Silent voices are finding resonance, echoing across Iran’s socio-political landscape. The uprising, surfacing in recent years, has been marked by an unexpected surge of women’s voices, carving out a new narrative for Iranian society. As the world watched Tehran in November, the audacity of these voices reverberated beyond the Middle East, shaking the very foundations of the Islamic Republic. This transformation is far from fleeting; rather, it marks a profound shift in the country’s societal norms. The veil, once a symbol of state-imposed repression, has been reclaimed as an emblem of rebellion. With each passing year, these bold voices find new platforms, their messages amplified by the pervasive power of social media, despite state attempts at censorship. Across the globe, an outpouring of support for the Iranian women’s movement is steadily growing, further emboldening the once silent voices. This is the story of Iran’s women, no longer silent, who are reshaping their society from within.
Breaking the Silence: Iran’s Women Uprising
Emerging from the shadows, the rise of women’s voices in Iran’s recent uprising has played a central role in challenging oppression and asserting their rights. This significant shift in societal norms has broken the silence and stigma surrounding gender issues in Iran, paving the way for a profound discourse on equality.
Emergence of Feminist Voices in Iranian Society
The uprising has seen women, previously silenced, raise their voices against the existing regime. The feminist movement has become a strong force, with women protesting for their rights, even in the face of death. The hijab, a symbol of Islamic tradition, has become a sign of protest, with women removing them as a sign of defiance against the authorities.
Major Events Marking the Women’s Uprising
Numerous protests have marked the uprising, with women at the forefront. The government has responded with force, with police arresting many protesters. Yet, these women refuse to be silenced, continuing to demand their rights and freedoms.
Changes in Iranian Society Post Uprising
The uprising has had a significant impact on Iran’s socio-political landscape, influencing the global fight for gender equality. Despite facing governmental repression and societal discrimination, these women have become emblematic figures of the movement. Their inspiring stories continue to shape Iran’s path towards equality.
Power of the Veil: Symbolism and Rebellion in Iran’s Women’s Movement
The evolution of the Iranian women’s movement is marked by the fierce struggle and resistance against oppressive state policies. Silent no more, these courageous women are claiming their place in society, using symbols traditionally associated with oppression, such as the veil, as tools of rebellion.
Symbolic Use of the Veil in Protests
The veil, once viewed as a symbol of female subjugation, has become a powerful emblem of defiance. Iranian women, through their acts of rebellion, are transforming the perception of the veil. The complexity of this transformation is captured eloquently by political writer, Mahsa Amini, who noted that the veil has taken on a dual role as both a symbol of state security and a tool of protest.
Veil as a Tool of Rebellion
For the women of Iran, the veil has evolved beyond a mere piece of clothing. It now represents their political resistance and fight for independence. Women are using the veil as a means of challenging the status quo, making it a pivotal element in their movement. This strategic use of the veil has not only caught the public’s attention but has also led to a reevaluation of its symbolic meaning.
Public Response to Veil Protests
The public’s response to these acts of defiance has been largely supportive. Many have come to appreciate the symbolism behind the veil protests and recognize the courage of these women. The revolution in Iran is ongoing, and the women at the forefront are persisting in their fight for more rights and equality, proving to be an integral part of the nation’s political and social fabric.
Noteworthy aspects of this movement include:
The transformation of the veil from a symbol of oppression to a symbol of rebellion
The inventive ways in which Iranian women are using the veil to protest the current state of affairs
The key role of the veil in asserting female identity and independence in Iran’s current political and social context
For more detailed insights on the women’s movement in Iran, visit www.maryam-rajavi.com.
Role of Social Media in Amplifying Iranian Women’s Voices
Within the confines of the article ‘Silent No More: The Rise of Women’s Voices in Iran’s Uprising’, an examination of the instrumental role social media played in magnifying the voices of Iranian women is undertaken. Unleashing a torrent of suppressed sentiments, social media platforms facilitated the expression of their yearning for human rights and freedom.
Use of Social Media Platforms in Mobilizing the Movement
Social media platforms, with their global reach and instantaneous communication, served as a significant tool for Iranian women. Leveraging these platforms, they projected their voices, previously silenced, into the public sphere. An undercurrent of resistance and demand for rights, once confined to hushed whispers, found a resonating platform.
Impact of Social Media on Global Awareness of the Uprising
The global community, through social media, bore witness to the Iranian women’s uprising. The portrayal of the struggle, the bravery, and the spirit of these women, gained international support and attention, prompting discussions on human rights on a global scale.
Counteractions and Censorship on Social Media
Despite the empowering influence of social media, Iranian women faced tremendous risks and challenges. The government’s attempts at suppressing their voice through censorship and intimidation presented significant obstacles. Yet, these women, bolstered by their cause, continued to share their stories, experiences, and advocacy for their rights.
The amplified voices of Iranian women, courtesy of social media, have left an indelible impact on Iranian politics and society. The reverberations of their call for equality and freedom continue to echo, shaping the discourse on human rights in the region and beyond.
Global Response and Support for Iranian Women’s Movement
Amidst the rising wave of women’s uprising in Iran, there has been a mounting international support for the cause. The Iranian women’s movement, an amalgamation of brave activists risking their freedom for universal rights, has not gone unnoticed. Backing from crucial global organizations has been paramount in the fight for human dignity and equality. Despite the overwhelming international support, these activists face considerable challenges, demonstrating the resilience of the movement. The impact of this protest transcends Iran’s borders, echoing on the global stage, and has been a testament to the power of collective action. However, the Iranian authorities have reacted with an iron fist to both the domestic movement and international pressure, a response that has been met with widespread criticism. Among the criticism, the United Nations has been a vocal advocate for the Iranian women, condemning the harsh responses from the authorities. With the world watching, the Iranian women’s movement continues to forge ahead, undeterred in their fight for equality.


By Michael Harriot
One of my favorite quotes comes from an episode of the “Joe Rogan Experience.” When asked why he thinks why poor white people would vote against their own economic interests, comedian Joe Rogan replied that it was the same reason people play the lottery.
“They have convinced them that ‘you’re not a loser. You’re a winner, who just hasn’t won yet.”
After the uprisings in Ferguson and Baltimore, mainstream media outlets jumped on an emerging lazy, groupthink trend and began labeling every instance of black incivility as part of the “Black Lives Matter” movement.” Instead of delving into the nuanced social, political and economic issues that protesters and activists sought to address, any time anyone with a drop of melanin in their skin raised their voice above a whisper about injustice, they were thrown on the heap of Bernie Sanders’ microphone grabbers and St. Louis molotov cocktail throwers. It was all all Black Lives Matter. Even if the person in question never uttered the phrase. Even if, like when Derrick Rose wore a shirt to protest Eric Garner’s death, they used a different hashtag. Even if, like Ashley Williams who interrupted a Hillary Clinton fundraiser, they had no particular affiliation with Black Lives Matter. If you are Black and make any microscopic move that might upset the status quo, you’re Black Lives Matter.
As the laws of physics and human nature dictate, the shift towards in-your-face demand for equality and fair treatment has sparked an equal and opposite reaction. At first it was a few lone voices. Then there was a rising chorus of complaints from the choir of White people feeling they have been marginalized. They weren’t winning any more. The disparate pockets of citizens filled with fear or anger about the treatment of the average white man have coalesced into a full-fledged crusade. Yes, White Lives Matter is a real thing.
Of course they don’t call it that.
The people at the forefront of the White Lives Matter movement find the phrase Black Lives Matter too divisive and disgusting to associate themselves with. You can be sure, however, the movement for Caucasian lives sprang from the same well of discontent and enmity that birthed Black Lives Matter. They are the oppressed, mad majority, for whom the progress of others feels like persecution. It feels like they’re losing, because they are so used to winning.
Perhaps the most ostentatious example of the White Lives Matter movement is the rise of Donald J Trump. Although the Republican party long ago morphed into the party of White America, it is within inches of selecting a brown-people-hating, wall-building billionaire as its Presidential nominee. Trump’s ascendence can be specifically tied to “white anger” about Mexicans taking their theoretical jobs and committing mythical rapes against white women. He is buoyed by boasts of unconstitutional Muslim bans and punchers of protesters clad in rebel flags. His dog-whistle message to his supporters on how he will Make America Great Again is crystal clear: He’s going to make America White again, because White Lives Matter.
After the troubling terrorist attacks in Brussels, Trump’s political opponent, soft-faced reptilian Ted Cruz joined the movement by insinuating that law enforcement officers should patrol Muslim neighborhoods and places of worship with increased scrutiny. Although he was roundly lambasted by rational thinkers, many people agreed that casting aside the constitutional freedoms of brown people is an inconsequential byproduct of keeping the rest of god-fearing, Jesus-worshipping America safe, because White Lives Matter.
To be clear, White Lives Matter is not a partisan movement. It is either liberal or conservative. It’s why Hillary Clinton can get a pass for calling on law enforcement to bring the violent, thug gangbangers “to heel.” It’s why she can call for solutions to mass incarcerations while still receiving bundled donations from private prisons. It’s why black and brown kids in Chicago have to hopscotch through dangerous gang turf rife with gun violence, but as soon a “troubled youth” shoots up any school in suburban America, we renew the calls for comprehensive gun control laws. Not enough police presence or fathers are the reasons for inner city violence but video games, missed counseling sessions and semiautomatic weapons are the reasons for the lighter shade of mass shootings. It’s the White Lives. They Matter.
White Lives Matter’s platform is clearly enunciated in the repeated phrases that filter from their adherents.. They want to take “their country back.” They want to return to “Christian values.” They are victims of the war on Christmas, political correctness traditional marriage and anything else that dissents from traditional majority convention The rhetoric is often the same, but it is often hides one thing:
The White Lives Matter believers fear Shariah Law, affirmative action, Spanish-speaking immigrants and transgender bathrooms because they have been boondoggled into believing those things are bad. They think they’re losing because for four centuries they have been so far ahead in the race they couldn’t see anyone when they looked over their shoulders. Billionaire opportunists like Trump and power-hungry political ladder sharks like Cruz, Clinton, et al turn that fear of losing into votes, campaign cash and talking points. White Lives Matter exists because they have been made to believe they’re entitled to some extra-American version of safety and liberty that the rest of us can’t access. The 1% have convinced them that —simply because they’re White–they are supposed to matter. They are supposed to win. The spectre of equality has them perplexed.
The reality is closer to the aim of the lottery, the words of Joe Rogan and the advice of the great, meta philosopher DJ Khaled:
They don’t want you to win.


