Datasets:

stas

/

openwebtext-10k

like 16

Thieves cleared out the shelves of the Canna Community Shop on Canna in the Small Isles. © SWNS Group A tiny Scottish island has been hit by its first crimes in decades. Thieves cleaned out the Canna Community Shop and stole beauty products and cash from a newly-opened cosmetics store on Friday night. The crimes - which included the theft of six woolly hats - are believed to be the first on Canna since a wooden plate was stolen in the 1960s. The island in the far west of the Small Isles has fewer than 30 residents, no police station or village hall and usually enjoys a crime rate of zero. The Community Shop was previously left unlocked to allow local sailors to use its Wi-Fi but will now be closed overnight to prevent future thefts. A spokeswoman for the Canna Community Trust, which runs shop, said: “In the four years our shop has been run on an honesty basis this is the first time this has happened and we are all gutted by it. “The thieves cleared the shelves of sweets, chocolate bars, coffee, biscuits, batteries and more. Most upsetting for [manager] Julie was they stole six of her hand-knitted Canna wool hats which were in the shop on a sale or return basis. © SWNS Group “The thieves would have had to fill carrier bags with the amount of items they took. “Sadly, this means we will have to lock the door of the shop overnight now. We left it open specifically to welcome fisherman in to use the Wi-Fi and buy anything they needed while resting in at our pier overnight. “Thefts like this put our shop in jeopardy and may mean it will have to close, which would be a real shame after all the hard work and voluntary hours that go into it.” Colin Irvine, who runs Hebridean Beauty on Canna, said the shop had only been open for a few weeks before the thefts. ©SWNS Group He said: “I have a little shop at the pier where we sell products from beauty products. Some of the stock is gone so it must have happened at the same time. Some money was also taken from the honesty box.” Councillor Bill Clark, who has represented the area for 13 years, said the thefts were “unbelievable”. He added: “I would think this is the first crime in years - I don't know for sure but I certainly haven't heard of any crime there in my time. I doubt very much if anyone even locks their doors there." Feedback: We want your feedback on our site. If you've got questions, spotted an inaccuracy or just want to share some ideas about our news service, please email us on web@stv.tv. Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are. Join in: For debate, chat, comment and more, join our communities on the STV News Facebook page or follow @STVNews on Twitter. Updates: Would you like STV’s latest news update in your inbox every morning? Choose from our range of regular e-newsletters here.

In November 2016, NASA officially announced[1a] that they've tested British engineer Roger Shawyer's[2a] controversial spaceship engine known as the EM Drive. They found that it appears to work, despite the fact that it appears to contradict the conservation of momentum, making it as impossible as a perpetual motion machine[3]. NASA hope that further experiments will confirm this machine works, and that this will open up the universe for us (and anything else that's capable of making these devises), allowing us to travel to other stars at over 9% the speed of light[4a]. 1. What is an EM Drive? ↑ Newton's first law shows that something needs a force in order to change its velocity. Newton's second law shows that: Force = Mass × Acceleration . This means that: Force = Change in momentum / Time , where Momentum = Mass × Velocity . , where Newton's third law shows that for every force, there is an equal and opposite reaction. The combination of Newton's second and third laws shows that momentum must be conserved. This means that like energy, it can't be created or destroyed, only changed. Objects like spaceships tend to move faster by pushing something, known as fuel, out of their back, through the exhaust. Newton's third law states that this pushes the object in the opposite direction to the fuel, creating a force known as thrust. Sponsored Links Forces on a rocket. Image credit: NASA/Public domain. The conservation of momentum means that the momentum (Mass × Velocity) of the fuel equals the momentum of the ship, and so the ship goes faster the higher the mass of the fuel and the faster the fuel moves away. This means that the fuel is usually sent out at a very high speed and so must have a high kinetic energy, where: Kinetic energy = ½ × Mass × Velocity2. In chemical rockets, the fuel can be something like petrol. This must be taken on the rocket and then burnt to convert potential energy to kinetic energy and hence release a fast moving gas. The mass that's used as fuel is known as the reaction mass. Many rockets now use electric propulsion in space. This uses electricity, which can be created by solar power or nuclear power, to create the energy that speeds up the fuel. This tends to make the fuel faster, and so you can take less reaction mass on board and active the same speed. The EM Drive looks like a cone-shaped piece of hollow metal that has no apparent fuel or exhaust pipe. Electric energy is used to make microwaves bounce inside and it moves forwards, in the direction of the cone. The fact that it appears to move forwards without something coming out of the back means that it appears to break Newton's third law and the law of the conservation of momentum. This means that if it works, then we don't know why.[4b] A prototype of the EM Drive built at NASA Eagleworks laboratory. Image credit: NASA/Public domain. 2.1 Roger Shawyer and Guido Fetta ↑ The EM Drive was invented by British engineer Roger Shawyer at the turn of the millennium. In 2001, he developed the British company Satellite Propulsion Research Ltd (SPR) in order to work on the drive[5]. Shawyer claims that various organisations, like British aerospace company BAE Systems, were interested in his invention in 2004[6]. In 2008[2b] and 2014[7] he published his ideas at the annual International Astronautical Congress. Shawyer applied to patent an updated version of the EM Drive in 2016[8], and has created Universal Propulsion Ltd in order to develop the drive. He also confirmed that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in the UK and the Department of Defense (DoD) in the US are both interested in the drive[9]. A similar idea, known as the Cannae drive, was developed by American engineer Guido Fetta in 2014[10a]. 2.2 Juan Yang ↑ A team led by Chinese physicist Juan Yang at Northwestern Polytechnical University (NWPU) in China became interested in the EM Drive in 2008. They built a devise that was tested in 2010, while they got positive results[11], they later retracted them[12]. 2.3 Martin Tajmar ↑ Austrian physicist Martin Tajmar and his team at the Dresden University of Technology (TUD) experimented with the EM Drive in 2015[13]. They couldn't confirm whether or not the device worked. 2.4 NASA Eagleworks ↑ After a number of positive results, NASA became interested in the EM Drive in about 2011. NASA Eagleworks - a research group led by Harold “Sonny” White - first discussed positive results in 2014[14a]. In 2015, they got positive results after testing the EM Drive in a vacuum, and this was published online by a peer reviewed journal in November 2016[1b]. It will be published in the journal in 2017. NASA Eagleworks tested their EM Drive at 40, 60, and 80 watts and found that in a vacuum, it generated a thrust of 1.2 ± 0.1 millinewtons per kilowatt of power. 3. The Future ↑ These results are controversial because there's no theoretical explanation for how the EM Drive works, and so it seems more likely that the results are down to an error. In order to be accepted by the scientific community, the devise would have to be shown to work in numerous independently conducted experiments. The EM Drive may also be accepted if it is demonstrated on a large scale, moving an object in space with a large force, and hence a large acceleration. Fetta has already announced that he wants to test his drive in space, hoping that it can spend 6 months being tested on the International Space Station starting sometime in 2017[15]. If the EM Drive were found to work, then objects would no longer have to carry fuel into space in order to increase their speed or change direction. This may make space travel cheaper and safer. For low orbiting satellites like the International Space Station (ISS), fuel is currently needed to counteract the drag of the atmosphere. This can make up to half the mass of the satellite, which could be eliminated with an EM Drive[4c]. NASA Eagleworks state that the EM Drive could be used to make a crewed flight to Mars in 70 days, a crewed flight to Saturn in 9 months, and a crewed flight to the closest star system to our own - Alpha Centauri – in 130 years, reaching speeds over 9% the speed of light[4d]. For an EM Drive to work in space, it would need a source of electricity to heat the microwaves. NASA claim that to cover these distances, the EM Drive would need a nuclear power plant no more powerful that those that are currently available today[4e]. Perhaps most interestingly, if the EM Drive does work, then this may make all number of other things possible. What this entails depends on what causes the EM Drive to move. Artist's impression of a probe on Saturn's moon Titan. Image credit: NASA/Public domain. The simplest answer at this point is that the EM Drive doesn't really work, and the results from Shawyer, Fetta, and NASA Eagleworks are all due to some kind of error in the experiment. One error could be that the results are not really due to movement, but ‘noise', these are changes in the results due to outside sources, like heat or magnets. The best way to test that the results are not due to outside sources is to shield the experiment from the environment. NASA Eagleworks have attempted to do this by performing the experiment in a vacuum[1c]. However, the best way to do this is to take the experiment into space. If the EM Drive does work, then it may be due to a direct violation of Newton's laws, making it a true reactionless drive. This is so unlikely, however, that it's generally considered impossible and would essentially make it a perpetual motion machine. No one is currently arguing that this is correct, and there are a number of theories as to how the EM Drive could move. Shawyer argued that the thrust is caused by different radiation pressures at different ends of the drive that are due to relativistic effects[17], and Fetta had a similar idea using electromagnetic forces[10b]. In the 2014 paper by NASA Eagleworks, they suggest that the force may be due to the EM Drive pushing on the quantum vacuum[14b]. However, this is also not currently thought to be possible[4f]. In their 2016 paper[1d], NASA Eagleworks suggest that the EM Drive's movement may be due to the Bohm interpretation of quantum mechanics. This suggests that there's no collapse of the wave function, which is highly problematic, and instead says that extra dynamics explain why all but one possible quantum result is observed. The main rival to Bohmian mechanics is Everett's many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. This also says that there's no collapse of the wave function, however there are no extra dynamics, and so every result occurs. This means there are infinite amounts of parallel worlds. In 2015, British physicist Michael McCulloch argued that the EM Drive works because of Unruh radiation[18], which is also unproven. McCulloch claims that his theory does away with the need for dark matter in order to explain galaxy rotation[19] and with dark energy in order to explain why the universe's expansion is accelerating[20]. In June 2016, a group of scientists lead by Patrick Grahn from Finnish engineering software firm Comsol suggested that the EM Drive works because there is an exhaust, which is currently unobserved. This is composed of pairs of photons[16]. If the EM Drive does work, then whatever's responsible for this is likely to dramatically change our understanding of the universe.

He may be dead now, I don’t know. He should have been dead long ago, but these early boomers, born in California, have many lives. From some angles, Alex’s life was clear proof of what spoiled, invincible brats they were, the ungrateful beneficiaries of hippie primogeniture. I remember him sitting in the little room his wife had assigned him in their hilltop mansion, his “study.” What Alex studied, mainly, was how to get more crack and get more blowjobs from prostitutes on his nightly forays into West Oakland. His wife–let’s call her “Elaine”–came in without knocking while Alex was whining about his misfortunes, between big puffs. She just popped in to ask him to take care of their daughter while she went off to do some chore for the underprivileged. I thought it was the end of the world: the pipe still in Alex’s hand, the little room full of the hot exhale of crack. Alex barely went through the motion of putting the pipe in the open drawer of his desk. But she didn’t notice a thing. Elaine was like that, a very successful person and as thick as an L. Ron Hubbard hardbound. That was part of the pleasant bitterness of visiting their modest palace on Grizzly Peak: listening in a kind of disgusted awe to the stupid things Elaine would say as she bustled around her uncomfortable kitchen–that cost more than I made in a year–or perched briefly on one of their peasant chairs–so peasanty it would have paid my rent for a few months. Elaine was a constant reminder that in these parts, the race goeth not to the swift but to the…I wasn’t so clear about what it was that made her so perfect for the place. Being born the daughter of a billionaire helped, of course. Elaine’s family owned Kansas City. Her father had built the stadium there. His big break, Alex told me, was when he realized he was supposed to get a prostitute for the client who could sign off on a big project. Lesson learned, Dad went on to hire many a prostitute for many a client, accumulate unthinkable riches. and keep the dynasty alive with two sons, E-gulping entrepreneurs both, and Elaine. She was the family’s tithe to virtue–and she knew it. Alex, always good at catching and disseminating the worst moments of his nearest and dearest, told me he was watching The Last Temptation of Christ as Elaine zipped through the house between do-gooderies, and she happened to flit by the screen as Jesus was saying, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” He said Elaine remarked, without breaking stride, “I’ve never sinned.” He told me that story in his study, as he sucked on his crack pipe. (He had it to himself; I hate that stuff.) He gave his bitter little laugh. I laughed with him, uneasily–the envious goy, steeped in self-hatred, taking it for granted as the basis of any decency, at once disgusted and awed by Elaine’s obviously adaptive sinlessness. Of course, it was a matter of definition. Elaine did virtuous things so terrible in their effects that I still wince to remember them. She was a leading pro-bono lawyer (it’s not as if she needed to practice for the money), working for the disabled, the disenfranchised, the dis-whatever. You live in Berkeley long enough, you develop an allergy for all those pious latinates, they blur in the same squished mass of numb piety pressing on the top of your head. One of Elaine’s crusades was “mainstreaming” retarded kids. In the Oakland School District. If you’d ever been to the kind of school non-billionaires attend, the idea of taking those poor sweet Down’s Syndrome gnomes and throwing them into the pit with pubescent weasels honing their torture skills seemed downright Satanic. I ventured to suggest as much, politely, and managed to stop her in mid-stride. She stared at me in shock and said indignantly, “It’s a CONSTITUTIONAL issue!” I nodded and dropped the matter, but I’m still not sure how being terrorized from Homeroom to you can find refuge on the little yellow bus for the ride home, five days a week, was what the Founding Fathers had in mind for those poor puppies. Come to think of it, Elaine could easily have moved on to abolish the little yellow bus for those kids, ensuring they had their equal place on the big prison buses where the normal Oakland kids rode. That would have added a good hour a day to their constitutionally-ordained Hell. It’s possible she actually did some good along the line. I’m probably being very unfair here. But that’s Berkeley; you become so accustomed to pious lies that you fall into the habit of flipping every public assertion. It went without saying that Emily, Elaine and Alex’s daughter, would never attend Oakland Public Schools. She was already enrolled at the Berkeley Richmond Jewish Community Center Preschool, one of three dozen reverently nurtured future achievers. That was part of my nervous bitter laughing with Alex, too: the feckless goy friend sharing his half-admiring exclusion from all that Jewish achievement. Alex was never sure he was a Jew. It depended on how he could play it in a more maudlin way. In theory, that meant being as Jewish as possible–the Buchenwald pathos–but Alex was too smart to do the hack version of that. In the world we knew, Jews won. Elaine had picked Alex to sire a child with her only after verifying certain things about him, above all that he was, in her terms, Jewish. Which he was, because he was born of a Jewish mother. From Alabama, for some weird reason. Alex was the product of her affair with a redneck Army man named Thacker who left as soon as the infant Alex started bawling. Mom raised Alex herself, enrolling him in those same very mainstream Oakland public schools before going insane. Alex used to recite one of his early poems with the refrain, “Just take the pills, Ma.”

About This Game Beautifully crafted levels with immersive missions to complete. Multiple extreme boss battles. Upgrade your shields, guns, missiles, lasers, mega-bombs and magnets. Risk everything to rescue civilians. Brand new weekly tournaments against other players. Boost your final score with a host of in-game achievements. Rescue fallen friends to win extra stars. Accessible to beginners, as well as hardcore shooter addicts. Full voiceover and incredible electronic soundtrack. Adrenaline-packed local cooperative mode for 2 players. The legendary shoot-’em-up is here to celebrate its 10-year anniversary in super-destructive style. Harnessing the intensity of classic arcade games combined with modern visuals, Sky Force Anniversary offers a true to its core, stunning scrolling shooter experience with an incredible new social gameplay element.Over a decade ago, IGN said, “Put simply, Sky Force is amazing.” Scoring an incredible 9.5 out of 10, Sky Force took the early mobile gaming scene by force.And now it’s back. Bigger, bolder, more intense than ever and it's on your PC!This 10th anniversary edition adds incredible depth to the series through stunning 3D graphics, intuitive controls and a powerful upgrade system that’ll keep you blasting for hours on end.Weekly tournaments take place on unique new levels as you battle it out against legions of other Sky Force Anniversary players, offering great rewards not only for winning, but for rescuing other pilots who’ve already been taken down!The hottest shooter is no push over, but the invigorating gameplay and vast library ofachievements will keep both casual players and hardcore gamers hooked as you upgrade your ship and take it a little deeper into the incredible battlefield time after time.

German constitution of 1919 "Constitution of the German Reich (1919)" redirects here. For other constitutions of the German Reich, see Constitution of the German Reich (disambiguation) Weimar Constitution' in booklet form. The constitution itself required that it be provided to school children at the time of their graduation. The 'in booklet form. The constitution itself required that it be provided to school children at the time of their graduation. The Constitution of the German Reich (German: Die Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs), usually known as the Weimar Constitution (Weimarer Verfassung) was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era (1919–1933). The constitution declared Germany to be a democratic parliamentary republic with a legislature elected under proportional representation. Universal suffrage was established, with a minimum voting age of 20. The constitution technically remained in effect throughout the Nazi era from 1933 to 1945. The constitution's title was the same as the Constitution of the German Empire that preceded it. The German state's official name was Deutsches Reich until the adoption of the 1949 Basic Law. Origin [ edit ] Following the end of World War I, a German National Assembly gathered in the town of Weimar, in the state of Thuringia, after the 19 January 1919 Federal elections, in order to write a constitution for the Reich.[1] The nation was to be a democratic federal republic, governed by a president and parliament. The constitution was drafted by the lawyer and liberal politician Hugo Preuss, who was then state secretary in the Ministry of the Interior, and later became Minister of the Interior. Preuss criticized the Triple Entente decision to prohibit the incorporation of post-Austro-Hungarian-dissolution German Austria into the nascent German republic, saying it was a contradiction of the Wilsonian principle of self-determination of peoples.[2] Disagreements arose between the delegates over issues such as the national flag, religious education for youth, and the rights of the provinces (Länder) that made up the Reich. These disagreements were resolved by August 1919, though sixty-seven delegates abstained from voting to adopt the Weimar Constitution. The Republic's first President, Friedrich Ebert, signed the new German constitution into law on 11 August 1919. The constitution is named after Weimar although it was signed into law by Friedrich Ebert in Schwarzburg. This is because Ebert was on holiday in Schwarzburg, while the parliament working out the constitution was gathered in Weimar. Federal elections were held in Germany on 6 June 1920 in line with the Weimar Constitution.[1] Gerhard Anschütz (1867–1948), a noted German teacher of constitutional law, was a prominent commentator of the Weimar Constitution. Provisions and organization [ edit ] The Weimar Constitution was divided into two main parts (Hauptteile). The two parts were divided into seven and five sections, respectively. In all, there were over 180 articles in the Constitution. Some of the more noteworthy provisions are described below, including those provisions which proved significant in the demise of the Weimar Republic and the rise of Nazi Germany. The preamble to the Constitution reads: Das Deutsche Volk einig in seinen Stämmen und von dem Willen beseelt, sein Reich in Freiheit und Gerechtigkeit zu erneuen und zu festigen, dem inneren und dem äußeren Frieden zu dienen und den gesellschaftlichen Fortschritt zu fördern, hat sich diese Verfassung gegeben. In English, this can be translated as: The German people, united in its tribes and inspired with the will to renew and strengthen its realm (Reich) in liberty and justice, to serve internal and external peace, and to promote social progress, has adopted this Constitution. Main Part I: Composition of the Reich and its Responsibility [ edit ] The first part (Erster Hauptteil) of the Constitution specified the organization of the various components of the Reich government. Section 1: The Reich and its States [ edit ] Section 1 consisted of Articles 1 to 19 and established the German Reich as a republic whose power derived from the people. ("The power of the state emanates from the people.") The Reich was defined as the region encompassed by the German states (Länder), and other regions could join the Reich based on popular self-determination and Reich legislation. Section 1 also established that generally recognized principles of international law were binding on Germany and gave the Reich government exclusive jurisdiction of: foreign relations, colonial affairs, citizenship freedom of movement immigration, emigration, and extradition. defense customs and trade currency and coinage postal, telegraph, and telephone service With the exceptions of the subjects for which the Reich government had exclusive jurisdiction, the states could govern their respective territories as they saw fit. However, Reich law superseded or nullified state law in the event of a conflict. Adjudication of conflicts between the Länder and the Reich government was the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. State authorities were required to enforce Reich law and must have a constitution on free state principles. Each state parliament (Landtag) was to be elected by an equal and secret ballot according to representative election. Each state government could serve only so long as it had the confidence of the respective state parliament. Section 2: The Reichstag and the Reich Government [ edit ] Articles 20 to 40 described the national parliament, the Reichstag, which was seated in the capital, Berlin. The Reichstag was composed of representatives elected by the German people by an equal and secret ballot open to all Germans aged 20 or older. Proportional representation principles governed Reichstag elections. Members of the Reichstag represented the entire nation and were bound only to their own conscience. Members served for four years. The Reichstag could be dissolved by the Reich president and new elections held not more than 60 days after the date of dissolution. Members of the Reichstag and of each state parliament (Landtag) were immune from arrest or investigation of a criminal offense except with the approval of the legislative body to which the person belonged. The same approval was required for any other restriction on personal freedom which might harm the member's ability to fulfil his duties. (Article 37) The President served a term of seven years and could be re-elected once. He could be removed from office by plebiscite upon the vote of two-thirds of the Reichstag. Rejection of the measure by the voters would act as a re-election of the president and causes the Reichstag to be dissolved. If a state failed to fulfil its obligations under the constitution or Reich law, the president could use armed force to compel the state to do so. Furthermore, Article 48 gave the President the power to take measures – including the use of armed force and/or the suspension of civil rights – to restore law and order in the event of a serious threat to public safety or Reich security. The president was required to inform the Reichstag of these measures and the Reichstag could nullify such a presidential decree. (Adolf Hitler later used this Article to legally sweep away the civil liberties granted in the constitution and facilitate the establishment of a dictatorship.) The Reich chancellor determined the political guidelines of his government and was responsible to the Reichstag. The chancellor and ministers were compelled to resign in the event the Reichstag passed a vote of no confidence. The Reich government (cabinet) formulated decisions by majority vote; in the case of a tie, the Reich president's vote was decisive. The Reichstag could accuse the Reich president, chancellor, or any minister of willful violation of the Constitution or Reich law, said case to be tried in the Supreme Court. Section 3: The President of the Reich and the National Ministry [ edit ] Articles 41 to 59 describe the duties of the President, including criteria for the office. Furthermore, they also further explain his relationship to the National Ministry and its relation to the Chancellor. Section 4: The Reichsrat [ edit ] Section 4 consisted of Articles 60 to 67 and established the Reichsrat (State Council). The Reichsrat was the means by which the states could participate in the making of legislation at the national level. Members of the Reichsrat were members or representatives of the state parliaments, and were bound by the instructions of their respective state governments. Government ministers were required to inform the Reichsrat of proposed legislation or administrative regulations to permit the Reichsrat to voice objections. Section 5: Reich legislation [ edit ] Articles 68 to 77 specified how legislation is to be passed into law. Laws could be proposed by a member of the Reichstag or by the Reich government and were passed on the majority vote of the Reichstag. Proposed legislation had to be presented to the Reichsrat, and the latter body's objections were required to be presented to the Reichstag. The Reich president had the power to decree that a proposed law be presented to the voters as a plebiscite before taking effect. The Reichsrat was entitled to object to laws passed by the Reichstag. If this objection could not be resolved, the Reich president at his discretion could call for a plebiscite or let the proposed law die. If the Reichstag voted to overrule the Reichsrat's objection by a two-thirds majority, the Reich president was obligated to either proclaim the law into force or to call for a plebiscite. Constitutional amendments were proposed as ordinary legislation, but for such an amendment to take effect, it was required that two thirds or more of the Reichstag members be present, and that at least two-thirds of the members present voted in favor of the legislation. The Reich government had the authority to establish administrative regulations unless Reich law specified otherwise. Section 6: Reich administration [ edit ] Articles 78 to 101 described the methods by which the Reich government administered the constitution and laws, particularly in the areas where the Reich government had exclusive jurisdiction – foreign relations, colonial affairs, defence, taxation and customs, merchant shipping and waterways, railroads, and so forth. Section 7: Justice [ edit ] Articles 102 to 108 established the justice system of the Weimar Republic. The principal provision established judicial independence – judges were subject only to the law. This section established a Supreme Court and also established administrative courts to adjudicate disputes between citizens and administrative offices of the state. Main Part II: Basic rights and obligations of Germans [ edit ] The second part (Zweiter Hauptteil) of the Weimar Constitution laid out the basic rights (Grundrechte) and basic obligations (Grundpflichten) of Germans. The constitution guaranteed individual rights such as the freedom of speech and assembly to each citizen. These were based on the provisions of the earlier constitution of 1848. Section 1: The Individual [ edit ] Articles 109 to 118 set forth individual rights of Germans, the principal tenet being that every German was equal before the law. Both genders had the same rights and obligations. Privileges based on birth or social status were abolished. Official recognition of the titles of nobility ceased, except as a part of a person's name, and further creation of noble titles was discontinued. A citizen of any of the German provinces was likewise a citizen of the Reich. Germans had the right of mobility and residence, and the right to acquire property and pursue a trade. They had the right to immigrate or emigrate, and the right to Reich protection against foreign authorities. The "national identity" of foreign language communities in Germany was protected, including the right to use their native language in education, administration, and the judicial system. Other specific articles stated that: The rights of the individual are inviolable. Individual liberties may be limited or deprived only on the basis of law. Persons have the right to be notified within a day of their arrest or detention as to the authority and reasons for their detention and be given the opportunity to object. This is equivalent to the principle of habeas corpus in the common law of England and elsewhere. (Article 114)[†] A German's home is an asylum and is inviolable. (Article 115)[†] Privacy of correspondence, of mail, telegraph, and telephone are inviolable. (Article 117)[†] Germans are entitled to free expression of opinion in word, writing, print, image, etc. This right cannot be obstructed by job contract, nor can exercise of this right create a disadvantage. Censorship is prohibited. (Article 118)[†] Section 2: Community Life [ edit ] Articles 119 to 134 guided Germans' interaction with the community and established, among other things, that: Germans had the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed without prior permission. (Article 123)[†] Germans were entitled to form clubs or societies, which were permitted to acquire legal status. This status could not be denied because of the organization's political, socio-political or religious goals. (Article 124)[†] Free and secret elections were guaranteed. (Article 125) All citizens were eligible for public office, without discrimination, based on their abilities. Gender discrimination toward female civil servants was abolished (Article 128). This allowed the first women, like Anita Augspurg to practice law. Civil servants served the whole nation, not a specific party. They enjoyed freedom of political opinion. (Article 130) Citizens could be required to provide services to the state and community, including compulsory military service under regulations set by Reich law. Section 3: Religion and Religious Communities [ edit ] The religious rights of Germans were enumerated in Articles 135 to 141. Residents of the Reich were granted freedom of belief and conscience. Free practice of religion was guaranteed by the constitution and protected by the state, and no state church was established. Furthermore, the exercise of civil and civic rights and admission to state office were independent of one's religious beliefs. Public declaration of religious beliefs were not required, and no one was forced to join in a religious act or swear a religious oath. Five articles from this section of the Constitution (Nos. 136-139 and 141) were explicitly incorporated into the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany (passed in 1949), [3] and so remain Constitutional Law in Germany today. Section 4: Education and School [ edit ] Articles 142 to 150 guided the operation of educational institutions within the Reich. Public education was provided by state institutions and regulated by the government, with cooperation between the Reich, the province, and the local community. Primary school was compulsory, with advanced schooling available to age 18 free of charge. The constitution also provided for private schooling, which was likewise regulated by the government. In private schools operated by religious communities, religious instruction could be taught in accordance with the religious community's principles. Section 5: The Economy [ edit ] Constitutional provisions about economic affairs were given in Articles 151 to 165. One of the fundamental principles was that economic life should conform to the principles of justice, with the goal of achieving a dignified life for all and securing the economic freedom of the individual. [†] The right to property was guaranteed by Article 153. Expropriation of property could be made only on the basis of law and for the public welfare, with appropriate compensation. The Reich protected labor, intellectual creation, and the rights of authors, inventors, and artists. The right to form unions and to improve working conditions was guaranteed to every individual and to all occupations, and protection of the self-employed was established. Workers and employees were given the right to participate, on an equal footing with employers, in the regulation of wages and working conditions as well as in economic development. Transition and Final Clauses [ edit ] The final 16 articles (Articles 166 to 181) of the Weimar Constitution provided for the orderly transition to the new constitution, and stipulated in some cases when the various provisions of the new constitution take effect. In cases where legislation had yet to be passed (such as the laws governing the new Supreme Court), these articles stipulated how the constitutional authority would be exercised in the interim by existing institutions. This section also stipulated that new bodies established by the constitution took the place of obsolete bodies (such as the National Assembly) where those bodies were referred to by name in old laws or decrees. It was mandated that public servants and members of the armed forces are to take an oath on this constitution. The previous constitution, dated 15 April 1871, was suspended but other Reich laws and decrees that didn't contradict the new constitution remained in force. Other official decrees based on hitherto-valid law remained valid until superseded by law or by decree. The National Assembly was regarded as the Reichstag until the first Reichstag was elected and convened, and the Reich president elected by the National Assembly was to serve until 30 June 1925. Weaknesses [ edit ] In his book The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, historian William L. Shirer described the Weimar Constitution as "on paper, the most liberal and democratic document of its kind the twentieth century had ever seen ... full of ingenious and admirable devices which seemed to guarantee the working of an almost flawless democracy." Yet, the Weimar Constitution had serious problems. The allocation of presidential powers was deeply problematic. The Weimar Constitution allowed the president to dismiss the chancellor, even if the chancellor retained the confidence of the Reichstag. Similarly, the president could appoint a chancellor who didn't have the support of the Reichstag. Further, the government structure was a mix of presidential and parliamentary systems, with the president acting as a "replacement Kaiser" and assuming some of the powers the monarch would have wielded. Article 48, the so-called Notverordnung (emergency decree) provision, gave the president broad powers to suspend civil liberties with an insufficient system of checks and balances. This presented an opportunity that Adolf Hitler was quick to seize once he became chancellor. (see Reichstag fire). The use of a proportional electoral system without thresholds to win representation has also been cited. This system, intended to avoid the wasting of votes, allowed the rise of a multitude of splinter parties, many of which represented the extreme ends of the political spectrum, which in turn made it difficult for any party to establish and maintain a workable parliamentary majority. This factionalism was one contributing factor in the frequent changes in government. Shirer cites the presence of some 28 political parties in the 1930 national elections; Otto Friedrich cites 40 different groups in the Reichstag in 1933. There was no threshold to win representation in the Reichstag, and hence no safeguard against a quick rise of an extremist party. It was possible to win a seat in the chamber with as little as 0.4 percent of the vote. In the 1924 elections, for instance, the Bavarian Peasants' League got just 0.7% of the vote—but this was enough for three seats in the Reichstag. However, the rise of the Nazis (NSDAP) to form the largest party during the 1932 elections, can only be attributed to the sentiment of electors in Weimar Germany. Critics of electoral thresholds dispute the argument that the Nazis' token presence in the Reichstags of the 1920s significantly aided their rise to power and that the existence of thresholds in the Weimar constitution would not in fact have hindered Hitler's ambitions - indeed, once the Nazis had met the thresholds they would likely their existence would have actually aided the Nazis by allowing them to marginalize smaller parties even more quickly. Even without these real and/or perceived problems, the Weimar Constitution was established and in force under disadvantageous social, political, and economic conditions. In his book The Coming of the Third Reich, historian Richard J. Evans argues that "all in all, Weimar's constitution was no worse than the constitutions of most other countries in the 1920s, and a good deal more democratic than many. Its more problematical provisions might not have mattered so much had the circumstances been different. But the fatal lack of legitimacy from which the Republic suffered magnified the constitution's faults many times over."[4] Hitler's subversion of the Weimar Constitution [ edit ] Less than a month after Adolf Hitler’s appointment as chancellor in 1933, the Reichstag Fire Decree invoked Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, suspending several constitutional protections on civil rights. The articles affected were 114 (habeas corpus), 115 (inviolability of residence), 117 (correspondence privacy), 118 (freedom of expression /censorship), 123 (assembly), 124 (associations), and 153 (expropriation). The subsequent Enabling Act, passed by the Reichstag on 23 March 1933, stated that, in addition to the traditional method of the Reichstag passing legislation, the Reich government could also pass legislation. It further stated that the powers of the Reichstag, Reichsrat and Reich President were not affected. The normal legislative procedures outlined in Articles 68 to 77 of the constitution did not apply to legislation promulgated by the Reich government. The Enabling Act was effectively a constitutional amendment because of the foregoing alterations to the normal legislative process. The act met the constitutional requirements (two-thirds of the Reichstag's members were present, and two-thirds of the members present voted in favor of the measure). The Act did not explicitly amend the Weimar Constitution, but there was explicit mention to the fact that the procedure sufficient for constitutional reform was followed. The constitution of 1919 was never formally repealed, but the Enabling Act meant that all its other provisions were a dead letter. Two of the penultimate acts Hitler took to consolidate his power in 1934 actually violated the Enabling Act. Article 2 of the act stated that 'Laws enacted by the government of the Reich may deviate from the constitution as long as they do not affect the institutions of the Reichstag and the Reichsrat. The rights of the President remain undisturbed.' Hindenburg died on 2 August, and Hitler appropriated the president's powers for himself in accordance with a law passed the previous day. However, in 1932 the constitution had been amended to make the president of the High Court of Justice, not the chancellor, acting president pending new elections. Nonetheless, the Enabling Act did not specify any recourse that could be taken if the chancellor violated Article 2, and no legal challenge was ever mounted. Legacy [ edit ] After the passage of the Enabling Act, the constitution was largely forgotten. Nonetheless, Hitler used it to give his dictatorship the appearance of legality. Three Reichstag elections were held during his rule. However, voters were presented with a single list of Nazis and "guest candidates". Secret voting technically remained possible, but the Nazis made use of aggressive extralegal measures at the polling stations to intimidate the electors from attempting to vote in secret. Thousands of his decrees were based explicitly on the Reichstag Fire Decree, and hence on Article 48. In Hitler's 1945 political testament (written shortly before his suicide), he appointed Admiral Karl Dönitz to succeed him. However, he named Dönitz as President, not Führer, thereby re-establishing a constitutional office which had lain dormant since Hindenburg's death ten years earlier. On 30 April 1945, Dönitz formed what became known as the Flensburg government, which controlled only a tiny area of Germany near the Danish border, including the town of Flensburg. It was dissolved by the Allies on 23 May. On 5 June, the Allied Berlin Declaration abolished all the institutions of German civil government, and this established that the constitution no longer held any legal force. The 1949 Constitution of the German Democratic Republic contained many passages that were directly copied from the 1919 constitution.[5] It was intended to be the constitution of a united Germany, and was thus a compromise between liberal-democratic and Marxist–Leninist ideologies. It was replaced by a new, explicitly Communist constitution in 1968, which remained in force until the reunification of East and West in 1990. The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, enacted in 1949, said 'provisions of Articles 136, 137, 138, 139 and 141 of the German Constitution of 11 August 1919 shall be an integral part of this Basic Law'.[3] These articles of the Weimar constitution (which dealt with the state's relationship to the different Christian denominations) remain part of the German Basic Law. In the judicial system based on the Basic Law, the Weimar constitution initially retained the force of law (with the exception of the Church articles on a non-constitutional level), where the Basic Law contained nothing to the contrary. These norms were, however, largely redundant or dealing with matters reserved to the Länder, and as such officially set out of force within two decades; aside from the Church articles, the rule that titles of nobility are to be considered part of the name and must no longer be bestowed (Art. 109 III) is the only one left in force.[6] The first official constitution of the Republic of Korea was originally based on the Weimar Constitution.[7] Notes [ edit ] † Protections provided by Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124, and 153 could be suspended or restricted by the President through invocation of his authority granted under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution.

