving. Our criteria excludes defenceman Mirco Mueller, who played 39 NHL games last year and is a key cog on the blue line. He leads a group that also includes Julius Bergman and Jeremy Roy. Behind them, San Jose's list of goaltending prospects is long but almost entirely undistinguished. Outside of Meier and Nikolay Goldobin, most of the Sharks' best forward prospects are already at the NHL level. Barclay Goodrow, who played almost all of last season in the majors, is an exception—but like Mueller he's excluded from our list.
25. Ottawa Senators 6 of 30 Alan Diaz/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Jason Akeson, Jerome Leduc, Michael Keranen.
Jason Akeson, Jerome Leduc, Subtraction(s): Cole Schneider, Michael Sdao, Alex Guptill, Conor Allen. Top prospect: Colin White. White over Thomas Chabot will surprise some, but the two were picked all of three selections apart at the 2015 draft, and while Chabot has had a good year, White has enjoyed a great one. Sportsnet compared White stylistically to Patrice Bergeron in their 2015 draft guide; he is an exceptional defensive forward who also contributes offensively. The size of that offensive contribution increased dramatically this year at Boston College, where he has 39 points in 30 games in a tough league. System overview: Chabot is obviously the No. 2 prospect, a mobile, puck-moving defenceman who is scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace in the QMJHL. After him, there is a significant drop-off. Both Nick Paul and Matt Puempel are probably the next most famous prospects in the system. Paul has played seven NHL games this year but hasn't scored a lot in the AHL. The question with the 6'4" forward is how much he's going to produce as a pro. Puempel has similar issues, though he's finally enjoying something of a breakthrough in his third AHL campaign. Ryan Dzingel has had a good year and is one of the few non-veteran players producing for the Baby Sens.
24. Pittsburgh Penguins 7 of 30 Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Matthias Plachta.
Matthias Plachta. Subtraction(s): Sergei Plotnikov. Top prospect: Matt Murray. Murray was a project when the Pittsburgh Penguins took the 6'4" goaltender in the third round of the 2012 draft, but as it turns out, he was a worthwhile one. He steadily improved over his time in junior and was stunning as an AHL rookie with a .941 save percentage performance for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2014-15. He's been nearly as good this year and was spectacular in an NHL cameo over the festive period. System overview: A lack of first-round picks hurt. Everyone in the Penguins system has either graduated (Derrick Pouliot) or been moved on down the line (Kasperi Kapanen). Pittsburgh has managed to find some useful pieces with other picks. Daniel Sprong, a second-rounder last season, got an 18-game NHL run before being returned to junior and is probably the most dynamic offensive player in the system. Tristan Jarry, another second-rounder, is almost as good a goalie as Murray. Jake Guentzel and Oskar Sundqvist are forwards worth keeping an eye on.
23. St. Louis Blues 8 of 30 Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Anders Nilsson.
Anders Nilsson. Subtraction(s): Niklas Lundstrom. Top prospect: Ivan Barbashev. An early second-round pick in the 2014 draft, Barbashev gets high marks for work ethic and two-way play. The 6'1", 194-pound centre had a big offensive season in the QMJHL last year, which pushed him up the prospect depth chart, but he hasn't been able to transfer all of that scoring to the AHL as a rookie professional. System overview: There's plenty of room for glass half-full/half-empty debate when it comes to the St. Louis Blues' prospect system. There are a lot of intriguing names, but each player tends to have warts, too. The goalie duo of Jordan Binnington and Pheonix Copley is promising, but each has had a difficult year with the Blues' farm team, the Chicago Wolves. Offensive forward Ty Rattie continues to spin his wheels in the AHL, a breakthrough season still eluding him. Jordan Schmaltz, a first-round pick in 2012, has been criticized in the past for being something of a one-way offensive defenceman, but at least he's adapted well in his first AHL campaign. Tommy Vannelli has been hurt almost all season. Petteri Lindbohm seemed to graduate to the NHL late last season but is now back in the A. The mixed records of those players puts more pressure on 2014 and 2015 draft picks, players such as goaltender Ville Husso and defencemen Jake Walman and Vince Dunn, all of whom are tracking nicely.
22. Calgary Flames 9 of 30 Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Hunter Shinkaruk, Brett Pollock.
Hunter Shinkaruk, Brett Pollock. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Hunter Shinkaruk. After a tough transition to the AHL a year ago, Shinkaruk was performing well for the Vancouver Canucks, scoring at just under a point-per-game pace with Utica Comets of the AHL and even earning a one-game major league cup of coffee. He's the rare prospect in the Calgary Flames system with legitimate offensive potential. System overview: Shinkaruk somewhat surprisingly lands at the top of this not-very-strong list. Calgary has a bunch of first-round picks in the system—Emile Poirier, Morgan Klimchuk and Mark Jankowski—who are various shades of disappointing. The former two have been mediocre AHL scorers this year, while the latter has yet to play a pro game because he's still finishing up his college career. Goaltender Jon Gillies has a case as the organization's best prospect, but the 6'6" stopper has missed almost the entirety of the season with what the team reported (h/t NHL.com's Aaron Vickers) is a hip injury.
21. Colorado Avalanche 10 of 30 Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Kyle Wood, Conner Bleackley, Colin Smith. Top prospect: Mikko Rantanen. Colorado has stored its 2015 No. 10 pick in the AHL, and Rantanen has responded with an exceptional campaign, posting 47 points in just 39 contests after starting the year as a 19-year-old. The 6'4", 211-pound right wing is a good skater and obviously has high-end offensive upside. System overview: The Avs have at least one strong prospect at every position. Rantanen is obviously their best piece at forward, while defenceman Chris Bigras has pushed himself into the NHL in his rookie pro season. Calvin Pickard remains a strong goaltending option. After that, things get tough. The forward group after Rantanen is unimpressive as a whole; J.T. Compher has had an impressive year, but beyond that there's not a lot worth mentioning. The loss of Kyle Wood hurts on defence, but at least Colorado has a few options.
20. New Jersey Devils 11 of 30 Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Pavel Zacha. Zacha was the New Jersey Devils' first-round pick (sixth overall) last summer and combines a 6'3", 210-pound frame with good offensive skill and excellent skating. His scoring numbers are better than they were last season, though with 51 points in 44 OHL games, he hasn't had the explosive development New Jersey must have hoped for. System overview: When Ray Shero took over the Devils last May, he inherited a weak prospect system, but things are picking up. The 2015 draft added not just Zacha but also a top goalie prospect in Mackenzie Blackwood and useful depth up front and on the back end. Avalanche reject Joe Blandisi has been superb for New Jersey and won't be on this list next year, having earned a job. Steve Santini gives the team an above-average prospect on the back end. This is definitely a system on the upswing, though there remains plenty of work to do.
19. Dallas Stars 12 of 30 Joel Auerbach/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Brett Pollock. Top prospect: Julius Honka. Honka, an undersized, right-shooting defenceman, is playing his second full AHL season despite having only turned 20 in December. Regardless of his 5'11" stature, he's a competitive player. His offensive instincts are exceptional, and he has 35 points in 58 AHL contests. System overview: Brett Ritchie is considered graduated for our purposes following a 31-game run in the majors last season, but the presence of 2013 first-rounder Jason Dickinson means the Stars still have an awfully good offensive prospect in the system. Dickinson has adjusted superbly to the pro game after a tough final year of junior hockey. Denis Guryanov, a first-round pick in 2015, is in the KHL but isn't blowing the doors off just yet. Another first-rounder, 2012's Radek Faksa, has played his way into the NHL after some disappointing years. Esa Lindell and Stephen Johns provide defensive depth behind Honka.
18. Florida Panthers 13 of 30 Joel Auerbach/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Lawson Crouse. Crouse was one of the more polarizing prospects in the 2015 draft—at least among hockey's online community. He's exceptionally big and strong, a good skater and a committed two-way player. However, there were questions about his offensive upside. He's made encouraging strides in that regard this year. System overview: Michael Matheson was the team's first-round pick in 2012 and is coming along nicely, recently earning an NHL recall in this, his rookie pro season. The highly mobile defenceman projects as a two-way threat in the majors. There are a number of significant secondary prospects—notably Ian McCoshen, Jayce Hawryluk and Rocco Grimaldi—but on the whole the depth of the Florida Panthers' prospect pool isn't overwhelmingly strong.
17. Minnesota Wild 14 of 30 Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Conor Allen, Scott Sabourin.
Conor Allen, Scott Sabourin. Subtraction(s): Michael Keranen. Top prospect: Alex Tuch. There are three plausible candidates for top spot in the Minnesota Wild's prospect pecking order, but it's hard to look past Tuch. It isn't easy to find 6'4", 213-pound power forwards, and Tuch has not just the size but also the physical and offensive game to play that role. The one knock is he projects as more of a complementary top-six player at the NHL level rather than a talent who can drive a forward line. System overview: None of Minnesota's trade deadline additions makes a significant difference to the team's prospect pool. The other two players in competition with Tuch for top spot in the system are 2015 first-rounder Joel Eriksson Ek, a complete centre competing in Sweden's top league, and free-agent defenceman Mike Reilly, who has already found his way into some NHL games. Both are first-rate prospects. After that trio, the Wild have a decent collection of defensive prospects. The secondary group at that position is headlined by 22-year-old Gustav Olofsson and features a number of other interesting players. The forward pipeline looked less impressive, but some good work at the 2015 draft added massive (6'5") Jordan Greenway and pint-sized (5'10") Kirill Kaprizov, both of whom have had excellent post-draft seasons.
16. Montreal Canadiens 15 of 30 Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Phillip Danault.
Phillip Danault. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Nikita Scherbak. Scherbak's development since being drafted has in some ways been a disappointment; he didn't have a big post-draft season in the WHL in 2014-15, and the past year in the AHL featured a long chunk of time lost to injury. He's still a predatory offensive player with high-end skill. System overview: Unlike a lot of organizations on this list, the Montreal Canadiens aren't built around one top-flight prospect. Montreal has plenty of prospect depth. Mike McCarron is the name that will be most familiar around the league; the 2013 first-round pick is a massive (6'6") forward with enough offensive skill to plausibly be projected into an NHL top nine. Defenceman Noah Juulsen was another first-round pick, in 2015, and he provides mobility and intelligence on the back end. What the Canadiens have a lot of is smaller forwards with offensive skill. Charles Hudon, Artturi Lehkonen, Sven Andrighetto, Martin Reway and Daniel Carr are all in this basic mold—and all are of significant interest.
15. Buffalo Sabres 16 of 30 Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Cole Schneider, Michael Sdao, Alex Guptill.
Cole Schneider, Michael Sdao, Alex Guptill. Subtraction(s): Jason Akeson, Jerome Leduc. Top prospect: Justin Bailey. Bailey has adapted reasonably well to the pros as a rookie, putting up 26 points in 49 AHL games and even earning an eight-game NHL recall. The 20-year-old combines a 6'4" frame, skill with the puck and strong skating into one package. System overview: The graduation of three spectacular prospects—Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Jake McCabe—plus the movement of others in trades this past summer has gone a long way toward draining the Buffalo Sabres' prospect pool. Still, despite the loss of most of the high-end prospects, there's quite a bit of depth yet. Nick Baptiste, Hudson Fasching and perhaps even William Carrier are similar to Bailey in that they are bigger wingers with the potential of playing inside the top nine. Of particular interest are the Sabres' goalie prospects. Linus Ullmark has done well on his North American debut, even when pressed into action at the NHL level. The 6'4" goaltender certainly figures into the team's future plans. Nathan Lieuwen and Andrey Makarov have both performed reasonably well in the AHL this year while Cal Petersen has a .932 save percentage for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish this term.
14. Vancouver Canucks 17 of 30 Alan Diaz/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Hunter Shinkaruk. Top prospect: Brock Boeser. With so many young players making the jump to the NHL in Vancouver this year, Boeser moves into the top spot in the system. He's put up an impressive 22 goals in just 32 games at the college level. That kind of offence, combined with a reputation for playing an energetic two-way game, makes him an easy prospect to like. System overview: A year ago, the Canucks' system was full. But with players such as Jared McCann, Jake Virtanen and Ben Hutton graduating this year (to say nothing of the subtractions of Shinkaruk, Nicklas Jensen, Frankie Corrado and Adam Clendening), the collection of talent outside the NHL has shrunk significantly. Thatcher Demko is having another great year at Boston College and is one of the top goalie prospects in the world. Brendan Gaunce, the team's 2012 first-round selection, has taken encouraging strides in his second AHL season, though 2013 pick Cole Cassels has struggled badly as a rookie after strong seasons in junior. On defence, the small (5'9") and skilled Jordan Subban and the big (6'5") and hulking Andrey Pedan are worth watching.
13. Boston Bruins 18 of 30 Winslow Townson/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Anthony Camara. Top prospect: Malcolm Subban. After two strong seasons in the AHL, Subban's save percentage, .911, has taken a bit of a hit (down from .921) with the Providence Bruins this season. He remains a top-quality goaltending prospect and a potential starter at the NHL level. System overview: Although much of the attention from the rest of the hockey world focuses on the foibles of the Boston Bruins' three most recent first-round picks, this is still a system with both depth and quality. Of those three 2015 first-rounders, Zach Senyshyn has had the best season, falling just below a point-per-game pace in the OHL but contributing 36 goals in 58 contests. Jake DeBrusk has seen his offensive totals regress; he scored 42 goals in 72 games a year ago but managed just 18 in 53 contests this year. Defenceman Jakub Zboril, picked 13th overall, struggled mightily in the QMJHL. Others have played well, though. Undersized winger Frank Vatrano is scoring at a goal-per-game pace in the AHL. Defenceman Colin Miller has impressed since arriving from Los Angeles. Austin Czarnik is enjoying a very strong rookie AHL campaign, and Alex Khokhlachev is in the midst of his best season at that level.
12. Carolina Hurricanes 19 of 30 James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Aleksi Saarela, Valentin Zykov, Anthony Camara, Dennis Robertson.
Aleksi Saarela, Anthony Camara, Dennis Robertson. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Haydn Fleury. This was surprisingly competitive despite the promotion of three prospects to the Carolina Hurricanes blue line this year. Fleury, the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft, is coming off a tough season but has done a good job of turning things around. He's a well-rounded, two-way defenceman, though his strengths probably lean more to defence than offence. System overview: Carolina added a bunch of good prospects at the deadline to a system that was already thoroughly respectable. Saarela is the most notable of the bunch; he was a third-round pick of New York last year but is having a breakout performance in Finland. Anthony Camara and Valentin Zykov are both reclamation projects to some degree, while Robertson returned to the Canes organization after being dealt to Chicago in the summer. Among the incumbents, 2015 draftees Sebastian Aho and Nicolas Roy are both having tremendous seasons—particularly the latter, who combines a 6'4" frame with 40 goals in 55 QMJHL games. A long list of other names would be at least somewhat familiar to NHL fans; Carolina has broken in three defencemen in the majors this year and introduced multiple forward prospects.
11. Nashville Predators 20 of 30 Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Kevin Fiala. Fiala hasn't had a big breakthrough in the AHL just yet, but given he doesn't turn 20 until July, that's hardly reason for nervousness. The undersized forward has exceptional offensive potential, is lightning-quick on his skates and competes despite his modest frame. System overview: All eyes are on Jimmy Vesey, the 2012 third-round pick who has evolved into a lethal offensive weapon at the college level. He could be a free agent this summer if he decides not to sign with the Nashville Predators. On the other hand, he's so close to being ready he could be in Nashville's lineup prior to the playoffs. The Preds have a strong collection of other prospects too. Vladislav Kamenev isn't far behind either Fiala or Vesey; the 6'2" winger has scored well in the AHL as a 19-year-old rookie. So too has Max Gortz, a 23-year-old AHL freshman. Jack Dougherty and Juuse Saros are the latest in a long line of quality defence and goalie prospects respectively.
10. Arizona Coyotes 21 of 30 Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Conner Bleackley, Kyle Wood, Sergei Plotnikov.
Conner Bleackley, Kyle Wood, Sergei Plotnikov. Subtraction(s): Matthias Plachta. Top prospect: Dylan Strome. A big centre with great offensive tools, Strome was the No. 3 pick in the 2015 draft. Arizona returned him to the Erie Otters of the OHL, and his scoring rate has increased despite the graduation of former teammate Connor McDavid to the NHL. System overview: Strome isn't the only offensively talented forward on his way to the desert. Three first-round picks are all having somewhat disappointing seasons but all still have potential. Henrik Samuelsson has taken a step back offensively at the AHL level. Brendan Perlini has done the same in the OHL. Nick Merkley has taken a smaller step back in the WHL. There's plenty of talent beyond the first-rounders anyway. Christian Dvorak just hit 100 points for the second consecutive season with the London Knights, and Maxim Letunov is scoring at better than a point-per-game pace in college hockey. That's before we even get to players such as Laurent Dauphin, Ryan MacInnis and Christian Fischer.
9. Washington Capitals 22 of 30 Nick Wass/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Ryan Bourque.
Subtraction(s): Connor Carrick. Top prospect: Madison Bowey. This one is close; the Washington Capitals have three legitimate contenders for the top spot. It's hard to overlook Bowey's range of skills, though. The 6'2", 209-pound, right-shooting defenceman was described in his draft year by Red Line Report as having "footwork so smooth [he] could win Dancing with the Stars." Combine that size and speed with an offensive skill set, and he's a rare gem of a prospect defenceman. System overview: The other two contenders for the top spot are both first-round picks. Jakub Vrana went 13th overall in 2014 and is scoring at better than a point-per-game pace as an AHL rookie in 2015-16. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov has a projectable 6'4" frame and posted a .925 save percentage in the KHL this year. The loss of Carrick hurts, but the Caps have a decent array of secondary prospects, including Riley Barber, Jonas Siegenthaler, Stanislav Galiev and Christian Djoos.
8. Columbus Blue Jackets 23 of 30 Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Zach Werenski. The No. 8 selection at the 2015 draft does everything well. He has the size (6'2" and 214 pounds), the intelligence and the skating to play solid defence. He also has an impressive offensive toolkit; this year at the University of Michigan, he has 22 points in just 28 games and projects to be a factor at that end of the ice at the NHL level too. System overview: The Columbus Blue Jackets have a decent array of prospects at every position. Up front, Sonny Milano and Kerby Rychel are the team's most famous prospects, with the former having some difficulties as a rookie in the AHL and the latter on the cusp of NHL duty. Oliver Bjorkstrand, who developed into a lethal scorer in the WHL, is in much the same boat as Milano in the minors. The Jackets also have a half-dozen other prospects scoring well enough in the AHL to be of at least some interest. Defenceman Gabriel Carlsson combines a massive wingspan with a smart defensive game, though the 2015 pick may be a few years away. Michael Paliotta and Dillon Heatherington have both been good in the AHL and may not be far away. Goaltender Joonas Korpisalo may have won himself an NHL job, and behind him Anton Forsberg remains a prospect of interest.
7. Tampa Bay Lightning 24 of 30 Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Andrei Vasilevskiy. The 6'3" goaltender is in the middle of his second campaign split between the NHL and the AHL. He has put up solid numbers at every level and is legitimately ready for full-time employment. He's the heir apparent to Ben Bishop for the starter's job. System overview: Even with a potential franchise goalie leading the way, the Tampa Bay Lightning haven't skimped at other positions. On the blue line, Anthony DeAngelo is a wickedly talented offensive threat. He's coming off an 89-point season in the OHL, including 51 points in 26 games for the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds following a midseason trade. So far as an AHL rookie, he has 33 points in 50 games. Meanwhile, the No. 10 pick in the 2012 draft, Slater Koekkoek, hasn't developed as quickly as hoped but remains a prospect of considerable interest on the cusp of full-time NHL duty. The draft pedigree of the forward prospects isn't as impressive but there are some real gems there. Brayden Point has put up 77 points in 39 WHL games as a 19-year-old, while Nikita Gusev has scored at better than a point-per-game pace in the KHL since a midseason trade to SKA Saint Petersburg. At the AHL level, Adam Erne, Matthew Peca and Tanner Richard all have good points. Jonathan Marchessault seems to have pushed his way into the majors.
6. Anaheim Ducks 25 of 30 Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Martin Gernat.
Martin Gernat. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Shea Theodore. The 20-year-old defenceman entered pro hockey this year with a formidable offensive resume at the junior level, and he hit the ground running. Through 39 AHL games in his rookie pro campaign, he's managed 24 points; he also managed a 53.1 percent Fenwick rating (and six points) over a 13-game NHL recall. He's very good and almost ready for full-time work. System overview: The Anaheim Ducks are blessed with an impressive group of prospects, many of them not far from NHL work. In the minors, 6'2", 232-pound winger Nick Ritchie is scoring at nearly a point-per-game pace in his rookie season. Defenceman Brandon Montour has 40 points in 50 games; he's also in his first year in the A. Both are highly touted and on the fast track to the NHL. Outside of the AHL system, the Ducks have Jacob Larsson, the No. 27 pick in last year's draft; Anaheim has repeatedly and successfully gone to Scandinavia for defensive help. Centre Julius Nattinen started his career overseas, but the second-rounder is laying waste to the AHL.
5. Detroit Red Wings 26 of 30 Alan Diaz/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Evgeny Svechnikov. Svechnikov fits the traditional Detroit prospect mold in that he's an intelligent player who has strengths in multiple areas. He's big (6'2"), strong on the puck and highly talented offensively. Skating isn't a particular strength, but he's good enough in other areas to compensate. System overview: Detroit's legendarily patient approach to prospect development means there are numerous quality players down on the farm, but this year the most promising talent may actually lie at other levels. Seventh-round selection Axel Holmstrom is scoring well in Sweden as a 19-year-old and looks like another steal by the Wings' European scouts. Undrafted defenceman Joe Hicketts is scoring at a point-per-game pace in the WHL, while undersized third-rounder Vili Saarijarvi has managed to stand out even amid the circus that is the Flint Firebirds of the OHL. In the AHL, massive (6'5") winger Anthony Mantha continues to make strides, though his offensive numbers have yet to really take off. Speedy Andreas Athanasiou has earned an 18-game NHL recall, and hulking Tyler Bertuzzi has scored well for a rookie. Martin Frk is suddenly dangerous after two disappointing seasons, scoring a goal every other game. On defence, the trio of Robbie Russo, Xavier Ouellet and Ryan Sproul is all close to NHL duty, but someone is likely to be lost in the logjam.
4. New York Islanders 27 of 30 RICH SCHULTZ/Associated Press Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Michael Dal Colle. Dal Colle retains his position at the top of the New York Islanders' prospect list despite what, in some ways, was a disappointing year. A slow start in Oshawa, Ontario, saw the offensively gifted winger fall well below his usual scoring pace, but a midseason trade to the Kingston Frontenacs revitalized him nicely. He has 23 goals and 46 points in 23 contests since the trade. System overview: Dal Colle is one of a quartet of talented offensive forwards in the Islanders system. Mathew Barzal was the No. 16 pick in last year's draft and has progressed splendidly in the WHL, with 82 points in 51 games this year. Anthony Beauvillier, selected 13 picks later in the same draft, is a major offensive threat in the QMJHL. Finally, Josh Ho-Sang in the OHL is not without his issues but his offensive talent is undeniable. Nor is New York without assets on the blue line. Ryan Pulock, picked 15th overall in 2013, is knocking on the door of NHL duty, while fellow blueliners Adam Pelech and Scott Mayfield are nearly ready for the majors too. Ilya Sorokin may be the NHL's best largely unknown goalie prospect; he posted a .953 save percentage at the age of 20 with CSKA Moscow of the KHL.
3. Winnipeg Jets 28 of 30 Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil (Marko Dano is ineligible for the Calder Trophy).
Nil (Marko Dano is ineligible for the Calder Trophy). Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Kyle Connor. The Winnipeg Jets' No. 17 overall pick in last year's draft, Connor put up big numbers in the USHL but would face a stiffer test at the college level this season. So far, so good. Connor has 26 goals and 54 points in just 30 games with the University of Michigan, leading his older teammates in scoring. He combines lethal speed with a diversified offensive toolkit.
System overview: Winnipeg's prospect system has both top-end talent and depth across all positions. In addition to Connor, the club has a number of impressive forwards. Nic Petan has scored well as an AHL rookie this year, Jack Roslovic looks like a justified first-round pick a year ago and Windsor Spitfire Brendan Lemieux has increased his point output while decreasing his penalty minutes. Add in Chase De Leo, Joel Armia and a few others and this is a very good group. Josh Morrissey is the headliner on defence. The mobile two-way defender is playing big minutes in the AHL as a rookie pro and projects as a top-four defender in the majors. Meanwhile, the goalie pipeline continues to deliver. Connor Hellebuyck is NHL-ready, while Eric Comrie and Jamie Phillips are nice options to have in the system.
2. Philadelphia Flyers 29 of 30 Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Trade deadline impact: Addition(s): Nil.
Nil. Subtraction(s): Nil. Top prospect: Ivan Provorov. The No. 7 overall pick in last year's draft hangs onto the top spot on this list despite a lot of pressure from other prospects in the system. Provorov is a two-way defenceman with no significant weaknesses who thinks the game at an advanced level. He's a good skater with decent size, better-than-decent offensive instincts and a competitive nature. System overview: Even with Shayne Gostisbehere treating the NHL like a chew toy and is thus ineligible for this list, the strength of the Philadelphia Flyers' prospect corps is on the blue line. Travis Sanheim, a 2014 first-round pick, is having a great year in the WHL. Samuel Morin is finding his way as an AHL rookie. Robert Hagg and Mark Alt are both legitimate prospects who risk getting lost in the shuffle. Up front, Travis Konecny is having a glorious campaign, jumping from 68 points in 60 games a year ago in the OHL to 89 in just 54 outings this season. Nick Cousins, 22 years old, is scoring a point-per-game pace in the AHL. Goaltender Anthony Stolarz is up to a .918 save percentage for that same team, and given his 6'6" frame, he is very much in the mix in net going forward.
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The NFL draft process rolls on, and we're getting word of teams attending pro days and hosting prospects for workouts. The New York Giants are notoriously tight-lipped about their movements and interests before the draft. Because of that, word of team visits or pro day attendances are few and far between.
But we've gotten word via ProFootballTalk that the Giants have hosted UCF wide receiver Breshad Perriman for a private workout. Perriman is a player who is generating a ton of buzz in draft circles, but we haven't gotten to him here (yet).
The receiver from Central Florida is one of the true height/weight/speed phenoms and athletic freaks in the 2015 draft. Measuring in at roughly 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he still runs a blazing 4.25 second 40 yard dash -- some scouts had him as low as 4.22 -- with a 36.5-inch vertical jump and 10-foot,7-inch broad jump. He didn't do the 3-cone or short shuttle, at least that I've been able to find, but on tape he shows suddenness in his cuts and sharp change of direction skills.
(It should be noted that those are all Pro Day numbers. Perriman didn't work out at the combine due to a hamstring injury.)
On the negative side, despite his ridiculous athleticism Perriman's route running is lacking, an obvious hindrance in Ben McAdoo's precision-based offense. Also, during the season he showed some frustrating concentration drops.
This, of course raises a few questions about why are the Giants taking such a close look at Perriman.
Well, it could just be the Giants doing their due diligence. Perriman could be a player they feel they may be likely to face frequently in the future, or has an outside chance of dropping into the second round.
The more interesting thoughts come from what it could mean if the Giants really are seriously interested in drafting Perriman.
First, his current "main stream" draft stock has him being drafted somewhere between the Giants' first- and second-round picks. That, of course, means that most people right now consider him a reach at ninth overall and unlikely to be there at 40th overall. However, the Giants big board might, perhaps even likely, differs from the "main stream" big board. Approximately 11 months ago, Odell Beckham was considered a fringe first-round prospect and a definite reach at 12th overall.
This is just part of a larger scouting trend for the Giants, however. Throughout the draft process the Giants have consistently shown at least some level of interest in the drafts' speed demons. They have met, or will meet,with Devin Smith (WR, Ohio State), Phillip Dorsett (WR, Miami), Dontella Luckett (WR, Harding), and Adrian Luxson (WR, Stony Brook) in addition to Perriman. All of those receivers are capable of turning 40-yard dashes in the 4.3's or quicker.
[More: Check our Giants draft visits tracker for the latest info]
The Giants are obviously looking to add some serious speed and deep threats to their offense.That leads to the question of "why?"
Well, we do know that a big part of Ben McAdoo's attack is short attacks that lead to yards after the catch (YAC). In those situations speed and agility are obviously a plus.
But we also know that McAdoo pared back his play-calling after the first two games. The Giants' interest in speedy, deep threat receivers could give us a clue at what the complete playbook might look like. Personally, I'm wondering if the "full" playbook is more of a hybrid offense than we have seen thus far. Players like Perriman or Dorsett, who have the ability to blow the top off a defense on any play, lend themselves well to an Air Coryell -- Such as the Chargers under Norv Turner -- or Air Raid -- such as West Virginia or Texas A&M -- offense that features vertical routes to stretch a defense down the field.
If the full playbook has those concepts in it, the Giants "full" offense could actually resemble the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton, an offense which freely blended West Coast and Air Coryell principles to create a dynamic and record-breaking offense. Adding that vertical threat would only serve to make the West Coast foundation of the Giants' offense all the more dangerous. If teams have to keep their safeties deep and play zone coverage, then that makes short routes more effective and creates YAC opportunities. It also prevents defenses from blitzing or stacking the box to stop the rushing attack.
The news that the Giants have worked out Breshad Perriman might not make many waves, but he is certainly an interesting prospect, and the potential implications for the Giants' offense are pretty interesting as well.
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Video screenshot by Anthony Domanico/CNET
We like to think that safes are, well, safe and do what they're supposed to do -- protect the valuable things inside from would-be burglars. But a security duo out of Melbourne, Australia, has developed a cheap gadget that they say can crack most safes in no time, sometimes within minutes.
Luke Jahnke and Jay Davis built the device using 3D-printed parts and the Arduino open-source computing platform popular among makers, along with salvaged electronics that let the device spin through all the lock's possible combinations. Jahnke and Davis note that most safes are group 2 combination locks, which let users set a combination of up to three numbers. Typically, the locks come pre-coded with one of about 10 different default combinations, and most users stick with the default combo since lock makers make it pretty difficult to change the default code.
The current prototype -- which was displayed at the Ruxcon Security Conference in Melbourne last week -- can crack any group 2 lock combination in less than four days using automatic brute force attacks that run through all possible combinations. But if they loaded the 10 default codes on an SD card that they hook into the Arduino board, the prototype can crack pretty much any lock using a default code in just a few minutes.
And on the off chance that a safe you're trying to crack doesn't use a default code, the duo is working on building the device so it can pick up where it left off should you need to run away to avoid getting busted while trying to crack the code and come back to finish the job another time. "Not that we condone that," Davis was quick to point out.
You can watch the prototype in action in this video report by The Register.
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WASHINGTON -- Former consumer advocate Elizabeth Warren (D) raised $6.9 million in the first quarter of 2012 in her bid to unseat Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown (R), her campaign declared Monday.
The nearly $7 million appears to be the largest quarterly haul of the election cycle for a nonpresidential candidate and shows off the national star appeal of Warren, the architect of President Barack Obama's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Campaign manager Mindy Myers focused on Warren's Bay State strength, however, in an email to supports that announced the eye-popping figure.
"That's more than double the amount raised by our opponent," said Myers, acknowledging that Brown still has about $4 million more than Warren has in the bank.
"There's a lot of work ahead to do to close the gap. But this proves we're building something special," said Myers, adding that Warren "out-raised Scott Brown right here in Massachusetts."
Myers said that more than 30,000 people from 350 Massachusetts cities and towns contributed and that 83 percent of the donations since January have been for $50 or less. Those points were aimed at countering GOP charges that Warren, a former Harvard professor, is primarily an outsider backed by Washington forces.
In fact, moments after the Warren campaign announced its impressive haul, Brian Walsh, communications director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, tweeted, "Now if only the vast majority of donors to Professor Warren actually lived in MA and could vote in November. Perspective matters...."
Brown announced Friday that he had about $15 million in the bank. His campaign said it had raised $3.4 million and expected to be outspent.
Warren also outraised Brown in the fourth quarter of 2011, netting $5.7 million to Brown's $3.2 million.
Brown and Warren remain neck and neck in the polls.
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A controversial conservative Catholic cardinal said in an interview that the forces of “radical feminism” have brought the once-mighty church to its knees, led to a “fluffy,” feminized view of sexuality and made way for generations of pedophile priests.
Cardinal Raymond Burke said in an interview with website “The New Emangelism: Drawing Men to Jesus Christ and His Catholic Church” that the church needs to return to its male-centered roots and stop catering to “women’s issues” in order to regain its once robust standing in the world.
Burke is the former St. Louis Cardinal who headed the Vatican’s highest court until a recent run-in with Pope Francis saw him demoted to a ceremonial position far from the church’s seat of power.
Burke has used his position in the Catholic hierarchy to harangue Democrats and endorse radical Republican politics, an ideological orientation that has been increasingly at odds with the new Pope’s more pluralistic church.
Now Burke is lashing out at what he sees as an over-feminized church that has “marginalized men.”
“I think there has been a great confusion with regard to the specific vocation of men in marriage and of men in general in the Church during the past 50 years or so,” Burke told The New Emangelism (TNE) in an interview published Monday. “It’s due to a number of factors, but the radical feminism which has assaulted the Church and society since the 1960s has left men very marginalized.”
“Unfortunately, the radical feminist movement strongly influenced the Church,” Cardinal Burke complained, “leading the Church to constantly address women’s issues at the expense of addressing critical issues important to men; the importance of the father, whether in the union of marriage or not; the importance of a father to children; the importance of fatherhood for priests; the critical impact of a manly character; the emphasis on the particular gifts that God gives to men for the good of the whole society.”
“The goodness and importance of men became very obscured,” he said, and that needs to change.
Women and their needs have not only decimated the church, he said, but the institution of marriage as well.
“I recall in the mid-1970’s, young men telling me that they were, in a certain way, frightened by marriage because of the radicalizing and self-focused attitudes of women that were emerging at that time,” he recalled. “These young men were concerned that entering a marriage would simply not work because of a constant and insistent demanding of rights for women. These divisions between women and men have gotten worse since then.”
Worst of all, he said, the church took a “fluffy,” womanly attitude toward sexuality.
“Making things worse, there was a very fluffy, superficial kind of catechetical approach to the question of human sexuality and the nature of the marital relationship,” he said, which has led to sexual anarchy, the abundant availability of pornography, homosexuality and child sex abuse.
“The gift of human sexuality is turned into a means of self‑gratification often at the expense of another person, whether in heterosexual relations or in homosexual relations,” Burke lamented. “A man who has not been formed with a proper identity as a man and as a father figure will ultimately become very unhappy. These poorly formed men become addicted to pornography, sexual promiscuity, alcohol, drugs, and the whole gamut of addictions.”
The church itself, he said, has become “very feminized. Women are wonderful, of course. They respond very naturally to the invitation to be active in the Church. Apart from the priest, the sanctuary has become full of women. The activities in the parish and even the liturgy have been influenced by women and have become so feminine in many places that men do not want to get involved.”
The result, he said, is that real men have been driven away from the church and made room for pedophile priests, an era that he confidently asserts is over.
“We can also see that our seminaries are beginning to attract many strong young men who desire to serve God as priests,” he said. “The new crop of young men are manly and confident about their identity. This is a welcome development, for there was a period of time when men who were feminized and confused about their own sexual identity had entered the priesthood; sadly some of these disordered men sexually abused minors; a terrible tragedy for which the Church mourns.”
Too many altar girls in churches, he said, means that boys don’t want to perform altar service anymore.
“Young boys don’t want to do things with girls. It’s just natural,” he said. “The girls were also very good at altar service. So many boys drifted away over time. I want to emphasize that the practice of having exclusively boys as altar servers has nothing to do with inequality of women in the Church.”
In the end, he said, “We have to be very clear with men about purity, chastity, modesty and even the way men dress and present themselves. Men’s behaviors and dress matter, for it affects how they relate to the world and it affects the culture. Men need to dress and act like men in a way that is respectful to themselves, to women and to children.”
The acceptance of sin in our daily lives, Burke said, means that young men no longer come to confession. They have been taught, he said, that their bodies are not sinful and that masturbation is acceptable, placing their immortal souls in danger.
“Of course, this is lethal for men, especially young men,” Burke said. “Young men may begin to engage in the sexual sin of masturbation. Men have told me that when they were teenagers, they confessed the sin of masturbation in the confessional and priests would say, ‘Oh, that’s nothing you should be confessing. Everybody does that.’ That’s wrong.”
“These are sinful acts,” he insisted. “They need to be confessed along with other types of sins, whether the sins are foul language, lying, stealing, or whatever it might be. The denial of sin was a breakdown in the sense of what is demanded of men as men of Christ.”
To priests in their parishes, the cardinal admonished, “First of all, be manly yourself. In other words, cultivate your own manly qualities, because the priest is first and foremost the spiritual father; he is a man. You need to have manly qualities of selflessness, chivalry and discipline to avoid situations improper for a priest. A priest must have the manly confidence and credibility to be a spiritual father to his flock, giving clear firm guidance with kindness and charity.”
In his own time at the Vatican, Burke was called to account by his superiors for his lavish taste in ceremonial robes, donning a $20,000 jeweled hat for one prayer service and a cape with an elaborate 20-foot train that cost more than $30,000 for another.
Burke was Cardinal of St. Louis from 2003 to 2008, a period during which he imported predator priests into his diocese from other areas in order to shield them from investigation. According to the clergy sex-abuse survivor advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests), Burke was “reckless, deceptive and callous regarding predator priests, vulnerable kids and wounded victims” during his tenure.
After he publicly challenged Pope Francis’ more tolerant approach to church relations toward LGBT people, Burke was made ceremonial chaplain of the Knights of Malta, a liturgical group mostly notable for its lack of any real power or function in the church hierarchy.
The Washington Post likened Burke’s historic fall to sending Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court John Roberts “to call balls and strikes at a Little League game.”
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Eleventh-hour attempts to salvage a World Trade Organisation deal on simplifying global customs have collapsed, leaving the future of the Geneva-based institution in doubt.
Talks to cut red tape on international borders broke down following India's refusal to back a deal unless it included concessions allowing developing countries freedom to subsidise and stockpile food.