The Russian media establishment’s narrative on the U.S. political predicament surrounding the Russia-tinged scandals of the Trump administration may be largely unknown to consumers of Western media. Coincidentally, it happens to fall closely in line with the narratives pushed by President Donald Trump himself and some voices in right-wing U.S. media: namely, that the Democrats are pursuing a “witch hunt” against Trump and have been fabricating these allegations because they lost the 2016 presidential election.
The ongoing scandals surrounding Brazil’s political parties promise to reign well into the future and will surely envelop the coming elections in 2018. Against the backdrop of this heightened, politically charged atmosphere and the spate of sustained mass protests in the country, the Brazilian media — understood as a key influencer of public opinion — has been subjected to scrutiny from across the political spectrum.
With elections in the United Kingdom and Germany looming this year, it is useful to understand the continuing power of the narrative promoted by Russian media circles and its real impact on both Russia’s domestic audience and the international right-wing populist movement.
Media coverage and dialog tends to conform with, amplify, or counter ongoing narratives. These narratives reflect how writers and consumers of media content see the world — and how people can see it so differently. Exovera is demonstrating that identifying, capturing, and quantifying these narratives in the media is the key to helping our clients make objective sense of the increasingly bewildering new media space.


PHOTOS: Stephen Mandel, always a natty dresser, was chosen as the leader of the Alberta Party last night. He was dressed more conservatively than in this old picture, though, which has the advantage of having been taken by your blogger back when Mr. Mandel was Jim Prentice’s unelected health minister. Below: Former Harper Government insider Ian Brodie, now a University of Calgary professor (Photo: Twitter); Alberta Liberal Party Leader David Khan; and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Ian Brodie – chief of staff to Stephen Harper for a spell back in the bleak days the Conservatives ran the country – had some advice for the Alberta Party yesterday, just hours before the party’s members chose former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel as their leader.
To wit: If the Alberta Party wants to win seats in 2019 in what is bound to be a race between Premier Rachel Notley’s New Democrats and Opposition Leader Jason Kenney’s supposedly United Conservatives, they must “campaign against oil,” as the headline writer of Dr. Brodie’s opinion piece on the CBC website accurately summarized his argument.
There’s a sly suggestion here that the Alberta NDP is pretty far to the left too. This is nonsense, of course, as is becoming increasingly obvious to ever-larger numbers of Albertans.
What’s more, being on one side or the other of the debate about whether the fossil fuel economy has a future is not really a right- or a left-wing thing, as I am sure Dr. Brodie, nowadays a University of Calgary professor, understands perfectly well. He is, after all, a bright, even erudite, guy, for all that he has served the wrong side of the economic policy argument in a variety of important roles.
The real point of the veteran Conservative political operator’s piece, I would suggest, was to tempt the Alberta Party to take a position that will make it irrelevant in the 2019 Alberta election, thereby improving Mr. Kenney’s chances of defeating the NDP.
Dr. Brodie, by the way, also proffered the same advice to the Alberta Liberals led by David Khan, giving the same reasons. But his main target was clearly the Alberta Party because it is more likely to drain more Red Tory votes from the UCP than Blue Dipper votes from the NDP. This is especially true with Mr. Mandel at the helm, as was expected well in advance of last night’s coronation.
So this argument, coming from this well-placed Conservative source, suggests that notwithstanding the prevailing narrative to the contrary, the UCP and its Ottawa auxiliary over at the Conservative Party of Canada understand perfectly well that a successful Alberta Party under Mr. Mandel would principally threaten them.
Being a smart guy, I’m sure Dr. Brodie also understands that Mr. Mandel is unlikely to take the bait. After all, at 72, Mr. Mandel wasn’t born yesterday. Still, come the campaign, the new Alberta Party leader may try to sound just a little greener than the oil-soaked elite consensus at the Alberta Legislature nowadays.
I confess that, up to now, I’ve thought it pretty unlikely the Alberta Party could even get on the radar, no matter who its members chose as leader. Hitherto, the party has appealed to no one except media, professional pundits and a few people better described as political cultists than political activists.
The fact that a connected Conservative like Dr. Brodie is offering bad advice to the Alberta Party as it tries to transform itself into the new Progressive Conservatives suggests that the strategic minds behind the UCP don’t want that to happen.
We shouldn’t get too excited about this, though. Mr. Mandel won by an impressive 66 per cent … but it was only 66 per cent of an unimpressive 4,613 votes.
Do you remember the days when more than 130,000 Albertans signed up and turned out to choose Ed Stelmach as PC leader and premier in 2006? Or when it was considered a huge comedown that only a few more than 23,000 voted in the 2014 party election that chose the late Jim Prentice as leader after Alison Redford’s catastrophic tenure?
Mr. Mandel is going to have to interest more than 4,613 Albertans to realize the dream of forming an Alberta Party government.
He won’t do that, obviously, by declaring war on the oil industry.
Pharmacare advisory committee a good step, but a tiny one
The pharmacare advisory committee mentioned in the Trudeau Government’s budget yesterday is a positive step forward, but Canada is still a long, long way from having an actual national prescription drug plan.
As the Globe and Mail correctly reported yesterday in its coverage of Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s budget, “national pharmacare could represent significant savings for both patients and the government.” These savings are variously estimated from about $5 billion to about $12 billion per year. Alberta alone would save more than $1 billion annually.
It would also, of course, save the lives of many Canadians who must now choose between paying the rent and feeding their children or getting the prescription drugs they require to survive.
A way to save $11 billion a year for taxpayers while ensuring all Canadians can have the pharmaceutical drugs they need if they are ill? A way to reinvest in health care and make a good system better? What’s not to hate about that if you’re a profit-drenched multinational pharmaceutical company, a huge insurance corporation, or an operative for a neoliberal advocacy group like the Fraser Institute or the Canadian Taxpayers Federation?
So count on it that the usual suspects will be lobbying furiously against a national pharmacare plan behind the scenes and in public. Given the Liberals’ past modus operandi, there is a significant chance the party will lose interest in the plan after it wins next federal election.
If we are ever to have pharmacare in Canada, no matter whom we elect, we will have to keep our politicians’ feet to the fire.


On May 15, 2013, AEP-Ohio filed an application with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) requesting significant increases to their Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction Cost Recovery Rider (Rider EE/PDR). AEP-Ohio has requested that these new rates take effect on August 1, 2013. The table below lists the proposed EE/PDR rates and compares them to the current rates, which have been in place since June 2010.
Due to the passage of Senate Bill 221, aggressive energy efficiency mandates have been placed on Ohio’s distribution utilities. Because utilities remain revenue neutral, they pass on the costs associated with these mandates to customers. The proposed rates reflect AEP-Ohio’s anticipated costs to comply with these mandates. These rates are expected to continue to grow as the utility’s cost of compliance with the mandates increases over time. Mercantile customers (i.e., non-residential customers who use more than 700,000 kWh per year or are part of a national account) have the ability to request exemption from the EE/PDR charge by completing energy efficiency projects.
The Ohio Senate Public Utilities Committee is currently reviewing the applicability and effectiveness of the mandates in Ohio’s current energy and economic market. We encourage you to continue to reach out to your elected officials in support of this review.


The Valley County Kids Fair was held on March 26, 2022 and was the perfect culmination of educational activities, creative play and community connection for over 400 attendees.
Children from birth to elementary age were engaged in dozens of activities coordinated by various businesses and organizations, including the Loup Valley Childhood Initiative (LVCI). When children and families stopped by the LVCI booth, they had the opportunity to create paper airplanes and test their aircraft engineering skills by aiming at a balloon target. LVCI also offered mini pop-its for each youngster that stopped by the booth and took the opportunity to inform parents about an upcoming child care survey that LVCI will soon release with regard to the quality and capacity of child care in the Valley County area.
While dozens of children received door prizes by attending the Kids Fair, LVCI also provided a door prize for parents as well - a week of free childcare at any licensed child care provider in Valley, Sherman, or Greeley County. Heather Fox was the lucky winner of the free week of child care.
LVCI was honored to be a part of this annual event in the community that creates the opportunity for children, parents, businesses, and community members to connect. Thank you to the Valley County Health System Child Development Committee for hosting the event each year.