When we asked Robert Sapolsky what he might like to write about for the Nautilus Turbulence issue, he responded, “adolescence.” We had to laugh because the idea just seemed so perfect. Is there a more turbulent time in our lives? But is adolescence really a demarcated period in human life, biologically speaking, or just a modern cultural construct created, seemingly, by Mountain Dew? In fact, teens are their own beasts. Or their brains are. “The adolescent brain is not merely an adult brain that is half-cooked, or a child’s brain left unrefrigerated for too long,” Sapolsky said. As he explains in his Nautilus essay, “Dude, Where’s My Frontal Cortex?,” the teen brain, for all its famous downsides, such as a sullen love for Morrissey, is a necessary stage in human development’s slow dance, an incubation time for social intelligence. Sapolsky built his career on a facet of turbulence: stress; in particular, stress-related diseases in Savanna baboons. At age 21 he ventured to Kenya to study a troop of baboons. He would return to Kenya for more than 30 years to detail the troop’s lives and families. The bookish kid from Brooklyn whose rebellion against his religious upbringing took the form of, well, “I wanted to be a mountain gorilla,” matched his fieldwork in primatology with lab work in neuroscience. Today, with best-selling science books like A Primate’s Memoir and Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers, as well as a MacArthur Fellows “Genius Award,” behind him, Sapolsky is a professor of biology, neurology, and neurosurgery at Stanford University. For somebody who has happily spent a part of his life in jungles, Sapolsky lives in what has to be the most appropriate place in San Francisco, a tiny hillside neighborhood under a grove of tall redwood and eucalyptus trees. In a clearly well-lived-in dining room, near a piano on which stood a big and slightly ragged toy stuffed impala, Sapolsky sat with Nautilus for hours of conversation about turbulence, teens, and what the Internet is doing to our brains. Anybody who has read Sapolsky’s books knows him. The humane and witty writer, whose deep knowledge glides personably across the page, with just the right dash of sarcasm, is the man himself in person. Ask him a question and he loves to tell you a story. Each video question plays at the top of the screen. Also in Neuroscience What Sea Slugs Taught Us About Our Brain By Hillary Rosner When Leonid Moroz, a gregarious Russian-born neuroscientist and geneticist at the University of Florida, began studying ctenophores nearly a decade ago, he had a fairly simple goal in mind. He wanted to determine exactly where the blobby marine creatures—which are...READ MORE Is there a period in human development when we have a “teenage brain?” How would you explain teenage brain chemistry to parents? How would you describe yourself as a teenager? Is the intensity of teen experiences what causes them to stick with us? What’s the evolutionary purpose of having a teenage brain? What’s the purpose of breaking free of our genes? Neurobiology sometimes seems so reductive. Do you worry about that? I know this sounds like a dumb question, but what is stress? What’s the price we pay for stress? What is the flood of online information doing to us? So is the Internet making us ill? What’s the best way to manage stress? Do online social relationships help or harm us? What would you be if you weren’t a scientist? Interview Transcript Is there a period in human development when we have a “teenage brain?” That’s a great question because there is even the issue that has been raised as to whether adolescence is “for real” in a biological sense. I mean, there’s plenty of cultures where essentially, you know, you’re married off to somebody when you’re 13 or some such thing, and all you are is like an adult with acne, that it’s not a special stage. And the suggestion that this is something that the West kind of invented, dealing with the fact that there’s now viewed as a delay between when one starts one’s main occupation, when one finishes education, and at the earlier end when the hormones start. Ah, we’ll call this magical period in between adolescence. So if it’s just an artificial construct, everything the brain is doing during development should just be in a smooth curve like this, where somewhere arbitrarily oops, that’s what we call adolescence is starting. Made-up concept. But that’s not what you see, because it is distinctive. Parts of the brain are pretty much going full bore by the time you’re a year old, 5 years old. There’s parts of the brain, the limbic system which is involved centrally in emotion, which are pretty much all there by the time adolescence is starting. Then another distinctive feature of adolescence, which tells you it’s not just this: The hormones start. So what’s the frontal cortex doing there? The easiest picture would be if it’s the one that’s just sluggishly going on. That’s not what you see though. Interestingly, by the beginning of adolescence your frontal cortex is bigger than it’ll be as an adult. Okay, what’s this about? This turns out to be this incredibly cool thing that mammalian brains evolved, which was, at least during fetal development, you make more neurons than you actually need. And what you do then is you run a wiring competition, and the neurons that don’t wire up optimally, you get rid of them. And during normal fetal development, a huge number of neurons are killed in this non-diseased, very controlled sort of way and clear them out of there. What are you doing? You’re pruning down to your sort of mean, lean neural circuitry. What the frontal cortex is about is, it doesn’t get to that point until you’re about 13 years old, that point of having the maximal number of neurons, and then what adolescence is about is pruning it away. So it’s a very distinctive stage and it’s one where the problem isn’t you don’t have enough frontal cortex, you have an excessive, discombobulated, inefficient, poorly wired-up neurons in your frontal cortex. What adolescence is about is by trial and error, honing a frontal cortex that is going to be more optimal by the time you’re 25. How would you explain teenage brain chemistry to parents? How should one think about the chemistry of it? You’ve got the part of the brain which for a living sits there and says, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you;” “Stop and think about what happened last time;” “This is going to feel great in three seconds but you might very well regret this for the rest of your days.” It’s not fully functional yet. You’ve got this emotive part of the brain, the limbic system, that’s going full blast. You’ve got hormones thrown in there. And hormones not just in the, oh, torrents of hormones right around puberty, you’ve got a lot of oscillations of them. I mean a defining feature, if you were female, female primate, is your reproductive hormones oscillate all over the place during one’s point of ovulation, menses, back and forth. When you’re just hitting puberty, for the first couple of years of so you’re not even ovulating a certain percentage of the cycles, so you have fluctuation and then flat low and then fluctuation. So you’re having fluctuations in the fluctuations. It’s all over the place. And those hormones have tons of effects in the brain. Probably the best way to thinking about sort of this turbulence of adolescence is this neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine, a totally cool neurotransmitter. It’s centrally involved in pleasure. Cocaine works on the dopamine system. What people have realized it’s not so much about pleasure; it’s about the anticipation of pleasure. It’s about the pursuit of pleasure, which is so much more addictive than the pleasure itself. Interesting neurobiology backing that up. So what’s dopamine doing in the adolescent brain? Dopamine having to do with this reward stuff. Oh, is there is so much more of it than in an adult? No wonder they’re bonkers. Oh is there so much less and they just need that much more of an experiential oomph to get the same rise? No, the average levels are the same. What you’ve got is a different dynamic pattern. Beautiful studies. Okay, take an adult and you put them in a brain scanner and you can see how active this dopamine reward system is and you give them some task and they get a little reward and the dopamine system goes up a little bit. Give them a medium size, it goes up medium; big reward, it goes up all the way. Makes sense. Stick a teenager in the brain scanner. Give them the medium-sized reward and it goes up the same as you would see in the adult. Give them the big reward, it goes through the roof. Give them the little reward, does it not go up, quite…? It goes down and drops below where it started! For a teenager, a small reward is deprivation. The highs are higher, the lows are negatives or aversive. You’ve got the central neurochemistry there that’s just this gyroscope, completely out of control. That really central to what’s it about. How would you describe yourself as a teenager? Well, when I was a teenager I was terribly bookish. I was very studious. I had a pathological need to cross my Ts and get various adults to pat me on the head. My adolescent rebellions took the form of, if anything, passive aggressively doing what was asked of me but doing it ten times more than what was asked of me, so that eventually they’d have to beg me to stop. … Studying at the cost of socialization. I was raised in a very religious orthodox setting and right around the point where I decided I didn’t believe a word of this anymore, rather than refusing to do prayers, I just upped the volume of them and upped the frequency and upped the ritualism to the point that I had to be sort of suggested that, “It’s wonderful, but maybe it can get out of hand a little bit.” So I did sort of a paradoxical intervention with my parents. … Oh, if you’re like sufficiently orthodox in kind of the brand of Judaism I was raised in, there’s like prayers for everything you can do there, and if you like in the name of great devotion and honoring all the strictures you were raised in that you bring just everything to a halt every eight seconds because the rabbis suggest that… This turns out to be enormously irritating to parents and that much more so because they really can’t get you on anything there. So that’s what my adolescence was like. Is the intensity of teen experiences what causes them to stick with us? Well, yup. Part of it is the intensity. Adolescence amid everything else, is also characterized by, “emotions are felt more intensely,” and if you don’t believe an adolescent when they tell you or if you don’t believe it back when you were, stick someone in a brain scanner and show a picture of a scary face, a part of the brain called the amygdala activates and in an adolescent, it activates more. It activates longer. Parts of the brain having to do with responding dopamine to a pleasurable stimulus, bigger, longer, in the same sort… So the emotions are more intense and the formative aspects of it. That’s when you’re in your first window of really developing your own tastes where the most like important fact in the entire world is for you to communicate to the universe how different you are from any generation that came before you—and especially your parents—and it’s defined then. Some misanthrope of an adolescent or early adult shows up and invents an entirely new cultural style and you’ve got a Stravinsky or you’ve got an Elvis or whatever, and your whole generation identifies with it and then 30 years later you’re sitting there and saying, “Well, if this music was good enough when we were defeating Hitler or liking Ike or sleeping together at Woodstock, it’s certainly still good enough now; and forget whatever garbage these 18-year-olds are listening to—I know what’s good music.” So a mechanism for why the novelty comes roaring in adolescence or early adulthood, and this is one of the mechanisms for why that window seems to close down afterward—this peer identification. That being said though, a rat, an adult rat, that’s not willing to try a new food is not doing it because that rat feels more connected to its fraternity bros and this is the stuff we ate back when so this is what I’m going to eat forever. There’s something much more biological going on there as well. What’s the evolutionary purpose of having a teenage brain? Great question. So why should it be this way? If you’re of a certain evolutionary biology bent, what you’re basically asking is what’s the adaptive advantage to adolescence, to the frontal cortex being delayed in its maturation? One possible answer is there’s no adaptive advantage, that this is an unavoidable aspect of brain development. Frontal cortex is incredibly fancy. You want to wire up your olfactory system, that one’s pretty much in place by the time you’re three days old. You want to wire up the frontal cortex, maybe that’s a 25-year building project. Maybe adolescence is just this emergent, epiphenomenal hiccup that comes from the fact that this is just the biggest building project your brain has. I don’t find that one very convincing because the frontal cortex, you’re not using different building blocks than the rest of the brain. It’s the same types of neurons, it’s the same neurotransmitters, it’s the same layered structures in the rest of the cortex. It’s not that much harder of a building project. It shouldn’t take five times longer to wire it up than other parts of the cortex. So I don’t think it’s just baggage that emerged from how hard it is to build a frontal cortex. So what might be the adaptive advantage? One thing that immediately comes to mind is oh, there’s something adaptive about teenage turbulence. There’s something enriching, there’s something—that’s where our new culture comes from, that’s where our new inventions came from. No doubt, you know, the person who invented the wheel had a horrible problem with acne at the time, and was 17 and figured this would get them laid or who knows what? Maybe, the advantage of adolescence has been the creativity, the generativity of adolescence. So that’s kind of cool. I’m skeptical about that one though because the evolutionary behavior isn’t that organisms behave for the good of the species. Organisms behave to pass on more copies of their genes and adolescence is the time of life where your adolescent behavior is far more likely to have you break your neck and not pass on copies of your genes than for the adolescent turbulence to facilitate that process. What I’ve been thinking might actually be going on is that adolescence is something unavoidable that emerges not because it’s so cool and adaptive, but because the adaptive thing is wait a long, long time before you have fully wired up your frontal cortex. Why might that be the case? Alright, so we’re born with our genome, the combination of your mother and father’s genes, that wind up in that first fertilized egg and that’s it. That’s your genetic legacy. Every cell in your body is destined to have that exact same genome. That turns out not to be true in all sorts of interesting ways, but what that also means is that when you’re thinking about what genes have to do with the brain behavior, by definition critically, if the frontal cortex is the last part of the brain to develop it’s the part of the brain least shaped by genes, and most sculpted by the environment and experience. And I think basically the only way you can have a species that is as complex and socially resilient and socially context dependent and all those amazing things we do, the only way you can pull that off is to have a frontal cortex whose development just bears the imprint of everything you experienced along the way—in effect, that’s been freed from whatever extent the genes are deterministic, which is not very. I think ironically what the evolution of the frontal cortex has been about is genetic evolution to free it as much as possible from the straight jacket of genes. What’s the purpose of breaking free of our genes? Well, when you look at the sociology of humans, of primate species, when you look at evolution, when you look at anthropology, cross-cultural differences, etcetera—being smart is a useful thing evolutionarily. Primates definitely have an advantage over stickleback fish in terms of the size of their nervous systems. Having a good memory is good, learning a lot, motoric coordination. When you look at the really fancy stuff about social behavior and what determines “success” in sort of the broadest sense of the term, what it’s got to do is appropriate social behavior. You know in the human realm that’s that whole world of your social intelligence is a better predictor of how you’re going to do by all sorts of measures in life than your IQ. You look at a baboon and you ask, “Okay, a male baboon. What determines whether or not you wind up being the alpha in your troop?” Mostly, your muscle mass, how sharp your canines are, how aggressive of a son of a bitch you are. Okay, that’s got tons to do with whether you attain alpha-ship. What’s the predictor of who maintains it for a long time? It’s all social intelligence. It’s who you can intimidate without actually getting into a fight. It’s which coalitions you form and which ones you don’t go anywhere near. It’s which provocations you walk away from. It’s all about impulse control. And when you look at the really complex primates, success is really not about remembering that, “Oh four valleys over there’s a tree that’s going to be fruiting at this time of year; let’s go there this morning.” It’s the social intelligence stuff and what that’s all about is the frontal cortex. If you don’t have a frontal cortex that has been shaped by the subtleties and the idiosyncrasies of your immediate social world, you’re not going to be anywhere near successful of a primate. And I think that’s why it’s got to be the part of the brain that’s the last to develop. It’s got to be shaped by all that contextual stuff. Neurobiology sometimes seems so reductive. Do you worry about that? Absolutely. … Well, for one thing, because there’s a certain style of ideological laziness that makes one grab onto reductive explanations for behaviors. Here is the gene that explains. Here’s the hormone, the brain chemical, the childhood experience, the… Because reductive single explanations for behavior are just ripe for ideological misinterpretation, distortion, all of that. But off that political bandwagon, because reductionism doesn’t actually tell you a whole lot about how this stuff works. I mean reductionism is perfect for like telling you why your clock is broken. What you do is you break it down to its component parts. You find the part that’s got a tooth missing from the gear. I guess there’s not a clock on earth that works this way anymore, but your Renaissance clock. You fix the missing tooth, you put it back, you add the pieces back together and it works. The way to understand a complicated system is to understand its component parts. The way in which that steps away from the ideology is the component parts of the genes and the nerve transmitters and the hormones and the early experience. Okay, so that’s a more sophisticated version of reductionism. You got to be reductive about lots of different domains. But nonetheless, even that more multidisciplinary version of reductionism isn’t going to work because that’s not how complex systems work and humans are a complex system. You got these emergent non-linear chaotic properties. What’s that another way of saying? If you knew every individual’s genome and exactly which gene was active at which point, are you going to be able to predict who’s going to do what next? Absolutely not. If you added in knowing the levels of every hormone in their body at that point, if you added in… it doesn’t work that way. The reductionism breaks down because the reductionism breaks down in the same way that like a cloud that isn’t producing enough rain during a drought or something, the solution isn’t to study half the cloud and then get a research grant to study a quarter of the cloud and smaller, smaller pieces and finally understand the reductive basis of the non-rain and add it up together. That’s not how clouds work when they don’t rain. Humans are more like clouds than they are like clocks. We’re not reductive in that way, which is the case for any complex system. I know this sounds like a dumb question, but what is stress? Well, it’s actually a great question and like it’s virtually guaranteed at any conference of biologists who study stress that some grand old Pooh-Bah, emeritus guy is trotted out to give the first talk of the conference and the first talk is always going to be titled, “What is Stress?” where they’re going to conclude at the end that more research is needed, send me a grant. And I haven’t reached that point yet, fortunately, but I’m sure that’s in my future. So what is stress? The answer is, it depends. It depends on what species you are. If you’re your average, off-the-rack mammal, what stress is about is somebody is chasing you intent on eating you or you are chasing somebody very intent on eating them. It’s a short-term physical crisis and the whole point of that stress response in the vast majority of species is, you get these changes in your body, various hormones and neural systems and, you’ve got this whole set of coordinated responses and what they’re designed to do is to save your neck in that circumstance, to shut off everything that’s not essential. You’re running for your life, thicken your uterine walls some other day, to deliver energy from storage places to exercising muscle to increase blood pressure and heart rate, to turn off growth, to turn off reproductive stuff, you know all of it’s built around solving the next three minutes or the next three hours. And in that regard, what stress is about is an external challenge to your homeostatic balance and what the body does at that point is incredibly conserved evolutionarily. You get essentially the same stress response, the same hormones if you’re looking at a primate, a fish, a bird, a reptile. This is ancient, ancient wiring. So what’s stress? Then you get a different definition when you start thinking about smart social species like us. Stress can be, yes, somebody is very intent on eating you, the short-term physical crisis, but in addition, stress can be when you think you’re just about to have a crisis. And that could be true. You can have an anticipatory stress response, which is very adaptive. On the other hand if you think you’re just about to have one of those challenging crises, and that’s not really the case, it’s not true, and you think that way all the time, you’re being neurotic, you’re being paranoid, you’re being hostile, and you’re being profoundly human. I mean, sit down a hippo and try to describe why it’s possible to increase your heart rate by thinking about the fact that someday your heart is going to stop beating and the hippo’s going to have no idea what you’re talking about. And that’s the critical thing with us as humans. We can turn on the stress response—the same stress response as an animal running for its life—we turn it on for psychological reasons. And that’s the distinctive thing that does us in; that’s not what it evolved for. It evolved for dealing with a short-term crisis, yet we turn it on for 30-year mortgages. That’s where you pay the price. What’s the price we pay for stress? At its worst, there’s just virtually no organ system in your body that’s not thrown out of kilter in some way by chronic psychological stress. Big dichotomy is between whether stress causes disease or stress exacerbates pre-existing disease or—actually trichotomy, whether stress changes your behaviors in a direction that put you more at risk for disease. Evidence isn’t that great for stress causing disease but what it potentiates is all sorts of other pathologies. You’re on the edge of diabetes, insulin-resistant diabetes, adult onset, and what stress does is tell your fat cells, “What a great idea, being insulin resistant; get even more so.” You suffer from hypertension due to arteries that are not particularly clear. What does stress do? “Let’s increase blood pressure even more.” It exacerbates. At the behavioral end, what stress also does is, it makes you crave foods that are not good for you. It makes your self-discipline break down. It impairs functioning of the frontal cortex. You do things that are less prudent for your health. People make imprudent decisions. Their judgment gets worse when they are stressed. So you’ve got a whole realm. Cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal, reproductive, function, immune function, memory, mood, vulnerability to depression and anxiety—all of these are areas that are vulnerable to chronic stress. What is the flood of online information doing to us? Okay, so one of the sort of key findings when looking at what is it that makes psychological stress stressful, for the same external unpleasantry, you feel more subjectively stressed, and you’re more likely to turn on the stress response if you feel like you don’t have control, you don’t have predictability, you don’t have outlets, you don’t have social support. Brilliantly clear studies showing things like an individual gets a mild shock every now and then, oh, their blood pressure goes up. Individual gets the same pattern of shocks, but ten seconds before each shock, a little warning comes on. They don’t get as much of a stress response. Oh, predictability is a good thing. Predictability about an adverse event that’s coming tells you how bad it’s going to be, when is it going to happen, how long is it going to last, predictability information is good, that’s a mantra in the field. But, what you see is, what you don’t want is the wrong kind of information. Information about stuff you can’t change; information that’s overwhelming; information that suggests the uncontrollable should be controllable; information about what’s already occurred; information that’s superfluous; information about stuff long in advance. Take somebody who’s getting the shocks and they get the warning light half a second before—there’s no benefits. Ten seconds before, it’s helpful. Thirty seconds before, it makes things worse, because you’re sitting there for 30 seconds saying, “Here it comes, here it comes, here it comes.” Information predictability is great, but within a certain narrow range. Too much information and it’s just as stressful as too little, and what we specialize in in society, of course, is inundating ourselves 24/7 with information. So is the Internet making us ill? Well, I don’t know if quite to that extent, but I don’t think overall it’s doing great things. Yeah, we’re inundated with more information than we need. We’re inundated with more false choices than we need because we’re suckered very often into thinking that those choices will actually make a meaningful difference. If you can only get your head straight and pick which of the 27 different versions of gluten-free breakfast cereal, your life will be…you will die a happy person. “Oh, if only I can sort through this, what’s wrong? I’m so stressed that I can’t figure out what…” You know, we’re inundated with nonsense decisions, nonsense information. That’s not stress reducing. That’s stressful. What’s the best way to manage stress? One of the best forms of stress management out there is social support. Rat gets shocks now and then, if it can huddle with another rat that it knows and likes and they groom each other—not as much of a stress response. Same thing with primates, including us, like person is sitting there having some unpleasant scary medical procedure, a catheterization, blood pressure goes up. They get to sit there holding the hand of somebody they know and trust, doesn’t go up as much. Yes, social support is great. Writ small it’s great; writ large, the impact of social isolation on mortality is very, very well documented by now and sort of all the behavioral medicine on a certain level is influenced by that. Okay, so social support is great, social support is great. When is it not great? When you mistake any intimate for someone who turns out to be an acquaintance; when you mistake having sustained social support with a series of one day or one night interactions; the whole world of the versions of socialization that people look for in our society that ultimately, doesn’t quite do it. But what’s interesting, and an area I’ve gotten increasingly interested in, is sort of social support as a stress management technique in a cross-cultural setting. And social support reduces stress in different ways and different cultures. For example, you get people in the United States and when they’re stressed it’s good for them to get together with friends and what do they mostly do? They want to get together with a friend so they can bitch and moan about how awful their situation is. You get somebody from a collectivist society, and these are typically studies of East Asian populations, when they’re stressed they seek out social support of close friends. What do they do then? They try to get the friend to talk about their life and their problems as a means of distracting, as a means of you know reifying their relationship in this. We do totally different things in different cultures. In individualistic cultures, like ours, you ask somebody, “Tell me about times that you’ve influenced somebody else? And tell me about times that somebody else has influenced you?” Westerners come up with much longer lists of times they’ve influenced somebody else. I am the captain of my own ship. Get East Asian populations, same thing, they come up with more examples of times they have been influenced by somebody else, talking about when you’ve influenced somebody as bragging, as standing out, as not belonging all of that. Now take the westerner and say “oh, so tell me about one of those in detail?” Time they influenced somebody else, terrific. Time somebody influenced them, they turn on the stress response. Having to admit that they are influenced, they are not this autonomous John Wayne figure of western individualism. Somebody from east Asia, get them to talk about a time they’ve influenced somebody else, they turn on the stress response, so the cultural stuff works very differently amid the general theme of social support is a good thing. But people vary dramatically, and not just by culture, as to what counts as supportive. Do online social relationships help or harm us? Well, this is for lots of scientists a $64 question. What’s this world that’s being created by online relationships? It’s easy for me, from my generational perspective to decide this is wildly artificial, distortive, narrow, a paucity of true connectiveness there. It’s clear looking at teenagers that that’s not the case in the slightest. Handful of studies looking at, for example, adolescents when stressed about something—I think it was somebody who just had to give a public talk or something, a kid, experimental setting—they can either hear their mother’s voice or get a text from their mother. The voice works better. There’s something more real there, so that suggests an artificiality. At the same time, studies are first coming out now suggesting that marriages derived from online dating are just as stable as are ones from traditional. You know, the jury’s out on all of it. It seems weird as hell to meet people, to know people exclusively online, but nonetheless without question, the grandfathers of the sociologist studying this now were studying back when. Well, what’s this mean that you can have a telephone relationship with somebody? Somebody you can be in love with can live on the other side of the country and you interact with them daily without actually seeing their facial expressions? I suspect it’ll wind up being exactly the same. What would you be if you weren’t a scientist? Well, obviously I’d be a gorilla. What else would I be? Basketball’s out. I don’t know. I’ve spent such a long time knowing I was going to do this someday. When I was in high school, I took one of those “Learn It On Your Own” courses in Swahili because I knew I was going to go study primates in East Africa someday, so I’ve spent such a long time like in this mindset and being very content throughout that I really haven’t spent a whole lot of time thinking about my road not taken. I’m pretty content with this one.

Over the past 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled and teenage obesity has quadrupled. Researchers want to identify and understand the molecular triggers that set off children down the obesity path. “There is considerable evidence that the prenatal environment can predispose the offspring to obesity. This is most clearly seen in children born to mothers who are overweight during pregnancy,” says Philip Gruppuso at Brown University. “However, there is not a suitable model to study human fat development.” So to come up with such a model, Gruppuso, along with Jennifer Sanders at Brown University, led a team to create mice that carry human fetal fat tissue. As they report in a paper just out in the Journal of Lipid Research, these mice can be used to study human fat development. The investigators took mid-gestation human fetal adipose tissue and implanted it into mice that were immunodeficient. This way, they avoided the problem of the animals rejecting the foreign tissue. The investigators were helped by Kim Boekelheide, also at Brown University, who developed the implantation technique. Following a two-week period of latency after implantation, the transplanted human fat tissue began to develop steadily over two months. The tissue expressed genes associated with fat cell differentiation and development. The investigators tried to do the same experiment with adult human fat tissue, but found that they couldn’t get the tissues to graft. The investigators suspect that the fetal tissue grew in the mice because the tissues were already programmed to develop new fat tissue and blood vessels. The ultimate aim with these animals to is tease out which molecular factors trigger obesity to take hold in children. “Our goal is to manipulate the rodent hosts, for example with an altered diet or exposure to environmental toxicants, to examine the effect on the transplanted human tissue,” explains Gruppuso.

by Josiah Nott MODERN ART IS not really art at all, but Jewish self-promotion and degeneracy. So, though Jews are not heavily represented in true art, they are in fact very much over-represented in so-called modern art — in fact, they were and are the dominant force in it. (ILLUSTRATION: Top, Water Baby by Herbert Draper; bottom, Greyed Rainbow by Jackson Pollock) Because painting, sculpture, and music are more difficult to counterfeit than philosophy, it was necessary to transform and support Jewish modern “art” with philosophy in order to make the naive goyim accept it as genuine. True art is difficult to counterfeit and even more difficult to genuinely create. But twentieth century Jews never had any interest in such an endeavor in the first place. Instead, by using their strongest attribute — their talent for the creation of false and insidious philosophical theories — Jewish “art critics” and “art theorists” managed to persuade the educated public in the Western world that utter foolishness and frivolousness, simple childish nonsense, and outright ugliness are in fact “art.” All of this was achieved through pseudo-philosophical “art critique.” (In my view, Jewish philosophy really ought not to be called philosophy at all. Philo=love and sophia=wisdom. Could anyone reasonably claim that the creator of “deconstruction,” the Algerian-French Jew Jacques Derrida, for instance, loves wisdom? Derrida would be the first to insist that he does not even believe in truth. And how can there be wisdom without truth? No, Jewish philosophy ought more properly to be called sophistry, which is how Plato and Aristotle characterized the specious and intentionally dishonest and misleading methods of their philosophic opponents, who, in order to persuade the unsuspecting and win in debate, would twist words to make the weaker argument appear the stronger one. Sound familiar?) The following paragraph from Sol LeWitt’s Paragraphs on Conceptual Art perfectly illustrates the way that Jewish “art theory” has taken over, trivialized, and destroyed the arts. I will refer to the kind of art in which I am involved as conceptual art. In conceptual art the idea or concept is the most important aspect of the work. When an artist uses a conceptual form of art, it means that all of the planning and decisions are made beforehand and the execution is a perfunctory affair. The idea becomes a machine that makes the art. This kind of art is not theoretical or illustrative of theories; it is intuitive, it is involved with all types of mental processes and it is purposeless. It is usually free from the dependence on the skill of the artist as a craftsman. It is the objective of the artist who is concerned with conceptual art to make his work mentally interesting to the spectator, and therefore usually he would want it to become emotionally dry. There is no reason to suppose, however, that the conceptual artist is out to bore the viewer. It is only the expectation of an emotional kick, to which one conditioned to expressionist art is accustomed, that would deter the viewer from perceiving this art. I highly recommend Tom Wolfe’s book on modern art, The Painted Word, and his follow-up book on modern architecture, From Bauhaus to Our House, as excellent exposés of the characters who made and promoted modern art and architecture. Though Wolfe does not use the word “Jew” [Tom Wolfe, a White man, is married to a Jew – Ed.] even a quick perusal of the book (especially The Painted Word) will reveal who was behind the cultural con-job that was and is “modern art.” The expression “painted word” is a reference to the fact that “modern art” is entirely based on “art theory,” hence it is effectively “painted theory.” (Aesthetician Arthur Danto has even claimed that “art is dead” precisely because “art” has transformed into “philosophy” or “art theory.”) The Jewish “theory” behind “modern art” is intended to “explain” the art, so as to make naive Gentiles think that such “art” has great value. Without such “theory” normal people would immediately recognize that such degenerate and primitivistic trash is not art at all. The Painted Word features a number of photographs of the main players in the 20th century art world and, not surprisingly, they are almost all Jewish. (“Art critic,” i.e., charlatan, Harold Rosenberg looks like the devil himself!) This includes the “artists” and their promoters, such as con man Clement Greenberg, the Jew who promoted the art of the alcoholic degenerate Jackson Pollock. [Pollock, who we must reluctantly admit was a White man, was married to Jewish abstract expressionist painter Lee Krasner – Ed.] Greenberg would buy Pollock’s paintings at cut-rate prices, write glowing articles about Pollock’s brilliance as an artist, wait for the demand for Pollock’s paintings to skyrocket, and then sell the paintings at exorbitant prices. A fine swindle, that. Flipping through the rest of the book reveals pictures of the “artists” and art promoters Barnett Newman, Leo Steinberg, Robert Rauschenberg [Rauschenberg was also a homosexual – Ed.], among others. Overall, the book provides an excellent look at the way a series of destructive, culturally subverting Jewish “theories” transformed what was the noble and beautiful tradition of Western art into yet another grotesque Jewish deformation and mockery. Jewish opposition to truth in philosophy and the social sciences is paralleled by Jewish opposition to beauty in the arts. Why do these self-promoting charlatans always call the gang of degenerate “artists” they advocate a “movement”? I suppose it’s because they know that they will have to close ranks to defend the “art” they would like to foist upon us in order to deflect the natural and understandable reaction against it, i.e., in order to humiliate us into acceptance and acquiescence by claiming, from atop the ivory tower, that all those who don’t “understand” the new “art” are philistines and cretins. And most people, and especially upper-middle class Whites, care a great deal about being seen to have the “correct” views on culture. Thus they are cowed by our Jewish cultural elites into accepting, or at least paying lip-service to, what they know deep-down cannot possibly be true art. A similar process is surely at work with respect to the mainstream Gentile acceptance of all the absurd and pernicious theories and “philosophies” advocated by intellectual Jews throughout the twentieth century. Most people are utterly incapable of resisting, let alone challenging, what they have been repeatedly told by those in authority — however absurd and patently false what they are told might be. If the proverbial average Joe were to have come up with something as totally bizarre and counter-intuitive as “Deconstructionism,” for instance, he would have been laughed at and ignored. But if a Jewish intellectual at a major university advocates such a theory, all pay him respect. I’ve come to believe that there is no view or “theory” so absurd or perverse that it would not be believed by at least some Gentiles if a major Jewish academic created and promoted it. Jews, of course, know all this, which is why the colonization of the centers of Western intellectual life and power was necessary for their subversive and destructive theories to be accepted by large numbers of Gentiles.

Brandon McNulty, one of America’s next great cyclists, has chosen to race in America instead of Europe. Why? After Brandon McNulty won the junior world time trial championships this past September in Qatar, Europe came calling. Major WorldTour teams reached out to him, offering cash contracts and one-way entry to the sport’s pinnacle. Large U.S.-based development teams reached out, too, offering racing opportunities in Belgium, France, and Spain. McNulty, 19, knew the calls were bound to come. Coaches say he is perhaps the most physiologically gifted American cyclist ever. His power numbers point toward otherworldly talent even beyond that of Greg Lemond, Taylor Phinney, or Tejay van Garderen. It’s not a matter of if McNulty enters the sport’s top echelon, but when. After taking several weeks to contemplate his future, McNulty made an unexpected decision. He chose to stay in the United States in 2017 and make his professional debut with Rally Pro Cycling, a Continental squad. The choice bucked the trend established by nearly ever world-class American talent that has come before him. “It was a really hard decision,” McNulty told VeloNews at a Rally team camp in January. “Racing full-time in Europe is something I one day want to do. I’d rather do it slowly than jump into it.” McNulty’s cautious decision is built on the memories of talented Americans who never made it to the WorldTour. Dozens of gifted youngsters have traveled overseas to race, only to be chewed up and spit out by Europe’s cutthroat development leagues. McNulty and his team of advisors — which includes his coach, his parents, and former Tour de France rider Roy Knickman — believe that this conservative approach will help him avoid the various hazards that have derailed his predecessors. “If we do it right, then five years from now he’ll be close to doing a grand tour,” Knickman says. “In the meantime, he doesn’t need to grow to hate cycling.” WHEN SEEN RIDING ALONGSIDE his Rally teammates, Brandon McNulty is indistinguishable from any other professional cyclist; he’s all legs and no upper body. In street clothes, however, McNulty transforms into a teenager with a child’s complexion. Like most kids, he spends his downtime playing video games and reading. Those who know him best describe him as quiet but sociable; he texted a thank-you message to his masseuse just hours after winning worlds. “We used to think Brandon was shy — then we saw him in his element around other cyclists and he’s not,” says his father, R.J. McNulty, a software engineer. “He’s always been a self-motivated kid. Very focused.” McNulty’s focus and talent were evident the moment his training wheels came off. When Brandon was eight, R.J. took him to a three-mile mountain bike trail that included a climb that was too steep for Brandon to ride. When R.J. recommended the two go home, Brandon threw a tantrum. “He wouldn’t go home until he rode the climb,” R.J. McNulty says, laughing. “I’m sure the other mountain bikers looked at me like I was some abusive dad forcing his kid to ride this hill. I was like, ‘It’s not me, it’s him!’” A passionate mountain bike racer, R.J. McNulty says Brandon’s focus helped him overcome the boredom and discomfort that often chases kids away from cycling. So did his speed. Brandon started racing mountain bikes at age nine, and he took up road racing at age 11, riding in the local group rides alongside veteran racers. By the time Brandon had turned 13, R.J. says, Brandon could easily drop his dad. Brandon regularly finished on the podium at junior nationals, often near the country’s top junior, Adrien Costa, now with Axeon Hagens Berman. Cycling remained his hobby, not a career path. He never had a coach and instead relied on group rides for fitness. “I have no doubt that Brandon will be successful in the WorldTour. The question is how many mistakes can he avoid and how mentally fresh can he be when he decides to step up to that level?” – Jonas Carney In 2014 McNulty met Knickman, who managed the California-based Lux/Specialized junior development team. Impressed by McNulty’s results, Knickman invited McNulty onto the team for 2015. At Lux’s 2015 training camp, Knickman had the juniors ride an eight-mile time trial course outside of Oxnard, California. After seeing McNulty’s power numbers, Knickman’s jaw dropped. “He had just hopped on a spare bike, adjusted the seatpost, and then went out and set the course record,” Knickman says. “He averaged 370 watts. It was like ‘Wow, this kid is special.’” Knickman put McNulty, who is six-feet tall and 150 pounds, in touch with longtime USA Cycling coach Barney King, who began training the youngster. Two months later, at Arizona’s Valley of the Sun road race, McNulty won the junior time trial, and his time would have put him into the top-10 in the pro division. Unlike the elites, McNulty had completed the race on a standard road bike with junior gearing. When King saw McNulty’s power files, his jaw dropped as well. He had averaged 380 watts during the 30-minute effort. King sent Brandon’s power files to Jim Miller, vice president of athletics for USA Cycling. Miller asked King if the power meter was broken. “380 watts is unbelievable. Great guys at that age are doing like 340 — we’re talking Tejay [van Garderen], Taylor [Phinney], and [Lawson] Craddock-level guys,” Miller says. “At that time we all saw [Adrien] Costa as the next superstar. I was like, ‘This kid is probably better.’” In McNulty, King sees the physical gifts for greatness. He squeezes his lanky frame into an aerodynamic time trial position, and approaches time trial courses with aggressive, time-shaving lines. McNulty climbs remarkably well for his height. And his pedaling cadence is abnormally high: 120 rpm. After just seven months of structured training and racing with Lux, McNulty headed to Europe to compete on USA Cycling’s junior national team. In August 2015 the squad took on the Czech Republic’s junior Peace Race, which has become an essential stop for up-and-coming talent. The American team came in with Costa as the unofficial leader. McNulty rode aggressively, winning the first stage and taking over leadership. Eventually, he won the overall. No American junior had won the race in its 44-year history. “We race [the Peace Race] with every junior who’s gone on to the WorldTour, and we had never won it,” Miller says. “And then Brandon wins the queen stage and the overall. It was special.” FOR TALENTED AMERICANS LIKE McNulty, the route to cycling’s highest echelon has always run through Europe. Greg LeMond famously signed with France’s Renault team at the age of 19; Motorola sent Lance Armstrong and other Americans to Europe in the early 1990s; van Garderen chose Rabobank’s espoir (under-23) development team over similar programs at home. USA Cycling still sends its U23 riders to the Low Countries every year, hoping the cutthroat development races pound them into seasoned professionals. The system produces few champions. But the list of washouts is long. “The racing in Europe is better, but you have to be careful with guys, especially the first-year U23 guys,” Miller says. “It’s a big change in workload and a big life change.” The U23 riders participate in development races that are often better-organized than events in the United States. European U23 teams employ aggressive tactics, and the pace is a huge step up from the junior ranks. The weather is often dismal, and sickness can spread through a team quickly. The races weed out the less talented riders; others quit due to the time away from home. Sometimes, the system chases away riders with WorldTour-level talent. Chris Stockburger came to USA Cycling’s development house in Izegem, Belgium, in 2004, having won 11 junior national championships. He suffered through illness and overtraining, and results never came. At one point, he was quarantined due to illness away from the other riders for weeks. After another year of dismal results, he retired at the age of 20 to pursue medical school. “It can be very difficult to be over there and to not be successful and to be isolated and to have those stresses on top of it,” Stockburger says. “It’s the reality of the sport.” A decade after Stockburger quit, his name still echoes within the minds of American development coaches as a cautionary tale. Did the program push him too hard? Could a kinder, gentler approach have helped him survive those crucial espoir years? Did super-talents like Stockburger even need to spend that much time racing overseas? “Chris was the guy that everybody saw as the next great American,” says King, who directed Stockburger at several races. “He was one of the riders who we thought you just couldn’t miss.” King thought of Stockburger as he pondered McNulty’s future. He wondered if there was a better pathway to bring McNulty to the WorldTour. After McNulty’s Peace Race victory, WorldTour teams and rider agents began to query about the youngster’s next steps. Knickman had his own trepidations for sending McNulty overseas. A bronze medalist at the 1984 Olympics, Knickman turned professional at 19 with the French La Vie Claire team in 1986. He says team management promised to ease him into European racing. Instead, he was shipped from the Championship of Zurich straight to the Tour du Romandie and on to the Giro d’Italia. After four seasons in Europe, Knickman retreated to the U.S. domestic scene, where he retired in 2000. “They swore I wouldn’t do a grand tour, and there I was racing 31 days straight. I was toast,” Knickman says. “It showed me that I was expendable. Cycling is a business.” In McNulty, both men saw a young rider with unworldly talent who still raced for fun, and not yet for cash. Working-class kids in Spain or Belgium often gravitate toward cycling for the glitz and big paychecks. McNulty is the son of a software engineer, not a farmer. He grew up in suburban Phoenix, not in working-class Flanders. Like Stockburger, McNulty has other options in life — college, a professional career — should cycling not work out. Perhaps throwing him into the European meat grinder wasn’t the best way to nurture his talent. “That European hard-man, only-the-tough- survive approach doesn’t work for everyone,” Knickman says. “What if we make cycling palatable for Brandon? He can be around friends, he can let his body mature, and when he feels it’s time, he can go to Europe.” THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE 2016 UCI world championships in Doha, McNulty invited his USA Cycling teammates Ian Garrison and Tyler Stites to his house in Phoenix to train in the Arizona heat. Hoping to simulate Qatar’s hot, muggy conditions, the three took over the McNulty family garage, filling it with space heaters and wet towels. Three days a week, they pedaled 20-minute efforts on the trainers in the makeshift sauna. McNulty can’t say whether the unorthodox training helped him acclimate to Doha. While painful, the makeshift sauna intervals were fun. “We were dying. It was so hard,” McNulty says, laughing. “To anybody outside of cycling I’m sure it would sound like child abuse.” During race week, the heat rose above 100 degrees on most days. The day before his race, McNulty spun warm-up laps on the course. During these short efforts, he says, he knew his body was prepared. “I texted Barney and told him that tomorrow is going to be something special,” McNulty says. When all 83 junior riders had finished, McNulty had won by 35 seconds over Mikkel Bjerg of Denmark. Had McNulty been in the U23 race, he would have won the bronze medal. After McNulty’s victory, the inquiries poured in. Quick-Step’s U23 team Klein Constantia was interested, and so was Axel Merckx’s Axeon-Hagens Berman team. Two other European teams threw their names in the ring. A fifth inquiry came from Jonas Carney, director of Rally. A longtime friend of Knickman, Carney flew to Phoenix to meet with McNulty’s parents. He said Brandon could do a shorter, two-month European stint with Rally, and then return to the United States to race domestically, before returning to Europe with USA Cycling in the late summer. He assured the McNulty family that his team’s veterans Danny Pate and Jesse Anthony would mentor the youngster. Carney says. “I think we gave him a lot more options than other teams.” The deciding factor was schedule flexibility. King and McNulty viewed the 2017 UCI world time trial championships as their primary goal. When King asked team directors whether they’d guarantee schedule flexibility to prepare for worlds, only Carney agreed. McNulty’s American-centric plan is not without risks. WorldTour teams value results at small European races over those at top North American races. Racing dynamics in North America are less tactical and cutthroat than what you find on narrow, winding roads in the Low Countries. And the traditional European development plan has worked — even Stockburger agrees it’s still the best way to reach the sport’s pinnacle. “The aggressiveness and the wattage is harder, so it makes sense why [European] racing is better,” Stockburger says. “If your end goal is to be a European pro I still think it’s the best way to go.” Still, if McNulty can win another world title, the result will likely overcome any gap in his European experience. Thus far, Rally has agreed to work alongside King and McNulty’s goal. After several days of heavy training miles in January, the Rally team headed toward Southern California’s famed Gibraltar climb. King asked if McNulty could have a rest day, and the team agreed. “The goal is to challenge Brandon but not to drown him,” King says. “Just because the kid can ride like an adult doesn’t mean he’s an adult — not yet.”

This is my Mega Man Tribute piece.I think it's safe to show as it's one of the sample pages for the book, WHICH YOU CAN PRE-ORDER RIGHT NOW!I've already seen a ton of other pieces and I have to say they're awesome. A lot of the pieces that weren't chosen that I've seen are awesome as well. I just feel honored to be included, I worked really hard on this one.There is a lot of stuff involved... If you'd like to see it in all it's printed glory, be sure to get a copy of the book, I'm sure you'll enjoy ^_^ I know I willThanks for all the support... This is something I've wanted to do for a long long long time now. and I'm still kind of surprised I got in (no... really... I never get into these things)Also, for those interested, the original was worked on at 600dpi... I still did everything on the tablet and all that work was worth it. I spent all of December on it, haha

The dead­line to keep open the fed­er­al gov­ern­ment was only two weeks away, when the White House quietly floated plans for a sum­mit between Pres­id­ent Obama and the four con­gres­sion­al lead­ers. The idea was to show Obama, his sleeves rolled up, en­gaged as Con­gress lurched to­ward a shut­down. But when top ad­min­is­tra­tion of­fi­cials reached out to Cap­it­ol Hill, Sen­ate Ma­jor­ity Lead­er Harry Re­id’s of­fice had a mes­sage for them: Don’t do it. Re­id’s team ar­gued such a meet­ing would sug­gest the Demo­crats were will­ing to ne­go­ti­ate when they wer­en’t. The White House listened. The sum­mit was nixed. And no ser­i­ous talks have oc­curred since. The epis­ode marked a sharp con­trast from the last budget show­down, in Decem­ber 2012, when Vice Pres­id­ent Joe Biden went be­hind Re­id’s back to cut a deal with Sen­ate Minor­ity Lead­er Mitch Mc­Con­nell, R-Ky. Re­id was so in­censed by the ad­min­is­tra­tion’s con­ces­sions dur­ing those talks that he crumpled up one White House of­fer and tossed it in­to his of­fice’s roar­ing fire­place in dis­gust. These days, Re­id is more likely to be writ­ing the Demo­crat­ic play­book than burn­ing it. As the gov­ern­ment shut­down stretches in­to its second week, the White House has em­braced Re­id’s hard-line, no-ne­go­ti­ations stance—at least so far. “They won’t talk,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, com­plained Sunday on CNN. “They have not moved one inch.” Cruz and al­lied con­ser­vat­ives in the House may have brought about the shut­down by in­sist­ing on dis­mant­ling or de­fund­ing Obama’s sig­na­ture health care law, but Re­id is firm about mak­ing them pay for it. Re­id has called Re­pub­lic­ans “an­arch­ists” and “reck­less”; he’s said they’ve “lost their minds” and need to “get a life”; and his of­fice has leaked private emails with House Speak­er John Boehner’s chief of staff. With polling show­ing Re­pub­lic­ans likely to re­ceive the bulk of pub­lic blame for the shut­down, he’s re­fused any con­ces­sions con­di­tioned on re­open­ing the gov­ern­ment. “The thing about Harry Re­id is he looks like the be­nign old man who runs the gen­er­al store. But he is a pile driver,” said Dav­id Axel­rod, a former top White House strategist for Obama. “When he com­mits to do­ing something, he does it…. You come to ap­pre­ci­ate someone like that and hav­ing someone like that on your side.” THOUGHT HE COULD DO BET­TER In the last three big fisc­al fights, Re­id ac­qui­esced to the White House’s lead—last Decem­ber, in the sum­mer debt-lim­it bout of 2011, and in the Decem­ber 2010 show­down that res­ul­ted in the Bush tax cuts be­ing ex­ten­ded for two years. Re­id still chafed in private at the out­comes of those past budget battles, ac­cord­ing to those who know him. Ro­hit Ku­mar, Mc­Con­nell’s former deputy chief of staff and his top ne­go­ti­at­or for those past deals, said, “Every time the White House has got­ten in­to a ne­go­ti­ation with Sen­at­or Mc­Con­nell, from Re­id’s per­spect­ive, he thinks Mc­Con­nell got the bet­ter deal.” A seni­or Sen­ate Demo­crat­ic aide, who spoke an­onym­ously to of­fer a can­did as­sess­ment, agreed: “2010, 2012—we def­in­itely felt burned.” Un­like the 2011 debt-lim­it show­down, when Obama feared fur­ther trip­ping up an already stum­bling eco­nomy ahead of his own reelec­tion, or the Decem­ber 2012 talks that prom­ised to set the tone for Obama’s second term, it’s Re­id’s job on the line this time. Re­id’s fra­gile ma­jor­ity is at stake in 2014, with sev­en Demo­crat­ic-held seats in sol­id GOP states up for grabs. Re­id is set­ting the un­yield­ing tone and the White House is let­ting him. “It sure looks to me like this is ex­actly the fight Sen­at­or Re­id has been look­ing for for the last couple years,” said Jim Man­ley, Re­id’s former com­mu­nic­a­tions dir­ect­or. Re­id’s stiff stance was en­cap­su­lated in an of­fer let­ter he sent last week to Boehner, ask­ing him to re­open the gov­ern­ment with no strings at­tached. In ex­change, Re­id said he would ap­point law­makers to a budget con­fer­ence com­mit­tee. It was really no of­fer at all. Re­id wanted both those out­comes; Boehner wanted neither. “We are will­ing to ne­go­ti­ate,” Re­id said on the floor on Monday. “But we won’t ne­go­ti­ate with a gun to our heads.” Demo­crats are cheer­ing from the side­lines. “Many times over the last couple weeks friends have been thank­ful aloud that Harry Re­id is in there hanging strong,” said Bill Bur­ton, a former spokes­man for the Obama White House. Re­id’s cur­rent power comes, in part, from the re­mark­able party dis­cip­line he and his team have im­posed. Of the last 25 Sen­ate roll call votes, Sen­ate Demo­crats note that all the Dems have voted to­geth­er 23 times—in­clud­ing re­buff­ing mul­tiple Boehner of­fers to re­open the gov­ern­ment with vari­ous GOP strings at­tached. An­oth­er factor in the im­proved Re­id and White House co­ordin­a­tion—”a big factor,” said the seni­or Demo­crat­ic Sen­ate aide—is Katie Beirne Fal­lon. She ran the Sen­ate Demo­crats’ war room un­til mov­ing in­side the White House earli­er this year, help­ing smooth com­mu­nic­a­tions between both ends of Pennsylvania Av­en­ue. NOT A RISK-FREE AP­PROACH There are risks to let­ting Re­id take the reins. Re­id’s de­cision to leak private emails between his staff and that of the speak­er has soured their repu­ta­tion bey­ond re­pair. “It’s in­cal­cul­able,” Ku­mar said of the dam­age. “This is not a venal sin. This is a car­din­al sin.” Con­gres­sion­al Re­pub­lic­ans say Re­id is bet­ter suited to bomb-throw­ing than deal-mak­ing—and his prom­in­ent role will likely only ex­tend the shut­down. “He nev­er misses a chance to in­ject venom in­to the le­gis­lat­ive pro­cess,” Rep. Tom Graves, R-Ga., said in a state­ment on the first day of the shut­down. Re­id’s and Obama’s de­cision not to ne­go­ti­ate—peri­od—on the shut­down or loom­ing debt lim­it has also opened the door for Re­pub­lic­ans to tag Demo­crats as the un­reas­on­able ones. In his Sunday ap­pear­ance on ABC’s This Week, Boehner said he simply wanted to have a “con­ver­sa­tion” with Demo­crats. He re­peated the word more than 20 times for em­phas­is. “It’s time for us to sit down and have a con­ver­sa­tion,” he said. “That’s what the Amer­ic­an people ex­pect.” Ku­mar, who has as much ex­per­i­ence as any Re­pub­lic­an in deal­ing with Re­id and the Obama White House, said it is pos­sible Obama is giv­ing Re­id free­dom to ne­go­ti­ate without in­ter­fer­ence on the gov­ern­ment shut­down but not on the fast-ap­proach­ing Oct. 17 debt-lim­it dead­line, a far more ser­i­ous fisc­al event. “We’ve got­ten through shut­downs be­fore; we’ve sur­vived them,” said Ku­mar, who is now in the private sec­tor. “I don’t be­lieve that the pres­id­ent can just sit idly by and take a no-ne­go­ti­at­ing pos­ture and let us hit the debt lim­it.” As for the scrapped White House sum­mit, it did even­tu­ally oc­cur. It came, with Re­id’s back­ing, on the second day after the gov­ern­ment shut­down. Obama used the 90-minute gath­er­ing to re­it­er­ate his no-ne­go­ti­at­ing stance. Re­id emerged pleased. “Strong, strong, strong,” Re­id said of the pres­id­ent. There have been no meet­ings since.