An agreement on the deal had been reached in Bali in December, with a deadline of midnight on Thursday to ratify it. But the deal was scuppered after the WTO's 160 members failed to agree over India's demands.
Admitting defeat, Roberto Azevêdo, the WTO's director general, said that despite intense negotiations, disagreement between members had not been resolved.
"We have not been able to find a solution that would allow us to bridge that gap. We tried everything we could. But it has not proved possible," he said.
"The fact we do not have a conclusion means that we are entering a new phase in our work – a phase which strikes me as being full of uncertainties."
Speaking about the future of the organisation, Azevêdo said: "What this means for the WTO will be in the hands of the members. I think we should take the time to reflect and come back in September."
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I’ve been blogging some about this great playwriting class I took last fall. (Story ideas you never would’ve thought of, Shine some brilliance on the core problem of your play.)
I came up with this intriguing, witty, warmhearted story about government conspiracies in germ warfare, curious grad students who are not all they seem, and a man who is killing his running buddies by exhaling pneumonic meningitis bacteria.
Yes, really.
I wrote a bunch of scenes for the class. Now I have to figure out what will happen next.
And here’s how I got some ideas:
Write the Character’s “To Do” List
If you can’t figure out your plot, let your characters do it for you! Why should you do all the work?
For each of my main characters, I wrote his or her “to do” list. As if I was that character.
Elena — The Curious Grad Student’s “To Do” List
Get Tim’s medical records from Duke Raleigh. OMG see if Dr. G. can get them in the guise of her work at the CDC. How to persuade her? Blackmail?
Enroll myself in a drug trial there?!!
Get myself shipped in in a box?
Ooh, do I know any top military brass?
Tim — The (Maybe Lethal) Runner’s “To Do” List
Look for my medical records.
Get an x-ray of my lungs.
Figure out how Elena has an in into the CDC. How can she get her samples tested? Was she lying to me?
Graciela (Dr. G.) — The Sympathetic Doctor’s “To Do” List
Find a reason to investigate this old case.
Figure out what Roberta is really up to.
Tell Elena I’ll go up to Duke-Raleigh Hospital and fetch back Tim’s treatment records myself.
Google “sudden death pneumonic meningitis.”
Thomas — The Lonely Son’s “To Do” List
Break into the Cobb County coroner’s office and get them records on my daddy’s death.
Get another tattoo in honor of my daddy.
Find Tim and beat the shit out of him until he confesses.
Get better after being shot by Roberta’s assh*le security guard.
Roberta — The Villain’s “To Do” List
Watch Gabriella (Dr. G.). She’s an excellent physician and researcher, but she’s too warm and open and caring.
Capture Tim and get him to exhale the pneumonic meningitis bacteria. If they exist. Culture the bacteria in the lab.
Eliminate Elena. Or recruit her.
Voilà!
Plot ideas galore.
Some Possibilities for Scenes
The middle of the night. In the records office at Duke Raleigh. There’s a big box in the room, with packing and mailing labels on it. We hear weird sounds from the lock on the door to the room. We hear weird sounds from the box. Dr. Graciela finishes picking the lock on the door just about the time serious thumping and grunting comes from the box.
No, no, better yet. Dr. Graciela gets in the room, and starts snooping around for Tim’s medical records from when he was treated for bacterial meningitis there when he was two years old. Just as she’s getting close, she hears thumping and grunting from the box. She hides.
The box is opened from the inside. Elena, much cramped, hauls herself out of the box. She takes off the oxygen mask she has on. She sees that there is a bathroom off the medical records room, slips inside it to pee. Dr. Graciela slips out, finds Tim’s records, and starts towards the door. She hears Elena coming out of the bathroom, and hides again. This time, she can get a good look at who it is.
Elena comes out. She pulls her phone out of the box, inserts a device into the earphone jack, and starts scanning the rows of records. Puzzled, she moves around the lab. The closer she gets to Dr. Graciela’s hiding place, the more the light on her phone flashes. She walks closer.
Dr. Graciela: Elena??
(Elena jumps, drops her phone.)
Elena: Shit!
Dr. Graciela: What are you doing here?
Elena: You’ve got Tim’s records!
Dr. Graciela: That’s what I broke in here to get.
Elena: That’s what I had myself mailed here to get.
Heh Heh Heh
More later…
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Recently I've been reminded of a comment, unprovoked it should be noted, from an NHL general manager back in September when discussing a wide range of preseason subjects.
"The Jets are going to be better than most people think," he quipped.
To which I said, "Really?"
The Jets are among the league leaders defensively, giving up only 2.00 goals against per game. Christian Petersen/Getty Images
This veteran hockey man from another Western Conference club believed some of the Jets’ younger core players were ready to take a step forward this season.
A 2-5-0 start through the opening two weeks of the season looked like more of the same from the Thrashers-turned-Jets.
And yet, that adversity might have been what this team needed to see the light.
"Having struggles in the first week or two turned out to be a good thing for our team,’’ Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice told ESPN.com Wednesday.
"The guys have been good; I like the room; I like their willingness to grab hold of what we need to fix and do their best. It was a positive. You can’t always ease into things; sometimes it’s got to be a little bit harder to make a change. It’s not like we’re playing flawless hockey by any means, but we understand what we’re doing and I think we’re pretty committed to it right now."
A 5-0-1 run starting Oct. 26, a stretch where they’ve given up only six goals, has people around the hockey world taking notice.
"They come at you with a lot of speed with [Blake] Wheeler and [Evander] Kane in particular; [Bryan] Little is a good skater; [Adam] Lowry was a good addition to their team," said a different Western Conference team executive on Wednesday. "Their defense has come under scrutiny, but it’s way better than last year, way better. And now they’ve got the goaltending at a higher level. The goalie also came under some criticism last year and early this year. But obviously the last 5-6 games it’s been air tight. All those things make a huge difference."
The Jets, ladies and gentlemen, are in the thick of it in the NHL’s toughest division.
"We dug ourselves a little bit of a hole early on and it kind of felt like the same old story from years past," Jets star forward Wheeler told ESPN.com Wednesday. "I really [think] we’re just starting to figure out what kind of team we’re going to be. We’re not the Pittsburgh Penguins, we’re not the Chicago Blackhawks. Fans aren’t going to get the five-goal, free-pizza night when they come watch us play. I think we’re starting to figure that out, that we don’t need to blow everyone out to feel good about ourselves. We can sit back and be responsible, try to suffocate other teams and, if we get our one or two chances, we try to bury them in the net. It’s given us success."
The Jets are among the league leaders defensively, giving up only 2.00 goals against per game.
Goalie Ondrej Pavelec has been dynamite, quieting his many critics for the time being.
"He’s been solid all the way through since I got here, like a lot of goalies he’s had some off nights -- not so much this year -- but since I got here he’s always had more good nights than not," said Maurice.
The Jets are playing much better defensively in front of Pavelec, which goes hand in hand with the present run.
But is this current form sustainable? After all, they’re only 28th in the league in goals for (1.85 a game). No better way to find out than matching up against the hottest team in the East as the high-flying Penguins visit the MTS Centre on Thursday night.
"Pittsburgh is averaging just over four goals a game," Maurice said. "We’re going to be put to a real test tomorrow night."
Like the test the Jets faced Sunday night when Winnipeg prevailed 1-0 in Chicago against the powerhouse Blackhawks.
"A 1-0 win in Chicago, there’s a value to that for us that we can hang onto for a while, no question," Maurice said.
"But the real challenge is having that kind of focus and concept against all the teams, that’s when you’re making that next step, when your game isn’t changing much regardless of the opponent."
So, are we really seeing this Jets team burgeoning in front of our eyes or is this a tease?
For Wheeler, it’s the feeling of a team coming together.
"I think it’s a maturity thing, honestly," Wheeler said. "It took us that wake-up call to realize, 'This is what we are, this is what we’re not.' I don’t think we’d gotten to that point in the past few years. You looked at the teams on all the highlight shows having success and scoring all those goals and we wanted to be one of those teams, we wanted to do such and such. But that’s not who we are. We’re figuring that out. I think that’s a positive thing to have that identity and believe in it.
"From top to bottom, I think we’ve got guys in our locker room that believe if we do what we’ve been doing the last little stretch, it doesn’t matter who we’re going to play, it’s not going to be a whole lot of fun to play us. If we win 1-0 in a shootout, that’s the way it’s going to be, but that’s what it’s going to take to win games."
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The Florida Gators have promoted Randy Shannon to defensive coordinator, coach Jim McElwain announced Friday.
Shannon, 50, had spent the last two seasons on McElwain's staff as co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He replaces Geoff Collins, who left to become the head coach at Temple.
"Coach Shannon has been a big part of our success over the last two years," McElwain said in a statement. "It's been really cool to watch him handle his business. He really connects with our players and they have a lot of respect for him. More than being a great coach, he is a great mentor and teacher to these young men and that is one of our greatest measuring sticks as coaches."
Editor's Picks CB Tabor to skip senior year, enter NFL draft Cornerback Teez Tabor will skip his senior season at Florida and enter the NFL draft. He announced his decision on The Players' Tribune on Thursday.
Shannon has been a coach in the state of Florida dating to the early 1990s. After playing at Miami under Jimmy Johnson, he worked his way up the coaching ladder with the Hurricanes, eventually becoming head coach in 2007. He compiled a 28-22 record before he was fired.
He served as interim defensive coordinator during Florida's 30-3 victory over Iowa in the Outback Bowl. The Gators defense held Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard to 55 yards passing on 7 of 23 attempts and also returned an interception for a touchdown.
Since Shannon and Collins arrived two years ago, Florida won consecutive Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles thanks mostly to top-10 defenses.
The Gators ranked seventh in the country in 2015. They currently sits fifth and second in the Southeastern Conference, allowing just 293 yards a game and a league-low 148.5 yards passing.
But Shannon will be tasked with conducting a significant rebuild on that side of the ball.
Florida is losing linebacker Jarrad Davis, safety Marcus Maye, defensive end Bryan Cox and defensive tackle Joey Ivie to graduation. Cornerbacks Teez Tabor and Quincy Wilson as well as linebacker Alex Anzalone and defensive tackle Caleb Brantley announced this week they are leaving school early and entering the NFL draft.
"I appreciate the opportunity Coach Mac has given me to be the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida," Shannon said in a statement. "We will continue to work together as we have the past two years to put together a plan so our players are in a position to be successful in football and in life."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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When your Windows operating system develops some issues, you’re either going to want to try to troubleshoot and fix the problems yourself or hand the computer to someone else. To help troubleshooting, Windows has an integrated logging system that enables many operations on the computer to be monitored and the results recorded. These are called event logs and you can view everything that’s been recorded in the logs with the built in Event Viewer.
Through Event Viewer the logs can show all sorts of interesting information. This includes what happens during security, program and system events, software or driver installs and uninstalls, Windows Service start and stop results, and hardware or Windows component events.
Although it’s a highly useful resource for tracing and fixing a range of different issues, the Event Viewer itself can be tricky to read and interpret because of the amount of data being shown. Thankfully there are other tools around that can view the event logs and make them easier to read. Here are five free alternative event viewers to look at.
1.
For a quick, no frills utility to view the Windows event logs, Nirsoft’s MyEventViewer is a good candidate for the job. It’s a portable standalone executable and is only 50KB for the 32-bit version and 120KB for the 64-bit version. For such a small utility it does have a number of options to control what is displayed from the event logs and how it is displayed.
One issue when you launch MyEventViewer is it loads all the event logs first, which takes time if there are tens of thousands of entries. To help with that you can press F9 to show the Advanced Options window. This helps narrow down the amount of log entries to load by using time and date filters, only loading xxx number of entries or using specific include/exclude keywords. This window can also be shown on startup of the program with Options > Show Advanced Filter Window on Start.
Specific logs can be excluded using the Logs menu and success or error entries can be filtered out from the Options menu > Event Type Filter. MyEventViewer also has an auto refresh function so the window shows the latest events every few seconds. The lower pane that displays the log text might be a bit difficult to read but should be no issue for more advanced users. Another useful option is the ability to clear specific event logs if you are sure the log data is no longer required.
Download MyEventViewer
2. WMI Tools
WMI Tools is a general viewing tool for all the information that comes from Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI). This includes hardware, software and Windows information, and also process and service information. Another WMI Tools feature is it also reads system event logs and displays the data in an easy to read user interface.
Only a setup installer is available for download although you can easily unpack it with Universal Extractor. There’s only an executable and a XML file that are required for the program to work once extracted. Run the program and click Event Log. The logs actually load fast to begin with because only entries from the last 24 hours are shown. You can change the filter to show all entries or setup a custom time range which defaults to the last 7 days.
Double clicking on any log entry will show all the available information in a popup window. If you only want to look at the warnings or errors and filter out the success entries, click on the small filter icon in the top right corner of the Type column header. Then check the warning and error boxes.
Download WMI Tools
3. Event Log Explorer
Event Log Explorer is the most dedicated and probably the most complete event log viewing tool outside of the Windows Event Viewer itself. It also has a wealth of options including multiple tabbed log windows, event ID internet search or Microsoft Knowledge Base search, Event Alerter, Event Scheduler, advanced searching and filtering options, add computers wizard, bookmarks and user interface features like color coding.
Like WMI Tools, Event Log Explorer only comes as a setup installer although Universal Extractor will again extract its files to work portably. Another drawback is the program needs a registration key to be able to use the free version for personal use. However, you can enter random details into the online form and the registration key will appear on the thanks for registering page.
Open an event log by expanding the computer tree on the left and double clicking the log to view, double click a log entry to get the available information. The yellow Filter button in the toolbar is highly useful which can include or exclude event types and filter by date and time, event IDs, specific text and many other criteria. It’s also possible to open, close, clear, merge, export and save individual logs.
Download Event Log Explorer
4. Windows Event Viewer Plus
Windows Event Viewer Plus has some good and bad points. The good are that it’s portable, very easy to use and nobody is likely to be confused by extra functions and features because there aren’t many to speak of. Log information is displayed nice and clearly but there is no means to filter or sort the log entries which makes viewing everything in large logs problematic. Loading and collating the log data is also quite slow compared to other event log viewers.
Usage is easy, simply click on the log on the left and double click any entry to get more detailed information and the option to run a search through Microsoft support or and major search engine. There’s not much else to speak of apart from the option to connect to remote event logs and a few system tools such as SFC and Check Disk in the Tools menu.
Download Windows Event Viewer Plus
5. Windows Reliability Monitor
Most Windows users will not be aware that in addition to the standard Event Viewer, since Windows Vista there has also been another built in tool called Reliability Monitor. It reads the same Event logs as Event Viewer but shows the results in a much easier to understand and more user friendly way. Instead of scrolling through huge lists you can see at a glance if any warnings or errors have occurred on a specific day through a more visually appealing user interface.
Reliability Monitor can be opened several ways, type “reliability” into Start, use “perfmon /rel” from the Run dialog or a desktop shortcut, or go to Control Panel > Action Center > Maintenance > View reliability history. The window at the top shows an overall reliability score out of 10 which is based on how many issues there are during the time period. The red icons signify Windows or software failures, the yellow icons are for warnings (usually install or uninstall failures) and the blue depicts information, usually success messages.
Clicking on a specific day or week will populate the lower window with what programs caused each event. From there you can click View technical details and see more detailed information about the event or ask the Action Center to check and see if it can find any solutions to the errors. While Reliability Monitor might not provide detailed information for advanced users it does show enough for others that are trying to troubleshoot their own problems.
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An investigation launched Monday by the Texas Rangers quickly uncovered that a team employee recorded manager Ron Washington's clubhouse speech prior to Game 7 of the World Series, the team confirmed.
The team believes a person close to the employee then leaked the recorded audio to a website. The employee, whose name the team has decided not to make public, was a member of the traveling support staff.
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels, who earlier in the day declared the situation "unacceptable," Monday evening said the team has handled the situation internally. He would not say if the employee has been terminated.
Daniels condemned the recording and leaking of Washington's fiery, expletive-laced speech, which also included brief pep talks from Michael Young, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz, and said it is "clearly in violation of what's expected."
Daniels said he had no issues with what Washington said because it was a speech within the confines of the clubhouse and not meant for public consumption.
"It's a private meeting for the team, a privilege to be part of, a privilege to be in the clubhouse and have access to these sort of things, and very poor judgment to tape it," Daniels said. "That's not what that the meeting was for. We don't condone that it was taped and we certainly don't condone that it was shared with anybody outside of the group that was down there and intended to hear the meeting."
Daniels said the team believes there was no malicious intent by the employee and that the person did not intend for the audio be leaked.
"My understanding is that it was shared by somebody close to the employee," Daniels said. "I don't know exactly from there, I can't connect the dots, but I think you know the viral nature of electronic media and it unfortunately it doesn't take much to get from Point A to Point B."
The audio was sent to JoeSportsFan.com, a sports blog. In a story on the site about the recording, Matt Sebek writes the speech "was recorded by a member of the Rangers clubhouse staff."
Sebek told ESPNDallas.com on Monday that he received an email "from an anonymous third party" with the audio file on Saturday and debated whether to post it. He looked at statements Washington made to the media in regards to the speech and felt they were consistent with what was said on the recording. So he decided to publish the material.
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Splyce inquire about ex-CLG members
The organization with ties to the NHL's Bruins are looking into various options to improve their squad for next season.
Could Rickeh be brought back to North America?
North American organization Splyce, who currently house a squad led by David "DAVEY" Stafford, have looked into the possibility of buying out several ex-CLG players from their contracts, including Kenneth "koosta" Suen, Ethan "nahtE" Arnold, and Ricardo "Rickeh" Mulholland, Dust2.us has learned.
Both koosta and nahtE's current contracts are set to expire at different times in 2018. Earlier in the month Jarek "DeKay" Lewis reported that CLG were asking for over $500,000 for their former players and coach Steve "Ryu" Rattacasa.
Dust2.us also knows that Stephen "reltuC" Cutler's contract with CLG will expire at the end of 2017 — it is not known if he would be involved in any potential deal between the two organizations.
ALSO READ CLG part ways with male CS:GO teams
Splyce has also reached out to at least one other organization in the North American division of ESL Pro League looking to purchase players.
Splyce's current lineup recently attended ROG Masters 2017, where they went out in 5-6th after a 1-2 defeat to the Chinese side of TyLoo. The last LAN event the former CLG team played in was the most iBUYPOWER Masters, where they exited in last place following group stage defeats to OpTic and Misfits.
The squad also more recently participated in the online CyberPowerPC Extreme Gaming Series Winter, where they played with Ronnie "ryx" Bylicki and Zach "XotiC" Elshani. There, they fell to Cloud9 in the grand final after victories over GX and Splyce.
The current lineups of the two teams are as follows:
Splyce
Taylor "Drone" Johnson
Taylor Johnson Kory "SEMPHIS" Friesen
Kory Friesen Daniel "roca" Gustaferri
Daniel Gustaferri David "DAVEY" Stafford
David Stafford Mitch "m1tch" Semago
Mitch Semago Zachary "Eley" Stauffer (Coach)
Unemployed for Christmas
Stephen "reltuC" Cutler
Stephen Cutler Kenneth "koosta" Suen
Kenneth Suen Ethan "nahtE" Arnold
Ethan Arnold Steve "Ryu" Rattacasa (Coach)
ALSO READ Unemployed for Christmas beat Splyce in CyberPowerPC semifinal
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this article featured an image caption which implied that Splyce were looking to acquire the core of the former CLG roster.
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Two of rock ‘n’ roll’s greatest frontmen, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Iggy Pop, secretly hit the studio together last January. They wrote and recorded a full-length album called Post Pop Depression, which will be released in March through Loma Vista Recordings.
According to an interview with The New York Times, Homme and Pop financed the project themselves to ensure “utmost secrecy and full independence.” They recorded nine songs over the course of two sessions, with one ground rule: “neither would bring in complete songs, only ideas.” Joining them in the studio were guitarist/keyboardist Dean Fertita (QOTSA, The Dead Weather) and Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders.
Homme described the record as a sort of sequel to Lust for Life, Pop’s 1977 collaboration with David Bowie. “Where those records pointed, it stopped,” Home told The Times. “But without copying it — that direction actually goes for miles. And when you keep going for miles, you can’t see these two records any more.” Pop described the album’s theme as such: “What happens after your years of service? And where is the honor?”
(Read: Top 20 Queens of the Stone Age Songs)
Homme and Pop plan to take the album on the road for a brief as-yet-unannounced tour. The touring lineup will include Fertita and Helders as well as QOTSA’s Troy Van Leeuwen (guitar) and Chavez’s Matt Sweeney (bass). Pop said the setlist will include material from Lust for Life, including the track “Success”, which he has never before performed live. Update – Thursday, January 21st at 1:45 p.m. CT: Homme and Pop will make their debut performance together on tonight’s episode of the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
In the interview, Homme also revealed that he was originally supposed to perform with Eagles of Death Metal on the night of the Paris terror attacks. “I guess it was my fate to be home and to bring them home,” Homme said. “Bad things are like a sunset; they dissipate over time. But this is a long sunset. My dearest friends — how will they un-see that?”
He added that working on Post Pop Depression helped him cope with the aftermath: “The fact that I had this to work on, it saved me.”
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Okay, I’m going to start my Dark Matter 208 review by saying this was easily my favorite episode ever. This may not be the last time I say those words, but the Dark Matter gang are going to have to work pretty darned hard to top themselves after this one. Between the VFX team outdoing themselves yet again, another chance to see some of our crew as the people they might have been, and the return of several familiar faces, this episode ticked off all the check boxes on my list of a perfect episode.
Picking up right were episode 207 left off, the Raza blinks back into spacetime. Unfortunately, the problem they had with the drive resulted in them moving only 1.2 miles instead of 300 light years. What they didn’t know at the time is they actually moved much farther than imagined. They left spacetime, as the jump drive is designed to do, but returned to a completely different universe. Kids, this is what happens when you try and rush interdimensional space travel.
This new place is still very similar to the crew’s old reality, but with some significant changes; none of which seem particularly positive. For one, Regulus-12, the station where they dropped off Calchek, Devon, and Nyx, is badly damaged. So damaged, in fact, that Android says there are likely no survivors.
Lawren Bancroft-Wilson and his team really outdid themselves on this one. There was so much detail put into the station scenes and so many animated elements I felt as if I were watching a big-budget film. Nearly as impressive was the battle going on between AltRaza and the two warships. It really highlighted the Raza’s strength as a highly maneuverable ship. It was dancing around those destroyers like a bee buzzing around flowers – A heavily-armed and very angry bee.
Android’s analysis of the Raza’s exit point and slight difference in the Cosmic Background Radiation brings her to conclude they’ve entered an alternate reality. And as she points out, the presence of a second Raza, complete with working blink drive, is a pretty big hint, too.
But the crew aboard AltRaza are more like our crew pre-memory wipe, and perhaps even more ruthless. They’ve been using the Blink Drive to start a war, decimating Mikkei ships and a certain Traugott research facility. The fact is they’re working as unofficial agents of Ferrous Corp, so it’s no stretch to know which megacorp is profiting the most. At least it gave us a reason to see David Richmond-Peck reprise his role as Commander Nieman. It was too short, but I’m grateful for whatever we get.
When AltRaza blinks away, the warships focus their attention, and guns, on our Raza. Here’s where another familiar face pops up. Torri Higginson is back as Commander Delaney Truffault, and she’s even more sinister in this universe. Two is unable to convince her that they aren’t the droids mercenaries she’s looking for. Thankfully for our crew, she receives a report that AltRaza is blowing shit up over 300 light years away. Now she’s willing to work with them so they can both get what they want. Same deal, different universe.
Truffault wants to stop AltRaza and our crew need the working Blink Drive from the same. Four comes up with a plan to trap their goatee-worthy alternate selves. He poses as the Ryo of this reality who is the head of the Ishida empire. Inviting AltRaza to meet aboard a still-intact portion of Regulus-12 under the guise of something important, they capture Lin and Boone.
Pulling the old clothes switcheroo, Two and Three board AltRaza posing as Lin and Boone. When they get to the bridge they get a real surprise. Not only is Jace Corso there, but also Wexler and Tash. Everyone welcome back Marc Bendavid, Ennis Esmer, and Jessica Sipos!
Meanwhile, Six is researching his alternate self and discovers Kal Varrick is dead. He brings up a video of Varrick’s last recording where he admits to sabotaging the ship to bring the crew to justice. He’s not really different from our Six, except that he gets caught by Portia while recording the message. She shoots him a couple of times, then three more once he’s down just to be extra evil sure.
Just to get weird, we have a scene between Lin and Boone that shows just how different they are from our guys. Boone apparently spaced some prisoners simply because they were, in Lin’s words, “more trouble than they’re worth”. That’s brutal as hell, man. But what’s even more disturbing is when the two start making out right after their conversation. In this reality the two had more than a one-time fling.
Also, I couldn’t help but giggle when Lin, wearing a revealing top, said “booby traps”. Yes, I am that childish. Damn you, squishy tactical weapons!
What are we gonna call that ship? Portius? Martia? Boolin? TwentyThree?
Back on our Raza, Four talks with Lin and Boone about how their Ryo regained his throne. AltRaza and some of the Royal Court Ryo could still trust helped him take back his throne. One of the main players helping was his stepbrother, Hiro, but things went south after the coup. It seems Hiro wanted to bring democracy to Zairon so Ryo killed him. Lin can see there’s something fundamentally different about Four; something keeping him from being as ruthless as their Ryo.
AltRaza blinks to what looks like the mining colony from the pilot episode. Remember the ones who were trying to hold out against Ferrous Corp? The Ferrous Corp AltRaza is not-so-secretly working with? Yeah, those miners are totally screwed, man. Wexler and Two head down for a negotiation/execution.
Two is trying to talk sense into the colonists. She tells them just how hard Ferrous Corp will come down on them if they keep resisting. Wexler has never been much for negotiations in any universe and he promptly kills two of the three colonists in the meeting. Two makes him release the third, but soon finds out Corso is going to nuke the colony to quickly stop the rebellion. Corso is actually trying to nuke the place before the Marauder takes off, removing Two/Lin and Wexler permanently. Corso is an asshole in every reality.
“You shifty son of a bitch!” – Three
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” – Corso
Three finds this out from Android and he goes to kick Corso’s ass. He knocks Corso out, then Tash comes in and knocks him to the ground. She tells him that Corso also planned to eliminate him. She also claims to be the only reason he’s still alive. With a knife to his neck, it’s clear she’s about to end that situation.
Two shows up and fights Tash again-ish. As they’re fighting, Two’s vision becomes blurred and she feels out of sorts. Tash is about to finish her off when Altdroid shoots her, stopping the fight. Our bioengineered leader seems to be suffering more deteriorating symptoms, and at the worst time, too.
“As this ship’s service android, it’s my duty to protect the crew from harm. And on occasion, each other.” – Altdroid
Truffault shows up at our Raza in person to supposedly get an update on Two and Three. Instead, she pulls a Men In Black on Four and Six. She knocks them out with some kind of stun stick reminiscent of the amnesia device from that movie. She and her men move to the bridge where they get Android to shut down by threatening to shoot Five. Truffault now has control of the Raza.
Two, Three, and Altdroid blink onto the scene in the AltRaza only to discover Truffault’s “pre-emptive double-cross”. She’ll trade the lives of the Raza crew for AltRaza’s functioning Blink Drive. Appearing to capitulate, Two has anticipated Android’s incapacitation and instructed Altdroid to lock Truffault out of the controls. They then fire on the Mikkei warship, disabling some of the shields. Truffault is left with no choice but to give in.
The two crews go back to their respective ships, but not before Portia meets Two. The twins seem to have a mutual respect for each other. Portia doesn’t even fight over not getting her cool, alternate-universe-kind-of-evil coat back. But the most interesting meeting was between Android and Altdroid. Altdroid is invited to stay with our crew, but she declines. She says her loyalty is to her crew, particularly to Portia for “making me what I am”.
Folks, I think we’ve just learned who tinkered with Android’s programming.
Now, I’d like to know the how and why.
Back in the FTL engine room, Five gets the alternate Blink Drive installed. Android makes the calculations needed to return them to their universe and they engage the drive. This time, the ride was much smoother. No high-pitched sounds, no cracks in the hull, and no sparks. It seems everything went according to plan.
“Returning us to our original point of departure should be relatively straightforward – outside of the theoretical possibility of an overload that could destroy the ship. But the chances of that are so remote they’re hardly worth mentioning.” – Android
“Aaaand yet you did.” – Three
Shortly after blinking back, Android detects a small ship detaching from the Raza’s hull. It’s the alternate Marauder, and surprise, it’s FTL capable! Now, not only do we not know who came back from the other universe, but we don’t know where they went. I’m really hoping it’s Corso, Wexler, and Tash. If it is, this is further proof that in science fiction you’re never more than mostly dead.
Question: If they could detect AltMarauder detaching from the ship, why didn’t they detect it when it leeched on in the first place? You know, before they released some ruthless killers from another dimension?
The crew head for Regulus-12 and are relieved to find it intact and functioning. Unfortunately, Nyx reports that Devon never showed. It certainly seemed likely that he was going to die after being stabbed by one of the Seers. This would seem to confirm it.
The final scene has Two lying in her bed, obviously not feeling well. She sits up and notices her hand trembling again and it seems worse. She can barely stand, her vision is failing, and finally she falls to the floor unconscious. At least I hope she’s only unconscious. Two’s gotta survive so she can rock that new coat she got from her doppelganger!
As I said at the beginning of this review, this episode hit all the right notes. It offered a glimpse of alternate versions of several of the crew. And again, the fates of our crew all point back to Five. In that reality she never boarded the AltRaza so she was never an influence on them. From what little we saw of him, Varrick was a carbon-copy of our Six. The only noticeable differences were he never lost his memory, though he lost his life. I’d dare say “our” Six got the better end of the deal by far..
Then there were all the surprise faces. Getting to see Jace Corso, Wexler, and Tash alive was a real treat. And having the tease of an FTL-capable Marauder on the loose in our universe is exciting. On-board could be any or all of those three, or someone else entirely. I can’t wait to find out!
A few more thoughts before I go:
Android continues to pop even more “humanisms” into her behavior, like when she asked Five, “How goes it?”
I’m loving the Blink Drive VFX. Shrinking out of existence then expanding back at another point looks cool and exemplifies the method of transport.
The damaged alternate Regulus-12 was a masterpiece of VFX. I was impressed with the level of detail and numerous animated elements in the scene. A shot that complex is not the kind of thing you often see on TV and it really stood out because of it.
The first view of AltRaza in battle with two Mikkei ships highlights just how maneuverable the little ship is. That, and tons of guns, are its strengths when in battle with much larger craft.
The FTL engine room is a beautiful set. I hope to see it again.
Always great to see Torri Higginson back as Delaney Truffault. She got to play a slightly nastier version of her character in this alternate universe episode.
While it was brief, another welcome face was that of David Richmond-Peck returning as Commander Nieman of Ferrous Corp.
In the Altverse, Portia Lin got her revenge against Alexander Rook and Dwarf Star Technologies. We learned she killed him and over 200 others at the facility. I wonder how she overcame the issues our Two is experiencing or if she ever had those “defects” at all?
I really wanted Dark Matter to find a way to have Wexler back … and they did! Until this episode, I’d almost forgotten how fun his character really is. And ruthless. Did I forget to mention ruthless?
Anyone else rooting for Corso, Wexler and Tash to be the ones in the AltMarauder? I know I am.
Was it just me or is Android taller than AltDroid? In the scene at the end where the two meet, Android seems taller. Each angle in that scene made our automaton look noticeably taller than her counterpart.
Two met Portia and Android met AltDroid. I wish we could’ve seen Three meet Boone. That would’ve been fun.
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David and Goliath.
Santiago Siri Blocked Unblock Follow Following Mar 14, 2015
Last night I was caught up in a very interesting tweet exchange with Richard Dawkins. The great biologist-turned-atheism’s-prophet threw one of his traditional punches against religion:
He is right about how abhorrent these biblical principles are in modern day democracies after centuries of struggles and wars to conquer basic human rights in our constitutions. But the revisionism of measuring an ancient book with today’s values is a bit unfair. I called him on that:
Ancient cultures relied on the information technology of their time to keep track of their history. All political institutions (ancient and new) at their core what they aim to achieve is to write history. Record the events that led to the great triumphs and the fundamental lessons that define the identity of a community. The Bible was the political instrument within the rise of the monotheist mindset in a period of time where the knowledge of reading and writing meant power, and in the centuries where ink and paper meant sophisticated technology. Richard, regardless of his rationalist approach to life, is still a tempered passionate man:
He is right about that: a lot of people don’t care to think and question their given reality. And the dangers of having a 1st Century mentality in the day and age of nuclear weapons is a big threat. Yet reacting like a fanatic pointing his finger at me with a big uppercase YOU mirrors Richard with the same kind of people he is against: immediately after that tweet, a bunch of radical atheists started attacking me. Richard’s church is alive and well.
I don’t intend to confront with a man I consider a personal hero (mostly due to his original work in the field of biology). But the point I was aiming to argue with him is not regarding the goal (which we share) but the means. He’s attitude throughout the last decade as he became the spokesperson for atheism tends to polarize the debate. The danger I fear with that approach is that it’s very likely to turn radicals into extremists, and the latter into fundamentalists (and not the other way around).
Here I felt that at least we where able to find some common ground. Our main discrepancy is about what place we assign religion in our society. Richard has taken a rather extreme approach where religion has absolutely no role to play at all. And even though I agree that we can consider religious views absurd when it comments on science and politics, my claim is that the real danger is becoming the extremist of whatever value-system you have.
Having a literal interpretation of the Bible is missing the fundamental aspects of how it works. In ancient days the fine art of writing and reading was a privilege of the few. Knowledge had to be shared through storytelling, myths that were more compatible to be stored in human minds for oral transmission which hopefully carried the seeds of a lesson that helps to improve mankind’s behaviour. The poetic resonance evoked by the book of Genesis is not about a God that literally created the world in seven days, but rather about how all of us can achieve god-like virtue by working hard during the week (while being able to rest on the seventh day). Ancient societies needed an efficient scalable method to learn and share this knowledge so they could attain some degree of order.
And it’s true that biblical views on slavery, women and gays are sinister. Yet these books also operated as a form of social memory becoming the only place capable of securely storing events of history due to the power of the institution behind it. It was a political tool of the past and we must treasure it as such. But also, it is my belief that the current institutions of our modern day and age which derive from the printed press that gave us private contracts and paper money will end up fading as a relic too. Information technologies always lead towards new institutional paradigms and the Internet isn’t going to be an exception. Archeologists from a distant future will no longer be looking just at ancient books but rather to the data structures that are able to securely store the political events of the AI (After Internet) era.
Institutions are about trust. Mythological storytelling was a convincing force to impose trust in ancient times. But today we depend on the rational cartesian approach of modern capitalism with brands capturing our faith thanks to their market performance. But think about every single institution known to man and ask yourself: what does “President of the United States of America” really mean? What does “America” mean? As John Searle points out: at their core institutions exist to validate facts. There are two kinds of facts: those that cannot be denied under any circumstance (“the sun rises in the morning”, gravity or the cold weather of San Francisco) and institutional facts. The latter are always imposed truths that cannot be proven or disproven, they simply are because of the power behind it. Institutions are shortcuts that helps us make sense of the social world we live in. Solid manifestations of political struggles that led us to profoundly believe in the reality of virtual things such as Argentina, Mc Donald’s or the Republican Party. They exist only because they were able to establish a social convention that they must exist.
God isn’t the only delusion we fool ourselves into.
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Mayor Naheed Nenshi racked up nearly $300,000 in legal fees fighting a $6-million defamation lawsuit filed by home builder Cal Wenzel, according to his office.
In a statement released Tuesday, city solicitor Glenda Cole confirmed the city has now paid the $299,728.59 invoice, an amount the mayor will now have to pay back through fundraising efforts.
Nenshi was not available for comment Tuesday.
In a separate letter, the mayor wrote to the city’s new ethics adviser, Alice Woolley, proposing a framework before he begins soliciting funds to pay down the legal bill. There are currently no guidelines in place around fundraising activities outside of normal campaign solicitations for council members.
“As a longtime advocate for campaign finance reform, transparency, and accountability, the mayor would like to see rules in place prior to commencing fundraising,” according to the statement from his office.
In November, Nenshi and Cal Wenzel, CEO and founder of Shane Homes, settled the defamation lawsuit filed by Wenzel about two years after the mayor on CBC radio attacked a campaign by the businessman to unseat him and other council members in the 2013 municipal election.
The two agreed to settle their dispute without costs, with the mayor retracting and apologizing for his characterization of Wenzel, in which he linked the home builder to the mobster film The Godfather.
Council passed a motion in March granting the city solicitor the authority to determine whether councillors, members of city boards, commissions, committees and authorities should be indemnified by taxpayers should they land in legal hot water.
They also agreed then to cover Nenshi’s legal bill provided he reimburse the city out of pocket or by soliciting donations.
Nenshi previously said he had already paid about $100,000 of the bill with his own money but that it would be a “be a pretty big task” to cover the remainder. He also said he rejected offers from two wealthy individuals to pay the entire tab.
In his letter to the ethics adviser, Nenshi proposed appointing an agent to oversee the “solicitation and collection of donations to the city” that could take the shape of an independent third-party committee.
The committee, Nenshi continued, would solicit donations made out directly to the city, follow municipal guidelines, set a deadline for its work and release the names of all donors when the bill has been paid off.
Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said Nenshi’s tendency of embellishing events — such as suggesting councillors were getting blotto or that the city sent sex offenders and violent criminals to test Uber’s background screening process — makes him susceptible to lawsuits.
But Williams praised the mayor’s proposed guidelines to solicit donors, since it appears above board and doesn’t leave taxpayers on the hook.
“Somebody is paying for this and doing so voluntarily out of the goodness of their hearts or generosity of their pocketbooks,” she said.
“If it were in any way less transparent or accountable, I think there would be questions,” she said. “It’s not going to look like he’s asking specific people for donations; the committee will be doing it, so the possibility of inappropriate influence will be blunted by that.”
thowell@postmedia.com
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CORAL GABLES, Fla. – University of Miami football head coach Mark Richt announced the addition of Thomas Brown , Craig Kuligowski , Todd Hartley and Jon Richt to the Hurricanes' coaching staff for the start of the 2016 campaign.