Tesla Inc., led by CEO Elon Musk, has positioned itself as a prominent figure in the automotive and energy industries, driven by a blend of technological innovation and strategic business practices. This article delves into Tesla's business model, exploring its product range, competitive landscape, and the unique strategies that shape its market presence.
1. Product Portfolio
Tesla's diverse product portfolio plays a significant role in its business model, contributing to both its financial performance and its mission to accelerate the transition to sustainable energy. The company offers a range of electric vehicles (EVs) at various price points, alongside energy storage solutions, all aiming to disrupt traditional transportation and energy sectors.
- Model S and X: These established luxury sedans and SUVs showcase cutting-edge technologies and command premium prices, solidifying Tesla's position as a high-end brand and contributing significantly to overall profitability.
- Model 3 and Y: Entering the mass market, these more affordable EVs have fueled Tesla's delivery growth and global market penetration. Their accessibility broadens appeal and drives volume, solidifying Tesla's position as a major player in the EV market.
- Cybertruck: The highly anticipated pickup truck with its unconventional design represents a bold step towards further innovation. While facing production challenges, it has generated significant pre-orders, highlighting customer interest and potentially opening up new market segments.
Expanding Beyond Vehicles:
- Tesla Energy: This division provides solar panels, home energy storage (Powerwalls), and large-scale energy storage (Megapacks) solutions. It leverages Tesla's technology and brand to address clean energy needs, diversifying revenue streams and positioning the company as a leader in sustainable energy infrastructure.
- AutoPilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD): These advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) are embedded in most Tesla vehicles and hold significant potential for future revenue growth. Plans to monetize FSD features through subscriptions could transform car ownership into a service-based model, further disrupting the industry.
2. Business Strategy
Tesla's approach to the market defies conventional automotive and energy company models. Its distinct business strategy blends innovation with disruption, aiming to not only accelerate the transition to sustainable energy but also reshape the future of transportation and energy consumption.
Key Pillars of the Strategy:
- Direct-to-Consumer Sales: Bypassing traditional dealerships, Tesla controls the entire sales process, customer experience, and data collection. This enables direct interaction with buyers, fosters brand loyalty, and reduces sales costs.
- Vertical Integration: Manufacturing key components like batteries and motors in-house gives Tesla greater control over quality, cost, and innovation. This vertical integration allows for rapid iteration and improvement, a crucial advantage in the fast-paced EV market.
- Software-Defined Vehicles: Tesla vehicles are essentially rolling computers, receiving continuous software updates and feature additions. This fosters a service-based model, generates recurring revenue streams through subscriptions, and keeps vehicles at the forefront of technology.
- Focus on Technology and AI: Tesla heavily invests in research and development, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) for autonomous driving and robotics. This commitment to cutting-edge technology positions the company as a leader in innovation and future mobility solutions.
- Data-Driven Approach: Tesla leverages the vast amount of data collected from its vehicles and energy systems to optimize operations, improve product offerings, and personalize customer experiences. This data-driven approach enhances efficiency and fuels continuous innovation.
Tesla faces a multitude of challenges that are as complex as they are critical. These hurdles, spanning from operational intricacies to broader market and regulatory dynamics, present a multifaceted test to the company's sustained growth and market leadership.
Central to Tesla's operational challenges is the issue of production scalability and efficiency. As the company broadens its product range and enters new markets, efficiently scaling up production remains a pivotal concern. Balancing the demands of rapid growth with maintaining quality and managing production costs is particularly challenging, given the complex nature of electric vehicle manufacturing. This challenge is further compounded by Tesla's reliance on specific resources, such as lithium for batteries, which places the company in a delicate position regarding supply chain management. Fluctuations in material availability and cost can significantly impact Tesla's production capabilities and overall cost structure.
The competitive landscape of the electric vehicle market is another arena of challenge for Tesla. The sector is witnessing an influx of new models from both established automotive manufacturers and emerging entrants, potentially impacting Tesla's market share and pricing strategy. This intensified competition necessitates continuous innovation and strategic market positioning from Tesla to maintain its lead.
Regulatory and political factors also play a crucial role in shaping Tesla's business environment. Operating globally means navigating a diverse range of regulatory landscapes, where changes in environmental regulations, trade policies, and subsidies for electric vehicles can have far-reaching effects on Tesla's operations in various regions.
4. Tesla's Latest Developments
In its most recent earnings call, Tesla Inc. disclosed a series of updates that shed light on the company's strategic direction and operational challenges amidst a dynamic and challenging global market.
- Advancements in AI and Autonomous Driving: Tesla has reported significant progress in its Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta program, having accumulated over 500 million miles. The company's investment in a 10,000 GPU cluster further indicates its commitment to AI and autonomous driving technologies. CEO Elon Musk emphasized the potential impact of AI on Tesla's future, aligning it closely with the company's long-term goals.
- Energy Storage and Division Profitability: The energy division of Tesla, focusing on storage solutions, has reported the deployment of four gigawatt-hours in the third quarter. This segment is increasingly contributing to the company’s overall profitability, indicating a diversification of Tesla's revenue streams beyond its automotive sector.
- Cybertruck Production and Economic Viability: Musk addressed the production challenges associated with the Cybertruck, highlighting the complexity of bringing innovative technologies to mass production. Despite strong market interest, the path to making the Cybertruck economically viable presents significant challenges, reflecting the broader difficulties faced in the automotive industry when introducing novel products.
- Operational Efficiency in Economic Downturns: Amid economic headwinds and rising interest rates, Tesla has maintained a focus on operational efficiency. This approach has yielded a reduction in the cost per vehicle and sustained profitability, particularly in their Energy business, illustrating the company's adaptability in uncertain economic times.
- R&D and Future Technology Investments: The company continues to invest in research and development for future projects, including the Cybertruck, AI technologies, and the Optimus humanoid robot project. These investments, balanced against the need for positive cash flow, highlight Tesla's commitment to long-term innovation while managing current financial realities.
- 4680 Battery Cell Production and Expansion: Tesla has reported a 40% increase in 4680 cell production quarter-over-quarter. The expansion in battery production is a strategic move to enhance Tesla's capabilities in energy storage and efficiency.
- Progress in Autonomous Driving and Robotaxi Development: Musk expressed confidence in Tesla's advancements in autonomous driving technology. The development of a robotaxi system is a key focus, aligning with Tesla's ambition to lead in autonomous transportation solutions.
- Vehicle and FSD Pricing Strategy Adjustments: In response to shifting economic conditions, Tesla has adjusted the pricing of its vehicles and FSD technology. These adjustments are part of Tesla's strategy to remain competitive and financially viable in a changing market.
- Growth Prospects and Strategic Focus: Despite facing various challenges, Tesla is targeting significant growth, with a pragmatic view of long-term growth rates. The company's strategy centers on efficient volume growth and strategic investments, particularly in AI and future technology platforms.


The CSS is pleased to announce the winners of the following society awards for 2017; these will be presented in Opening Ceremonies at the 8th Conference of the CSS, Calgary, Alberta, April 28th, 2017:
Distinguished Scientist Award – This award is in recognition of a scientist who has made significant contributions to the field of sleep research in Canada.
Barbara E. Jones, PhD, FRSC, Professor Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery McGill University, Montreal Neurological Institute.
Roger Broughton Young Investigator Award Winner – This award is made to a young scientist for important early career research contributions.
Stuart Fogel, PhD, Assistant Professor School of Psychology, University of Ottawa; Director of Sleep Neuroscience, Royal’s Institute for Mental Health Research; Adjunct Professor Department of Psychology, Western University.
Student Outstanding Achievement Awards – This award is for the scientific merit of a single publication by a student in the field of sleep research. There are two winners for 2017:
Richard Boyce, Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec for his innovative publication: “Causal evidence for the role of REM sleep theta rhythm in contextual memory consolidation”.
Samuel Laventure, Department of Psychology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Functional Neuroimaging Unit, C.R.I.U.G.M., Montreal, Quebec for his innovative publication: “NREM2 and Sleep Spindles Are Instrumental to the Consolidation of Motor Sequence Memories”.
Technologist Service Award Winner – This award honours and recognizes a CSS member who has made significant contributions to the growth and development of the sleep technology profession.
Laree Fordyce, RPSGT, RST, CCRP, CSE, Calgary, Alberta
Student Abstract Prize Winner – This award recognizes the best abstract submitted by a trainee
Sara Pintwala, PhD student at the University of the Toronto in the Department of Cells and Systems Biology, Abstract Title: “Activation of glutamate cells in the subcoeruleus nucleus triggers cataplexy-like attacks in wild-type mice”
Canadian Sleep Society (CSS) / Institute for Circulatory and Respiratory Health (ICRH) Student Travel Awards – This is a travel award given to top rated abstracts to attend the Calgary conference.
Cloé Blanchette-Carriere, Dream and Nightmare Laboratory, Center for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine, Montreal, Quebec
Sara Pintwala, Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto
More details on awards at https://css-scs.ca/resources/awards and https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/css2017/475384/


It is with great sadness that we received the news of the death of Peter Weibel, Chairman of the Board of ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe and curator of the exhibition ole scheeren : spaces of life. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Peter Weibel's family, friends, and the ZKM team in this moment of deep sorrow.
We will be forever grateful to Peter Weibel for initiating and guiding the inspiring and productive collaboration that led to our joint exhibition at ZKM. Working with him over the past years has been an enriching experience and his tireless curiosity has deeply impressed us. His openness to new ideas, his broad experience, and his investigative understanding of our work made this exhibition possible in the first place.
Peter Weibel's and Ole Scheeren's shared interest in the relationship between media and architecture led to an exciting journey tracing back to Ole Scheeren’s early conceptual works. Their joint dialog culminated in the exhibition at the ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, which explores different perspectives on physical and digital space – a journey we would have loved to continue with Peter.
Ole Scheeren: "I will greatly miss the exchange with Peter and his often surprising and highly associative way of thinking… our conversations about shifting global realities and the need for transformative visions have been a true inspiration over the past many years."
Peter Weibel’s generous spirit, enthusiasm and support will be greatly missed.
Ole Scheeren and team


Wells Park Revitalization
At the request of the City of Savannah, SDRA has made the redevelopment of Wells Park the focus of its current economic and urban activities. In November 2014, St. Luke Baptist Church hosted SDRA for a Wells Park Community Planning Workshop. During the workshop and in subsequent open houses, SDRA staff members and team of architects and designers solicited feedback from residents on potential changes and improvements to the park. In April 2015, SDRA published a report summarizing its research and analysis of the neighborhood, community feedback, and design proposals for the park and its surrounding blocks. To access the full report, please click the link below.