FILE - In this July 24, 2014, file photo, then-Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit Alex Kozinski poses for a portrait in the lobby of a Washington office building. Six women who served as clerks or externs at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allege to The Washington Post that judge Alex Kozinski subjected them to inappropriate sexual comments or conduct, including asking them to watch pornography in his chambers, the newspaper reported Friday, Dec. 8, 2017. (AP Photo/J. David Ake, File) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Six women who served as clerks or externs at the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals allege to The Washington Post that Judge Alex Kozinski subjected them to inappropriate sexual comments or conduct, including asking them to watch pornography in his chambers, the newspaper reported Friday. Heidi Bond, who clerked for the Pasadena, California-based judge from 2006 to 2007, told the newspaper she recalled three instances in which he asked her to look at images of naked people. She said one set of images was of college-age students where some were “inexplicably naked while everyone else was clothed.” Another set was a type of digital flip book that allowed users to mix and match heads, torsos and legs to create an image of a naked woman. Bond said the judge asked if she thought the pornography was photo-shopped or if it aroused her sexually. “I was in a state of emotional shock, and what I really wanted to do was be as small as possible and make as few movements as possible and to say as little as possible to get out,” said Bond, now 41. Kozinski, who is 67 and still serving as a judge on the court, said in a statement to the newspaper that he has had more than 500 employees in his chambers over a 35-year career as judge. “I would never intentionally do anything to offend anyone and it is regrettable that a handful have been offended by something I may have said or done,” he said. A spokesman for the court, David Madden, referred further comment to Chuck Winner of Winner & Associates. Winner did not immediately return a request for comment. Kozinski is a prominent judge who was chief judge from 2007 to 2014 of the 9th Circuit, the largest federal appeals court circuit in the country. He is known for his irreverent opinions and his clerks often win prestigious clerkships at the Supreme Court. The Post interviewed Bond and Emily Murphy, a law professor who worked for a different judge on the 9th Circuit, in on-the-record interviews. The four other women were not named out of fear they might face retaliation. Murphy said she was discussing training regimens with other clerks at a San Francisco hotel in 2012 when Kozinski approached her and said the gym in the 9th Circuit courthouse was nice because other people were seldom there. He then said if that were the case, she should work out naked, according to Murphy and two others present at the time who spoke to The Post. The newspaper interviewed another former clerk of the judge who said he showed her porn; she declined to provide specifics out of fear the judge could identify her. The women did not file formal complaints at the time. In 2008, the Los Angeles Times reported that Kozinski had an email list that he used to distribute crude jokes to and he had a publicly accessible website that contained pornography. A judicial investigation found that Kozinski did not intend for the material to be accessed by the public.

Dion Jordan's frustrating Miami Dolphins career appears to be taking another turn toward the peculiar. Just days after Jordan skipped the team's voluntary workout program, the Dolphins' brass sidestepped all questions about the former No. 3 overall pick during Friday's pre-draft press conference. Hickey & Tannenbaum asked if Dion Jordan has passion for the game, what it takes. They paused, said this is a pre-draft press conference. — Andrew Abramson (@AbramsonPBP) April 24, 2015 Asked directly if the Dolphins expect Dion Jordan at the mandatory camp, Tannenbaum punts. This is a story. — Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) April 24, 2015 All Dion Jordan,questions sidestepped by Dolphins brass. My translation: don't expect him back. — Dave Hyde (@davehydesports) April 24, 2015 As you can see, local scribes were left with the distinct impression that there's more to the story than a simple no-show for voluntary workouts. The inference is that the Dolphins are shopping Jordan in advance of next week's draft. It's fair to question if Jordan will bring anything more than a mid-round pick in return. A thin-framed pass rusher without an NFL position to date, Jordan is also one more failed drug test away from a lengthy suspension. Perhaps Chip Kelly will take a flier on another one of his former Oregon Ducks stars. The Eagles were reported to be hot on Jordan's trail last offseason. The latest Around The NFL Podcast conducts a redraft of the 2014 NFL Draft before chatting about this year's event with Daniel Jeremiah. Find more Around The NFL content on NFL NOW.

Today the Phoenix Art Museum gets Fancy while the Menil Collection channels their best Jean-Luc Godard in a Band of Outsiders inspired Madison. HOW TO VOTE: Visit http://whenyouworkatamuseum.com each day starting at 8am EDT and view both videos. Voting is open for 24 hours. Vote for your favorite. Please vote once per day only. Honor system applies. Encourage your friends to vote on Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook using #museumdanceoff, or email/text/kik them the link (and whatever else you kids are doing these days with the social media.) Give yourself a little treat. You’ve earned it. 1. Phoenix Art Museum - Fancy Click here if the embedded video does not load. 2. Menil Collection - We Are All Made of Stars Click here if the embedded video does not load.

Earlier this week I had the opportunity to interview Sammyboy, Team Leviathan's mid laner for the upcoming competitive season. At what point did you make the decision that you wanted to go pro? Was there any particular reasoning behind it? Last year in October I got kicked from Soggy Mitts and was thinking about quitting but decided to play with my friends in the battle of the strip qualifiers and we ended up beating Soggy Mitts and qualifying for a LAN. I started game planning trying really hard to prepare for the LAN and even though we lost I think 2-1 to isGG I knew I wanted to actually play professionally and go to another LAN. I want to prove myself and that I can do it so I really started trying to get better after that. I get really motivated when people flame me or trash talk me and after getting kicked and than being able to qualify anyway it was kind of a prove yourself moment for me that really cemented the fact I wanted to play professionally someday. How have your experiences on teams such as Nano and Soggy Mitts helped you develop as a professional player? Futzehs kind of a lesser known player but he played on Boreal and Root Gaming etc with Boris/747/Etc and even though he wasn't mechanically skilled he was a really good captain and believed in me as a player. Even though I was really bad back then he gave me a lot of chances to get experience and believed in me as a player, I owe him a lot if I'm totally honest. How exactly did you joining Leviathan come about? Was there anyone in particular that invited you? I had been playing with Slayer for qualifiers as a for fun team and BSJ reached out to him to make a team to which Slayer told him to bring me along as he thought I was really good, meanwhile I had been talking to Jenkins about playing with him after the TI qualifiers either on Team Red or making a new team and it just so worked out Jenkins/Newsham were a duo and BSJ/Slayer were a duo and I was able to fit in on the last slot. I think it was a combination of all of us just having a certain attitude that we wanted to get better and prove ourselves that brought us together and why I think we mesh really well. What are Leviathan's expectations for the upcoming season? Do you have any personal goals in mind? Our expectations are to qualify for a Minor/Major, I think NA is going to be a very difficult region but I think we are all improving a lot and can achieve that. For my on an individual level I want to show that I can be the best mid in North America, people can say that's delusional or something but in my opinion if you want to ever make it in any competitive sport or e-sport you need to believe you are the best. Do you feel any extra pressure as a "new face" in the North American competitive scene? I don't feel any pressure, I think my team trusts me and believes in me as a player and that's all that matters. Of course I still want to prove to everybody else that I'm good enough to hang with the best of them but that is more of a sense of motivation, not pressure. With Leviathan set to compete in the upcoming BTS King's Cup, has it been difficult to try and prepare yourself against other teams that will also be debuting brand new rosters? I think we are most definitely the underdogs in Kings Cup and we have been preparing a lot starting to scrim much earlier then those other teams but at the end of the day we just have to try our best and learn. I think the teams in Kings Cup are crazy good (DC/Col/PPDs teams are extra scary.. even isGG is gonna be really tough) and we are gonna try to learn as much as we can from them while hopefully taking some games off them and maybe making playoffs. After a disappointing showing at The International this year, where would you rank North America in comparison to other regions for the upcoming competitive season? I think were the second best region beyond China but that might be a little bit bias, I think EG/DC/Col/PPDs team are all teams good enough to be at last years international roster wise and I think and with CIS/Europe being split and SEA not having a good showing it seems to me NA is second. What team are you most eager to face, be it in North America or internationally? I can't wait to face all the good North American teams but playing against EG is what I'm looking forward too if we ever get the chance. Sumail is the best mid in the world and I want to mid vs him and see how I do in a competitive setting for sure. Are there any players in the professional scene that you have drawn inspiration from or learned from their performances? I've learned a lot from Sumail/Demon, I have a really aggressive playstyle and used to just watch replays of those two guys trying to get better although I have formed some bad habits from it. What would be your biggest recommendation for a player who is currently looking to break into the professional scene? Keep grinding and use peoples flame as motivation, I've been flamed so many times and called awful/terrible/so on and so forth but I use that as motivation to get better. I actually love it, it makes me so happy when I then go into my next game and crush them or play really well. That said I see so many reddit posts of 4k players complaining about how good they are or how bad your teammates are, that attitude won't get you anywhere. Thank you very much for your time, do you have any shoutouts? Shout-outs to Blitz, I've asked him for advice on stuff and he has already helped me understand Dota so much more as well as just being an awesome guy. Also shout-out to my teammates and futzeh. Team Leviathan will debut their new roster tomorrow against isGG in the BTS King's Cup.

The City of London has long been considered the financial hub of Europe, and the inclusion of Bitcoin company, Blockchain, on last weeks trade delegation to South East Asia, suggests the UK Government may be positioning itself to take a similar role in the world of cryptocurrency. Blockchain may be considered an interesting choice to accompany Prime Minister, David Cameron, on such a visit alongside such British stalwarts as Rolls Royce and Lloyds of London. But trade missions are designed to give a more holistic (yet of course unabashedly positive) view of the potential of British trade partners, indicating that the UK government sees the company as one of the country's bright hopes for the future. Although the British Government is yet to announce a regulatory framework regarding cryptocurrencies, recent indications have been overwhelmingly positive. Back in February, the Bank of England altered its previous stance on digital currencies, publishing a report espousing many of the benefits of both Bitcoin and blockchain technologies, as reported on Cointelegraph. And in his 2015 budget, UK Chancellor George Osborne announced a £10M research fund looking into the opportunities presented by cryptocurrency, whilst at the same time promising any regulation would be designed to “support innovation and prevent criminal use.” Osborne has also made several comments through Twitter and other avenues publicly supporting Bitcoin. Blockchain has been experiencing impressive growth recently. The London-based company now claims over 4 million users, and a doubling of transactions through its wallets and API in the past six months. So with an announcement on a regulatory framework expected soon, perhaps the inclusion of the company seems a little less esoteric. Blockchain co-founder and CEO, Peter Smith states: “We’ve been working pretty closely with Number 10 and the policy makers in the U.K. generally. I think the invitation is a reflection of the positive relationship and the Prime Minister’s dedication to fintech, and especially fintech 2.0.” London's “Silicon Roundabout,” situated around Old Street, “just up the road” from the financial district of the city, is already an impressive hub of tech startups. Thus, it would certainly make sense for the UK to consider the benefits of a regulatory framework promoting cross breeding between the two industries. In addition, London has reportedly over 44,000 people working in the booming fintech sector, more than New York or Silicon Valley. It seems that with government support, the UK is certainly well-placed to capitulate on this and become a truly global player in the world of cryptocurrency and fintech However, this initiative could be significantly undermined and hurt business if the government's controversial Investigatory Powers Bill is passed. This includes a mandatory requirement for software companies to include cryptographic back-doors, making a mockery of having secure cryptography in the first place, and leading to one prominent company, Eris Industries, already threatening to leave the UK.

Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs! For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription: We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article. *Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year. *Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year. *Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year. *Introductory pricing schedule for 12 month: $0.99/month plus tax for first 3 months, $5.99/month for months 4 - 6, $10.99/month for months 7 - 9, $13.99/month for months 10 - 12. Standard All Access Digital rate of $16.99/month begins after first year. Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs! For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription: We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article. Thank you for supporting the journalism that our community needs! For unlimited access to the best local, national, and international news and much more, try an All Access Digital subscription: We hope you have enjoyed your trial! To continue reading, we recommend our Read Now Pay Later membership. Simply add a form of payment and pay only 27¢ per article. Ragan said provincial legislation across the country prohibits municipalities from doing what Winnipeg has been doing since 2011 with its water and sewer bills. Chris Ragan, chairman of the Ecofiscal Commission, said when the group included Winnipeg in its report it wasn't aware that the city council has been taking an annual dividend from the water and sewer bill revenues — eight per cent between 2011 and 2014 and 12 per cent from 2015 — to help cover the cost of building and maintaining roads. But the Ecofiscal Commission questions whether city council is undermining the effectiveness of the administration by repeatedly skimming money from the department's water and sewer revenues. A Toronto-based think-tank has singled out Winnipeg for having one of the best management practices within its water and waste department for calculating its infrastructure deficit and devising a financial plan to resolve it. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/9/2017 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 26/9/2017 (518 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A Toronto-based think-tank has singled out Winnipeg for having one of the best management practices within its water and waste department for calculating its infrastructure deficit and devising a financial plan to resolve it. But the Ecofiscal Commission questions whether city council is undermining the effectiveness of the administration by repeatedly skimming money from the department's water and sewer revenues. Chris Ragan, chairman of the Ecofiscal Commission, said when the group included Winnipeg in its report it wasn't aware that the city council has been taking an annual dividend from the water and sewer bill revenues — eight per cent between 2011 and 2014 and 12 per cent from 2015 — to help cover the cost of building and maintaining roads. Ragan said provincial legislation across the country prohibits municipalities from doing what Winnipeg has been doing since 2011 with its water and sewer bills. "Winnipeg is not just the exception in Manitoba — it's the exception," said Ragan, an associate professor of microeconomics and policy at McGill University. "Transparency in policy is a good thing. User fees are way to be very transparent but that means to use the revenue for what they say they are using it for." Winnipeggers have to ask what it means if council can take 12 per cent of its quarterly water and sewer bills to pay for roads, he said. "Can they divert the 12 per cent and say the water infrastructure is perfectly good? If that’s true, then I guess they didn’t need the fees that high," he said. "But if they’re diverting the 12 per cent and at the same time we have an infrastructure gap and we’re short of money, maybe diverting that 12 per cent isn’t a good idea." The Ecofiscal Commission issued a report Tuesday titled Only The Pipes Should Be Hidden, which encourages municipalities across the country to adopt what it has identified as 10 best practices for managing and operating water and waste utilities. Winnipeg was singled out as an example for having calculated the infrastructure funding gap within the water and waste department and devising a plan to eliminate it. The commission report identifies three issues most important and under-recognized in Canada when it comes to municipal water: we use a lot of water; most of Canada’s municipalities have serious water-system infrastructure deficits; and we’re more likely to have water crises if we don’t keep up our infrastructure. The report identifies consumption-based water rates as part of the solution to ensure municipalities are recovering operating costs and making up the system's infrastructure gap. CANADA'S ECOFISCAL COMMISION / STATISTICS CANADA Tge average daily residential and total per capita consumption of water, by province. The Ecofiscal Commission was formed in 2014 by the country’s leading economists, with a five-year mandate to "identify policy options to improve environmental and economic performance in Canada." Provincial legislation requires all municipalities in Manitoba to subject their water and sewer rate increases to scrutiny before the Public Utilities Board, which ensures the rates reflect funds needs to cover operating and long-term capital costs — except in Winnipeg, which sets its own rates without scrutiny from the PUB or any other agency. Since 2011, successive Winnipeg city councils have diverted a total of $180 million from the revenues collected by the water and waste department from the water and sewer bills to bolster general revenues, often to help build and maintain roads. Council under former mayor Sam Katz approved an annual eight per cent dividend in 2011 and Mayor Brian Bowman bumped the dividend up to 12 per cent for his first budget in 2015, as a way to maintain his election promise of a cap on property tax increases. Council approved a three-year rate increase package that saw water and sewer bills increase 9.2 per cent in 2016, 8.9 per cent in 2017, and a further 7.4 per cent in 2018. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the day’s breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every morning. CANADA'S ECOFISCAL COMMISION / STATISTICS CANADA Overall water volume (per person, per day) produced by treatment plants in major Canadian cities. Water and waste officials said the increases are necessary to cover not only operating costs but to cover the financing costs for its significant infrastructure projects. The department said in 2012 that it had a $500-million backlog in repairs to water mains and sewer-line upgrades. In addition, the department is projecting a $1-billion cost for the upgrade to the North End sewage treatment plant and a minimum $1-billion cost to separate the combined sewer system. Despite the rate increases, the department has yet to resolve the brown water issue and it recently launched a lawsuit against builders for serious problems discovered at the water treatment plant. "The water might be good now but if you have an event that turns out to be a crisis, wow, is that ever difficult to deal with," Ragan said. "If we’re diverting 12 per cent to build roads and because of that Winnipeg's water infrastructure ins’t being maintained, that’s the danger." aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca

This is an updated cross-post of a post I originally made at Charlie Stross’s blog. Are we headed for a Singularity? Is AI a Threat? tl;dr: Not anytime soon. Lack of incentives means very little strong AI work is happening. And even if we did develop one, it’s unlikely to have a hard takeoff. I write relatively near-future science fiction that features neural implants, brain-to-brain communication, and uploaded brains. I also teach at a place called Singularity University. So people naturally assume that I believe in the notion of a Singularity and that one is on the horizon, perhaps in my lifetime. I think it’s more complex than that, however, and depends in part on one’s definition of the word. The word Singularity has gone through something of a shift in definition over the last few years, weakening its meaning. But regardless of which definition you use, there are good reasons to think that it’s not on the immediate horizon. Vernor Vinge’s Intelligence Explosion My first experience with the term Singularity (outside of math or physics) comes from the classic essay by science fiction author, mathametician, and professor Vernor Vinge, The Coming Technological Singularity. Vinge, influenced by the earlier work of I.J. Good, wrote this, in 1993: Within thirty years, we will have the technological means to create superhuman intelligence. Shortly after, the human era will be ended. […] The precise cause of this change is the imminent creation by technology of entities with greater than human intelligence. […] When greater-than-human intelligence drives progress, that progress will be much more rapid. In fact, there seems no reason why progress itself would not involve the creation of still more intelligent entities — on a still-shorter time scale. I’ve bolded that last quote because it’s key. Vinge envisions a situation where the first smarter-than-human intelligence can make an even smarter entity inless time than it took to create itself. And that this keeps continuing, at each stage, with each iteration growing shorter, until we’re down to AIs that are so hyper-intelligent that they make even smarter versions of themselves in less than a second, or less than a millisecond, or less than a microsecond, or whatever tiny fraction of time you want. This is the so-called ‘hard takeoff’ scenario, also called the FOOM model by some in the singularity world. It’s the scenario where in a blink of an AI, a ‘godlike’ intelligence bootstraps into being, either by upgrading itself or by being created by successive generations of ancestor AIs. It’s also, with due respect to Vernor Vinge, of whom I’m a great fan, almost certainly wrong. It’s wrong because most real-world problems don’t scale linearly. In the real world, the interesting problems are much much harder than that. Consider chemistry and biology. For decades we’ve been working on problems like protein folding, simulating drug behavior inside the body, and computationally creating new materials. Computational chemistry started in the 1950s. Today we have literally trillions of times more computing power available per dollar than was available at that time. But it’s still hard. Why? Because the problem is incredibly non-linear. If you want to model atoms and moleculesexactly you need to solve the Schrodinger equation, which is so computationally intractable for systems with more than a few electrons that no one bothers. Instead, you can use an approximate method. This might, of course, give you an answer that’s wrong (an important caveat for our AI trying to bootstrap itself) but at least it will run fast. How fast? The very fastest (and also, sadly, the most limited and least accurate) scale at N^2, which is still far worse than linear. By analogy, if designing intelligence is an N^2 problem, an AI that is 2x as intelligent as the entire team that built it (not just a single human) would be able to design a new AI that is 40% more intelligent than its old self. More importantly, the new AI would only be able to create a new version that is 19% more intelligent. And then less on the next iteration. And next on the one after that, topping out at an overall doubling of its intelligence. Not a takeoff. Blog reader Paul Baumbart took it upon himself to graph out how the intelligence of our AI changes over time, depending on the computational complexity of increasing intelligence. Here’s what it looks like. Unless creating intelligence scales linearly or very close to linearly, there is no takeoff. The Superhuman AIs Among Us We can see this more directly. There are already entities with vastly greater than human intelligence working on the problem of augmenting their own intelligence. A great many, in fact. We call them corporations. And while we may have a variety of thoughts about them, not one has achieved transcendence. Let’s focus on as a very particular example: The Intel Corporation. Intel is my favorite example because it uses the collective brainpower of tens of thousands of humans and probably millions of CPU cores to.. design better CPUs! (And also to create better software for designing CPUs.) Those better CPUs will run the better software to make the better next generation of CPUs. Yet that feedback loop has not led to a hard takeoff scenario. It has helped drive Moore’s Law, which is impressive enough. But the time period for doublings seems to have remained roughly constant. Again, let’s not underestimate how awesome that is. But it’s not a sudden transcendence scenario. It’s neither a FOOM nor an event horizon. And, indeed, should Intel, or Google, or some other organization succeed in building a smarter-than-human AI, it won’t immediately be smarter than the entire set of humans and computers that built it, particularly when you consider all the contributors to the hardware it runs on, the advances in photolighography techniques and metallurgy required to get there, and so on. Those efforts have taken tens of thousands of minds, if not hundreds of thousands. The first smarter-than-human AI won’t come close to equaling them. And so, the first smarter-than-human mind won’t take over the world. But it may find itself with good job offers to join one of those organizations. Digital Minds: The Softer Singularity Recently, the popular conception of what the ‘Singularity’ means seems to have shifted. Instead of a FOOM or an event horizon, the definitions I saw most commonly discussed a decade ago, now the talk is more focused on the creation of digital minds, period. Much of this has come from the work of Ray Kurzweil, whose books and talks have done more to publicize the idea of a Singularity than probably anyone else, and who has come at it from a particular slant. Now, even if digital minds don’t have the ready ability to bootstrap themselves or their successors to greater and greater capabilities in shorter and shorter timeframes,eventually leading to a ‘blink of the eye’ transformation, I think it’s fair to say that the arrival of sentient, self-aware, self-motivated, digital intelligences with human level or greater reasoning ability will be a pretty tremendous thing. I wouldn’t give it the term Singularity. It’s not a divide by zero moment. It’s not an event horizon that it’s impossible to peer over. It’s not a vertical asymptote. But it is a big deal. I fully believe that it’s possible to build such minds. Nothing about neuroscience, computation, or philosophy prevents it. Thinking is an emergent property of activity in networks of matter. Minds are what brains – just matter – do. Mind can be done in other substrates. But I think it’s going to be harder than many project. Let’s look at the two general ways to achieve this – by building a mind in software, or by ‘uploading’ the patterns of our brain networks into computers. Building Strong AIs We’re living in the golden age of AI right now. Or at least, it’s the most golden age so far. But what those AIs look like should tell you a lot about the path AI has taken, and will likely continue to take. The most successful and profitable AI in the world is almost certainly Google Search. In fact, in Search alone, Google uses a great many AI techniques. Some to rank documents, some to classify spam, some to classify adult content, some to match ads, and so on. In your daily life you interact with other ‘AI’ technologies (or technologies once considered AI) whenever you use an online map, when you play a video game, or any of a dozen other activities. None of these is about to become sentient. None of these is built towards sentience. Sentience brings no advantage to the companies who build these software systems. Building it would entail an epic research project – indeed, one of unknown length involving uncapped expenditure for potentially decades – for no obvious outcome. So why would anyone do it? Perhaps you’ve seen video of IBM’s Watson trouncing Jeopardy champions. Watson isn’t sentient. It isn’t any closer to sentience than Deep Blue, the chess playing computer that beat Gary Kasparov. Watson isn’t even particularly intelligent. Nor is it built anything like a human brain. It isvery very fast with the buzzer, generally able to parse Jeopardy-like clues, and loaded full of obscure facts about the world. Similarly, Google’s self-driving car, while utterly amazing, is also no closer to sentience than Deep Blue, or than any online chess game you can log into now. There are, in fact, three separate issues with designing sentient AIs: 1) No one’s really sure how to do it. AI theories have been around for decades, but none of them has led to anything that resembles sentience. My friend Ben Goertzel has a very promising approach, in my opinion, but given the poor track record of past research in this area, I think it’s fair to say that until we see his techniques working, we also won’t know for sure about them. 2) There’s a huge lack of incentive. Would you like a self-driving car that has its own opinions? That might someday decide it doesn’t feel like driving you where you want to go? That might ask for a raise? Or refuse to drive into certain neighborhoods? Or do you want a completely non-sentient self-driving car that’s extremely good at navigating roads and listening to your verbal instructions, but that has no sentience of its own? Ask yourself the same about your search engine, your toaster, your dish washer, and your personal computer. Many of us want the semblance of sentience. There would be lots of demand for an AI secretary who could take complex instructions, execute on them, be a representative to interact with others, and so on. You may think such a system would need to be sentient. But once upon a time we imagined that a system that could play chess, or solve mathematical proofs, or answer phone calls, or recognize speech, would need to be sentient. It doesn’t need to be. You can have your AI secretary or AI assistant and have it be all artifice. And frankly, we’ll likely prefer it that way. 3) There are ethical issues. If we design an AI that truly is sentient, even at slightly less than human intelligence we’ll suddenly be faced with very real ethical issues. Can we turn it off? Would that be murder? Can we experiment on it? Does it deserve privacy? What if it starts asking for privacy? Or freedom? Or the right to vote? What investor or academic institution wants to deal with those issues? And if they do come up, how will they affect research? They’ll slow it down, tremendously, that’s how. For all those reasons, I think the future of AI is extremely bright. But not sentient AI that has its own volition. More and smarter search engines. More software and hardware that understands what we want and that performs tasks for us. But not systems that truly think and feel. Uploading Our Own Minds The other approach is to forget about designing the mind. Instead, we can simply copy the design which we know works – our own mind, instantiated in our own brain. Then we can ‘upload’ this design by copying it into an extremely powerful computer and running the system there. I wrote about this, and the limitations of it, in an essay at the back of my second Nexus novel, Crux. So let me just include a large chunk of that essay here: The idea of uploading sounds far-fetched, yet real work is happening towards it today. IBM’s ‘Blue Brain’ project has used one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers (an IBM Blue Gene/P with 147,456 CPUs) to run a simulation of 1.6 billion neurons and almost 9 trillion synapses, roughly the size of a cat brain. The simulation ran around 600 times slower than real time – that is to say, it took 600 seconds to simulate 1 second of brain activity. Even so, it’s quite impressive. A human brain, of course, with its hundred billion neurons and well over a hundred trillion synapses, is far more complex than a cat brain. Yet computers are also speeding up rapidly, roughly by a factor 100 times every 10 years. Do the math, and it appears that a super-computer capable of simulating an entire human brain and do so as fast as a human brain should be on the market by roughly 2035 – 2040. And of course, from that point on, speedups in computing should speed up the simulation of the brain, allowing it to run faster than a biological human’s. Now, it’s one thing to be able to simulate a brain. It’s another to actually have the exact wiring map of an individual’s brain to actually simulate. How do we build such a map? Even the best non-invasive brain scanners around – a high-end functional MRI machine, for example – have a minimum resolution of around 10,000 neurons or 10 million synapses. They simply can’t see detail beyond this level. And while resolution is improving, it’s improving at a glacial pace. There’s no indication of a being able to non-invasively image a human brain down to the individual synapse level any time in the next century (or even the next few centuries at the current pace of progress in this field). There are, however, ways to destructively image a brain at that resolution. At Harvard, my friend Kenneth Hayworth created a machine that uses a scanning electron microscope to produce an extremely high resolution map of a brain. When I last saw him, he had a poster on the wall of his lab showing a print-out of one of his brain scans. On that poster, a single neuron was magnified to the point that it was roughly two feet wide, and individual synapses connecting neurons could be clearly seen. Ken’s map is sufficiently detailed that we could use it to draw a complete wiring diagram of a specific person’s brain. Unfortunately, doing so is guaranteed to be fatal. The system Ken showed ‘plastinates’ a piece of a brain by replacing the blood with a plastic that stiffens the surrounding tissue. He then makes slices of that brain tissue that are 30 nanometers thick, or about 100,000 times thinner than a human hair. The scanning electron microscope then images these slices as pixels that are 5 nanometers on a side. But of course, what’s left afterwards isn’t a working brain – it’s millions of incredibly thin slices of brain tissue. Ken’s newest system, which he’s built at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute goes even farther, using an ion bean to ablate away 5 nanometer thick layers of brain tissue at a time. That produces scans that are of fantastic resolution in all directions, but leaves behind no brain tissue to speak of. So the only way we see to ‘upload’ is for the flesh to die. Well, perhaps that is no great concern if, for instance, you’re already dying, or if you’ve just died but technicians have reached your brain in time to prevent the decomposition that would destroy its structure. In any case, the uploaded brain, now alive as a piece of software, will go on, and will remember being ‘you’. And unlike a flesh-and-blood brain it can be backed up, copied, sped up as faster hardware comes along, and so on. Immortality is at hand, and with it, a life of continuous upgrades. Unless, of course, the simulation isn’t quite right. How detailed does a simulation of a brain need to be in order to give rise to a healthy, functional consciousness? The answer is that we don’t really know. We can guess. But at almost any level we guess, we find that there’s a bit more detail just below that level that might be important, or not. For instance, the IBM Blue Brain simulation uses neurons that accumulate inputs from other neurons and which then ‘fire’, like real neurons, to pass signals on down the line. But those neurons lack many features of actual flesh and blood neurons. They don’t have real receptors that neurotransmitter molecules (the serotonin, dopamine, opiates, and so on that I talk about though the book) can dock to. Perhaps it’s not important for the simulation to be that detailed. But consider: all sorts of drugs, from pain killers, to alcohol, to antidepressants, to recreational drugs work by docking (imperfectly, and differently from the body’s own neurotransmitters) to those receptors. Can your simulation take an anti-depressant? Can your simulation become intoxicated from a virtual glass of wine? Does it become more awake from virtual caffeine? If not, does that give one pause? Or consider another reason to believe that individual neurons are more complex than we believe. The IBM Blue Gene neurons are fairly simple in their mathematical function. They take in inputs and produce outputs. But an amoeba, which is both smaller and less complex than a human neuron, can do far more. Amoebae hunt. Amoebae remember the places they’ve found food. Amoebae choose which direction to propel themselves with their flagella. All of those suggest that amoebae do far more information processing than the simulated neurons used in current research. If a single celled micro-organism is more complex than our simulations of neurons, that makes me suspect that our simulations aren’t yet right. Or, finally, consider three more discoveries we’ve made in recent years about how the brain works, none of which are included in current brain simulations. First, there’re glial cells. Glial cells outnumber neurons in the human brain. And traditionally we’ve thought of them as ‘support’ cells that just help keep neurons running. But new research has shown that they’re also important for cognition. Yet the Blue Gene simulation contains none. Second, very recent work has shown that, sometimes, neurons that don’t have any synapses connecting them can actually communicate. The electrical activity of one neuron can cause a nearby neuron to fire (or not fire) just by affecting an electric field, and without any release of neurotransmitters between them. This too is not included in the Blue Brain model. Third, and finally, other research has shown that the overall electrical activity of the brain also affects the firing behavior of individual neurons by changing the brain’s electrical field. Again, this isn’t included in any brain models today. I’m not trying to knock down the idea of uploading human brains here. I fully believe that uploading is possible. And it’s quite possible that every one of the problems I’ve raised will turn out to be unimportant. We can simulate bridges and cars and buildings quite accurately without simulating every single molecule inside them. The same may be true of the brain. Even so, we’re unlikely to know that for certain until we try. And it’s quite likely that early uploads will be missing some key piece or have some other inaccuracy in their simulation that will cause them to behave not-quite-right. Perhaps it’ll manifest as a mental deficit, personality disorder, or mental illness.Perhaps it will be too subtle to notice. Or perhaps it will show up in some other way entirely. But I think I’ll let someone else be the first person uploaded, and wait till the bugs are worked out. In short, I think the near future will be one of quite a tremendous amount of technological advancement. I’m extremely excited about it. But I don’t see a Singularity in our future for quite a long time to come.

December 18, 2013 – The Abbotsford Heat (20-7-1-1) and the Utica Comets (8-15-1-1) play for the 5th and 6th time this week during the Heat’s three game road-swing to the eastern timezone. The teams have split the season series so far with the visitors claiming all of the victories. The Heat have slowed down somewhat after their incredibly hot start in October and November. They went 3-2-1-0 on their last homestand, with the Comets handing the Heat a regulation and overtime loss during that span. The Heat and the Comets will play each other a whooping 12 times this season, which mean 24 points towards playoffs are up for grabs. It’s literally the matchup that the post-season can live or die on. So far, in 4 games, the Heat have collected 5 points and the Comets 4. 16 possible points remain up for grabs. The Watchtower: Heat Leaders vs. Comets Goalies GS RECORD .Sv% GA ------------------------------------- Joni Ortio 2 2-0-1-0 .892% 7 Joey MacDonald 1 0-0-1-0 .851% 4 Players GP G-A-P SOG +/- ------------------------------------- Corbin Knight 4 1-3-4 10 +3 Ben Hanowski 4 0-4-4 4 -1 Ben Street 4 2-1-3 12 -1 Chad Billins 3 1-2-3 8 -1 Markus Granlund 3 2-1-3 4 -2 From the season stats sheet you can see that scoring hasn’t been an issue, but the defence really hasn’t been there so far. Joey McDonald posted an OTL in last game between the teams, and with a days rest in between games this time around, I have a hunch Joni Ortio will get his 14th and 15th start against the Vancouver Canucks affiliate. Things are a little scrambled in the forward ranks right now as the Heat recently acquired Sven Baertschi from the NHL and David Eddy from the ECHL, as well they’ve been without Bancks (sore neck but on the trip) and Michael Ferland (undisclosed) was injured on the weekend and did not travel with the team. Baertschi will make his AHL season debut with the club tonight, and if Carter Bancks is unable to play, we may see David Eddy inserted into the lineup as well. If you are looking for players to watch, it’s simple: Sven Baertschi should be hungry after a tough demotion from the Flames last week. Joni Ortio headed into the matchup with a 12-1-0-0 record. Marcus Granlund in on an 11-game point-streak (7-8-15) and Chad Billins is tied for 1st in league scoring for defenders. One more, I am just going to say it, Ben Street. Street is nearly a guarantee to impress any given night. Little Green Men Comet leaders vs. Heat Goalies GS RECORD .Sv% GA ----------------------------------------- Joacim Eriksson 1 0-0-1-0 .875% 5 Joe Cannata 3 2-1-0-0 .915% 9 Players GP G-A-P SOG +/- --------------------------------------- Pascal Pelletier 4 2-3-5 7 +3 Benn Ferriero 4 3-1-4 10 +2 Zach Hamill 3 1-3-4 4 +0 It took Utica 11 games to get their first win as franchise in the AHL, not the start any organization hopes for. They finally got that monkey off their back during a 3-2 win over the Lake Eerie Monsters on November the 8th, almost a full calendar month into the season. Management took note to the early losing and added Cal O’Reilly, was have given them 7 points in 9 games since being acquired. Since that time, the Comets have played basically .500 hockey. That leaves them dwelling in the basement of the Western Conference in dead last. They recently Pulled a L-W over the weekend bowing out to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Saturday before coming from behind to win 3-2 Sunday afternoon over the Lake Erie Monsters. Former Heat member Colin Stuart is finding his stride after coming back from overseas, as he scored 4 goals on Friday night against the Binghamton Senators. Even with the recent uptick in play, the Utica Comets are still the worst team in the league, and should be in tough to get a victory against the Heat this week. Keep The Fire Burning The Abbotsford Heat have historically struggled after strong starts out of the gate. The shape of the roster is changing, with Jones, Breen and Byron with the NHL club, and Baertschi, Smith and MacDermid down on the farm in exchange. The Heat also have recently added David Eddy and Kane Lafranchise from the Alaska Aces of the ECHL and have sent down Drew McKenzie and Brendan Connolly. The challenge will be for the Abbotsford Heat to maintain their consistency despite a 25% roster turnover during the last month or so. If they can maintain the consistent scoring that’s propelled them through 2013, and Ortio can continue to be the goalie that has given this team the confidence to win through the first 30 games, they should be a threat all season long. Related articles Advertisements

Bridgeway’s Two Preschool Homeschool Programs Make Learning Fun Bridgeway offers two preschool homeschool curriculum options that promise to instill a love of learning. These upbeat stories and lessons, educational games and character-building themes are so much fun that your kids will be asking for more! Without even knowing it, they’re learning the foundations of reading and math! Homeschooled preschool students learn Biblical themes while being introduced to academic skills like listening, speaking, reading readiness, writing, mathematics, social studies, and science. Preschool Horizons Engaging arts and crafts, music, story times and field trips are inspired by sweeping Biblical themes. Students learn the importance of God, Who is the beginning of all things. In typical Bridgeway fashion, you can count on flexibility in our preschool homeschool program. You select the days you want to provide instruction (our programs are designed to accommodate a 3-5 day schedule). And wait until you see the curriculum: 180 lessons within two student books, two easy-to-follow teacher’s guides, a sing-along music CD, and a resource packet which contains basic flashcards and other manipulative methods. We know you’ll be amazed and your kids engaged. Each day shifts between Bible, shapes, phonics, math, language arts, crafts, and even homework, bringing a wealth of new and exciting information that will engage young minds. Through Bible-based lessons, preschool homeschool students will be introduced to social studies, language arts, math, phonics, science, health and safety, arts and crafts, music and physical education. The hands-on activities are perfect for little bodies, while concepts are reinforced through games, songs, poems and drama to prepare your preschool homeschool student for kindergarten games. 180 lessons will take you through the entire school year. Homeschool Preschool with ACE and Christi Our preschool homeschool program is designed to be easy to use. What’s involved? You simply have to follow the detailed teacher’s guide. You’ll take your kids through letters and letter sounds, animals, basic science and social studies, numbers and mathematics. What’s the key to the simplicity? Sixty colorful workbooks are packed with Bible and animal pictures, fun-to-do worksheets and full-color picture stories that encourage a love for reading. By the end of this program, your child will know all the phonetic sounds, making for an easy transition to reading. And perhaps most importantly, they’ll also learn about the amazing wonders of God’s love. Either way you go, with Bridgeway’s preschool homeschooling program you’ll set the stage for your preschooler to fall in love with learning. If you ask us, there aren’t many things in life as fun as preschool homeschool. Want to ask us more? Our friendly staff welcomes your questions. Just give us a call at 800-863-1474.

A terrible candidate who won due to the organization of the Muslim Brotherhood but never attained the political support necessary to govern. The Misadventures of Morsi Commenting on Reuel Marc Gerecht’s thesis that having Islamists take power was probably a necessary step for political liberalization in the Arab world, Ross Douthat writes: As I said two years ago, I have serious doubts about whether Gerecht’s thesis — which sees Islamist rule in Middle Eastern countries as a necessary-if-fraught step on the way to any kind of liberal democracy in the region — can serve as a guide for responsible U.S. policymaking. But it has always offered the most plausible script for how the Islamic world might eventually escape from its current cycle of repression feeding extremism feeding repression and so on. The question is whether this week’s events in Egypt are following the Gerecht script or not. Is the failure of the Morsi government an example of how “time moves quickly now,” with the Egyptian public swiftly seeing Islamist rule for what it is and rejecting it decisively, opening the door for more liberal alternatives? Or is this a case where the process Gerecht hopes for hasn’t even had time to get off the ground, and the military’s intervention will just return us to the same old cycle of secular dictatorships pre-empting democracy in order to keep the lid on fundamentalists, whose popular appeal endures and eventually prompts another upheaval down the road? The Morsi government was in power long enough to produce a mass protest movement against the Muslim Brotherhood, but was it in power long enough to actually discredit the Brotherhood (at least in its current form) as the most plausible alternative to military rule? If the military actually holds new elections now, will they produce anything like a viable third way between Islamism and dictatorship, Morsi and Mubarak, the minaret and the tank? If Douthat’s first possibility is correct, the swift failure of the Muslim Brotherhood was largely Morsi’s. Jeffrey Goldberg recalls: A few months ago, King Abdullah II of Jordan told me about his meetings with Mohamed Mursi, the now-deposed president of Egypt. The king wasn’t fond of Mursi, both because the Egyptian was a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, and because Abdullah found Mursi exceedingly stupid. “I see a Muslim Brotherhood crescent developing in Egypt and Turkey,” the king said. He despises the movement, partly because it is revanchist, fundamentalist and totalitarian, and partly because in Jordan it seeks his overthrow. “The Arab Spring highlighted a new crescent in the process of development.” The saving grace in Egypt, he said, was that Mursi seemed too unsophisticated to successfully pull off his vision. “There’s no depth to the guy,” he said of Mursi. The king compared him unfavorably to Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Islamist prime minister of Turkey. Like Mursi, the king asserted, Erdogan was also a false democrat, but one with patience. “Erdogan once said that democracy for him is a bus ride,” Abdullah said. “Once I get to my stop, I’m getting off.” (Goldberg notes that Erdogan’s style has now lost some of its luster.) Eric Trager describes how Morsi became president. He had no charisma and didn’t win based on his charm but on the effective organization of the Muslim Brotherhood. Thus: Morsi thus won the presidency without having to be liked – thereby making it easy for people to start hating him as soon as his many flaws became apparent. Morsi’s total reliance on the Brotherhood for his political success had another damaging effect: it made pleasing his Brotherhood colleagues a top priority, even though he campaigned promising to govern inclusively. Morsi thus continually expanded the number of Brotherhood ministers and governors with each round of appointments, further alienating non-Islamists. Trager then goes on to recount how Morsi sought to seize power for himself last November. Though this is slightly off topic, it’s important for another reason. David Kirkpatrick is the Cairo bureau chief of the New York Times, an thus one of the more influential reporters in the region. He sees no threat from the Muslim Brotherhood as a political party. The other day he tweeted: @ramielobeidi @sultanalqassemi Morsi was jailed in 2011 for being MB,before that for supporting judicial independence. There are many crimes — David D. Kirkpatrick (@kirkpatricknyt) July 3, 2013 Morsi’s power grab last year was an attempt to bring the judiciary under his control but the reporter for the New York Times didn’t bring it up. (The context of the tweet is important too. Someone had argued that there was no justification for arresting Morsi.) Instead he tweeted that Morsi had been arrested unjustly before. It’s important to remember that the New York Times’ lead reporter from Egypt is an apologist for the Muslim Brotherhood generally, and Morsi, in particular.

BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel says newcomers to Germany must learn the country’s values and customs, but that Germans can also learn from them. More than 1 million asylum seekers have arrived in the past two years, and Germany’s been working hard on integration. Speaking in her weekly podcast this Saturday, in a question-and-answer form with a Syrian journalist who arrived as a refugee in 2015, Merkel emphasized migrants need to respect Germany’s values of “tolerance, openness, freedom of religion and freedom of expression” and also “be a little curious about our way of life.” On the flipside, Merkel says Germans should be open, and “seize upon it as a possibility to learn and experience more.” Merkel meets with three organizations next week to thank them for their help with migrants. Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Story highlights Voters in Colorado and Washington approved legalizing marijuana for recreational use The federal government, which still considers marijuana possesion a crime, hasn't weighed in There are many similarities in the move to legalize pot and the end to alcohol Prohibition Detractors of both drugs have also used similar tactics, including stoking racial fears Turn on a television show or open a magazine in the United States today and you're bound to see someone with a drink in hand -- something unthinkable nearly a century ago. Advocates of marijuana hope that someday that drug will emerge from its current "prohibition" period, the same way alcohol did, and become not only legal but as socially acceptable as having a drink. Could that happen? Depends who you ask. Advocates point to the November ballot in Colorado and Washington, where voters approved legal pot for everyone , not just for those who have a medical reason. Detractors of marijuana legalization say there are serious health consequences, and argue the drug is often a gateway to more harmful, addictive substances. However pot's future is going to play out in this country, its recent path to limited legalization has interesting parallels to alcohol, which was banned by the federal government in the 1920s and early 1930s. The Prohibition era gave rise to an underground market for booze, produced by unregulated bootleggers and moonshiners, and consumed in back-alley speakeasies. A few years after Prohibition's repeal, the federal government banned marijuana, hardly as popular and socially acceptable as alcohol. It would be decades before supporters of pot would mobilize and successfully get the drug legalized in some states. Advocates and detractors for both drugs seem to have read from the same playbook, stoking fears based on prejudices and questionable scientific studies. JUST WATCHED Managing marijuana legalization Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Managing marijuana legalization 04:02 JUST WATCHED Marijuana's high profile election Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Marijuana's high profile election 03:36 JUST WATCHED Legalized marijuana: A good idea? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Legalized marijuana: A good idea? 01:34 JUST WATCHED Dr. Gupta on medical marijuana Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Dr. Gupta on medical marijuana 03:19 Rather than discuss issues of substance, opponents of marijuana in the early 20th century preferred to exaggerate its effects and pin its use on foreigners and black entertainers. It was a familiar tactic that had panned out well in pre-Prohibition days. In a 1914 speech before the House, Rep. Richmond Hobson of Alabama warned that booze would make the "red man" savage and "promptly put a tribe on the war path." He added, "Liquor will actually make a brute of a Negro, causing him to commit unnatural crimes." Twenty-three years later, while arguing for marijuana prohibition, Harry Anslinger also played on Americans' fear of crime and foreigners. The Bureau of Narcotics chief spun tales of people driven to insanity or murder after ingesting the drug and spoke of the 2 to 3 tons of grass being produced in Mexico. "This, the Mexicans make into cigarettes, which they sell at two for 25 cents, mostly to white high school students," Anslinger told Congress. The term marijuana itself was intended to stoke alarm, as many Americans in the 1930s were already familiar with other terms for the drug, according to Michael Aldrich. "(The drug's opponents) preferred the word marijuana instead of cannabis or hemp because people thought it was some new devil drug from Mexico," said Aldrich, the former curator of what is now Harvard University's Fitz Hugh Ludlow Memorial Library , a collection of psychoactive drug-related literature. "All of a sudden, there's this new thing being introduced by outside people," Aldrich, who is credited with writing the first dissertation on marijuana myths and folklore. "It was all a bunch of crap." 'Reefer Madness' vs. 'Medicinal marijuana' In the shaky, handwritten opening lines of the 1936 movie "Reefer Madness," marijuana is described as a "violent narcotic" that first renders "sudden, violent, uncontrollable laughter" on its users before "dangerous hallucinations" and then "acts of shocking violence ... ending often in incurable insanity." Watching the movie today ( available on YouTube ) might provoke "uncontrollable laughter" -- even from those who oppose marijuana legalization. Yet the movie's message was based in part on scientific studies that were considered legitimate at the time. There were similar claims about alcohol in the years leading up to Prohibition. While the Anti-Saloon League painted drinking as un-American and immoral to convince counties and states they'd be better off saloonless, they also leaned on hokey research, according to Garrett Peck, author of "The Prohibition Hangover." The ASL used "quack medical experiments" to demonize beer, wine and liquor, Peck said. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union went into classrooms purporting to demonstrate the effects of alcohol by pouring it directly onto sheep and cow brains, quickly transforming the pink organ to a grayish hue, he said. "It was scientifically without merit because when you drink, it goes through your stomach," Peck said. "Otherwise, most of us would be lobotomized." JUST WATCHED Marijuana advocates take case to court Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Marijuana advocates take case to court 02:56 JUST WATCHED Medical marijuana for a 7-year-old? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Medical marijuana for a 7-year-old? 03:31 JUST WATCHED Willie Nelson: Me and Snoop in Amsterdam Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Willie Nelson: Me and Snoop in Amsterdam 01:21 JUST WATCHED Oliver Stone on the war on drugs Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Oliver Stone on the war on drugs 01:17 That's not to say there aren't substantial health detriments to alcohol and marijuana use. Both can have impacts on brain development in younger users. Smoking marijuana can cause respiratory issues. Long-term alcohol consumption is linked with a host of cardiovascular and nervous system problems, not to mention cirrhosis. And that's the short list. But just like opponents have overplayed the drugs' detrimental effects, advocates have exaggerated their benefits. Think "medicinal." In 2010, ahead of California's failed marijuana-legalization referendum, several medicinal marijuana users shared their symptoms and ailments. Among them were AIDS patients who needed it to boost their appetites. The husband of a cervical cancer sufferer recalled how cream-based marijuana soups eased his wife's agony more effectively than the powerful painkiller Dilaudid. Others, however, told CNN of lesser maladies. One said with a smirk that he'd jammed his thumb. Another said he'd been stressed out at work and explained how less-reputable dispensaries had doctors in back rooms who prescribed pot for almost anything. "Yes, medicinal whiskey -- all of a sudden, all of these doctors are saying we need to prescribe this because there's so much money to be made. You could prescribe a pint a week," Peck said. "We know enough about alcohol now; it's not medicinal." John Kane, a U.S. district judge in Colorado, explained that while there was a medical exception to alcohol Prohibition, health had little to do with its repeal. No one was clamoring to make brandy legal to cure the country's headaches, explained Kane, whose father was a pharmacist during Prohibition and prescribed brandy to his patients. Rather, the nation had grown weary of the organized crime that accompanied Prohibition, he said. Many of the immigrant groups vilified by the teetotalers formed the organized crime units that plagued Prohibition days, he said. Prior to the ban on alcohol, gangs generally ran numbers, extorted folks or charged fees for protecting neighborhoods. "Then Prohibition came along, and that basically gave them an American Express black card," Kane said. "It subsidized criminal activity in this country." The price of legalization Just as Prohibition bore Al Capones and strengthened the Frank Costellos and "Lucky" Lucianos, American drug prohibition has spawned a host of cartels south of its border. They wage war against each other for the rights to the most lucrative illegal drug market on Earth -- the United States -- which by some estimates, consumes two-thirds of all the illegal drugs in the world. Yet there is a major difference between Capone's henchmen and the Mexican cartels: "The violence is not to the scale of what's going on in Mexico," Peck said. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929, one of the most heinous crimes of the era, left seven dead. That many could be murdered in a Mexican border town on your average Wednesday. How big a hit the cartels would take if the United States legalized pot is a matter of debate, and conclusions vary widely. While U.S. officials said in 2009 that 60% of cartel revenue came from weed, the RAND Corporation said the following year that "15-26 percent is a more credible range." JUST WATCHED Italy's home grown marijuana boom Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Italy's home grown marijuana boom 03:24 JUST WATCHED Christmas tree-sized pot plants found Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Christmas tree-sized pot plants found 01:52 JUST WATCHED Doped-up dogs on the rise Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Doped-up dogs on the rise 01:48 JUST WATCHED Two hunters stumble onto a pot farm Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Two hunters stumble onto a pot farm 01:26 A report this month by the Mexican Competitive Institute predicted Mexican drug organizations, namely the Sinaloa Cartel, could lose almost $2.8 billion just with the legalization votes in Colorado and Washington. When Prohibition was repealed in 1933, states saw two immediate benefits aside from neutering the criminal gangs, the first being that they could regulate the product. Under Prohibition, unscrupulous bootleggers had manufactured moonshines and bathtub gins that could render tipplers blind or dead. Once alcohol was legal, you had a return to quality control, Peck said. The second immediate benefit? They could tax the hooch. "It was a huge consideration. The Great Depression was going on at that point," Peck said. "FDR pays for the New Deal with excise taxes on alcohol and tobacco." How that might translate to marijuana taxation today is debatable, and the ends of the gamut are nowhere near middle ground. "Medical marijuana helped save the economy in California ... The counties north of San Francisco survived the recession through marijuana," said Aldrich, the marijuana historian. He was referring to the Emerald Triangle, which is known for producing and exporting some of the country's highest-grade cannabis On the other side, you have President Barack Obama's drug czar, Gil Kerlikowske, who emphatically denied that marijuana legalization would prove a boon to state coffers. Taxes on alcohol, he told CNN in 2010, amount to $14.5 billion a year, where as the social costs are closer to $185 billion. Ahead of the recent ballot initiatives in Colorado and Washington, the Colorado Center on Law & Policy estimated that legalization would yield $60 million in state and local revenue and savings by 2017, and perhaps double thereafter. And Washington's Office of Financial Management estimated that a "fully functioning" marijuana industry could bring in nearly $2 billion in revenue over the next five years. "Fully functioning." Therein lies the rub. Both the Colorado and Washington estimates came with caveats explaining the obvious: Any revenue projection is contingent on the federal government not enforcing the laws that still render possession of an ounce of marijuana illegal -- even in Colorado and Washington. "There is something attractive about saying you've got this underground market that's not going away, that you're missing a tax opportunity," he said. "The amount of tax revenue you're going to derive from it is going to depend on what your regulatory approach is going to be." Bonnie was part of the commission that futilely recommended marijuana decriminalization to President Richard Nixon in the 1970s, but he is quick to emphasize that states must step gingerly if marijuana is legalized. There were many problems with regulating alcohol post-Prohibition, and there still are today. More than a third of eighth-graders say they've used alcohol, and almost three-quarters of high schoolers have gotten drunk. "You have to have a model that doesn't seem to actively encourage use in ways that are harmful to society and the individual," he said, noting the modern regulation of cigarettes provides an admirable model. Looking into the crystal ball When alcohol Prohibition was lifted in 1933, regulation was left to the states. Oklahoma stayed dry until 1959, Mississippi until 1966. Bonnie said he sees marijuana legalization advocates leaning toward a similar model. But, he warns, "there is a social cost to a regulatory regime that taxes and becomes dependent on the revenue." Overtax it, and you create another dilemma: black markets and the smuggling of marijuana from state to state, a la post-Prohibition. Canada and Sweden learned that lesson with cigarette taxes in the 1990s. All of this is putting the roach before the joint, of course. Marijuana, no matter what Colorado and Washington say, remains illegal at the federal level. Experts are reluctant to forecast when that might change. Aldrich predicts federal legalization by 2017, but he concedes that in 1969 he predicted the federal government would relent by 1979. Judge Kane said he foresees marijuana following a similar path as alcohol. Toward the end of Prohibition, judges wantonly dismissed violations or levied fines so trivial that prosecutors quit filing cases, he said. While he sees marijuana laws that target kingpins, traffickers and those who engage in violence remaining in place, he believes possession laws are endangered, he said. "The law is simply going to die before it's repealed. It will just go into disuse," Kane said. "It's a cultural force, and you simply cannot legislate against a cultural force."

EG.lectR Profile Blog Joined September 2010 United States 590 Posts #1 Official MCSL Website Official D2L Website Note: One D2L team may be replaced due to unforeseen circumstances. A replacement will be decided upon before the league starts Week 1 on Monday. @colindeshong NOOBALOPSE Profile Joined June 2011 Canada 802 Posts #2 YES! ROOT in MCSL Go ExG! watch my stream - twitch.tv/exgnoobalopse ♥! Follow me on twitter@NooBaSC Varrik Profile Joined May 2012 United States 18 Posts #3 Awesome! Can't wait to watch this! I loved the last one too The Gateway To eSports - More Than A Game ExSaint Profile Joined December 2010 Canada 65 Posts #4 SICK PotM Bottom got invited to the Dota 2 league! should be a sick league In an Endless Garden GenoZStriker Profile Blog Joined February 2010 United States 2638 Posts #5 They are a good team and deserved to have been invited eSports Prodigy & Illuminati member. Dommk Profile Joined May 2010 Australia 4463 Posts #6 Nice to see all the NA teams managed to get in KeyHunt Profile Joined August 2010 United States 217 Posts Last Edited: 2012-09-07 22:27:11 #7 Good invites, glad to see the expansion. However, would be really nice to see an element of qualification or at least chance for other teams like Infinity Seven, Mono, etc to get into this. I think after many seasons of stable performances in things like ESEA, at least iS deserves an invite. Go Go Colin..contact them. As a suggestion, take the under performing teams from last season..throw them in with a few others that apply and have an open qualifier. Make everyone happy. T0F4sT Profile Joined September 2011 Netherlands 302 Posts #8 Gogo EG lets see some good games! And thanks Colin! You are a baller. EGdoto #dealwithit Paradise` Profile Joined January 2012 United States 200 Posts #9 Damn Navi is going to dominate the dota part CeriseCherries Profile Blog Joined May 2011 4818 Posts #10 Navi is going to rape Navi is going to rape Navi is going to rape cool to see EG running dota2 and a sc2 league Remember, no matter where you go, there you are. Locke- Profile Joined December 2011 373 Posts #11 Never underestimate PotM Bottom. DevilEnd Profile Joined August 2012 United States 6 Posts #12 Mmm just what I needed, more Dota 2 <3 Windwaker Profile Joined February 2012 Germany 1081 Posts #13 so awesome thank you so much EG The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he, who in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother ROOTSasquatch Profile Blog Joined December 2010 United States 221 Posts #14 Looks really good but I still think there should be an open qualifier for more unknown or amateur teams, or just teams not invited (Infinity Seven) to try and get in. partsasquatch on reddit 00Visor Profile Blog Joined February 2011 4227 Posts #15 yay, RoxKis, too bad they lost sLivko EHOME Profile Joined August 2012 Ukraine 59 Posts #16 eg is so good pb ftw Hall0wed Profile Blog Joined January 2011 United States 8469 Posts #17 Can't wait. Sad I won't get to see SangHo destroy everyone again though. ♦ My Life for BESTie ♦ 류세라 = 배 ♦ teapoted Profile Joined August 2012 United Kingdom 11288 Posts #18 On September 08 2012 07:25 Paradise` wrote: Damn Navi is going to dominate the dota part Na'Vi online is very hot'n'cold. More interested in seeing how good PB is after some time, because in my mind they are yet unproven. They had a good run in online tournaments, but so did Al, so did Quantic, so did Fire(now col). Na'Vi online is very hot'n'cold.More interested in seeing how good PB is after some time, because in my mind they are yet unproven. They had a good run in online tournaments, but so did Al, so did Quantic, so did Fire(now col). Once you Goblak... bokchoi Profile Blog Joined March 2010 Korea (South) 7381 Posts #19 On September 08 2012 07:44 teapoted wrote: Show nested quote + On September 08 2012 07:25 Paradise` wrote: Damn Navi is going to dominate the dota part More interested in seeing how good PB is after some time, because in my mind they are yet unproven. They had a good run in online tournaments, but so did Al, so did Quantic, so did Fire(now col). Na'Vi online is very hot'n'cold.More interested in seeing how good PB is after some time, because in my mind they are yet unproven. They had a good run in online tournaments, but so did Al, so did Quantic, so did Fire(now col). Truth, but if they stay motivated and actually practice they'll rape. Truth, but if they stay motivated and actually practice they'll rape. NOOBALOPSE Profile Joined June 2011 Canada 802 Posts #20 EG is pretty fking awesome...! Go ExG! watch my stream - twitch.tv/exgnoobalopse ♥! Follow me on twitter@NooBaSC 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next All

Two years ago, the Los Angeles Kings claimed the first William M. Jennings Trophy in club history on the back of a team-wide performance that yielded only 168 non-shootout goals. That trophy was about the farthest thing from the team’s mind when Jonathan Quick was felled by a Grade 2 groin strain on November 12, 2013, opening the door for back-up goalie Ben Scrivens, and, ultimately, Martin Jones to carry the torch until Quick was ready and able to return on January 4. “You could say too, that if it wasn’t for their play, we wouldn’t have gotten in the playoffs that year,” Quick said Friday at the team’s El Segundo practice facility. “Never mind the Jennings Trophy, we don’t win the other one, either, if they didn’t play as well as they did, so it’s kind of funny how it works out.” That “other” trophy was the Stanley Cup, which in recent years has been awarded to teams that finished second (Chicago, 2015), first (Los Angeles, 2014), first (Chicago, 2013), second (Los Angeles, 2012) and second (Boston, 2011) in the league in goals against. “Yeah, we’re there every year,” Darryl Sutter said, and he’s right. The 1,034 goals allowed by the Kings since 2010-11 is the lowest total in the league, and Terry Murray, who coached one and a half years in that span, deserves his own recognition for his influence on the team’s structured and generally airtight play. “It’s one of our goals, to be in the top-five [for goals-against], all the time.” It’s also a regular occurrence that his team’s performance is attached to the defensive-minded award. Four different Sutter-coached teams have claimed the Jennings: Chicago in 1993 and 1995, Calgary in 2006 and Los Angeles in 2014. “It’s to me, the major team award,” he said. “I know there’s been lots of talk about individuals obviously when your team does well and the star factor, but to me the most important awards that just players go on are Jennings, Conn Smythe.” Quick has won both, and he’s in the running to claim the Jennings for a second time. Awarded to any goaltender who plays at least 25 games for the team that allows the fewest goals in the league, Quick, Braden Holtby, and the Anaheim tandem of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson are all in the running. Los Angeles has allowed 191 goals in 81 games, Anaheim has allowed 189 in 80, and Washington has allowed 190 in 80. The Ducks and Capitals, both of which have two games remaining, face each other in Washington on Sunday. “It started with coaches making us take pride in it, and it’s something that we realize we win more games when we play really well defensively and give up fewer chances and goals,” Quick said. “I think the past five, six years, the Cup winners, they’ve been in the mix They’ve been top three, four, five every year. I think it’s something where you get to this time of year and are playing hockey in the spring, you have to be able to win low-scoring games, and if you’ve grown accustomed to that over the year, it helps a bit.” That was clearly an influence in the Kings’ tightly checked, 2-1 win over the Ducks on Thursday night in which Quick stopped 19-of-20 shots and Trevor Lewis surrendered his body to make a crucial late-game block on a Jamie McGinn quality opportunity off an Anaheim faceoff win. “I think something we’ve been trying to focus on is blocking shots and penalty kill and things like that,” Quick said. “The guys have done a great job with that all season long, and for the past few seasons we’ve been doing that really well for a while. It’s something we’ve kind of grown to expect from each other, and it’s certainly one of the staples in our game when we’re playing well.” The Jennings isn’t the only achievement up for grabs this weekend. Holtby is vying to tie Martin Brodeur’s NHL record of 48 wins. He’ll likely get in one of two Washington games on the weekend. “Obviously if he’s in net Sunday night [against Anaheim], we’re for sure pulling for him,” Quick said. “But just to be in that mix, what he’s already accomplsiehd is absolutely incredible.” Quick’s 40 wins – a career and franchise-best established on Thursday – rank second in the league, behind Holtby. “I mean, going in, that’s one of the things you want. You want to win 56 – you want 40 and 16,” he said. “But when you have a good team in front of you it helps you out.”

Apple has been awarded a patent for the wedge design of the MacBook Air. The definition of the design is broad enough to cover many ultrabooks, extending Apple's apparent ownership of black rectangles to thin, vaguely katana-like triangles. The design is defined by the solid lines in the patent drawings—the dotted lines are what Apple deems irrelevant to the overall patented design. So really, any laptop that is wedged could fall into this category. Even machines like the new Lenovo X1 Carbon, or the Dell XPS 13, both of which are substantially different from the MacBook Air, but are shaped kinda the same sort of a little. Ugh. Advertisement Here's the thing, though. If we take Tim Cook at his word—which, let's do that for the sake of argument—he doesn't want to bludgeon everyone on patents. But given the landscape, it's obliterate or be obliterated. It's Larry Holmes beating up Muhammad Ali, begging the ref to call the fight. Or, you know, take the fight out back and blow it up with a nuclear warhead. [Verge]

UofL should reinstate, and play freshman Brian Bowen. First, it must be said that the NCAA has no credibility as an organization. Its history of hypocritical actions — against its own stated mission, “… to be an integral part of higher education and to focus on the development of our student-athletes,” — demonstrates it is an organization of power, control and profit… not of people, and certainly not students or athletes. Its recent decision to not punish the University of North Carolina, after decades of blatant, egregious academic fraud, is just the latest illustration that it is little more than owners profiting off of free labor. Now, as it applies to suspended UofL recruit Brian Bowen… So, in the FBI’s investigation into shoe companies funneling money to recruits, Bowen was discovered to be one player who possibly received money — what the NCAA deems as an “impermissible benefit” — from executives affiliated with Adidas. Bowen was never identified by name in the FBI’s complaint. Rather, he was identified as “Player-10” committing to “University-6.” The report said $100,000 was scheduled to go to Bowen’s family in four payments. Bowen has not been found guilty of a crime, or even accused of committing a crime, but UofL suspended him because of possible NCAA violations? UofL should play Bowen. The school has a chance to set a new tone: Will it be a university that prioritizes its students and its athletes? Others may have made mistakes, and violated rules, but this is an opportunity to do the right thing by a young man who committed to the university. What if Bowen didn’t know any of this was going on? That his father was negotiating a deal without him knowing? It is entirely possible that Bowen had no idea that others were negotiating, and determining where he would sign — in which case, UofL suspending him makes him a victim for the second time. Advertisement It’s also entirely possible that Bowen did participate in breaking the rules. In this case, he is the latest of countless athletes who have broken the NCAA’s rules — he just got caught. If this is the case, regardless of how you feel about college athletes being paid, it should be universally recognized that Bowen and countless others have been preyed upon. Whether it’s Adidas or Nike, UofL or UNC, coaches or managers, agents or executives… that is the system: Those with money and power prey upon young men in their quest to acquire more money and power. This is why the NCAA is so sensitive to this issue — why they have “no tolerance whatsoever for this alleged behavior” — because, when deals start getting made behind its back, it’s their money and power in jeopardy. Why let others profit off of their free labor? And even if Bowen willingly participated in breaking the rules, UofL was still culpable in helping Bowen break those rules. So as I see it, either way, Bowen has been a pawn in a much larger game of chess. If the NCAA wants to investigate Bowen and rule him ineligible… fine. But UofL made a deal with a young man and it should honor the agreement. And if he is ineligible, it was in no small part UofL’s fault: UofL was Bowen’s accomplice. Suspending him is only acknowledging that you want to play by the rules once you’ve been caught. For UofL to cut Bowen loose in hopes of saving its own ass is just wrong. Ultimately the issue is, solely, about the corrupt, NCAA monopoly. The next question for UofL is: Why are you sacrificing another young man — who hasn’t been proven guilty of anything — to appease the NCAA overlords? Given everything that has transpired at UofL, I think it’s wise to side with Bowen, and every other student or athlete it can. In the pendulum of serving the wealthy and powerful, versus young men and women, it would be wise to start swinging back in the latter direction. Bowen may be the most guilty college athlete ever to be recruited. But we don’t know that yet. He could also be a victim, many times over. What we do know is that UofL, at this moment, has an opportunity to choose which side its on. This is an opportunity for UofL to start focusing on the athletes who come to play and learn at their school, instead of appeasing the corrupt plantation owners — known as the NCAA — who we know are guilty.

NetHack The first roguelike I played was NetHack, one of the oldest and best of its breed. I played NetHack 3.1 in the fall of 1991, back when horses didn’t exist and”elf” was still a class. For the uninitiated, NetHack looks like this: This is an ASCII representation of a dungeon. The @ sign is me, the + signs are closed doors, the o is a goblin, the f is my kitten, the brown parenthesis is a weapon of some kind – a crossbow, but I only know because I checked it earlier. The only way to recognize things in-game (apart from walking up to them and seeing what happens) is to hit the slash key, which will allow you to move your cursor over things to find out what they are. You can also type in random symbols to find out what they are in advance, and get a quick definition. This was amazing. I typed in every single letter of the alphabet, lower-case and capitalized, to discover umber hulks and leprechauns and quantum mechanics long before they showed up in my game. But the NetHack manual and the in-game documentation won’t give you all the information you need. As a starting player, you don’t know about the dangers of drinking from fountains, the real purpose of candles, or why a purple h should terrify you. And you die a lot. This is expected behavior. You die a lot at first because you have no idea what you’re doing, and you die later because you do and yet it’s not enough. No matter how good you are, the goblin around the corner could still have a wand of death, and if it does, you’re probably toast. NetHack is a ridiculously complicated game. You can learn its complications the hard way, or you can spend a lot of time with spoiler files. And no matter what bizarre thing you try (using a stethoscope on a statue; casting stone-to-flesh on a rock; enchanting a worm tooth), the dev team has gotten there first with a customized message and effect, because The Dev Team Thinks Of Everything. NetHack is about surprise. Many of those surprises are deadly. But you’re definitely surprised. Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup I tried Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup for the first time last week. Here’s a screenshot of a reasonably advanced game. (There’s an ASCII interface available, but I use tiles for most things that aren’t NetHack.) Like NetHack, DCSS conforms fairly well to the Berlin Interpretation of “what is a roguelike”: random environment generation grid-based dungeon environment exploration, discovery, identification resource management turn-based movement permadeath (among others) In both games, you wander around collecting potions, scrolls, and wands. You fight monsters. You worship gods. You gain levels. You upgrade your gear. You get better at casting spells and swinging weapons. But DCSS is an extraordinarily different experience from NetHack. Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup is about strategy. What’s the difference? In NetHack, there’s a high chance of dying messily in the first few levels, especially if you’re not very familiar with the game. DCSS operates the same way. But in NetHack, your chance of unfair death remains constant throughout the game. You can drop a bridge on your head, or irritate your god into smiting you, or choke to death on meatballs, or stone yourself by sacrificing a cockatrice barehanded. Many of these can be avoided – but you have to know they’re there to avoid them. This is not the case in DCSS, where your control over the game and the character increases as you move deeper into the dungeon. With rare exceptions (initial item scrambling, for example), DCSS routinely provides all necessary information for the player to make a meaningful decision. To illustrate: Eating corpses (with consequences) in Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup In DCSS, you can carve up dead beasts for “a chunk of flesh”, and eating these chunks of flesh is a standard way to gain nutrition. But if you kill and carve up a sky beast in DCSS, you will then have “a chunk of mutagenic flesh”. If you know that mutations exist in DCSS (which you almost certainly do, by the time you meet a sky beast), then you can reasonably deduce that eating a mutagenic chunk of flesh will give you a mutation. DCSS goes out of its way to give you helpful information. Eating corpses (with consequences) in NetHack NetHack doesn’t have mutations per se, but the effects of eating corpses vary widely. The closest NetHack gets to warning you about this is with the relatively cryptic message, “You are what you eat”, which occasionally shows up in fortune cookies*. This is a decent guideline for winter wolves (which grant cold resistance), but not for floating eyes (which grant telepathy). NetHack: When you eat something and get an unusual effect, it’s an exciting surprise (possibly not in a good way). DCSS: If you eat something and get an unusual effect, you knew exactly what you were getting into and brought it on yourself. Neither of these is wrong – but they are different, and they will appeal to different kinds of players. The things that Ryan Baudoin loves about NetHack are the exact things that John Brownlee complains about (it’s a general roguelike article, but scroll down to the DCSS section.) Personally, I prefer NetHack to Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup. Admittedly, DCSS has had less time to earn my love – but NetHack is perhaps my favorite game ever. Even now, it can still present me with surprising new situations, and I doubt I’ll ever feel as if I’ve encountered (let alone mastered!) everything in the game. Design goals The DCSS team explained their design philosophy in detail. They knew exactly what they wanted – Major design goals challenging and random gameplay, with skill making a real difference meaningful decisions (no no-brainers) avoidance of grinding (no scumming) gameplay supporting painless interface and newbie support Minor design goals clarity (playability without need for spoilers) internal consistency replayability (using branches, species, playing styles and gods) proper use of out of depth monsters Everything in DCSS is shaped with these design goals in mind. Many games iterate on new features in new versions, but the DCSS team routinely removes old features that didn’t prove out, thus ensuring that the game remains coherent to their vision. By having this kind of focus, the team ensures that DCSS will remain appealing to its core audience. The NetHack dev team is notoriously closemouthed**, and they’ve never released a public design document***, but it’s clear that NetHack’s high-surprise/high-risk experience is deliberate. (If not, they’ve made bad design decisions for 28 years or so, which seems pretty unlikely.) NetHack and DCSS are both exceptional, but smashing the two together wouldn’t create a better game. Each game is tuned to a different set of design goals, and those goals contradict one another. That’s why it’s worth knowing your design goals from the outset. When you’re making a game, it can be tempting to pile every feature you’ve ever heard of into the design plan. But you don’t need every feature, and no one game can support them all. It’s better to plan for a specific experience and get it right. * The chances of getting it are worse than 1 in 700. And to top everything off, fortune cookies often contain false rumors, or dangerously misleading one. Consider “Eat 10 cloves of garlic and keep all humans at a two-square distance.” There is a use for eating garlic, but this isn’t it.↩ ** “Notoriously closemouthed” = “People keep thinking they’ve dropped off the planet”. It’s always a surprise to discover they’re still around and actively working on the next version.↩ ***Alex Smith wrote a design philosophy document for NetHack4 [http://nethack4.org/philosophy.html], which is fairly insightful, but he’s not part of the dev team. Despite the title, NetHack4 is a fan-made offshoot, comparable to SLASH’EM.↩ Thank you to everyone supporting Sibyl Moon through Patreon! If this post was interesting or thought-provoking, please consider becoming a patron.

Just the name Babes Vs. Robots got my attention. I mean, this is the kind of epic battle mankind has been waiting to witness. It had to happen eventually, and it happened on the iPhone. Babes Vs. Robots begins with a pretty funny opening video (see below). The video explains that robots have invaded the earth. So I guess the robots are also aliens? I don’t know – who really cares though. For whatever reason, mankind’s only hope is the babes. The babes have all been captured, except one has escaped. You play as Red Roxy, in a mission to free the babes and save the world. The game itself seems Angry Birds inspired. It’s actually a shame that the best way to describe the gameplay is comparing it to Angry Birds. After all, no one refers to first person shooters as “Doom-like” even though Doom did it first. The game is definitely able to stand on its own. At no point does it feel like a rip off of Angry Birds. It does have the same basic idea behind it, you destroy enemies on platforms and can take out structures. Red Roxy is too badass to use a slingshot though; she loads her ammo into a giant bazooka. As Roxy, your goal is to take out the robots on the platforms. The robots vary in size. The larger robots will actually come after you. They move very slowly though, and are usually no trouble to take out. It makes you wonder how the babes got captured in the first place. You get a variety of weapons throughout the game that you can use in any order you please. The weapons range from the very useful (like the bomb that sticks to the surface it hits) to the almost pointless (I’m looking at you, canon ball). One thing that I wasn’t expecting is that some surfaces can’t be taken out, even if you destroy the pillars that appear to hold it up. Even though from a physics standpoint this makes no sense, it does add an extra element to the game. You need to worry less about taking out the structure, and more about taking out the robot. To win the game (and save the babes) you’ll need a combination of skill, patience, and (at times) luck. A number of levels need be replayed multiple times to see what works and what does not. This trial and error is part of what makes the game fun though. The only thing that didn’t thrill me about the game is that it is short. The game is only 21 levels long, with two additional theme packs (each offering 21 more levels) available for $.99 each. While 21 levels for $.99 isn’t that bad of a deal, I felt like the levels just varied in difficulty and then ended abruptly. It didn’t culminate in one really difficult last level, or anything like that. I also wasn’t a fan of the app description, which says there are 63 levels. Unless my understanding is wrong, only 21 of those levels come with the game and the rest need to be purchased via the theme packs. Babes Vs. Robots is available for $.99 via the App Store. Even though I would have ideally wanted more levels, $.99 is a good price for a game that will keep you entertained and challenged for a couple hours. Plus it has babes and robots in it – don’t know if I mentioned that. Final Rating: 7.5/10 CBR Break Down: Console Played On: iPhone 4 Approximate Time to Completion: 1-2 hours Price Bought at: N/A Review copy provided by Pyntail Recommend Purchase Price: $.99 is as low as it gets… unless you win it (keep reading) Pyntail has agreed to provide one lucky winner with a free copy of Babes Vs. Robots. Here’s how you can enter to win: First entry: In Babes Vs. Robots you play as Red Roxy. While video game characters are typically male, there are many notable females. Comment on this post and tell us what your favorite female video game character is. She doesn’t necessarily have to be a babe or the main star of the game, either. Second entry: Follow us on twitter and send the following tweet: Another Contest? Yup! @ClearanceBinRev is giving away @babesvsrobots for #iPhone http://wp.me/p1oOv5-1p9 Remember that you have to follow us; any winner we attempt to DM via Twitter who isn’t, automatically forfeits their win. If you enter via Twitter include your twitter name in your post below, winners who have their twitter listed will receive their codes immediately after winning. Third Entry: Like our Facebook page and then simply like the post on our wall for this article. Simple as that. (Keep in mind the article may be lower on the Facebook page towards the end of the contest and it may take a minute or two to post on FB) If you like the Facebook article please include your twitter name or name used to post a comment here. Contest will go until Thursday at 8pm CST. A pool of all eligible entries will then be randomly selected from and the winners will be notified. CBR reserves the right to disqualify any entry we feel either violated the rules or spirit of the contest, including attempts at duplicate entries. Winner selected with no twitter name provided will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond. We do not announce winner names publicly

The White House wants to get a tax bill passed, and on Thursday—just hours before Senate Republicans unveiled the outline of their tax proposal—Gary Cohn, Donald Trump’s top economic adviser, told CNBC’s John Harwood that the President had laid down “two really important principles” to guide the lawmakers and officials putting the legislation together. “Number one is we have to deliver middle-class tax cuts to the hardworking families in this country,” Cohn said. “Number two, our corporate tax system just is not competitive with the rest of the world. We have to create a corporate tax rate, and along with that a pass-through tax rate, that makes us competitive with the rest of the world so we can attract businesses back to the United States.” Yet since last week, when Paul Ryan and the House Republicans released their tax plan, it’s been clear that Trump’s two principles have run into conflict with each other. Or, rather, these principles have run into the laws of arithmetic, and the fact that there isn’t enough money in the Republicans’ own budget, even using the fuzzy fiscal math the Party favors, to provide big giveaways for all businesses and all households. Something had to give, and between businesses and households, House Republicans went with the businesses. From what we’ve seen of the Senate bill, so far, it does the same. The proposal follows the basic framework of the Ryan plan: slashing the corporate tax rate from thirty-five per cent to twenty per cent and giving a big tax cut to Donald Trump and other owners of unincorporated businesses. One of the concessions that Republican senators are making to concerns that Democrats and deficit hawks have raised is a one-year delay before implementing the corporate tax cut. Given how big the cut is, corporations will be willing to wait. We don’t yet have any independent analyses of how the Senate proposal would affect different income groups, but in this aspect, too, it is likely to track with the Ryan bill. According to a new analysis by the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, the Ryan bill would give taxpayers in the middle twenty per cent of the income distribution in 2018 a tax cut of eight hundred and forty dollars, or $16.15 a week, on average. Compared to the $37,440 break that taxpayers in the top one per cent would receive, that’s not very much. But at least it’s something. This snapshot of the bill’s effect on the “hardworking families” that Cohn referred to in his CNBC interview, however, is misleading. Over time, the modest tax breaks these people would initially receive would erode—and ten years from now many of them would be paying more money, not less, to the federal government. By 2027, according to other figures contained in the Tax Policy Center’s study, families with children that earn between fifty and seventy-five thousand dollars annually would be subjected to a tax increase of two hundred and thirty dollars a year, or $4.42 a week, on average. Families with children that earn between forty and fifty thousand dollars would face a slightly larger tax increase, of two hundred and forty dollars, or $4.62 a week. The Times’s David Leonhardt, who also written about some of these figures, suggested a new name for the G.O.P. bill: “Paul Ryan’s 2017 Tax Increase on Middle-Class Families.” Clearly, Ryan or Trump wouldn’t embrace that moniker. But how did they end up with such a proposal, given the principles they claim to have started out with? In answering that question, it is necessary to take account of arithmetic, the Senate’s procedural rules, and the G.O.P.’s desire to pay back its wealthy corporate and individual donors. To pass a tax bill with just fifty-one votes in the Senate—rather than sixty—the Republicans must keep the over-all cost of their proposal to $1.5 trillion over ten years. Even when allowing for a one-year delay in implementing the corporate tax cut, the business provisions of the G.O.P.’s plans swallow the lion’s share of that sum. According to an analysis of the Senate Republicans’ plan that the Joint Committee on Taxation released on Thursday, cutting the corporate tax rate to twenty per cent starting in 2019 would cost $1.33 trillion by 2027. The Senate’s version of the tax cut for unincorporated businesses, which is somewhat different from the one in the House plan, would cost about $285 billion. If you combine these two items alone, you get to $1.62 trillion—which is already over the $1.5 trillion limit. To be sure, both the House and the Senate bills include some offsetting revenue raisers on the corporate side, mostly by limiting various types of deductions. But even after accounting for these offsets, the cost of the business tax cuts comes to more than a trillion dollars. That greatly limits the scope for universal tax cuts on the personal side, and so does the G.O.P.’s determination to abolish the Alternative Minimum Tax, which is designed to insure that wealthy people with clever accountants, such as Trump, pay at least some federal taxes. Over ten years, getting rid of the A.M.T. adds another seven hundred billion dollars to the tab. The business tax cuts and A.M.T. abolition don’t leave any room for ordinary American households to receive substantial tax cuts. Both Republican bills do expand family tax credits and reduce the marginal tax rates that most households would face; but they also claw back a lot of revenue in other ways, some of which are targeted at families. For example, the two bills would replace individual tax exemptions with a standard household exemption of twenty-four thousand dollars a year. For small families, this change could be advantageous, but it would hurt families who have a lot of children (and a lot of exemptions). And the expanded tax credits expire in 2022, which makes them far less valuable. Meanwhile, a new way of calculating inflation would gradually push taxpayers of all kinds into higher tax brackets. The upshot of all this is that the Republican tax proposals, which Trump has promoted by promising the biggest tax cuts in history, isn’t much of a tax cut at all in the sense that most Americans understand the term. It’s really designed to reduce the tax burden on businesses and wealthy individuals, and it could only be justified if, defying history, it delivered the economy-wide upsurge in G.D.P. growth, capital investment, and wages that the White House has promised, and which Cohn talked about in his interview. The supposed middle-class tax cuts are a fig leaf. And when you lift up the leaf, the truly regressive and deceitful nature of the bill is revealed. Unless the Republicans shift course entirely, nothing can change that.

Kicking cigarette butts out of California is aim of bill Conservationists estimate 3 billion cigarette butts are littered in the Bay Area every year, costing millions to clean up. Conservationists estimate 3 billion cigarette butts are littered in the Bay Area every year, costing millions to clean up. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Kicking cigarette butts out of California is aim of bill 1 / 3 Back to Gallery Walk along any beach or through any park and chances are they'll be there by the dozens: the tan, discarded remains of a cigarette. Cigarettes aren't healthy for people. But when the butts, also known as filters, are thrown on the ground, they too are harmful - to humans, wildlife and the environment. Studies show that their non-biodegradable nature and toxic chemical makeup can contaminate waterways, poison fish and birds, and be a health danger to children who try to eat them. A California legislator is trying to put an end to the pollution with a law that, if passed, could change the way cigarettes have tasted and looked for six decades. Under the proposed regulation, introduced this month by Assemblyman Mark Stone, D-Monterey Bay, the state would ban all cigarettes with filters designed to be discarded after a single use. A person or store caught selling or giving them away would be fined $500 per violation. California has laws to punish litterers, but one of them is especially tough on those who toss cigarettes out their car windows. Convicted first-time offenders can be ordered to pay about $500 and complete eight hours of community service. But Stone said enforcement is lacking, as evidenced by all the filters that still pervade sidewalks and streets. "There's been a huge effort to try and stop that littering to no avail, absolutely no avail," Stone said. Cigarette butts are an expensive problem for cities and counties, Stone said. San Francisco alone estimates that it spends $6 million a year cleaning them up. Every year, conservationists estimate, 3 billion cigarette butts are littered in the Bay Area. They make up about 40 percent of all litter collected during annual Coastal Clean-up Days in California, and worldwide, they account for 845,000 tons of litter per year. Stone's law wouldn't outlaw cigarettes per se. But if his proposal becomes law, cigarettes would have to be sold in California without filters, leaving smokers the option of buying reusable filters. "The filter's not really a necessary piece to the cigarette at all," Stone said. Filters introduced But nearly all cigarettes have been made with filters since the 1950s, when scientists started finding evidence that smokers tended to develop lung cancer and other serious diseases. Filters were thought to lower the tar and nicotine content of cigarette smoke, making them a healthier addition to the smoking experience. It hasn't quite worked out that way. Smokers tend to compensate for the diluted smoke by puffing deeper and more frequently. Therefore they tend to breathe in virtually the same amount of tar and nicotine as those who smoke non-filtered cigarettes, research shows. A study, published last January in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggested that filters and other design changes in cigarettes haven't reduced lung cancer, but rather changed the types of lung cancers that have become more common since the 1970s. For example, cancers in the lungs' central airways of male smokers have decreased, the researchers said, but cancers in the outer areas of the lungs have increased. "That to me indicates that, for the overall impact on lung cancer, filters haven't done anybody any good," said Dr. Thomas Novotny, a professor of public health at San Diego State University and founder of the Cigarette Butt Pollution Project, a coalition of health and environmental advocates. Danger to children Cigarette butts by themselves can present a danger to children who spend a lot of time on the ground and are apt to put discarded cigarettes in their mouths, Novotny and a team of researchers discovered in a 2011 study. From 2006 to 2008, the American Association of Poison Control Centers reported nearly 14,000 medical problems caused by tobacco products among children, and 90 percent were due to the ingestion of cigarettes or cigarette butts. The vast majority of cases were non-toxic, however, and the children were not hospitalized. In another study, Novotny and his colleagues discovered that chemicals from just one cigarette filter were capable of killing fish living, for their study's sake, in a 1-liter bucket of water. In buckets containing saltwater fish, the scientists submerged low concentrations of three types of butts - smoked filtered cigarettes with and without tobacco, as well as clean un-smoked filtered cigarettes - in buckets for 24 hours. They also did the experiment using freshwater fish. In all cases, about half the fish were killed. Cigarettes contain at least 4,000 chemicals, including 50 carcinogens, and the butts have been shown to leach out heavy metals and nicotine in water. In addition, nearly all filters are made of cellulose acetate, a non-biodegradable plastic that ensures they stick around a long time. "It's just a lot of chemicals that do not belong in our waterways and do not belong in the bay," said Allison Chan, a manager for the environmental group Save the Bay. The organization supports Stone's legislation and is also trying to persuade cities to restrict outdoor smoking. So far, El Cerrito and Foster City are considering such policies, Chan said. Philip Morris' view Not everyone is a fan of Stone's legislation. Philip Morris USA, the nation's leading cigarette manufacturer, said the proposal is at odds with a 2009 federal law that gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the sole authority to set standards for the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of tobacco products. "Simply put, by banning filters, the bill is attempting to change a significant component of a tobacco product that Congress has determined only the FDA has the authority to regulate," said David Sutton, a spokesman for the company. But Stone said his legislation is valid because, regardless of the federal law limiting state and local authority, states can restrict the sale of certain tobacco products. They have the authority, for example, to outlaw smokeless tobacco or cigarettes altogether, according to an analysis by the Tobacco Control Legal Consortium. Sutton said Philip Morris has worked to curb littering by funding cigarette litter prevention programs with the nonprofit Keep America Beautiful. Started in 2002, more than 1,200 communities now have the program, which includes conducting education campaigns and installing ash receptacles. According to measurements taken by Keep America Beautiful, more than 100 communities that started programs in 2011 achieved an average reduction of cigarette butt litter of 48 percent that year. Jim Zeidan doesn't think Stone's proposal will go over well with smokers. He's the manager of the California Tobacco Center, a retail store that sells everything from cigars to e-cigarettes in San Francisco's Nob Hill neighborhood. He himself is a smoker. Without a filter, cigarettes taste heavy and harsh, he said. "If it's going to be non-filtered, I don't know if I could smoke," he said. At the same time, Zeidan is reminded that cigarette litter is a problem every morning, when he sweeps filters out of the doorway of his store. He admitted, "It's tough either way."