In their new roles with the Hurricanes, Brown will serve as the co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach, Kuligowski will serve as the team's defensive line coach, Hartley will accept special teams coordinator responsibilities, while Richt will move into the role of offensive assistant.
“I could not be happier to add each of these individuals to our coaching staff,” Richt said. “Not only are they great coaches, but they are great people, who instill the values that our young people will need to be successful in the classroom, in the community and on the field.”
Brown begins his tenure at The U after he spent the 2015 campaign on Richt's staff at Georgia where he coached the Bulldog running backs. During Brown's time with the Bulldogs, Georgia rushed for 2,513 yards (194.3 yards per game).
This past season, he oversaw sophomore running back Sony Michel as he rushed for over 1,000 yards, finishing the year with 1,076 yards. Michel became the 13th Bulldog in school history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in a season.
Prior to arriving at Georgia, Brown coached Heisman Trophy runner-up Melvin Gordon at Wisconsin in 2014. Gordon posted the second-best season ever by a running back with 2,587 rushing yards and 32 total touchdowns. He and sophomore Corey Clement combined to run for 3,536 yards to break the single-season Football Bowl Subdivision record for rushing yards by teammates that had been set the year before by Gordon and James White (3,053 yards).
Kuligowski arrives in Coral Gables after spending the past 15 years as the defensive line coach at the University of Missouri. During his 15-year tenure with the Tigers – the longest-tenured position coach in the SEC - Kuligowski coached 24 players to all-conference honors. In addition, Kuligowski produced four first round NFL Draft picks since 2009.
This past season at Missouri, Kuligowski's defensive line helped the Tigers rank second in the nation in team tackles for loss. The Tigers also ranked ninth in the nation in total defense.
Hartley comes to Miami after serving as the Director of Player Personnel at Georgia. Prior to his appointment in Athens, Hartley worked as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Marshall University.
Hartley joined the Marshall staff in March, 2011, and served as the Herd's safeties coach for two seasons before being named tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator in March, 2013.
Richt joins his father's staff for the second time in his coaching career after he spent the 2015 campaign with the Buffalo Bills as an offensive assistant. He spent the 2014 season serving on Georgia's staff as a quality control assistant. Richt was a three-star member of Clemson's 2008 recruiting class before he transferred to Mars Hill College to finish out his collegiate career.
For the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow us on Twitter and Instagram, @CanesFootball, or visit our web site at HurricaneSports.com. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Miami Hurricanes app for your Droid or iPhone.
Season tickets to the 2016 Miami Hurricanes football season are on sale now – visit CanesTix.com or call (305) 284-2263 for more information.
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This is a guest post by political scientist Jesse Richman.
*****
This year one of my favorite informal election prediction metrics has been silent: the pizza indicator. In nearly every election year since 2006 either the college Democrats or the college Republicans post signs by the elevators in the Arts and Letters building inviting students to come to a meeting and offering free pizza. The Party offering pizza was the one that won the election in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. (2007 and 2011 were lower turnout state legislative election years with little pizza to be had). This year neither organization is offering pizza, and there has been precious little paper spent even advertising their meetings.
Pizza aside, there are more powerful suggestions that 2012 will be a low turnout election. I focus here on the frequency of Google searches for election-related information. Searches for “vote” should be an indicator of interest in electoral participation. Individuals might search for information on how to vote, or for information on voter registration, and other related information. Therefore, searches for “vote” in Google should provide an indicator of the intensity of citizen interest in voting across states and across elections. More frequent searches for “vote” should predict higher electoral participation.
I tabulated searches for “vote” from September through approximately Election Day in each state for the 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 U.S. elections, and compared search volume with state level voter turnout. This comparison is of course only as good as Google’s algorithms that attempt to standardize search volume across time on the same 0 to 100 scale.
The graph below shows the relationship between voter turnout and searches for “vote” in the United States as measured by Google Insights for Search. Overall, the relationship is strong. States in which more people searched for “vote” in a particular election year had higher turnout.
The relationship is also evident after taking account of election year (midterm elections are clustered in the lower left hand portion of the chart). Once election year is taken into account, a shift from 10 to 20 on the search scale is associated with a four percent increase in voter turnout.
If searches for “vote” do predict electoral participation, then 2012 should have lower turnout than 2008 or 2004. The next figure shows nationwide searches for “vote” in 2004, 2008 and (so far) in 2012. (Note that week one is the first week that includes any dates from a given year so week one in 2004 started two days before week one in 2008 and four days earlier than week 1 in 2012, which should bias the 2012 results toward higher numbers as of this writing.)
2012 had lower search frequencies in September at October compared with the last two election years. This implies that if the present trends continue 2012 will also have lower voter turnout.
I also collected the search frequency for “vote” in several swing states (Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Wisconsin) from September through mid-October. In no instance was the frequency of searches for “vote” higher in 2012 than for previous years. In every case it was substantially lower. Often the search volume was only half of the levels experienced in early election seasons.
Searches for the phrase “register to vote” show the same pattern:
Interest in voter registration peaks in early October, around the time that many states have voter registration deadlines. In 2012 that peak was much lower (58) relative to 2008 (90) and 2004 (100).
The relatively higher internet use among younger voters (and their pronounced tendency to favor Obama) mean that declining search frequency should give particular pause for Democrats. It suggests that interest in this election is lower than in the last two presidential cycles and that turnout will be lower as well. Perhaps some pizza is called for.
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Pennsylvania State Police investigate the scene where Steve Stephens, the suspect in the random killing of a Cleveland retiree posted on Facebook, was found shot dead Tuesday, April 18, 2017, in Erie. Pa. Acting on a tip, Pennsylvania State Police spotted Stephens, 37, in Erie County, in the state's northwest corner, and went after him. After a brief chase, he took his own life, authorities said. (Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News via AP)
CLEVELAND (AP) — The Latest on a fatal shooting captured on video and later shared on Facebook (all times local):
5 p.m.
Pennsylvania police say they kept a close watch on an Erie casino in recent days because the man who recorded himself killing an elderly man in Cleveland had a history of gambling.
The suspect, Steve Stephens, shot himself in the head Tuesday morning in Erie after Pennsylvania troopers spun his car around to end a brief pursuit. The chase began after a worker at a McDonald’s called authorities to report that Stephens had ordered food at the drive-thru.
Pennsylvania State Police Major William Teper Jr. said he was only aware through social media that Stephens’ cellphone had been located Sunday afternoon in Erie just hours after killing 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. on a Cleveland street.
Teper says investigators are trying to determine Stephens’ movements in the area.
An autopsy is planned for Wednesday.
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4:25 p.m.
A woman says the Cleveland man suspected in a random videotaped killing posted on Facebook nearly hit her as he left the Pennsylvania McDonald’s restaurant where an employee recognized him and called 911.
Gail Wheeler, of Erie, was on her way home from a supermarket and was stopped at a red light when she says Steve Stephens came “whipping out” of the McDonald’s parking lot. She says state police troopers weren’t far behind.
Wheeler says she followed the pursuit and saw a state trooper “clip the back bumper” of Stephens’ car to get him to stop. The car did a half-turn and came to rest against the curb.
That’s when she says she heard a gunshot.
Police say Stephens shot and killed himself at the end of the pursuit.
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2:40 p.m.
An alert McDonald’s employee led Pennsylvania police to the suspect in a Cleveland slaying that was recorded and posted on Facebook.
Henry Sayers, the Erie restaurant’s manager, tells reporters that Steve Stephens pulled up to the drive-thru Tuesday morning and ordered a 20-piece Chicken McNuggets and french fries.
He says the attendant recognized Stephens, who was wanted in Sunday’s slaying of a retired Ohio man, and called 911.
Restaurant owner Thomas DuCharme Jr. tells the Erie Times-News that workers tried to “buy some time for the cops” and told Stephens his order of fries was delayed. DuCharme says Stephens replied he had no time to wait and drove away.
State police gave chase. Authorities say Stephens shot and killed himself during the pursuit.
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2:25 p.m.
The social services agency that employed a Cleveland man who shared video of an apparently random killing he committed says the suspect’s suicide brings both relief and sadness.
Steve Stephens worked at Beech Brook, an agency in suburban Cleveland that deals with vulnerable young people. The agency says that “every suicide is a tragedy” but that Stephens’ death eliminates the community’s fear that he might kill again.
Pennsylvania State Police say troopers acting on a tip spotted Stephens’ vehicle Tuesday in Erie, in Pennsylvania’s northwest corner, and began a brief chase. When troopers tried to spin his car to get him to stop, they say he pulled out a pistol and shot himself in the head.
He was wanted in Sunday’s slaying of a retired Ohio man.
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2 p.m.
Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg says his thoughts are with the family of a retiree shot to death in an apparently random Cleveland attack that was recorded and posted on Facebook by a suspect who later killed himself in Pennsylvania.
Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams says the case offers lessons on the power of social media and the harm that can be done online. He says the video never should have been shared around the world.
Zuckerberg said Tuesday that Facebook will do all it can to prevent such tragedies. The company had said after Sunday’s slaying that it is launching a review for reporting harmful content.
Zuckerberg made his comments at an annual conference for developers and businesses who create apps and services on Facebook.
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1:15 p.m.
Pennsylvania State Police say the suspect in a recorded Cleveland slaying that was shared on Facebook fatally shot himself in the head as his car spun out of control.
Troopers acting on a tip spotted Steve Stephens’ vehicle Tuesday near Erie, in Pennsylvania’s northwest corner. That launched a 2-mile (3-kilometer) car chase that ended when troopers tried to spin his car to get him to stop.
Police say the 37-year-old Stephens pulled out a pistol and killed himself as the vehicle spun. No one else was hurt.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf says police heroically took quick action to keep others safe.
Police had searched for Stephens since Sunday, when they say he randomly killed a 74-year-old retired Ohio man and recorded it.
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12:50 p.m.
The daughter of a retiree slain in an apparently random Cleveland shooting that was recorded and shared on Facebook says she’s sad that the suspect killed himself in Pennsylvania.
Debbie Godwin tells The Associated Press she would have preferred that 37-year-old Steve Stephens remain alive and face prison time for the Sunday shooting of 74-year-old Robert Godwin Sr. She says: “If you did it, you have to face your crime.”
Authorities say they received a tip that Stephens’ vehicle was in the parking lot of a McDonald’s in Erie on Tuesday. They say state police tried to pull him over and, after a brief chase, he shot himself.
It wasn’t immediately clear where Stephens had been since the Sunday shooting.
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12:40 p.m.
Police say the man who killed a man in Cleveland and posted video of it on Facebook was located in Pennsylvania because of a tip, which led to a pursuit that ended with the suspect shooting himself to death.
Cleveland police Chief Calvin Williams says authorities received a tip that Steve Stephens’ vehicle was in the parking lot of a McDonald’s in Erie on Tuesday morning. State police tried to pull him over and, after a brief chase, he killed himself.
It wasn’t immediately clear where Stephens had been since the Sunday shooting in Cleveland, which killed a 74-year-old retired man.
Williams says investigators had hoped to talk with Stephens to find out a motive.
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12:20 p.m.
Cleveland’s mayor says the death of a man who randomly killed an Ohio retiree and posted Facebook video of the slaying brings some closure in the slaying of an innocent man.
Authorities say 37-year-old Steve Stephens fatally shot himself after a brief pursuit in northwest Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
It wasn’t immediately clear where Stephens had been since Sunday.
Authorities say Pennsylvania police got a tip that Stephens was spotted Tuesday morning in a fast food restaurant parking lot in Erie County, in Pennsylvania’s northwest corner. Authorities say police tried to pull him over and, after a brief chase, he killed himself.
Stephens was wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the death of a 74-year-old retired man in Cleveland on Sunday.
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11:55 a.m.
Pennsylvania State Police say the suspect in the random killing of a Cleveland retiree posted on Facebook has shot and killed himself after a brief pursuit.
State police say Steve Stephens was spotted Tuesday morning by state police in Erie County, in the state’s northwest corner. Authorities say police tried to pull Stephens over and, after a brief pursuit, he shot and killed himself.
Stephens was wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the shooting death of a 74-year-old retired man in Cleveland on Sunday.
He posted video of that shooting on Facebook.
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10 a.m.
Authorities in Cleveland leading a nationwide search for a man wanted in a random killing that was recorded and posted to Facebook are again appealing to the public for help.
Cleveland’s police chief said Tuesday they’ve received more than 400 tips from as far away as Texas, but so far they’ve been unable to narrow down the manhunt.
The search for 37-year-old Steve Stephens is entering its third day. He’s wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the shooting death of a 74-year-old retired man in Cleveland on Sunday.
Police Chief Calvin Williams says anyone who thinks they’ve seen Stephens should call 911.
The head of the U.S. Marshal’s office in Cleveland says he’s confident Stephens will be found. But he says these searches can take days, weeks or even longer.
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7:15 a.m.
A gun range owner says the suspect in a random Cleveland killing that was recorded and posted to Facebook had shot at his facility, and video shows he was warned for breaking rules by practicing “rapid fire.”
Owner Blake Frederick says suspect Steve Stephens visited Sherwin Shooting Sports within the past year. Frederick tells Cleveland.com he recalls Stephens as nice and jovial, not negative.
WEWS-TV reports that a video Stephens posted to Facebook last year showed him rapidly firing at targets at the range in Willoughby and being warned to stop by an employee.
Police say the 37-year-old Stephens had a permit to carry a concealed weapon.
The multistate manhunt for him stretched into a third day Tuesday. He’s wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the Sunday shooting death of a 74-year-old retiree.
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1 a.m.
A multistate manhunt for the suspect in a random killing that Cleveland police say he recorded and posted to Facebook is entering its third day.
Authorities say it’s now a nationwide search for 37-year-old Steve Stephens, who’s wanted on an aggravated murder charge in the shooting death of a 74-year-old retired man in Cleveland on Sunday.
Videos Stephens shared show him talking about his despair over gambling debts and trouble with his girlfriend.
On Monday evening, Facebook announced that it was launching a review for reporting harmful content following the killing. The company says it disabled Stephen’s account within 23 minutes of receiving the first report about the video of the fatal shooting and two hours after receiving any report. Facebook says, “we know we need to do better.”
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No. 7 Florida Gators basketball (6-0) blew out the Marquette Golden Eagles (5-2) in the 2012 SEC/BIG EAST Challenge at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center in Gainesville, FL on Thursday. Florida head coach Billy Donovan met with the media and shared some of his thoughts after the game.
HISTORY / STREAKS / STATS
» Florida is now 2-2 all-time against Marquette and 17-10 against Big East teams under Donovan (1-2 in the regular season games played as part of a challenge or invitational).
» The Gators’ defense continues to dominate. UF has only given up 26 or more points in a single have twice in 12 halves played this season.
» Six Florida players scored in double figures, the most this season.
» The Gators are 31-1 since the beginning of the 2011-12 season when holding opponents under 71 points in a game.
» Marquette reserves were averaging 35 points and 22 rebounds per game; those players registered just 19 points and five boards on Thursday.
» Florida has 16 assists on 28 made baskets and turned the ball over just eight times. UF forced 14 turnovers in the game.
» The Gators won the rebounding margin 37-23 and shot well in all three phases of the game including 50.9 percent from the floor, 37.5 percent from downtown and 85.0 percent from the free throw line.
» 20 NBA scouts were in attendance, according to UF.
PLAYER NOTES
» Freshman guard Michael Frazier II came off the bench to score a team- and career-high 17 points. He made five treys in eight attempts and was 6-of-9 from the floor.
» Junior center Patric Young came off the bench in both halves but still led the way with a game-high 10 rebounds. He matched a career-best with six offensive boards and finished with a double-double as he posted 10 points.
» Redshirt senior G Mike Rosario, junior forward Will Yeguete and junior F Casey Prather scored 11 points each. Yeguete added seven rebounds and a block while Rosario and Prather combined for six boards and three dimes. Senior F Erik Murphy also chipped in 10 points.
» Senior G Kenny Boynton notched a game-high five assists while only turning the ball over once but struggled to find the bottom of the net. He went 2-for-11 from the field and 0-for-5 from downtown to finish with just six points. Boynton also passed Eddie Shannon for sixth all-time on the school’s career minutes list.
» G Vander Blue was the only Marquette player that truly came to play. He scored a game-high 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and was the only one on his team to score more than six points.
Read the rest of what Donovan had to say…after the break!
BENCHED FOR ATTITUDE, YOUNG RESPONDS IN A BIG WAY
For the first time in his career as a regular starter, Young began a game on the bench while perfectly healthy. Donovan made the decision and let it serve as a wake-up call to a player he has said needs to show consistent effort both in practice and games. He was not pleased with how Young carried himself during practice on Wednesday and went with his gut to have him come off the bench.
“Patric, [Wednesday] in particular, he didn’t practice at the level that I thought needed to. I thought in a lot of respects his attitude was not conducive to our team getting better, improving, growing. We were not focused on what we should be focused on in practice,” he said.
“As a coach, when you make a decision like that, [what] I’d hate to have happen is when someone is viewed or painted in a different light of who they are not. Patric Young is a great kid, represents our school in a great way. I feel like my job as a coach is to bring out the best in Patric Young as a player and right now he was not doing that and he was not… It wasn’t even performance. It was more his effort, his attitude, his disruptiveness in practice that caused me to say, you know what, you’re not starting [Thursday]. We’ll see how your attitude is [Thursday].”
Young appeared to be a new man by game time. He gave consistent effort throughout the game, matched a career-high with six offensive rebounds and even came away with the No. 1 play on ESPN’s SportsCenter for a big block he delivered.
“Our whole team is a family. Even though we get on each other, the coaches really get on us sometimes but they’re doing it out of love and respect,” Young said after the game. “Coming into the game, I just knew I was going to come in and have a great energy for the team, pick up any slack and do the best I can to try and help us out to get this win.”
He also admitted that he was not a model student-athlete on Wednesday but is glad that Donovan was on him to improve rather than frustrated with him all together.
“I just didn’t have a good attitude in practice. Coach wasn’t very happy with my performance. I just didn’t come in and give my best effort. He wants me to be an everyday guy, which I can do, I just have to embrace that role and embrace when he challenges me to be that,” Young said.
“I’ll be upset when he starts ignoring me because that means he doesn’t care anymore. The fact that he is continually on me just means that he sees great things in me in the future. I’m going to take it one day at a time and just trust in him and trust in our staff that they’re going to help me to become the best I can be.”
Donovan relayed those same sentiments after the game.
“I’m hopeful that this situation with Patric will really help him see, if he puts forth the kind of effort that he did tonight on an everyday basis and doesn’t get frustrated or pout or not want to give the effort that is necessary for whatever reason, that he’s only hurting himself and his teammates,” he said. “I give Patric credit. I told him after the game, ‘That’s my expectation level.’ Not that he was a guy that scored 25 points but there’s no reason that he should not have a double-double every night by just playing hard. And if he doesn’t, a lot of times it is because of his effort and his commitment. He needs to understand that, playing here, I’m going to challenge him and force him and squeeze him to do that. If I don’t do that, I’m doing him a disservice because he’s too good of a kid and he’s young and he needs to grow and get better.”
Donovan is also proud of the way Young responded and played on Thursday, noting that he has always been a player that takes criticism well and looks deep down to see how he can improve rather than blaming a coach for getting on him.
“Patric has always responded. When you hit Patric with the truth, and Patric has a day to reflect on himself, he usually responds pretty well. That was good to see,” he said. “When he gets challenged by me to push through things, sometimes it can send him the other way. He’s needs to understand that he’s got to respond to that. He didn’t [Wednesday] respond quite like he needed to respond.”
NOTES AND QUOTES
» Donovan on the dominant performance: “Sometimes a team can have a night like we’ve had. I’m not so sure that we’re 30 points better than Marquette. I really like Marquette’s team. … Their first road game, some guys in some new roles, new positions. I thought our guys played for 40 minutes. Although it was a 14-point lead at the half, our guys responded right away the first four minutes [of the second half]. I thought that was really important, that we extended our lead from 14 to 19 and it continued to grow.”
» Donovan said that Frazier has been putting in a lot of time and effort into getting better and becoming an all-around player. His rebounding from the small forward position has allowed him to stay on the court and play extended minutes as a reserve. “[Frazier is] one of those guys that I really enjoy being around because he’s passionate about the game, passionate about getting better. He puts the time in and puts forth a great effort,” he said.
» Donovan on Florida’s top-notch defense: “The [players] have worked very hard in making a commitment to try and get better there. I do think with certain lineups we have a chance to be really good defensively.”
» Donovan on how Prather has turned himself into a reliable player: “I really thought last year in the NCAA Tournament, in the SEC Tournament, it really was a great shot of confidence and a boost for him. In the offseason I really have tried to spend a lot of time with him in keeping him very confident in his ability. He brings a dimension to our team. The hard thing for Casey is, here we’ve played six games and we’ve been practicing for nearly two months now, the poor guy has been out for three weeks and he’s trying to practice with headgear on. He probably feels like it’s the first time he can see. I have confidence in him and I think the best way for him to have confidence in himself is when he does it in the game.”
» Young on Yeguete frustrating defenses: “I don’t want to say he’s a snake. He has a bunch of tricky things he can do with his body that can frustrate somebody offensively when he’s on defense. I can see how that can really get under somebody’s skin and make them start to lose their focus.”
» Yeguete on Young using the benching as motivation: “I think it was motivating. I think that’s good for him. I think he’s going to use that to get better. It’s going to help our team move on. We’ve been through a lot – six games, a lot of ups and downs and everything. We’ve finally growing more and more every single day and it’s going to help us.”
» Marquette head coach Buzz Williams on the Gators: “I think they are this good. I was saying that before I left Milwaukee. I think they are good enough to win the whole thing.”
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A managerless Everton signed off the 2015/16 Premier League season with a comfortable 3-0 win over Norwich City.
Just days after dismissing Roberto Martinez after three years at Goodison Park, the Toffees produced an encouraging display to breeze past relegated Norwich.
James McCarthy’s superbly-taken opener set Everton on their way before Leighton Baines converted from the penalty spot.
And Kevin Mirallas’ close range tap-in wrapped the game up moments after half-time to give Everton only their sixth home win of an ultimately disappointing campaign.
Smiles return to Goodison
It was only three days ago, after the appalling performance at the Stadium of Light, that I wrote how unhappy Everton players looked out on the pitch. What a difference a sacking makes; something that should have happened weeks ago.
It’s hard to know for sure whether Martinez ‘lost’ the dressing room, as so many have suggested. But it was obvious players weren’t enjoying playing football, looking weighed down by fan unrest and poor results. With that weight lifted, Evertonians witnessed a rejuvenated first XI who looked like they didn’t want the season to end.
And it wasn’t just the academy graduates’ over-enthusiasm. Kevin Mirallas -someone whose career was turbulent at best under Martinez- and Romelu Lukaku were fired up alongside McCarthy and Gareth Barry, the latter demonstrating another midfield masterclass.
The terraces too played their part in brightening the place up. Bathed in sunshine, County Road was alive with the buzz and excitement usually reserved for the opening day of the season. With the weight of the world lifted from the entire club, the players performed and reaped their rewards.
Future’s bright with young Toffees
With Norwich doomed to the Championship and Everton unable to finish in the top half of the table, this fixture could have brought a whole new meaning to the word ‘dead-rubber’. But Everton ensured it was anything but.
Caretaker managers David Unsworth and Joe Royle made use of the opportunity to blood some of the club’s finest academy graduates and the trio who featured gave a solid account of themselves. 18 year-old Kieran Dowell lined up on the right side of midfield behind Matthew Pennington, deputising at right-back having started the last three games at centre-half.
Meanwhile Tom Davies belied his 17 years with a promising display in the No 10 role usually reserved for Ross Barkley. While Davies undoubtedly has some strides to make before he becomes a first team regular with the international caps Barkley has, he showed as much guile and class, while also demonstrating a combative and tireless approach to winning back possession.
While Pennington’s afternoon ended prematurely, Jonjoe Kenny, 19, took his chance at right back with assurance. Steady in his defensive duties, the graduate didn’t offer as much past the half-way line as Seamus Coleman, but his cross from the byline demonstrated tremendous desire before Mirallas tucked away the third.
While Davies was busy all over the park, making tackles, winning headers, keeping possession and running forward with the ball, Dowell and Kenny both contributed to Everton’s goals from open play. A promising sign of things to come from the club’s brightest young talents.
Record breaker Tim get’s first class farewell
The past two seasons haven’t exactly been Howard’s finest. An inspiring World Cup campaign in 2014 (which gave the stopper internet meme fame after making a record 16 saves against Belgium and even led to a congratulatory phone call from President Obama ) seemed to suggest the ageing keeper still had plenty to offer at the very highest level.
But an error-ridden 2014/15 season led to calls from fans for the American to be dropped and hostility towards the number 24 only worsened in this campaign. Martinez’s stubbornness made way long enough for Joel Robles to deservedly take number 1 spot, saving Howard further embarrassment in a season which ultimately spelled the end.
But it was encouraging to see Evertonians come together to appreciate Howard’s overall contribution over 10 seasons for the Blues. In his 414th appearance for the Toffees the 37 year-old was rarely troubled and his 126th clean sheet never really in doubt.
In an emotional farewell letter to Everton fans ahead of his move to Colorado Rapids, the American reminded us just how much the club has come to mean to him:
“After a decade in blue, this is my home. I love all of you…you have become a part of my soul. You’ll forever be in my heart. COYB!”
His 352 league games rank him 13th in the club’s all-time league appearances charts, while he tops that same table for the Premier League. In light of the past two years, it’s easy to forget what a fantastic and loyal servant Howard has been for the club, one whose tally of 210 consecutive league games for one club between September 2007-March 2013 broke a Premier League record, and was only two shy of Neville Southall’s for overall league appearances for the club.
I think I speak for all Evertonians in wishing him all the very best back in the US where he undoubtedly has many more years ahead of him, and many more records to break.
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The Hungarian Revolution of 1956, or Hungarian Uprising of 1956[5] (Hungarian: 1956-os forradalom or 1956-os felkelés), was a nationwide revolution against the Hungarian People's Republic and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956. Though leaderless when it first began, it was the first major threat to Soviet control since the USSR's forces drove Nazi Germany from its territory at the end of World War II.
The revolt began as a student protest, which attracted thousands as they marched through central Budapest to the Parliament building, calling out on the streets using a van with loudspeakers. A student delegation, entering the radio building to try to broadcast the students' demands, was detained. When the delegation's release was demanded by the protesters outside, they were fired upon from within the building by the State Security Police, known as the ÁVH (acronym for Állam Védelmi Hatóság, literally "State Protection Authority"). One student died and was wrapped in a flag and held above the crowd. This was the start of the revolution. As the news spread, disorder and violence erupted throughout the capital.
The revolt spread quickly across Hungary, and the government collapsed. Thousands organised into militias, battling the ÁVH and Soviet troops. Pro-Soviet communists and ÁVH members were often executed or imprisoned, and former political prisoners were released and armed. Radical impromptu workers' councils wrested municipal control from the ruling Hungarian Working People's Party and demanded political changes. A new government formally disbanded the ÁVH, declared its intention to withdraw from the Warsaw Pact and pledged to re-establish free elections. By the end of October, fighting had almost stopped, and a sense of normality began to return.
Initially appearing open to negotiating a withdrawal of Soviet forces, the Politburo changed its mind and moved to crush the revolution. On 4 November, a large Soviet force invaded Budapest and other regions of the country. The Hungarian resistance continued until 10 November. Over 2,500 Hungarians and 700 Soviet troops were killed in the conflict, and 200,000 Hungarians fled as refugees. Mass arrests and denunciations continued for months thereafter. By January 1957, the new Soviet-installed government had suppressed all public opposition. These Soviet actions, while strengthening control over the Eastern Bloc, alienated many Western Marxists, leading to splits and/or considerable losses of membership for communist parties in capitalist states.
Public discussion about the revolution was suppressed in Hungary for more than 30 years. Since the thaw of the 1980s, it has been a subject of intense study and debate. At the inauguration of the Third Hungarian Republic in 1989, 23 October was declared a national holiday.
Prelude [ edit ]
During World War II Hungary was a member of the Axis powers, allied with the forces of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Romania, and Bulgaria. In 1941, the Hungarian military participated in the occupation of Yugoslavia and the invasion of the Soviet Union. The Red Army was able to force back the Hungarian and other Axis invaders, and by 1944 was advancing towards Hungary.
Fearing invasion, the Hungarian government began armistice negotiations with the Allies. These ended when Nazi Germany invaded and occupied the country and set up the pro-Axis Government of National Unity.
Both Hungarian and German forces stationed in Hungary were subsequently defeated when the Soviet Union invaded the country in late 1944.
Postwar occupation [ edit ]
Toward the end of World War II, the Soviet Army occupied Hungary, with the country coming under the Soviet Union's sphere of influence. Immediately after World War II, Hungary was a multiparty democracy, and elections in 1945 produced a coalition government under Prime Minister Zoltán Tildy. However, the Hungarian Communist Party, a Marxist–Leninist group who shared the Soviet government's ideological beliefs, constantly wrested small concessions in a process named salami tactics, which sliced away the elected government's influence, despite the fact that it had received only 17% of the vote.[6][7]
After the elections of 1945, the portfolio of the Interior Ministry, which oversaw the Hungarian State Security Police (Államvédelmi Hatóság, later known as the ÁVH), was transferred from the Independent Smallholders Party to a nominee of the Communist Party.[8] The ÁVH employed methods of intimidation, falsified accusations, imprisonment, and torture to suppress political opposition.[9] The brief period of multi-party democracy came to an end when the Communist Party merged with the Social Democratic Party to become the Hungarian Working People's Party, which stood its candidate list unopposed in 1949. The People's Republic of Hungary was then declared.[7]
The Hungarian Working People's Party set about to modify the economy into socialism by undertaking radical nationalization based on the Soviet model. Writers and journalists were the first to voice open criticism of the government and its policies, publishing critical articles in 1955.[10] By 22 October 1956, Technical University students had resurrected the banned MEFESZ student union,[11] and staged a demonstration on 23 October that set off a chain of events leading directly to the revolution.
Political repression and economic decline [ edit ]
Hungary became a communist state under the authoritarian leadership of Mátyás Rákosi.[12] Under Rákosi's reign, the Security Police (ÁVH) began a series of purges, first within the Communist Party to end opposition to Rákosi's reign. The victims were labeled as "Titoists", "western agents", or "Trotskyists" for as insignificant a crime as spending time in the West to participate in the Spanish Civil War. In total, about half of all the middle and lower level party officials—at least 7,000 people—were purged.[13][14][15]
Mátyás Rákosi speaks in Budapest, 1948
From 1950 to 1952, the Security Police forcibly relocated thousands of people to obtain property and housing for the Working People's Party members, and to remove the threat of the intellectual and 'bourgeois' class. Thousands were arrested, tortured, tried, and imprisoned in concentration camps, deported to the east, or were executed, including ÁVH founder László Rajk.[14][16] In a single year, more than 26,000 people were forcibly relocated from Budapest. As a consequence, jobs and housing were very difficult to obtain. The deportees generally experienced terrible living conditions and were interned as slave labor on collective farms. Many died as a result of poor living conditions and malnutrition.[15]
The Rákosi government thoroughly politicised Hungary's educational system to supplant the educated classes with a "toiling intelligentsia".[17] Russian language study and Communist political instruction were made mandatory in schools and universities nationwide. Religious schools were nationalized and church leaders were replaced by those loyal to the government.[18] In 1949 the leader of the Hungarian Catholic Church, Cardinal József Mindszenty, was arrested and sentenced to life imprisonment for treason.[19] Under Rákosi, Hungary's government was among the most repressive in Europe.[7][16]
The post-war Hungarian economy suffered from multiple challenges. Hungary agreed to pay war reparations approximating US$300 million to the Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia and to support Soviet garrisons.[20] The Hungarian National Bank in 1946 estimated the cost of reparations as "between 19 and 22 per cent of the annual national income".[21] In 1946, the Hungarian currency experienced marked depreciation, resulting in the highest historic rates of hyperinflation known.[22] Hungary's participation in the Soviet-sponsored COMECON (Council of Mutual Economic Assistance) prevented it from trading with the West or receiving Marshall Plan aid.[23]
In addition, Rákosi began his first Five-Year Plan in 1950-based on Joseph Stalin's industrial program of the same name that sought to raise industrial output by 380%.[13] Like its Soviet counterpart, the Five-Year Plan never achieved these outlandish goals due in part to the crippling effect of the exportation of most of Hungary's raw resources and technology to the Soviet Union as well as Rákosi's purges of much of the former professional class. In fact, the Five-Year Plan weakened Hungary's existing industrial structure and caused real industrial wages to fall by 18% between 1949 and 1952.[13]
Although national income per capita rose in the first third of the 1950s, the standard of living fell. Huge income deductions to finance industrial investment reduced disposable personal income; mismanagement created chronic shortages in basic foodstuffs resulting in rationing of bread, sugar, flour, and meat.[24] Compulsory subscriptions to state bonds further reduced personal income. The net result was that disposable real income of workers and employees in 1952 was only two-thirds of what it had been in 1938, whereas in 1949, the proportion had been 90%.[25] These policies had a cumulative negative effect and fueled discontent as foreign debt grew and the population experienced shortages of goods.[26]
International events [ edit ]
Imre Nagy (center) in October 1956
On 5 March 1953, Joseph Stalin died, ushering in a period of moderate liberalization, when most European communist parties developed a reform wing. In Hungary, the reformist Imre Nagy replaced Rákosi, "Stalin's Best Hungarian Disciple", as Prime Minister.[27] However, Rákosi remained General Secretary of the Party, and was able to undermine most of Nagy's reforms. By April 1955, he had Nagy discredited and removed from office.[28] After Khrushchev's "secret speech" of February 1956, which denounced Stalin and his protégés,[29] Rákosi was deposed as General Secretary of the Party and replaced by Ernő Gerő on 18 July 1956.[30] Radio Free Europe (RFE) broadcast the "secret speech" to Eastern Europe on the advice of Ray S. Cline, who saw it as a way to, "as I think I told [Allen Dulles] to say, 'indict the whole Soviet system'." [31]
On 14 May 1955, the Soviet Union created the Warsaw Pact, binding Hungary to the Soviet Union and its satellite states in Central and Eastern Europe. Among the principles of this alliance were "respect for the independence and sovereignty of states" and "non-interference in their internal affairs".[32]
In 1955, the Austrian State Treaty and ensuing declaration of neutrality established Austria as a demilitarised and neutral country.[33] This raised Hungarian hopes of also becoming neutral and in 1955 Nagy had considered "the possibility of Hungary adopting a neutral status on the Austrian pattern".[34]
In June 1956, a violent uprising by Polish workers in Poznań was put down by the government, with scores of protesters killed and wounded. Responding to popular demand, in October 1956, the government appointed the recently rehabilitated reformist communist Władysław Gomułka as First Secretary of the Polish United Workers' Party, with a mandate to negotiate trade concessions and troop reductions with the Soviet government. After a few tense days of negotiations, on 19 October the Soviets finally gave in to Gomułka's reformist demands.[35] News of the concessions won by the Poles, known as Polish October, emboldened many Hungarians to hope for similar concessions for Hungary and these sentiments contributed significantly to the highly charged political climate that prevailed in Hungary in the second half of October 1956.[36]
Within the Cold War context of the time, by 1956, a fundamental tension had appeared in US policy towards Hungary and the Eastern Bloc generally. The United States hoped to encourage European countries to break away from the bloc through their own efforts but wanted to avoid a US-Soviet military confrontation, as escalation might lead to nuclear war. For these reasons, US policy makers had to consider other means of diminishing Soviet influence in Eastern Europe, short of a rollback policy. This led to the development of containment policies such as economic and psychological warfare, covert operations, and, later, negotiation with the Soviet Union regarding the status of the Eastern states.[37] Vice President Richard Nixon had also argued to the National Security Council that it would serve US interests if the Soviet Union would turn on another uprising as they had in Poland, providing a source of anti-Communist propaganda.[38] However, while Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director Allen Dulles had claimed he was creating an extensive network in Hungary, at the time the agency had no Hungarian station, almost no agents who spoke the language, and unreliable, corrupt local assets. The agency's own secret history admitted "at no time did we have anything that could or should have been mistaken for an intelligence operation".[39]
In the summer of 1956, relations between Hungary and the US began to improve. At that time, the US responded very favourably to Hungary's overtures about a possible expansion of bilateral trade relations. Hungary's desire for better relations was partly attributable to the country's catastrophic economic situation. Before any results could be achieved, however, the pace of negotiations was slowed by the Hungarian Ministry of Internal Affairs, which feared that better relations with the West might weaken Communist rule in Hungary.[37]
Social unrest builds [ edit ]
Rákosi's resignation in July 1956 emboldened students, writers, and journalists to be more active and critical in politics. Students and journalists started a series of intellectual forums examining the problems facing Hungary. These forums, called Petőfi circles, became very popular and attracted thousands of participants.[40] On 6 October 1956, László Rajk, who had been executed by the Rákosi government, was reburied in a moving ceremony that strengthened the party opposition.[41]
On 16 October 1956, university students in Szeged snubbed the official communist student union, the DISZ, by re-establishing the MEFESZ (Union of Hungarian University and Academy Students), a democratic student organization, previously banned under the Rákosi dictatorship.[11] Within days, the student bodies of Pécs, Miskolc, and Sopron followed suit. On 22 October, students of the Technical University compiled a list of sixteen points containing several national policy demands.[42] After the students heard that the Hungarian Writers' Union planned on the following day to express solidarity with pro-reform movements in Poland by laying a wreath at the statue of Polish-born hero General Józef Zachariasz Bem, who was also a hero of the Hungarian Revolution of 1848 (1848–49), the students decided to organize a parallel demonstration of sympathy and unity.[36][43]
Revolution [ edit ]
First shots [ edit ]
On the afternoon of 23 October 1956, approximately 20,400 protesters convened next to the statue of József Bem—a national hero of Poland and Hungary.[44] Péter Veres, President of the Writers' Union, read a manifesto to the crowd, which included: The desire for Hungary to be independent from all foreign powers; a political system based on democratic socialism (land reform and public ownership of businesses); Hungary joining the United Nations; and citizens of Hungary should have all the rights of free men.[45] After the students read their proclamation, the crowd chanted a censored patriotic poem the "National Song", with the refrain: "This we swear, this we swear, that we will no longer be slaves." Someone in the crowd cut out the Communist coat of arms from the Hungarian flag, leaving a distinctive hole, and others quickly followed suit.[46] Afterwards, most of the crowd crossed the River Danube to join demonstrators outside the Parliament Building. By 18:00, the multitude had swollen to more than 200,000 people;[47] the demonstration was spirited, but peaceful.[48]
Placing of Hungarian flag into remains of dismantled Stalin statue
At 20:00, First Secretary Ernő Gerő broadcast a speech condemning the writers' and students' demands.[48] Angered by Gerő's hard-line rejection, some demonstrators decided to carry out one of their demands, the removal of Stalin's 30-foot-high (9.1 m) bronze statue that was erected in 1951 on the site of a church, which was demolished to make room for the monument.[49] By 21:30, the statue was toppled and crowds celebrated by placing Hungarian flags in Stalin's boots, which was all that was left of the statue.[48]
At about the same time, a large crowd gathered at the Radio Budapest building, which was heavily guarded by the ÁVH. The flash point was reached as a delegation attempting to broadcast their demands was detained and the crowd grew increasingly unruly as rumours spread that the protesters had been shot. Tear gas was thrown from the upper windows and the ÁVH opened fire on the crowd, killing many.[50] The ÁVH tried to re-supply itself by hiding arms inside an ambulance, but the crowd detected the ruse and intercepted it. Hungarian soldiers sent to relieve the ÁVH hesitated and then, tearing the red stars from their caps, sided with the crowd.[46][50] Provoked by the ÁVH attack, protesters reacted violently. Police cars were set ablaze, guns were seized from military depots and distributed to the masses and symbols of the Communist regime were vandalised.[51]
Fighting spreads, government falls [ edit ]
During the night of 23 October, Hungarian Working People's Party Secretary Ernő Gerő requested Soviet military intervention "to suppress a demonstration that was reaching an ever greater and unprecedented scale".[35] The Soviet leadership had formulated contingency plans for intervention in Hungary several months before.[52] By 02:00 on 24 October, acting in accordance with orders of Georgy Zhukov, the Soviet defence minister, Soviet tanks entered Budapest.[53]
By noon, on 24 October, Soviet tanks were stationed outside the Parliament, and Soviet soldiers guarded key bridges and crossroads. Armed revolutionaries quickly set up barricades to defend Budapest, and were reported to have already captured some Soviet tanks by mid-morning.[46] That day, Imre Nagy replaced András Hegedüs as Prime Minister.[54] On the radio, Nagy called for an end to violence and promised to initiate political reforms that had been shelved three years earlier. The population continued to arm itself as sporadic violence erupted.[55]
March of protesters on 25 October
Armed protesters seized the radio building. At the offices of the Communist newspaper Szabad Nép unarmed demonstrators were fired upon by ÁVH guards who were then driven out as armed demonstrators arrived.[55] At this point, the revolutionaries' wrath focused on the ÁVH;[56] Soviet military units were not yet fully engaged, and there were reports of some Soviet troops showing open sympathy for the demonstrators.[57]
On 25 October, a mass of protesters gathered in front of the Parliament Building. ÁVH units began shooting into the crowd from the rooftops of neighbouring buildings.[58][59] Some Soviet soldiers returned fire on the ÁVH, mistakenly believing that they were the targets of the shooting.[46][60] Supplied by arms taken from the ÁVH or given by Hungarian soldiers who joined the uprising, some in the crowd started shooting back.[46][58]
During this time, the Hungarian Army was divided as the central command structure disintegrated with the rising pressures from the protests on the government. The majority of Hungarian military units in Budapest and the countryside remained uninvolved, as the local commanders generally avoided using force against the protesters and revolutionaries.[61] From 24 to 29 October, however, there were 71 cases of armed clashes between the army and the populace in fifty communities, ranging from the defence of attacks on civilian and military objectives to fighting with insurgents depending on the commanding officer.[61]
One example is in the town of Kecskemét on 26 October, where demonstrations in front of the office of State Security and the local jail led to military action by the Third Corps under the orders of Major General Lajos Gyurkó, in which seven protesters were shot and several of the organizers were arrested. In another case, a fighter jet strafed a protest in the town of Tiszakécske, killing 17 people and wounding 117.[61]
The attacks at the Parliament forced the collapse of the government.[62] Communist First Secretary Ernő Gerő and former Prime Minister András Hegedüs fled to the Soviet Union; Imre Nagy became Prime Minister and János Kádár First Secretary of the Communist Party.[63] Revolutionaries began an aggressive offensive against Soviet troops and the remnants of the ÁVH.