Thu, Sep 21|
Memories for Life - Reversing Alzheimer's
is a heartwarming story that shows hope for Alzheimer’s patients reversing their symptoms. Spearheaded by a top neurologist, a holistic approach using health data is helping people turn back the clock on Alzheimer’s and keep their memories.
Time & Location
Sep 21, 2023, 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
1901 MO-7, 1901 MO-7, Blue Springs, MO 64014, USA
About the event
What can we do when our memories are fading? For patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, no memories are safe —from the recollections of daily responsibilitiesto our most cherished moments. And despite having invested billions of dollars over the last 30 years into Alzheimer’s research, the pharmaceutical industry has approved few drugs, all of which are very expensive, and only slow the rate of decline.However, some Alzheimer’s patients, refusing to accept this prognosis, are turning to a new, controversial method, spearheaded by American neurologist Dr Dale Bredesen. Instead of treating symptoms, this approach studies the health data of each patient to find the root cause of their illness, prescribing extensive changes to dietary habits, living conditions, exercise, supplements, and lifestyle choices.Yet Dr. Bredesen, best-selling author of The End of Alzheimer’s, facesconstant skepticismfrom the mainstream medical community for his method, andhis researchwas repeatedly deniedapprovalfor clinical trials until 2019. Even so, many patients following the protocol show signs of reversing their cognitive decline. Narrated by Michael Bublé, Memories for Life-Reversing Alzheimer’sshows the eye-opening results of this life-changing treatment and questions why something with the potential to reverse such a devastating disease is not being embraced by medical researchers. What if this is the best chance we musthold on to the most precious of things--our memories?


Mistletoeing.com™ is proud to announce our participation in the Six Flags over Georgia, Guinness World Record Breaking Mistletoe Kiss Attempt. Mistletoeing.com™ real American mistletoe will be used in an attempt to break the current Guinness World Record, as the largest number of couples in the history of the world gather together to kiss underneath the mistletoe!
Join us at Six Flags over Georgia’s “Holiday in the Park”, as we make history together.
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A preacher friend once gave me advice about preparing a sermon. He said that a sermon should consist of three parts: First, tell them what you’re going to tell them. Second, tell them. And third, tell them what you told them.
So, first, what am I going to tell you? I’m going to address some widespread myths about the United Nations and then I’m going to talk about how many of the UN’s objectives and activities are consistent with several of our Unitarian Universalist principles.
Why am I doing this now? Why today? Yesterday was the UN’s 70th birthday -- the 70th anniversary of the date in 1945 on which a sufficient number of nations had ratified the UN Charter to bring the UN into existence. Many churches, schools, and organizations around the country are this week focusing on the UN system from their pulpits and in their meetings and classrooms. So today is a 70th birthday party. It is worth noting that the UN has existed almost three times the 26 year existence of its predecessor, the League of Nations.
Second, now that I’ve told you what I’m going to tell you, I’m going to tell you.
First, some myths.
Myth 1: The United Nations acts as a single entity. We are often told that “The UN did this … or the UN did that.” Not true. That is too simple. The UN does not act as a single unit.
In assessing the United Nations, it is important to look at the institution as a system -- a system composed of six principal organs and dozens of subordinate organizations. While the media focuses its attention on two organs -- the Security Council and the General Assembly -- dozens of other agencies and organizations make up the UN system: the International Court of Justice, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon who was just in the Middle East to address the violence connected with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the World Health Organization which has dealt with the Ebola outbreak in Africa, the UN Children’s Fund, the UN Commissioner for Refugees who is dealing with the massive migrations in northern Africa and Eastern Europe, the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Universal Postal Union, the International Civil Aviation Organization, and many others.
In fact, it is the activities of these other bodies that constitute the largest share of UN expenditures, that employ the greatest number of UN professionals, and that perform most of the work of the UN system. So the UN does not act as a single entity.
Myth 2: The UN agencies and organizations have their own independent power and act on their own. Not true. There are 193 member nation-states in the United Nations -- virtually every nation-state in the world. Today’s UN is almost four times larger than the 51 states that were original members in 1945. The various UN bodies are made up of or are controlled by the 193 member states. UN bodies don’t act unilaterally -- they act at the will of the member states. They do not have independent powers. In most cases they can only recommend, not require. They operate on the basis of one state-one vote. UN bodies are only as strong or as weak as their member states allow them to be. If you think that getting agreement in a committee of UUs is difficult, think about getting 50 or 100 or 193 countries to agree on something.
Myth 3: The UN makes international law that binds the United States and other states. Not true. Most international law is made by states in the form of treaties. And in virtually all cases, states are not bound by treaties to which they are not a party. Various organs of the UN often propose treaties -- like the Law of the Sea Treaty which was the result of several international conferences over many years -- but unless a state ratifies that treaty (which the US has not) it is not bound by the treaty.
Myth 4: The UN makes decisions about the use of military force that override our Constitution and commit the United States to enforcement actions. Not true.
The General Assembly and other UN bodies can only make “recommendations” for voluntary compliance. The UN Security Council is the only UN body that can make binding “decisions” on enforcement actions. Member states are required by the Charter to “accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council.” But the United States is one of the five members of the 15 member Security Council that has a veto -- it can be a 14-1 vote in favor of taking action, but if the United States is the “no vote” no action can be taken. We have a “veto” over enforcement actions by the UN Security Council. So there is no violation of US “sovereignty” by the UN.
Myth 5: The UN spends an exorbitant amount of money, largely from the United States. Not true.
Total UN system expenditures are running about $30 billion per year. That is less than 40% of Florida’s current budget of $78 billion.
Of that $30 billion about $23 billion (or 77%) goes to economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian activities of the UN system.
The US contribution to all UN operations accounts for slightly over 20% of UN expenses or about $22/yr/US citizen for an annual total cost to the US of about $6-7 billion.
In many cases these are operations that, if the UN didn’t undertake them, the US might consider it to be in our national interest to do it ourselves. Since the US contribution is only 20-25% of the cost, it means that other countries are contributing 75-80% of the cost that we would likely pay 100% of if it were not for the UN.
For us here in the United States, we need to recognize that the UN system does a lot of things that the US would otherwise want to do or would feel obligated to do. By getting other nations to contribute, it is less costly for us.
So much for a few myths.
Now I want to suggest that the purposes and activities of the UN system are compatible with the Unitarian Universalist principles.
You have an insert in your service program this morning -- with the UU principles on one side and some excerpts from the UN Charter on the other.
I would highlight four of these principles that I find very compatible with and supportive of the purposes and activities of the United Nations system -- principles 1, 2, 6, and 7
1 - the inherent worth and dignity of every person
2 - justice, equity, and compassion in human relations
6 - the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all
7- respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part
On the other side of your insert is the Charter of the United Nations. The Charter of the United Nations is the Constitution of the UN system.
The Preamble to the UN Charter reads: “We the Peoples of the United Nations Determined
- to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war
- to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women…
- to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom
And for these ends
- to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors
- to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples
Article 1 of the Charter states the four Purposes of the United Nations:
1. to maintain international peace and security
2. to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples…
3. to achieve international cooperation in solving international problems of an economic, social, cultural, or humanitarian character, and in promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language, or religion [remember this was 1945 -- 70 years ago -- years before we here in the United States had taken steps to implement equality of race, sex, or religion],
4. to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the achievement of these common ends.
If we were to take a quick survey of UN system activities that are compatible with UU principles we would include:
- The World Food Program, one the most successful of UN programs, annually feeds 104 million people in 80 countries. The International Fund for Agricultural Development has provided micro-credit that has benefited over 230 million people in nearly 100 developing countries.
- the UN High Commissioner on Refugees since 1949 has helped over 30 million asylum-seekers and refugees -- we are seeing this currently as millions are fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
- UNICEF, the UN Children’s Fund, works to protect the rights of children and to enhance their living standards -- many religious and civic organizations here in the United States solicit contributions to UNICEF
- the UN Development Fund for Women has supported programs and projects that have improved the quality of life for women in over 100 countries.
- the UN Population Fund has helped drastically reduce infant and maternal mortality in over 100 countries.
- the World Health Organization has led the global battle against HIV-AIDS and Ebola; smallpox was eliminated from the planet in 1990 and WHO is on track to wipe out polio across the globe. It has achieved an 80% immunization rate against polio, tetanus, measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, and tuberculosis.
- and dealing with that UU principle “interdependent web of all existence”: The UN Environmental Program and the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change are researching and making recommendations on climate change. It is hoped that a major UN-sponsored conference in Paris in December will result in a global commitment to combat climate change.
And then there are the peacekeeping activities of the UN -- which constitute less than 25% of the expenditures of the UN system. Pursuing its primary objective of maintaining international peace and security, the UN has fielded 69 peacekeeping operations since 1948. It has also been key in the negotiation of 172 peaceful settlements ending regional conflicts.
There are currently 17 active UN peacekeeping missions with over 98,000 police, military, and political individuals contributed by 123 member states. Eight of these missions are in Africa, six in the Middle East and South Asia, and Haiti in the Western Hemisphere and Cyprus and Kosovo in Europe. The top 15 contributors of personnel for these missions are Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Nepal, Jordan, Ghana, Senegal, Egypt, Tanzania, South Africa, China, and Uruguay. Note that they are primarily Third World and relatively neutral countries -- China is the only great power among them. The cost of these operations is borne by all member states based on a formula that asks more of the prosperous nations and the Security Council powers, recognizing that the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. Thus, the 5 permanent members pay 52.07% of the cost of peacekeeping missions -- the addition of Japan, Germany, and Italy ups that to about 75% for these 8 countries.
These 17 active missions are budgeted for about $7.83 billion in the current year. This is less than one half of one per cent of world military expenditures. This is slightly less than the current annual $8.2 billion budget of the NY-NJ Port Authority. It is meager compared to the current US defense budget of $632.8 billion -- or the $2 billion a week that we spent on Iraq and Afghanistan during the height of those operations.
Those are just a few of the activities of the various agencies and organizations of the UN system that are in line with UU principles.
Larry has posted on our Facebook page information on the long history of UU support for both the League of Nations and the United Nations. Since 1962 there has been a UU UN Office at the Church Center across First Avenue from the UN. Stop in the next time you’re in New York.
I would encourage your understanding and support for the UN system and again I urge you to recognize that the UN system does a lot of things that are beneficial to the United States and supportive of US foreign policy and interests. These are activities that the US would otherwise want to do or would feel obligated to do -- by getting other nations to contribute, it is less costly for us.
As Unitarian and US Ambassador to the UN Adlai Stevenson said, “If the UN didn’t exist, we would have to create it.”
So, third part of a sermon: what have I told you?
I have told you why we are marking UN Day today.
I have rebutted some myths about the UN system.
I have cited some of the similarities between our Unitarian Universalist principles and UN purposes and activities.
So, Happy 70th Birthday, United Nations – and I’m done.
UU Principles and the UN at 70, a sermon delivered by Dr. Allen Maxwell at 1stUUPB on Oct 25, 2015.