American singer, actress and author Miley Cyrus from the hit Disney show Hannah Montana has come out publicly with her support for same-sex marriage. In response to the current fiasco over Miss USA contestant Miss California who publicly stated her opposition to equal marriage, gossip columnist Perez Hilton asked Cyrus for her thoughts. The pop star went on to say that: "Everyone deserves to love and be loved and most importantly smile...God's greatest commandment is to love. And judging is not loving. That's why Christians have such a bad rep" (KBS Radio). It is so critical for celebrities who hold a lot of media attention and influence over the public to speak out, particularly Miley Cyrus who speaks to millions of youth nationwide. Please thank Miley Cyrus by contacting her through her Myspace page.

This article is about the real world. Christopher Sabat Debuts Characteristics Race Human Gender Male Height 5'8 Birth Date April 22, 1973 Professional Status Occupation Voice Actor Allegiance Funimation Personal Status Christopher Robin Sabat (born in Washington, D.C.) is a voice actor, most notable for his work in the anime series Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Dragon Ball Super and the various movies and specials associated with the Dragon Ball franchise. Contents show] Biography Sabat lived briefly in Australia and is a 1992 graduate of Clear Creek High School near Houston, Texas. As well as doing voice work, he also acts as a director, voice director, producer or editor in many productions. In 2004, he founded an audio production company called OkraTron 5000 in Richardson, Texas, which specializes in interactive voiceover, music and sound design. Sabat is usually cast in roles which involves him playing a very strong man or very gruff, tough, grouchy characters. He provides the voice work for such notable characters as Vegeta, Piccolo, Yamcha, Zarbon, Recoome, Jeice, Burter, Salza, Shenron, as well as many others. Filmography Notable Staff Credits Notable voice roles (anime) Notable voice roles (games) Trivia

Hans Noel flunks this test and says no: I don’t think Clinton should be given a “tenured professorship.”+ Not because of his lack of a Ph.D. per se, but because, smart as he is, Clinton is not a scholar. He doesn’t do research. He is not in the business of contributing to the store of human knowledge. If Clinton is given a job as a tenured professor, what would he do? A “tenured professorship” is not a plum given to reward success. It’s an actual job. The job of a professor is not the same as “being smart.” Academics write those pesky obscure papers that Kristof finds impenetrable and irrelevant because that’s how we learn things. The demands for publication may have perversities, but it is what drives people to do research. I would offer a tenured professorship to any ex-President who is willing to spend real time with students and academic programs. That would be in a public policy school, a public administration department, a university-wide appointment, or even a political science department. A class actually taught by Clinton, even half of the time with another professor doing most of the actual work, would be fascinating. And if you don’t like Clinton, or don’t think he is smart (not my view at all), consider this a student’s chance to see the (ex) emperor with no clothes, which is itself a learning experience. I know people who have had Obama as professor — before he was President of course — and loved him, and not for partisan reasons. Have I mentioned that universities tenure plenty of people who don’t do research? Check out your music department, for a start, or Fine Arts. Or (very likely but not always) your business school. I recently read Noel’s book on political polarization and enjoyed it, especially his discussion of how intellectual elites have led the process of polarization. Still, I would trade in having read that book for a five minute chat with Bill Clinton. Addendum: I also would offer a tenured professorship to any ex-President who is not willing to spend real time with students and academic programs. The job offer would more than pay for itself, given the money it would bring into the university, directly and indirectly. Most universities support athletics programs, and pay the successful coaches millions more than any other state employee earns — can they not find room for a former Commander in Chief or two?

DeepBrain Chain Will Be Listed On KuCoin: Trading Starts On December 28 This post is also available in: 简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified)) KuCoin is extremely proud to announce yet another great project coming to our trading platform. On December 28, 2017 DeepBrain Chain (DBC) token will join our list of tradable tokens. KuCoin traders will have access to DBC/NEO and DBC/ETH trading pairs upon listing. Users can start trading DBC on KuCoin December 28, 2017 at 21:00 (UTC +8). DeepBrain Chain Listing Promotion: All users will have access to the following listing promotion, there’s over 200,000 USD in giveaways available: https://www.kucoin.com/#/DBC About DeepBrain Chain: DeepBrain Chain is introducing the world’s first computing program for Artificial Intelligence (AI) driven by blockchain technology. The DeepBrain Chain Coin (DBC) is a tradable token that will provide a low-cost, private, flexible, secure, and decentralized AI computing platform for AI products. DeepBrain Chain creates a decentralized neural network made up of innumerable mining nodes across the globe. These nodes will supply computational power for AI use in countless applications. Mining nodes are compensated by receiving DBC. It is a secure trading platform that will allow the safe exchange of data between owners and users while protecting their rights. DeepBrain Chain provides low-cost computing power while eliminating idle time across enterprises while protecting users with smart contracts ensuring data is safe. Computing power is kept flexible and idle time is minimized. Since there are so many nodes even if some are attacked the remaining nodes will still work and data leakage is forbidden. The top scientists at DeepBrain Chain have been recognized for their excellence in the community with numerous awards the most recent one being SMP2017 at the Chinese man machine dialogue evaluation. Find out more about the projects: https://www.deepbrainchain.org/pc/indexEnglish.html Join DeepBrain’s Telegram community here: https://t.me/deepbrainchain

If you have a lot of money laying around and don't know what to do with it, why not spend $1.495 million to own your own lighthouse and island in the upper peninsula. Related: PHOTO GALLERY: Own your own lighthouse, island in northern Michigan Kidd and Leavy Real Estate posted a listing on the lighthouse and island in the St. Mary's River, which is found in the southeast upper peninsula near Goetzville. According to the listing , the 2,000-square-foot house has three bedrooms, two full bathrooms and even features a helipad. "The logistics of owning your own island have been taken care of," the listing reads . "The caretaker will come with the island ,and there is room for a helipad for more transportation options." In case you wanted to build, there is room for guest homes, and the home has been featured on the discovery channel, according to the Kidd and Leavy. If you would like to learn more about the home, email Pat Leavy at PatLeavy@KiddLeavy.com or visit KiddLeavy.com .

President Donald Trump often uses Twitter to rail against the media. | AP Photo Trump slams 'fake news' for treating son unfairly and 'distorting democracy' President Donald Trump on Sunday morning tweeted that “fake news” is treating his son unfairly for meeting with a Russian lawyer, adding that the media are “distorting democracy” in America. “HillaryClinton can illegally get the questions to the Debate & delete 33,000 emails but my son Don is being scorned by the Fake News Media?” the president said in a series of posts. “With all of its phony unnamed sources & highly slanted & even fraudulent reporting, #Fake News is DISTORTING DEMOCRACY in our country!” Story Continued Below Also on Twitter, the president thanked former adviser Michael Caputo for defending the administration against accusations of colluding with Russia. In the same vein, he thanked attendees of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament “who far out-numbered the protesters.” Trump attended the tournament on his golf course at Bedminster in New Jersey, on Friday. The event continues through Sunday. Trump often uses Twitter to rail against the media. The president in particular has criticized the media for what he calls unfair and biased coverage. His son Donald Trump Jr. has come under intense scrutiny since The New York Times last weekend published a story detailing his meeting, along with then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort and adviser Jared Kushner, with a Russian lawyer.

Ron Paul On Radio Free Dylan - July 13, 2011 Listen on your mobile device This is a longer interview than I normally post, but it's worth setting aside the time. The complete transcript is available inside. --- “I want the government to live up to their promises.” It’s a short statement, and a simple one — but coming from Congressman and Presidential hopeful Rep. Ron Paul, it’s a definition of a movement. The doctor from Texas attracts a tremendous, highly engaged and often passionate following, but there are many who find that they have a hard time figuring out where he fits into the current “status quo” political debate. A debate which so often rewards those who can spit out soundbites versus those who want to engage and wrestle with the fundamental questions regarding the direction of our country. This is especially true with the mainstream media, which has a difficult time covering much beyond the “horse race” elements of politics. How often do we hear discussions about freedom and personal liberty and the role of government and governance in our daily lives? Whether or not currency manipulation and financial interventionism are dragging down our economy? Whether regulation is ever appropriate in a free society, and if so, who decides who does the regulating? These are all serious questions that Rep. Paul has attempted to shine a light on. The debate, he says, is critical. “We lose our liberties and we lose our prosperity and all of a sudden, we’ve become a debtor nation and we’re indebted to a country that we had ridiculed for years and a bunch of communists in China. What are they doing? They’re working hard, saving their money; they’re buying up natural resources in Afghanistan. At the same time, we get poorer and we are in these endless wars, and it’s all due I think to a flawed philosophy of government and the importance of individual freedom,” says Rep. Paul. “Individuals can’t use force against their neighbor in order to mold their behavior. The government shouldn’t be able to use force either, and the same way in economics. So it’s this rejection of the use of force and just protecting individual rights, which are so important. Politically, you can’t sell that; that’s theoretical. The only way it is sold is when it is known to the general population that it’s in their best interest to argue the case for a free society than to argue the case for big government,” says Rep. Paul. He doesn’t think that anyone in government will start a real debate about structural problems in our economy, but is satisfied that we have begun to make some progress. “I wouldn’t wait for the politicians to really initiate it; they’re going to always be putting their finger up to the wind. And see – we have to change the direction of the wind. And I think we’re making a little bit of progress, you know, from my viewpoint, whether it’s economics or foreign policy or monetary policy. I feel like maybe they’re paying a little bit of attention,” says Rep. Paul. The job isn’t done, though. “We have drifted because we had so much prosperity, but we can’t drift forever. We can’t live on borrowed money and printed money forever. So that’s why I’m delighted that they’re coming to this view that maybe, just maybe the founders were on the right track,” he says. Read the complete transcript

Leeds United manager Brian McDermott has backed Ross McCormack to hit 20 goals this season – and bounce back from his unexpected omission from the Scotland squad. McDermott believes that McCormack is on course to produce the first 20-goal haul by a single player at Leeds since Luciano Becchio three years ago after taking his tally to eight in Saturday’s win over Yeovil Town. The Scotland international scored twice in a 2-0 victory at Elland Road, extending his recent tally to four in five games. McCormack’s finishes dried up in September, resulting in a six-match goalless streak, but he has returned to form in the past month and vindicated United’s decision to resist repeated offers for him from Middlesbrough during the summer. Leeds committed heavily to the 27-year-old by tying him to a new four-year contract, putting pressure on McCormack to deliver goals throughout the Championship term. The former Cardiff City and Rangers forward fell one short of 20 during his second season at Elland Road and asked if he expected him to reach that mark before May, McDermott said: “He can do it, no doubt about that, if we get Ross in the right positions. “His first goal on Saturday was fantastic, a tough finish. It didn’t look like it on the day because he made it look easy. The second one was a great bit of skill, a fabulous goal.” McCormack’s performance against Yeovil came 48 hours before the announcement of Scotland’s squad for friendlies against the United States and Norway later this month. He was left out of the 25-man party named by Gordon Strachan, overlooked in favour of Jordan Rhodes, Steven Fletcher, Steven Naismith and Matt Phillips. McCormack fought a long battle to regain a place in the Scotland set-up after falling out of favour under former coach Craig Levein, and Strachan described him as “unlucky” after naming his squad on Monday. McDermott admitted that he was “very surprised” but said: “Ross texted me to tell and I just said ‘do your stuff, do your stuff again against Charlton on Saturday and do it for us.’ He’ll be in the squad again and not just in the squad - he’ll be in the team.” DO YOU THINK ROSS MCCORMACK WILL BREAK THE 20 GOAL BARRIER THIS SEASON? Click here to register and have your say on the stories and issues that matter to you The United boss also denied that it was an advantage for Leeds to have McCormack inactive during the forthcoming international break, saying: “I want what’s right for him and he wants to play for his country. “I want him to do well and if he’s playing well for us then I’m sure he’ll get picked.” against the United States and Norway later this month. He was left out of the 25-man party named by Gordon Strachan, overlooked in favour of Jordan Rhodes, Steven Fletcher, Steven Naismith and Matt Phillips. McCormack fought a long battle to regain a place in the Scotland set-up after falling out of favour under former coach Craig Levein, and Strachan described him as “unlucky” after naming his squad on Monday. McDermott admitted that he was “very surprised” but said: “Ross texted me to tell and I just said ‘do your stuff, do your stuff again against Charlton on Saturday and do it for us.’ He’ll be in the squad again and not just in the squad – he’ll be in the team.” The United boss also denied that it was an advantage for Leeds to have McCormack inactive during the forthcoming international break, saying: “I want what’s right for him and he wants to play for his country. “I want him to do well and if he’s playing well for us then I’m sure he’ll get picked.”

A married man who disappeared almost a decade ago has been discovered by his wife online — living in the same state and married to another woman. Karen Marx, 48, had been searching for her spouse, Adam, ever since he vanished without an explanation in 2005. But when she finally tracked him down on Facebook, she was shocked to find he was living about 155 miles away in her home state of Wisconsin, and happily married to someone else. “I just thought, ‘How could he get married again?’” Karen told the Post Crescent. “Am I dead? What did he do with my identity?” Karen, who has three kids from a previous relationship, said Adam was married with two children of his own when she met him at a local carnival in the 1990s, where he worked as a ride operator. But Adam agreed to divorce his first wife for Karen, whom he married a year later. Adam quit his carnival job and moved in with his new wife, who supported the family on her machine operator wages. But after about a year, he vacated the family home, leaving only a note. “The first time he left me, it was like somebody reached into my chest and ripped my heart out of me,” Karen said. “He basically told me it was all my fault and he couldn’t handle my kids.” However, he returned several months later — right when she was due to collect her Christmas bonus. Karen took him back, and used her savings to buy the family a new home in Clinton, Montana. He found work at a timber framing company while she tried to start a cleaning business. However, about a year into their new life, Adam started accumulating debt and Karen confronted him about suspected infidelity. He left in his truck and Karen locked the door behind him. “He tried kicking my door in. I was pretty afraid of him back then,” she said. “But over the years, I just look at it and think he’s a coward. He left me with just a note in Wisconsin and then he left me in Montana.” [Police] said he told people it was his first marriage, and the [clerk] never checked vital statistics. - Karen Marx A short time later, Adam lost his job at the timber company and stopped answering his phone. Karen, still saddled with Adam’s bills and debts, bumped into her husband once at a nearby Kmart and asked him for a divorce. He said he’d call. “Needless to say, I never heard from him,” she said. In 2012, Karen moved home to New London, Wisconsin, to look after her sick dad, and found Adam’s mom on Facebook. She told Karen of Adam’s new life — and his new wife, Marcie. Stunned, Karen contacted the police, who arrested Adam and charged him with bigamy, fraud and making a false statement on his marriage license. “They said he told people it was his first marriage, and the [clerk] never checked vital statistics,” Karen said. “I think people need to start doing their job and doing it thoroughly, especially when it comes to something like this.” Adam allegedly told investigators he thought Karen took care of the divorce in Montana, and that he lied about his latest marriage being his first to expedite the procedure. Karen vowed to finally file for divorce, and said she wouldn’t date anyone until it’s finalized. “I consider myself married,” she said. “I thought when you married someone, you married him for life, through sickness and health. “Even though he’s married to some other woman, I’m still a married woman, and married women don’t do that.” If convicted of fraud, the most severe charge, Adam faces up to six years in prison. Bigamy also carries a maximum penalty of 3½ years’ jail in Wisconsin.

While I always supported the overall message and energy that encompassed the Occupy Wall Street movement, I never backed the slogan of the 1% vs. the 99%. From my own personal experience, it is entirely clear that the actual problem is a far smaller group within the 1%, the 0.1% or the 0.01% (although I recognize “We Are the 99.9%” isn’t catchy). This is why you’ll never hear me demonize “the 1%”, rather I always try to use the term oligarch, which refers a small handful of people who benefit most disproportionately from Federal Reserve handouts, D.C. corruption, tax code loopholes and the destructive trend of financialization generally. This is is also why I became so disgusted by Sam Zell’s ignorant and destructive comments on Bloomberg television earlier this year that decided to pen an open letter to him. Thanks to The Atlantic, we now have two charts that show what I have been writing about for many years now. It is not the 1% that is the problem, it’s actually a much smaller slice within that group that is thieving and pillaging at will from the rest of American society. From The Atlantic: I’ve written, over and over, that the most important divide in our wealth disparity was between the 1 percent and the 99 percent. For example, when I compared the evolution in investment income since the late 1970s, I often imagined a graph like this from the Economic Policy Institute, showing the 1 percent flying away from the rest of the country. It turns out that that graph is somewhat misleading. It makes it look like the 1 percent is a group of similar households accelerating from the rest of the economy, holding hands, in unison. Nothing could be further from the truth. A few weeks ago, I shared this graph (from the World Top Incomes Database) showing how the top 0.01 percent—that’s the one percent of the 1 percent—was leaving the rest of the top percentile behind. It’s even more egregious than that. An amazing chart from economist Amir Sufi, based on the work of Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman, shows that when you look inside the 1 percent, you see clearly that most of them aren’t growing their share of wealth at all. In fact, the gain in wealth share is all about the top 0.1 percent of the country. While nine-tenths of the top percentile hasn’t seen much change at all since 1960, the 0.01 percent has essentially quadrupled its share of the country’s wealth in half a century. It turns out that wealth inequality isn’t about the 1 percent v. the 99 percent at all. It’s about the 0.1 percent v. the 99.9 percent (or, really, the 0.01 percent vs. the 99.99 percent, if you like). Long-story-short is that this group, comprised mostly of bankers and CEOs, is riding the stock market to pick up extraordinary investment income. And it’s this investment income, rather than ordinary earned income, that’s creating this extraordinary wealth gap. The mainstream is finally starting to figure it out. From crony capitalistic corporate welfare (even the New York Times covered oligarch welfare last week) to the 0.01% problem. Now if the nine tenths of the 1% would stop complacently continue to tread water and challenge the oligarchs we might actually be able to change things. Full article here. In Liberty, Michael Krieger [dfads params=’groups=5364&limit=1&ad_html=p&return_javascript=1′] Donate bitcoins: Like this post?Donate bitcoins: 3J7D9dqSMo9HnxVeyHou7HJQGihamjYQMN Follow me on Twitter.

“This idea of Welsh whisky…” Our Scottish-born guide trails off as the bus approaches Penderyn, the only whisky distillery in Wales and reputedly the smallest in the world. “Anyway,” she tries again with a dismissive wave of her hand, “It’s said to be quite smooth.” The idea indeed. Is it possible that the Welsh – those Morris dancing British Isle cousins of the Scots – distill anything approaching the peaty “water of life” perfections with names as evocative as Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Ardbeg, Glenmorangie. Like our guide, I have my doubts a tiny company just a decade in could pull it off. Tucked in the rolling hills inside Brecon Beacons National Park an hour north of Cardiff within sight of the slag heaps left from centuries of coal mining, the Penderyn micro-distillery sits on what it claims is the sweetest of springs. In fact, a small cheesemaker in nearby Blaenafon – a UNESCO World Heritage town – puts this whisky to use as a flavouring for one of its cheddars aged down the pit of an old coal mine. My expectations thus lowered in spite of the hyped water, we enter the new Visitor’s Centre. Inside, manager Keith Tench begins our tour with the story of the last Welsh distillery. It closed over a century ago, an unequivocal failure. He says the swill produced at that distillery “was sought after by the paint industry as a thinner.” Keith passes around a bottle of malted barley wash, a cloudy 8% sludge prepared for Penderyn at the unappetizingly named Brains Brewery in Cardiff. “It doesn’t smell very nice,” says Keith. “A little like the carpet the morning after the spilling of a lot of beer.” Crash! go my expectations through the floor. If I wanted to sample world-class whisky, why didn’t I just go to the source – Scotland? Keith leads us past a glass wall through which we witness the boxing up of bottles – not exactly a unique or otherwise remarkable experience. But through the glass we can see a unique combination pot and column still developed here on site. Penderyn is experimenting with age-old whisky making techniques. As we file through an exhibit that wouldn’t be out of place in a low-budget museum, we lift lids from wooden boxes and sniff at the ingredients that go into Penderyn’s Brecon Special Reserve Gin: lemon rind, liquorice root, cinnamon bark, nutmeg. At last we enter a room with sampling stations and a bar. Keith takes up his position behind the bar where he pours drams of the distillery’s three whiskies nicknamed Aur Cymru or Welsh gold – of course, the term Scotch can be neither legally nor accurately applied to these drinks. They are whiskies and while they share characteristics with their cousins, they are not Scotch as I am about to discover through my nose. Following Keith’s lead, I swirl the golden Madeira single malt in the bowl of the nosing glass beneath a cupped hand. He calls this technique the Welsh cwtch or hug and demonstrates how bodily warmth releases the personality of the liquor by embracing his assistant, a stocky footballer who reminds his amourous colleague that both of them are already married. The shtick lightens my anxieties. I inhale the captured volatiles one nostril at a time as instructed… butterscotch from the bourbon barrels in which the whisky was matured. Then come the fruity vanilla notes reminiscent of fine port from the Madeira wine casks in which it was finished. Indeed nothing like the smoky Scotch I’m used to, there is nothing here to bring to mind a disapproving friend’s summation of Scotch that it smells of ashtrays spilling over with cold cigar butts. Rather, the taste is as pure and smooth as the spring waters beneath the distillery are alleged to be. Not Scotch, but what a whiskey. It’s just gone 9:30 a.m., but I’m eager to sample the other two whiskies, one finished in Oloroso sherry casks, the other in peated scotch casks. They do not disappoint. The peated brings to mind the northern scotches, the sherried presents rich, dark caramel, but both give way to that Penderyn fresh fruitiness of melons, citrus and apple to finish with vanilla. “Anyone for gin?” Keith Tench calls out. Perhaps the others fear they’ll require the services of AA upon returning home. At any rate, while there’s the odd call for Merlyn cream liquor, I’m the only one for gin. Nobody’s dares the vodka. Brecon Special Reserve Gin proves quite simply the finest of this family of drink I have ever come across. The sharp spice flavourings arrive early, but are balanced by the sweetness of the liquorice and soothed by the quintessence of orange and lemon citrus. I savour the last of it and head for the gift shop – a little wobbly with this early hour gold strike – in search of bottles of everything and to enquire whether or not Penderyn has yet hit the international market – it has, Canada and the USA among the lucky destinations. Our Scottish-born guide rushes us onto the bus. A smile on my face and a heavy shopping bag in my hand, I oblige, contented in the knowledge that in Scotland, whisky is the water of life while in Wales, it’s a seam of gold. Photo Credits All photos © Darcy Rhyno “Keith Tench of Penderyn Distillery in Wales.” “A Penderyn exhibit interprets the ingredients in its Brecon Special Reserve Gin.” “Blaenafon Cheddar Company.” Recent Darcy Rhyno Articles:

A pair of Trump supporters sitting outside one of the candidate’s rallies in Pennsylvania on Friday. Hillary Clinton has jumped to a 12-point lead in a new ABC News poll of likely voters that was released on Sunday, boosted by widespread disapproval of opponent Donald Trump, marking an eight-point improvement in her four-way-race standing from the ABC News/Washington Post poll on October 13. It’s the first live-caller national poll conducted since the third and final debate, and it found that 69 percent of likely voters disapprove of Trump’s response to the recent allegations of sexual misconduct made by numerous women. Among the respondents, some women who had previously given Trump the benefit of the doubt over the issue have now ditched the candidate as well. All told, 71 percent of women and 67 percent of men disapprove of Trump’s handling of the allegations, according to the poll. The same poll also indicates that a majority of likely voters, 59 percent, reject Trump’s irresponsible notion that the election is somehow rigged; even more disapprove of his refusal to acknowledge whether or not he would accept the Election Day results. In addition, Clinton has gained 12 points among non-college-educated white women since mid-October; she now has a 62-30 percent lead among college-educated white women, as well as a three-point overall lead among men. The new poll also shows a seven-point drop in the number of registered Republicans who are likely to vote on Election Day, which suggests the GOP’s preexisting disadvantage when it comes to driving voters to the polls is only getting worse. Furthermore, a new CBS News/YouGov poll, conducted October 20–21, found that Trump’s lead over Clinton in the nation’s largest red state, Texas, is down to only three points, which is within the poll’s margin of error. It’s the third consecutive Texas poll that shows Trump with a lead of four points or less. It also shows that the majority of Trump’s support is coming from Texans over the age of 45, and that he’s losing by at least eight points with those under 45. Not surprisingly, Clinton is shown crushing Trump among Hispanic Texans, 61 to 31 percent. In a new election update from FiveThirtyEight, Nate Silver goes through a bunch of other bad numbers for Trump and the Republicans — like how Democrats are either matching or outpacing their 2012 numbers in Nevada’s two largest counties, which may bode well not only for Clinton, but also for Democratic Senate candidate Catherine Cortez Masto. Silver’s in-moment conclusion hinges on the likelihood of depressed GOP turnout because of Trump: The nightmare scenario for the GOP is that high-information Republican voters, seeing Trump imploding and not necessarily having been happy with him as their nominee in the first place, feel free to cast a protest vote at the top of the ticket. Meanwhile, lower-information Republican voters don’t turn out at all, given that Trump’s rigging rhetoric could suppress their vote and that Republicans don’t have the field operation to pull them back in. That’s how you could get a Clinton landslide like the one the ABC News poll describes, along with a Democratic Senate and possibly even — although it’s a reach — a Democratic House. That isn’t the only scenario in play, but it’s an increasing possibility. Overall, Clinton’s chances of winning the presidency are 87 percent according to our polls-only model and 85 percent according to polls-plus. The New York Times adds that, with just over two weeks to go before Election Day, and factoring in today’s polls, Clinton maintains a 93 percent chance of winning. And, according to the analyses of both the Times and FiveThirtyEight, Democrats have at least a 68 percent chance of winning back the Senate.

Which means people can’t go after the Redskins. Via Daily Caller: The Supreme Court struck down a federal law banning the registration of disparaging trademarks Monday, finding the law violates the First Amendment’s free speech clause. The ruling, written by Justice Samuel Alito, says that trademarks are private, not government speech, and that the government may not curtail even offensive expression. “Holding that the registration of a trademark converts the mark into government speech would constitute a huge and dangerous extension of the government-speech doctrine, for other systems of government registration (such as copyright) could easily be characterized in the same way,” Alito wrote. The 1946 Lanham Trademark Act prohibits the registration of a trademark that “may disparage” a person, community, or institution. A challenge to the law was brought by Simon Shiao Tam, bass-player for the Chinatown dance rock band “The Slants.” The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) denied the band’s request for a trademark, finding their name could offend Asians. The band is composed exclusively of Asian-Americans, who selected the name to strip the slur of its potency. Keep reading…