Body of executed Party member at Central Committee of the Communist Party
Units led by Béla Király, after attacking the building of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, executed dozens of suspected communists, state security members, and military personnel. Photographs showed victims with signs of torture. On 30 October, Király's forces attacked the Central Committee of the Communist Party building.[64] Hungarian Communist politician János Berecz, in his government-sponsored "white book" about the Revolution, claimed that the rebels detained thousands of people, and that thousands more had their names on death lists. According to his book, in the city of Kaposvár 64 persons including 13 army officers were detained on 31 October.[65]
In Budapest and other areas—according to Berecz and other Kádár-era sources—the Hungarian Communist committees organised defence. At the Csepel neighbourhood of Budapest, some 250 Communists defended the Csepel Iron and Steel Works. On 27 October, army units were brought in to secure Csepel and restore order. They later withdrew on 29 October, after which the rebels seized control of the area. Communists of Budapest neighbourhood Angyalföld led more than 350 armed workers and 380 servicemen from the Láng Factory. Anti-fascist resistance veterans from World War II participated in the offensive by which the Szabad Nép newspaper's building was recaptured. In the countryside, defence measures were taken by pro-Communist forces. In Békés County, in and around the town of Szarvas, the armed guards of the Communist Party were in control throughout.[66]
As the Hungarian resistance fought Soviet tanks using Molotov cocktails in the narrow streets of Budapest, revolutionary councils arose nationwide, assumed local governmental authority, and called for general strikes. Public Communist symbols such as red stars and Soviet war memorials were removed, and Communist books were burned. Spontaneous revolutionary militias arose, such as the 400-man group loosely led by József Dudás, which attacked or murdered Soviet sympathisers and ÁVH members.[67] Soviet units fought primarily in Budapest; elsewhere the countryside was largely quiet. One armoured division stationed in Budapest, commanded by Pál Maléter, instead opted to join the insurgents. Soviet commanders often negotiated local cease-fires with the revolutionaries.[68]
In some regions, Soviet forces managed to quell revolutionary activity. In Budapest, the Soviets were eventually fought to a stand-still and hostilities began to wane. Hungarian general Béla Király, freed from a life sentence for political offences and acting with the support of the Nagy government, sought to restore order by unifying elements of the police, army and insurgent groups into a National Guard.[69] A ceasefire was arranged on 28 October, and by 30 October most Soviet troops had withdrawn from Budapest to garrisons in the Hungarian countryside.[70]
Interlude [ edit ]
Fighting ceased between 28 October and 4 November, as many Hungarians believed that Soviet military units were withdrawing from Hungary.[71] According to post-revolution Communist sources, there were approximately 213 Hungarian Working People's Party members lynched or executed during this period.[72]
New Government [ edit ]
Flyer. Imre Nagy, Head of government – 1956.10.27
The rapid spread of the uprising in the streets of Budapest and the abrupt fall of the Gerő-Hegedüs government left the new national leadership surprised, and at first disorganised. Nagy, a loyal party reformer described as possessing "only modest political skills",[73] initially appealed to the public for calm and a return to the old order. Yet Nagy, the only remaining Hungarian leader with credibility in both the eyes of the public and the Soviets, "at long last concluded that a popular uprising rather than a counter-revolution was taking place".[74] At 13:20 on 28 October, Nagy announced an immediate and general cease-fire over the radio and, on behalf of the new national government, declared the following:
that the government would assess the uprising not as counter-revolutionary but as a "great, national and democratic event"
an unconditional general ceasefire and amnesty for those who participated in the uprising; negotiations with the insurgents
the dissolution of the ÁVH
the establishment of a national guard
the immediate withdrawal of Soviet troops from Budapest and negotiations for the withdrawal of all Soviet forces from Hungary
On 1 November, in a radio address to the Hungarian people, Nagy formally declared Hungary's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact as well as Hungary's stance of neutrality.[61][75][76] Because it held office only ten days, the National Government had little chance to clarify its policies in detail. However, newspaper editorials at the time stressed that Hungary should be a neutral, multi-party social democracy.[77] Many political prisoners were released, most notably Cardinal József Mindszenty.[78] Political parties that were previously banned, such as the Independent Smallholders and the National Peasant Party (under the name "Petőfi Party"),[79] reappeared to join the coalition.[80]
Crowd cheers Hungarian troops in Budapest
During this time, in 1,170 communities across Hungary there were 348 cases in which revolutionary councils and protesters dismissed employees of the local administrative councils, 312 cases in which they sacked the persons in charge, and 215 cases in which they burned the local administrative files and records. In addition, in 681 communities demonstrators damaged symbols of Soviet authority such as red stars, Stalin or Lenin statues; 393 in which they damaged Soviet war memorials, and 122 communities in which book burnings took place.[13][61]
Local revolutionary councils formed throughout Hungary,[81][82][83][84] generally without involvement from the preoccupied National Government in Budapest, and assumed various responsibilities of local government from the defunct Communist party.[85] By 30 October, these councils had been officially sanctioned by the Hungarian Working People's Party, and the Nagy government asked for their support as "autonomous, democratic local organs formed during the Revolution".[85] Likewise, workers' councils were established at industrial plants and mines, and many unpopular regulations such as production norms were eliminated. The workers' councils strove to manage the enterprise while protecting workers' interests, thus establishing a socialist economy free of rigid party control.[86] Local control by the councils was not always bloodless; in Debrecen, Győr, Sopron, Mosonmagyaróvár and other cities, crowds of demonstrators were fired upon by the ÁVH, with many lives lost. The ÁVH were disarmed, often by force, in many cases assisted by the local police.[85]
In total there were approximately 2,100 local revolutionary and workers councils with over 28,000 members. These councils held a combined conference in Budapest, deciding to end the nationwide labour strikes and resume work on 5 November, with the more important councils sending delegates to the Parliament to assure the Nagy government of their support.[61]
Soviet perspective [ edit ]
On 24 October, the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (the Politburo) discussed the political upheavals in Poland and Hungary. A hard-line faction led by Molotov was pushing for intervention, but Khrushchev and Marshal Zhukov were initially opposed. A delegation in Budapest reported that the situation was not as dire as had been portrayed. Khrushchev stated that he believed that Party Secretary Ernő Gerő's request for intervention on 23 October indicated that the Hungarian Party still held the confidence of the Hungarian public. In addition, he saw the protests not as an ideological struggle, but as popular discontent over unresolved basic economic and social issues.[35] The concurrent Suez Crisis was another reason to not intervene; as Khrushchev said on 28 October, it would be a mistake to imitate the "real mess" of the French and British.[87]
After some debate,[88][89] the Presidium on 30 October decided not to remove the new Hungarian government. Even Marshal Georgy Zhukov said: "We should withdraw troops from Budapest, and if necessary withdraw from Hungary as a whole. This is a lesson for us in the military-political sphere." They adopted a Declaration of the Government of the USSR on the Principles of Development and Further Strengthening of Friendship and Cooperation between the Soviet Union and other Socialist States, which was issued the next day. This document proclaimed: "The Soviet Government is prepared to enter into the appropriate negotiations with the government of the Hungarian People's Republic and other members of the Warsaw Treaty on the question of the presence of Soviet troops on the territory of Hungary."[90] Thus for a brief moment it looked like there could be a peaceful solution.
Damaged Party headquarters on Köztársaság tér
On 30 October, armed protesters attacked the ÁVH detachment guarding the Budapest Hungarian Working People's Party headquarters on Köztársaság tér (Republic Square), incited by rumours of prisoners held there and the earlier shootings of demonstrators by the ÁVH in the city of Mosonmagyaróvár.[85][91][92] Over 20 ÁVH officers were killed, some of them lynched by the mob. Hungarian army tanks sent to rescue the party headquarters mistakenly bombarded the building.[92] The head of the Budapest party committee, Imre Mező, was wounded and later died.[93][94] Scenes from Republic Square were shown on Soviet newsreels a few hours later.[95] Revolutionary leaders in Hungary condemned the incident and appealed for calm, and the mob violence soon died down,[96] but images of the victims were nevertheless used as propaganda by various Communist organs.[94]
On 31 October the Soviet leaders decided to reverse their decision from the previous day. There is disagreement among historians whether Hungary's declaration to exit the Warsaw Pact caused the second Soviet intervention. Minutes of 31 October meeting of the Presidium record that the decision to intervene militarily was taken one day before Hungary declared its neutrality and withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact.[97] Historians who deny that Hungarian neutrality—or other factors such as Western inaction in Hungary or perceived Western weakness due to the Suez crisis—caused the intervention state that the Soviet decision was based solely on the rapid loss of Communist control in Hungary.[87] However, some Russian historians who are not advocates of the Communist era maintain that the Hungarian declaration of neutrality caused the Kremlin to intervene a second time.[98]
Two days earlier, on 30 October, when Soviet Politburo representatives Anastas Mikoyan and Mikhail Suslov were in Budapest, Nagy had hinted that neutrality was a long-term objective for Hungary, and that he was hoping to discuss this matter with the leaders in the Kremlin. This information was passed on to Moscow by Mikoyan and Suslov.[99][100] At that time, Khrushchev was in Stalin's dacha, considering his options regarding Hungary. One of his speech writers later said that the declaration of neutrality was an important factor in his subsequent decision to support intervention.[101] In addition, some Hungarian leaders of the revolution as well as students had called for their country's withdrawal from the Warsaw Pact much earlier, and this may have influenced Soviet decision making.[102]
Several other key events alarmed the Presidium and cemented the interventionists' position:[103][104]
Soviet T-54 tanks in Budapest on 31 October
The militants arrived at the conclusion that "the Party is the incarnation of bureaucratic despotism" and that "socialism can develop only on the foundations of direct democracy". For them the struggle of the Hungarian workers was a struggle "for the principle of direct democracy" and "all power should be transferred to the Workers Committees of Hungary".[112] The Presidium decided to break the de facto ceasefire and crush the Hungarian revolution.[113] The plan was to declare a "Provisional Revolutionary Government" under János Kádár, who would appeal for Soviet assistance to restore order. According to witnesses, Kádár was in Moscow in early November,[114] and he was in contact with the Soviet embassy while still a member of the Nagy government.[115] Delegations were sent to other Communist governments in Eastern Europe and China, seeking to avoid a regional conflict, and propaganda messages prepared for broadcast when the second Soviet intervention had begun. To disguise these intentions, Soviet diplomats were to engage the Nagy government in talks discussing the withdrawal of Soviet forces.[97]
According to some sources, the Chinese leader Mao Zedong played an important role in Khrushchev's decision to suppress the Hungarian uprising. Chinese Communist Party Deputy Chairman Liu Shaoqi pressured Khrushchev to send in troops to put down the revolt by force.[116][117] Although the relations between China and the Soviet Union had deteriorated during the recent years, Mao's words still carried great weight in the Kremlin, and they were frequently in contact during the crisis. Initially, Mao opposed a second intervention, and this information was passed on to Khrushchev on 30 October, before the Presidium met and decided against intervention.[118] Mao then changed his mind in favour of intervention but, according to William Taubman, it remains unclear when and how Khrushchev learned of this and thus if it influenced his decision on 31 October.[119]
From 1 to 3 November, Khrushchev left Moscow to meet with his Warsaw Pact allies and inform them of the decision to intervene. At the first such meeting, he met with Władysław Gomułka in Brest. Then, he had talks with the Romanian, Czechoslovak, and Bulgarian leaders in Bucharest. Finally Khrushchev flew with Malenkov to Yugoslavia (Communist but outside Warsaw Pact) where they met Josip Broz Tito on his holiday island Brijuni. The Yugoslavs also persuaded Khrushchev to choose János Kádár instead of Ferenc Münnich as the new leader of Hungary.[120][121] Two months after the Soviet crackdown, Tito confided in Nikolai Firiubin, the Soviet ambassador to Yugoslavia, that "the reaction raised its head, especially in Croatia, where the reactionary elements openly incited the employees of the Yugoslav security organs to violence".[122]
International reaction [ edit ]
Although John Foster Dulles, the United States Secretary of State recommended on 24 October for the United Nations Security Council to convene to discuss the situation in Hungary, little immediate action was taken to introduce a resolution,[123] in part because other world events unfolded the day after the peaceful interlude started, when allied collusion started the Suez Crisis. The problem was not that Suez distracted US attention from Hungary but that it made the condemnation of Soviet actions very difficult. As Vice President Richard Nixon later explained, "We couldn't on one hand, complain about the Soviets intervening in Hungary and, on the other hand, approve of the British and the French picking that particular time to intervene against [Gamel Abdel] Nasser".[37]
The US response was reliant on the CIA to covertly effect change, with both covert agents and Radio Free Europe. However, their Hungarian operations collapsed rapidly and they could not locate any of the weapon caches hidden across Europe, nor be sure to whom they'd send arms. The agency's main source of information were the newspapers and a State Department employee in Budapest called Geza Katona.[39] By 28 October, on the same night that the new Nagy government came to power, RFE was ramping up its broadcasts—encouraging armed struggle, advising on how to combat tanks and signing off with "Freedom or Death!"—on the orders of Frank Wisner. When Nagy did come to power, CIA director Allen Dulles advised the White House that Cardinal Mindszenty would be a better leader (due to Nagy's communist past); he had CIA radio broadcasts run propaganda against Nagy, calling him a traitor who'd invited Soviet troops in. Transmissions continued to broadcast armed response while the CIA mistakenly believed that the Hungarian army was switching sides and the rebels were gaining arms.[124] (Wisner was recorded as having a "nervous breakdown" by William Colby as the uprising was crushed.[125])
March to support Hungary in Eindhoven , the Netherlands , 5 November 1956
Responding to the plea by Nagy at the time of the second massive Soviet intervention on 4 November, the Security Council resolution critical of Soviet actions was vetoed by the Soviet Union; instead resolution 120 was adopted to pass the matter onto the General Assembly. The General Assembly, by a vote of 50 in favour, 8 against and 15 abstentions, called on the Soviet Union to end its Hungarian intervention, but the newly constituted Kádár government rejected UN observers.[126]
US President Dwight D. Eisenhower was aware of a detailed study of Hungarian resistance that recommended against US military intervention,[127] and of earlier policy discussions within the National Security Council that focused upon encouraging discontent in Soviet satellite nations only by economic policies and political rhetoric.[37][128] In a 1998 interview, Hungarian Ambassador Géza Jeszenszky was critical of Western inaction in 1956, citing the influence of the United Nations at that time and giving the example of UN intervention in Korea from 1950 to 1953.[129]
However, a Department of Defense study recently declassified by the National Security Archive suggests that one of the main reasons the United States did not intervene was the risk of inadvertently starting a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. These concerns made the Eisenhower Administration take a more cautious approach to the situation.[130]
During the uprising, the Radio Free Europe (RFE) Hungarian-language programs broadcast news of the political and military situation, as well as appealing to Hungarians to fight the Soviet forces, including tactical advice on resistance methods. After the Soviet suppression of the revolution, RFE was criticised for having misled the Hungarian people that NATO or United Nations would intervene if citizens continued to resist.[131] Allen Dulles lied to Eisenhower that RFE had not promised US aid; Eisenhower believed him, as the transcripts of the broadcasts were kept secret.[124]
Soviet intervention of 4 November [ edit ]
1 November newsreel about the situation in Hungary
On 1 November, Imre Nagy received reports that Soviet forces had entered Hungary from the east and were moving towards Budapest.[132] Nagy sought and received assurances (which proved false) from Soviet ambassador Yuri Andropov that the Soviet Union would not invade. The Cabinet, with János Kádár in agreement, declared Hungary's neutrality, withdrew from the Warsaw Pact, and requested assistance from the diplomatic corps in Budapest and the UN Secretary-General to defend Hungary's neutrality.[133] Ambassador Andropov was asked to inform his government that Hungary would begin negotiations on the removal of Soviet forces immediately.[134][135]
On 3 November, a Hungarian delegation led by the Minister of Defense Pál Maléter was invited to attend negotiations on Soviet withdrawal at the Soviet Military Command at Tököl, near Budapest. At around midnight that evening, General Ivan Serov, Chief of the Soviet Security Police (KGB) ordered the arrest of the Hungarian delegation,[136] and the next day, the Soviet army again attacked Budapest.[137] During the early hours of 4 November, Ferenc Münnich announced on Radio Szolnok the establishment of the "Revolutionary Workers'-Peasants' Government of Hungary".
A Soviet built armored car burns on a street in Budapest in November
The second Soviet intervention, codenamed "Operation Whirlwind", was launched by Marshal Ivan Konev.[104][138] The five Soviet divisions stationed in Hungary before 23 October were augmented to a total strength of 17 divisions.[139] The 8th Mechanized Army under command of Lieutenant General Hamazasp Babadzhanian and the 38th Army under Lieutenant General Hadzhi-Umar Mamsurovs from the nearby Carpathian Military District were deployed to Hungary for the operation.[140] Some rank-and-file Soviet soldiers reportedly believed they were being sent to Berlin to fight German fascists.[141] By 21:30 on 3 November, the Soviet Army had completely encircled Budapest.[142]
At 03:00 on 4 November, Soviet tanks penetrated Budapest along the Pest side of the Danube in two thrusts: one up the Soroksári road from the south and the other down the Váci road from the north. Thus before a single shot was fired, the Soviets had effectively split the city in half, controlled all bridgeheads, and were shielded to the rear by the wide Danube river. Armoured units crossed into Buda and at 04:25 fired the first shots at the army barracks on Budaörsi Road. Soon after, Soviet artillery and tank fire was heard in all districts of Budapest.[142] Operation Whirlwind combined air strikes, artillery, and the co-ordinated tank-infantry action of 17 divisions.[143]
Two Soviet ISU-152 assault guns positioned in a street in Budapest 8th District . An abandoned T-34/85 stands behind them
Between 4 and 9 November, the Hungarian Army put up sporadic and disorganised resistance, with Marshal Zhukov reporting the disarming of twelve divisions, two armoured regiments, and the entire Hungarian Air Force. The Hungarian Army continued its most formidable resistance in various districts of Budapest and in and around the city of Pécs in the Mecsek Mountains, and in the industrial centre of Dunaújváros (then called Stalintown). Fighting in Budapest consisted of between ten and fifteen thousand resistance fighters, with the heaviest fighting occurring in the working-class stronghold of Csepel on the Danube River.[144] Although some very senior officers were openly pro-Soviet, the rank and file soldiers were overwhelmingly loyal to the revolution and either fought against the invasion or deserted. The United Nations reported that there were no recorded incidents of Hungarian Army units fighting on the side of the Soviets.[145]
At 05:20 on 4 November, Imre Nagy broadcast his final plea to the nation and the world, announcing that Soviet Forces were attacking Budapest and that the Government remained at its post.[146] The radio station, Free Kossuth Rádió, stopped broadcasting at 08:07.[147] An emergency Cabinet meeting was held in the Parliament but was attended by only three ministers. As Soviet troops arrived to occupy the building, a negotiated evacuation ensued, leaving Minister of State István Bibó as the last representative of the National Government remaining at his post.[148] He wrote For Freedom and Truth, a stirring proclamation to the nation and the world.[149]
Ruszkik haza! (Russians go home!) slogan in Budapest ) slogan in Budapest
At 06:00, on 4 November,[150] in the town of Szolnok, János Kádár proclaimed the "Hungarian Revolutionary Worker-Peasant Government". His statement declared "We must put an end to the excesses of the counter-revolutionary elements. The hour for action has sounded. We are going to defend the interest of the workers and peasants and the achievements of the people's democracy."[151] Later that evening, Kádár called upon "the faithful fighters of the true cause of socialism" to come out of hiding and take up arms. However, Hungarian support did not materialise; the fighting did not take on the character of an internally divisive civil war, but rather, in the words of a United Nations report, that of "a well-equipped foreign army crushing by overwhelming force a national movement and eliminating the Government."[152]
Rubble after end of fighting in Budapest 8th District
By 08:00 organised defence of the city evaporated after the radio station was seized, and many defenders fell back to fortified positions.[153] During the same hour, the parliamentary guard laid down their arms, and forces under Major General K. Grebennik captured Parliament and liberated captured ministers of the Rákosi-Hegedüs government. Among the liberated were István Dobi and Sándor Rónai, both of whom became members of the re-established socialist Hungarian government.[144] As they came under attack even in civilian quarters, Soviet troops were unable to differentiate military from civilian targets.[154] For this reason, Soviet tanks often crept along main roads firing indiscriminately into buildings.[153] Hungarian resistance was strongest in the industrial areas of Budapest, with Csepel heavily targeted by Soviet artillery and air strikes.[155]
The longest holdouts against the Soviet assault occurred in Csepel and in Dunaújváros, where fighting lasted until 11 November before the insurgents finally succumbed to the Soviets.[61] At the end of the fighting, Hungarian casualties totalled around 2,500 dead with an additional 20,000 wounded. Budapest bore the brunt of the bloodshed, with 1,569 civilians killed.[61] Approximately 53 percent of the dead were workers, and about half of all the casualties were people younger than thirty. On the Soviet side, 699 men were killed, 1,450 men were wounded, and 51 men were missing in action. Estimates place around 80 percent of all casualties occurring in fighting with the insurgents in the eighth and ninth districts of Budapest.[61][156][157]
Soviet version of the events [ edit ]
Soviet reports of the events surrounding, during, and after the disturbance were remarkably consistent in their accounts, more so after the Second Soviet intervention cemented support for the Soviet position among international Communist Parties. Pravda published an account 36 hours after the outbreak of violence, which set the tone for all further reports and subsequent Soviet historiography:[158]
On 23 October, the honest socialist Hungarians demonstrated against mistakes made by the Rákosi and Gerő governments. Fascist, Hitlerite, reactionary, counter-revolutionary hooligans financed by the imperialist West took advantage of the unrest to stage a counter-revolution. The honest Hungarian people under Nagy appealed to Soviet (Warsaw Pact) forces stationed in Hungary to assist in restoring order. The Nagy government was ineffective, allowing itself to be penetrated by counter-revolutionary influences, weakening then disintegrating, as proven by Nagy's culminating denouncement of the Warsaw Pact. Hungarian patriots under Kádár broke with the Nagy government and formed a government of honest Hungarian revolutionary workers and peasants; this genuinely popular government petitioned the Soviet command to help put down the counter-revolution. Hungarian patriots, with Soviet assistance, smashed the counter-revolution.
The first Soviet report came out 24 hours after the first Western report. Nagy's appeal to the United Nations was not reported. After Nagy was arrested outside the Yugoslav embassy, his arrest was not reported. Nor did accounts explain how Nagy went from patriot to traitor.[159] The Soviet press reported calm in Budapest while the Western press reported a revolutionary crisis was breaking out. According to the Soviet account, Hungarians never wanted a revolution at all.[158]
In January 1957, representatives of the Soviet Union, Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania met in Budapest to review internal developments in Hungary since the establishment of the Soviet-imposed government. A communiqué on the meeting "unanimously concluded" that Hungarian workers, with the leadership of the Kádár government and support of the Soviet army, defeated attempts "to eliminate the socialist achievements of the Hungarian people".[160]
Soviet, Chinese, and other Warsaw Pact governments urged Kádár to proceed with interrogation and trial of former Nagy government ministers, and asked for punitive measures against the"counter-revolutionists".[160][161] In addition the Kádár government published an extensive series of "white books" (The Counter-Revolutionary Forces in the October Events in Hungary) documenting real incidents of violence against Communist Party and ÁVH members, and the confessions of Nagy supporters. These white books were widely distributed in several languages in most of the socialist countries and, while based in fact, present factual evidence with a colouring and narrative not generally supported by non-Soviet aligned historians.[162]
Aftermath [ edit ]
Hungary [ edit ]
In the immediate aftermath, many thousands of Hungarians were arrested. Eventually, 26,000 of these were brought before the Hungarian courts, 22,000 were sentenced and imprisoned, 13,000 interned, and 229 executed. Approximately 200,000[163] fled Hungary as refugees.[164][165][166] Former Hungarian Foreign Minister Géza Jeszenszky estimated 350 were executed.[129] Sporadic resistance and strikes by workers' councils continued until mid-1957, causing economic disruption.[167] By 1963, most political prisoners from the 1956 Hungarian revolution had been released.[168]
With most of Budapest under Soviet control by 8 November, Kádár became Prime Minister of the "Revolutionary Worker-Peasant Government" and General Secretary of the Hungarian Communist Party. Few Hungarians rejoined the reorganised Party, its leadership having been purged under the supervision of the Soviet Praesidium, led by Georgy Malenkov and Mikhail Suslov.[169] Although Party membership declined from 800,000 before the uprising to 100,000 by December 1956, Kádár steadily increased his control over Hungary and neutralised dissenters. The new government attempted to enlist support by espousing popular principles of Hungarian self-determination voiced during the uprising, but Soviet troops remained.[170] After 1956 the Soviet Union severely purged the Hungarian Army and reinstituted political indoctrination in the units that remained. In May 1957, the Soviet Union increased its troop levels in Hungary and by treaty Hungary accepted the Soviet presence on a permanent basis.[171]
The Red Cross and the Austrian Army established refugee camps in Traiskirchen and Graz.[166][172] Imre Nagy along with Georg Lukács, Géza Losonczy, and László Rajk's widow, Júlia, took refuge in the Embassy of Yugoslavia as Soviet forces overran Budapest. Despite assurances of safe passage out of Hungary by the Soviets and the Kádár government, Nagy and his group were arrested when attempting to leave the embassy on 22 November and taken to Romania. Losonczy died while on a hunger strike in prison awaiting trial when his jailers "carelessly pushed a feeding tube down his windpipe."[173]
The remainder of the group was returned to Budapest in 1958. Nagy was executed, along with Pál Maléter and Miklós Gimes, after secret trials in June 1958. Their bodies were placed in unmarked graves in the Municipal Cemetery outside Budapest.[174]
During the November 1956 Soviet assault on Budapest, Cardinal Mindszenty was granted political asylum at the United States embassy, where he lived for the next 15 years, refusing to leave Hungary unless the government reversed his 1949 conviction for treason. Because of poor health and a request from the Vatican, he finally left the embassy for Austria in September 1971.[175]
Nicolas Krassó was one of the left leaders of the Hungarian uprising and member of the New Left Review editorial committee. In an interview he gave to Peter Gowan shortly before his death, Krassó summed up the meaning of the Hungarian revolution with a recall from Stalin's short speech in the 19th Congress of the Soviet Union in 1952:
Stalin kept silent throughout the Congress till the very end when he made a short speech that covers about two and a half printed pages. He said there were two banners that the progressive bourgeosie had thrown away and which the working class should pick up—the banners of democracy and national independence. Certainly nobody could doubt that in 1956 the Hungarian workers raised these banners high.[176]
International [ edit ]
Despite Cold War rhetoric by western countries espousing a roll-back of the domination of Europe by the USSR and Soviet promises of the imminent triumph of socialism, national leaders of this period as well as later historians saw the failure of the uprising in Hungary as evidence that the Cold War in Europe had become a stalemate.[177]
The Foreign Minister of West Germany recommended that the people of Eastern Europe be discouraged from "taking dramatic action which might have disastrous consequences for themselves." The Secretary-General of NATO called the Hungarian revolt "the collective suicide of a whole people".[178] In a newspaper interview in 1957, Khrushchev commented "support by United States ... is rather in the nature of the support that the rope gives to a hanged man."[179]
Eleanor Roosevelt meets exiled Hungarian revolutionaries at Camp Roeder in Salzburg, 10 May 1957
In January 1957, United Nations Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld, acting in response to UN General Assembly resolutions requesting investigation and observation of the events in Soviet-occupied Hungary, established the Special Committee on the Problem of Hungary.[180] The Committee, with representatives from Australia, Ceylon (Sri Lanka), Denmark, Tunisia, and Uruguay, conducted hearings in New York, Geneva, Rome, Vienna, and London. Over five months, 111 refugees were interviewed including ministers, military commanders and other officials of the Nagy government, workers, revolutionary council members, factory managers and technicians, Communists and non-Communists, students, writers, teachers, medical personnel, and Hungarian soldiers. Documents, newspapers, radio transcripts, photos, film footage, and other records from Hungary were also reviewed, as well as written testimony of 200 other Hungarians.[181]
The governments of Hungary and Romania refused entry of the UN officials of the Committee, and the government of the Soviet Union did not respond to requests for information.[182] The 268-page Committee Report[183] was presented to the General Assembly in June 1957, documenting the course of the uprising and Soviet intervention and concluding that "the Kádár government and Soviet occupation were in violation of the human rights of the Hungarian people."[184] A General Assembly resolution was approved, deploring "the repression of the Hungarian people and the Soviet occupation", but no other action was taken.[185] The chairman of the Committee was Alsing Andersen, a Danish politician and leading figure of Denmark's Social Democratic Party. He served in the Buhl government in 1942 during the Nazi German occupation of Denmark. He defended collaboration with the occupation forces and denounced the Resistance. He was appointed Interior Minister in 1947, but resigned because of scrutiny of his role in 1940 as Defence Minister. He then entered Denmark's UN delegation in 1948.[186][187]
The Committee Report and the motives of its authors were criticised by the delegations to the United Nations from the Soviet Union and Kádár government. The Hungarian representative disagreed with the report's conclusions, accusing it of falsifying the events, and argued that the establishment of the Committee was illegal. The Committee was accused of being hostile to Hungary and its social system.[188] An article in the Russian journal "International Affairs", published by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, carried an article in 1957 in which it denounced the report as a "collection of falsehoods and distortions".[189]
Time magazine named the Hungarian Freedom Fighter its Man of the Year for 1956. The accompanying Time article comments that this choice could not have been anticipated until the explosive events of the revolution, almost at the end of 1956. The magazine cover and accompanying text displayed an artist's depiction of a Hungarian freedom fighter, and used pseudonyms for the three participants whose stories are the subject of the article.[190] In 2006, Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány referred to this famous Time Man of the Year cover as "the faces of free Hungary" in a speech to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1956 uprising.[191] Prime Minister Gyurcsány, in a joint appearance with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, commented specifically on the Time cover itself, that "It is an idealised image but the faces of the figures are really the face of the revolutionaries"[192]
At the Melbourne Olympics in 1956, the Soviet handling of the Hungarian uprising led to a boycott by Spain, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.[193] At the Olympic Village, the Hungarian delegation tore down the Communist Hungarian flag and raised the flag of Free Hungary in its place. A confrontation between Soviet and Hungarian teams occurred in the semi-final match of the water polo tournament on 6 December. The match was extremely violent, and was halted in the final minute to quell fighting among spectators. This match, now known as the "blood in the water match", became the subject of several films.[194][195] The Hungarian team won the game 4–0 and later was awarded the Olympic gold medal. Norway declined an invitation to the inaugural Bandy World Championship in 1957, citing the presence of a team from the Soviet Union as the reason.
On Sunday, 28 October 1956, as some 55 million Americans watched Ed Sullivan's popular television variety show, with the then 21-year-old Elvis Presley headlining for the second time, Sullivan asked viewers to send aid to Hungarian refugees fleeing from the effects of the Soviet invasion. Presley himself made another request for donations during his third and last appearance on Sullivan's show on 6 January 1957. Presley then dedicated a song for the finale, which he thought fitted the mood of the time, namely the gospel song "Peace in the Valley". By the end of 1957, these contributions, distributed by the Geneva-based International Red Cross as food rations, clothing, and other essentials, had amounted to some SFR 26 million (US$6 million in 1957 dollars), the equivalent of $53,500,000 in today's dollars.[196] On 1 March 2011, István Tarlós, the Mayor of Budapest, made Presley an honorary citizen, posthumously, and a plaza located at the intersection of two of the city's most important avenues was named after Presley, as a gesture of gratitude.
Meanwhile, as the 1950s drew to a close the events in Hungary produced fractures within the Communist political parties of Western European countries. The Italian Communist Party (PCI) suffered a split. According to the official newspaper of the PCI, l'Unità, most ordinary members and the Party leadership, including Palmiro Togliatti and Giorgio Napolitano, supported the actions of the Soviet Union in suppressing the uprising.[197] However, Giuseppe Di Vittorio, chief of the Communist trade union CGIL, spoke out against the leadership's position, as did prominent party members Antonio Giolitti, Loris Fortuna, and many others influential in the Communist party. Pietro Nenni of the Italian Socialist Party, a close ally of the PCI, opposed the Soviet intervention as well. Napolitano, elected in 2006 as President of the Italian Republic, wrote in his 2005 political autobiography that he regretted his justification of Soviet action in Hungary, stating at the time he believed Party unity and the leadership of Soviet communism was more important.[198]
The Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) suffered the loss of thousands of party members following the events in Hungary. Though Peter Fryer, correspondent for the CPGB newspaper The Daily Worker, reported on the violent suppression of the uprising, his dispatches were heavily censored by the party leadership.[141] Upon his return from Hungary Fryer resigned from the paper. He was later expelled by the Communist Party.
In France, moderate Communists, such as historian Emmanuel Le Roy Ladurie, resigned, questioning the French Communist Party's policy of supporting Soviet actions. The French philosopher and writer Albert Camus wrote an open letter, The Blood of the Hungarians, criticising the West's lack of action. Even Jean-Paul Sartre, still a determined Communist, criticised the Soviets in his article Le Fantôme de Staline, in Situations VII.[199] Left Communists were particularly supportive of the revolution.