Downtown Zionsville is about to see a decade-long business recruiting effort pay off with the opening of a wave of new breweries and distilleries. Downtown Zionsville is by no means dry. Whether it’s a tequila sunrise at the Salty Cowboy or a whiskey sour at Cobblestone, Zionsville residents have options. They’ll have three more in […]
The post North of 96th: Zionsville bolstering craft beer, spirits scene appeared first on Indianapolis Business Journal.
Source: Indianapolis Business Journal


A welcome message from Tim Reinbott, assistant director of the CAFNR Agricultural Experiment Station and superintendent of the South Farm Research Center.
A welcome message from Shibu Jose, associate dean in the CAFNR Office of Research and director of the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station.
A welcome message from Christopher Daubert, CAFNR vice chancellor and dean.
Field Day Presentations
Debbie Finke, associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences – Native Plants for MO Pollinators
Daniel Earlywine, research specialist in the Division of Plant Sciences, and Lee Miller, associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences – Putting Green Disease Management
Xi Xiong, associate professor in the Division of Plant Sciences – Post-Emergence Control of Yellow Nutsedge and False Green Kyllinga
Donna Brandt, research specialist with the Soil Health Assessment Center – Effects of 130 Years of Cropping Systems, Manure and Chemical Fertilizers on Soil Health Properties of Sanborn Field
Noel Aloysius, assistant professor of bioengineering and natural resources – Jefferson Farm and Garden 2020 Virtual Field Day
Alisha Mosloff, graduate research assistant in the School of Natural Resources – Turkey Poult Transmitter Attachment Techniques
Sherry Flint-Garcia, research geneticist with USDA-ARS and adjunct professor in the Division of Plant Sciences – Corn Genetics: The History of Maize
Rocio Rivera, associate professor in the Division of Animal Sciences – Disturbed Development: Assisted Reproduction and the Epigenome
Newell Kitchen, adjunct associate professor in the School of Natural Resources – Crop Management Matters to Soil Productivity: What is an Inch of Topsoil Worth?


MusicNewz - 10/15/12 - Email To: This Member or A Friend
Miami’s Ultra Music Festival Expands to Two Weekends
By BEN SISARIO
When a big music festival becomes successful, it clones itself. Just ask Coachella, which this year expanded to two weekends from one (and later to a Caribbean cruise). Or Lollapalooza or Electric Daisy Carnival, a dance event that started in Los Angeles and is now held in Las Vegas, Puerto Rico, New Jersey and Florida.
Another danceapalooza, the Ultra Music Festival in Miami, has already started four satellites around the world. But for its 15th annual event in Miami next year, it will expand to two weekends. The first will be March 15-17, and the next will be March 22-24, both in Bayfront Park in downtown Miami. The announcement was made on Monday through YouTube.


Global Environmental Products Awarded Sale of Allianz 3000 and 4000 Mechanical Sweeper Line
by Ranger Kidwell Ross – WorldSweeper.com
Global Environmental Products announced today that it has purchased the inventory and the rights to the Mechanical 3000 and 4000 Allianz Sweeper Product Lines.
San Bernardino, CA – August 25, 2011
Global Environmental Products was founded in March of 2011, and offers a range of innovative refuse receptacle sanitizing equipment. The company is also the Dealer for Johnston North America for the five boroughs of New York City. Global Environmental's President, Walter Pusic says, "I am very excited about the opportunities and services that this acquisition presents for our dealers and customers.”
Global Sweeping Solutions (Global) sponsored a two day workshop for its Northeast dealers to introduce them to the entire line of Python Manufacturing products. Hosted by H.P. Fairfield at its regional headquarters in Pembroke, New Hampshire, the event was well attended by both Canadian dealers covering, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island as well as United States dealers representing Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. This was the second in a series of such workshops.
Global introduces a tough new operator controlled 'Leaf Door' package on its M3/MX3 and /M4 mechanical broom street sweeper models.
The M3/M4 series sweepers are 'hydrostatic drive' type mechanical machines, in three wheel and four wheel configurations.


Think tanks and foreign services that shun social media are being left behind
The boundaries between journalism, intelligence, diplomacy and think tank analysis are dissolving at a rapid rate, thanks to the unstoppable advance of social media. It is not entirely an original thought—Daryl Copeland, the Canadian diplo-wonk and author of the book Guerrilla Diplomacy, has made a similar point recently (and on his blog, naturally). This process of creative destruction has a long way yet to play out, so its full implications are far from understood.
What is clear is that the job descriptions for hacks, spooks, diplomats and wonks are becoming less and less distinct, blurring at the edges into a spectrum of geopolitical knowledge makers and manipulators. Sure, there will always be important differences: for spies and journalists especially, the most precious information will always be what someone else does not want them to know.
Matt Glassman, who also includes an H.L. Mencken quote:
Whenever a reporter is assigned to cover a Methodist conference, he comes home an atheist.
My new piece at American Review could, in one sense, be read as concern trolling, but it wasn’t written in that spirit. Springing off the Joe Ricketts story, it’s a discussion of how so many Republican electioneering attempts thus far in the campaign have been targeted against the president as conservatives imagine him to be, which, I believe, is something different to how the rest of America sees its president.
I find the conservative take on Obama, and the Obama presidency, rather interesting. Not so much the really out there stuff — birtherism, Kenyan anti-colonialism, etc. — but the things that run-of-the-mill base members believe. What makes it all such a mess is the overlap between the right wing fringe and the Republican mainstream, and how difficult it is to separate the two. For instance, many conservatives believe Obama is a dunce (the teleprompter, the idea that he relied on affirmative action for his education) and an arrogant fraud (the “celebrity” thing). Undoubtedly that’s a belief that, for a lot of people, is motivated by uncomplicated racism — but for many others it arises from a sincere failure to understand the appeal of the man or his policies, and so, to these folks, accusations of racism look like an attempt to silence criticism of the president.
I’m also fascinated by the constant accusations on the right that Obama has wantonly disregarded the Constitution. That’s because those accusations are so similar in tone to the ones the left made against George W. Bush in his presidency. I’m not going to fall into the trap of false equivalency: the left had an immeasurably better case than the right does. And though some of the right’s criticisms are grounded in fair concerns about the Administration’s foreign policy and anti-terror tactics, for the most part, they’re fairly groundless. But then, perhaps the left mixed in a lot of groundless accusations against the Bush administration along with its multitude of very real concerns?
The reason this happens is that America is a nation founded on an idea*. The only problem is that no one in America can agree on what that idea is, although they all think they’re personal conception of the idea is a universal one. And there’s a widespread belief that the Constitution is a pretty good attempt at capturing the idea. (The Declaration of Independence is an even better one.) So if you’re someone for whom the policies of a president like Barack Obama do not accord with your ideas of what America should be, then it makes sense that you will consider them in breach of the Constitution — the document that explains what America should be.
Anyway, this is venturing into territory I haven’t fully thought through. But my column is here. Read!
*This is a piece of American exceptionalism of which I firmly believe the truth. I can think of few other nations to which this applies; the states of the old world are ethnic entities, while few new world nations share such ideological origins. Australia, for instance, was founded out of a desire to preserve the colonial outpost’s Britishness, and we’ve spent our entire history trying to imagine what being Australian might be. See here for more of my discussion on this.