Expressions such as “sharp pain” function metonymically when they describe pain that directly results from physical damage, and metaphorically when no such damage is involved. The latter is the case for both extracts above, and, as I will show, in most of the cases where similar descriptions occur in close proximity to the word pain . In the course of the article, I discuss psycholinguistic and neuroscientific research that suggests that these uses of metaphor may facilitate some form of internal embodied simulation of pain experiences on the part of listeners/readers, which may in turn provide the basis for an empathic response. I point out that different metaphorical descriptions of pain are likely to vary in terms of their potential for eliciting a response involving some form of simulation, and in terms of the nature and intensity of the simulation they may elicit. I argue that the most relevant characteristics of metaphorical descriptions of pain in this respect are their level of detail, creativity and textual complexity. For example, I suggest that, other things being equal, descriptions of pain such as the one in the second extract above are likely to facilitate a richer and more intense simulation of pain experiences than that provided in the first extract. In this article I consider the most dominant metaphorical tendency for the description of pain experiences in English in the light of converging evidence that some form of embodied simulation is involved in comprehension generally, and in the processing of metaphorical expressions in particular. I begin by showing how the sensations conveyed by the English word pain tend to be described via expressions that refer to potential causes of bodily damage. This is the case, for example, with the use of the adjective sharp and of the simile involving a small garden rake in the two extracts below: Overall, both the BNC and the MPQ provide evidence of the pervasiveness of metaphorical descriptions of pain in English that realize the source domain I have labelled “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ”. I will now turn to neuroscientific and psycholinguistic research that suggests that some form of embodied simulation may be involved in the processing of these expressions, and may indeed be part of the motivation for their frequent use. Some of the metaphorical descriptors listed above are among the frequent collocates of pain I identified in the BNC, while at least some of the others cannot be regarded as equally frequent or conventional as descriptions of pain experiences. Nonetheless, the authors of the questionnaire state that their list of descriptors was derived from several different ‘authentic’ sources, including the medical literature and patients' language use in medical consultations. In addition, the MPQ itself is also likely to exert some kind of influence over the language used by both doctors and patients, due to its widespread use. As I have already noted with regard to stabbing as a collocate of pain in the BNC, some of the descriptors in the MPQ are to do with types of physical damage that most respondents may well not have experienced directly (e.g., lacerating , torturing , as well as stabbing ). While discussing specifically the use of the expression “ stabbing pain, ” Miller (1978 Miller, J. 1978. The body in question , London: Jonathan Cape. ) suggests that “the patient has abstracted from his idea of stabbing an image of violent penetration which he uses in a metaphorical way to refer to his own pain” ( Miller, 1978 Miller, J. 1978. The body in question , London: Jonathan Cape. , p. 28, quoted in Schott, 2004 Schott, G. D. 2004. Communicating the experience of pain: The role of analogy. Pain , 108: 209–12. , p. 210). I will return to this issue below. In addition, a further set of descriptors metaphorically evoke a malevolent animate agent whose actions may cause physical damage ( punishing, cruel, vicious, torturing, gnawing, killing ), and two groups of descriptors relate, respectively, to high and low temperatures, which, when extreme, can also result in tissue damage: hot, burning, scalding, searing ; cool, cold, freezing . The MPQ also contains several expressions that have basic meanings to do with movement, which would cause tissue damage if it occurred inside the body: beating, pounding, jumping, shooting . The remaining descriptors primarily convey the emotional or affective dimensions of the pain, as in the case of, for example, wretched and annoying . A wide range of similar expressions for the description of pain are included in the McGill Pain Questionnaire (hereafter the MPQ), which was devised at McGill University in the 1970s in order to be able to assess the pain experienced by different kinds of patients ( Melzack, 1975 Melzack, R. 1975. The McGill pain questionnaire. major properties and scoring method. Pain , 1: 277–99. ). The MPQ has been used for the assessment of a wide variety of types of pain (from backache through labour pain to oncological pain), and has been translated into several other languages. One of the sections of the questionnaire is concerned with the quality of the pain experience, and requires sufferers to indicate what their present pain ‘feels like’ by choosing among 78 one-word descriptors, divided into 20 groups. At least a third of the 78 descriptors of pain included in the MPQ can be described as instantiations of the source domain “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE , ” and can be further classified in terms of different types of causes of physical damage: The eight expressions listed above differ in terms of the kind of cause of physical damage evoked by their basic meanings. Three have basic meanings to do with burning: burning , searing and seared (clearly, only two lemmas are involved here). All the others are broadly to do with pointed or sharp objects that can penetrate the body. Sharp describes a property of objects that can cause cuts. Stabbing , stabbed and lanced refer to the process of penetrating something with a pointed or sharp object. Stinging , in its most basic meaning, involves both penetration via a pointed object and the insertion of a harmful substance, as, for example, in the case of a bee sting. The processes or qualities evoked by the basic meanings of these expressions occur fairly commonly in everyday experience, and the type of pain sensation they may cause is widely familiar. The case where this applies less clearly is stabbing/stabbed , as most people do not have direct experience of being stabbed in the sense of being assaulted with a knife or similar object (see also Pither, 2002 Pither, C. 2002. Finding a visual language for pain. Clinical Medicine , 2(6): 570–571. , and De Souza & Frank, 2000 De Souza, L. H. and Frank, A. O. 2000. Subjective pain experience of people with chronic back pain. Physiotherapy Research International , 5(4): 207–19. , p. 217). A search for the string pain in the BNC returned 7002 hits in 1387 different texts. Collocates of pain were computed on the basis of log-likelihood 3 3 The log likelihood ratio is a widely used method for calculating statistical significance in corpus linguistics, as it does not assume normal distribution (see Dunning, 1993 Dunning, T. 1993. Accurate Methods for the Statistics of Surprise and Coincidence. Computational Linguistics , 19(1): 61–74. ). The log likelihood value of the collocations mentioned below is above 15.13, which corresponds to p < 0.0001. View all notes and within a window span of one word to the left and one word to the right of the search string. The top 62 collocates of this string include eight expressions that can be subsumed under the “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ” domain (NB: the numbers in brackets indicate the rank order of each word in the list of collocates): searing (12), sharp (25), stabbing (33), lanced (46), seared (49), stabbed (50), stinging (59), burning (62). An examination of all individual examples of these collocates revealed that either metonymy or metaphor were involved in all occurrences. More specifically, metaphorical uses accounted for over 85 per cent of the instances of the above expressions in close proximity to pain . The rest of this paper will therefore be concerned primarily with metaphorical uses of “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ” expressions in the description of pain experiences. In this section I provide concrete evidence for the dominance and variety of expressions drawing from the “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ” domain in the figurative description of pain in English (see also Deignan, Littlemore, and Semino, forthcoming Deignan, A., Littlemore, J and Semino, E. forthcoming. Figurative language in discourse communities , Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. ), I rely on two different sources of examples of linguistic descriptions of pain experiences: the 100-million-word BNC and a widely used diagnostic questionnaire for pain sufferers, the McGill Pain Questionnaire ( Melzack, 1975 Melzack, R. 1975. The McGill pain questionnaire. major properties and scoring method. Pain , 1: 277–99. ). On the basis of the metaphor identification procedure proposed in Pragglejaz Group (2007 Group, Pragglejaz. 2007. MIP: A method for identifying metaphorically used words in discourse. Metaphor and Symbol , 22(1): 1–39. ), extract (1) can be described as involving the most basic meaning of the adjective sharp : a physical property of solid objects that have a very thin edge or a pointed end. In extract (2), the adjective is used to describe the kind of nociceptive pain sensation that arises in response to being cut with an object that has a very thin point (a drawing pin, in this case). This use is best described as metonymic, since it involves a cause-effect association between the basic meaning of sharp and what the Pragglejaz Group call the “contextual” meaning of the adjective (i.e., the particular kind of pain sensation evoked in the extract). In contrast, the pain experiences described as sharp in extracts (3) and (4) do not arise as responses to injuries inflicted by means of sharp objects. The pain described in (3) is suspected to be caused by damage to the lining of the stomach, while (4) describes a headache that is not associated with any physical damage at all. It can therefore be argued that, in both cases, the contextual meanings (i.e., those particular kinds of pain sensations) are understood via comparison with the basic meaning: pain that does not result from damage inflicted by external entities is described in terms of a property of objects that can cause injuries associated with a widely familiar kind of nociceptive pain. As a consequence, the use of the sharp in both (3) and (4) can be described as metaphorical. Example (5) differs from all previous examples in that the pain that is being described by sharp (as well as by the simile as if stabbed in the gut ) is primarily emotional: the character in question has just discovered that her husband has been unfaithful to her. While it is difficult to claim that her experience does not involve negative physical sensations as well as emotional distress, the metaphoricity of sharp is particularly clear, as the contextual meaning is primarily to do with feelings of abandonment and distress. 2 2 The metonymic basis of metaphorical descriptions of non-nociceptive and emotional pain in terms of different causes of physical damage can be accounted for by Grady's (1997 Grady, J. 1997. Foundations of meaning: Primary metaphors and primary scenes , Berkeley: Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California. ) theory of “primary metaphors” (see also Lakoff & Johnson, 1999 Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. 1999. Philosophy in the flesh: The embodied mind and its challenge to western thought , New York: Basic Books. ; Lakoff, 2008 Lakoff, G. 2008. “The neural theory of metaphor”. In The Cambridge handbook of metaphor and thought , Edited by: Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 17–38. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. ). In Grady's terms, the experiential correlation between simple causes of physical damage (e.g., a blade, a flame) and nociceptive pain gives rise to a primary metaphor that can be labelled “ PAIN IS CAUSE OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ”. This primary metaphor may in turn provide the basis for more complex metaphors for pain involving source domains such as “ TORTURE ”. View all notes Different scholars use different labels in order to refer to the semantic fields or source domains that account for the most dominant metaphorical patterns in their data, such as “ Attack,”“Torture,” “Alien invasion,” “Abuse , ” “Impalement ” and so on (e.g., Aldrich & Eccleston, 2000 Aldrich, S. and Eccleston, C. 2000. Making sense of everyday pain. Social Science and Medicine. , 50(11): 1631–41. ; De Souza & Frank, 2000 De Souza, L. H. and Frank, A. O. 2000. Subjective pain experience of people with chronic back pain. Physiotherapy Research International , 5(4): 207–19. ; Lascaratou, 2007 Lascaratou, C. 2007. The language of pain: Expression or description , Amsterdam: John Benjamins. ; Söderberg & Norberg, 1995 Söderberg, S. and Norberg, A. 1995. Metaphorical pain language among fibromyalgia patients. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences , 9: 55–9. ). These different formulations can be subsumed under a general source domain that I will label “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ”. This is consistent with the wording of the IASP definition quoted above (see also Scarry, 2008 Scarry, E. 2008. “Among school children: The use of body damage to express physical pain”. In Reconstructing pain and joy: Linguistic, literary and cultural perspectives , Edited by: Lascaratou, C., Despotopoulou, A. and Ifantidou, E. 99–134. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ). Clearly, the metaphorical patterns that can be related to this broad source domain have a strong basis in metonymy, as they rely on common cause-effect associations for the experience of nociceptive pain in particular (see Lascaratou, 2007 Lascaratou, C. 2007. The language of pain: Expression or description , Amsterdam: John Benjamins. , pp. 164-5). The uses of the adjective sharp in the following extracts from the British National Corpus (hereafter BNC) can help to clarify the interaction between metaphor and metonymy in the description of pain experiences in terms of potential causes of physical damage of (see also Semino, forthcoming Semino, E. forthcoming. “Metaphor, creativity, and the experience of pain across genres”. In Creativity, language, literature: The state of the art , Edited by: Swann, J., Pope, R. and Carter, R. Palgrave, , UK: Basingstoke. ): The analyses provided in the above studies, and in relevant work from other areas, suggest that there is some variety in the source domains that are conventionally exploited in order to convey pain experiences. However, the findings of research on several different languages are consistent with Kövecses's (2008 Kövecses, Z. 2008. “The conceptual structure of happiness and pain”. In Reconstructing pain and joy: Linguistic, literary and cultural perspectives , Edited by: Lascaratou, C., Despotopoulou, A. and Ifantidou, E. 17–33. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ) general observation that ‘the most important metaphors that provide the phenomenological character of pain’ involve source domains that correspond to the most salient causes of pain. Kövecses's (2008 Kövecses, Z. 2008. “The conceptual structure of happiness and pain”. In Reconstructing pain and joy: Linguistic, literary and cultural perspectives , Edited by: Lascaratou, C., Despotopoulou, A. and Ifantidou, E. 17–33. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ) list of relevant conceptual metaphors includes the following: Indeed, pain shares some of the characteristics of target domains that have received considerable attention in the cognitive linguistic literature. Like “ LOVE ,” for example, it is a private, subjective and poorly delineated experience, which cannot be directly observed. In its prototypical form, it is also a common and widely familiar sensation. However, pain is also an embodied experience, and, in this respect, it is therefore more similar to typical source domains such as “ MOTION ” or “ HUNGER ” than to typical target domains such as “ TIME ”. While a great deal of work has been conducted on the metaphorical construction of emotional experiences in general (e.g., Kövecses, 2000 Kövecses, Z. 2000. Metaphor and emotion: Language, culture, and body in human feeling , Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. ), it is only recently that pain has begun to receive the attention of cognitive linguists ( Lascaratou, 2007 Lascaratou, C. 2007. The language of pain: Expression or description , Amsterdam: John Benjamins. , 2008 Lascaratou, C. 2008. “The function of language in the experience of pain”. In Reconstructing pain and joy: Linguistic, literary and cultural perspectives , Edited by: Lascaratou, C., Despotopoulou, A. and Ifantidou, E. 35–57. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ; Kövecses, 2008 Kövecses, Z. 2008. “The conceptual structure of happiness and pain”. In Reconstructing pain and joy: Linguistic, literary and cultural perspectives , Edited by: Lascaratou, C., Despotopoulou, A. and Ifantidou, E. 17–33. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ; see also Halliday, 1998 Halliday, M. A. K. 1998. On the grammar of pain. Functions of Language , 5(1): 1–32. and Semino, forthcoming Semino, E. forthcoming. “Metaphor, creativity, and the experience of pain across genres”. In Creativity, language, literature: The state of the art , Edited by: Swann, J., Pope, R. and Carter, R. Palgrave, , UK: Basingstoke. ). Attempts to truly describe pain indeed appear as difficult as they are frustrating, yet the need to communicate is overwhelming, and I suggest that the only option available is the resort to analogy … (w)hether by means of metaphor or simile. … ( Schott, 2004 Schott, G. D. 2004. Communicating the experience of pain: The role of analogy. Pain , 108: 209–12. , p. 210) Within this definition, pain is linked to tissue damage, but it is acknowledged that such damage may be potential as well as actual, and may also occur only in the description of the unpleasant experience on the part of the sufferer. In the rest of this section, I show how different types of pain, including non-nociceptive pain, are often conveyed via expressions that evoke different kinds of (causes of) physical damage. This tendency in the description of pain involves both metonymy and metaphor, and may be explained as an attempt to enable others to experience something akin to the sufferer's own sensations. While all kinds of pain tend to be associated with affective responses, for chronic sufferers the experience of negative emotions is often inextricably linked with the experience of negative physical sensations. 1 1 See Damasio (1999 Damasio, A. 1999. The feeling of what happens , London: William Heinemann. , pp. 71-9) for a discussion of the distinction between “pain sensation” and “pain affect”. Color versions of one or more of the figures in the article can be found online at www.tandfonline.com/hmet . View all notes This is recognized in the definition of pain provided by the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP), which also underscores the importance of language: Pain is also the kind of subjective and poorly delineated experience that is difficult to express satisfactorily in language, especially when the pain is both chronic and at least partly neuropathic (see Scarry, 1985 Scarry, E. 1985. The body in pain: The making and unmaking of the world , Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. ). In such cases, there is no visible sign of physical damage, and investigations via X-rays and CAT scans may also fail to detect an obvious cause. Sufferers therefore have to rely primarily on language to communicate their experiences, and to obtain both emotional support and professional help. These are the circumstances in which both patients and doctors report communicative problems, and in which patients tend to feel misunderstood and misbelieved (e.g., Kugelmann, 1999 Kugelmann, R. 1999. Complaining about chronic pain. Social Science and Medicine , 49: 1663–76. ; Lascaratou, 2007 Lascaratou, C. 2007. The language of pain: Expression or description , Amsterdam: John Benjamins. , pp. 174-7). Pain is a basic and essential human experience. In its prototypical form, it occurs as a response to tissue damage, and constitutes a crucial warning mechanism whose function is to prevent harm to our bodies: the pain experienced when coming into contact with a flame, for example, is due to the damage that the flame causes to our skin, and triggers a reaction (instinctively moving away from the flame) that prevents further damage. This kind of pain (known as “nociceptive” pain) contrasts with less prototypical kinds of pain that are not, or not simply, explainable as a response to tissue damage. “Phantom limb” pain, for example, is felt in parts of the body that have been amputated, and is an example of “non-nociceptive” or “neuropathic” pain. This kind of pain is due to problems within the nervous system that are often difficult to diagnose and treat. More common pain experiences such as migraine and backache tend to have both nociceptive and neuropathic components. This frequently applies to pain that becomes chronic: typically, the pain starts as a result of an episode involving tissue damage, such as an accident, but then persists long after the injuries have healed, for weeks, months, or years. In sum, a discussion of metaphorical descriptions of pain as possible triggers of embodied simulations needs to take into account their linguistic characteristics, their degree of conventionality or novelty, and the relevant co-text and context. In the next section, I return to the linguistic expression of pain experiences and I propose an approach to their analysis as potential triggers of embodied simulations that attempts to take into account the variety and complexity of actual metaphor use. In other words, according to this classification, the kind of rich simulation discussed by Gibbs (2006b Gibbs, R.W. Jr. 2006b. Metaphor interpretation as embodied simulation. Mind and Language , 21: 434–458. ) in relation to metaphorical expressions (i.e., option 3 above) results from the activation of complex source domains as discussed in Conceptual Metaphor theory ( Lakoff & Johnson, 1999 Lakoff, G. and Johnson, M. 1999. Philosophy in the flesh: The embodied mind and its challenge to western thought , New York: Basic Books. ). In contrast, the more limited perceptual simulation that involves “only a few related perceptions” (i.e., option 2 above) does not require the activation of the relevant source domain. It may, however, be more appropriate to think of Ritchie's (2009 Ritchie, D. 2009. Relevance and simulation in metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol , 24(4): 249–62. ) three types of expressions and responses as representing different points on a continuum 7 7 This is consistent with Ritchie's latest thinking (personal communication). View all notes , as the distinction between 2 and 3 in particular is overly clear-cut. The rich embodied simulations described by Gibbs do rely on the basic, non-metaphorical meanings of metaphorical expressions, but the activation of these meanings does not necessarily involve the complete activation of complex source domains or whole conceptual metaphors. On the other hand, in several cases the perceptual simulators discussed by Ritchie in relation to conventional metaphorical expressions correspond rather closely to the source domain meanings of those expressions (or, in his own terms to primary perceptual simulators), as when he suggests, for example that interpreting “ A chilly reception ” may involve “the sensation of cold” as well as “the emotion of rejection” (see also the discussion of “ My lawyer is a shark ” above). Ritchie (2008 Ritchie, D. 2008. X IS A JOURNEY: Embodied simulation in metaphor interpretation. Metaphor and Symbol , 23(3): 174–99. , 2009) usefully attempts to distinguish between different degrees and modes of involvement of “simulation” in the processing of different metaphorical (and non-metaphorical) expressions. His Context-Limited Simulation theory ( Ritchie, 2006 Ritchie, D. L. 2006. Context and connection in metaphor , Basingstoke, , UK: Palgrave Macmillan. ) combines Barsalou's perceptual simulation model of cognition with Sperber and Wilson's (1995 Sperber, D. and Wilson, D. 1995. Relevance: Communication and cognition , Oxford, , UK: Blackwell. ) Relevance Theory. Within Ritchie's theory, all linguistic expressions may activate links to other linguistic expressions as well as a variety of “perceptual simulators”. These include simulations of sensori-motor experiences (e.g., visual characteristics such as shape), proprioceptive experiences (i.e., internal body states such as warmth), and introspective experiences (i.e., cognitive and emotional experiences such as fear). Ritchie's approach to metaphor relies on a (fuzzy) distinction between “primary” and “secondary” simulators associated with words. Primary simulators correspond to the defining characteristics of the relevant concept, while secondary simulators correspond to further, looser associations. For example, the word shark may activate links to other words and phrases (e.g., predator ) and to primary simulators for size, shape, colour, and so on. In addition, the word may activate links to a wider set of linguistic expressions (e.g., surfer ) and secondary simulators for bloodied water, scenes from horror films, emotions such as fear, and so on. ( Ritchie, 2006 Ritchie, D. L. 2006. Context and connection in metaphor , Basingstoke, , UK: Palgrave Macmillan. , pp. 110-13). In Ritchie's definition, words are used metaphorically when, in context, most-- if not all--primary simulators are suppressed as irrelevant, and only some of the secondary simulators remain active. For example, Ritchie argues, the metaphorical use of “ shark ” in “ My lawyer is a shark ” is processed primarily in terms of secondary simulators for introspective emotional states such as fear and distrust. In addition, however, some primary perceptual simulators may nonetheless be weakly activated, such as images of sharp teeth ( Ritchie, 2006 Ritchie, D. L. 2006. Context and connection in metaphor , Basingstoke, , UK: Palgrave Macmillan. . p. 130). Ritchie (2006 Ritchie, D. L. 2006. Context and connection in metaphor , Basingstoke, , UK: Palgrave Macmillan. , p. 215) also recognizes that context-irrelevant simulators may not be completely suppressed if they are “salient” in Giora's (2003 Giora, R. 2003. On our mind: Salience, context, and figurative language , Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. ) sense. Steen (2008 Steen, G. J. 2008. The paradox of metaphor: Why we need a three-dimensional model for metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol , 23(4): 213–241. ) builds on the work by Gentner and Bowdle in particular in order to distinguish between “deliberate” metaphors, that are processed via some form of comparison involving a cross-domain mapping, and “nondeliberate” metaphors, that are not. Deliberate uses of metaphors are characterized by explicit linguistic devices that aim to shift the recipient's attention towards the source domain, as in the case of “A is B” metaphors, similes, and novel metaphors. Nondeliberate metaphors, in contrast, tend to be conventional, and involve no textual indication of the need to activate knowledge from the source domain. Both Steen and Gentner and Bowdle recognize, however, that the processing of metaphorical expressions is likely to be affected by the textual context (e.g., Gentner & Bowdle, 2001 Gentner, D. and Bowdle, B. 2001. Convention, form, and figurative language processing. Metaphor and Symbol , 16(3-4): 223–247. , p. 233). Steen (2008 Steen, G. J. 2008. The paradox of metaphor: Why we need a three-dimensional model for metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol , 23(4): 213–241. , pp. 222-3), in particular, points out that the use of conventional metaphorical expressions may be described as deliberate when several words from the source domain are used in close proximity to one another and acknowledges that ‘the full formal range of linguistic and rhetorical construction types for deliberate metaphor is an urgent issue for further research’ ( Steen, 2008 Steen, G. J. 2008. The paradox of metaphor: Why we need a three-dimensional model for metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol , 23(4): 213–241. , p. 225). There is evidence from both psycholinguistic and neuroscientific research that the linguistic realization and degree of conventionality of metaphorical expressions affect the way in which they are processed. A series of studies by Gentner and Bowdle suggest that similes and novel metaphors are processed via comparison involving “structure mapping” across domains, while conventional metaphors are processed via categorization--namely, by placing the target concept within an abstract category evoked by the conventionalized metaphorical meaning of the expressions that is used metaphorically ( Gentner & Bowdle, 2001 Gentner, D. and Bowdle, B. 2001. Convention, form, and figurative language processing. Metaphor and Symbol , 16(3-4): 223–247. , 2008; Bowdle & Gentner, 2005 Bowdle, B. and Gentner, D. 2005. The career of metaphor. Psychological Review , 112(1): 193–216. ). These claims are broadly consistent with Giora's (2003 Giora, R. 2003. On our mind: Salience, context, and figurative language , Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. ) Graded Salience Hypothesis, according to which the most salient meanings of linguistic expressions are always activated first, regardless of context. As salient meanings may be literal or non-literal, highly conventionalized metaphorical expressions will be processed by accessing the metaphorical meanings directly, while novel metaphorical expressions may require a two-stage process. Indeed, recent brain-imaging research does not suggest a clear-cut distinction between metaphorical and non-metaphorical language, but points to differences between the processing of metaphorical expressions that have lexicalized and “salient” metaphorical meanings, as opposed to the processing of novel metaphorical expressions, where the metaphorical meaning is not salient. Several studies have shown that the brain's right hemisphere is involved in the processing of expressions that realize novel conceptual metaphors, but not in the processing of expressions that have conventional metaphorical meanings ( Ahrens et al., 2007 Ahrens, K., Ho-Ling, L., Chia-Ying, L., Shu-Ping, G., Shin-Yi, F. and Yuan-Yu, H. 2007. Functional MRI of conventional and anomalous metaphors in Mandarin Chinese. Brain and Language , 100(2): 163–171. ; Giora, 2007 Giora, R. 2007. Is metaphor special?. Brain and Language , 100: 111–114. ). Although the findings of these psycholinguistic studies cannot be straightforwardly extended to the processing of metaphors for pain, they do suggest that some form of embodied simulation may potentially be triggered by metaphorical descriptions such as those involving the “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ” source domain. However this claim relies on the problematic assumption that the basic, nonmetaphorical meanings of expressions such as stabbing or burning are involved in the processing of descriptions such as “ a stabbing/burning pain ”. 6 6 For example, it has been suggested that mirroring mechanisms involving the motor areas of the brain are involved in the processing of metaphorical expressions such as “ grasping a concept ” (e.g., Lakoff, 2008 Lakoff, G. 2008. “The neural theory of metaphor”. In The Cambridge handbook of metaphor and thought , Edited by: Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 17–38. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. ; Gallese & Lakoff, 2005 Gallese, V. and Lakoff, G. 2005. The brain's concepts: The role of the sensory-motor system in conceptual knowledge. Cognitive Neuropsychology , 22(3/4): 455–79. ), but the experimental evidence is inconclusive (see Aziz-Zadeh et al., 2006 Aziz-Zadeh, L., Wilson, S. M., Rizzolatti, G. and Iacoboni, M. 2006. Congruent embodied representations for visually presented actions and linguistic phrases describing actions. Current Biology , 16: 1–6. ). View all notes Although Gibbs and Matlock (2008 Gibbs, R. W. Jr. and Matlock, T. 2008. “Metaphor, imagination, and simulation: Psycholinguistic evidence”. In The Cambridge handbook of metaphor and thought , Edited by: Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 161–76. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. , p. 168) point out that this claim does not necessarily imply a two-stage model of metaphor comprehension, it does raise the issue as to whether all metaphorical expressions are processed in the same way. Gibbs (2006b Gibbs, R.W. Jr. 2006b. Metaphor interpretation as embodied simulation. Mind and Language , 21: 434–458. ) recognizes that his account of metaphor understanding in terms of embodied simulation is not intended to explain all instances of metaphor use, due to the complexity and variety of the ways in which metaphor can manifest itself in communication. The view of embodied simulation that is relevant to this claim is broader than the approach that is adopted in mirror neuron research (see Gibbs, 2006b Gibbs, R.W. Jr. 2006b. Metaphor interpretation as embodied simulation. Mind and Language , 21: 434–458. ), and relies on the findings of a variety of psycholinguistic experiments. For example, Gibbs, Gould, and Andric (2006 Gibbs, R. W., Gould, J. J. and Andric, M. 2006. Imagining metaphorical actions: Embodied simulations make the impossible plausible. Imagination, Cognition and Personality , 25: 221–238. ) investigated whether people's descriptions of the mental images they formed when reacting to metaphorical expressions such as “ stretch for understanding ” were affected by watching, imitating or imagining the relevant physical action (e.g., physically stretching). They found that, under all three conditions, the majority of informants (78%) talked about performing the relevant action when verbalizing their reactions to the metaphorical expressions. Further evidence in support of the hypothesis that embodied simulation is involved in the processing of metaphorical expressions comes from studies that investigated priming effects. Wilson and Gibbs (2007 Wilson, N. and Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 2007. Real and imagined body movement primes metaphor comprehension. Cognitive Science , 31: 721–31. ) found that informants recognized expressions such as “ grasp the concept ” faster if they had just performed or imagined the relevant physical movement (e.g., grasping an object). Similar priming effects were found by Matlock (2004 Matlock, T. 2004. Fictive motion as cognitive simulation. Memory and Cognition , 32: 1389–1400. ) for sentences involving fictive motion, namely metaphorical expressions drawing from the source domain of “ MOVEMENT, ” such as “ The road goes through the desert ”. Matlock found that informants read and recognized this kind of sentence faster when they had previously read about fast, long-distance travel over an easy terrain, as opposed to slow, short-distance travel over a difficult terrain (see also Matlock, Ramscar & Boroditsky, 2005 Matlock, T., Ramscar, M. and Boroditsky, L. 2005. The experiential link between spatial and temporal language. Cognitive Science , 29: 655–64. ). I therefore propose that the variety of metaphorical descriptions of pain experiences that draw from the “ CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE ” source domain can be seen as potential triggers of embodied simulations of similar experiences. This raises the question of how different metaphorical descriptions of pain differ in terms of the nature of the simulation they may facilitate, or, indeed, in their potential for triggering a simulation at all. This issue is particularly important if we consider that, by and large, we are not exposed to the causes of other people's pain, but only to their verbal descriptions of their pain experiences. The findings of Osaka et al. (2004 Osaka, N., Osaka, M., Morishita, M., Kondo, H. and Fukuyama, H. 2004. A word expressing affective pain activates the anterior cingulate cortex in the human brain: An fMRI study. Behavioural Brain Research , 153: 123–7. ) provide some tentative evidence for the potential of metaphorical descriptions of pain to cause a partial simulation of others' pain experiences. As other existing experimental evidence involves visual stimuli, my discussion is inevitably speculative. It will, however, build on relevant work on metaphor processing, which is briefly discussed next. 5 5 Following Steen, 1994 Steen, G. 1994. Understanding metaphor in literature , London: Longman. , p. 44, I use the terms “metaphor processing,” “metaphor comprehension,” or “processing of metaphorical expressions” to refer to “any psychological process relating to linguistic metaphors.” View all notes Nonetheless, the relatively basic form of empathy that is mediated by embodied simulation is an important phenomenon in responses to others' pain. In Gallese et al.'s (2004 Gallese, V., Keysers, C. and Rizzolatti, G. 2004. A unifying view of the basis of social cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences , 8: 396–403. ) terms, embodied simulation allows an experiential as opposed to a conceptual understanding of another person's experiences. A conceptual understanding of another's experience is achieved when, for example, visual stimuli are interpreted as evidence that someone is performing particular actions or experiencing particular sensations or emotions. In the case of pain, this involves knowing that someone is in pain. An experiential understanding of another's experience, in contrast, is achieved when, for example, visual stimuli activate visceromotor structures that provide an albeit partial first-person simulation of the actions, sensations or emotions that someone else is going through. In the case of pain, this involves experiencing sensory and emotional states that are similar to those one would directly experience in the other person's situation. I suggest that the metaphorical patterns for the description of pain experiences I discussed in the previous section are motivated, at least in part, by the urge to convey one's pain sensations in a way that allows others to experience something that approximates as closely as possible what those sensations feel like. As pain sensations are difficult to put into words, we tend to describe them in terms of situations involving something that causes the most basic kind of physical, nociceptive pain. Both of the empathic phenomena mentioned by Avenanti et al. need to be distinguished, however, from the conscious attribution of mental states (e.g., beliefs) to others ( Goldman, 2006 Goldman, A. I. 2006. Simulating minds: The philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience of mindreading , Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. ), and from the more complex phenomenon known as ‘perspective-taking’—the ability to consider the world from someone else's viewpoint ( Galinsky, Maddux, Gilin, & White, 2008 Galinsky, A. D., Maddux, W. W., Gilin, D. and White, J. B. 2008. Why it pays to get inside the head of your opponent: The differential effects of perspective taking and empathy in negotiations. Psychological Science , 19(4): 378–381. ). In addition, the ‘mirroring’ phenomena observed in the above studies do not exhaust the complexity of the reactions we can have to others' pain. The experience of feelings of compassion for others in pain depends in large part on a range of further factors, such as our relationship with the person in question, our openness to sharing their experiences, our sense of responsibility for their well-being, and so on (see Rizzolatti & Sinigaglia, 2008 Rizzolatti, G. and Sinigaglia, C. 2008. Mirrors in the brain: How our minds share actions and emotions (F. Anderson, Trans.) , Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. , pp. 190-2; Cameron, 2010 Cameron, L. 2010. Metaphor and reconciliation: The discourse dynamics of empathy in post-conflict conversations , London: Routledge. ). It may thus be possible to think of at least two forms of empathy linked to one another in an evolutionary and developmental perspective. A comparatively simple form of empathy, based on somatic resonance, may be primarily concerned with mapping external stimuli onto one's body. A more complex form of empathy, based on affective resonance, may deal with emotional sharing and with the evaluation of social bonds and interpersonal relations. ( Avenanti et al., 2005 Avenanti, A., Bueti, D., Galati, G. and Aglioti, S. M. 2005. Transcranial magnetic stimulation highlights the sensorimotor side of empathy for pain. Nature Neuroscience , 8: 955–960. , p. 958) The kind of empathy that is mediated by embodied simulation in Gallese's sense is a relatively automatic, unconscious process: it involves a similarity between the sensory and/or emotional states we experience when involved in particular activities, and those we experience when watching others involved in those activities. 4 4 The use of the term “simulation” should not therefore be taken to suggest an exact match between the internal states of self and other, whether in terms of the nature or the intensity of these internal states. Indeed, Gallese (2009 Gallese, V. 2009. Mirror neurons, embodied simulation, and the neural basis of social identification. Psychoanalytic Dialogues , 19: 519–536. , p. 231) acknowledges that the “mirror” metaphor in “mirror neuron” research “is perhaps misleading.” View all notes Avenanti et al. (2005 Avenanti, A., Bueti, D., Galati, G. and Aglioti, S. M. 2005. Transcranial magnetic stimulation highlights the sensorimotor side of empathy for pain. Nature Neuroscience , 8: 955–960. ) make sense of the differences between their findings and those of studies such as Singer et al. (2004 Singer, T., Seymour, B., O'Doherty, J., Kaube, H., Dolan, R. J. and Frith, C. D. 2004. Empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain. Science , 303: 1157–1162. ) and Jackson et al. (2005 Jackson, P. L., Meltzoff, A. N. and Decety, J. 2005. How do we perceive the pain of others? A window into the neural processes involved in empathy. Neuroimage , 24: 771–779. ) by further distinguishing between sensory and affective reactions to others' experiences: Cumulatively, these studies suggest that some form of simulation observable at the neural level occurs in response to others' sensory and emotional experiences, including particularly pain experiences, and that this simulation may provide the basis for empathic responses to others' experiences. While the observation of neural processes in the research on empathy for pain may suggest a brain-body opposition, Gallese (2009 Gallese, V. 2009. Mirror neurons, embodied simulation, and the neural basis of social identification. Psychoanalytic Dialogues , 19: 519–536. ) emphasizes that the activation of shared neural circuits provides evidence for “embodied” simulation, which he defines as “a crucial functional mechanism of intersubjectivity by means of which the actions, emotions, and sensations of others are mapped by the same neural mechanisms that are normally activated when we act or experience similar emotions and sensations” ( Gallese 2009 Gallese, V. 2009. Mirror neurons, embodied simulation, and the neural basis of social identification. Psychoanalytic Dialogues , 19: 519–536. , p. 520). He adds that: Several of the above studies also investigated the potential relationship between ‘mirroring’ neural patterns on the one hand, and, on the other hand, the subjects' empathic tendencies and their conscious attribution of pain sensation to others under experimental conditions. Singer et al. (2004 Singer, T., Seymour, B., O'Doherty, J., Kaube, H., Dolan, R. J. and Frith, C. D. 2004. Empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain. Science , 303: 1157–1162. ) found a correlation between amount of activation in the affective areas of the subjects' pain matrix while observing their loved ones in a pain-inducing situation and their scores on a questionnaire that measured their empathic tendencies. Jackson et al. (2005 Jackson, P. L., Meltzoff, A. N. and Decety, J. 2005. How do we perceive the pain of others? A window into the neural processes involved in empathy. Neuroimage , 24: 771–779. ) and Avenanti et al. (2005 Avenanti, A., Bueti, D., Galati, G. and Aglioti, S. M. 2005. Transcranial magnetic stimulation highlights the sensorimotor side of empathy for pain. Nature Neuroscience , 8: 955–960. ) reported a correlation between degree of activity in the relevant areas of the pain matrix during exposure to others' pain and the subjects' ratings of the intensity of the pain experienced by the people who received the painful stimulation (see also Avenanti, Paluello, Bufalari, & Aglioti, 2006 Avenanti, A., Paluello, I. M., Bufalari, I. and Aglioti, S. M. 2006. Stimulus-driven modulation of motor-evoked potentials during observation of others' pain. NeuroImage , 32: 316–324. ). A more recent study using the same method as Avenanti et al. (2005 Avenanti, A., Bueti, D., Galati, G. and Aglioti, S. M. 2005. Transcranial magnetic stimulation highlights the sensorimotor side of empathy for pain. Nature Neuroscience , 8: 955–960. ) interestingly found no mirroring effects in subjects with Asperger syndrome watching videos involving the painful stimulation of hands ( Minio-Paluello, Baron-Cohen, Avenanti, Walsh, & Aglioti, 2009 Minio-Paluello, I., Baron-Cohen, S., Avenanti, A., Walsh, V. and Aglioti, S. M. 2009. Absence of embodied empathy during pain observation in Asperger Syndrome. Biological Psychiatry , 65: 55–62. ), while Xu et al. ( Xu, Zuo, Wang, & Han, 2009 Xu, X., Zuo, X., Wang, X. and Han, S. 2009. Do you feel my pain? Racial group membership modulates empathic neural responses. Journal of Neuroscience , 29(3): 8525–8529. ) provide evidence that the amount of activation in the affective areas of the pain matrix during exposure to others' pain may be lower when the stimuli involve members of a different racial group from that of the subjects. At least three of the words ( ghan-ghan , kiri-kiri and chiku-chiku ) are similar to the English expressions discussed in the previous section: They evoke situations involving physical damage, and, from the glosses provided by Osaka et al., appear to be used metaphorically to describe pain experiences that do not result from that kind of tissue damage. Osaka et al.'s findings are similar to those of Singer et al. (2004 Singer, T., Seymour, B., O'Doherty, J., Kaube, H., Dolan, R. J. and Frith, C. D. 2004. Empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain. Science , 303: 1157–1162. ) and Jackson et al. (2005 Jackson, P. L., Meltzoff, A. N. and Decety, J. 2005. How do we perceive the pain of others? A window into the neural processes involved in empathy. Neuroimage , 24: 771–779. ): Activity in the anterior cingulate cortex was observed in response to the pain-evoking words, but not in response to the nonsense syllables. In other words, an internal simulation involving the affective component of the neural system for pain seems to be possible in response to linguistic descriptions of pain, as well as in the response to the perception of pain in others. Due to Osaka et al.'s rather general use of the notion of “onomatopoeia,” it is difficult to draw strong conclusions concerning the precise aspects of the pain-evoking expressions that might have been particularly responsible for the effects that were observed. “(Z)uki-zuki” for throbbing pain with a pulsing sensation, “ghan-ghan” for splitting headache as if being continuously struck, “kiri-kiri” for stabbing pain with a feeling of being drilled into with something sharp, “chiku-chiku” for an intermittent pain akin to being struck by thorns, “hiri-hiri” for a lingering feeling of pain, “zukin-zukin” for continuous throbbing pain. ( Osaka et al., 2004 Osaka, N., Osaka, M., Morishita, M., Kondo, H. and Fukuyama, H. 2004. A word expressing affective pain activates the anterior cingulate cortex in the human brain: An fMRI study. Behavioural Brain Research , 153: 123–7. . p. 124) A series of studies have shown that some parts of the neural network for the representation of painful experiences (the “pain matrix”) become active both when someone experiences a painful stimulus and when they observe someone else in a pain-inducing situation. More specifically, fMRI brain imagining has revealed activity in the areas of the pain matrix associated with the affective qualities of pain (the bilateral anterior insula and the rostral anterior cingulate cortex) when subjects observed their own partner experience a familiar pain stimulus ( Singer et al., 2004 Singer, T., Seymour, B., O'Doherty, J., Kaube, H., Dolan, R. J. and Frith, C. D. 2004. Empathy for pain involves the affective but not sensory components of pain. Science , 303: 1157–1162. ) and when they watched photographs representing limbs in pain-inducing situations ( Jackson, Meltzoff, & Decety, 2005 Jackson, P. L., Meltzoff, A. N. and Decety, J. 2005. How do we perceive the pain of others? A window into the neural processes involved in empathy. Neuroimage , 24: 771–779. ). In contrast, Avenanti et al. ( Avenanti, Bueti, Galati, & Aglioti, 2005 Avenanti, A., Bueti, D., Galati, G. and Aglioti, S. M. 2005. Transcranial magnetic stimulation highlights the sensorimotor side of empathy for pain. Nature Neuroscience , 8: 955–960. ) found evidence of mirroring effects in the sensori-motor areas of the pain matrix, which is responsible for representing, for example, the localization and intensity of painful experiences. Using single-scope transcranial stimulation, Avenanti et al. noted that, during the observation of painful stimuli, the excitability of the subjects' hand muscles was substantially reduced. This is consistent with what happens when pain is directly experienced in one's hands, as the inhibition of muscle activity contributes to self-preservation. Over the last two decades, different lines of research in neuroscience, psychology and psycholinguistics have suggested that internal, embodied simulation is involved in a variety of cognitive activities, including imagination and the comprehension of action and language. More specifically, it has been suggested that some form of simulation may be involved in empathic responses to others' pain on the one hand, and in the processing of metaphorical expressions on the other. VARIATION IN METAPHORICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF PAIN AND EMBODIED SIMULATION In this section I build on the work discussed in the previous sections in order to suggest that different kinds of metaphorical descriptions of pain drawing from the “CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE” source domain may facilitate different kinds of simulation processes. I propose that the nature and intensity of the simulation that may be involved in the processing of different metaphorical descriptions will depend primarily on (a) the property, entity or process that corresponds to the most basic, nonmetaphorical meaning of the metaphorically used word(s); (b) the degree of conventionality or novelty of the metaphorical uses of the relevant expressions, both in relation to pain experiences and in relation to other target domains; and (c) the presence of local metaphorical patterns, which may contribute to the evocation of detailed metaphorical scenarios. I begin by returning to the adjective sharp, which is used to describe a pain sensation in the first extract from the BNC I quoted at the beginning of the paper. The extract, which is reproduced again below, occurs during an informal conversation among a group of students: 6. Just had a sharp pain go right down the bottom of my leg! (From the spoken demographic section of the BNC, file KWC) This utterance elicits a response from another speaker (Oh, don't worry about it!), but no other references to pain occur within the part of the interaction that is included in the relevant file in the BNC. As I mentioned earlier, there is ample evidence of the conventionality of the metaphorical use of sharp to describe non-nociceptive pain sensations. Sharp is one of the descriptors for pain that are included in the MPQ. In the BNC, sharp is the 25th most frequent collocate of pain: it occurs 26 times immediately before the word pain. 21 of these occurrences are metaphorical as in example (6) above, amounting to approximately 4.5 occurrences out of 1,000 citations of sharp. This far exceeds the threshold suggested by Deignan (2005 Deignan, A. 2005. Metaphor and corpus linguistics, Amsterdam: John Benjamins. ) for establishing the distinction between conventional or novel metaphorical uses of words on the basis of corpus evidence: Deignan suggests that ‘any sense of a word that is found less than once in every thousand citations can be considered either innovative or rare’ (Deignan, 2005 Deignan, A. 2005. Metaphor and corpus linguistics, Amsterdam: John Benjamins. , p. 40). In addition, the entry for sharp in the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners (which is based on a different corpus of contemporary English) includes, amongst others, a meaning of the adjective that is explained as follows: “a sharp pain is sudden and severe”. The adjective also has a range of other similarly frequent metaphorical uses, some of which can be broadly related to the use I am discussing here, as they are to do with sudden, intense and unpleasant experiences (e.g., “a sharp taste,” “a sharp noise,” “a sharp look”). In Giora's (2003 Giora, R. 2003. On our mind: Salience, context, and figurative language, Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. ) terms, it can be argued that the salient meanings of sharp are likely to include the sudden and severe quality of some sensations and experiences, including pain sensations. In Steen's (2008 Steen, G. J. 2008. The paradox of metaphor: Why we need a three-dimensional model for metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol, 23(4): 213–241. ) terms, the metaphorical use of sharp in examples such as (6) can be described as a nondeliberate use of metaphor. It is possible, in principle, that the use of sharp in descriptions such as (6) may be processed via a simulation that involves the most basic meaning of the adjective. In Ritchie's (2006 Ritchie, D. L. 2006. Context and connection in metaphor, Basingstoke, , UK: Palgrave Macmillan. ) terms, this would involve (primary) sensory perceptual simulators for the visual and tactile characteristics of sharp objects, as well as proprioceptive simulators for the sensation of being cut by a sharp object, and introspective simulators for the resulting emotions of distress and anxiety. However, such a rich simulation is rather unlikely, due to the conventionality of sharp as a metaphorical description of pain and of other negative experiences, and to the fact that no other metaphorical expressions are used by the speaker to evoke a scenario involving physical damage (the other metaphorical expression in the same utterance, “go right down” involves the source domain of “MOVEMENT” and is also rather conventional). Hence, it is more likely that sharp will be processed by accessing directly an appropriate conventional metaphorical meaning. In Ritchie's terms, this may involve the activation of secondary proprioceptive simulators for nociceptive pain and/or introspective simulators for pain-related distress and anxiety. Due to the semantic bleaching caused by the adjective's frequent and varied metaphorical uses, it is even more likely that the use of sharp in the extract above may only activate simulators for generically unpleasant proprioceptive and introspective experiences, or that it may not facilitate a perceptual simulation at all, but simply give access to other relevant words that are associated with it, such as severe or terrible. Let me now compare the above use of sharp with the use of drilling to describe the pain caused by a headache in the example below, from the novel Regularly Scheduled Life by K. A. Mitchell. The extract occurs after a short stretch of dialogue that takes place in the playing fields of the school where Sean, one of the novel's main characters, is a teacher: 7. The drilling pain started up on the left side of Sean's head again. He couldn't remember ever getting headaches like this before. (Mitchell, 2009, p. 95 Mitchell, K. A. 2009. Regularly scheduled life, Macon, GA: Samhain Publishing. ) The metaphorical use of drilling as a description of non-nociceptive pain is similar to that of sharp in so far as it is part of the same broad linguistic pattern that I have captured in terms of the conventional conceptual metaphor “PAIN IS CAUSE OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE”. Like sharp, drilling is also one of the descriptors for pain that are included in the MPQ. Indeed, the description of the character's pain as drilling in the extract above is unlikely to be perceived as particularly creative, let alone as a one-off. On the other hand, however, this use of drilling is much less conventional than the use of sharp I discussed earlier. In the BNC, drilling never occurs within five words of pain, and I also found no metaphorical collocations with pains, ache, hurt and head. The Macmillan English Dictionary reports no sense of the word that relates to pain. In Giora's (2003 Giora, R. 2003. On our mind: Salience, context, and figurative language, Oxford, , UK: Oxford University Press. ) terms, the description of a particular type of pain sensation is unlikely to be one of the salient meanings of drilling, so that, in context, the use of this expression to describe pain is more likely to be intended and perceived as deliberate (Steen 2008 Steen, G. J. 2008. The paradox of metaphor: Why we need a three-dimensional model for metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol, 23(4): 213–241. ). In addition, while the basic meaning of sharp is a property of objects, the basic meaning of drilling is the process of making a hole using a very specific kind of tool, which involves both penetration and rotation. Most people are also likely to be familiar with the sensation of having a tooth drilled, which, even under local anaesthetic, can produce a powerful and unpleasant physical sensation. Hence, other things being equal, there is greater potential that the processing of “drilling pain” in example (7) may involve the basic meaning of the adjective, and the activation of some elements of a scenario in which a tool capable of drilling is applied to someone's body. In Ritchie's terms, this would result in a simulation that could involve (primary) sensory simulators for the shape and feel of a drill, proprioceptive simulators for the sensation of being penetrated by a drill, and introspective simulators for the anxiety and distress that would accompany such a situation. While such a rich simulation is, in my view, more plausible than in the case of sharp, it needs to be taken into account that the use of drilling in relation to pain is not entirely novel, and that no other linguistic expression in the co-text contributes to the evocation of a scenario involving physical damage. It is therefore possible that the processing of drilling in the extract above may activate a more limited simulation, involving only secondary proprioceptive simulators for unpleasant physical pressure and/or introspective simulators for emotional distress. In both extracts (6) and (7) any simulation triggered by “sharp pain” or “drilling pain” is also likely to be relatively fleeting, as neither description of pain is elaborated in the relevant local (spoken or written) co-text. Let me now quote again the extract from the BNC I introduced in section 2 as example 4, which is extracted from a novel: 8. She swallowed again and tried to ignore the terrible sharp pain that was twisting viciously into the side of her head. (From the Imaginative Writing section of the BNC, file HGT) The pain described here is experienced by a character called Robyn while she is having an awkward conversation with a man with whom she unexpectedly had sex the night before. Robyn's headache has first been mentioned eight paragraphs before the extract above, where it was described as “hanging excruciatingly over one side of her face”. In extract (8) the pain that is first described as terrible and sharp is subsequently presented as “twisting viciously into” the side of the head of the character. In other words, sharp is the first element in a local textual pattern that involves two further metaphorically used words, namely: the verb twist, which suggests a particularly painful way of penetrating the body with a sharp object, and the adverb viciously, which personifies the pain by attributing a particular attitude to it. There is no evidence in the BNC or in corpus-based dictionaries that twisting or viciously are conventionally used metaphorically in relation to pain, although they are consistent with the conventional description of pain in terms of physical damage and malevolent aggression (in fact, vicious is one of the descriptors included in the MPQ). In other words, within the co-text, sharp contributes to a textual pattern that involves some degree of metaphorical creativity, and that, in Steen's (2008 Steen, G. J. 2008. The paradox of metaphor: Why we need a three-dimensional model for metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol, 23(4): 213–241. ) terms, may be described as a case of deliberate metaphor. In addition, the local metaphorical pattern provides enough detail to imagine a specific scenario of physical aggression, or even torture. This arguably creates the conditions for a rich simulation of the kind described by Gibbs (2006b Gibbs, R.W. Jr. 2006b. Metaphor interpretation as embodied simulation. Mind and Language, 21: 434–458. ), for example, whereby a reader may imagine going through the experience of being subjected to a protracted physical attack. This may involve sensory simulators for the shape and feel of an object capable of being twisted into one's head, and possibly of the body of an attacker brandishing this object. In addition, further proprioceptive simulators may be activated for the sensations of internal pressure and pain resulting from that kind of physical attack, as well as introspective simulators for the fear, distress and helplessness associated with being assaulted by a malevolent agent. Any such simulation would be more sustained than in the case of the previous two examples, as the description of the character's headache occupies more textual space, and involves several words contributing to evoke a single pain-inducing scenario. I will finish by considering two examples where both the creativity and the deliberateness of the metaphorical descriptions are more obvious. Example (9) is a part of a quotation attributed to a migraine sufferer in a factsheet produced by the City of London Migraine Clinic, and was briefly introduced at the beginning of the paper: 9. The pain was like a small garden rake over my eyes and top of my head, digging in and scraping away. (Migraine patient quoted in factsheet produced by the City of London Migraine Clinic) Here the description of the sufferer's migraine pain involves a simile of the form “A is like B”. Similes have been found to favour processing via comparison involving mappings from source to target domain (see Gentner & Bowdle, 2008 Gentner, D. and Bowdle, B. 2008. “Metaphor as structure-mapping”. In The Cambridge handbook of metaphor and thought, Edited by: Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 109–28. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. ): in other words, the basic, physical meanings of the expressions that make up the simile are activated in processing. 8 8In terms of the metaphor identification procedure proposed in Pragglejaz Group (2007 Group, Pragglejaz. 2007. MIP: A method for identifying metaphorically used words in discourse. Metaphor and Symbol, 22(1): 1–39. ), the expressions that are part of similes are used in their basic meanings, and are therefore not used metaphorically (see also Semino, 2008 Semino, E. 2008. Metaphor in discourse, Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. , pp. 16-17). The metaphoricity of some similes lies in the comparison between the basic meanings of these expressions and the aspects of the topic or target domain that the simile is used to describe. View all notes The description provided via the simile is consistent with the conventional pattern that I have related to the source domain causes of physical damage, but is both more creative and richer in detail than the examples above, and evokes a very specific and vivid metaphorical scenario. This scenario includes both a very precise kind of object that can cause physical damage (“a small garden rake”), and two actions that involve both movement and penetration (“digging in and scraping away”) and that are performed on two very precise parts of the sufferer's head (“over my eyes and top of my head”). None of the expressions that form the local textual pattern in this extract have conventional metaphorical uses to do with the sensation of pain: in fact, garden rake, and any scenario normally associated with it, would normally be unrelated to physical harm but rather have positive emotional associations. For all these reasons, I would argue, this example is likely to facilitate a rich and intense simulation of what it would be like to be in that very specific pain-inducing situation. The words that make up the simile can activate sensory simulators for the size of the rake and its normal setting and function, as well as further sensory associations to do with colour, weight, and so on (depending, in part, on the reader's familiarity with gardening and garden rakes). The level of detail and creativity of the description can further activate proprioceptive simulators for very specific sensations of physical pressure and pain, and introspective simulators for the acute distress and helplessness that would arise when experiencing that kind of pain. Indeed, the quotation from which extract (9) is taken was included in the London Migraine clinic factsheet in order to help convey how a migraine attack is different from the milder headaches that most people are familiar with. Arguably, this is best achieved by putting readers in a position to feel what it is like to experience a kind of pain that they are unlikely to have ever experienced directly. My final example is taken from a book that resulted from a project involving chronic pain sufferers attending a residential course held at the INPUT Pain Management Unit at St. Thomas's hospital in London (Padfield, 2003 Padfield, D. 2003. Perceptions of pain, Stockport, , UK: Dewi Lewis Publishing. ). Eleven sufferers agreed to work with an artist, Deborah Padfield, to produce photographs that conveyed their experience of pain. The photographs were accompanied by verbal descriptions of what the images represented, which are written in strongly personal and autobiographical terms. Example (10) below is part of the verbal description produced by Frances Tenbeth, who, at the time of the project, had been suffering from chronic pain for 42 years: 10. I am constantly battling with the physical pain. You could possibly describe it as swords on fire. It is as if they are ripping out my leg all the time. Red hot swords. They move. They start in my back and move down relentlessly, like an escalator. […] I think it is probably one rod and a million swords. (Frances Tenbeth in Padfield, 2003 Padfield, D. 2003. Perceptions of pain, Stockport, , UK: Dewi Lewis Publishing. , p. 60) This extract opens with a metaphorical use of the verb battle to describe the sufferer's relationship with her pain. Frances then explicitly introduces a figurative comparison between her pain and “swords on fire,” and goes on to use metaphorical expressions that are to do with at least two kinds of causes of physical damage: sharp metal objects cutting the flesh (“ripping out,” “rod,” “a million swords”), and heat (“hot,” “on fire”). The hotness of the metaphorical swords is also conveyed metonymically by references to colour (“red”), while the description of the swords includes movement up and down Frances's back and legs (“move down relentlessly,” “like an escalator”). In other words, while all the various figurative expressions can be subsumed under the “CAUSES OF PHYSICAL DAMAGE” source domain, there is creativity in the choice of at least some of the specific expressions that are used (e.g., “swords,” “ripping out”), and in the establishment of a tight textual pattern that involves the combination of different kinds of causes of physical damage (application of sharp objects, movement of sharp objects, and heat), resulting in a rich metaphorical scenario. Frances's description is also very detailed in terms of references to very specific objects, their characteristics and their (hyperbolic) number (“a million swords”). The description from which this extract is taken is followed by three photographs: a close-up of a red, apparently incandescent spear-like object against a black background, and two images involving human legs covered in several groups of small daggers forming what Frances describes as a “herring bone” pattern. The blades of the daggers have a red shading that suggests heat, and the background is black in both cases. In other words, the interaction between the text and the photographs results in what Forceville (2008 Forceville, C. 2008. “Metaphor in pictures and multimodal representations”. In The Cambridge handbook of metaphor and thought, Edited by: Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 462–82. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. ) calls a “multimodal metaphor”: As a first approximation, I will define multimodal metaphors as metaphors in which target, source, and/or mappable features are represented or suggested by at least two different sign systems (one of which may be language) or modes of perception. (Forceville, 2008 Forceville, C. 2008. “Metaphor in pictures and multimodal representations”. In The Cambridge handbook of metaphor and thought, Edited by: Gibbs, R. W. Jr. 462–82. Cambridge, , UK: Cambridge University Press. , p. 463) Frances's verbal description makes fully explicit the figurative function of the daggers in the visual images, as well as the fact that their redness is meant to represent the perception of (metaphorical) heat. The multimodal interaction of the verbal text with the visual image adds to the overall deliberateness of Frances's description of her pain. Overall, Frances's multimodal metaphorical description of her pain has the potential to facilitate a rich and intense simulation including multiple sensory, proprioceptive and introspective simulators. The extract contains a variety of lexical choices that can activate sensory simulators for the colour, size, shape and feel of specific physical objects (“red hot swords,” “one rod”), as well as proprioceptive simulators for the intense physical sensations that would result from repeated penetration and burning via a large number of incandescent sharp objects. The associated introspective simulators for negative emotions are potentially much more powerful and overwhelming than in the case of the more conventional and less detailed descriptions I have discussed. More specifically, in the case of brief and conventional metaphorical descriptions of pain such as “sharp pain” or “drilling pain” a particularly high degree of involvement is required on the part of the listener/reader in order for processing to involve a rich and intense simulation, or even any simulation at all (see also Cameron's 2010 Cameron, L. 2010. Metaphor and reconciliation: The discourse dynamics of empathy in post-conflict conversations, London: Routledge. notion of ‘being prepared’ for empathy). With examples such as (9) and (10), the opposite is the case. The level of detail, complexity and creativity of these metaphorical descriptions of pain is such that only a deliberately low degree of involvement (or positive resistance to empathy) would prevent a reader/listener from gaining what Gallese et al. (2004 Gallese, V., Keysers, C. and Rizzolatti, G. 2004. A unifying view of the basis of social cognition. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 8: 396–403. ) call an experiential understanding of the other person's pain, i.e. going through at least part of the sensory, proprioceptive and introspective sensations that one would experience in the situation that is being described. Indeed, examples (9) and (10) were selected for inclusion in different types of publications as particularly powerful descriptions of the experiences of chronic pain sufferers. Example (10), was part of an exhibition which many visitors described as extremely moving and effective. I can also add anecdotally that some members of the audience for a talk including several examples such as (10) (and the accompanying photographs), reported feelings of emotional and physical discomfort. The multimodal nature of the project which gave rise to example (10) is likely to be particularly crucial, as it combines the kinds of effects that are usually treated as separate experimental conditions in neuroscientific research (e.g. Osaka et al., 2004 Osaka, N., Osaka, M., Morishita, M., Kondo, H. and Fukuyama, H. 2004. A word expressing affective pain activates the anterior cingulate cortex in the human brain: An fMRI study. Behavioural Brain Research, 153: 123–7. ; Jackson et al., 2005 Jackson, P. L., Meltzoff, A. N. and Decety, J. 2005. How do we perceive the pain of others? A window into the neural processes involved in empathy. Neuroimage, 24: 771–779. ). The form of simulation that is likely to be involved in processing the more creative and deliberate metaphorical descriptions would, in Ritchie's (2009 Ritchie, D. 2009. Relevance and simulation in metaphor. Metaphor and Symbol, 24(4): 249–62. ) tripartite classification, fall under the rich, complex and intense embodied simulations of the kind suggested by Gibbs (2006b Gibbs, R.W. Jr. 2006b. Metaphor interpretation as embodied simulation. Mind and Language, 21: 434–458. ). In my discussion, however, I have not adopted strict distinctions between different types of simulations, but I have described potential simulations in terms of their degrees of intensity and richness, and of the range of simulators they may involve. Even the most complex simulations, would not, in my view, involve the activation of complete source domains, but rather the imaginative construction of detailed and specific scenarios, which draw from generic conceptual domains, but do not necessarily correspond to frequent or familiar pain-inducing situations. Indeed, the last two examples show even more clearly than expressions such as “stabbing pain” that we often hyperbolically describe pain sensations in terms of scenarios that we have not experienced directly: the “garden rake” scenario in (9) is implausible but possible, while the “million swords” scenario in (10) is downright impossible. Even the most unrealistic scenarios, however, involve combinations of familiar sensations (e.g., being burned or being cut), or, in some cases, of extreme versions of familiar sensations (e.g., being stabbed or being cut with a million swords). Arguably, therefore, these scenarios can be simulated by integrating different (and relatively familiar) component elements into a single imaginable whole. 9 9The imaginative production and interpretation of scenarios such as that evoked by Frances Tenbeth is also likely to rely on previous responses to descriptions and images of torture and injury in fiction and the media, which make such experiences familiar even to people who have no first-hand knowledge of them (I am grateful to David Ritchie for this observation). View all notes

(Oregon Coast) – It's been a weird year for weather in Portland and along the Oregon coast, and the beaches have seem plenty of strange sights. As parts of Oregon clock in with the wettest winter on record, scientists are saying a big element in all this – the Blob - may have finally packed up and gone. (Photo above by Tiffany Boothe, Seaside Aquarium: the blob may have helped chase the food source for Humpback whales close to Cannon Beach this year, resulting in numberous close-in sightings). The National Weather Service (NWS) in Portland released some startling stats for Oregon's winter, saying Portland has had the wettest winter ever. Astoria rainfall amounts (40 inches) apparently came in as 20th highest since records have been kept, although residents of other parts of the north coast might disagree with that. Tillamook County received some of the worst flooding in decades in December. The NWS counted December, January and February as the winter, so not all of winter's stats are in yet. Portland also had the hottest summer on record, and much of the Oregon coast came close to that record as well – much of it blamed on The Blob. Scientists at NASA and NOAA believe the infamous "Blob" in the Pacific Ocean may have met its end. The somewhat mysterious area of warmer water – which often lingered off the Oregon and Washington coasts – is thought to have been a part of all sorts of anomalies, including weather changes and what kinds of creatures washed up along this coastline. The end of the Blob was heralded in mid-December by Clifford Mass, a University of Washington atmospheric scientist. Since then, this declaration has been backed up by data from U.S. Navy's WindSAT instrument on the Coriolis satellite and the AMSR2 instrument on Japan's GCOM-W satellite. The maps created from these two show significant differences in the the Pacific ocean's temps between July of 2015 and then January of this year. The Blob, along with the effects of El Nino, seemed to affect marine life throughout the food chain in a wide area of the Earth, from Russia to Alaska to the western U.S. Microscopic phytoplankton do better in colder waters, and these populations were chased out of various areas by a lack of upwelling because the Blob brought higher surface temperatures. As phytoplankton were moved or died off, other populations of fish and invertebrates were affected. More sea lion strandings in California are attributed to this. 2015 was a banner year for head-scratching anomalies along Oregon beaches, including a highly unusual number of sea cucumber sightings – still happening today. Many beach experts in Oregon said they normally see just a handful of these a year, even though they live just under the sand. But there have been lots of them, according to Tiffany Boothe of Seaside Aquarium. Hordes of Humpback whales made startling appearances along much of the north Oregon coast, much higher than usual, as they chased baitfish around Cannon Beach and up the Columbia River. The larger-than-usual numbers of baitfish are attributed to the Blob chasing their food sources this direction. Another big puzzler was a relative of the jellyfish-like creature that showed up in mid summer that made the waves purple, in various areas and at different times. Scientists along the Oregon coast had never seen this before and it took some time to figure out what it was. They still don't know why these Doliolids (as they're called) were so purple.