Commemoration [ edit ]
In December 1991, the preamble of the treaties with the dismembered Soviet Union, under Mikhail Gorbachev, and Russia, represented by Boris Yeltsin, apologised officially for the 1956 Soviet actions in Hungary. This apology was repeated by Yeltsin in 1992 during a speech to the Hungarian parliament.[129]
On 13 February 2006, the US State Department commemorated the fiftieth anniversary of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice commented on the contributions made by 1956 Hungarian refugees to the United States and other host countries, as well as the role of Hungary in providing refuge to East Germans during the 1989 protests against Communist rule.[200] US President George W. Bush also visited Hungary on 22 June 2006, to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary.[201]
On 16 June 1989, the 31st anniversary of his execution, Imre Nagy's body was reburied with full honours.[174] The Republic of Hungary was declared in 1989 on the 33rd anniversary of the Revolution, and 23 October is now a Hungarian national holiday.[202]
In the north-west corner of MacArthur Park in Los Angeles, California, the Hungarian-American community built a commemorative statue to honour the Hungarian freedom fighters. Built in the late 1960s, the obelisk statue stands with an American eagle watching over the city of Los Angeles.
There are several monuments dedicated to the Commemoration of the Hungarian Revolution throughout the United States. One such monument may be found here in Cleveland, Ohio at the Cardinal Mindszenty Plaza
There is also a monument of A Boy From Pest in the town of Szczecin, Poland.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
Further reading [ edit ]
Historical collections [ edit ]
Other academic sources [ edit ]
Feature films [ edit ]
Freedom's Fury The 2005 documentary film depicting events surrounding the Hungarian-Soviet confrontation in the Olympic water polo tournament, now known as the "blood in the water match". Narrated by Mark Spitz, produced by Lucy Liu and Quentin Tarantino.
The 2005 documentary film depicting events surrounding the Hungarian-Soviet confrontation in the Olympic water polo tournament, now known as the "blood in the water match". Narrated by Mark Spitz, produced by Lucy Liu and Quentin Tarantino. Torn from the flag Documentary film 2007. The significant global effects of the Hungarian revolution of 1956.
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tl;dr: TrinkGeld is a proposal for a GNOME project (but should be usable in most free desktops out there) that uses monthly donations and distributes them to app developers based on how much their apps are used, together with a Humble Bundle style customization options.
There’s been an ongoing topic in the GNOME community about how developers can get some money for their apps. From a fixed price to pay-what-you-want or donations, getting people to pay for software as end users is not easy. This is true even if you’re selling software through a mainstream platform like Google Play or the Apple Appstore, let alone if you’re a Free Software developer and you are relying on donations from your users.
Even if you’re willing to donate a couple of euros for supporting an app you’re about to install, you’ll have to go through the trouble of finding out how to make the donation. This may involve: 1) going to the app developer’s website; 2) finding out whether they accept donations; 3) hope they receive donations through a service you already use (PayPal, bank transfer, Bitcoin, etc.) and perform the donation.
During GUADEC, Richard Hughes organized a discussion around the problems of getting donations through GNOME Software. And now the GNOME app center has a “donate” button for apps that declare a donation link.
So that donation button solves most of the steps I enumerated above, however it still requires that users pursue that option, which will simply take them to the app’s donations page. If a user eagerly installs an app and uses it for a while, they will have to remember to make a donation later on if they want to support the app monetarily.
There are of course other approaches for getting people to pay for apps, like the one that Elementary uses: showing a price for an app but allowing the user to modify that price including offering 0 (meaning you get it for free). While this seems like a good way to allow people to pay what they will, the downside is that many users find it deceptive when all indications are that you have to pay for an app; it’ll scare off users who think they have to pay for those apps; and it’s still a step to be done before getting the app (before you know whether you’ll even use it for more than 5 minutes…).
A (not so) new model
So, if having to pay before installing an app is not ideal (and not really a donation!), and post-installation donations are tend to be forgotten and thus minimal, what else can we do?
Subscription based services like Spotify and Netflix are extremely successful these days. Some people may think that’s simply because of their large catalog (access to “all” songs for only 9.99 EUR a month? a bargain!), but I dare argue that a lot of their success is due to people’s lazyness. Why are those platforms successful when there was/is so much “piracy” out there? Either a good percentage of the people who downloaded content illegally suddenly started caring about increasing Hollywood’s profits, or they just feel like they’re now being offered a very convenient service for a reasonable monthly price (besides being completely legal of course)! Set up the monthly payment and off you go!
I think that a subscription based donation model for apps in the Linux desktop is something that could work. I think that a good number of people are willing to give some money for the apps they use, but they’re too busy to remember to do it regularly. In this subscription model, users wouldn’t pay for installing apps, they would donate money for the apps they use instead.
TrinkGeld
I am very bad at naming stuff but it’s good to have a way to refer to this project easily, and I think I got a good one for it: TrinkGeld! “Trinkgeld” is a German word that means “tip money” but as you may have guessed it comes from the words that translate as drink+money. I think it sounds great! It’s easy to write and pronounce, and associates with the concept of paying a developer a drink, which I like.
Here is the base concept of Trinkgeld: it is a desktop application where you sign up and choose a monthly amount you think the software you use is worth (and that you can afford, of course). Trinkgeld then tracks the applications you use on your system (which ones were installed and, more importantly, how much they were used), and at the end of the month your donation amount is divided according to how much each app has been used, and finally the divided amount is sent to its respective app’s developer. Think of it as Flattr + Spotify (+ Humble Indie Bundle… just keep reading).
I think this concept has many advantages: users won’t have to pay upfront for an app they don’t know they’ll use or not. Nor will they have to remember to go to an app’s page in the app center in order to donate some money. It’s affordable for users because they set up how much they can give out. It’s fair for app developers because they will keep getting paid as long as users keep using their apps.
An oversimplified diagram of how TrinkGeld operates is something like the following:
Money flow
There are two approaches towards distributing the money: 1) send it directly to the app developers using some service’s API; or 2) use a “middle-actor”.
While #1 is tempting, it has some downsides: it’s technically much more challenging to schedule a bunch of payments to different accounts and systems; we’d have to offer ways for users to correct the donations if there’s a mistake/bug when sending out the money; usually smaller individual payments end up paying a higher percentage as a service fee; and maybe users can get in trouble with the law if they end up giving out money to some person or organization that they shouldn’t (I can think of sanctioned countries, dubious organizations, etc.).
I actually prefer approach #2 where the money would be donated as the pre-selected monthly sum to some entity that would be in charge of distributing it according to the report sent from TrinkGeld.
I can imagine this middle-actor being e.g. the GNOME Foundation, or distros. Let’s take the GNOME Foundation for this example. We’d select say 20 EUR monthly for TrinkGeld, the money would be sent out to the GNOME Foundation (say using PayPal for example), and the Foundation would also get the monthly reports from TrinkGeld. Then, it would distribute the money among the apps’ authors (that had registered as part of the GNOME Foundation’s TrinkGeld partners). The money could be sent out from the Foundation only when it reached a certain amount (common in other app distribution platforms) in order to minimize fees.
The GNOME Foundation would rightfully take a percentage of the monthly amount for covering the work Trinkgeld involves but also because of its role (in the example of using GNOME as your desktop, then surely supporting the GNOME Foundation is a good thing).
This means we could have more options of payment services between the middle-actor and the app developers since we’d not have to tie it to the users directly anymore. And users would also be safe as they only have to make sure they are eligible to donate to the middle-actor (GNOME Foundation/Fedora/Ubuntu/etc.).
As for the exact way the money is to be divided, it’s something that needs to be discussed as there are many ways we can do that: should we just simply divide the money according to how much an app is used? Should we always have a minimum for an newly installed app, even if it’s been used just for 10 minutes in the whole month? etc.
How the money is divided is not the main discussion to be held at this point.
Having a middle-actor also means that TrinkGeld should have a server part where it gets the information from users and organizes it for the distributor. This increases the complexity of the project but as I think it’s still less complex than what the approach #1 above implies.
Tracking Apps
I know some of you will have already frowned when you read about “tracking” apps. Yes, the apps you use and how much you use them is your own private information, but we can make Trinkgeld do its job and still respect everyone’s privacy. The obvious solution for that is to anonymize the data by doing the tracking and calculation in the client, and only send out the amount per app. It’s one thing to send out info like “Tor usage avg: 80 hours”, it’s another thing to send out, “Donation for Tor: 5 EUR”. How much information one could actually deduct from the amount given will depend on the way it’s divided + the customization options we give to users (see next section), but it shouldn’t be that easy.
It will also be important to understand who gets to see this information (do you trust Fedora to see this information?), and of course users should be able to tell Trinkgeld not to consider a certain app…
Besides, users should trust the money distribution partner, or middle-actor mentioned in the section above: i.e. if you are using a distro and you don’t trust the organization behind it, then maybe find another Trinkgeld provider (and/or switch to a new distro!), or maybe this service is not for you.
As for the technical solution for tracking the apps, I don’t know of any cross-desktop library capable of offering this functionality out of the box, but at least in GNOME Shell there’s already code in place that we can extend to implement whatever functionality TrinkGeld needs. I am sure other desktops could do something like this too.
Humble Indie Bundle style tweaks
The Humble (Indie) Bundle is a genius idea! I usually buy bundles that have games for Linux, and it’s awesome to be able to choose how much money each game gets (so I can make sure I pay more for the games I will play then for others), as well as giving something for charity.
A good complement to the TrinkGeld system would be to offer some choices of how the money is distributed. I imagine that the TrinGeld desktop app could pop up once per month showing the calculated division of the donation and options to tweak it. Say you realize that you’re always giving most of your money to one single app (I expect this to happen for web browsers for example), then you could tweak how much that app gets, and choose other apps to donate to because you find it to be more fair that way. Or you could choose organizations related to the software you use, much in the way that Humble allows you to donate to charity: e.g. if TrinkGeld is being run by Fedora, it could still offer the GNOME Foundation as one of these organizations, considering its role in the technology that powers the user’s desktop + apps. Here’s a mockup of what I imagine it would look like (we’ll need real designer work if TrinkGeld goes from idea to code, but for now you’re stuck with this):
As you see, there are lots of possibilities here, but this post is getting large so let’s leave it for a later discussion.
Opinions?
Usually I blog more about stuff I’ve done than ideas that may never happen but TrinkGeld has been in my mind for a while, so I really wanted to share it and ask what Linux desktop users out there think of it. I know it’s a challenging project to set up, and that a lawyer may have to look into it, but it could may be worth the try.
I’m really curious to know what Linux desktop users think about this. Do you think it could help getting more people to donate? Would you use it? (comments in this blog are moderated so you may want to use the social network where you found this post mentioned in order to comment on it if you don’t want to wait until I approve the comments, thank you for understanding)
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Top 10 offensive lines in college football through Week 10
By Steve Palazzolo • Nov 10, 2016
There are few statistics than can properly quantify the overall performance of an offensive line, but the PFF team has been hard at work creating one out of our extensive database that comes from our play-by-play grading of every college football game.
The result is the PFF O-Line metric, which assesses just how much each line is contributing in the running game and how well they’re protecting in the pass game, all while adjusting based on situation and quality of opponent. An offensive line going up against Alabama has much lower expectations for success than a line playing against a weak Big 12 defense, and those adjustments are factored in here.
With that quick background behind us (see a more complete methodology explanation at the bottom of this article), here are the top 10 offensive lines in college football through 10 weeks of action:
1. LSU Tigers (88.74 rating, on a 0-100 scale)
While the season has been disappointing as a whole for LSU, the offensive line has done its part. When adjusting for competition, the Tigers’ game against Alabama was not bad comparatively, as the Alabama defense has given up virtually nothing to opposing teams on the ground, while creating pressure at an incredibly high rate. The interior of the line is what sets LSU apart, starting with Ethan Pocic, who ranks fifth among centers at 84.2 overall, while guard Josh Boutte has the nation’s No. 6 grade at 84.8 overall, including an 87.1 grade as a run-blocker that ranks third. The other guard spot is manned by Will Clapp, who checks in with a strong 78.4 grade, highlighted with an 86.4 mark in pass protection.
2. Auburn Tigers (87.23)
The Auburn line does not boast any superstars, but they are solid across the board. Right tackle Robert Leff has the top grade at 81.1 overall, good for 20th in the country among tackles, while LT Darius James has taken a big step forward since we last saw him in 2014 with Texas, to grade at 74.3. Both guards are solid, as Braden Smith grades at 78.2 and Alex Kozan comes in at 73.1, while Austin Golson’s move to center has coincided with Auburn’s offensive explosion in recent weeks. The Tigers use a lot of misdirection in the backfield to keep defenses off balance, but “power” is their staple run, and this O-line executes it at a high level.
3. Alabama Crimson Tide (87.04)
The No. 2 pass-blocking team in the nation when adjusting for competition, Alabama has also been strong in the run game. Center Bradley Bozeman leads the way with his 84.0 overall grade, as he’s only allowed one pressure on his 300 snaps in pass protection. Left tackle Cam Robinson has not played up to his first-round hype, but he comes in at a solid 74.9 overall, while right tackle Jonah Williams has been the nation’s top true freshman tackle at 80.0 overall, including an 83.3 mark in pass protection. As a line, Alabama ranks eighth in the FBS in pass blocking efficiency at 90.3 as they’ve only allowed 37 pressures on 300 dropbacks.
4. Western Michigan Broncos (85.27)
While WR Corey Davis is often the center of attention for Western Michigan’s offense, the offensive line deserves credit for their work up front. They feature three players ranked within the top 27 players at their respective positions nationally, led by right tackle Taylor Moton and his 83.5 overall grade that ranks sixth in the nation (he has surrendered only six pressures on 300 attempts). Center John Keenoy has been strong in pass protection at 82.2, while right guard Luke Juriga has an 82.0 grade as a pass-blocker and an 81.4 in the run game. As a unit, Western Michigan’s adjusted pass-blocking ranks fourth in the nation, while their run blocking ranks ninth as their well-rounded line has been a big part of their undefeated season.
5. Pittsburgh Panthers (84.29)
The best pass-blocking team in the country, Pittsburgh has allowed only 22 pressures on 256 dropbacks this season, and even when adjusting for opponents, they still sit atop the pass-blocking rankings. Right tackle Brian O’Neill has the top grade on the line at 83.4 overall, good for seventh in the nation to go with an 85.6 pass-blocking grade that ranks 10th. The pass-blocking has also been strong on the interior between center Alex Officer (80.8) and guards Dorian Johnson (83.9) and Alex Bookser (84.0). Pittsburgh comes in at fifth because as good as they are in pass protection, they only rank 47th as a run-blocking unit. O’Neill is also the top run-blocker at 76.8 this season.
6. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (84.03)
The Western Kentucky line is strong at the top, with the nation’s top-graded offensive tackle in Forrest Lamp (87.4 overall), while center Max Halpin ranks 12th in the country at 81.4. Lamp has allowed only one pressure on the season (98.9 pass-block grade) on 285 snaps in pass protection, and he played as well as any tackle who had to go up against Alabama’s defensive front this season. The unit’s strength lies in the passing game, where Halpin boasts an 89.7 grade and RG Dennis Edwards comes in at 87.6. All five starters rank among the top 51 players at their respective positions, as Western Kentucky’s line has been strong all-around.
7. Tulsa Golden Hurricane (83.26)
Tulsa ranks 10th as a unit in pass protection and 14th in the run game, as one of the nation’s most balanced lines. They’re led by two strong pass protectors in LT Evan Plagg, who ranks third among tackles at 88.9, and LG Tyler Bowling, who ranks fourth among guards at 90.5. Plagg and Bowling have combined to allow only nine pressures between them on 708 combined pass-blocking attempts. Bowling also leads the way in the run game with a 78.6 grade. Tulsa’s score has been boosted as a result of the strong defensive fronts like Ohio State and Houston that they had to contend with along the way.
8. Washington State Cougars (82.43)
There’s no doubt that Washington State’s Air Raid scheme creates favorable conditions for the offensive line with their wide splits and quick-hitting passing game. But they’re still playing well across the board, led by LG Cody O’Connell, who ranks second among guards at 91.7 overall and first as a pass-blocker at 91.3. It’s more than O’Connell, however, as there are few weaknesses up front — all five starters rank among the top 15 at their respective positions. When adjusting for competition, Washington State ranks third in the nation in pass protection and 40th in the run game.
9. Boise State Broncos (82.36)
The Boise State line is strong at tackle, where RT Mario Yakoo grades at 79.5 overall to rank 27th in the country, while LT Archie Lewis ranks 33rd at 78.5. LG Travis Averill is right there with them at 79.0 overall (29th in nation), including the top pass-blocking grade on the team at 87.1. Pass protection is where Boise State shines, as before adjusting for competition, they rank second in the nation with a pass-blocking efficiency of 92.8. Quarterback Brett Rypien has only been pressured on 17.6 percent of his dropbacks, fourth-best in the country, as the line has done its part in Boise State’s 8-1 record.
10. TCU Horned Frogs (81.45)
TCU has a balanced line with the No. 10 ranking in the run game and the No. 17 mark in pass protection. Center Austin Schlottmann has the top grade at 79.2, good for 24th among the nation’s centers, while RT Aviante Collins is right there with him at 79.1 to rank 28th in the country. QB Kenny Hill has faced pressure on only 21.9 percent of his dropbacks, good for 13th among FBS quarterbacks. In the run game, LG Patrick Morris leads the way with a 73.6 grade, as the TCU line is very much about the sum of their parts when it comes to moving the ball on the ground.
Methodology:
The PFF O-Line Metric quantifies the performance of an entire offensive line on a statistical basis, using a range of data collected by Pro Football Focus’ highly skilled analysis and player participation teams. For both run-blocking and pass-blocking situations, the offensive line’s performance is assessed against an expected production level, which is derived from a variety of scenarios. On run plays, the key statistic is yards before contact, where the expected gain before contact is set based on factors like the number of defensive players in the box, the run concept called by the offense and the down-and-distance situation. On passing plays, the key stat is pressures allowed in terms of sacks, hits and hurries only by offensive linemen. The expectation there is set by factors such as the down-and-distance situation, the dropback-type by the quarterback and whether a play-action fake was executed. These numbers are then adjusted for the opposition and combined based upon the run-to-pass ratio that each offense plays within to ensure that each offensive line is judged for their performance level within what they are asked to execute.
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Some 180,000 people marched through Tel Aviv’s streets Friday in the city’s 17th annual Gay Pride Parade, the nation’s largest and oldest gay pride event.
The parade, boasting trucks bearing DJs, dancers and drag performers, began at 11 a.m. local time as participants gathered at the city’s Meir Park. At noon, marchers began walking down some of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, ending at Charles Clore Park on the Mediterranean beach.
Of the estimated 180,000 participants, 30,000 are tourists, many of whom came to Israel to participate in the march, according to officials.
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The event has become one of Tel Aviv’s most popular annual festivals. Streets and stores have been decorated with rainbow flags for days. Thousands of Israelis flocked to the city center to observe the parade, filling cafes and restaurants along the route to capacity.
Pictures from today's annual Tel Aviv Gay Pride Parade, via @galberger pic.twitter.com/mRn2JlhRYa — Aaron Magid (@AaronMagid) June 12, 2015
“Welcome to all our guests from abroad to the gay-friendliest city in the world,” Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai declared at the event’s launch Friday morning.
“We’ve been through a lot,” he added. “In 17 years, we’ve achieved a different reality in this city, and also in Israel. I want to tell all the politicians, there is still a great deal of legislation that has to be passed to accept the gay community. We will continue to walk this path, and to support the pride parade.”
https://twitter.com/ChrisfromME/status/609326275417739264
The theme of this year’s parade was focused on transgender rights. Events like the parade are key to advancing recognition for the transgendered, Tel Aviv activist Elisha Alexander said earlier this week.
“As the parade approaches, more and more trans people are calling up to get help, to get support, so that’s what visibility does,” stated Alexander. “That’s the main goal of all these pride parades and things like that — it’s just to be visible, that we exist.
“I lived as a straight woman for 30 years,” Alexander added. “Most of the reason it took me so long was just because there was no visibility.”
Security was tight, with police deploying hundreds of officers and warning locals that no cars would be allowed to park along the parade route.
Major arteries in the coastal metropolis were shut at intervals as the march passed through the city, including parts of Tchernichovsky Street, Bograshov, Hayarkon, Frishman, Marmorek, Arlozorov and the Herbert Samuel beachfront promenade.
This year’s celebration featured Eurovision song contest winner and LGBT rights representative Conchita Wurst, who was to perform at Charles Clore Park after the march.
Luke Tress contributed to this report.
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UPDATE
Several New York-based reporters are now saying no final decision has been made b Diallo:
Source on Hamidou Diallo: "Nothing has been solidified at this point."
Again, deadline is 11:59 PM ET Wednesday. — Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) May 23, 2017
Source close to Hamidou Diallo: Nothing has been decided. No decision yet. Plans to meet with inner circle tomorrow. #bbn — Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) May 23, 2017
The wait for a final word continues...
Is Hamidou Diallo actually remaining with the Kentucky Wildcats?
According to Bryan Fonseca of Queens Ledger and Nets Daily, Diallo is staying in school for one more season.
Source tells me that Hamidou Diallo is staying in Kentucky for a year. #NBADraft — Bryan Fonseca (@BryanFonsecaNY) May 23, 2017
Fonseca has been keeping tabs on Diallo since he declared for the draft, so seeing him say this does bring some optimism that Diallo is actually returning. Part of that is Fonseca covers the Nets, one of the NBA teams who’ve shown strong interest in Diallo.
Still, take this with a big grain of salt until the words come out of Diallo’s mouth, but this certainly wouldn’t be a big surprise after multiple reports of Diallo being 50-50 on whether he’d stay in the NBA Draft or remain at UK.
My guess is Diallo hasn’t gotten a guarantee from any NBA team, which has caused him to strongly consider returning to UK when he appeared set on leaving.
The deadline to withdraw from the NBA Draft is Wednesday night.
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With Friday's opening sessions for the Russian Grand Prix having been blighted by a diesel spill and a wet track, there was only limited excitement for fans who had bought tickets.
Grosjean, who did not complete a lap on Friday, said F1 should consider something different like MotoGP did in Japan this weekend when it put together a race on mini bikes for its top stars.
"If you follow MotoGP on Instagram, you can see they did the race with the small bikes, and they do some stuff for the fans," explained Grosjean.
"Maybe we could potentially do something like that – although it is much harder to create a small F1 car than a small motor bike.
"[A day like today] is not great for the fans, but on the other hand if we go out today we crash and we don't have any spares – what do we do?
"What we want is to race and score points on Sunday and not take the risk that we don't want to take – so I don't know. I don't have the clear answer."
When asked if one solution would be a side show race like ProCar, as was discussed by team principals earlier this year, Grosjean said: "That would be messy – but it would be good. It would be fun.
"If you put us all in a go kart, we would be laughing like crazy because we are passionate about driving, and having fun.
"I was speaking about MotoGP because I love it, follow it on Instagram, where everyone had replica motorbike and went on track. It could be fun."
Max Verstappen was another driver who backed the idea of trying to get F1 drivers to do something different on a Friday.
"Yes, like what MotoGP did," he said. "I am always up for go karting….that is for sure!"
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The Addams Family Generator is an arcade/amusement game released by Nova Productions and Eurocom in 1999.
Playing on Uncle Fester's penchant for lighting a bulb with only his mouth and the electricity that flows through him, this game doesn't actually electrocute you, it simply uses fast vibrations to simulate a shocking feeling.
Gameplay
Once you start the game, you select one of the three power levels (Low, Medium, or High) and then hold on to the bars. The 'generator' will power up and eventually the game will 'shock' you. You have to hold on to those electrodes until the end. You lose if you let go. The red and blue lights and an lcd screen show how far through the game you are, and every 5 or so seconds you will receive another 'shock'. There is no prize, just a receipt showing how many 'volts' have been passed through you.
One person can play by gripping both handles. Two people can play by holding hands.
Each power level has a different top voltage score.
Low power 1,000
Medium power 2,000
High power 3,000 (The maximum score)
Videos
ADAMS FAMILY GENERATOR,UNCLE FESTER
Stan getting shocked
Bryan playing the Shock Game!
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Faced with the Reagan camp's adeptness at staging and acting out its themes, the networks have become acutely conscious of the difficulty in keeping the campaign, and in keeping Mr. Reagan the candidate and Mr. Reagan the President, in perspective.
'He Tries to Use Us'
''He certainly tries to use us, because he is so good at it - and he knows it,'' says David Brinkley of ABC News. ''But we know it.''
Lane Venardos, executive producer of ''The CBS Evening News,'' acknowledges: ''There is constant talk about that. It comes at the highest levels of this news division.''
''He's made it a different ball game,'' Mr. Venardos says of Mr. Reagan. ''It's not politics as usual because he's not a politician as usual. His ability to set and control the stage has made it a different scene, and there are a different set of standards for controlling the scene.''
The More Presidential, the Better
But there is uncertainty about what those standards are. Because performance is so much a part of politics, because television has become so much a campaign vehicle, and because Mr. Reagan has made performance before the camera so integral to his Presidency, the assumptions about what is Presidential, what is political and what is hype remain clouded.
Each of the previous two Presidents, Jimmy Carter and Gerald R. Ford, had all the advantages of incumbency that Mr. Reagan is using so well. Their challengers in 1976 and 1980 complained, accurately enough, that Mr. Ford and then Mr. Carter got on television with trivial, staged events because of their office.
''But they couldn't seem Presidential,'' says Paul Greenberg, executive producer of ''The NBC Nightly News.'' ''This man seems Presidential. You have to be careful how you report him, because maybe he is Presidential.''
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And that, perhaps, is the import of the carefully developed Reagan television presence: He has made the aura, the act of seeming Presidential a credential instead of a posture.
''You see, the whole thing is that we're not theater critics,'' says Joanne Moring, vice president of affiliate news services for NBC. ''We're covering the news.'' Reporting a President's Visit
The theatrical effectiveness of the Reagan presence begins with the trappings of the Presidency, which are powerfully dramatic. And they are most compelling in cities and towns where the local reporters are not accustomed to covering the President of the United States. It offers a dramatic appeal Mr. Mondale cannot begin to match.
Furthermore, the reporters on the scene are not as likely as the national press to know whether what Mr. Reagan says or does is new. ''Everything he says is reported by our affiliates as if it's freshly printed on the book of life,'' Miss Moring says. Packaging of Patriotism
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Even seasoned national network correspondents are not immune to the national feeling associated with the Presidency, Miss Moring says. ''When Ronald Reagan lays the wreath out at the cemetery on Memorial Day,'' she said, ''and those guys walk through with all the battle streamers hanging from the flag, you can be the most diehard liberal in the world, and hate Ronald Reagan and still get tears in your eyes.''
The hallmark of the Reagan White House and of the Reagan campaign has been the ability to stage scenes capitalizing on such patriotic feeling.
''I think he is used to being directed, in the stagecraft sense of that word, because of his previous experience as an actor,'' says Ed Fouhy, Washington bureau chief for ABC News, ''and he has people in his entourage, particularly Michael Deaver, who are very skilled at creating events.'' Mr. Deaver is the deputy White House chief of staff.
The network correspondents reporting on the White House often mention the Reagan attempt at theater. Sam Donaldson, the ABC White House correspondent, reported the night of Sept. 13, saying:
''The essence of the Reagan campaign is a never-ending string of spectacular picture stories created for television and designed to place the President in the midst of a huge throng of wildly cheering patriotic Americans. And today's occurred right here in Nashville at the Grand Ole Opry.''
The words were followed by videotape of the President on stage, surrounded by the cast of the Opry, showered by confetti from above and by cheers from audience below, as an Opry star sang what has become the Reagan theme song - ''I Love the U.S.A.'' Mondale: 'This Is Not Hollywood'
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Such scenes prompted Mr. Mondale, campaigning the next day in Lansing, Mich., to complain that the Reagan campaign was an empty sham.
''This is a campaign of cameo appearances, of Hollywood photography,'' he said. ''This is not Hollywood. This is America that we're dealing with.''
But as Chris Wallace, the White House correspondent for NBC News, reported from Nashville the previous night, the very Reagan campaign style that makes Mr. Mondale so angry can also make criticisms backfire.
''What the President has done very skillfully is to wrap his campaign in what appears to be a new wave of good feeling about this country,'' Mr. Wallace said, ''so the Democratic attacks against him are made to seem almost unpatriotic.''
But however much Mr. Wallace or Mr. Donaldson employ words to put the Reagan picture campaign into perspective, television is an emotional medium that is primarily visual, not aural. The words do not balance the pictures.
''How're you going to deal with that?'' Mr. Brokaw says, frowning. ''It's a dilemma.''
The viewers do not know, Mr. Donaldson and Mr. Brokaw said, that the crowds may be bused in, the flags handed out and supporters of Mr. Mondale and his running mate, Geraldine A. Ferraro, or people with anti-Reagan signs kept out of camera range.
CBS is giving the campaign less time on the air this year than either of the other networks, or than it has in the past itself. It is a conscious decision ''on our part here that the campaign has got to be more than balloons and candidates waving to crowds,'' Mr. Venardos said. ''The threshold for getting on the air with a piece is much higher now than it used to be.''
And NBC News is at work on a report about the staging of the President, how the events are prepared to make Mr. Reagan look his best. But Mr. Brokaw does not think that the public really cares very much about the careful construction of the impression it gets.
''I think if even you took them by the hand and led them through it,'' he said, ''they'd be impressed by it, rather than horrified. Why shouldn't they be? He's good at it.''
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This week on the podcast, Tim, Mike, Red and Scott meet in the blacked out Nostromo lounge and discuss the merits of negotiating ideologies with a time bomb in the 1974 micro-budget comedy sci-fi DARK STAR from John Carpenter, Peter Serafinowicz takes a break from making Boards of Canada DJ mixes to take on the role of our title hero in THE TICK TV revival, Ben Affleck revealed he has written a "standalone" BATMAN script and we try to decipher exactly how 'alone' this project will be from the DC movie universe, we go on a Nantucket sleigh ride with Ron Howard and Chris Hemsworth in the Moby-Dick inspiration IN THE HEART OF THE SEA, Tim finally sits down for a little session of STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON and comes out a satisfied customer, Red shares a look into the insanely detailed stop-motion world of PES and we consider the idea of a cooking show using only inedible items, Mike throws more shade on Leo's recent Best Actor Oscar win after seeing Reddie Edmayne just crush it in the DANISH GIRL from director Tom Hooper, and much, much more before our featured review of MIDNIGHT SPECIAL from director Jeff Nichols. Everybody put your swim goggles on for this one.
MUSIC
The AntiTheory - "Smart Bombs"
David Wingo - "Midnight Special Theme"
SHOW GUIDE
0:00:00 - What We've Been Viewing
0:45:10 - News
1:01:05 - Review: Midnight Special (2016)
1:23:43 - *Spoiler Tag*
CLIPS
Dark Star (1974)
Midnight Special (2016)
CREDITS
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So the big news back in October of last year, is that Marvel finally decided to stop teasing us with hints of what they’re going to tease us with regarding future movie plans, and have officially started teasing us with actual future movie plans. All sorts of awesome movies are coming up the pike, and a lot of them are gonna rake in the dough. Money, as we all know is one of the top two driving forces in the human condition. The other driving force? The one and only driving force that out does money? SEX! Pretty much every major decision in an adult’s life comes out of our quest to find a mate, or our decision to step out of the mating pool. Even those of us who don’t equate sex, love and procreation generally like to have orgasms. This all powerful motivating force even affects the lives of superheroes, though a movie viewer who doesn’t read comics can be forgiven for not knowing that.
Superhero movies have largely been pretty reserved in their portrayal of romantic urgings. Bruce Wayne and Talia Al Ghul having sex in The Dark Knight Rises is the only noteworthy sex scene I can even recall off the top of my head in a superhero movie from the past decade or so. The closest thing Marvel has to compete with that would probably be a scene in Iron Man 3 where Tony Stark and Pepper Potts are sharing a bed together. Nothing jaw-dropping today, but something that would seriously have caught attention a few decades past. Comic books, however, go into a lot more risqu? – if not outright lustily perverted – territory. I’ll be focusing on Marvel for this list, mostly because I think they seem to have the cleaner reputation these days, what with being owned by Disney and not going all grim, dark and grit-toothed like DC does. Perhaps if there’s enough interest I’ll do a follow up focused on DC comics and movies.
TRIGGER WARNING – Some of the storylines that will be discussed involves topics like rape, domestic violence, slut shaming and exploitation. If you’d rather not read something like that, proceed to the second page, which has a lighter tone to it.
NOTE: Many of the images in this article are composited from longer pages for the sake of getting to the main point of each entry.
9. She-Hulk Gets Slut Shamed (for the Sexual Activities of Her Alternate Reality Counterpart).
While deciding which entries would make the cut, I wanted to avoid some of the more overdone examples floating around, but a few of them are too out there to not have on the list. One of the best known bits comes from a time during Chuck Austen’s Uncanny X-Men run with Ron Garney, when Cain “The Juggernaut” Marko was trying to clean up his life and go straight.
While imprisoned in Canada, ol’ Juggy got word that the Rhino had gotten loose and decided to lend a hand in subduing him.
He immediately followed that up with one of the most unexpected things he’s ever done.
Afterward, he had a wee bit’ve a chat with his defense attorney…
Which resulted in the discovery of the most powerful mattresses ever constructed.
Then things got weird. During Ty Templeton and Dan Slott’s run on SheHulk, the jade giantess was adamantly denying having ever knocked boots with Mr. Marko.
This initially seemed like a lie, since readers could look up the issue where she did, in fact, sleep with the Juggernaut, but it eventually turned out that there was another She-Hulk running around who had come over from a parallel universe. Eventually, Jennifer Walters (a.k.a. She-Hulk when she’s not a big green beauty) was able to confront her alternate reality-alternate ego.
As it turns out, a lot of people (Slott included) really did not like the idea that Shulkie (as she’s called by Ben Grimm from time to time) would so quickly and easily get freaky with a super villain, even one who’s trying to turn his life around. Rather than doing something like, I dunno… acknowledging that a fictional woman might have made a choice that people didn’t approve of, it was instead decided that it would be retconned out of the storyline by declaring “Y’see, what really happened is that it was another version of her, because our She-Hulk would never do something so wrong.”
The storyline stands as one of the greatest examples of meta-slut shaming I’ve ever seen. First she was slut-shamed by fans, then by other fictional characters and then by a writer. It’s weird to know that we live in a world where people feel a need to control the sexuality of women so much that it even extends to the sexual choices of women that are made up characters, but humanity is full of nutty hang ups like that. I don’t think that this was Slott and Templeton’s intention when they did their story, it’s just the way it comes across to me. I know a lot of readers liked that story because of how much they hated Chuck Austen’s run on Uncanny X-Men, but it still creeps me out that such measures were taken to “correct course” on a fictional woman’s bedroom activities.
Should it be on screen? No. The last thing Hollywood needs is another movie reminding young women to be ashamed of their sexual history.
Chances of it happening – The movie rights are waaaay too tangled for it to be feasible any time soon, and Marvel would still be unlikely to pull the trigger. They’re not currently exploring sexuality on screen beyond a PG-13 vibe, and there’s no current indication that this will change anytime soon.
I think we’ll see a feature length film of She-Hulk singing songs from musical groups like The Spice Girls and Stabbing Westward before we see her and the Juggernaut hooking up.
8. Ant-Man Gets Tiny Before Going Down on The Wasp.
Here’s another perennial classic bit that would make most readers’ lists. Hank “I love having lots of different superhero names” Pym uses his shrinking power to enhance his cunnilingus performance.
That’s not too bizarre in and of itself though. I think most people, if given super powers might make use of them during sex if it were feasible (Johnny Storm, for example, could probably create literal fireworks in the sky when he gets off). The thing that puts this over the line of goofy and straight into “WHAT THE FUCK WERE THEY THINKING!” territory, is what precedes the scene of a tiny man who just pleasured his lover.
The most famous thing about Ant-Man, which is well known to anyone who’s into the superhero scene, but not so much to people who aren’t (and who are also surprised that there’s actually a character named Ant-Man) is that he has a history of domestic abuse against Janet Van Dyne (a.k.a. The Wasp). Their relationship has gone through multiple ups and downs over the years as they’ve drifted together and apart time and time again.
So the scene here is a fake-out joke in the poorest of taste that boils down to “Lets make the reader think Hank is beating her again, but it turns out they’re actually having sex!” It’s times like this when I wonder “Is this stuff part of the reason why space aliens are so shy about revealing themselves to humanity?”
Should it be on screen? The tiny cunnilingus thing would be fun to see, but I can do without the wife beating joke.
Chances of it happening. Virtually zero. Marvel’s decision to leapfrog over Hank and Jan so that they can start with Scott Lang is likely due in large part to a desire to avoid dealing with domestic violence in a superhero movie to begin with. I think it’s more plausible that Marvel might have an end cap after the credits to Ant-man that includes Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne (Hank and Jan’s daughter) painting a mural of Batman getting kick in the shins.
7. Angel (a.k.a. Warren Worthington III) Discovers That He Owns a Brothel.
One of the most amusingly frustrating things about the rich and wealthy is when they have such a huge fortune, they can’t keep track of what they own. A great example of this occurs during Joe Casey’s run on Uncanny X-Men with Tom Raney.
After getting stern with an employee of his, Warren gets a straight answer to his question about what this mysterious “X-Ranch,” that was recently acquired by his company, does for their customers.
The idea that johns are paying to have sexual relations with mutants naturally makes Mr. Worthington the III very nervous. One of the first employees he encounters is a woman called X-Stacy, and things did not go well between them. She stuck around for awhile, but the X-Ranch kind of faded into the woodwork and so far as I know hasn’t been used again at all.
Should it be on screen? This storyline would actually make for some great cinema. The kind of issues dealt with here could be a groundbreaking area for superhero films.
Chances of it happening – Slim to none and slim’s outta town. So long as Fox holds the rights, it’s incredibly unlikely that they’d go in such a direction. Even if/when the rights revert to Marvel, it’s not necessarily gonna increase the chances of this story arc making it to the big screen. Selling Joe and Jane Average on spending whatever ridiculous amount of cash a movie outing for the family costs these days, so that they can have the fun of explaining how prostitution works to their kids on the car ride home, doesn’t seem like the best strategy for a studio to take.