Why is George Soros Betting So Big on Gold?
A new gold rush is on!
Diminished expectations for Fed Reserve rate hikes have stimulated a new bubble in all things that glitters, from gold futures to gold mining stocks to exchange-traded investments that allow traders to wager on gold’s everyday fall and rise.
Following a three-year-long break, George Soros, a man who broke an England Bank for short-selling the pound and once termed gold “the ultimate bubble,” is back to purchase the precious metal; gold. And, while he appears pessimistic about more than half of the world, he has the United States in his sight line this time.
Over the years, George has made a series of exceptional investment opportunities and trades. He is among the most well-known investors in the financial world and famous for placing large currency stakes on a worldwide scale. You’ll never forget him among the few institutional investors who can profit irrespective of market conditions and direction.
But is George Soros bracing for a storm? Let’s go deeper;
Why is George Soros so bullish on gold?
Many people regard gold as a safe investment, not just because it’s a traditional measure of value with a long history. The price has gone up frequently in recent eras during periods of economic crisis, such as when global financial problems erupt, and deflation or inflation begins to rumble.
Investors all over the globe made note this week after financial records disclosed that George recently purchased a $264 million shareholding in the world’s biggest gold production company, Barrick Gold, as well as $123 million in the SPDR Gold Trust. By buying 2.1 million put options, he made an enormous bet against the S&P 500 index. The integration of these trades suggests that the iconic investor now considers gold to be among the best options presently available and gearing up for a stock market crash.
These doubts have been bolstered by some latest remarks posted by George on the world economy. Soros hasn’t elaborated on the causes for the latest gold price shift. Looking at his recent comments, it appears that he claims to believe the economy of China will collapse, resulting in negative consequences for different markets around the globe. For example, take equities in that nation.
As per George, China seems to have a significant adjustment issue. He said that it would amount to a crisis. Looking at the economic markets, he sees a severe threat that reminds him of the financial crisis of 2008. Soros further said that a Chinese financial catastrophe is “practically unavoidable” and that an event like that would lead to global consequences.
However, he still appears to seek refuge in the precious metals, a traditional safe-haven asset in uncertain economic times. This year, gold has risen nearly 21% and shows no signs of slowing down. In the aftermath of the most recent recession, gold reached an all-time peak. It’s also elevating gold mining company stocks up with it on this upward journey.
The commodity price has risen significantly this year, following Barrick Gold’s footsteps. There seem to be several reasons why confident investors seek out ostensibly safe-havens.
With so many experts recommending gold as a secure and safe asset class in these times of financial ambiguity, gold IRA companies saw a surge in current attention in financial products supported by the stability and value of precious metals. Because many people consider retirement to be the most critical financial primary objective, it will only mean investing in a secure and safe asset that has outperformed other investment opportunities in economic turmoil times.
So, should you choose gold, do that because you are confident that the worth of those gleaming bars will keep rising for whichever reason(s). Not because a wealthy tycoon is stockpiling them.
The Take Away
So, whether you think it’s a good idea to go, gold prospecting with George changes depending on how you see the markets’ near-term future.
If you believe a large equities sale is imminent, or that the Fed’s initiatives will deflate or inflate the currency, or that some other challenges will cause a gold bug swarm, you should consider a Soros-style step in the commodity’s direction. If not, gold is probably not the best asset for you right now. But keep in mind that the gold moves higher when a more significant percentage is afraid!


Yankees rookie slugger Aaron Judge needed 23 home runs to get past Marlins first baseman Justin Bour in the first round, then easily defeated Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger and Twins third baseman Miguel Sano in the semifinals and final, respectively, on Monday night at Marlins Park in Miami.
New York Yankees rookie Aaron Judge, showing prodigious power to all fields, beat Minnesota Twins slugger Miguel Sano, 11-10, in an anticlimactic final of the Home Run Derby at Marlins Park on Monday night.
Judge, who beat Miami’s Justin Bour in the first round and the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger in the semifinals, hit homers on the first three pitches he saw in the final round and added a 480-foot shot for his fourth homer.
Home Run Derby
With two minutes left in the four-minute regulation round, Judge blasted a 458-foot shot to straight-away center field for his 11th homer to pass Sano and end the derby.
“I had a lot of fun, I hoped the fans enjoyed the show,” Judge, who hit a major league-leading 30 homers before the All-Star break, told ESPN afterward. “It was an awesome atmosphere. Everyone put on a show here.”
Sano, who eliminated Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas in the first round and Gary Sanchez of the Yankees in the semifinals, had only one homer when he called his first timeout with 2:34 left in regulation and four homers when he used his second timeout with 1:24 left.
He finished strong, hitting six more homers, including a 449-foot shot at the buzzer to earn a 30-second bonus round. But Sano was unable to hit another ball out of the park and apply more pressure on Judge.


Priyanka Chopra’s pre-wedding celebrations have set the internet ablaze. While all of us are equally excited for Priyanka and Nick Jonas’ big fat Indian wedding, it’s her cousin sister and actor Parineeti Chopra who just can’t wait for the festivities to begin. Parineeti has huge plans of stealing ‘jiju’ Nick’s shoes just how it happens in every other Punjabi family.
It first got revealed when Parineeti was asked about the ‘joota chuppai’ ceremony by a fan on Twitter. The person asked, “Will Parineeti steal Nick Jonas’ shoes? #paisedojootelo,” To this an excited Parineeti instantly replied, “OF COURSEE!!! Already started negotiating my deal with him. And she’s my witness @priyankachopra,”
Later, sharing the details in a light-hearted chat with Bollywood Hungama, Parineeti said, “I was sitting with Nick only two nights ago and I was telling him that we needed to lock in our final amount. I quoted $5 million. He said ‘OK, I’ll give you $10.”
She further added, “So you can see the price negotiation is going to be difficult. But main bahut bahut paise lene waali hoon because I have to be his favorite Saali.” (I am going to ask a huge amount from Nick as I want to be his favourite sister-in-law.)
Parineeti recently joined Priyanka’s girl squad in Amsterdam as they celebrated the bride-to-be’s bachelorette. Parineeti posted an inside photo from the fun-filled party and guess who left a comment? It’s none other than Priyanka’s finace Nick! Hinting at PCee, Nick playfully asked Parineeti, “Wow, she’s so beautiful. Any chance you could introduce her to me?”
Trying to strike a deal, Parineeti hilariously replied, “She’s very hard to get! But I can try for you, if you agree to pay the 5 million dollar shoe hiding fee!”
Here’s the photo –
A post shared by Parineeti Chopra (@parineetichopra) on
Looks like Nick Jonas would have to keep an extra pair of shoes handy, what’s your take?
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SComS Best Paper Award 2022
The SComS Best Paper Award for the best paper published in the General Section or a Thematic Section in 2022 is granted jointly to Maija Ozola-Schade, M. A. (Technical University Ilmenau, Germany) for her paper Intergroup relations and media: The effects of media system quality in explaining immigration attitudes published in Vol. 22, Issue 2 and Prof. Dr. Esa Väliverronen (University of Helsinki, Finland), Prof. Dr. Tanja Sihvonen (University of Vaasa, Finland), Prof. Dr. Salla-Maaria Laaksonen (University of Helsinki, Finland), and Prof. Dr. Merja Koskel (University of Vaasa, Finland) for their paper Branding the “wow-academy”: The risks of promotional culture and quasi-corporate communication in higher education published in Vol. 22, Issue 3. Congratulations!
The text by Ozola-Schade puts emphasis on the fact that “attitudes are embedded not only in the notion of intergroup relations, they are influenced by the information environment in which public discourse about immigration is shaped” (abstract).
Jurors found that “[t]he findings of this comparative study are not only extremely important for research on migration, political communication and journalism, but also illustrate how important freedom of the press and democracy are for the quality of a media system and how this can affect social attitudes.”
Väliverronen, Sihvonen, Laaksonen, and Koskel’s paper, being part of the Thematic Section “Changing Communication of Higher Education Institutions” (guest edited by Silke Fürst, Daniel Vogler, Isabel Sörensen, and Mike S. Schäfer), demonstrates “possible repercussions of a quasi-corporate style of communication on the credibility of the university as a higher education institution in a hybrid media environment” (abstract).
This paper convinced the jurors because it is “[m]ethodologically innovatively designed as a combination of content and discourse analysis including professional, journalistic and user-generated content.” Furthermore, “the study contributes to current discussions about the change of science and university communication.”
The SComS editors preselected six published SComS papers together with one member of SComS Editorial Board (Joan Ramon Rodriguez-Amat) and organized a peer-review with jurors from outside the editorial team who ranked the quality of the papers independently from each other.
Special thanks to this year’s jurors: Prof. Dr. Hannah Früh (HAW Hamburg University of Applied Sciences), Dr. Constanze Jecker (Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts), Dr. Werner A. Meier (University of Zurich), Dr. Alexander Ort (University of Lucerne), Lilian Suter, MSc (ZHAW Zurich University of Applied Sciences), and Dr. Nina Wicke.


This week featured the final prize for the Go London Social Innovation winner, Go 10,000. On a chilly Thursday morning we headed to Precedent, where the designers and Danielle Ramsey (the innovator behind Go 10,000) started to put together a project blog for Go 10,000 to call home. Danielle gave us a quick update on how things were going:
“The Go 10,000 journey has been a busy one, Precedent creating a project blog is a huge step forward - it’s going to be really exciting to pull in all my previous learning, the brilliant prize sessions and now as we prepare to pilot, our future approaches.
It’s also going to be a great place to collect all the conversations going on related to Go 10,000 – there’s plenty of stuff to keep on top of! The upcoming Olympics, initiatives such as the Boris Bikes and 2011 being named the year of walking to name but a few… it’s a really exciting time to be involved in a project that aims to get people moving.
It’s been great watching my vision spring to life, and I’m determined to keep that momentum as we look towards the pilot stages with NHS London.”
The project also announced the brand new Go 10,000 logo, designed by M&C Saatchi as part of the winners prize pack earlier on in the month. After careful consideration and taking a look through all your suggestions (thank you all for those!) the team decided to go for clear favourite Logo F:
Armed with both a new logo and a blog in the making, we spent a some time setting up the project around the web so that Go 10,000 is ready to go, getting the word out as the project moves forward and prepares for pilot.
The new Go 10,000 blog will be ready in the next week or so – keep an eye out here for news of it’s launch. The Go 10,000 pilot is looking to run in the next few months… we’ll keep you posted!
Many thanks to Precedent for generously donating their designer’s time to help our winning idea – we can’t wait to see the end result.