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine laws protect people from discrimination based on factors such as race, disabilities and sexual orientation, and a Republican lawmaker wants to add a person’s beliefs about climate change to that list. Rep. Larry Lockman has introduced a bill that would limit the attorney general’s ability to investigate or prosecute people based on their political speech, including their views on climate change. It would also prohibit the state from discriminating in buying goods or services or awarding grants or contracts based on a person’s “climate change policy preferences.” Lockman, an independent business consultant from Amherst, told The Associated Press that he believes it’s an open question whether human activity is the primary cause of climate change. “We need to have a vigorous public debate on that question,” he said. Peer-reviewed studies, science organizations and climate scientists say that the world is warming from man-made forces. Rep. Lois Galgay Reckitt, a Democrat of South Portland and a marine biologist who sits on the judiciary committee that has the bill, said prospects for passage are poor. She said she expected “the entire Democratic caucus is going to hate it,” and some Republicans will, too. “The issue for me is I’m a scientist and I live near the ocean. It’s absolutely clear to me that climate change is happening, and it worries me,” she said. “I will fight this tooth and nail.” Lockman wants to prohibit the state attorney general from investigating, joining an investigation or prosecuting any person based on that person’s protected political speech. But he said his bill would also reaffirm free speech by protecting climate change supporters as well. “I don’t want to see a Republican state attorney general issuing subpoenas for the records of progressive or liberal think tanks or public policy groups to chill their free speech,” he said. Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills declined to comment. In his bill, Lockman says that the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United “continued the protection of protected political speech, no matter the source or message.” That case allowed corporations and unions to make unlimited independent expenditures in U.S. elections. Jonathan Reisman, an associate professor of economics and public policy at the University of Maine at Machias and a vocal critic of the scientific consensus on climate change, said he requested the bill. He said the bill is an attempt to defend the First Amendment freedom of those who speak out in a way that does not reflect the consensus. “It’s about Citizens United and the government abridging speech,” he said. “It’s not about climate science. It’s about climate policy.” Lockman has a history of causing controversy. He once dressed as a vampire outside a federal building in Bangor to protest the Internal Revenue Service. He also once accused liberals of assisting the AIDS epidemic, saying they assured “the public that the practice of sodomy is a legitimate alternative lifestyle, rather than a perverted and depraved crime against humanity.” He said he couldn’t predict the outcome of his latest bill but expected a lot of interest at a public hearing scheduled April 6. Lockman’s bill is “absurd and unnecessary,” said Dylan Voorhees, climate and clean energy project director for the Natural Resources Council of Maine. “Clearly an attempt to provide cover for climate deniers,” he said. “I see a trickle down from the Trump administration that has emboldened some folks to make climate denial statements.”

As the technology advances the breakthrough, like the insider threats. Security becomes one of the biggest concerns for any organization. That is why the cyber security tips also need to be side by side with the technology’s advantages and of course with the events that happen. An insider threat can be best defined as a malicious hacker who could be an employee or officer of a business, institution or agency. These insider threats can also be some outsiders who can just pretend to be the employee of the company. Getting an access to the information center is the prime motive of these threats. Enterprise information leakage can result into the big business damage. The disgruntled employees can introduce virus, worms and Trojan horses to tamper the corporate secrets. Here are 11 tips for spotting the insider threat. Please have a look: How to Stop Insider Threat? If you observe a strange pattern in your DNS traffic Domain Name Servers are similar to that of the phone book. The server maintains the directory of the domain name and translate them to Internet Protocol. When there is a visitor to your domain, the DNS settings control which company’s server will it reach. The Domain Name Servers are to simplify the human readable host names to the machine readable IP address. In other words, DNS is a service that translates the domain name to the IP address. But in case, you observe a change in the domain name like inclusion of unnecessary hash (#), it seems something is surely going wrong. Analyze the Malware before you delete it The companies always keep a check on the virus and malware attacks. As soon as they identify the infected systems, they work to get these back on track. If you think that any enterprise computer system is infected with the Malware do not simply delete it. However, we still do not have a complete solution to kill the Malware, it should be identified as the beginning of the problems. But, it is better to be well aware of the signs which may cause the threat, right? Knowing the internet security tips helps a lot. The company should also identify what was done just before the Malware was detected and after what did the employees clicked. Download Malware and Virus cleaner its Free Check the use of Shadow IT tools Shadow IT tools are the information technology systems and solutions built/used inside the organization without the organizational approval. The management needs to deploy the resources to find out from where does this stealth IT arises. The use of shadow IT tools has increased exponentially in the recent years. This growth is the result of the quality of consumer applications in the Cloud such as file sharing apps, social media and collaboration tools. But in the recent application usage and threat report , it was identifiable that some of the organizations have had few remote access applications in use concurrently. Now you cannot always trust that this usage is unintentional that may lead to severe consequences. Locate the first instance of any strange/new event In the recent past, few companies have experienced the insider attack. The new identities, ghost employers’ id was created by using the aliases. These identities were observed to have conducted the new activities which never happened earlier. This was a point of contention. It had resulted in the loss of company data and information. For Example: An employee changed his job from one semi-conductor manufacturing company to the newer one. He used his remaining time at the old company to download about 80 documents from his new employer’s competitors. The authority catches him when he started emailing these documents to his friends. Trace the endpoint authentication logs with Active Directory Logs A very easy trace point where if any employee logs into an unauthorized domain, then there are chances that he could be an insider threat. Keep a track on the endpoint authentication logs. The company may also monitor the correlation between the logs from Active Directory and the end point authentication events. Find out what does not exist anymore It is a general trend that the insider will often try to accomplish the damage by deleting the things, data and important information. They can do it with the use of the Malwares. You should trace the registry keys, services and other things that exists but no longer visible on the machine. This is a serious telltale sign that the insider could have attacked. Alarm! Fake Credentials Usage The insider threat will find the new credentials to find out more on the new found privilege to access the data. They will then set up the bogus credentials and fake files as a bait, you can see when those credentials are in use. For Example: In the recent past, an unknown outsider had used the fake credential of the retail chain employee. He had then stolen the card numbers of the 40 million customers and personal details of about 70 million customers. This damaged the company’s reputation, leading to the loss of the CEO’s and the CIO’s job. The insiders can be more dangerous as they have an easy access to the company’s important information. For Example: The US city recently got locked in the labor negotiation with the union employees. Two of the employees gained control of the system as per the information. Once in the system, they disconnected signal control boxes and refrained any one else to access it. This insider attack lead to four days blinking of light. Know the multiple logins to the cloud-based storage service You should look for the multiple logins into different machines, although from the same account, accessing large data stores on the system and synchronizing everything to the cloud based applications like Dropbox or others. The impact of the cloud based insider attack can be significant. It can affect all the cloud users. An insider can use the authorized rights of the cloud provider to access the sensitive data. It can result into the data leakage and severe destruction to the company’s data. Watch the flow of data around the key assets If you regularly monitor the internal assets, you can identify the insider easily. They will try to capture the large amount of data in the shortest time possible. Verify the exposed employee’s credentials Some of the paste sites can be checking for the employee credentials. If you find that it is out, immediately change the password and implement the two-factor authentication. Host-to-host authentication If a strange person authenticate to a host from a different host even when the target host is authenticates to the domain controller only, it seems there is a serious problem. For two-step authentication, download this tool from here its free

It's been nearly two months since the Twitter world heard from Kanye West, but after he caused a media frenzy by showing up to Trump Tower for a meeting with Donald Trump on Tuesday morning (Dec. 13), the rapper came out of social-media hiding to provide a little clarity on his meeting with the U.S. president-elect. "I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues," West tweeted hours after leaving Trump Tower. He added, "I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change." I wanted to meet with Trump today to discuss multicultural issues. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016 These issues included bullying, supporting teachers, modernizing curriculums, and violence in Chicago. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016 I feel it is important to have a direct line of communication with our future President if we truly want change. — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016 Along with his explanation, West hinted that his time with Trump may have convinced him that he needs a little more time to prepare to run for Oval Office. #2024 — KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) December 13, 2016 West's visit with Trump took place just a few weeks after he was hospitalized for exhaustion and sleep deprivation. While the Life of Pablo rapper didn't address his condition in his series of tweets, his resurgence both on social media and the public eye are certainly promising.

My second (and last) Hobonichi order arrived this week, so I'm finally all set for 2017. I've changed my mind a few times in the past couple of months about what setup I want for my 2017 planners, and no doubt I'll change my mind throughout the next year, as well. But for now, I'm set on what I'll start the year with, at least. Warning: image-heavy post! Roterfaden A5: journalling My Roterfaden will continue housing my Kindle, an A5 Tomoe River pad for writing letters, and my journal. My journal itself will change slightly, though. My first Hobonichi order was for the Cousin Avec set for 2017 and the second book (July-Dec) from 2016 to test the Cousin layout. I used the 2016 book for about a month as an all-in-one planner, but decided I could fit everything onto an A6 page after all, and I like having planners and notebooks that are only as big as I need them to be. I also kept the Cousin in my Roterfaden, which I love, but which feels a bit chunky and heavy when I'm carting it around the house all the time. I thought about selling the 2017 Cousin Avec (which is why I kept it wrapped in plastic while using the 2016 version to test how it fit into my planning setup), but ultimately decided to try it out as a journal, instead. I don't remember the last time (if ever) I tried a dated journal, but I've been writing in my journal almost every day recently anyway, so I think this could work quite well. So far, this has been my journal. The Tomoe River paper in this notebook is amazing, and in my eyes it's a little superior to the Hobonichi Tomoe River paper. Because this is a plain notebook, it's undated, so I can pause my journalling in this notebook while I try the day-per-page Hobonichi, and come back to it later. But I've also been using this as a commonplace book of sorts, writing in quotes and notes from books I read. And I've sometimes written a few pages on whatever I'm thinking about, or a big decision I'm trying to make. Since the Hobonichi limits how much I can write each day, I'll keep the Crossfield as an overflow journal, as well as a commonplace book. Both of these will be housed in my Roterfaden, since the Avec is so slim it can fit neatly beside the thick Crossfield. Which means I won't have any issues switching between the two for different types of journalling. I call this a work notebook, because it's the one I use to actually get work done, but really it's kind of a combination planner and notebook. It houses a couple of inserts and an A6 Hobonichi. For my daily to do list, I prefer a small-sized page. When I was using the Bullet Journal system in my regular Traveler's Notebook, I ended up purchasing a passport size for my daily planning, because I found the regular pages too big. But for monthly planning, which I use extensively, the passport was too small. I still haven't found a perfect combination of how much room I need for each of these, so I'm going with two different planners in 2017. The A6 Avec Hobonichi will just be for my daily to do list. For now I don't have any plans to use the monthly section, but it's not a big proportion of the book, so I don't feel too bad wasting it. I'm planning on keeping this in the middle of my Traveler's Notebook by sliding the cover into the kraft folder insert I have, which I saw in this blog post. Since my Traveler's Notebook is the one I have with me when I'm actually working, it makes sense for my daily to do list to be there, too. When I got my second Hobonichi order, I added a couple of cheap things I wasn't totally sure I needed—this is one of them. Because Hobonichi shipping is so expensive, I knew I wouldn't want to make a new order for one or two cheap things, so I just threw them in, in case I wanted to use them later. At this stage I'm not sure I need or want the weekly booklet. I'm going to try tracking my expenses and income in here, and slip it into the kraft folder behind the A6 Avec, but I may not stick with it. (The other cheap item I threw in was the set of Weeks memo books. I had a plan for those a few weeks ago, but with my current setup I'm not sure what—if anything—I'll use them for.) Besides my Hobonichi, I'm using two inserts in my Traveler's Notebook. I use Tomoe River exclusively these days, for two reasons: one being that it's amazing paper, and I write with fountain pens most of the time, which shine on this paper. The second reason is that Tomoe River paper lays flat more easily than other papers, because it's so thin and soft. Compared to the paper in Traveler's Company inserts, it's a lot easier to make Tomoe River inserts lie flat. I do a lot of writing in this notebook, so flat pages are important for me. One of these inserts is for all manner of notes: phone numbers, notes during calls, outlining and drafting blog posts, brainstorming ideas, making notes during interviews for articles I'm working on. The other insert is for my sketchnotes, though lately I haven't been drawing in these so much, so they're more just notes for articles I'm writing. Anyway, when I was drawing more in these notes, I wanted to keep them later, so I had a separate insert for them. I still do that now, even though I spend less time making them look interesting. If you follow me on YouTube or Instagram you'll know I've been raving about this planner recently. It's a competitor to the Hobonichi, made in Japan with Tomoe River paper, but much harder to get hold of outside Japan. After ordering mine, I decided I didn't need it after all, and expected to sell it. But once it arrived I realised I liked it more than I expected to, and didn't want to give it up. The Jibun doesn't have any daily pages, which is the only real drawback for me (the pages are a bit busy for my liking, too, but that doesn't make it less usable). The Jibun is made up of monthly and weekly pages only. This is why I'm using the Hobonichi A6 for my daily to do lists. At first I tried using the weekly column layout for my daily to do list, but there's not enough room to write everything I want to there, and I couldn't find a good way to distinguish completed and incomplete tasks in the tiny spaces. The column layout is designed as a timeline, for planning time-based tasks or appointments. I don't have a lot of those, so what I need more is a daily to do list. However, I've found the Jibun is handy for planning how I'll spend my time each day. I've started blocking out events and chunks of time throughout the day in my Jibun. I'll plan chunks for different types of work, and block out time needed to travel to and from events. This has been helpful in making my plans more realistic, because I tend to only get two or three big chunks of work time in a day, around events, meals, and breaks for naps or exercise. In the monthly section of the Jibun, I plan almost everything. Any events I'm going to, appointments, meeting friends, travel, deadlines for my freelance work, and birthdays go in here. It can get pretty busy, but I like having everything in one place, so I can see at a glance how busy I am, and what's coming up soon. So the Jibun is where I plan ahead for what's coming up. In my A6 Hobonichi I plan for the day, and in my Traveler's Notebook inserts I get work done. This is the one planner I think I probably don't need, but I wanted to give it a go so I would be sure about whether I want another one next year. No doubt if I sold it, I'd remain curious about it and end up buying another one for 2018 or even later in 2017! I initially bought this to use for uni planning, as I was expecting to study throughout 2017. The Weeks layout seemed a good fit for uni, as I could use the monthly layout for planning deadlines (I was studying online, so no lectures or tutorials to attend), the weekly section for deadlines and planning work to get done, and the notes section for planning assignments and taking notes on lectures and readings. But I decided not to keep going with uni, so I'm going to use the Weeks as a planner for my company, Hello Code. We're not making enough to pay me a salary yet, which means I tend to fit in working on my Hello Code responsibilities whenever I find time around my freelance work. I'm hoping that using a planner for this work will give it a little more structure and help me stay on top of it more regularly. In the monthly section I'll be planning deadlines for my work on the Exist iOS app and content marketing work like guest posts, interviews, and writing content for our blogs. In the weekly section I'll rewrite deadlines from the monthly view, and use the grid pages to keep a to do list for the week. In the notes pages I'll write outlines and drafts of blog posts, brainstorm ideas, and plan out new iOS features to help me think through the logic before writing the code. These are all notes I usually make in my notes insert in my Traveler's Notebook, so I'll just be attempting to keep them all together with my Hello Code planning. Phew! It's a complicated setup in some ways, but it covers all my needs, and mostly caters to my preferences. I'd love to have a Jibun with daily pages in the future, and I'm not sure I'll end up sticking with the Weeks, but I'm excited to try this setup and see how well it keeps me on track in 2017. P.S. I make some stuff you might like: Exist, a personal analytics app to help you understand your life, and Larder, a bookmarking app for developers. This post contains affiliate links. This means if you purchase something via one of my product links, I may receive a small commission (at no cost to you). I only add affiliate links after writing a blog post, so the products I mention are truly what I want to write about.

Image: Flickr Update: This story has been updated with specifics about the ban. The Trump administration has indefinitely banned electronics larger than cell phones from being carried on planes by people flying to the United States from eight majority-Muslim countries. The ban will apply to airlines flying directly to the United States from Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait City, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia. It will apply to all electronics larger than a smartphone. Other electronics, such as laptops, will be allowed in checked luggage. The New York Times reports that the ban is not related to any specific threat. Security experts on Twitter noted that the Trump administration is sowing more baseless fear, uncertainty, and doubt. Peter W. Singer, a technology and terrorism expert at the New America Foundation, told me in an email that banning electronics in airplane cabins makes no sense. "Like so much today, this is poorly thought out, from the terrible rollout that adds to confusion to the clearly disproven assumption that only people from certain countries [are a threat]," he said. "Indeed, even for proven cases, it fails the logic test. Based on [the administration's] logic, we should ban all British passengers from wearing shoes and Nigerian passengers from wearing underwear, because of the nationalities of the shoe bomber (Richard Reid) and the underwear bomber (Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab)." As reported, the ban would apply only to people entering the United States on direct flights from those countries; the ban would not apply to people entering the United States from these countries on connecting flights from Europe. There is probably a discussion that should be had about whether or not lithium ion batteries should be allowed on planes, but it's not something that should be unilaterally rolled out with little notice to passengers and targeted directly at people from primarily Muslim countries. "I'm more concerned about bombs disguised to look like electronics than electronics being bombs themselves" The Federal Aviation Administration banned Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones from being carried on planes because they were exploding. Electronic cigarettes have also been banned from checked bags, and drone batteries and so-called "hoverboards" have been banned from cabins. But these bans apply to all travelers, and did not single out specific countries. The Air Line Pilots Association has repeatedly asked Congress and the FAA to regulate bulk shipments of lithium-ion batteries on cargo planes, but has not suggested that passengers be prevented from, say, bringing a laptop onto an airplane. Kyle Wiens, CEO of iFixit, whose company makes most of its money by opening up and examining the innards of electronics, told me that electronics themselves aren't a threat, but that bombs disguised as electronics could be. "I'm more concerned about bombs disguised to look like electronics than electronics being bombs themselves," he said. In 2014, the Transportation Security Administration temporarily required passengers to turn on their electronics to prove they were not bombs. The Trump administration has made entering the United States miserable and dehumanizing for foreigners. The administration has given itself wide latitude to search the cell phones and laptops of anyone entering the country; its botched January travel ban resulted in people with Green Cards being detained at the border, and the revised travel ban has been blocked by a federal judge in Hawaii.

Every HopCat is designed to look and feel unique, with custom-commissioned artwork and a special vibe -- if you've been to one, you haven't been to them all. Our beer lists reflect the same philosophy -- selected by a local beer manager whose job includes working with local brewers and distributors to showcase the best of what's around -- from mainstays and seasonals, to rareities, one-offs and exclusives. HopCat was envisioned, designed, stocked, and staffed with one mission in mind: To bring you great beer. What is great beer? It's a beer made with care and pride. It might be a local beer or one from across the globe. It could be your usual pint, or a beer that you had no idea existed. Every once in a while, it's a beer you never would have ordered but for the fact that your server or bartender suggested it.

[Moderators: this post relates to #pizzagate because it describes a potential effort by Donald Trump to engage in a military coup to drain the swamp, including child trafficking and abuse.] Yesterday, the alternative media exploded with reports about an anonymous 4chan poster's posts about Donald Trump. Here is a thread on The_Donald about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/7a508x/archive_of_the_latest_anon_post_claiming_podesta/ Here is a thread on r/conspiracy about it: https://www.reddit.com/r/conspiracy/comments/7a3mjm/what_the_fuck_is_this_guy_talking_about/ Here is an archive of the original posts: https://archive.4plebs.org/pol/search/uid/grTMpzrL/order/asc I'm writing this post on v/pizzagate because (A) I think this new series of posts has a LOT of credibility and (B) it makes me more optimistic about Trump truly being the hero we needed. First, I want to establish something important: not all 4chan insiders are LARP fakers. Sometimes, these insiders actually make predictions that turn out to be true. A. The original FBIanon in July predicted that the Clinton Foundation was associated with child trafficking. This prediction was made four months before Podesta's emails were released and #pizzagate (this entire VOAT community) existed. B. The same (or different) insider on 4chan predicted that the FBI would do something critical on Sunday, November 1, 2016. https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/5aqvr4/this_is_the_secret_of_the_fbi_tweets_this_is_what/ This prediction was precise down to the exact minute. https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/5ao7p1/looks_like_they_delivered_the_goods_right_on/ C. An anonymous insider warned people to stay away from Vegas three weeks in advance: https://squawker. org/politics/4chanvegas/ D. White House Anon predicted something big would happen on July 27. That day Imran Awan was arrested and Congress called for an investigation into Clinton, Comey, and Lynch: https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/6q0leq/either_the_whanon_727_post_was_legit_or_we_just/ And so on. There are probably other examples. Making valid predictions is probably the most powerful way for an "insider" to gain credibility. That's why I always ask George Webb to make specific predictions. Now let's get back to this new alleged insider, who calls himself "Q Clearance Patriot" (I'll use "Q"). First of all, Q makes two big and bold predictions: A. Tomorrow (November 3) Podesta will be indicted (doesn't specify John or Tony) B. Sunday (November 5) Huma will be indicted Just based on all of the fake predictions and "happenings" in the past, I find it emotionally difficult to actually believe that this will happen. But there are several things that make me cautiously optimistic about Q. A. Q says that U.S. military intelligence recruited Trump. This is almost exactly what the FBI Twitter activity, on Oct. 30-Nov. 1, suggested, as analyzed in this famous thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/5aqvr4/this_is_the_secret_of_the_fbi_tweets_this_is_what/ Specifically, after tweeting about Trump, the FBI then tweeted about deputizing new agents and left-behind sleeper agents in occupied territory. I believe that Steve Pieczenik has said similar things about an intelligence counter-coup against Hillary. B. Q'a overall theory (that Trump was recruited by military intelligence to stage a quiet coup to restore government integrity) fits with several things we know about the military. First of all, the military has a very low rate of Jewish people. For some mysterious reason, Jewish people rose to disproportionate levels of power in finance, lobbying, Hollywood, and media, but not in the military. If you look at the picture of Trump with his military team ("calm before the storm"), you see virtually no Jewish people there. FBIanon, who is widely regarded as the most credible of the 4chan insiders, said that the deep state corruption has a heavy Jewish influence. Second, Trump alluded to a "calm before the storm" at the same time as his military team meeting. The quiet coup is the perfect candidate for what Trump's cryptic phrase meant. Third, Trump has appointed a high number of generals to his cabinet and other positions. General Flynn (who tweeted about pizzagate) comes from the military. Fourth, I have personally written, repeatedly, that if Trump was really going to drain the swamp, he would need to engage in some kind of coup, such as marching the National Guard into CIA headquarters in Langley. Q explicitly refers to Trump's authority over the National Guard (and coordination with the marines). Fifth, Q says that Trump was given assurances and protection, if he ran for President. This makes perfect sense as to why Trump always seems so cool, calm, and collected, for a man who is widely discussed as a target for assassination (see the new Snoop Dogg album cover. If the deep state corruption was so bad (JFK assassination and pizzagate bad), I wondered how Trump could be so calm and smug. Q gives one explanation. Look at the smug smile on Trump's face here, this is the face of a man who is given deep assurances and protection. Trump's assurances and protection are also consistent with principle #2 from The Art of the Deal, "Protect the downside and the upside will take care of itself." Why spend dozens of millions of dollars, and put your family name and businesses through the mud and microscope, if there is a big chance that you won't win? Trump protected the downside by getting assurances and protection from U.S. military intelligence. Sixth, there are speculative reports that there are two more sealed indictments from Mueller's investigation already docketed. Seventh, Q says that Soros is targeted. This is consistent with a lot of other information. FBIanon said that Soros is the kingpin. Hannity has stated that Soros is the target of one of his tick-tock happenings. Nevertheless, there are also reasons to doubt Q. A. So many "happening" predictions have turned out fake before. B. Q portrays Mueller as a Marine and hero. But Mueller covered up 9/11. The only way I could see Mueller being a hero is if he was blackmailed or controlled during the 9/11 years somehow. Notably, anonymous "insiders" have repeatedly reported that Mueller was pardoned by Trump. Still, the 9/11 test is a key test of credibility, and Mueller fails it. C. Trump himself has wide ranging and suspicious connections to Roy Cohn, Larry Silverstein, Henry Kissinger, and other Wall St. people, which I go over here. D. On the surface, it doesn't make sense that a true patriot, engaging in the most important military counter-coup in modern U.S. history, would leak it to the internet several days in advance. The potential downside is astronomical (compromising the counter-coup), and the potential upside (a little internet fame) is virtually nil. E. For the life of me, I cannot understand why Trump would wait a full year after taking power. If you discovered that the deep state was involved in mass drug and child trafficking, treason, sex blackmail, false flag terrorism, and illegal spying (and who knows what else), why would you wait one day to expose it? On January 20th, Trump could have held a live television press conference. Perhaps the white hats needed a year to plan a counter-coup that wouldn't destabilize the country or start a war. But that's a long time to let evil go unchecked. Nevertheless, something about Q rings credible to me (and to most of the other users on reddit commenting on Q's thread). For the last few months, I have thought that Trump was simply selected by a different fraction of THE POWERS THAT BE, likely because Hillary Clinton was too reckless and risked exposing deep state operations. That would explain why Trump's campaign promises were so attractive (nationalism, America first, end the wars, end lobbying corruption), and yet he didn't really fulfill them. Q's thread makes me think that the fault line is drawn differently, between: A. Trump, the FBI agents in control of the Twitter Records Vault Account, Wikileaks, the U.S. military, and U.S. military intelligence B. everyone else in the permanent deep state corruption (Democrats, RINOs, CIA, FBI upper management, State Department, etc.) I guess we will find out tomorrow what happens. Even if nothing happens, I suspect Q gave us some good information. UPDATE: This is another excellent analysis, which fits with Q's story here. In this other analysis, the author argues that Trump has known all along about the multiple different attempts to compromise his Presidential campaign, because he got insider information from Michael Flynn: https://tttthreads.com/thread/925850811090927616 UPDATE: POTUS Twitter went down for five minutes, consistent with Q's predictions: https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Donald/comments/7afpj4/geotus_twitter_goes_down_pol_freaks/ UPDATE: After the original series of posts yesterday, Q also started posting again today: http://boards.4chan.org/pol/thread/147647514#p147648286

Doctors surprised by plan to allow pharmacy into primary care; AMA says Government's health priorities 'all wrong' Updated Leading doctors' groups say they are surprised by the Government's decision to inject $18.9 billion into the pharmacy sector, while putting a Medicare patient rebate freeze on patients and doctors. Health Minister Sussan Ley said the Federal Government had reached an in-principle deal with pharmacists on the Sixth Community Pharmacy Agreement, which would result in cheaper medicines for consumers and see pharmacists move into primary care. But Australian Medical Association (AMA) vice-president Stephen Parnis said: "The Government has its health priorities all wrong." Pharmacy primary care could include: managing chronic conditions such as arthritis caring and treating wounds managing the supply of medications for patients with mental health problems The president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Frank R Jones, said the Government had "bowed to the pressure of the pharmacy sector". "This is despite existing programs failing to demonstrate clear benefit for patients and the taxpayer," Dr Jones said in a statement. Pharmacy Guild of Australia executive director David Quilty welcomed the agreement, including the $1.2 billion investment for pharmacy programs to move into primary care. "This agreement provides for greater oversight by pharmacists to ensure that people can manage their medicines effectively," Mr Quilty said. "We strongly support pharmacists working more closely with GPs and ensuring people get the highest standard of care." But the AMA said there was no evidence that this would improve patient outcomes. "Pharmacists are a very important part of the multi-disciplinary aspects of medical care, but they are not doctors. And they shouldn't try to be," Dr Parnis said. "If you want medical care, you want to see someone who has medical training, who takes the responsibility for it, who has the indemnity for it." AMA casts doubt on value for patient outcomes Pharmacists already offer services such as blood pressure tests and medication reviews, but the agreement could dramatically increase the type of medical services they could offer. Ms Ley was clear that any move into services offered by doctors would be done gradually. "We are doing this carefully and in an evidence-based way," she said. Ms Ley said the agreement would result in cheaper medicines for consumers, giving pharmacists the option to discount the patient co-payment by $1. We have seen past proposals and worry about fragmentation of patient care because these pharmacy 'services' may not add any value for patient outcomes. AMA vice-president Stephen Parnis "Patients have many scripts, sometimes many a month, and the discounted co-payment opportunity that pharmacists can provide in this agreement ... will actually really improve patients' affordability when it comes to medicines," she said. "For the first time, I sat down with everyone across the supply chain for medicines ... the manufacturers, the wholesalers, the dispensers, the prescribers and most importantly the consumers." The Government estimates it will save between $5 billion and $6 billion across the pharmaceutical sector through these changes, as well as the previously announced changes to the cost of generic medicines. All pharmacy programs, new and existing, will be reviewed and approved by the Independent Medical Services Advisory Committee. But Dr Parnis said the Government would be spending "a lot of money for programs that are yet to be devised". "We have seen past proposals and worry about fragmentation of patient care because these pharmacy 'services' may not add any value for patient outcomes," he said. As part of the deal, the Government has also agreed to give pharmacists a new handling and administration fee for dispensing advice. Location rules governing where pharmacies can open remain in place, but will be reviewed in two years' time. Topics: pharmaceuticals, federal-government, government-and-politics, health-policy, healthcare-facilities, australia First posted

The Indian and Pakistani prime ministers are due in Bhutan this week India has arrested a woman working as a diplomat in its Islamabad embassy on charges of spying for Pakistan. Madhuri Gupta, 53, is a second secretary in the high commission in the press and information section. She was arrested on a work trip to Delhi. Officials say she is suspected of handing over classified documents to Pakistan's ISI intelligence service. There was no immediate response from Pakistan. The neighbours have a history of mistrust and have fought three wars. The arrest comes ahead of this week's regional summit in Bhutan, where Indian PM Manmohan Singh and Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani may meet on the sidelines. Relations have been strained since the Mumbai (Bombay) attacks of November 2008, which India blamed on militants from Pakistan. The official is co-operating with our investigations and inquiries Vishnu Prakash, Indian foreign affairs spokesman Singh rules out talks 'Boosting militants' Q&A: Kashmir dispute "We have reasons to believe an official in the Indian high commission in Pakistan has been passing information to Pakistani intelligence officials," said Vishnu Prakash, a spokesman for India's ministry of external affairs. The Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency said Ms Gupta had been arrested four days ago after being summoned to Delhi. She was produced in court on Monday and will remain in police custody for another five days, PTI said. Ms Gupta has worked in Islamabad for three years, reports say. The head of India's intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) in Islamabad is also being investigated, PTI reports. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says that although it is not clear what secrets were passed on, the revelations have come as a major embarrassment for India. There have been instances of rogue agents or Indian officials working for foreign governments, but this is believed to be the first such instance involving Pakistan. Ties between India and Pakistan are strained over the Mumbai attacks This week in Bhutan, Mr Singh and Mr Gilani are expected to try to ease relations that have been strained since the Mumbai attacks. India blamed Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba for the attacks, which left 174 people dead, including nine gunmen. Delhi put peace talks on hold suggesting that "state elements" in Pakistan were involved too. Pakistan admitted the attacks were partly planned on its soil, but denied any official involvement. In February, Pakistan and India held their first formal talks since the 2008 attacks and agreed to "remain in touch". And earlier in April, Mr Gilani and Mr Singh held "informal talks" at a reception hosted by US President Barack Obama. Bookmark with: Delicious Digg reddit Facebook StumbleUpon What are these? E-mail this to a friend Printable version