6. Thor Getting Magically Enslaved and Raped by the Enchantress’s Sister
One of the most iconic villains in Marvel’s version of Thor is Amora the Enchantress. Her many machinations and schemes to seduce the Odinson are fuel for some of the greatest stories the guy’s ever had to tell. One of the very best storylines featuring Amora is less about her and more about her younger sister Lorelei, who was created during the run of the legendary Walter Simonson. In Thor #350, it was established that the two of them have had a long running rivalry over who can seduce him first.
Around 6-7 issues later Lorelei puts her schemes into action.
Her primary goal is rather immediately successful. In no time at all she manages to get Thor charmed into a lovin’ mood.
The above image might not seem like much, but do recall that it’s part of the Comics Code Authority (or CCA) era of comics. There can only be so much shown. At any rate, once she got the basics out’ve the way, Lorelei made the mistake of trying to add insult to injury.
Toying with the emotions of a magically ensnared demigod with a barbaric streak to his personality seems like such a bad idea, that even Loki questions the logic of it.
Logic, however, soon gives way to savagery.
The whole thing escalates into one of the most intense moments in Thor’s history wherein he threatens Loki with Mjolnir in the most brutal fashion he’s ever had to do.
It’s rather unsurprising that Loki backs down under the impending threat of a head full of hammer.
After being broken free of the spell, Thor dispatches Lorelei in a proportionally kind manner.
At first glance, the story might seem like the sort of tale that can easily be brushed aside as typical fantasy tropes and not much else. It’s upon further examination of the events that Lorelei’s actions are seen as being truly monstrous. The mental violation of her Asgardian magic being used to bend Thor’s emotions and thoughts to her will is representative of the kind of tactics people in real life use to emotionally manipulate and abuse targets of lust and desire. Afterward, what she does to him physically is nothing short of sadistic rape.
It’s worth noting here, that for all her many flaws, Lorelei’s older sister typically tried win Thor’s heart as genuinely as she could. Many of her schemes revolved around trying to convince Thor why he should be in love with her, rather than forcing his emotions. It’s also worth noting that for a brief while, during Warren Ellis’ run with Mike Deodato Jr., she actually succeeded and the two lived together as lovers for a short time.
I’m pretty sure the above could be seen as a tribute to Frank Miller’s scene of Marv and Goldie from Sin City, which would be fitting in its own way. Both characters are big lugs who end up in bed with a sexy blonde who is way smarter, and the relationship has a “doomed to end badly” feel to it.
Should it be on screen? Lorelei’s already shown up in the MCU on an episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., so there is a possibility to work things in that direction. If handled with the right kind of touch, it could be an emotionally stirring work.
Chances of it happening – I can see the story being translated in some way shape or form, but being not quite as challenging to the audience. If anything, I think we’ll most likely see the showdown with Thor and Loki’s head and Mjolnir take place under a different set of circumstances. I’m not saying that the “Lorelei getting Thor into bed via magic” bit will never happen, just that I won’t hold my breath waiting for it.
5. Carol Danvers Getting Mind Controlled and Physically Raped by a Time Traveling Inter-Dimensional Maniac who Impregnates Her With Himself.
One of the most infamous “WTF were they thinking!” moments in all of comics history, the 200th issue of Avengers was so incredibly disturbing that at least one of the people credited with the plot has denied any involvement whatsoever. The blame is generally laid at the feet of writer David Michelinie who was working with George Perez (among others) on the series at the time.
The issue pics up on a storyline where Carol “Ms. Marvel” Danvers recently discovered that she was pregnant despite having no memory of how it could have happened at all.
Naturally, when the baby is born it starts to age rapidly.
I’m using the word “naturally” in it’s loosest sense, because as a story trope, the concept of having a child age rapidly into adulthood is a rather common thing. It probably says something about writers that they’re often very eager to have a character that is the child of another character, but want to skip past the infancy/childhood/adolescent stages.
As weird as such stories tend to be though, this one ratchets things up so many notches that walls had to be lengthened to include all the notches.
If you can’t read that condensed set of pages below and you don’t want to take the time to track down the story on your own, here’s the Cliffs notes:
-The guy’s name is Marcus.
-His first mom was in a shipwreck.
-While in the ocean she was “rescued” by Immortus (long story on who he is, click the link if you want to know) and taken to a dimension called Limbo.
-Immortus used super science and magic to manipulate the woman (who’s name isn’t mentioned) into loving him.
-She got pregnant and had a son that she named Marcus.
-Marcus took lessons from his father in “how to be a super creepy scumbag.” He then kidnapped Carol Danvers, spent a few weeks manipulating her mind and eventually had sex with her.
-During the sex he “passed his essence” into her in such a way that she gave birth to a fast growing super baby with all of his memories.
-After admitting to all this fucked behavior, Marcus is met with a positive response by Carol and she decides to go live with him in Limbo.
-The rest of the team is somehow okay with all of this
The story was eventually recontextualized by Chris Claremont in order to highlight just how horrendously monstrous the actions of Marcus were, as well how heavily the team dropped the ball on taking care of their allies. After returning to Earth, Carol is able to tell the team just how horrible her experience was and how badly they failed her. To this day it stands as one of the most egregious examples of a storyline wandering into dark territory without anyone involved at the time seeming to realize how horribly fucked up things are.
Should it be on screen? No. The story is so monumentally awful that it should be left in the medium it was created in as an example for future writers of “what not to do” or in the case of Claremont’s follow up a lesson in “how to fix another writers awful, awful mess”. Beyond that, the story should be left in a shallow grave.
Chances of it happening – Completely unlikely to ever make it to screen in any way, shape or form. Marvel’s not gonna put rape in their first female superhero movie.
NOTE: Many of the images in this article are composited from longer pages for the sake of getting to the main point of each entry.
4. Spider-Man Tells His Wife About a Weird Dream…While He’s Inside Her.
One of the most memorably odd and weirdly beautiful Spider-Man story arcs from the ’00s is called The Other: Evolve or Die. Rather than go into detail on the wild stuff that happens therein (you should look it up yourselves, though) I’d like to focus on the opening two pages of the first chapter. As the scene opens Peter is telling MJ about some crazy nightmare he had.
When it comes back to the present moment, they’re shown in silhouette as she’s riding him cowgirl style and MJ is asking Peter to focus on the task at hand and finish the story later.
This might not seem too bizarre on it’s own, but it was one of the most shocking moments to me as a reader. The storyline takes place not too long after Marvel ditched the CCA and went their own route on determining what is and isn’t appropriate for readers to see. Even though the characters are married to one another, that scene would not have been likely to pass the Comics Code standards at the time. It certainly wouldn’t have cut the mustard back in the ’80s or even the ’90s.
It’s also endearingly weird to see such a frank acknowledgement of the mundanities of sexual congress. The idea that a superhero might choose to talk about his adventures or his premonitions of adventures yet to come while he’s, er, yet to cum, is the sort of “slice of life” moment that is rarely if ever shown in regard to sexuality.
Should it be on screen? I think so, but my gut tells me a lot of studio executives would not agree. It’s definitely a moment that would be likely to push the MPAA rating from PG-13 to R, and that’s something that superhero movies are usually held back from.
Chances of it happening – Completely unlikely to happen on screen unless Andrew Garfield and Shailene Woodley (or whoever gets cast as MJ if she doesn’t retain the role) stick around long enough for the characters to get married… Well that’s the answer I’d have given this time last year when it still looked like the Sony movies would continue on with Garfield as Parker. Nowadays, that’s all up in the air, but even under Marvel Studios, it’s not all that likely.
3. Jean Grey Cheats on Her Husband With Wolverine… Inside the Mind of a Dying Teenager!
The saga of Wolverine, Jean Grey and Scott Summers is one of the most influential love triangles of the modern era, and I find it amusing how many people seem to overlook a watershed moment that served as the beginning of the end Scott and Jean’s marriage.
The moment arrived in issue #394 during the run of Joe Casey (the same guy who gave us the tale of Warren Worthington and the X-Ranch) with Ian Churchill providing the penciled art which was enhanced by Mark Morales’ inking and Avalon Studios’ coloring. A new character is introduced who goes by the name of Warp Savant (which combines two of my favorite words). On the cusp of his 18th birthday, Warp decides that he’s going to celebrate in a big way.
That big celebration is hinted to somehow involve his mutant ability: to transfer objects from the physical world into his mind.
When the military gets involved, it turns out that Warp can also use his power on people as well as beer bottles.
When the X-Men show up to rumble, Warp takes out James “Logan” Howlett a.k.a. Wolverine.
And then follows up by doing the same to Jean Grey.
The two of them end up trapped inside the mind of Warp Savant, while the military and the rest of the team are trying to stop him from doing anything worse. During the battle Warp is critically wounded with death fast approaching.
The grim circumstances prompt Logan to go out with a moment of passion.
Some of you reading this might be thinking that it’s just a kiss, no big deal, right? I disagree. During Casey’s run, he stated that he wanted to explore sex and it’s consequences, which is something that he achieved immensely. For long term couples, (especially those who’ve been together long enough that people might have trouble recalling if they’ve spent more time married than dating) kissing another person is a huge breach of trust. That kiss, and Scott’s reaction to it, opened up a rift in the marriage that never closed.
In time, it was picked up by Grant Morrison during his run on New X-Men. The mistrust between Scott and Jean blossomed into an extra marital affair between Scott and Emma “The White Queen” Frost. That affair eventually became a permanent relationship that still endures to this very day and is honestly (to my mind at least) far more interesting than Scott and Jean as a couple ever were. In due time, Namor of Atlantis entered the picture, and a new love triangle was formed. I’ve not read many current X-Men comics in the past few years, but I am aware that the ramifications of that kiss still echo into the comics today.
Should it be on screen? Of all the moments on the list, this is the one I would most love to see reach the silver screen.
Chances of it happening – I think we’re more likely to see Scott and Logan spend 30 minutes of screen time playing a game of chess while eating Cheetos with chopsticks and drinking Mountain Dew in wine glasses.
2. The Thing Returns From Outer Space to his Ex-Girlfriend’s Apartment, Only to find The Human Torch Stepping Out of the Shower After Bangin’ her (and Later Discovering That She’s an Alien Impostor).
One of the most memorable and well regarded storylines from John Byrne’s run on Fantastic Four is, without a doubt, the love triangle between Ben Grimm (The Thing), Alicia Masters and Johnny Storm (The Human Torch). Following the events of the Secret Wars crossover, Ben decided to stay behind on an alien planet for a while (once again, long story, go look it up) and asked his friends to relay a message to his lady love, the blind sculptress Alicia Masters. Her feelings of abandonment eventually took things into an unexpected direction.
It all starts with issue #269, when Johnny and Alicia run into one another while out and about.
One issue later Alicia gives Johnny a little kiss.
Four more issues down the road we see that they’ve spent the night together as lovers.
And not long after that, Ben shows up and things almost go horribly bad.
Later on, Ben and Alicia have a discussion about the matter and it does not go well at all.
Eventually though, the three of them patch things up and get back on good terms. Good enough terms that Ben even takes the roll of Best Man at Johnny’s wedding to Alicia, which took place in the landmark 300th issue.
By the way, if you’re wondering why the art style for the panels showing Ben’s discovery of the relationship is so different, that’s because it’s not from the hands of John Byrne, but rather from the hands of Paul Ryan (not the congressman, but the other Paul Ryan) as a callback to that story, which came up in issue #358 as the events in Byrne’s run were retconned by Tom DeFalco. The retconning started with a big reveal at the end of issue #357.
As it turns out, Johnny and Ben had been in a love triangle with a skrull named Lyja.
She gives a long and convoluted back story about how she took Alicia’s place and then fell in love with Johnny as part of her mission. She also drops the following bombshell.
A while later down the road she lays an egg.
And a lovely Lovecraftian-ish baby is born into the world.
As with many great stories in comic books. something that started out very simple eventually took on a bizarre direction when another writer got into the driver’s seat and took the metaphorical vehicle down a different road. This is one of the things that make shared universes so fun. Even when things go bad, they can go bad in interesting ways. While I really don’t care for DeFalco’s rewriting of events, the skill and panache with which he did what he wanted to do was something that I deeply admire.
Should it be on screen? Yes. Hell yeahs! I’d love to see the whole thing happen, even the Lyja stuff that I hated back then. The storyline is bold enough and weird enough that it very much fits in with the kind of “anything can happen” vibe of the MCU.
Chances of it happening – Well, let’s see if A) The new FF movie coming up the pipe is a box-office flop, and B) Fox decides to cut their losses and sell the rights back to Marvel, then C) Marvel does a truly outrageously faithful set of Fantastic Four movies, it’ll still take the better part of a decade or more to build up to that… but we can hope.
1. The Marvel and DC Universes Literally Making Sweet Sweet Love!
While the idea of Marvel and DC crossing over in the near future might seem laughable to some, it’s worth noting that they’ve gone through cycles of friendliness and enmity over the decades. Back in the late ’70s/early ’80s they were doing crossovers that were building up to a huge JLA/Avengers finale. Sadly the project was killed via editorial disputes and the blowback of the arguments squashed any further crossovers at the time.
A couple of decades later, however, the cards with shuffled right and the stars aligned. As an outgrowth of the Marvel vs DC miniseries and other projects following it, the green light was given to do a full on Justice League/Avengers throw down. One of the key concepts put to use was the character Eternity, who is the living embodiment of the Marvel Universe. A female counterpart was created for the storyline to represent the DC Universe, and the shape the story took was Fan-Freaking-Tastic!
In this series, readers were able to witness two universes making love to one another. When the story ended, there was an egg left over that suggests the possibility of a baby universe that might someday hatch into a form that combines elements from both parents. We’re talking about procreation on a multiversal scale here, and that to me is truly beautiful. The manner in which life begins or that the conditions for such beginning can emerge is one of the most enrapturing aspects of all existence. To see it in a power fantasy structure like superheroes… that was a breathtaking experience the first time I read it and it still takes my breath away when I think about it.
I know that a lot of readers are already aware of where those ramifications led, but for the ones who don’t read comics enough to be aware, I’m gonna punt back to my “look it up” response, because I’d rather leave some people with a sense of wonder and hope it grows big enough to get them headed to a book store or website storefront to find out for themselves what became of that egg.
Should it be on screen? As the climax to a hypothetical Marvel/DC crossover movie event? YEAH! It would be such a sucker punch sideswipe to the mind of the audience that I’d love to see it happen. The music that could be composed for such a scene would be truly magical.
Chances of it happening – Never in a hundred years. If this happens before the year 2115, I will be completely shocked and blown away. Marvel, DC if you ever get the opportunity to prove me wrong, I humbly ask that you take it.
Previous Topless Robot Articles by Greggory Basore Include:
7 Reasons Why The Feud Between “Casual” and “Hardcore” Gamers is Literally Ridiculous.
10 Reasons Why An All Female Ghostbusters Reboot is the Best Possible Direction
10 Reasons Hollywood Needs to Stop Catering to Whiny Assed Nerds like You and Me
The 7 Most Amusing Reactions and Possibilities to come from Microsoft Buying Minecraft
10 Reasons I Don’t Blame Robin Williams for Wanting to Die
The 5 Most Frustrating Moments Game of Thrones Season 4 (and 5 Ways to Wait for Next Year)
The 15 Geekiest Shows of Summer 2014
8 Unanswered Questions Left by X-Men Days of Future Past
5 Lessons Hollywood Should Learn from The Lego Movie (And 5 Ways they’ll Miss the Point)
16 Heartbreakingly Awesome bits of production art that never made it to the screen.
The 30 Best Origins of Superman
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In a previous post, we reported our initial experiments to create lightweight checkers for Ada source code, based on the new Libadalang technology. The two checkers we described discovered 12 issues in the codebase of the tools we develop at AdaCore. In this post, we are reporting on 6 more lightweight checkers, which have discovered 114 new issues in our codebase. These 6 checkers allowed us to detect errors and code quality issues for 4 of them (check_deref_null, check_test_not_null, check_same_test, check_bad_unequal) and refactoring opportunities for 2 of them (check_same_then_else, check_useless_assign). Every checker runs in seconds on our codebase, which made it easy to improve them until the checkers had no false alarms. Currently, none of these checkers uses the recent semantic analysis capability in Libadalang, which might be useful in the future to improve their precision. In each of these checkers, we took inspiration from similar lightweight checkers in other static analysis tools, in particular PVS-Studio and its gallery of real-life examples.
Checkers on Dereference Our first checker is a favorite of many tools. It checks whether a pointer that has been derefenced, is later tested against the null value. This is suspicious, as we'd expect the sequence of events to be opposite. This can point either to an error (the pointer should not be dereferenced without a null check) or a code quality issue (the null test is useless). In fact, we found both when applying the checker on the codebase of our tools. Here's an example of error found in the GNAT compiler, in g-spipat.adb, where procedure Dump dereferences P.P at line 2088:
procedure Dump (P : Pattern) is subtype Count is Ada.Text_IO.Count; Scol : Count; -- Used to keep track of column in dump output Refs : Ref_Array (1 .. P.P.Index); -- We build a reference array whose N'th element points to the -- pattern element whose Index value is N.
and then much later at line 2156 it checks for P.P being null:
-- If uninitialized pattern, dump line and we are done if P.P = null then Put_Line ("Uninitialized pattern value"); return; end if;
The code was fixed to declare array Refs after we know P.P is not null. And here is an example of code quality issue also in the GNAT compiler, at line 2797 of g-comlin.adb, where parameter Line is dereferenced and then tested against null:
Sections_List : Argument_List_Access := new Argument_List'(1 .. 1 => null); Found : Boolean; Old_Line : constant Argument_List := Line.all; Old_Sections : constant Argument_List := Sections.all; Old_Params : constant Argument_List := Params.all; Index : Natural; begin if Line = null then return; end if;
The code was fixed by declaring Line as a parameter of a not null access type. In some cases the dereference and the test are both in the same expression, for example in this case in our tool GNATstack, at line 97 of dispatching_calls.adb:
if Static_Class.Derived.Contains (Explored_Method.Vtable_Entry.Class) and then Explored_Method /= null and then
The code was fixed here by checking for non-null before dereferencing Explored_Method. Overall, this checker found 11 errors in our codebase and 9 code quality issues. A second checker in this category looks for places where a test that a pointer is null dominates a dereference of the same pointer. This is, in general, an indication of a logic error, in particular for complex boolean expressions, as shown by the examples from PVS-Studio gallery. We found no such error in our codebase, which may be an indication of our good test coverage. Indeed, any execution of such code will raise an exception in Ada. Checkers on Tested Expressions Our first checker on tested expressions looks for identical subexpressions being tested in a chain of if-elsif statements. It points to either errors or code quality issues. Here is an example of error it found in the GNAT compiler, at line 7380 of sem_ch4.adb:
if Nkind (Right_Opnd (N)) = N_Integer_Literal then Remove_Address_Interpretations (Second_Op); elsif Nkind (Right_Opnd (N)) = N_Integer_Literal then Remove_Address_Interpretations (First_Op); end if;
The code was fixed by testing Left_Opnd(N) instead of Right_Opnd(N) in the second test. Overall, this checker found 3 errors in our codebase and 7 code quality issues. A second checker in this category looks for expressions of the form "A /= B or A /= C" where B and C are different literals, which are always True. In general "and" is meant instead of "or". This checker found one error in our QGen code generator, at line 675 of himoco-blockdiagramcmg.adb:
if Code_Gen_Mode /= "Function" or else Code_Gen_Mode /= "Reusable function" then To_Flatten.Append (Obj); end if;
Checkers for Code Duplication Our first checker for code duplication looks for identical code in different branches of an if-statement or case-statement. It may point to typos or logical errors, but in our codebase it pointed only to refactoring opportunities. Still, some of these cause code duplication of more than 20 lines of code, for example at line 1023 of be-checks.adb in CodePeer:
elsif VN_Kind (VN) = Binexpr_VN and then Operator (VN) = Logical_And_Op and then Int_Sets.Is_In (Big_True, To_Int_Set_Part (Expect)) then -- Recurse to propagate check down to operands of "and" Do_Check_Sequence (Check_Kind, Split_Logical_Node (First_Operand (VN)), Srcpos, File_Name, First_Operand (VN), Expect, Check_Level, Callee, Callee_VN, Callee_Expect, Callee_Precondition_Index); Do_Check_Sequence (Check_Kind, Split_Logical_Node (Second_Operand (VN)), Srcpos, File_Name, Second_Operand (VN), Expect, Check_Level, Callee, Callee_VN, Callee_Expect, Callee_Precondition_Index); ... elsif VN_Kind (VN) = Binexpr_VN and then Operator (VN) = Logical_Or_Op and then Int_Sets.Is_In (Big_False, To_Int_Set_Part (Expect)) then -- Recurse to propagate check down to operands of "and" Do_Check_Sequence (Check_Kind, Split_Logical_Node (First_Operand (VN)), Srcpos, File_Name, First_Operand (VN), Expect, Check_Level, Callee, Callee_VN, Callee_Expect, Callee_Precondition_Index); Do_Check_Sequence (Check_Kind, Split_Logical_Node (Second_Operand (VN)), Srcpos, File_Name, Second_Operand (VN), Expect, Check_Level, Callee, Callee_VN, Callee_Expect, Callee_Precondition_Index);
or at line 545 of soap-generator-skel.adb in GPRbuild:
when WSDL.Types.K_Derived => if Output.Next = null then Text_IO.Put (Skel_Adb, WSDL.Parameters.To_SOAP (N.all, Object => "Result", Name => To_String (N.Name), Type_Name => T_Name)); else Text_IO.Put (Skel_Adb, WSDL.Parameters.To_SOAP (N.all, Object => "Result." & Format_Name (O, To_String (N.Name)), Name => To_String (N.Name), Type_Name => T_Name)); end if; when WSDL.Types.K_Enumeration => if Output.Next = null then Text_IO.Put (Skel_Adb, WSDL.Parameters.To_SOAP (N.all, Object => "Result", Name => To_String (N.Name), Type_Name => T_Name)); else Text_IO.Put (Skel_Adb, WSDL.Parameters.To_SOAP (N.all, Object => "Result." & Format_Name (O, To_String (N.Name)), Name => To_String (N.Name), Type_Name => T_Name)); end if;
Overall, this checker found 62 code quality issues in our codebase. Our last checker looks for useless assignment to a local variable, where the value is never read subsequently. This can be very obvious, such as this case at line 1067 of be-value_numbers-factory.adb in CodePeer:
Global_Obj.Obj_Id_Number := Obj_Id_Number (New_Obj_Id); Global_Obj.Obj_Id_Number := Obj_Id_Number (New_Obj_Id);
or more hidden, such as this case at line 895 of bt-xml-reader.adb, still in CodePeer:
if Next_Info.Sloc.Column = Msg_Loc.Column then Info := Next_Info; Elem := Next_Cursor; end if; Elem := Next_Cursor;
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Personalized Recommendations at Etsy
Posted by Robert Hall on November 17, 2014
Providing personalized recommendations is important to our online marketplace. It benefits both buyers and sellers: buyers are shown interesting products that they might not have found on their own, and products get more exposure beyond the seller’s own marketing efforts. In this post we review some of the methods we use for making recommendations at Etsy. The MapReduce implementations of all these methods are now included in our open-source machine learning package “Conjecture” which was described in a previous post.
Computing recommendations basically consists of two stages. In the first stage we build a model of users’ interests based on a matrix of historic data, for example, their past purchases or their favorite listings (those unfamiliar with matrices and linear algebra see e.g., this review). The models provide vector representations of users and items, and their inner products give an estimate of the level of interest a user will have in the item (higher values denote a greater degree of estimated interest). In the second stage, we compute recommendations by finding a set of items for each user which approximately maximizes the estimate of the interest.
The model of users and items can be also used in other ways, such as finding users with similar interests, items which are similar from a “taste” perspective, items which complement each other and could be purchased together, etc.
Matrix Factorization
The first stage in producing recommendations is to fit a model of users and items to the data. At Etsy, we deal with “implicit feedback” data where we observe only the indicators of users’ interactions with items (e.g., favorites or purchases). This is in contrast to “explicit feedback” where users give ratings (e.g. 3 of 5 stars) to items they’ve experienced. We represent this implicit feedback data as a binary matrix, the elements are ones in the case where the user liked the item (i.e., favorited it) or a zero if they did not. The zeros do not necessarily indicate that the user is not interested in that item, but only that they have not expressed an interest so far. This may be due to disinterest or indifference, or due to the user not having seen that item yet while browsing.
The underpinning assumption that matrix factorization models make is that the affinity between a user and an item is explained by a low-dimensional linear model. This means that each item and user really corresponds to an unobserved real vector of some small dimension. The coordinates of the space correspond to latent features of the items (these could be things like: whether the item is clothing, whether it has chevrons, whether the background of the picture is brown etc.), the elements for the user vector describe the users preferences for these features. We may stack these vectors into matrices, one for users and one for items, then the observed data is in theory generated by taking the product of these two unknown matrices and adding noise:
We therefore find a vector representation for each user and each item. We compute these vectors so that the inner product between a user vector and item vector will approximate the observed value in the implicit feedback matrix (i.e., it will be close to one in the case the user favorited that item and close to zero if they didn’t).
Since the zeros in the matrix do not necessarily indicate disinterest in the item, we don’t want to force the model to fit to them, since the user may actually be interested in some of those items. Therefore we find the decomposition which minimizes a weighted error function, where the weights for nonzero entries in the data matrix are higher than those of the zero entries. This follows a paper which suggested this method. How to set these weights depends on how sparse the matrix is, and could be found through some form of cross validation.
What happens when we optimize the weighted loss function described above, is that the reconstructed matrix (the product of the two factors) will often have positive elements where the input matrix has zeros, since we don’t force the model to fit to these as well as to the non-zeros. These are the items which the user may be interested in but has not seen yet. The reason this happens is that in order for the model to fit well, users who have shown interest in overlapping sets of items will have similar vectors, and likewise for items. Therefore the unexplored items which are liked by other users with similar interests will often have a high value in the reconstructed matrix.
Alternating Least Squares
To optimize the model, we alternate between computing item matrix and user matrix, and at each stage we minimize the weighted squared error, holding the other matrix fixed (hence the name “alternating least squares”). At each stage, we can compute the exact minimizer of the weighted square error, since an analytic solution is available. This means that each iteration is guaranteed not to increase the total error, and to decrease it unless the two matrices already constitute a local minimum of the error function. Therefore the entire procedure gradually decreases the error until a local minimum is reached. The quality of these minima can vary, so it may be a reasonable idea to repeat the procedure and select the best one, although we do not do this. A demo of this method in R is available here.
This computation lends itself very naturally to implementation in MapReduce, since e.g., when updating a vector for a user, all that is needed are the vectors for the items which he has interacted with, and the small square matrix formed by multiplying the items matrix by its own transpose. This way the computation for each user typically can be done even with limited amounts of memory available, and each user may be updated in parallel. Likewise for updating items. There are some users which favorite huge numbers of items and likewise items favorited by many users, and those computations require more memory. In these cases we can sub-sample the input matrix, either by filtering out these items, or taking only the most recent favorites for each user.
After we are satisfied with the model, we can continue to update it as we observe more information, by repeating a few steps of the alternating least squares every night, as more items, users, and favorites come online. New items and users can be folded into the model easily, so long as there are sufficiently many interactions between them and existing users and items in the model respectively. Productionizable MapReduce code for this method is available here.
Stochastic SVD
The alternating least squares described above gives us an easy way to factorize the matrix of user preferences in MapReduce. However, this technique has the disadvantage of requiring several iterations, sometimes taking a long time to converge to a quality solution. An attractive alternative is the Stochastic SVD. This is a recent method which approximates the well-known Singular Value Decomposition of a large matrix, and which admits a non iterative MapReduce implementation. We implement this as a function which can be called from any scalding Hadoop MapReduce job.
A fundamental result in linear algebra is that the matrix formed by truncating the singular value decomposition after some number of dimensions is the best approximation to that matrix (in terms of square error) among all matrices of that rank. However we note that using this method we cannot do the same “weighting” to the error as we did when optimizing via alternating least squares. Nevertheless for datasets where the zeros do not completely overwhelm the non-zeros then this method is viable. For example we use it to build a model from the favorites, whereas it fails to provide a useful model from purchases which are much more sparse, and where this weighting is necessary.
An advantage of this method is that it produces matrices with a nice orthonormal structure, which makes it easy to construct the vectors for new users on the fly (outside of a nightly recomputation of the whole model), since no matrix inversions are required. We also use this method to produce vector representations of other lists of items besides those a user favorited, for example treasuries and other user curated lists on Etsy. This way we may suggest other relevant items for those lists.
Producing Recommendations
Once we have a model of users and items we use it to build product recommendations. This is a step which seems to be mostly overlooked in the research literature. For example, we cannot hope to compute the product of the user and item matrices, and then find the best unexplored items for each user, since this requires time proportional to the product of the number of items and the number of users, both of which are in the hundreds of millions.
One research paper suggests using a tree data structure to allow for a non-exhaustive search of the space, by pruning away entire sets of items where the inner products would be too small. However we observed this method to not work well in practise, possibly due to the curse of dimensionality with the type of models we were using (with hundreds of dimensions).
Therefore we use approximate methods to compute the recommendations. The idea is to first produce a candidate set of items, then to rank them according to the inner products, and take the highest ones. There are a few ways to produce candidates, for example, the listings from favorite shops of a user, or those textually similar to his existing favorites. However the main way we use is “locality sensitive hashing” (LSH) where we divide the space of user and item vectors into several hash bins, then take the set of items which are mapped to the same bin as each user.
Locality Sensitive Hashing
Locality sensitive hashing is a technique used to find approximate nearest neighbors in large datasets. There are several variants, but we focus on one designed to handle real-valued data and to approximate the nearest neighbors in the Euclidean distance.
The idea of the method is to partition the space into a set of hash buckets, so that points which are near to each other in space are likely to fall into the same bucket. The way we do this is by constructing some number “p” of planes in the space so that they all pass through the origin. This divides the space up into 2^p convex cones, each of which constitutes a hash bucket.
Practically we implement this by representing the planes in terms of their normal vectors. The side of the plane that a point falls on is then determined by the sign of the inner product between the point and the normal vector (if the planes are random then we have non-zero inner products almost surely, however we could in principle assign those points arbitrarily to one side or the other). To generate these normal vectors we just need directions uniformly at random in space. It is well known that draws from an isotropic Gaussian distribution have this property.
We number the hash buckets so that the i^th bit of the hash-code is 1 if the inner product between a point and the i^th plane is positive, and 0 otherwise. This means that each plane is responsible for a bit of the hash code.
After we map each point to its respective hash bucket, we can compute approximate nearest neighbors, or equivalently, approximate recommendations, by examining only the vectors in the bucket. On average the number in each bucket will be 2^{-p} times the total number of points, so using more planes makes the procedure very efficient. However it also reduces the accuracy of the approximation, since it reduces the chance that nearby points to any target point will be in the same bucket. Therefore to achieve a good tradeoff between efficiency and quality, we repeat the hashing procedure multiple times, and then combine the outputs. Finally, to add more control to the computational demands of the procedure, we throw away all the hash bins which are too large to allow efficient computation of the nearest neighbors. This is implemented in Conjecture here.
Other Thoughts
Above are the basic techniques for generating personalized recommendations. Over the course of developing these recommender systems, we found a few modifications we could make to improve the quality of the recommendations.
Normalizing the vectors before computation: As stated, the matrix factorization models tend to produce vectors with large norms for the popular items. A result is that some popular items may get recommended to many users even if they are not necessarily the most aligned with the users tastes. Therefore, before computing recommendations, we normalized all the item vectors. This also makes the use of approximate nearest neighbors theoretically sound: since when all vectors have unit norms, maximum inner products to a user vector are achieved by the nearest item vectors.
Shop diversity: Etsy is a marketplace consisting of many sellers. So as to be fair to these sellers, we limit the number of recommendations from a single shop that we present to each user. Since users may click through to the shop anyway, exposing additional items available from this shop, this does not seem to present a problem in terms of recommendation quality.
Item diversity: To make the recommendations more diverse, we take a candidate set of say 100 nearest neighbors to the user, then we filter those out by removing any item which is within some small distance of a higher ranked item, where the distance is measured in the Euclidean distance between the item vectors.
Reranked Items from Similar Users: We used the LSH code to find nearest neighbors among the users (so for each user we find users with similar tastes). Then to produce item recommendations we can take those users favorite listings, and re-rank them according to the inner products between the item vectors and the target users vector. This lead to seemingly better and more relevant recommendations, although a proper experiment remains to be done.
Conclusion
In summary we described how we can build recommender systems for e-commerce based on implicit feedback data. We built a system which computes recommendations on Hadoop, which is now part of our open source machine learning package “Conjecture.” Finally we shared some additional tweaks that can be made to potentially improve the quality of recommendations.
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A reporter's laptop shows the Wikipedia blacked out opening page in Brussels in this file photo dated January 18, 2012. REUTERS/Yves Herman
ANKARA (Reuters) - Online encyclopedia Wikipedia has appealed to Turkey’s constitutional court against a government decision to block access to its website, broadcaster CNN Turk said on Tuesday, a case that has heightened concerns about censorship in Turkey.
Turkey’s telecommunications watchdog said two weeks ago that access to Wikipedia had been blocked, citing a law allowing it to ban access to websites deemed a threat to national security.
The block on the site was prompted by two Wikipedia entries accusing Turkey of links to Islamist militant groups, local media have reported. The communications ministry has said Wikipedia was attempting to run a “smear campaign” against the country, saying some articles purported that Ankara was coordinating with militant groups.
A Turkish court on Friday rejected an appeal by the Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, against the blocking, saying that while freedom of speech was a fundamental right, it can be limited in cases where there is a “necessity for regulation”.
The Wikimedia Foundation has called for the Turkish government to restore full access to the site.
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Hi guys,
The attention that the Bitcoin Suisse allocation received was overwhelming. There was an unprecedented rate of funding follow-through (that is, people who submitted their registration and then committed funds). In previous ICO's Bitcoin Suisse has raised funds for, fewer than 1 in 10 people on average would follow through on depositing their funds after they submitted documentation. These figures led to the decision to open a second round of registration, even though the total amount already pledged was already greater than the allocation, because there was a very significant chance that new registrants would be needed to fill the increased allocation. Unexpectedly, for the first time in Bitcoin Suisse's ICO experience, nearly everyone who got on-boarded sent their funds. While this is good for the project as a whole, it will likely lead to the unfortunate situation that we will not be able to accept contributions from any participants in the second round of registration. We deeply regret the uncertainty and inconvenience the high demand for the OMG sale has caused. At the same time, we are truly amazed and grateful for the community's support for our project, and we are more committed than ever to delivering on our roadmap.
With this in mind, the timeline and next steps are below:
Registration confirmation is ongoing. Bitcoin Suisse is rounding up people who registered from June 10th onwards.
Bitcoin Suisse closes all registration confirmation on Saturday, July 1st 1am Bangkok time.
Funds can be deposited up until the cap is filled or by Monday, July 3rd 1am Bangkok time.
Lock-down rate for smart contract will be on Monday, July 3rd around 4pm Bangkok time.
Bitcoin Suisse and ICOAGE plan to start redistributing OMGs to you mid to late next week (July 5th onwards).
On OMG redistribution: Bitcoin Suisse will individually be following up with contributors to confirm the different wallet address where you want your OMGs to be sent to. This will start mid next week (ref. Point 5). They will email more information directly to you.
Airdrop: Our team will issue a blog later next week to explain the airdrop mechanism and timeline.
Vansa, MD of OmiseGO.
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UN Climate Change Conference: Wicked New World Order Confab
To the honest and informed, man-made global warming / climate change is a world-wide ruse. It’s a scam; a fraud and a hoax. New world order “powers that be” political leaders harness anything within their spheres of influence to grab more control and exert their malevolent influence.
World leaders buy into eugenic Nazi beliefs. Whatever (whomever) is undesirable, is either a target for “alteration” or elimination. These modern-day Nazis are obsessed with population control and have never trusted Creator God that all would be normal (and even blessed) by being “fruitful” and “multiplying.”
Instead, those at the “system controls” commit crimes against humanity via legalized abortion genocide while at the same time preventing disease cures and fomenting wars to reduce the population masses. Nothing is sacred; except their occultist and diabolical utopia. They click their dutiful boots, in service to their father of lies, who is preparing for them hereafter tormenting (“global warming” + ) fires of damnation hell.
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference commenced this week to hammer out how it can do its part to molest citizens of every nation and to foist upon them undue financial and other constraining (freedom-restricting) burdens. (The same “humanitarian” world-wide “peace-keeping” body which appointed barbaric Saudi Arabia to be the head of the UN Human Rights Council).
You can be sure, that at this Euro convention, there will be voracious cat call mandates to tax earth’s inhabitants (and animal creatures) for the “crime” of emitting (alleged) “poisonous” carbon emissions, while (at the same time) dismissing and ignoring the modern-day Nazi poisons of (chemtrail) emissions.
Related to the above:
Excerpt:
“………This summit represents the culmination of the ruling elite’s plan to establish their New World Order (NWO) via a One World Government ostensibly based on the global regulation of carbon emissions………….” – themillenniumreport.com/2015/11/19807/#more-19807
More related links:
Aka Obama’s 4th Reich Atrocities: Body Parts Of Slaughtered Innocent Babies Sold For Added Profit – moralmatters.org/
Nazi Bâri’ Hitler-Shabazz: Aka Barack Obama – moralmatters.org/
Nazism: Modern-Day Fascist Evil – moralmatters.org/
Hell to Pay: Believing that something is a figment of the imagination doesn’t change its hereafter reality – thechristianmessage.org/
Satan And Demons: Referenced In Holy Scripture – moralmatters.org/
More related links:
_____________________________________
“A thinking person will question what he hears; examine what he sees; and evaluate what others would have him believe.”
“When did big government and its mainstream media tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?”