(Gatineau, QC) — April 15, 2020 — SMITH today announced it has achieved SAP® gold partner status within the PartnerEdge® program. Partnership has its privileges and when it comes to delivering capability, competency and consistent value to businesses that use SAP solutions, SMITH has successfully gone for the gold!
SMITH is delighted to kick off the new decade by continuing to sell and implement the SAP C4/HANA® suite, including SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP Sales Cloud, SAP Service Cloud, SAP Marketing Cloud and SAP Customer Data Cloud.
According to Tony Steel, SMITH CEO, the road to becoming an SAP gold partner was a carefully planned route. “As a leading digital transformation agency, SMITH takes a deliberate approach to setting ourselves apart in how we drive results for our clients within the SAP ecosystem,” said Steel. “This recognition of SMITH confirms the value we bring to clients. We are incredibly proud to have that value acknowledged.”
As an SAP partner reselling SAP C/4HANA solutions to midsize companies, it will help companies to achieve their objectives of improved growth, lower costs and a better understanding of business processes.
SMITH | The Architects of Future Commerce
The next big thing isn’t what you’ll buy, it’s how you’ll buy it. SMITH, is a values-driven digital transformation agency with one mission: to make buying and selling awesome. For more than 20 years, SMITH has worked in partnership with the world's most respected B2B and B2C brands to deliver better business outcomes with design thinking and technology enablement that puts customers at the center. Learn more at www.smith.co
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Nearly 141,000 visitors and 3,305 exhibitors from 58 countries showed up at the 51st edition of IFAT, the world’s leading trade fair for environmental technologies, where Construtec presented for the first time its association with U.S. Pipe, the largest American manufacturer of ductile iron pipes.
The fair was attended by the most important companies in the sector being the perfect occasion to show the capabilities and proposals of the Construtec – U.S. Pipe alliance.
The stand of Construtec – U.S. Pipe with Pachi Dominguez Siemens and Sean Farley in front, CEO at Construtec and International Sales Director at U.S. Pipe, respectively, received many visitors having the opportunity to exchange experiences and presenting the most innovative solutions in locking systems without bolts, under the Lok&Play® concept.
The good results shared by both companies brought great advances in the international strategy, being able to offer ductile iron pipes according to AWWA and ISO standards to attend the clients both in Europe and in Latin America.
“Having the trust of a technological leader such as U.S. Pipe gives you great confidence to face the upcoming challenges and responsibilities. This alliance is hungry for success and we come to the European market with the aim of creating our space, of bringing knowledge and experience to such a versatile and traditional product as the ductile iron. The segment of high performance and high-quality standards is our priority. In addition, we are very motivated to be able to offer the most complete Lok&Play® ductile iron pipe and fittings available in the market up to DN 1600.» commented Pachi Dominguez.
Construtec and U.S. Pipe are committed to the sustainable development working in hydraulic engineering solutions that reduce the impact on the environment. In line with this matter, they were visited by the Deputy Minister for the Environment of the Basque Government, Elena Moreno Zaldibar, and the General Director of the Basque Water Agency – URA Ernesto Martínez de Cabredo.
On behalf of Construtec, thank you very much to all the visitors, partners and friends who came to the stand. We hope to see you again in the next edition of IFAT.
For more information contact us at email@example.com


Three Arkansas police officers were injured Monday after being assaulted by a man wielding an iron pipe.
An officer from the Hoxie Police Department encountered a man walking along an overpass on Highway 367 Monday morning wielding a pipe, according to a statement from the Arkansas State Police.
Matthew Dale Hatley, 26, was able to enter the officer’s patrol car and began striking the officer with the pipe, according to police.
Hatley was able to gain control of an officer’s weapon, which he then fired, according to the statement. The officer was not hit.
Local and state law enforcement arrived on the scene and “were able to disarm Hatley despite his continued resistance.”
Two officers were hospitalized with nonlife-threatening injuries and a third was treated and released with minor injuries, according to the statement.
Hatley is now incarcerated at the Lawrence County Detention Center and faces multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, according to the statement.
The Hoxie Police Department and the Lawrence County Prosecuting Attorney have requested that the Arkansas State Police conduct a criminal investigation, according to the statement.


The economic recovery has shown some gradual improvement and almost all EU Member States expect growth in the years to come. However, growth varies across countries and the refugee crisis poses new challenges. The exceptionally extended period of crisis has left long-lasting consequences in many European economies, particularly high levels of unemployment and low levels of job creation.
The main implication of these trends for the EU policy agenda is that it is now more challenging to meet many of the objectives set in the Europe 2020 strategy; Europe is still far from achieving the ET 2020 target on adult participation in lifelong learning. In a scenario of growing social inequality and geographical disparity, simple fine-tuning of the labour market is not sufficient to avoid the risk of a new prolonged period of jobless growth in the coming years. As development of youth unemployment suggests, comprehensive structural reforms that include labour market and education and training policies can bring about change.
Click here to download the publication


Stage Four Lung Cancer Patient is on the Ride of a Lifetime
What Started With a Nagging Cough Turned out to be Lung Cancer
Dave Henderson had recently begun his retirement dream of exploring North America by motorcycle with his wife Connie when he received a daunting cancer diagnosis. But, the adventurous father of eight and grandfather was not about to let cancer stop him. And, thanks to high-quality treatment at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers (RMCC), and its participation in the nationwide US Oncology Network, Dave has been able to keep moving during cancer treatment.
Dave quit smoking 20 years ago and never really thought he’d be a candidate for lung cancer. Though, looking back, he says it does run in his family: His grandfather died of lung cancer from smoking.
Dave and Connie were riding their new Harley Davidson near Loveland, CO when his test results came back. Stage four lung cancer. Dave will never forget the call from his doctor. And the 40-minute drive home. “I was thinking ‘Okay, God,’ praying the whole way, actually. ‘What's this all about? This is going to be a journey.’”
Cancer Treatment with Results
Now at 66 and with five years of treatment under his belt, Dave is feeling good. But his improved health has not come without an incredible fight. Three rounds of chemotherapy delivered serious side effects. A machine was doing most of his breathing at first, a major hardship for a man with dreams of adventure.
But, just as Dave was able to keep moving during cancer treatment, cancer treatment was also evolving and improving. After gene testing confirmed he qualified for Keytruda immunotherapy — a fairly new drug five years ago — Dave has gone from receiving infusions every three weeks to only needing treatment every six weeks. He describes Keytruda as a wonder drug that works with the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells.
Before the new cancer drug, “it was like using an army with slingshots, losing the battle. And then you get a shipment of heavy-duty artillery and it’s amazing,” Dave says.
A Dedicated Team Helps Fight His Cancer and Keep Him Going During Treatment
Dave credits his faith in God and his faith in his cancer care team at RMCC for his successful ongoing battle. Sincere empathy, understanding, and professionalism stand out as key qualities in RMCC nurses and doctors. Dave describes it beautifully when he says, “watching this team work together is like poetry in motion.”
“All of them just have a way about them where they really just connect with each person,” Dave says. “And they know everybody that comes in. They make you feel really important and special, which we all are.”
Dave’s oncologist, Dr. Eiko Browning, has gone above and beyond multiple times, he says, calling in emergency prescriptions when he was out of state, answering texts while on call, and showing the ultimate level of patience and kindness.
“If you're sick and you're in a situation where you don't have any faith in the people that are taking care of you, that would be an awful thing,” he says. “So they have my complete confidence, and they know it.”
Life is Now
Dave is a retired oil field services engineer who raised eight kids — “It’s amazing that didn’t kill us,” he jokes. When their children had all grown and left home, he and Connie decided to realize the dream of buying a Harley and traveling by motorcycle. Cancer has only made Dave’s drive stronger.
“I think in the last five years, I've met more people, I've made more friends, and I've done more things than I have in a lifetime,” he says. The couple has explored Canada by motorcycle, riding the bike every chance they get and logging more than 13,500 miles in the last five years. Dave also explored other new hobbies, teaching himself woodworking, hand-carving crafts for loved ones. He’s also strengthened a lot of relationships, recently relocating to Prescott, AZ to be closer to his brother and sister-in-law and enjoy warmer winters.
RMCC’s affiliation with The US Oncology Network, a nationwide network of cancer treatment providers, has allowed Dave to keep moving during cancer treatment — and continue his treatment without interruption.
“When you’re near death, it makes you incredibly aware of how valuable life is and how close you can be to your God,” Dave says. “I’ve been blessed in so many different ways in the past five years.”
Always Looking Ahead
For others on their own cancer journeys, Dave offers this insight: “When you’re diagnosed, don’t immediately think that’s the end. There’s life beyond cancer. Getting around your thoughts – your mind – can be an incredible hurdle. Your brain will say ‘why are you learning something new when you have this death sentence?’ If I would’ve listened to that voice, I would have wasted the last five years sitting around feeling sorry for myself.”
Dave continues to fight, thankfully noting that the tumors in his lung have receded. He’ll continue the same regimen prescribed by Dr. Browning, and will shift his care over to Arizona Oncology, which is part of The US Oncology Network like RMCC.
“There’s a reason for everything in our lives,” he says. “This is part of the plan. I’ve been blessed with this experience.”
Having cancer care that keeps up with patients who relocate allows patients to keep moving during cancer treatment, but there are many other benefits to being part of the Network. Find out more about The US Oncology Network.