[Pastor emeritus Nathan M. Bickel]
___________
Posted by:
Pastor emeritus Nathan M. Bickel
www.moralmatters.org
www.thechristianmessage.org
__________________________________________
Source of the featured pic – “United Nations Framework Convention On Climate Change”
http://netrightdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/united-nations-framework-convention-on-climate-change.png
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[big campaign] New Questions Over McCain Campaign Chief's Ties To Ukraine
From:nico.pitney@gmail.com To: nico.pitney@gmail.com Date: 2008-06-20 03:47 Subject: [big campaign] New Questions Over McCain Campaign Chief's Ties To Ukraine
Rick Davis's Ukrainian adventure expands -- he apparently bragged about lucrative real estate he owns in the country. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/new-questions-over-mccain_n_108204.html New Questions Over McCain Campaign Chief's Ties To Ukraine<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/new-questions-over-mccain_n_108204.html> How much does John McCain know about his campaign manager's lobbying history and potential current business interests inside Ukraine -- and when did he know it? The stakes of the answer to that question are increasing, due both to the lobbyist problem<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/23/mccains-ethical-dilemma-c_n_103216.html>that has thus far nagged at McCain's second presidential run, as well as the race among reporters to uncover the connection between McCain campaign manager Rick Davis and the global business and political interests in Ukraine represented by the lobbying firm that bears his name -- Davis-Manafort. Davis's lobbying firm has long been reported<http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/30/world/europe/30ukraine.html>as having offered political consulting services to the pro-Russian "Party of Regions" inside Ukraine. That party was on the wrong side of the 2004 "Orange Revolution" that captured many a heart in the West (including John McCain's). Since then, the firm, which Davis co-founded, has been described as instrumental in organizing a political comeback for the once-discredited Party of Regions, which emerged victorious in 2006 legislative polls. Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer told The Huffington Post that, in between the Party of Regions' 2004 loss and its 2006 victory, there was "an influx of the Davis-Manafort team." Pifer was not on the ground in Ukraine for the 2006 polls, but he recounted that "there was more of an American air" to the Ukrainians working with Davis-Manafort, and that they presented a more refined, media-savvy image. What Pifer did witness<http://blog.kievukraine.info/2008/05/mccain-consultant-is-tied-to-work-for.html>was a subsequent event in Washington, D.C., during which the new Ukrainian prime minister was seen with Davis's lobbying partner Paul Manafort among his entourage. Pifer said he noticed with interest that the new prime minister's presentation was "polished and confident...and was tuned to have resonance with Americans." And while McCain claimed<http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB118515181783374359.html?mod=blog>in 2007 not to have known about the work of his campaign manager's firm in Ukraine until December 2006, a Washington Post report from earlier this year described how the non-profit Reform Institute, which McCain helped start up, actually shared office space<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012403383_pf.html>with Davis-Manafort in January of 2006 -- the precise time the lobbying outfit was preparing for the March 2006 parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Moreover, the New York Times reported<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/washington/12agent.html>last week that a National Security Council official contacted McCain's Senate office in 2005 "to complain that Mr. Davis's lobbying firm was undercutting American foreign policy in Ukraine." The Ukrainian candidate being aided by Davis-Manafort had close ties to then Russian president Vladimir Putin, and both McCain and President Bush supported his opponent. Given this backdrop, and with the idea of lobbyists on presidential campaigns having acquired something of a foul air (thanks to the good-government noises from both presumptive nominees), the McCain camp has been steadfast in denying that its campaign manager had any association with his own firm's Ukrainian operation. "He [Davis] was not involved in any work his firm did on Ukraine," McCain spokesman Brian Rogers told ABC News<http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5063617>in response to the report published last week. That denial -- which shoots past the question of whether Davis merely worked with politicians in Ukraine to the point of denying any business activity in the country whatsoever -- is now being questioned by another American consultant who served as an adviser to a Ukrainian business group during 2004. This source, who requested anonymity from The Huffington Post in order to protect his business interests, said that Davis bragged to him in 2007 about the continuing profitability of real estate investments that he held in Ukraine. Multiple emails to top officials within the McCain campaign on Thursday asking about Davis's investments in Ukraine were not returned. These new ties linking Davis to Ukraine, if true, could prove a problem for McCain, who tasked Davis with instituting a rigorous policy for all campaign workers in which lobbying positions and all compensation flowing from them are supposed to be forfeited during the course of the campaign. The very first dictum in that policy reads: "No person working for the Campaign may be a registered lobbyist or foreign agent, or receive compensation for any such activity." Davis himself has already quit his own lobbying firm to work for McCain -- though if he is still receiving compensation from investments which stem from lobbying that the campaign claims Davis never had anything to do with in the first place, the potential for the appearance of hypocrisy is obvious. At a minimum, the lack of transparency and continued speculation regarding the lobbying activities of McCain's campaign chief could smudge the portrait of integrity and reform that the Arizona Republican is trying to paint. However, the situation -- for all its complexities -- is not hopelessly convoluted. As part of his own questionnaire for employees, Davis instructed all McCain staffers to reveal the following: "All personnel must complete the attached questionnaire and return it Ryan Bradel in the Legal Department. It is the personal responsibility of each employee, consultant and volunteer to disclose all previous lobbying employers and clients to the Campaign and to identify issues and clients that could be embarrassing for the Senator and the Campaign." In short: if Rick Davis is profiting from investments in Ukrainian real estate that were developed during the course of any lobbying activities there by his firm, John McCain should already know about it. -- Nico Pitney The Huffington Post P: 202.834.0301 AIM: njpitney GTalk/MSN: nico.pitney@gmail.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the "big campaign" group. To post to this group, send to bigcampaign@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe, send email to bigcampaign-unsubscribe@googlegroups.com E-mail ryan@campaigntodefendamerica.org with questions or concerns This is a list of individuals. It is not affiliated with any group or organization. -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
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As previously announced, Southern Lord Recordings will release a deluxe reissue of one the most essential albums of modern times – Dopesmoker from stoner metal icons, SLEEP. This reissue is entirely remastered from the original smoke-encrusted Ampex reels, and features an unreleased live recording of one their greatest live performances — “Holy Mountain” from San Francisco’s I-Beam in 1994 — as well as a brand new artwork by long time SLEEP artist Arik Roper, who crafted something truly special and consciousness-expanding for the album’s rebirth.
Dopesmoker stands as one of the towering achievements in recent metal history: a mesmerizing, intoxicating, and incredibly complex composition that remains unrivaled in the evolution of stoner metal.
In conjunction with its release, SLEEP will be headlining the 2012 edition of the Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands before departing on a 24-city tour of Europe and the UK commencing May 3 in Wroclaw, Poland.
SLEEP 2012 European Tour Dates:
4/14/2012 Roadburn Festival – Tilburg, Netherlands
5/03/2012 Asymmetry Festival – Wroclaw, Poland w/ A Storm of Light
5/04/2012 Amager Bio – Copenhagen, Denmark w/ A Storm of Light
5/05/2012 Betong – Oslo, Norway w/ A Storm of Light
5/06/2012 Strand – Stockholm, Sweden w/ A Storm of Light
5/08/2012 Tavastia – Helsinki, Finland
5/09/2012 Berghain – Berlin, Germany w/ A Storm of Light
5/10/2012 Conne Island – Leipzig, Germany w/ A Storm of Light
5/11/2012 Lucerna Music Bar – Prague, Czech Republic w/ A Storm of Light
5/12/2012 Club 202 – Budapest, Hungary w/ A Storm of Light
5/13/2012 Tvornica Kulture – Zagreb, Croatia w/ A Storm of Light
5/14/2012 Arena – Vienna, Austria w/ A Storm of Light
5/16/2012 Circolo Degli Artisti – Rome, Italy w/ A Storm of Light
5/17/2012 Fillmore Club – Cortemaggiore, Italy w/ A Storm of Light
5/18/2012 Dachstock – Bern, Switzerland w/ A Storm of Light
5/19/2012 Fzw – Dortmund, Germany w/ A Storm of Light
5/20/2012 Gagarin 205 – Athens, Greece
5/22/2012 The Arches – Glasgow, Scotland w/ A Storm of Light
5/23/2012 Button Factory – Dublin, Ireland w/ A Storm of Light
5/24/2012 Stylus – Leeds, United Kingdom w/ A Storm of Light
5/25/2012 ATP I’ll Be Your Mirror – London, United Kingdom w/ Slayer, Melvins
5/26/2012 Villette, Sonique – Paris, France
5/27/2012 Trix – Antwerp, Belgium w/ A Storm of Light
5/28/2012 Feierwerk – Munich, Germany w/ A Storm of Light
5/31/2012 ATP Primavera Sound Barcelona – Barcelona, Spain w/ Wolves In The Throne Room
“Proceeds the Weedian. Nazareth.”
http://www.weedian.com
http://www.facebook.com/officialsleep
http://www.southernlordrecords.com
http://blog.southernlord.com
http://twitter.com/twatterlord
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News that raging atheist Christopher Hitchens canceled his book tour for his Hitch-22 memoir to deal with throat cancer, has prompted some hot debate on conversions in dire distress. (Yes, I know, the phrase is "deathbed conversions," but, please, he's just begun treatment.)
Believers such as Francis Phillips in The Catholic Herald, muses that Hitchens, the "Scourge of God" might change his tune on the almighty and fire up some prayers.
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Phillips is promptly blasted by comments who call the flippant conversion post "self-centered, childishness" and by atheists who point out that perhaps the lesson to be found is in how many atheists go confidently to the grave certain that it is, indeed, the end.
Rod Dreher at Beliefnet.com suggests folks join in
... praying for his healing, body and soul. Somehow, I doubt the author of God Is Not Great would object; cancer has a way of humbling one in this regard. Anyway, he suffers, and has more to suffer, and needs us to stand with him in whatever way we can.
George Berkin, who writes for the online N.J.com site of the Star-Ledger New Jersey Voices -- blogs by staff and local opinion leaders -- comes down on the God side of the scale with a much heavier hand.
It would be a huge blow to Hitchens' ego (as it is to any ego) to admit that he's been wrong these many years. But Hitchens' rebellion against God has been so public that God may require a very public humbling.
But maybe God is doing it this way because he desires that Hitchens give up his "god," that is, Hitchens' pride in being different from the run-of-the-mill mortal. Maybe God is doing it this way so that Hitchens can encounter the God he has been denying for so long, before eternity sets in.
At Atheist Nexus, unbelievers are ignoring the prayer brigades (except for the insulting remarks about "humbling") but stepping forward with their own best wishes. One poster, identified as Asa Watcher, writes.
...abandonment of faith does not mean we've abandoned hope. It does not mean we abandon respect and love for this guy. It does not mean we deny the deep human feelings of empathy that we are capable of, or the belief that CH can get a feeling for our collective hurt, our broken hearts. It is nice to think that, together, we can make things better for CH. And, really, there is no reason to think that we can't. Nothing wrong with sharing the strength of our positive thoughts.
Of course, there probably are no qualitative studies on deathbed conversions -- for obvious reasons. The studies tend to show people don't necessarily take a sudden turn to a spirituality they never held before, although some fallen-away believers may revive the faith they once followed and find comfort and strength within it.
Will you be sending your best -- be it prayers or thoughts, to Hitchens? And what is your view on how conversion works? Is it a sudden reversal in a time of trauma or a slow reworking of your soul? Can it be both?
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Home Kodi Streaming Guides How To Watch Floyd Mayweather Vs Conor Mcgregor Live Online
How to Watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor On Kodi Free Live Online Nick Michaelson 4 Oct 2017 8 Comments Facebook Twitter Google+
Note: Khabib vs Mcgregor UFC 229 is gaining a lot of hype this year around. You can watch Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Conor Mcgregor live online.
Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather vs Conor ‘Notorious’ McGregor in Las Vegas on 26th August puts an end to a long-awaited speculation where the top-two selling fighters in the world will go head-to-head.
The fight started nothing more than rumors, but in the end we all knew that there was too much money involved to simply let go of this opportunity. Mayweather will have a strong hold of his opponent despite being 40 years old, but the biggest name in mixed martial arts will make things more interesting.
But one may wonder how to watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor on kodi? Read on to learn how you can watch the match on the internet.
How To Watch Mayweather vs McGregor on Kodi V 17
How To Watch Mayweather vs McGregor on Kodi V 16
Cheapest Way to Watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Pay Per View
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Fight Money
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Tickets
How to Watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor on Kodi Krypton Version 17
Launch Kodi > Go to Settings icon which is located at the top > Click on File Manager > Now double click on Add Source, a box will appear. Click on ‘None’ > Type the URL http://repo.cazwall.com/sc/ > Click OK > Type the name of the Media Source ‘SC’ > Click OK. Now tap on the ‘Backspace’ key multiple times until you are back at the Kodi Main Menu > Now click on Add-ons > Click on Package Installer icon located at the top left corner. Select Install from Zip File > Click on SC > Now click on Repository > Now repository.simplycaz-1.0.2.zip > The repository will take time to install. Now click on Install from Repository > Simply Caz Repo > Video Add-ons > Planet MMA > Click Install. After it takes a few minutes to install, you will be able to watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor fight streaming on Kodi.
How to Watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor on Kodi Jarvis Version 16
Launch Kodi > Go to Systems > Click on File Manager > Double click Add Source. Click None > Type URL kodivpn.co/repo/simplycaz.zip > Click OK > Type Media Source Name ‘SC’ > Click OK/Done. Go back to Kodi Main Menu by pressing ‘Backspace’ key multiple times > Go to System > Select Add-ons > Click on Install from Zip File > Locate and click SC > Repository > repository.simplycaz-1.0.2.zip. Wait for the add-on to enable > Select Install from Repository > Simply Caz Repo > Video Add-ons > Planet MMA > Click on Install > Wait for the add-on enable notification on top right. Enjoy the fight!
Cheapest Way to Watch Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Pay Per View
The match will be aired on Showtime PPV and there are lot of ways to get Showtime on your device. Showtime has listed some of the devices from where you can watch the channel. These are presented below:
UFC will also air the match on 26th August but with a subscription fee of $56.96 for 6 months.
However, we do not assume that an individual who wants to watch a single match would pay such a hefty amount for a 6-month subscription. So, we dug a little deeper and found out that UFC offers variable prices for fans living in different countries. Look at this table below:
Country UFC Prices USA $56.99 Canada $43.75 Philippines $18.45 Malaysia $59.99 Russia $27.20
All prices are in US dollars
Now, how do you get an advantage from this offer? You can subscribe to a VPN service and change your location to Philippines, will get things done. VPN makes it impossible for the government and your ISP to track your location, thus it will show your location in Philippines.
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Fight Money
The estimated purses for Mayweather vs McGregor fight are staggering. According to Keith Idec of Boxing Scene, it is estimated that Mayweather alone could at least make $100 million. However, this figure could stroll four times higher if event’s monetary metrics are achieved.
Conor McGregor on the other hand may make at least $75 million which is five times higher than any of his fights he has ever made at the UFC. The official purse for the fight will be made available on August 25th, one day before the fight at the weight-in.
Aussie Media reporting purses for Floyd vs Connor Floyd $400M
McGregor $127M US Presuming PPV targets are hit#MayweatherMcGregor RT — Boxing Kingdom (@BoxingKingdom14) June 15, 2017
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Tickets
Mayweather vs McGregor fight tickets are yet to be offered on for sale by the management. However, it is assumed that VIP tickets could reach up to $19,000 per ticket. Meanwhile, many fake websites have taken this opportunity to deceive fans by selling fake tickets.
Dana White, the CEO for UFC has taken this matter to Twitter where he confirmed that they have yet to decide on the ticket price and fans must be aware of these false companies.
Tickets are NOT on sale yet. Please do not get ripped off. This company is NOT refunding this fans money. We will announce when tix goonsale pic.twitter.com/Z7KAAhkcVI — Dana White (@danawhite) June 23, 2017
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Stats
Despite Conor McGregor being a fierce opponent in the fight, he has lost 3 matches altogether in his UFC career, while winning 21 matches. His last fight in November against Eddie Alvarez earned him two UFC division’s titles simultaneously.
Mayweather holds a staggering stats of 49-0 in his professional boxing career. He defeated Manny Pacquiao against all odds and defied many to become the greatest boxer of his time. He clearly has an upper hand in this match as well when compared on the basis of stats, because facts don’t lie.
Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor Prediction
As the fight will be held under boxing rules, therefore Mayweather makes a strong favorite to win the contest. However, the unusual playing style of Conor McGregor will cause some problems for the undefeated champion, but it still doesn’t prove McGregor will defeat Mayweather.
It is greatly predicted that McGregor’s reach of his arms will be key to his chances. There’s no doubt McGregor has long arms, but it would be interesting to see if he could throw punches from weird angles. Recently, McGregor posted a photo that probably shuts down any criticism made by analysts.
Full 74inch reach. And I’m in Orthodox. A post shared by Conor McGregor Official (@thenotoriousmma) on Jul 2, 2017 at 12:20pm PDT
Despite the odds that are against McGregor, we definitely put our money on Conor ‘Notorious’ McGregor because he is the only fighter who is capable of shocking everyone in the world. Way to go McGregor!
Please share how to watch mayweather vs mcgregor on kodi free guide on social channels and feel free to ask in comments.
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Photo via Flickr user Takver
Expressing support for Israel is one of the least controversial things an American public figure can do. The majority of Americans are sympathetic to Israel, pro-Israel group AIPAC is perhaps the most influential lobbyist organization in DC, and criticizing the Jewish state has long been a “third rail” for both Democrats and Republicans—mention you think Israeli settlements in the West Bank are maybe not the best idea anyone has ever had, and you’ll get zapped by 10,000 volts of strident criticism and accusations of being an anti-Semite.
In the past several months, however, the efforts of anti-Israel activists to portray the country as a pariah have broken through to the mainstream, making generic Zionism no longer the safe position it used to be and forcing Israel’s supporters in the US and elsewhere to respond to the boycotts, divestments, and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Scarlett Johansson’s endorsement of SodaStream, a company that has a factory in an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank, got a bunch of headlines last month, but a more politically charged controversy kicked off in December, when the American Studies Association (ASA), an organization of academics who study US history and culture, voted to boycott Israeli universities for being “a party to state policies that violate human rights.”
Lawmakers in New York and Maryland responded in February by introducing legislation to prevent taxpayer money from going to academic groups that boycott Israel. (Neither bill has gotten close to becoming law.) At the same time, a similar measure—called the “Protect Academic Freedom Act”—was introduced in the US House of Representatives after 134 Republican and Democratic congressmen signed a letter condemning ASA’s decision and accusing the organization of possessing “thinly veiled bigotry and bias against the Jewish State.”
The Protect Academic Freedom Act stalled, however, after a coalition of scholars, activists, and civil-rights organizations pushed back against it, arguing that the law would violate the First Amendment. The bill is so bad, a pro-Israel Democratic strategist told BuzzFeed, that even Jewish groups like AIPAC won’t support it.
Omar Barghouti, a Palestinian human-rights activist who is one of the cofounders of the BDS movement, finds it comforting that pro-Israel legislators are embracing such extreme methods.
“Trying to pass laws through Congress that would delegitimize support for boycotting Israel is quite telling,” Omar wrote to me in an email. “It shows a heightened level of frustration, even despair, by Israel in its abortive attempts to rebrand itself and to win the battle for hearts and minds.”
The BDS movement began in 2005, with the goal of isolating Israel economically and protesting its occupation of territory seized during the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. The ultimate goal is to get Israel to change its policies, just as boycotts against South Africa in the 80s helped speed the end of Apartheid. The BDS argument that Israel is an oppressive colonial state has been strengthened in recent years as Israel’s government has moved sharply to the right (an ideological transition mirrored by AIPAC), and UN investigators have accused Israel of human-rights abuses against Palestinians in Gaza.
In Europe—where negative attitudes toward Israel are much more common than in the US—efforts by human-rights organizations and trade unions have persuaded some investors to cut ties with Israeli companies that profit from activities in occupied Palestine. In January, the Netherlands’ largest pension-fund management company severed relations with five Israeli banks because of their investments in the illegal settlements; that was followed by the largest bank in Denmark's decision to blacklist Bank Hapoalim, Israel’s biggest bank, over similar concerns, as well as Luxembourg’s government pension fund's motion to boycott several Israeli companies. Around the same time, Norway announced that its state-owned investment fund wouldn’t be investing in two Israeli construction companies, because of their involvement in building illegal settlements in East Jerusalem.
“The biggest hindrance for peace talks and for a political solution is the spreading of the illegal settlements,” Liv Tørres, the general secretary for Norwegian People’s Aid, a humanitarian organization that lobbied for the Norwegian boycott, told me. “This is an issue of respecting international law and finding a political solution to the one conflict that has been unsolved and is lying there like a sore aching point for the rest of the world.”
Shahar Azani, the Israeli consul for media affairs in New York, told me the issue of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem “needs to be decided,” but he emphasized that the settlements are often used to obscure the real issues, like Palestinian hostility toward Israel.
“Unfortunately, there have been numerous attacks from the Palestinian and the Arab side against Israel,” he said, noting that Hamas—a group that has said it wants to destroy Israel—took over the Gaza Strip after Israel withdrew its settlers in 2005. “So the ordinary Israeli tells himself, when we take our people out without a final agreement, we allow ourselves to be exposed to tremendous risk.”
Far from taking anyone out, the Israeli government recently announced plans to build 1,400 new homes for settlers in Palestinian territory, despite protests from many world leaders that new settlements would endanger ongoing peace talks between Israel and Palestine. It's still not safe for US officials to speak out against the Jewish state, however. In early February, Secretary of State John Kerry said that Israel could face further boycotts if the two countries fail to reach an agreement, prompting immediate criticism from Israeli officials and American Jewish organizations, which suggested that Kerry was encouraging Palestinians to favor boycotts over negotiations. Yesterday, Kerry spoke at an AIPAC policy conference and emphasized that he didn’t support the BDS movement, saying, “ For more than 30 years, I have staunchly, loudly, and unapologetically opposed boycotts of Israel.”
Meanwhile, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly convened a meeting with senior ministers several days after Kerry’s remarks to discuss ways to combat the growing threat of boycotts, including suing companies that boycott those who do business in the settlements and encouraging anti-boycott legislation in “friendly” countries. (Calling for boycotts against Israel is already illegal within Israel thanks to a law passed in 2011.)
Though legislation targeted at academic boycotts smells too much like a violation of free speech to become law, famed trial lawyer and Israel booster Alan Dershowitz argues that the Constitution does not protect economic boycotts. He told me that Congress could theoretically pass a law to prevent companies that participate in a boycott of Israel from doing business in the United States.
“You can make boycotts illegal, actually criminal, for American companies: Let’s assume that Arizona has a law passed in which businesses can boycott gays. The federal government could make that illegal,” he said. “To me, this is analogous to the legislation boycotting gays or boycotting blacks or boycotting any other protected group.”
The United States already has anti-boycott laws in place. In 1977, Jimmy Carter made it illegal for American companies to participate in the Arab League boycott against Israel (some companies did business in the Arab world anyway and just paid a fine). Although that boycott has almost disappeared—Syria and Lebanon are the only countries that still enforce it—it does set a precedent for outlawing boycott efforts that are not sanctioned by the government.
Dima Khalidi, the director of Palestinian Solidarity Legal Support, an activist group, disagreed, telling me that boycotts that are enacted to bring about political change are unquestionably protected by the First Amendment.
“Like the boycott campaigns against Jim Crow in the southern US, or against the South African apartheid regime, the BDS movement involves nonviolent campaigns by ordinary people to pressure governments to redress a grave injustice,” she wrote in an email.
The BDS movement is clearly making waves, as demonstrated by the impact it had on SodaStream. The Israeli maker of carbonation machines got a lot of bad press after Scarlett Johansson had a public falling-out with the UK-based charity Oxfam over her endorsement of their product, and SodaStream’s stock dropped last month to its lowest point in years, possibly as a result of that controversy and the threat of continued boycotts against the company.
“The mainstream messaging of that story, at least in the UK, was that here is a celebrity forced to pick between a respected development NGO and an Israeli company. And the idea that those two are incompatible,” said British author and pro-Palestinian activist Ben White. “And it means that people will think twice about opening one’s own business or entity to that kind of reputational risk.”
Alex Ellefson is an intern at VICE.
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Obsi
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NewbieActivity: 30Merit: 0 [BOUNTY] 185+ BTC - Open Transactions Client (for Grandmas) September 02, 2012, 08:38:04 PM
Last edit: September 05, 2012, 02:47:47 AM by Obsi #1
I read a bit about it and felt like I should take the short bus from now on. Baskets here, nyms there, Chaumian something or other... it frankly left my head swimming and I put it on my list of things to look into when I had more free time (and possibly a brain upgrade) to try and wrap my head around it.
But that doesn't stop me from realizing that OT is very powerful and can become extremely useful in the future.
So to claim this bounty we need you to provide an easy to use, open source, cross-platform client. Something my grandma (who thinks firefox is "the google", and "internets" her emails to me) would be able to use.
FellowTraveler has stated that the API is high-level & easy to use, so anyone making a client really only needs to worry about the display layer. He recommends using C++ or Java since those are the best tested.
I simply haven't dug into OT enough to adequately make such judgements, so I will defer to FellowTraveler in this regard. If he says you have created such a client I will make good on my portion of the bounty.
Devs and testers are available in #opentransactions on FreeNode
You can read more about OT here:
BOUNTIES
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Obsi - 100 BTC FellowTraveler - 80 BTC da2ce7 - some BTC Donations - 5.2505 BTC
Donations to further fund this bounty may be sent to 1JbgqTVjfrapGQCCup3eZBD69zshoSouKU
I'm not even going to pretend to understand all the features & possibilities that Open Transactions offers.I read a bit about it and felt like I should take the short bus from now on. Baskets here, nyms there, Chaumian something or other... it frankly left my head swimming and I put it on my list of things to look into when I had more free time (and possibly a brain upgrade) to try and wrap my head around it.But that doesn't stop me from realizing that OT is very powerful and can become extremely useful in the future.So to claim this bounty we need you to provide an easy to use, open source, cross-platform client. Something my grandma (who thinks firefox is "the google", and "internets" her emails to me) would be able to use.FellowTraveler has stated that the API is high-level & easy to use, so anyone making a client really only needs to worry about the display layer. He recommends using C++ or Java since those are the best tested.I simply haven't dug into OT enough to adequately make such judgements, so I will defer to FellowTraveler in this regard. If he says you have created such a client I will make good on my portion of the bounty.Devs and testers are available in #opentransactions on FreeNodeYou can read more about OT here: https://github.com/FellowTraveler/Open-Transactions/wiki BOUNTIES-------------
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freetx
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NewbieActivity: 48Merit: 0 Re: [BOUNTY] 185+ BTC - Open Transactions Client (for Grandmas) September 03, 2012, 04:24:10 AM #3 I fully agree with your view Obsi: Open-transactions is huge and I'm too dim to fully get a handle on it all, but I like it!
It's a great way forward. We now have a distributed trusted currency (btc), but need a way to apply distributed and trusted business logic vis a via this currency.
The problem I see is the full OT vision is a little to large to tackle all at once. It spirals into so many different areas that its mind-boggling. Hence, I think the best way forward is for someone to break off a small chunk and try to make that "simple enough for Grandma". Particularly, by solving a real problem / doing something people want to do.
I think the "Smart Contract" feature may be a good place to start because of the obvious practical applications. Moreover, "signing a contract" is something that we all already know...there is a direct analogue to the physical world....whereas issuing digitally signed currencies will seem like outer-space talk to Grandma.
Want to bet $10 with your friends that the Giants are going to win the game....fire up your handy Qik Contract program you downloaded from the App Store and publish a bet against them...etc..
The beauty of this, is that it doesn't even need to involve BTC originally, so no complicated learning curve. Simply an easy, secure, distributed contract app. However, this sets things up perfectly as a gateway into BTC because compensation for a contract is the obvious next step.
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Activity: 41
Merit: 0
NewbieActivity: 41Merit: 0 Re: [BOUNTY] 185+ BTC - Open Transactions Client (for Grandmas) September 05, 2012, 02:24:36 AM #4 Quote from: freetx on September 03, 2012, 04:24:10 AM I fully agree with your view Obsi: Open-transactions is huge and I'm too dim to fully get a handle on it all, but I like it!
It's a great way forward. We now have a distributed trusted currency (btc), but need a way to apply distributed and trusted business logic vis a via this currency.
The problem I see is the full OT vision is a little to large to tackle all at once. It spirals into so many different areas that its mind-boggling. Hence, I think the best way forward is for someone to break off a small chunk and try to make that "simple enough for Grandma". Particularly, by solving a real problem / doing something people want to do.
I agree with this.
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I think the "Smart Contract" feature may be a good place to start because of the obvious practical applications. Moreover, "signing a contract" is something that we all already know...there is a direct analogue to the physical world....whereas issuing digitally signed currencies will seem like outer-space talk to Grandma.
Maybe. I think the best little chunk to break off and apply for a stripped down OT client would be the untraceable digital cash. If there was client that did just this small portion, while interfacing with a server that was issuing "provably-backed" fully-redeemable bitcoin tokens the demand is there. A truly anonymised layer on top of bitcoin, sure why not? Call them SilkBit tokens. Bitcoin is more fungible than traceable digital fiat (imo creates demand), truly anonymous digital cash is more fungible than bitcoins ... the market gets what the market wants.
I agree with this.Maybe. I think the best little chunk to break off and apply for a stripped down OT client would be the untraceable digital cash. If there was client that did just this small portion, while interfacing with a server that was issuing "provably-backed" fully-redeemable bitcoin tokens the demand is there. A truly anonymised layer on top of bitcoin, sure why not? Call them SilkBit tokens. Bitcoin is more fungible than traceable digital fiat (imo creates demand), truly anonymous digital cash is more fungible than bitcoins ... the market gets what the market wants.
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Ryan Flanagan, CTV Kitchener
A Kitchener man has been arrested after allegedly assaulting three people while armed with a weapon.
Reports of the assault brought police officers to an apartment building on Cedarwoods Crescent, off of Kingsway Drive, around 3 a.m. Friday.
One of the three people ended up being taken to hospital. Waterloo Regional Police say that person received minor injuries.
The police investigation also extended to the intersection of King Street and Pandora Avenue, where a command post was set up.
Nelson Carapanta arrived near that intersection Friday morning for work. He described the situation at that time as “pure chaos.”
“The place was covered in police,” he said.
Several police officers were seen on a property on King near Pandora.
Police had asked the public for help locating a 25-year-old Kitchener man in connection with the assaults.
Late Friday, morning, they said that the man had been found and taken to get medical treatment for minor injuries.
They also said that one man had been arrested without incident, although they would not confirm if that man was the 25-year-old in question.
Additionally, police said that they were looking for a crowbar or similar item believed to have been used in the attack.
With reporting by Leena Latafat
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Xbox One update – external drives, Hulu Plus for Gold subscribers
Delivering as promised, Microsoft is pushing out updates not just to the Xbox One but also to the Xbox 360. And with this update comes not only support for external drives and real names in Xbox Live, but also a few goodies for Xbox Live Gold subscribers.
Last month, Microsoft gave a sneak peek at what’s coming in its biggest update yet. One particular feature that has caught the attention of many gamers is support for external drives to augment the Xbox One’s own 500 GB storage. As mentioned then, drives with capacities over and above 256 GB are supported via a USB 3.0 connection. Special formatting and security checks are also put in place to authenticate games installed on this secondary drive, making such data storage unsuitable for any other use outside of being a game repository. Now that the feature will be available for all, we might be seeing more proof of how certain external drives can actually make games load faster than when using the built-in Samsung storage.
Though the update is already notable with that new feature alone, it does come with other improvements across the Xbox gaming ecosystem. Real names can now be used on Xbox Live accounts, perhaps making it easier for real friends to find and identify you. New privacy settings, however, will hopefully keep non-friends from finding out your true identity. SmartGlass, the companion app for tablets and smartphones, also gained a few new abilities in this round, particularly OneGuide and Universal Remote Control integration.
But aside from gaming updates, Microsoft is also giving its exclusive Gold club members a few treats. This comes in a three-month free trial of Hulu Plus, exclusive only to Xbox Live Gold subscribers. Hulu Plus joins the roster of 180 apps and services that Microsoft is making available both to the current Xbox One as well as the last gen Xbox 360.
The update to the Xbox One and Xbox 360 will be rolling out to owners this week, while the Hulu Plus offering will be coming in the next few days. Of course, Gold members need to sign up for Hulu Plus to avail of this deal, which they can do right from the convenience of the Hulu Plus app.
SOURCE: Microsoft
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But Trump has also ventured beyond mere name-calling, turning the 2016 election into a competition between knowledge systems: the tell-it-like-it-is “people” versus the know-it-all “elites.” His campaign insisted for months that pollsters and technocrats and media would be proven wrong by his electoral success. The fact that he did win dealt a blow to an entire worldview, one in which empirical inquiry and truth-telling were supposed to triumph in the end. The question, now, is whether it’s possible to run an executive branch based on hostility toward experts and professionals of all political stripes — and how many billionaires and Ivy Leaguers Trump can appoint before this rhetorical pose begins to break down altogether.
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The notion that distant elites might be conspiring against the people comes straight from the Founding Fathers, whose Declaration of Independence lamented the “long train of abuses and usurpations” inflicted upon ordinary Americans by an arrogant British king. From there on, United States history might be seen as a repeating cycle of anti-elite revolt. The Jacksonians rebelled against the Founders’ aristocratic pretensions. Northern “free labor” went to war against the oligarchical slavocracy. And the Populist revolts of the late 19th century adapted this story to modern capitalism, with farmers and laborers rebelling against robber barons, bankers, time-management experts and college-educated professionals.
The first historians to study those Populists described them as heroic crusaders, champions of the “people” against the “powers.” But by the middle of the 20th century, alarmed by the rise of fascism and homegrown demagogues like Senator Joseph McCarthy, a new generation of scholars took a more anxious view of the anti-elite spirit. In his 1955 book “The Age of Reform,” Richard Hofstadter dismissed the Populists as backward-looking, provincial anti-Semites, the latent fascists of their day. Eight years later, his “Anti-Intellectualism in American Life” documented a dangerous suspicion of “the critical mind” that seemed to course through the national culture. From his perspective, the 1952 election captured everything wrong with American political life, with Dwight Eisenhower’s “philistinism” winning over Adlai Stevenson’s “intellect.”
The question is whether it’s possible to run an executive branch based on hostility toward experts and professionals of all political stripes.
Hofstadter did not usually describe his ideal intellectually minded citizens as members of an “elite.” That word conveyed something different — a ruling class that held direct political and economic power. The most famous articulation of this view came from the sociologist C. Wright Mills, in his 1956 assessment of America’s “power elite.” “They rule the big corporations,” Mills wrote. “They run the machinery of the state and claim its prerogatives. They direct the military establishment.” In Mills’s view, these people were tied together not by culture or ideology but by their positions at the helms of large, ever-more-complex institutions. As individuals, they might be Republicans or Democrats, and might live in Ohio or California. The point was that they were in charge of things.
But that vision never gained much traction in mainstream politics, where a more partisan, targeted definition was starting to emerge. William F. Buckley Jr. carved out some essentials in his first book, “God and Man at Yale,” drawing a neat distinction between respectable Ivy-educated men like himself and the socialistic eggheads of the professoriate. Ronald Reagan chose the term “elite” to bring it all together in his famed 1964 speech, “A Time for Choosing,” delivered on behalf of the Republican presidential candidate Barry Goldwater. “This is the issue of this election,” he said: “whether we believe in our capacity for self-government or whether we abandon the American Revolution and confess that a little intellectual elite in a far-distant capitol can plan our lives for us better than we can plan them ourselves.”
Lyndon Johnson won that election in a blowout, but Reagan’s vision of a smug and detached liberal elite helped spark the oncoming “culture wars,” pitting a supposedly indignant Middle America against the liberal snobs of the coasts. By the 1990s, with the rise of right-wing media stars like Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly, bashing the “liberal elite” had become a favorite blood sport of the American right.
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Despite all the abuse hurled their way, some “liberal elites” have accepted at least part of their detractors’ critique, particularly on the progressive left. It was during Bill Clinton’s presidency that the social critic Christopher Lasch published “The Revolt of the Elites and the Betrayal of Democracy,” which mourned that “upper-middle-class liberals” had turned into “petulant, self-righteous, intolerant” scolds, thoroughly out of touch with the concerns of Middle America. Since then, the torch has passed to a younger generation of writers, including MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, whose 2012 “Twilight of the Elites” called for rethinking the entire ethos of liberal “meritocracy” — a system, he argued, that tends to fuel self-congratulation and incompetence at the top while offering little but contempt and dim prospects for those at the bottom.
So as 2017 begins, we find ourselves in a strange and uncertain political moment. Antipathy toward a wealthy, preening managerial class seems to be gaining popularity across the political spectrum — and, oddly, to have helped elect a wealthy, preening incoming president. Meanwhile, both liberal and conservative “elites” are scrambling to figure out what happens if the president-elect continues to reject basic political norms and even routine intelligence briefings. Under a Trump presidency, such “elites” may have no choice but to attempt a radical redefinition of their role in American life. Otherwise, the man in the White House will do it for them.
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Champions, we're pleased to announce that for a limited time the Lifetime Subscription is 33% off! This awesome sale lasts till 10:00 AM PST January 5th, 2014. These subscriptions come with everything you need!
With multiple character slots that come free with your subscription, you can get to work on your new custom hero right away. All the powers of the premium Archetypes unlocked means you'll have loads to pick and choose from. Get all the powers of the Tempest, the Scourge, and more. Check out all the different Archetypes you'll unlock automatically when you subscribe.
Along with all the amazing archetypes that come free with being a Gold Member, you'll be able to enjoy multiple travel powers. You can fly into combat with a burst of flames, or surf the skies with your personal hover disk. These powers are unlocked for all your characters, opening up tons of possibilities.
With all your new found powers, you need a look that shows off your heroism. Gold Members get immediate access to loads of free costume sets, more than 400 parts in total, as an automatic unlock. Gear up for the fight with the Sakura Mecha Armor that comes free with your subscription. Your dueling gunslinger will be thankful for the bandolier and extra bullets that come free with the High Plains Drifter set. Finally, what type of Spartan doesn't wear his signature cape and Spartan Armor before entering combat? These are just a few of the costumes you'll get for free when you become a subscriber.
Gold players also get a monthly stipend of 500 ZEN, half the price of the monthly subscription. That's enough to pick up an entire set of our costumes, such as the newest Holoforce Armor or the formidable Tactical Armor. You'll also get loads of costume sets, more than 400 parts in total, as an automatic unlock.
These are just some of the exciting features that come with being a subscriber - read more about all the wonderful benefits of being a subscribing Gold Member. Remember, this subscription discount will only last till January 5th 2014, 10:00 AM PST. Subscribe now to get all these benefits in Champions Online.
Charge ZEN now and pick up the latest items on the C-Store, or upgrade to Gold and get bonuses including freeform power selection, Gold costume sets, and Veteran Rewards!
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - War crimes trials at Guantanamo Bay for suspects accused of attacks against the United States have ground to a near halt a decade after the military courts' creation, with lawyers warning that some detainees could spend many more years waiting to be tried.
Despite President Barack Obama's early vows to close the facility in eastern Cuba amid charges that suspects had been tortured, the United States continues to spend some $91 million a year on military trials at the base, which has 61 remaining inmates.
"The military commissions in their current state are a farce," Marine Brigadier General John Baker, the chief defense counsel, said last month at a Washington legal conference, of the tribunals that prosecute detainees. "The Guantanamo Bay military commissions have been characterized by delay, government misconduct and incompetence, and more delay."
James Connell, a defense lawyer for Kuwaiti Ammar al Baluchi, one of five suspects on trial for their alleged roles in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, said that trial was not likely until maybe 2020, almost two decades after airline hijackers killed nearly 3,000 people.
Because the court and much of the evidence lies outside the United States, the trial "is 100 times more complex than even a complex ordinary death penalty case," said Connell.
In contrast with Guantanamo, federal prosecutors operating in U.S. courts have secured more than 340 terrorism convictions over the last decade, a Justice Department spokesman said. Tanzanian Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was transferred from Guantanamo to New York in 2009, and 17 months later a civilian jury convicted him for his role in al Qaeda bombings in East Africa. He is serving a life sentence.
Just six Guantanamo cases have resulted in convictions so far, with two guilty verdicts being appealed, according to the military commissions' website. In one appeals case, a federal court overturned two of the three convictions of Ali Hamza al Bahlul, the suspected publicist for slain al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. An appeal decision is pending on the third charge.
Pentagon officials defended the pace of proceedings, saying that it takes time to resolve many of the classified documents submitted as evidence.
"The Department of Defense is committed to fairness and transparency in the military commissions proceedings," Pentagon spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Valerie Henderson said in an email.
'RISK-AVERSE SYSTEM'
President George W. Bush signed the law creating the tribunals on Oct. 17, 2006, after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down previous tribunals set up to try al Qaeda suspects, ruling that they violated U.S. military law and the Geneva Conventions.
Obama took office in 2009 and vowed to close the prison. He approved legislation that included barring the use of evidence obtained under torture. The effort to close Guantanamo stalled amid opposition from Congress, with Republicans saying many of the prisoners are too dangerous to release.
John Yoo, who helped draft the Bush administration's legal strategy after 9/11, said the Guantanamo courts were designed for plea bargaining to get suspects to cooperate with government intelligence agencies.
The Supreme Court ruling "slowed the whole thing down, and it has become a risk-averse system that doesn't want to make another mistake," said Yoo, now a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley.
Government interference is also an issue. Sept. 11 defense lawyers have found their meeting rooms bugged, had mail with clients seized, and contend that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has tried to infiltrate a defense team.
Last year, a Sept. 11 suspect at Guantanamo recognized that a court interpreter had also worked at a Central Intelligence Agency prison where he was held.
"Every issue that comes up is a new and novel issue that can take days" to resolve, said Morris Davis, a former Air Force colonel and the first Guantanamo prosecutor.
(Reporting by Ian Simpson; Editing by Scott Malone and Andrew Hay)
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The question of how to beat Barcelona is one few have answered with much success in recent years.
A second Champions League final is the prize for Chelsea if they come up with the solution. A referee, a penalty shoot-out and a "ghost" goal have left the Blues cursing the fates in their attempts to win the trophy coveted above all others by owner Roman Abramovich. But to beat Barca they must have the hardest workers and the bravest defenders.
Solving a problem like Messi Lionel Messi Messi plays between the lines, dropping into the space between midfield and attack. Chelsea must mark him zonally, passing him on to a team-mate when he leaves their zone. This requires exceptional communication and concentration
The great irony for Chelsea is that Jose Mourinho, their former manager whose shadow still looms large over Stamford Bridge, is one of only a handful to get the better of Barcelona, notably with Inter Milan in 2010.
The Catalans claimed a "tear had rolled down the face of the game" after bowing out to the Serie A side in the semi-finals that season.
Barca won the second leg at home 1-0, having completed 548 passes to Inter's 67, but still went out 3-2 on aggregate.
Chelsea must not, however, be afraid of embracing the Special One's blueprint if they are to prevail this time around.
Here, some of those who know Barcelona best, reveal the secrets of their success and how to stop them...
The five-second rule: when to press and when to drop off
Barcelona are devastating in attack but their ability to win the ball back swiftly is vital to their success.
Albert Capellas, formerly of Barca's famed La Masia academy, told me of the "five-second rule", where the team press their opponents immediately on losing possession but then drop deep if they fail to regain it within five seconds.
Barca then wait for precise triggers to press again. If a pass bounces off a foot, or an attacker needs to look down at the ball - as soon as their opponents' options are limited, Barca pounce again.
Chelsea must therefore prioritise holding the ball when they win it and breaking Barca's rhythm.
Equally, they must not be afraid to fight fire with fire and deny Victor Valdes, Gerard Pique and others the chance to take the ball into midfield and on to the "passing carousel", as Sir Alex Ferguson describes it.
The goalkeeper and the back four rarely punt the ball long, so if Chelsea can force hurried clearances, their greater physicality gives them a chance to regain possession.
Focus, concentrate, communicate - and never lose sight of Messi
Chelsea v Barcelona in the Champions League 2008-09 - semi-final Barcelona 0-0 Chelsea; Chelsea 1-1 Barcelona (Barcelona win on away goals) 2006-07 - group stage Chelsea 1-0 Barcelona; Barcelona 2-2 Chelsea 2005-06 - last 16 Chelsea 1-2 Barcelona; Barcelona 1-1 Chelsea (Barcelona win 3-2 on agg) 2004-05 - last 16 Barcelona 2-1 Chelsea; Chelsea 4-2 Barcelona (Chelsea win 5-4 on agg) 1999-2000 - quarter-final Chelsea 3-1 Barcelona; Barcelona 5-1 Chelsea (Barcelona win 6-4 on agg)
"You cannot lose sight of [Lionel] Messi when he plays - he has got qualities similar to Maradona. You must always know where he is," said Johan Cruyff before last year's Champions League final against Manchester United.
Some teams defend with position, Barcelona defend with possession. Last season, they averaged 72% possession in La Liga and are close to that figure again this time. But it is crucial Chelsea concentrate as hard when they have the ball as when they don't.
If Messi, as he often does, robs a defender high up the field, he will be through on goal in a flash. Chelsea must always know where he is.
The question of how you mark him must also be resolved. The Argentine plays between the lines, dropping into the space between midfield and attack. If you man-mark him, he draws his marker away, allowing Xavi, Pedro and Andres Iniesta more time and space.
If a central defender steps out to track Messi, others exploit the space. Chelsea must mark him zonally, passing him on to a team-mate when he leaves their zone. This requires great communication and concentration.
Be strong, be direct
Rafael Benitez, whose Liverpool side beat Barcelona over two legs in 2007, said: "If you can be physical and direct against Barcelona, that will give you a chance. But this is a side that does not allow their opponents to stick to their plans."
Teams who have caused Barcelona problems have been fast and physical. Chelsea will need willing runners and direct passing if they are to turn Pique and Javier Mascherano.
If Didier Drogba or Fernando Torres can offer runs in behind the Barcelona defence and Frank Lampard can ping passes over the top, Barcelona's rearguard is likely to edge slowly back towards its own goal.
This will make them a less compact team and the quick short-passing game they thrive on will be more difficult to play.
It's easy to say but almost impossible to do. Chelsea have to defend for their lives, close down all the space, then when they get half a chance lump it into the box. Not very sophisticated, not very clever but it may be their best opportunity. Chelsea have to try to play their power against Barca. In order to do that you need to be physically strong, but you also need to have the ball and you don't get a hell of a lot of it when Barca are playing at their best. The best attempt has been Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid in losing last year's Champions League semi-final 3-1 on aggregate. He played a 4-3-2-1 system and the three just sat in front of the centre-backs where Barcelona like to play, in those little holes. If you stop Xavi, Messi and Iniesta playing in that area you've got a chance.
Stop Busquets
Sergio Busquets protects and serves. He is the vital, central cog, the steel to Messi's silk. Only Xavi completed more passes per match in La Liga last season; only Pique regained possession more often.
Busquets starts many of the moves that end with Barca putting the ball in the net.
Raul Meireles is likely to start just behind Chelsea's frontman, but his main responsibility must be to deny Busquets time to lift his head and feed Barca's most potent attacking threats.
Start with a bang and target set-pieces
Barca occasionally take time to warm to their task. Of the 37 goals they have conceded this season, 18 have come in the first 15 minutes of either half. Much of this has to do with the rhythm of their famed tiki-taka possession game - it takes time for the carousel to gather momentum.
An early goal would breathe life into Chelsea's hopes and lift the players and fans. Another area where Chelsea will have an edge is set-pieces; Barcelona are only likely to have two players over six feet tall in their side.
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Brendan is beginning his college football career at Indiana University in Bloomington, but his relationship with his high-school-age boyfriend, Casper, is strained. Brendan knew parting from Casper would be tough, but he didn’t count on the temptations of a major Midwestern university. He’s surrounded by hot young men and the hottest of them all is his very own team-mate and the quarterback of the IU football team, Gabrial Diaddio. Brendan knows he’s in trouble the moment his eyes fall on Gabrial. When Gabrial begins to pursue him, Brendan’s troubles only deepen and he begins to wonder if he should keep up his long distance relationship with Casper or free himself to explore the sexy, college boys who surround and entice him.
Marc is bold, openly gay, and still in high school, but when he meets Dorian his confidence in his ability to be himself is shaken. Marc is a skater and soccer jock. Dorian is incredibly sexy and cute, but he’s also stereotypically gay. Marc finds himself drawn to Dorian, but when Marc’s team-mates give him a hard time about his new “girlfriend” he has second thoughts. Should he suffer the taunts and ridicule of his team-mates or push Dorian away to protect his reputation as a jock?
This is the 26th novel published by Mark A. Roeder.
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I was at the bookstore today, and my buddy Mur (who is awesome and also just got interviewed by USA Today, and has a new book coming out which includes many things that really truly happened to us in New Orleans) gave a book a vague recommendation. “It’s okay,” she said. “It didn’t work for me, but it might for you. I’ll loan it to you.”
“Eh,” I said, realizing that there was no chance I would read this book. “I’m just not reading very much genre fiction these days. Well, our genre, anyway.”
And this is the truth. My genre–my great love and the one that everything I write wanders into–is fantasy. I love fantasy. I love it dearly and I believe it is terribly important and it was the one thing I wanted to read as a kid and god help me, I am so very sick of nearly all of it.
There are still a few authors that I will buy instantly, immediately, without checking my bank balance. Most of them are fantasy, though a couple of mystery/horror have slunk in there. And I read them. And I enjoy them.
And I go on jags where what I want is Miss Marple or Brother Cadfael (and the nice thing about being me is that my memory is not what it used to be and I can’t always remember who the bad guy is.) or Georgette Heyer, and I re-read them with great love. And there are times when I re-read fantasy I love, and I still love it very much. It is a visit to an old and much-loved friend’s house.
But I scan the new book section of Barnes & Noble and go “Cloak-guy, Cloak-guy, Steampunk Guy, Cloak-guy, Tiger, Cloak-guy, John Jude Palencar That I Would Buy A Print Of But Not The Book, Tough Urban Fantasy Woman, Cloak-guy.*”
None of it excites me. It’s the setting, I think. Has to be. I picked up The Ghost Bride and read it in two fascinated days. When I discovered Sarah Addison Allen’s magical realism books, I devoured every single one, one after another.
I think I am tired of Fantasyland.
You know where it is. It’s the vague European city and countryside that has no sense of place to it. (Chocolat, for example, was magical realism set in a European city, but it by god had a sense of place to it that is not remotely found in most fantasy. I would not cry if most of these cities were half so clearly rendered as Chocolat.) There are no plants in it that are not darkly dripping trees, healing herbs, cloak-catching brambles or grass suitable for feeding horses/rolling around in. Oh, and heather. You can order a DLC pack with heather in it, if you’re trying to write a vaguely Celtic fantasy. Angry carnivorous vines cost extra.
The only birds are crows, swans, eagles, and vultures, forming a somewhat improbable aerial food-chain.
This is not, however, a call for more non-Eurocentric fantasy, because people have made that call better than I will, and anyway, I write many things set in vaguely European fantasy worlds and so I have no moral high-ground whatsoever.
(Perhaps that’s part of the problem. A book set in Fantasyland is not escapism for me anymore, it’s attending a party at work. Reading most fantasy novels now is pretty much a staycation.)
Perhaps it’s just a call for books to take me someplace that I haven’t been already. Many, many times.
Most of the books I read and love now are set in places, when I think of it, some of them real-ish, like–McCall’s Botswana or Peters’ England, some of them not, like McKinley’s Damar and Pratchett’s Discworld. (The rest seem to have grisly murders. Suitably grisly murders will stand in just fine for a sense of place, apparently.)
I cannot bear what China Mieville does to his characters most times, and I will still buy any Bas-Lag book he puts out, even if Iron Council did make me want to yell “Yes, we get it, you’re a communist, that’s fine, you’re among friends.” Because his books will take me somewhere I have not been.
And I return to LeGuin’s Kesh whenever I am reminded, because that is a place, a real and true place, that merely happens not to exist. Gont and Atuan too, though not quite so starkly.
Hand in hand with my increasing ennui toward Fantasyland is a great boredom with its denizens. You will have to do something truly extraordinary with fairies to impress me these days. Otherwise they are just more people from work. “This is Oberon, from Accounting.” (Do not even talk to me about vampires.) Dragons have been done and dragons that are friendly characters have been done and I have witnessed many states of their done-ness and about the only one that I still find interesting is the one where they are a not-particularly-exciting form of vermin, because very few people do that yet.
I am desperately tired of farmboys in search of their lonely destiny, and if you are going to introduce yourself as a ranger, you goddamn well be putting out fires and fretting over declining woodpecker populations in the next paragraph.
If you are plucky or spunky or feisty, I come pre-tired of you.
If you are from the Kingdom of Blah, ruled by blah, and must awaken the blah within yourself, with the aid of a rag-tag band of misfit blahs, in a desperate race against time before the terrible Blah occurs, we are done here.
(And yet I still love fairy tales. They still work for me. I do not know why this should be, but it is. I could read fairy tales and fairy-tale retellings all day, and sometimes I do.)
This is not, believe it or not, a call for recommendations. I am actually pretty okay with my ennui. It is as if I have acquired a weird and genre-specific form of depression–no, I don’t care, I don’t even care that I don’t care, there are days when I care very much but not many and mostly there is simply no reason to get out of the fantasy bed in the morning if the day is only going to be more dragons and heroes and vampires and nobody is going to bother to grow peas.
Sadly, while I have dealt with depression as it applies to life, I am not sure how one deals with it when it comes to a genre. They do not make fantasy-specific Zoloft. There are no therapies available for when you have burned out your sense of literary wonder.
So I flail away at my books set in deserts and my gardener heroes, I throw saints into everything because fantasy is sadly bereft of saints, and I try not to feel too much guilt about that thing I just finished that was set in a vaguely European forest or that other thing with the castle. I write about priests and grandmothers and hoopoes in waistcoats.
But mostly I just scan over the new releases and feel no desire to read any of them.
(And some of them are by friends! Who are good people! Who I want to support, and who I KNOW are doing exciting things with the genre, and I just…got nuthin’. Mind you, I still buy the books, because I want to be supportive. And Kevin reads them.)
So I sit in the tub with gardening books. And mysteries. And Gothics. There is no shortage of reading material out there. And except for the vague feeling of guilt that I should be reading this because I’m writing it, and if I don’t love it enough to read it, why the hell am I writing it?–I’m fine with that.
I have no desire to write mysteries. If I try, the protagonist turns into a were-bear. (I tried. It happened.) Fantasy is the thing I do.
I just find, increasingly, that when I’m off work, I want to leave Fantasyland and go someplace else for awhile. And so few books in my genre seem able to do that.
*Seriously, Cloak-guy is getting around. Mur and I counted sixteen hooded figures in flowy cloaks on covers last week, and only two of them were on Assassin’s Creed novelizations.
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Several gay rights activists have been arrested by police after attempting to stage a gay pride rally in Moscow.
One of the activists attempted to unfurl a rainbow flag as they were arrested by police.
During the incident, around 30 counter-demonstrators threw eggs at those participating in the pride parade.
It is understood that the rally was not authorised in advanced, and that a Moscow court had banned them from demonstrating.
Gay rights activist Nikolai Alexeyev tweeted saying he was “beaten” at the event, and that the fingers on his left hand were “probably” broken.
Alexeyev also tweeted later that he was being taken to hospital by police.
Several counter-demonstrators were also detained by police.
Those arrested were loaded onto waiting vans.
Gay pride parades are often rejected by authorities in Russia, and LGBT people face persecution.
In 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a bill into law which federally bans the “promotion of non-traditional sexual relationships.”
Update: The headline of this article originally read ‘Moscow Pride’. this was updated to read ‘Moscow pride rally, to reflect that the rally was an unsanctioned demonstration, not the official Moscow Pride celebrations.
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There's been a lot of discussion recently about the ease of use of websites for linux distributions, particularly Debian. We thought we'd take a look at how the top linux distributions design their home pages.
We ran the top distributions from distrowatch (any with more than 1,000 hits per day) through ScreenLab to see how users are likely to view their site. Here's what we found:
Mint
linuxmint.com
This is the top distribution on distrowatch. As you might expect for such a site, their layout is fairly classically consumer focussed. There's a hot area in the centre where you can find latest news and information about the different versions and another hot patch on the advertisements. Their site scores similarly to bing.com.
Ubuntu
ubuntu.com
Ubuntu are another consumer focussed distribution and their site again takes a classic design path. Unlike Mint, Ubuntu push a strong call to action with their pre-order button for the Ubuntu phone. Whether this is the product that visitors are looking for is a separate matter. The corporate flavour of the website is reflected in scoring similarities to comcast.com and att.com.
Debian
debian.org
Debian's website has a plainer style than Ubuntu or Mint with no strong call to action. The overall design is more informative, with large amounts of space given over to text. This puts Debian's site in the realm of babycenter.com or webmd.com.
openSUSE
opensuse.org
OpenSUSE present visitors with a set of action buttons, with the strongest being "Get it". The design is similar to Mint but keeps things a little simpler and scores similarly to vimeo.com or other more entertainement sites which act as content vectors.
Fedora
getfedora.org
Fedora's website focussed on the three product offerings from the recent reorganisation. The lower impact description of these offerings is offset by the higher impact section below, drawing attention to the key fedora philosophy. The page design is closer to a marketplace type website, such as walmart.com.
CentOS
centos.org
The CentOS website bears similarity to the Ubuntu site in overall design. Again a strong call to action is presented, with a smaller hotspot on accompanying advertisements. In this case, the call to action is for the core CentOS product. The site design scores like a typical corporate site, such as hp.com or adobe.com.
Discussion
The different distributions adopt quite radically different designs. It does seem true to suggest that the Debian website is not designed with a strong push to the download options as discussed elsewhere. However, the different designs do, to some degree, follow the different philosophies of the distributions themselves. The strong call to action from Ubuntu reflects Canonical's efforts to grow into new markets. Debian's information-based site is more concerned with telling you about their product than selling it. Mint and openSUSE have the most typical consumer focussed sites, with fairly strong calls to action while fedora concentrates on the recent division of their core offerings. CentOS provide a nice, strong call to action, perhaps because the enterprise oriented visitors to their site already know what they need.
The wide range of designs observed amongst the most popular linux distributions reflects the wide range of approaches the distributions themselves take. It's this diversity that gives us the healthy ecosystem that allows projects like ScreenLab to develop. So perhaps we should cut Debian some slack if we have trouble finding the download link?
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Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Widow Jean McConville left behind 10 children, as Chris Buckler reports
An alleged former senior IRA member charged with aiding and abetting the murder of Jean McConville has been refused bail.
The Belfast mother-of-10 was taken from her flat by the IRA in December 1972.
Ivor Bell, 77, alleged to have been a senior member in the Provisional IRA in the 1970s, was arrested at his home in west Belfast, on Tuesday.
He was refused bail on Saturday after a police officer told the court there was a high risk of him absconding.
A solicitor for Mr Bell told Belfast Magistrates Court his client was not involved in the murder of Jean McConville.
He said the case against him was based on the Boston College tapes and "the evidence was not credible".
Image copyright PAcemaker Image caption Ivor Bell was refused bail on Saturday
A police officer, however, said the evidence pointed to Ivor Bell playing a critical role in aiding and abetting in the murder of Mrs McConville.
He said Mr Bell was a frail 77-year-old grandfather who had suffered two heart attacks in recent years as well as having neck and bowel problems.
Mrs McConville, 37, became known as one of the Disappeared.
Children and grandchildren of mother-of-ten Jean McConville were in court to see Ivor Bell charged in connection with her murder. They sat silently at the side of the courtroom and stared at the accused. Friends and family of 77-year-old Ivor Bell were also there. The court was told he was a frail grandfather who had suffered two recent heart attacks and had arthritis. He did not speak in court, but nodded his head to confirm he understood the charges against him. At the end of the 40-minute hearing, the judge thanked everyone for their dignified silence during proceedings.
She was kidnapped in front of her children after being accused of having been an informer - a claim that was later dismissed following an official investigation by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman
She was held at one or more houses before being shot and buried in secret. Her body was eventually recovered on a beach in County Louth in August 2003.
Nobody has ever been charged with her murder.
The Disappeared are those who were abducted, murdered and secretly buried by republicans during the Troubles.
The IRA admitted in 1999 that it murdered and buried at secret locations nine of the Disappeared.
The Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains was established in 1999 by a treaty between the British and Irish governments.
It lists 16 people as "disappeared". Despite extensive searches, the remains of seven of them have not been found.
Mr Bell was part of an IRA delegation, which also included Sinn Féin's Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness, that held secret talks with the British government in London in 1972.
The Boston College tapes are a series of candid, confessional interviews with former loyalist and republican paramilitaries, designed to be an oral history of the Troubles.
The paramilitaries were told the tapes would only be made public after their deaths. However, after a series of court cases in the United States, some of the content has been handed over to the authorities.
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Mixed messages (Image: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
THE debate on global warming is heating up in Alaska.
US president Barack Obama embarked on a trip around the state this week, observing the impact of climate change and calling for solutions. But last month his administration granted Shell permits to drill for oil off Alaska’s coast, risking calls of hypocrisy from environmental activists.
In 2013, Shell was forced to suspend activity in the Arctic after technical difficulties, including an offshore drilling barge that ran aground, narrowly avoiding an environmental disaster.
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Despite protests and proposed counter-legislation, the company was granted permits to resume drilling in the Chukchi Sea on 17 August. Obama defended the decision on Saturday, saying it was a necessary measure while the US looks toward renewable energy. “Even as we accelerate this transition, our economy still has to rely on oil and gas,” he said.
US government officials and Shell have stated that they are committed to high safety standards. Earlier this year, the Obama administration also asked Congress to protect 5 million hectares of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
But some environmental activists are concerned about the impact the drilling will have on polar bears, walruses and other animals that live in the area. Leah Donahey of the Alaskan Wilderness League says there’s no guarantee that the region won’t see a spill in the future.
This article appeared in print under the headline “Drilling to start in Alaska”
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A New Course At Arkansas Colleges: How To Not Get Pregnant
Arkansas Campaign To Prevent Unplanned Pregnancy YouTube
Orientation at Arkansas Tech University this year included a surprising topic for a Bible Belt state that pushes abstinence-only in high school. Every freshman was shown a newly produced video in which real students talk about the struggle of an unplanned pregnancy, and the challenge of staying in school as a parent.
"I lost a lot of friends," says one young woman in the video who had dreamed of becoming a surgeon. A young man says he "went from not having any responsibility to having a full-time responsibility," while another laments that Friday nights are no longer spent with friends but at home "watching Dora. A lot of Dora."
The message is clear, and it will come up again throughout the year: in a college success course, in group chats in dorms, at a slew of events during Sexual Health Week.
Why in college? Arkansas has the nation's highest rate of teen births, but most of them — here and nationally — are actually to young adults, 18 and 19 years old. Last year, the Arkansas Legislature passed a law directing the state's public colleges and universities to tackle unplanned pregnancy. Schools have each been crafting their own plans for how to do that, and they launched the effort during orientation this month.
After watching the video at one session at Arkansas Tech in Russellville, nearly every student said it hit home.
"I think there was anywhere between five to 10 girls in my grade that got pregnant," says freshman Sydney Blackwell. "I remember in eighth grade there was a girl that never made it to ninth grade because she got pregnant."
Only 4 of 20 students in this group say they had sex ed in high school. Brooklynn Evans says she didn't get much guidance at home, either, not even the basic birds and bees. "My parents were too uncomfortable to talk about it," she says.
Same with Carlos Morales. He thinks it's great that his college is bringing this up, but "it would have been better to have a class earlier, during our middle school."
'The problem in the room that nobody wants to discuss'
Arkansas' law is modeled on one that took effect last school year in Mississippi. Both had bipartisan support and were amazingly uncontroversial.
"It was surprisingly easy; it shocked me," says Rep. Deborah Ferguson, the Democratic co-sponsor of the Arkansas law. Still, she says it would not be politically possible to mandate sex ed in earlier grades. The legislation's Republican co-sponsor believes that's best left to local districts.
But that co-sponsor, Rep. Robin Lundstrum, had an early job in family planning. She says she heard from high school students over and over that they had nowhere to turn for information on how to not get pregnant. "It's the problem in the room that nobody wants to discuss," she says.
At Arkansas Tech, student wellness dean Kristy Davis says it makes sense to target those in college, many of whom are away from home for the first time. She says faculty can help "make sure that they're prepared and they have the information to make good decisions for themselves."
The mandate is so far unfunded. Angela Lasiter, a program specialist with the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, is creating a nonprofit and hopes to attract money to keep the effort going. At community colleges, which usually lack a health center, she's also making sure nearby clinics are stocked with the most effective contraceptives. A substantial share of students at some two-year colleges are already parents, and Lasiter says the state's push can help prevent them from having a second child.
Some universities are even weaving the topic into their curriculum. Lasiter says it's easy to drop into classes like statistics, English, "or, say, Speech 101. 'We would like for you to write a 10-minute speech on how to prevent unplanned pregnancies.' Boom."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jennifer Ludden/NPR Jennifer Ludden/NPR
The goal, she says, is to get students talking. And if they also talk with their little sisters and brothers, all the better.
There's also a broader benefit for the state, Lasiter says. When young parents drop out of college, or never get there in the first place, it costs Arkansas $129 million a year in "lower income, more people on welfare, a less higher quality of living." That economic hit is compounded because the children of teen mothers are more likely to have an early, unplanned pregnancy themselves.
But is college too late to teach sex ed?
Magical thinking
"They don't know as much as they think they do, and they don't know as much as we wish they did," says Andrea Kane, vice president for policy and strategic partnerships at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. She says research shows young adults think they know how to not get pregnant, but when pressed for details they're prone to myths and misinformation. For instance, she says, "4 in 10 young adults in this country believe it does not matter if you use birth control or not; when it is your time to get pregnant, you will."
The National Campaign has been pushing for more prevention efforts at the college level, and Kane says other states are showing interest in the new laws in Arkansas and Mississippi. She says even students who had sex education in high school might have forgotten the information, or may find it more relevant now that they're older.
Marie Sandusky has been counseling students at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock since well before the state's law. She directs health services there, and says it's a challenge to help students understand the risk of pregnancy.
"There's this 18- and 19-year-old brain thing that's kind of like magical thinking," she says. "Sort of like, 'It's not going to happen to me.' "
With the new law, the university is being more proactive. This year, incoming freshmen had to complete an online lesson on preventing unplanned pregnancy. In their dorm rooms, they found a postcard with the health services phone number and the tag line, "Plan to postpone parenting."
Enlarge this image toggle caption Jennifer Ludden/NPR Jennifer Ludden/NPR
Sandusky also drove home the risk factor at a recent orientation event. In an auditorium of 300 students, 22 of them found a red star under their seat. They received a rag doll on a string that they had to wear around their neck the rest of the evening. "And then we say, 'If you choose to become sexually active, and don't choose to practice safe sex or get on birth control," says Sandusky, "this many people will have a baby by the end of the year.' "
Of course, the hope is that Arkansas' push to prevent unplanned pregnancy will eventually bring down that number.
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In 1985, when I met DJ Marty Venker at Kamikaze, the Chelsea club where we both worked, he favored punk bands like The Clash and the Dead Kennedys as well as fast-paced New Wave, including New Order’s “Blue Monday” and Love And Rockets rendition of “Ball of Confusion.” Management, however, pressured Marty to play classic Motown, which was resurgent at the time. Play ‘Baby Love, Pleeeease, a sweaty dancing banker would beg at his booth. But Marty loathed Motown and he let guests know it. At about 6’2”, with a blonde Mohawk and dressed in black down to his combat boots, Marty brooked little backtalk.
Marty honed his authoritative tone as a Secret Service agent. He protected Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, before returning to Nixon’s detail in New York after Watergate. After work, we often hit Florent or Empire Diner at three or four in the morning and Marty would parcel out details about his former life, sometimes breaking into an uproariously funny Nixon impression (“Pull over!” Marty growled. Apparently, the former president demanded to stop his limo any time he happened upon a car accident so he could ogle the grisly crash scene.) He ran with a cool crowd, crashing at NBC newscaster Sue Simmons’ apartment and sharing his memories of the late anchorwoman Jessica Savitch, who had died in a car crash a couple of years earlier while her star was hot. I was in my late teens at the time, an underage nightclub promoter, and I looked up to Marty. It was a treat to stay out late and hear his unbelievable, but true, tales.
“I thought he was crazy,” admitted the prominent film producer Russell Levine, who met Marty in 1986. But any doubts dissipated “when he told me how to smuggle a gun onto a plane. … Within a week, I had optioned his life.”
To prime the pump for the film, Marty co-wrote Confessions of an Ex-Secret Service Agent:The Outrageous True Story of a Renegade Agent with our mutual friend Daily News gossip columnist George Rush, who had no fact-checking problems during his reporting. “Marty was always very honest,” recalled George, who has an ultra-sensitive bullshit detector. “And he said, ‘If you find that I’m not telling something true, correct, and you find some information that contradicts me, go ahead, write it.’
Marty, who grew up in St. Louis and played in a funk band, joined the Secret Service “to get out of Vietnam,” said George. A proud liberal, “he had also, idealistically, thought that after seeing the Kennedys shot that there would be someone in their mold that he could protect. Instead, he wound up protecting Republicans like Gerald Ford and Richard Nixon, sleazy dictators like Anastasio Somoza.”
In the White House, Marty “suppressed [his] musical interest,” noted George, “and then something about New Wave and punk really turned him on and he’d lead this double life.”
“I think he was excited to be in New York when Nixon bought that [Upper East Side] townhouse because that was the heart of the music action,” George continued, “But he had this final breakdown—there was this dramatic meltdown in Vienna, where Nixon was eating by himself at some restaurant and Marty just couldn’t take it anymore.”
Leaving the Secret Service gave Marty the freedom to let down his hair (or shave it off in his case) and focus on music. He had dark, brooding moments I noticed when he had to deal with dictates from authority figures, but he was also capable of dancing like a child in his DJ booth—arms swinging above his head—when he played one of his favorite songs.
Just before his star turn as an author, Marty decided to protect himself. “The publisher had secured all sorts of dream talk show interviews: Larry King, David Letterman, and the Today Show. And Marty started panicking,” George said. “He liked talking once he got to know you, but he was … pretty shy, actually.”
Marty, who according to Russell Levine may yet be the subject of a movie—“there’s multiple scripts”—cut off communication with George. “I went out to Valley Stream, to this address I had for him, and found this very humble house … No one answered, I left a note for him saying, ‘Please Marty, let’s talk.’ And that was the last I had heard from him.”
Sadly, I lost touch with Marty too. I had hoped always to catch up with him but a recent Google search turned up news of his death. There’s scant information available about his life after he dropped out of the club scene. I know he lived on Long Island with his wife Rose and died of natural causes, according to Nassau County’s Medical Examiner.
I just hope the rest of his life was filled with throbbing music. And no Motown.
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Florida Catholic Bishop Robert Lynch (Screen cap)
In the days since Omar Mateen committed his horrific massacre at the Pulse nightclub, there has been much discussion about how much of a role Mateen’s Islamic faith played in motivating him to commit mass murder against a large group of gay men.
For one Florida Catholic bishop, there’s no question that Mateen was influenced by his religion to hate homosexuals — but he also says that this is a problem with many religions, including the Catholic faith.
“Sadly it is religion, including our own, which targets, mostly verbally, and also often breeds contempt for gays, lesbians and transgender people,” writes Bishop Robert Lynch on his personal blog. “Attacks today on LGBT men and women often plant the seed of contempt, then hatred, which can ultimately lead to violence.”
It’s certainly true that many Christians in the United States preach hatred and intolerance of homosexuals — in fact, Arizona-based preacher Steven Anderson openly celebrated the Orlando massacre on the grounds that “there’s 50 less pedophiles in this world.”
Lynch goes on to say that while deranged people don’t need inspiration from religion to commit atrocities, religious leaders should also be mindful that hate-filled rhetoric aimed at gay people can be enough to push some troubled people over the edge.
“While deranged people do senseless things, all of us observe, judge and act from some kind of religious background,” he writes. “Singling out people for victimization because of their religion, their sexual orientation, their nationality must be offensive to God’s ears. It has to stop also.”
Lynch’s full essay is very worth reading and can be found at this link.
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Sean Teehan and Daniel Quinlan
Security forces beat protesters with truncheons and stunned them with electric cattle prods as more violent clashes broke out in Phnom Penh this morning between authorities and protesters trying to gather in Freedom Park.
One of a number of clashes in and around Freedom Park was sparked by a protester kicking a helmeted security guard in the groin near Naga bridge, prompting authorities – which included municipal security guards and military police – to charge at a group of protesters and beat them with truncheons.
Police had moved to clear protesters just before the security official was kicked.
Projectiles, including security barricades, were then hurled at guards and police.
One man was severely beaten after grabbing a security guard in a headlock.
After breaking the man’s hold, a group of officials set upon the protester, beating him to the ground and stomping on him.
Some protesters, including monks, tried to calm the situation to no avail.
A number of unconfirmed injuries occurred during the clashes, while witnesses also reported security forces firing pieces of metal from sling shots.
Tensions have since eased, but hundreds of protesters, police and guards remained at the scene just a short time ago.
Nine unions and associations had defied a ban on public gatherings to demand that the 23 people detained on January 2 and 3 be released from prison, a $160 minimum monthly wage for all Cambodian workers be introduced and the ban on demonstrations be lifted.
The government last week rejected their application to hold today’s demonstration.
Included in the crowd this morning were Cambodian Confederation of Unions president Rong Chhun and opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party lawmakers-elect Ho Vann and Mu Sochua.
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Ex-Giants superstar Tiki Barber has dumped his 8-months-pregnant wife, Ginny, for sexy former NBC intern Traci Lynn Johnson, sources told The Post last night.
The football star-turned-“Today” show-correspondent left his wife of 11 years, Ginny, for the 23-year-old blonde, who also worked at 30 Rock, the sources said.
Ginny, who is expecting twins, found out about the relationship late last year, after the run-around running back moved out of their Upper East Side home.
Johnson, a model-thin bombshell, was photographed sitting next to Tiki last month at a Washington, DC, screening of a documentary on Senegal that he hosted for the Travel Channel. Sources believe Johnson also accompanied Tiki to Senegal for the filming late last year, when Ginny was three months pregnant.
The affair is particularly stunning in light of Barber’s long-standing disdain for his philandering father.
“I don’t give a [bleep] that the relationship didn’t work,” he said of his parents’ split in a 2004 Post interview. “Not only did he abandon her, I felt like he abandoned us for a lot of our lives. I have a hard time forgiving that.”
Barber’s confidants were shocked.
“He was always the nice guy with a million-dollar smile,” a Barber family friend told The Post.
“We were shocked to find out that he could walk out on his wife of 11 years while she’s pregnant with twins. He was with this girl in Senegal while Ginny was three months pregnant.
“And we believe she was also with him in Vancouver while he was blogging about the Winter Olympics for Yahoo.com.”
Barber, who is believed to have to have relocated to an Upper West Side bachelor paid, released a statement yesterday in response to a Page Six item announcing the split.
“After 11 years of marriage, Ginny and I have decided to separate,” Barber said. “This decision was a painful one, but we are moving forward amicably and will continue to work together to raise our children with the love and dedication they have always known.”
A Tiki Barber spokesman declined to comment.
Ginny is a former fashion publicist and full-time mom to the couple’s two sons, A.J., 7, and Chason, 6. She, too, declined to comment.
But she’s been known to tout her caretaking role for Tiki.
“I’m sort of a traditionalist where I don’t mind taking care of him,” she said in a 2006 interview.
Johnson can be seen posing with a smiling gal pal in a pic on her MySpace page. The two are wearing red short shorts and Giants jerseys emblazoned with Barber’s No. 21.
Tiki and Ginny began dating 16 years ago when both were students at the University of Virginia.
Barber, who turns 35 today, was hired by NBC just after he retired in 2007 — when sources say he first met Johnson, who was working there as an intern.
In his 10-year NFL career, Barber set nearly every career offensive record for the Giants, and made three Pro Bowls.
His end run on Ginny with the much younger Johnson runs counter to the all-American Barber persona that fans and TV viewers know.
During Giants games, Tiki used to blow a kiss to Ginny in the stands every time he scored.
In his 2007 memoir, “Tiki: My Life in the Game and Beyond,” Barber described the example he wanted to set for his kids.
“I want to be an honorable man, because that’s what I want them both to be,” he wrote, noting, “My family is everything to me.”
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