2014 Annual Cypress Police Appreciation Luncheon
The fourth annual Cypress Police Foundation Appreciation Luncheon was held on Thursday, May 22, 2014 at the Cypress Community Center. The event had a very large turnout thanks to the support of many generous sponsors. The Luncheon paid tribute to several award recipients for their outstanding contribution to the Cypress Police Department in 2013: Police Officer Johnathan M. Krok for the Officer of the Year award, Police Services Officer Nathan Regalado and Police Officer Johnathan M. Krok for the Silver Distinguished Service Award, Acting Support Services Supervisor Mary K. Carrillo for the Employee of the Year award, and Chaplain Father Patrick Moses for the Citizen of the Year award.
The Cypress Police Foundation congratulates the honorees and extends our sincere appreciation to the men and women of the Cypress Police Department for their continued dedication and commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the City of Cypress community. Click here for photos.
Please donate now and help support the Cypress Police Department
“THE GUARDIANS OF THE SAFETY AND WELFARE OF OTHERS”
George Savord, Retired Cypress Chief of Police


3 December 2020
Medicinal cannabis advocates in New Zealand are celebrating an historic win at the United Nations.
Today state representatives at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) took the bold step of removing cannabis from Schedule IV of a 1961 treaty governing international control of drugs, six decades after its inclusion. The close decision passed 27 to 25 and recognises the therapeutic value of this century-old medicinal plant and no longer considering it as “particularly liable to abuse and to produce ill effects.”
The process began in 2009 and final decision based on the recommendation of an independent scientific assessment undertaken by some of the world’s leading experts, convened by the World Health Organisation in 2017-2018, where evidence and testimonials from all corners of the world were reviewed.
Manu Caddie is chair of the New Zealand Medical Cannabis Council, an industry association working to increase access to affordable quality medicinal cannabis, and attended the CND meeting in Vienna in December 2018.
“At that time we were expecting the WHO recommendations on cannabis reform but these were delayed until early last year and it is has taken this long to get to the vote – but the wait was worth it!” said Mr Caddie.
Cannabis was originally placed into Schedule IV of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs without having been subject to any scientific assessment. Schedule IV for cannabis is a relic of the most extreme international drug laws inherited from 1950s.
The WHO has the sole responsibility in the treaty to issue these recommendations, today’s vote by governments gathered at the UN was required to pass them into international law. The removal from Schedule IV is, therefore, great news for millions of patients around the world and a historical victory of science over politics. While cannabis remains in Schedule I and subject to strict controls in cross-border supply, it is now recognised internationally as having real therapeutic value.
“It was depressing to hear a number of states express disappointment in the vote and their intention to retain repressive enforcement measures relating to cannabis” said Mr Caddie. “Many of them use a range of violent tactics to suppress dissent domestically yet they express concern about the harm cannabis can cause. It is ridiculous they are not allowing science to guide public policy.”
In addition to the removal from Schedule IV, WHO unexpectedly proposed an ambitious plan to harmonise and embed flexibility into the treaty framework for the access and availability of cannabis medicines. WHO endeavoured to create space for governments to adjust their national policies to fit their needs.
Another recommendation on medicinal CBD did not receive approval, leaving the substance unscheduled, and theoretically outside of treaty controls.
These changes to international law will take effect after each government receives their official notification from the UN Secretary-General. In case a country contests the vote, it would only delay the entry into force of the decision to March 2021, which would only serve to reinforce the historic character of this set of decisions since the Single Convention was adopted in New-York 60 year earlier, to the day, on 30 March 1961.
“The decision does not have a significant effect on the new Medicinal Cannabis Scheme in New Zealand, but does provide optimism that change is possible at the international level, even if it takes a long time for small amounts of progress to be made” said Mr Caddie.
New Zealand is not currently a member of the CND but Mr Caddie said the New Zealand Government has recently been a strong advocate for science-based decisions on cannabis at the United Nations and along with former Prime Minister Helen Clark as head of the Global Commission on Drug Policy, he hopes New Zealand will play an increasing role in shaping international rules, policy frameworks and standards for cannabis and other drugs.
Mr Caddie is also optimistic that while the recommendation on CBD was rejected, New Zealand will soon make domestic policy changes to remove CBD from the schedule of Prescription Only medicines to increase access for patients via pharmacy supply.


Two Innocent Men Cleared Today in Separate Murder Cases in Mississippi, 15 Years after Wrongful Convictions
Kennedy Brewer, who served time on death row, is first post-conviction DNA exoneration in Mississippi; Levon Brooks’ conviction is thrown out and he is free
(NOXUBEE COUNTY, MS; February 15, 2008) – Two men who were wrongfully convicted of separate child murders in Noxubee County, Mississippi, were cleared in the crimes at a hearing this morning based on evidence proving their innocence. Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks, who are represented by the Innocence Project, have maintained their innocence for 15 years and were joined by more than 100 of their relatives at this morning’s hearing.
New evidence, which includes DNA testing and a confession, has identified the actual perpetrator in both cases, who was arrested last week. At today’s hearing, the case against Brewer was dismissed – making him the first person in Mississippi exonerated through post-conviction DNA testing. Brewer served time on death row. Brooks’ conviction was vacated and he was released from custody; Brooks will be fully exonerated when the indictment against him is dismissed, which the Innocence Project expects in the next few weeks.
“It has taken 15 long years, but Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks are finally free. The evidence clearly shows that they are innocent – what’s troubling is that their innocence has been clear for years, but they remained incarcerated while the true perpetrator was at large,” Innocence Project Co-Director Peter Neufeld said. “The system wasn’t just broken in these cases – different elements within the system actually conspired to convict two innocent men of heinous crimes, while the actual perpetrator remained at large. These cases should haunt Mississippi and the nation, and they should lead to a top-to-bottom review of how the state is investigating and prosecuting cases.”


have you ever wondered how rio de janeiro’s ‘christ the redeemer’ statue was built? known as one of the seven wonders of the modern world, the emblematic landmark stands 98 feet tall and spans a mammoth 92 feet wide. well now, thanks to these laser scans generated by geospatial mapping specialists geoSLAM, we can see the incredible structure like never before.
laser scan data that can be manipulated online
images and video courtesy of geoSLAM
geoSLAM was asked to create a digital twin of the statue before its 90th birthday restoration work began. the summit of mount corcovado, where christ the redeemer stands, was closed to the public while the entire site was scanned – inside and out. you might expect such detailed image capture to take an age but in fact, it was scanned within 45 minutes using the latest SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) and UAV technology. over 180 million data points were captured, producing a comprehensive digital model of the giant monument in all its glory.
external laser scan of christ the redeemer
gabriel de barros praxedes, geoSLAM’s latin america channel manager, navigated the narrow staircases and tight passages of christ the redeemer’s structure using a portable handheld 3D scanner to capture the internal images. the same handheld laser scanner was subsequently mounted to a drone to capture the detailed exterior of the monument. gabriel quickly processed the data so he could see the results of the scan before leaving the site, making sure he’d accurately captured every detail. a complete 3D model of the data can be seen and manipulated online.
internal laser scan of the statue
commenting on the project, gabriel said: ‘given the level of detail on this monument – from the face, hands, and robe, to the staircases inside and carved marble base beneath it, i’m in awe of the capabilities of this technology and the clarity of data produced. we’ve been able to capture the statue in a totally new light, that almost no one has had the privilege to see. this is one of the most recognizable statues on the planet, and a symbol of hope for many brazilians near and far, and i’m delighted to have been able to capture it in its current form before the restoration works get underway. it’s hard to believe this statue is almost 90 years old; the scan really highlights the level of detail.’
internal laser scan and original view
external laser scan and original view
christ the redeemer as seen from above by drone
christ the redeemer being scanned by laser scanner mounted to drone
project name: geoSLAM christ the redeemer laser scan
geospatial mapping company: geoSLAM
geospatial mapping team leader: gabriel de barros praxedes
edited by: lynne myers | designboom


Otsego Public Schools is fortunate to have such a supportive community and we are excited about the progress at the new Learn 'n Grow Early Childhood Education Center site that we want to show you what's happening before it opens.
Community tours of the new site are scheduled for Tuesday, July 23rd at 4:00pm and 6:00pm. Get a first-hand look at the nature-based center that has seven classrooms, a multi-purpose room and a beautiful playground set on five acres off of 18th Street.
Join us! The new address is: 485 18th Street, Otsego, MI 49078.


Eventually, yoga in collegiate and professional sports teams training regiments won’t be surprising, but until that day I’m going to keep sharing their stories here on The Green Yogi‘s Blog!
The Iowa State Cyclone Basketball team has actually been practicing yoga in their off season since Coach Hoiberg took over in 2010. And since they’ve started practicing ISU has made two NCAA tourneys in a row, not too shabby. Yoga’s secret is getting out, practicing strengthens the mind and body!
“I feel like it’s definitely built our mental toughness,” [forward Georges] Niang said. “If you’re not used to doing something, just pushing your body to a new limit and having yourself know at the end of the day that you can do it when you went in to it thinking that you couldn’t. When Emily is telling you not to let up, this is all in your head, it’s so true,” he added. “It’s like when you’re down five with 30 seconds to go. You have to tell yourself you can do it and fight through.”
“Yoga’s been great for us,” senior Melvin Ejim said. “Physically, we’re getting a lot of stretching in, a lot of exercise that we don’t necessarily do in the weight room. And then mentally, it’s challenging for a lot of guys.”
“To be able to completely focus on one thing, to let go of what your mind is thinking and kind of just give yourself the opportunity to get everything out of what you’re doing,” said Ejim, “I think it’s a great opportunity.”


Paris museum sets expansive show for Dior’s 70th anniversary
To mark its 70th anniversary, Dior is taking over Les Arts Décoratifs for a retrospective that the Paris museum is billing as its largest fashion exhibition to date in terms of size. “Christian Dior, Couturier du Rêve” (“Christian Dior, Dream Couturier” in English) will feature designs by the house’s founder and the six couturiers who succeeded him, spread over 3,000 square meters, or more than 32,000 square feet, with an elaborate set design by interior architect Nathalie Crinière. It is scheduled to open on July 5 during Paris Couture Week and run until Jan. 7, 2018. The highlight of the exhibition will be a ballroom inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Château de Versailles, featuring gowns — some worn by royals, such as Princess Grace of Monaco and Princess Diana, others by celebrities, including current brand ambassadors Charlize Theron and Jennifer Lawrence — displayed under the arched 50-foot-high ceiling of the museum’s central nave. In its fashion areas — which in recent years have housed exhibitions including “Dries Van Noten – Inspirations” in 2014 and “Louis Vuitton – Marc Jacobs” in 2012 — Crinière has recreated settings including an art gallery, a street, a boudoir and a garden to highlight the creative themes that make up the Dior vocabulary.