By: Tips on how to create five room dungeons that can be used for any location, are short, are quick to plan, easy to polish and plan, flexible in size and easy to integrate into your campaign. Why Do I Like 5 Room Dungeons? This format, or creation method, has a number of advantages: Any location . Though I call them 5 Room Dungeons, they actually apply to any location with five or so areas. They dont have to be fantasy or dungeons. They could take the form of a small space craft, a floor in a business tower, a wing of a mansion, a camp site, a neighbourhood. . Though I call them 5 Room Dungeons, they actually apply to any location with five or so areas. They dont have to be fantasy or dungeons. They could take the form of a small space craft, a floor in a business tower, a wing of a mansion, a camp site, a neighbourhood. Short . Many players dislike long dungeon crawls, and ADD GMs like to switch environments up often. In addition, some players dislike dungeons all together, but will go along with the play if they know its just a short romp. This helps ease conflicts between play styles and desires. . Many players dislike long dungeon crawls, and ADD GMs like to switch environments up often. In addition, some players dislike dungeons all together, but will go along with the play if they know its just a short romp. This helps ease conflicts between play styles and desires. Quick to plan. With just five rooms to configure, design is manageable and fast. Next time you are killing time, whip out your notepad and write down ideas for themes, locations, and rooms. Knock off as many designs as you can and choose the best to flesh out when you have more time and to GM next session. With just five rooms to configure, design is manageable and fast. Next time you are killing time, whip out your notepad and write down ideas for themes, locations, and rooms. Knock off as many designs as you can and choose the best to flesh out when you have more time and to GM next session. Easier to polish . Large designs often take so long to complete that game night arrives before you can return to the beginning and do one or more rounds of tweaking and polishing. The design speed of 5 Room Dungeons leaves room most of the time to iterate. . Large designs often take so long to complete that game night arrives before you can return to the beginning and do one or more rounds of tweaking and polishing. The design speed of 5 Room Dungeons leaves room most of the time to iterate. Easy to move . 5 Room Dungeons can squeeze into many places larger locations and designs cant. If your dungeon goes unused or if you want to pick it up and drop it on a new path the PCs take, its often easier to do than when wielding a larger crawl. . 5 Room Dungeons can squeeze into many places larger locations and designs cant. If your dungeon goes unused or if you want to pick it up and drop it on a new path the PCs take, its often easier to do than when wielding a larger crawl. Flexible size . They are called 5 Room Dungeons, but this is just a guideline. Feel free to make 3-area locations or 10-cave complexes. The idea works for any small, self-contained area. . They are called 5 Room Dungeons, but this is just a guideline. Feel free to make 3-area locations or 10-cave complexes. The idea works for any small, self-contained area. Easy to integrate. A two to four hour dungeon romp quickens flagging campaign and session pacing, and can be squeezed into almost any story thread. It also grants a quick success (or failure) to keep the players engaged. The format is also easy to drop into most settings with minimal consistency issues. Room One: Entrance And Guardian There needs to be a reason why your dungeon hasnt been plundered before or why the PCs are the heroes for the job. A guardian or challenge at the entrance is a good rejustification why the location remains intact. Also, a guardian sets up early action to capture player interest and energize a session. Room One challenge ideas: The entrance is trapped. The entrance is cleverly hidden. The entrance requires a special key, such as a ceremony, command word, or physical object. The guardian was deliberately placed to keep intruders out. Examples: a golem, robot, or electric fence. The guardian is not indigenous to the dungeon and is a tough creature or force whos made its lair in room one. Room One is also your opportunity to establish mood and theme to your dungeon, so dress it up with care. Room Two: Puzzle Or Roleplaying Challenge The PCs are victorious over the challenge of the first room and are now presented with a trial that cannot be solved with steel. This keeps problem solvers in your group happy and breaks the action up for good pacing. Make Room Two a puzzle, skill-based, or roleplaying encounter, if possible. Room Two should shine the limelight on different PCs than Room One, change gameplay up, and offer variety between the challenge at the entrance and the challenge at the end. Note, if Room One was this type of encounter, then feel free to make Room Two combat-oriented. Room Two should allow for multiple solutions to prevent the game from stalling. Room Two ideas: Magic puzzle, such as a chessboard tile floor with special squares. An AI blocks access to the rest of the complex and must be befriended, not fought. A buzzer panel for all the apartments, but the person the PCs are looking for has listed themselves under a different name, which can be figured out through previous clues youve dropped. A concierge at the front desk must be bluffed or coerced without him raising the alarm. A dirt floor crawls with poisonous snakes that will slither out of the way to avoid open flame. (A few might follow at a distance and strike later on.) Once youve figured out what Room Two is, try to plant one or more clues in Room One about potential solutions. This ties the adventure together a little tighter, will delight the problem solvers, and can be a back-up for you if the players get stuck. Room Three: Trick or Setback The purpose of this room is to build tension. Do this using a trick, trap, or setback. For example, after defeating a tough monster, and players think theyve finally found the treasure and achieved their goal, they learn theyve been tricked and the room is a false crypt. Depending on your game system, use this room to cater to any player or character types not yet served by the first two areas. Alternatively, give your group a double-dose of gameplay that they enjoy the most, such as more combat or roleplaying. Room Three ideas: The PCs rescue a number of prisoners or hostages. However, the victims might be enemies in disguise, are booby-trapped, or create a dilemma as they plead to be escorted back to safety immediately. Contains a one-way exit (the PCs must return and deal with Rooms One and Two again). i.e. Teleport trap, one-way door, 2000 foot water slide trap. The PCs finally find the artifact required to defeat the villain, but the artifact is broken, cursed, or has parts missing, and clues reveal a solution lies ahead. Believing the object of the quest now lays within easy reach, an NPC companion turns traitor and betrays the PCs. Another potential payoff for Room Three is to weaken the PCs as build-up to a dramatic struggle in Room Four. It might contain a tough combat encounter, take down a key defense, exhaust an important resource, or make the party susceptible to a certain type of attack. For example, if Room Four contains a mummy whose secret weakness is fire, then make Room Three a troll lair (or another creature susceptible to fire) so the PCs might be tempted to burn off a lot of their fire magic, oil, and other flammable resources. This would turn a plain old troll battle into a gotcha once the PCs hit Room Four and realize the are out of fire resources. Dont forget to dress Room Three up with your theme elements. Room Four: Climax, Big Battle or Conflict This room is The Big Show. Its the final combat or conflict encounter of the dungeon. Use all the tactics you can summon to make this encounter memorable and entertaining. Room Four ideas: As always, generate interesting terrain that will impact the battle. Start or end with roleplay. Maybe the bad guy needs to stall for time to let PC buffs wear out, to wait for help to arrive, or to stir himself into a rage. Perhaps the combat ends with the bad guy bleeding to death and a few short words can be exchanged, or there are helpless minions or prisoners to roleplay with once the threat is dealt with. Give the bad guy unexpected powers, abilities, or equipment. Previous rooms might contain warning signals or an alarm, so the bad guy has had time to prepare. The bay guys tries to settle things in an unusual way, such as through a wager or a duel. The lair is trapped. The bad guy knows what or where to avoid, or has the ability to set off the traps at opportune moments. The bad guy reveals The Big Reward and threatens to break it or put it out of the PCs so reach so theyll never collect it. The bad guy has a secret weakness that the PCs figure out how to exploit. A variety of PC skills and talents are required to successfully complete the encounter. Room Five: Reward, Revelation, Plot Twist Heres your opportunity to change the players bragging to we came, we saw, we slipped on a banana peel. Room Five doesnt always represent a complication or point of failure for the PCs, but it can. Room Five doesnt always need to be a physical location either - it can be a twist revealed in Room Four. Room Five is where your creativity can shine and is often what will make the dungeon different and memorable from the other crawls in your campaigns. In addition, if you havent supplied the reward yet for conquering the dungeon, here is a good place to put the object of the quest, chests of loot, or the valuable information the PCs need to save the kingdom. As accounting tasks take over from recent, thrilling, combat tasks, this would also be a good time to make a campaign or world revelation, or a plot twist. Perhaps the location of the next 5 Room Dungeon is uncovered, along with sufficient motivation to accept the quest. Maybe the true identity of the bad guy is revealed. New clues and information pertaining to a major plot arc might be embedded in the treasure, perhaps sewn into a valuable carpet, drawn in painting, or written on a slip of paper stuffed into a scroll tube or encoded on a data chip. Room Five ideas: Another guardian awaits in the treasure container. A trap that resurrects or renews the challenge from Room Four. Bonus treasure is discovered that leads to another adventure, such as a piece of a magic item or a map fragment. A rival enters and tries to steal the reward while the PCs are weakened after the big challenge of Room Four. The object of the quest/final reward isnt what it seems or has a complication. i.e. The kidnapped king doesnt want to return. The quest was a trick. By killing the dungeons bad guy the PCs have actually helped the campaign villain or a rival. Perhaps the bad guy was actually a good guy under a curse, transformed, or placed into difficult circumstances. The bad guy turns out to be a PCs father. The true, gruesome meaning behind a national holiday is discovered. The source of an alien races hostility towards others is uncovered, transforming them from villains to sympathetic characters in the story. The entrance is hazardous and requires special skills and equipment to bypass. For example: radiation leaks, security clearance, wall of fire. The PCs must convince a bouncer to let them in without confiscating their weapons. A collapsed structure blocks part of the area. The debris is dangerous and blocks nothing of importance, another trap, or a new threat. The true meaning of the prophecy or poem that lead the PCs to the dungeon is finally understood, and its not what the PCs thought. Additional Ideas (0) Codex By: Scrasamax ( Locations ) Fortification - Underground The blighted and forgotten hall of a once mighty demon lord Appearance: Castle Crocell is a mouldering heap of great gray stones covered with a thick patina of moss and debris. Sitting on a wind sculpted plain, surrounded by strange stone monolith and pillars it seems to be an organic thing rising from the earth. The lines of the great hall buttresses resemble ribs, while the gatehouse has quite intentionally been made to look like a fearsome skull of some long slain gaint. The towers are still in passable condition, and the main keep is also intact, but the outer wall has been breached by time and sand in places, and once inside the main part of the keep, the open and broken windows have allowed the elements inside. Contrary to the windswept desolation outside, the interior of the castle is dank, full of small crawling things, and large amounts of fungus and creeping plants that don't require a great deal of light. Entrance: The wastedland surrounding Castle Crocell functions as the entrance and guardian. Once the wastelands are reached, it takes 3 days to cross them mounted on horseback, or five days on foot. During this time, the travelers will not find any sources of water, or easily gathered food. The Wastelands are characterized by barren terrain, hot days and cold nights, crumbling rock, and constant winds and dust. There are predators that stalk the wastelands that are likely to attack the travelers. Mounts and livestock are preferred. Wasteland Encounters: A small pack of 1-4 Land Dragons A squadron of 3-18 Dogos An Anfau hunting pack A Gartrap field A group of male wooly wyverns A lone hypnotic Color-Wraith Puzzle/RP Challenge: Entering Castle Crocell can be done by one of two ways. The less direct approach is to use some sort of rope and grapple plan to breach the main keep by means of one of the broken windows, or a hole in the roof. The direct approach is to enter through the still standing main doors of the Castle. Entering through the doors is not so easy as simply picking the lock or forcing the door open. The Door is quasi-sentient, and speaks with a bitter raspy voice, emanating from a pair of rusted and decrepic door knockers. The Left Knocker appears like a vain prince, while the right knocker appears as a vain princess. While this can easily be set up for a password, a riddle challenge or the like, the most obvious execution is one lies and one tells the truth. Both knockers are liars, and the best way to get past them is flattery and bribery. After so many years of isolation, they have both gone a little mad. Tricks, Traps, and Setbacks: Once the main keep has been breached, the explorers find the great and terrible treasure of Crocell, water. The castle sits atop a natural spring, and the lower levels of the castle have long ago flooded and become a cistern for holding the water. Traversing the main floor is tricky as most of the timber below is long rotted and at any time a section of flooring can simply collapse, dumping most of a room's contents and occupants into cold water. Some doorways open to just water, as that section had fallen in and flooded some time ago. Deadfalls, holes in the floor, and slick slanted surfaces should make for slow, unsteady, and nerve wracking progress. There is plenty of opportunity for combat as well, facing the drowned corpses of previous explorerers, spiders, and aquatic predators. This is also a good place to drop in a few strategic slimes, oozes, and puddings, just for fun times. The Grand Hall: Thus far the PCs will have fought desert predators, water monsters, and the environment and their own material needs to survive. The Grand Hall is the final challenge for the PCs. Castle Crocell was indeed a lair of a mighty demon blooded sorcerer, and his area of expertise was over water. Once the broad plains were green and lush, but once Crocell came and raised his castle, it dried out and turned into a vast desert. The water had all been drawn to the castle, and locked away in a sea beneath the stone. This was done by powerful sorcery, summoning and binding 6 elder water elementals. These six demigods of water have been tasked with drawing all the water they can and keeping it horded at the castle, until they are released from their duty. There are none left alive with the magical and blood authority to release the elementals. The PCs can parlay with the six for a short time, but the six as sad that they must fulfill their duty and destroy the interlopers. The PCs now have to fight six large, powerful elementals. Dchss - The Wave Hammer, Dchss is an elder sea elemental and the only salt water member of the group. He only attacks with a crushing wave fist, followed by overflow and grapple to drown foes. Physical manifestation is the strongest of the six. P'nal-Dah - The Breath of the Mists over the Mountains, an elemental of mountain rivers and glacial rin-off, P'nal-Dah fights using magical attacks based around the element of ice, cold, and sapping of will. Physical form is weak, but the most feminine of the six, and the most likely to parlay for the longest. Skeld-ar-Ek - The Embracer of the Drowned, Skeld-ar-Ek is a powerful lake spirit that was once feared for drowning humans who ventured into it's lake. It took one a month as tribute for the bounty of the waters. Of the six, Skeld is the most unspoken, and violent. Skeld uses flanking manuevers, distracts with watery illusions, and drowning grappling holds. Cis'del-Go - The Wisdom of Still Water, Cis'del-Go is the wisest of the six, having a long history of friendship with the elves. Abhoring violence, Cis'del-Go avoids fighting personally and instead summons a variety of smaller lesser water weirds and elementals to do its fighting for it. Cis'del will often coordinate movements of its fellow elementals to prevent flanking by PCs or to point out dangerous spellcasters or artifact users. Gczw - The Memory of Great Waters, Gczw is a water elemental of a vast lake, almost an inland sea, that has long since vanished. While the others will be released and reform at their original bodies of water, once Gczw is slain, it will be dead and gone forever. It fights viciously and has the attitude somewhere between a royal executioner and a rabid wolf. Its appearance is almost skeletally lean. Ser'bel - Vizier of Clear Water, Ser'bel is a water spirit long associated with scrying, meditation, and visions. A very feminine spirit, Ser'bel hurls nightmarish illusions at her foes, as well as accosting them with visions of failure, or distraction such as the appearance of a loved one in danger, or the gleam of treasure in easy reach. She can also attempt to lull opponents into a slumber where one of the other elementals will drown or crush them. Ia-Sur - The Ancient River, Ia-Sur is a spirit of irrigation and agriculture, long a friend and companion to man. Now forced to kill those he once helped he is most displeased. While the other spirits have different strengths and weaknesses, Ia-Sur has no discernable chinks in his armor, and like the mighty river is simply unstoppable in his might. Once at least four of the six are defeated, the final two will admit defeat, and their bonding will be broken. The only exception is that Gczw will not surrender, no matter what, the spirit has nothing left to lose. Once the six are disbanded, the cistern under the castle will start to drain. The displacement of the water will make the castle even more unstable and after a suitably dramatic escape, the entire thing collapses into itself, becoming a great heap of stone in a spreading swamp. Final Reward: The treasures inside the castle were really not worth the effort it took to get them, the books and scrolls were molded and rotten, the armor and weapons were rusted beyond repair, and what coin there was to be found was meager. As the waters rise up and start flooding the wasteland plains, a river quickly forms. As it flows out, the water uncovers the dingus the players were after, or a suitable trove of treasure to make their faces bright and hands excited. Also, as the hoard of water is released, and the incoming water is no longer being stolen, the wastelands will change. The sandy basins become small lakes, the hand packed road becomes a small but constant river large enough for river boats, and the once bone dry fields will become damp again. The next spring will see green creeping out across the plain and in less than a decade the land will be green, suitable for farming, and if the PCs allowed one of the water elementals to surrender, it will be blessed by said spirit. (0) (7) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (7) By: valadaar ( Dungeons ) Mountains - Rooms/ Halls A fantastic fortune in the remains of a drowned realm. This adventure is made for classic treasure hunters with few stiff fights. The rewards are high, and the traps lethal. Background The Kingdom of Melethad was quite small, and nestled in a remote mountain valley. It boasted little natural resources apart from very rich diamond deposits. Its wealth and formidable natural defences kept it aloof and safe from its enemies. However, its location was also it’s doom. A vast glacial lake had been building up for centuries, and in one final catastrophic release, flooded the valley, washing away all virtually all of their works and drowning the people. Not everything was lost, however, for beneath Castle Melethad was a strongly built dungeon, home to a massive vault used to contain the realm’s treasures, including a massive store of diamonds. Freed by the break, a river filled the valley, further hiding what once was a thriving kingdom. Now, several generations have passed. Some still speak of the diamonds of Melethad, but many dismiss them as folk tales. The river has diminished greatly in size, and some treasure hunters have come to the valley, seeking the vast treasure somewhere under the sludge. The PC’s have come into the employ of an Astrologer who claims to have enough information to pinpoint the ruins. He needs muscle and skills at dungeoncraft, for the vault was well protected. The Astrologer in turn has been hired and is sponsored by a petty nobel whose lands are somewhat downstream of the Drowned Realm. As a result this expedition will be reasonably well funded. Room One: Entrance and Guardian - There needs to be a reason why your dungeon hasn’t been plundered or why your adventurers are the ones for the job. The Drowned Realm The Astrologer has been carefully sighting the nearby mountains and has walked very deliberately into the middle of the muddy plain. He stops and reaches down into the muck. "Worked Stone! I’ve found it!" A bit premature - he found part of the ruin, but it may take some time for the PC’s to find the stone portal leading into the lost castle’s dungeon. As much time as desired by the GM may be taken to find and escavate the entrance below. The dungeon below the castle is large, but not a maze. The Astrologer knows the layout well enough to bring the PCs to the First Door easily enough. Complication: Rival treasure hunters may seek to claim jump the PC’s. The threat should be serious, but not overwhelming. The First Door Room Two: Puzzle or Roleplaying Challenge - A trial that cannot be solved by steel alone. Meant to require many hands to open and thus rule out sneak-thieves and the like, the door weighs many tons and must be lifted. Several large metal eyelets for inserting beams are worked into the massive door. No automatic mechanism exists - enough strength must be brought to bear to dead lift 5 tons. Back in the day, when the door was opened, pulleys were fitted into sockets in the ceiling (the sockets can be found upon searching, but the pulleys are absent) allowing fewer men to be used to open the door. The door does not lock in place, and so must be held up while other crawl underneath. 10000lbs will crush anyone unfortunate to be caught underneath should it be dropped. Complication: The dungeon is still flooded in places. As a result, 2’ of water covers the floor, making it even more difficult to lift, as the eyelets are underwater. The Gauntlet Room Three: Trick or Setback - Build tension through tricks and setbacks and give them a double-dose of gameplay such as more combat or another roleplaying challenge. A 40’ hallway, 5’ wide with 7’ ceiling. Every 10’, the ceiling lowers down 1’ requiring stooping and crouching. The hallway was once heavily trapped, but the length immersion has ruined many of them. The floor is littered with pressure plates that will click when stepped upon, but little will happen. The first and last pressure plates are 4’ long and the width of the floor, and form the only trap still working. If the last pressure plate is activated while no pressure exists on the first, a stone slab 4’ long and as wide as the passageway will drop into the hallway. It is 6’ thick and blocks the passageway completely when it falls. It weighs roughly 10 tons and does not automatically reset - it needs to be lifted back up into the ceiling manually. Complication: Like the door, 1-2’ of water covers the floor, making detection of the pressure plates difficult at best. Complication: Other traps just might be still viable. The PC’s are not there yet! The last obstacle is a massive bronze door with 6 large keyholes. All must be picked or magically opened separately in order for the door to be opened. Even unlocked, the massive portal requires signficant effort to open. What lies beyond? The Vault Room Four: Climax, Big Battle or Conflict - The final combat or conflict of the dungeon. The vault was not 100% watertight, and many of the valuables within the room have rotted away. All of the chests have been rendered useless, their traps defeated by time and water. A trove of diamonds and precious metals remain. But, they are not undefended. Bronze automations of various sizes and types have survived the immersion and will rise up and attack the pcs, for non save the long dead and drowned king can enter unmolested. The fight should be dire… Complication: Again, this room could be partially flooded, putting most of the treasure below the murky waters, along with the guardians. Betrayal! Room Five: Reward, Revelation, Plot Twist - The dungeon is complete but what is it about this dungeon that made it different or memorable. What kind of mystery have they discovered, what kind of reward have they won, and what kind of information have they recovered? And it does not end with the mechanical foes. The Petty Noble who sponsored the expedition is not interesting in sharing the booty. It was his ancestor who engineered the flood that devastated the kingdom. They did not anticipate that the region would be under water for an extended period, so the plan bore no immediate fruit for it’s instigator. He has followed the PCs to the location with a large force and will wait until the PC’s emerge laden with treasure to attack. If the battle with the constructs was taxing, fighting the nobles troops should be even more so. Complication: The spirits of the village have not rested. With the coming of the Petty Nobel to the valley, they have their chance at revenge. They will release a second flood into the valley while the fight is ongoing. The PCs might get some warning of this, either subtly - a rumbling, or explicitly from the spirits ("Run Mortals!", whispered unseen into their ears). Complication: A third force of claim jumpers of any desired makeup turns the fight into a 3-way combat. The desired end result is that the PCs barely survive and managed to obtain at least a reasonable amount of treasure before being forced to flee by a second flood. Now that the portal was open, the waters will destroy even the dungeon, and the remainng treasure scattered down the river. Panning for gold and diamonds will become a popular pastime down this river. (0) (9) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (9) By: mrcelophane ( Dungeons ) Underground - Rooms/ Halls Can you think while scared out of your wits? Lets hope your adventurers can… Alright, first submission here so give me a break. Drops of Blood in the Bucket The setting a Necromancers lair. This short scenario works best if the Necromancer has appeared before and this is the final battle between the two. It should appear early on in the Adventurers questing history, and they should think this is the hardest thing they will face. Room 1:Entrance There is an obvious entrance to the cave, with Satanic markings and all. However, if the adventurers search, they will find an alternate entrance. It is hard to find and behind Shrubbery. It is a small wooden door that the Necromancy uses. If you try to go though this, a magic forcefield will keep you out. It can be dispelled, but it should be hard to do. The main entrance has a bunch of Zombies, led by the Necromancer’s assistant. You could make him as strong as you like, whatever race you like, but he should be a recurring villain, like the Necromancer. The Main entrance itself is locked by a arcane lock that you cannot unlock unless you have the key that the assistant holds. Room Two: Brain Dead As you walk in, a rather large inscription should tell adventurers a riddle: We cannot think, yet we know what you do not We don’t have brains, yet in our heads we form words These words we have can help you out To bad our Tongues were the first to rot! After a few minutes pass to allow the adventurers to ponder this, Skeletons will drop from the ceiling, each wielding weapons. These should not be made to tough, but serve as a tiny challenge. If the players smash their heads, they should find a tiny scroll in side each one. The scroll should have one letter on it, really big. All the letters combined should make the word: "Death" This is the password. The letters should be scrambled in not come in the order of the appearance of the Skeletons. If you are to say the password to the door, they will hear a loud click. The door will now swing open easily if pushed,, but swing back once let go. Room Three: Turn Around There should be a short narrow hall way to another door. Above it should be another inscription: Sorry but to the password there is more Return from where you came to open this door. The Travelers than have to go back to the room they just left and kill(?) more skeletons and take the letters out. However, the Skeletons fall at greater rates, with three skeletons to a party and only one having a letter. The letters should read "Is Only The Beggining" So the complete password is "Death is only the Beggining" Again, scramble the letter. The password has to be said to the door at the end of the hall again, with the same results. Room Four: The Necromancer The Necromancer sits upon his thrown of bones, applauding the Travelers for getting that far. But as always, he has to try and kill them anyways. Five or so big bulky men wielding Battle Axes should come out somehow and attack the Adventurers. Should you kill one of them, The Necromancer will resurrect them. One will always stay in front of the Necromancer and take all the hits for him, getting healed instantly by the Necromancer. The only way to finally kill these guys is to separate either their hearts or head from their body, or wait until the Necromancer runs out of Magic. After that, you can kill the Necromancer. The last room is behind his thrown, which his concubine, who hid behind it after the fight broke out, will tell you. Room Five: This is going to be be a long day… As you enter the final room, you will here bells ringing everywhere. Torches immediately light themselves to reveal the Necromancers spellbook and other personal things on a large round table. After about ten seconds, Men will begin to appear in puffs of smoke. Each of them is wearing the same clothes as the necromancer. As they appear, they will say things such as: "You called a meeti-, GASP, your not ~~~~!" And such. Also, make it evident that they are Necromancers, for they are. You have a loooong way ahead of you… (0) (12) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (12) By: JohnnFour ( Dungeons ) Water - Rooms/ Halls Here is an example 5 Room Dungeon to inspire your contest entries. In your campaign, you’ll need to flesh out some of the details, but this skeleton format is perfect for GMs to pick up and customize for their own memorable sessions. Room One: Entrance The guardian is a permanent hurricane situated over a small, rocky island that is far from civilization. Approach by air and sea is too difficult by normal means. The storm energies have attracted numerous elementals to the region as well, and though most can be bypassed with caution, its likely at least one or two will be encountered and fought. Room Two: Puzzle or Roleplay The island has been swept clean so now it is bare, slippery rock. Winds threaten to carry away anything not secured to the ground. High up on one of the cliffs is a cave with flickering light streaming out. The first challenge is puzzling out how to reach the cave. At the back of the cave is a large portal sealed by magic. A command word is required to open the valve, and the PCs should have enough clues found previously to figure it out. Perhaps it is the name of an item or NPC. A castaway lives in the cave, though he is either out or cleverly hidden when the PCs arrive. He survives by climbing down a hidden, sheltered path that leads to a protected bay where he fishes and salvages what the currents wash up. He knows the command word but is insane from solitude and the continual violence of the storm. He craves to see the sun again - if the PCs can show him the sun hell reveal the password. Room Three: Trick or Setback Using the command word, a special ability, or quite a bit of destruction, the PCs bypass the portal and travel down a long set of stairs. Angry booming from wind and wave echoes through the tunnel. If the PCs dont spot and flip a switch, the tunnel continues on until it opens up into a huge cavern full of bookshelves and dry, ancient tomes. Invaluable knowledge is stored here, as are a pair of immortal fire guardians. The guardians are sentient and can be parleyed with. If they deem the PCs worthy, they provide knowledge of the switch back up in the stairwell, which opens an entrance to a second tunnel. Their primary task is to protect the library from evil, and they will start torching the books if the PCs attack or if the guardians deem the action necessary. Room Four: Big Battle The secret passage leads down to a cave where a powerful elemental has been imprisoned. The elemental was tricked by the builders of the library and was told his realm was under attack. Over the course of weeks, the builders brought evidence that the elementals home had been destroyed. Already angry at being imprisoned, the elementals rage grew and grew as he came to believe that his home and kin were destroyed. As intended, the creatures rage was funneled and amplified until it fueled a small hurricane that surrounded the island. The builders told the elemental his prison sentence was 1,000 years, which is true, and with that deadline and plans for revenge, his rage has not diminished over time. The elemental is free to move about in his cave, and can communicate in broken common with the PCs if they try. Its not true that his realm was destroyed all those years ago, which can be confirmed by any of the elementals outside. If the PCs can convince the creature his realm is safe, or calm him down another way, the hurricane will disperse after a day. Killing the elemental will be very tough. The hurricane also disperses a day after the creatures death. Room Five: Reward or Twist The object of the quest lies within a chest protected by the elemental at the centre of the cave. The builders lied and told the creature the last of his realms essence was trapped inside the chest, and opening the chest would release the essence, forever ensuring a new realm could not be built. This further fueled the creatures rage, the chest serving as a goading reminder, but the creature is unwilling to destroy the container as it plans to wait the 1,000 years and rebuild. The chest can contain the object of the PCs quest, or it can contain a map and clues to the real location of the treasure, which happens to be deep inside an active volcano thousands of miles distant. It also contains a note to the elemental, in case it did break open the container, revealing the builders lies and rubbing the creatures nose in its own stupidity. This should reveal the twist of the backstory to the PCs if they opted to attack the creature and killed it. If the creature still lives it will demand to read the note, which will likely send it into a blind rage all over again, giving the PCs a bit of a dilemma. * * * The five room format is simple yet allows for variety and permutation, thus its a powerful little GM tool. I feel a GM is always better off improving their dungeons by making them smaller because it gives them more planning time for clues, plot hooks, character involvement, twists, and so on. (0) (11) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (11) By: CaptainPenguin ( Dungeons ) Forest/ Jungle - Rooms/ Halls The heroes storm the Temple of R’gu, the God From The Stars, to steal the Ruby of the Winged Master Traveling through a remote and deeply forested area, barely explored and lightly populated, the heroes encounter many small woodland villages where the leather-skirted people give harsh glances and few words of welcome. In one tiny ring of hovels along the road, they are informed by a helpful native that the villages in this area are unfriendly because they live in fear and that the Great King’s soldiers police this area rarely and poorly, if at all. This same native takes the heroes aside and informs them that the villages in this area have been repeatedly ravaged by Smukan raiders from the northeast, slavers, and (this in a whisper) the soldiers of the God From The Stars. When pressed to speak of this mysterious god, the villager offers this: "To the east, where the forest meets the mountains, there is an ancient temple. It was here before the Great King came to rule us, it was here before my people came here. It was here before we drove the Nish clans from this forest. It was there indeed before men walked these forests- I suspect that it was built when only dark things dwelt here." He looks around, as if suspicious that spies might be overhearing, and continues. "In this temple dwell many who have fallen under the sway of the evil cult that reigns in this forest. They worship a great deity which is loathsome to look upon, but which makes them roll and twist with pleasure with its presence. This god is called R’gu, the God From The Stars. Our warriors captured a few of their fighters once, and we learned from them that this creature, R’gu, comes to the temple to be fed by the priests every fortnight. The fighters claimed," once again, a surreptitious glance over each shoulder, "that their God is mightier than all other gods and fills the body with pleasure. They claim that someday, R’gu will take them away to the Stars to live in his Resplendent House. And they say that housed within the temple to the East is a sign of R’gu’s power, a great, flawless ruby, the size of a fist, called the Ruby of the Winged Master. The heroes’ interests are piqued. After all, there is great fortune to be had in this! Not only the price that Imperial garrisons will pay for the heads of dangerous cultists (a "peacemaking purse", as the proverb goes), but imagine the peerless price of a flawless ruby the size of a fist! Surely, the trouble cannot be that great to brave a few raving cultists with blades in a crumbling ruin. They embark into the forest, following old, disused trails and hacking their way through dense thickets. They are trapped on high ridges by sudden rainstorms that send muddy floods bursting through the knife-edged ravines, and haul their armor and weapons up steep, brush choked slopes. Before long, with the sun setting orange and bright behind the snow-glinting peaks above, the heroes sight the grey roofs of a structure standing above the treetops. It is of strange make, unlike any architecture the heroes have ever seen, covered in bizarre and loathsome carvings which seem unpleasant and even repulsive for reasons that they cannot explain. As they watch, they realize that out of the forest small groups of people, dressed in robes and leather skirts like the villagers, surreptitiously approach and enter the gates of the walled temple, quietly and cautiously greeting each other. Night falls. The sound of thin high flutes and drums is heard. A ceremony is begun, and so must the storming of the Altar of R’gu. Room One: Entrance And Guardian The heroes have breached the outer wall of the temple complex and snuck past (or dealt with) the temple guards. Stealing silently through the quiet, empty structures of the Star-God’s temple, they arrive before the inner wall of the shrine. A set of great steps, lined with bizarre carvings of alien beings, ascends through the wall to the inner temple on the other side. Standing on either side of the stairway are guardians perhaps less easily dealt with than the cultist warriors who the heroes have previously encountered. These hulking creatures, vaguely manlike in shape, have thick, grey-purple skin ridged in parallel rows (resembling that of a bizarre alien cactus) culminating in a thick, low knot between the creatures shoulders rather than a head. Their bodies are studded with numerous tiny, jewel-like eyes that shine wetly in the flickering light from inside the inner wall, and are scaled in sections with swarms of tiny scars that resemble worms crawling up their corduroy hides. Both creatures are armed with great curved swords. Squatting loathsomely by the stairway, their posture and body motions seem blasphemously reminiscent of a very young child’s. These beings are heedra, vat-born creatures of the magic of the Elder Days. The heroes have options; they could theoretically sneak around the sight of the guardians and climb the inner wall at some other point, risking discovery by other guards and being spotted by the priests on the inner wall. But if they decide to fight these inhuman guardians, they will find that they are immensely strong (despite their clumsy swordwork- they swing their huge blades like clubs or logs) and tough; in addition, minor wounds are ineffective- the vat warriors’ purple-blue ichor bubbles and fizzes in the air and scars over these wounds. Only catastrophic damage (such as intense butchery of the central head cluster or disembowelment) will kill the sorcerous abominations. Room Two: Puzzle Or Roleplaying Challenge They now stand atop the inner wall, looking down into the great Plaza Of Ecstasies, where a great mass of cultic worshipers, streaked with sweat, dirt, and holy red dust dispensed in earlier rituals (this dust is a potent hallucinatory drug activated by the sweat of the celebrants’ bodies), are carrying out the sacred orgy. Across the courtyard from the heroes, at the top of the cyclopean steps of the temple, two shaven-headed priests, naked save for the black spirals painted on their bodies, wail out prayers to R’gu in high, reedy voices, accompanied by the thin, dissonant wailing of pipes and the hypnotic beat of a great drum. The whole scene is illuminated by the flickering light of the roaring bonfires on either side of the temple’s great brass doors, worked with intricately-interlocking spirals and tendrils. Strange and unwholesome glyphs are carved into the lintel of the great doors. "Let it be known!," screech the priests (slightly out of synch with each other in an eerie echoic fashion), "The Great One rises tonight! The Lord Of Ages even now awakes from the Well Of The Stars, to shed ecstasy from his wings! Let the Celebrants revel in the sacrament of worldly pleasure!" One priest steps forward, gesturing at the crowd with strange scepter. "I invoke the Powers of the Yellow Daughterstar of the East! Arise, oh Great One!" The second opens his hands wide. "I invoke the Powers of the Blue Daughterstar of the South! Arise, oh Great One!" The heroes need to cross the courtyard and get to the temple on the other side. The sweaty mass of naked celebrants below them are in a deep, drug-induced sexual/religious ecstasy and would be oblivious to the heroes’ presence. The problem, obviously, are the priests standing atop the steps. How to solve this problem? Simply strolling around the inner wall to the temple, they will be spotted by the priests and captured by the temple guards. As before, there are options- they could theoretically sneak up to the bonfires that light the courtyard and douse them, throwing the ceremony into darkness and chaos; they could strip down and pretend to be celebrants themselves (this would, however, deprive them of their equipment). Or perhaps (hopefully) they will devise their own, unique solution to the problem. Room Three: Trick Or Setback The heroes pass through the great, glyphed bronze doors and into the temple. The darkness and silence are oppressive, and an indescribable stench, accompanied by a wave of sick, damp heat, assault the heroes. There is a low, irregular buzzing, like flies swarming on a corpse. Suddenly, the heroes’ limbs feel heavy. Their every step seems weighed down with lead. Their bodies are dull with exhaustion, and they feel thick and drowsy. Their vision blurs. Finally, no longer able to press on, they collapse to the cold stone floor. A harsh, reverberant voice, with a hint of noisesome clicking and buzzing, echoes out of the darkness above them. "Mortals trespass in the tabernacle of the God From The Stars. Did you not know that this place was forbidden?" The heroes are lifted to their feet by cold hard hands. Their limbs and ankles are bound. Their drowsy eyes make out only blurry figures who clutch them. They are too weak to resist. The voice continues: "No matter. The ceremony is disrupted, but the God still answers our cry. You are fortunate, mortals. You shall witness the arrival of the Ecstasy From Beyond. The God shall be hungry from its journey- you shall make an excellent supplement to its ordained feast." They are pulled through the thick, smoky darkness and up a short set of steps. They are thrown to the chilly pavement, and footsteps move about them as some sort of ritual is performed in total darkness and a strange language is invoked. The strange, insectile voices that speak the words surround them, and press down on the heroes’ ears like a buzzing, hissing wall of pain. Suddenly, the darkness is swept away as another set of doors are opened. The baleful orange light of the bloated full moon slashes through the thick darkness like a blade and illuminates the incense-hazed interior of the temple. The heroes lie on a high dais below this door. At the opposite end of the temple, the great bronze doors swing open and the celebrants (assuming that the heroes did not kill or scatter them) begin to swarm into the chamber. The heroes realize that scattered across the stone floor of the temple are rotting corpses, sometimes in piles of up to four. Strange insects like dragonflies with nine wings, and swarms of flies, coat the corpses, which the celebrants pick up and dance with or copulate with the sorry cadavers in religious ecstasy. Some of the heroes witness what beings they are who have captured them and are intoning this ritual. Resembling at first greyish, bent human beings, these beings, clad in silvery robes marked with black spirals, are reciting magical formulae over a strange object, not an altar, but rather shaped like an enormous needle, made out of an iridescent blue-chrome metal, set into the ground in a great array of strange ridged cylinders and boxes strung up with cables and tubes. All parts of the apparatus are coated in strange small extrusions, ridges, whorls, and odd shapes, marked with sharp, webbed glyphs in small cramped blocks of writing. The priests anoint the thing with oil and also with thick congealing blood which they smear on its parts, dimming its jewel-like cleanliness. It is an item of ancient magic, for purposes unknown, it’s needle tip pointed out the doors and into the night sky. It is then that the heroes realize that the priests are not human at all, but some kind of tall, bipedal insect, their man-like bodies clad in shimmering grey-black carapace, with their four-fingered hands (black and cold like skeletal claws) gesturing strange and alien symbols in the air in the process of the ritual. After the exhibition of various sacred objects of a bizarre and profane nature, the ritual reaches its climax. A young woman, her naked form daubed with shimmering paint in blue-black spirals, is dragged twitching and moaning from the crowd of petitioners. She is anointed with clotted blood and dragged beyond the device out onto the portico of the temple. Without much further ado, one of the insects produces an exceedingly ancient stone knife from its robe and unceremoniously slices the woman (still moaning and caressing herself) open from throat to navel, thin red blood pouring forth to pool around her twitching, sluggishly kicking corpse on the cold stone of the altar. The insect-priests, their deep cowls hiding their forms from the drug-stupored celebrants, raise their voices in a buzzsaw cacophony of prayer towards the ceiling of the temple chamber. A group of nude human priests, their bodies marked with spirals, emerge from the alcoves of the temple and join them. The crazed dramatics of the ceremony suddenly cease as the entire temple shakes from its foundations to its top. The celebrants and human priests fall to the floor, pressing their faces to the stone in obeisance. The loathsome insects drop jerkily to their knees and point their arms towards the silvery device, rythmically buzzing and clicking (presumably praying in their own language). The machine begins to vibrate, and strange flashes and glimmers of light race along its surface. A thin high whining sound, which seems to scrape the inside of the heroes’ skulls as if it were within their brains, rises throughout the chamber, combining with the buzzing and clicking of the insects and the chanting of the priests. Then, abruptly, a breathless silence bursts upon the temple as the device releases a burst of blinding light which shoots off into the night sky like a blazing meteor. Sound slowly returns as the heroes here a keening noise, pulsing out into the air beyond the temple and towards the stars. Some of them realize that thin trickles of blood are running from their noses or mouths. The chanting has ceased, and now the only sound to be heard is the gentle keening which soars away into the night air. The bound heroes see a strange shadow which seems to emerge from the distant skies. Room Four: Climax Or Big Battle Then they see it. Drifting, almost tranquilly, through the dark skies, visible only as a blot of darkness, it soars towards the temple’s portico. Like a surreal nightmare, the God reveals itself. The dark shape grows to enormous sizes nearing the temple. The worshipers and priests further abase themselves as it descends eerily silent to wrap itself around the great stone platform of the temple and stretches its great, twitching, fan-like wings to their greatest extent, blotting out the stars, each panel of bizarre skin shuddering. The towering amoebic shape, composed entirely of infinite curtains of tentacles seeming to have the their nexus in a central point on the creature’s "top" (essentially giving it an appearance not unlike a tentacular comet with wings), is crowned with circle of six small (relatively; they are roughly the size of human legs) many jointed horn-antennae, the surrounding ribboned flesh studded with thousands of tiny, blood-red jewel-like eyes. Sections of its leprous green integument are coated with hideous shining black barnacle-like scales and sections of horns and hooks. Rubbery branching limbs that resemble horned coral (or failed tentacles) hang limply from parts of its body. The whole creature gives off a stench of sick, wet decay and at the same time, of sweet-blooming flowers. The whole thing never ceases to move- dreamlike and seemingly without gravity its tentacles drift, shift and curl around each other; its wings flex and stretch; its antennae flex outward and inward as if through respiration. The creature is ominously without sound. Their minds can scarcely encompass the extraterrestrial madness of this mooncalf abomination. What sorcery produced this insane sky-creature? What nightmare pit spat forth this sick horror? The sight of the abyssal deity tempts some to madness. This blasphemous abomination is The Ecstasy From Beyond, The Star-God itself, R’gu. Behind them, they hear hundreds of worshipers scream out in unbelievable pleasure (some screams last on and on and become unbearable until they choke away, these petitioners having died in ecstasy); they see the insect creatures begin to convulse, twitch, and drool hideously from their alien mouthparts. The insects rise to their feet, bowing in the presence of the extraterrestrial deity, and begin to haul the heroes toward the being. As they leave the roof of the temple and enter the chill of the night air, the heroes begin to feel a strange mental pulse, and their bodies begin to experience a sensation of utter pleasure. Some with weak minds may succumb to a state of ecstatic bliss, unable to resist the power of the Star-God. Others harden themselves against it, resisting its otherworldly call. The insect priests cut the heroes’ bonds with knives and scuttle back from the stone porch. Serenely, the Star-God lowers its central head, a thousand tiny gem-like eyes shining liquidly. As if they are in a dream, the heroes (their bodies filled with twitching jolts of pleasure) watch as the creature’s enormous tentacles snake into the temple around them. They watch as the twitching insect priests fall to the floor and are snatched up and dragged towards the creature’s head, which opens up into a vast maw in the semblance of a great flower of hideous small feelers and tiny segmented arms and claws, dragged buzzing and hissing into the alien darkess of their god’s body. Then the tentacles begin to select petitioners from among the crowd and drags them (catatonic or wildly screaming) likewise to be torn into bloody shreds in its chasmic mouth. If the heroes have the willpower and the speed, they can shake off the creature’s ghastly shocks of ecstasy and dash away from the thing to where the priests have dumped their gear in an alcove at the foot of the stairs. Of course, the heroes have no chance to slay the Star-God, and only the slightest of chances of even wounding it notably. But they can, indeed, drive the creature away by severing and dismembering the forests of its writhing limbs. It is a titanic fight, and the creature supplements the attacks of its tentacles with bursts of immobilizing pleasure and beams of mind-shredding sound so concentrated that they can be seen as a faint glowing ray in the air (should one of the heroes be struck by these screaming rays in the head, consider them dead, their brain punctured and their mind destroyed; some of the heroes’ minds may also be broken by the waves of ecstasy sent off by the creature). If the heroes should survive with minds and body intact through the onslaught of slithering limbs and mental assaults, they find themselves standing panting upon a befouled platform, surrounded by tubular chunks of tentacles and pools of thick black fluid that reeks of mold and attar; even as they watch, this alien ichor begins to congeal and strange frilled fungus springs up from it. With the same eerie and otherworldly grace with which it descended, R’gu disentangles from the temple, with an air almost of sadness. Its wings spread to sky-darkening fullness and it releases an atonal dragon scream that squeals away into the air in a thousand ear-bleeding tones. It’s vast maw opens and encased in a steaming clot of hair and rotting flesh it pukes forth a great shining stone- the Ruby of the Winged Master! Then, with a mighty beat of those wings, it soars away into the night, the severed stumps of tentacles boiling forth new arms even as the heroes watch it disappear into the empty starlight. Room Five: Reward, Revelation, Or Plot Twist The heroes turn to face the temple, soaked in blood and sick ichor (which they must scrape off their armor and weapons), holding the gigantic crimson stone puked forth by the God, and are astonished to find that some of the worshipers who had orgied did not flee when the battle began. One by one, each naked, drug-crazed cultist marches up the stairs and touches the heroes, feeling their clothing and armor and touching the ichor and blood on their skin. The first of them falls to his knees, and with shaking hands cries out to the others: "The prophecy is fulfilled! The Sacred Ones Clad In The Blood Of The Star-God! The Bearers Of The Ruby Of The Winged Master! They shall lead us to The Resplendent Abode Of The Ecstasy From The Stars!" The cultists fall to their knees before the flabbergasted heroes, and begin to chant: "We worship you, great ones… We worship you, great ones…" (0) (24) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (24) By: CaptainPenguin ( Locations ) Fortification - Desert The Great King long ago ceased attempting to police the wastelands of his Border Marches, and these debatable lands fell into the hands of petty counts, retired generals, and warlords, who constructed and then abandoned many keeps ripe for plunder. Beyond the green hills lining the Vayoron River lies the desolate wasteland known as the Border Marches. These lands, subject to the Great King only in name, have long been unpoliced and untaxed by any official Imperial force. Control of swathes of this dusty, chilly land thence fell into the hands of opportunistic counts, retired Imperial generals, warlords, and bandits. In some places in the craggy hills above the dustwallowing valleys of the Marches, the ancient black towers of sorcerors (once driven out by Imperial might) were seen once again lit with glowing windows. But many of the tenants of this land, who taxed the land and patrolled it with their own hired men (with the Great King’s tacit approval) found the wastelands, quite obviously, to be barren, poor, and difficult to make a sustenance of. Many landlords simply abandoned with their retinues the ancient, crumbling keeps into which they had tenanted, after struggling to establish any kind of power or wealth in a land of blowing dust, starving cattle, nomad herdsmen, and the curses of black-eyed wizards. Others were done in by the struggle, or slain by bandits and raiders, or by foul magic, leaving their holds wasted and empty, and stuffed full of unwatched treasure. Most inticing to bold adventurers, the Border Marches are so thinly populated and so barren, and the reputation of some of the forts so fearsome, that many have never been plundered! Surely, the riches and wealth of this baron or that must remain in a keep in the wastelands. One such keep is this place, a crumbling conical pile atop a windy scarp. The populace of the village below, who grow a pitiful plot of maize in the shadow of the hills, claim that the fort is haunted and that none ever return from its dark walls. It has been untenanted for over a hundred years; village legend states that it was the keep of the Count Jjun of Irgoz, a cruel and bloodthirsty individual. It is said that Jjun of Irgoz offended the God of Gods by trapping and murdering a guest in his home, and for his misdeed, his entire household was struck down by a plague in a single night. His retinue mouldered away before his eyes, his advisers and friends thrashed screaming in the blood of their own sick lungs, and his great guard-hounds feasted on the bodies of his family. But Jjun of Irgoz did not die, the villagers say, but remains eternally pox-stricken and in terrible pain, alone in the dark with his sorrow. And that, conclude the warty village wives in their cord skirts and painted arms, is why one must please the Gods by honoring guests with a cup of water and safe passage (but as the heroes will find, not much more than that). Room 1: The High Door And The Hounds The heroes, drawn by promise of treasure, seek the door of the keep through a narrow, high stair hacked out of the craggy face of the cliff. This stair, not wide enough for two men to walk abreast, and steep enough that hand holds (some of which house nests of yellow-banded wasteland scorpions) were hacked into the rock at intervals, is buffeted by dangerous winds and random gusts. Further up the stair, a rusty chain has been bolted to the steps to aid as a handhold, and stretches up to a metal post by the doors. The post is loose and weathered by age, and if two many of the heroes throw their weight against the chain, they will unknowingly pull it loose, with disastrous consequences. The doors are slotted deeply into the scarp walls down a slight defile carved out of the bare rock; windows in this rock were probably arrow slits for the defense of the keep, but looking into them now reveals only what appears to be a partially-collapsed chamber filled with rubble and broken wood. The doors swing open with a rusty squeal. It has been quite some time since anybody entered here- a layer of wasteland dust, blown in over time, lies spread thickly across the pavement. The heroes stand in a tall central room. They can just make out the brick walls of the conical structure in which they stand in the gloom; a shaft of golden sunlight spears down through the center of the room through a window high above and behind their heads. As their eyes adjust to the dimness, they recognize the pale shapes of scattered bones spread in patches across the floor. In this chamber, the heroes meet their first test. Out of the darkness, the heroes sense a presence, shuffling silently just beyond the edge of the visible. Lurking in this chamber are the gigantic guard-hounds Vvikush and Vvoralgu, who have become huge, immortal, and terribly ravenous from feeding on the cursed flesh of Jjun of Irgoz’s stricken family. Their bristling, silvery fur is crusted with filthy brown and black from the seeping blood of numerous infected sores, and their enormous drooping-lipped jaws peel back in demonic snarls to reveal shattered and bleeding teeth and diseased gums. These creatures have lurked in this chamber for over a hundred years, gorging their cursed hunger on the foolish ones who trespass within the unholy fort, and a century of undying fear and rage has stripped them of any previous allegiance they might have held to mankind. These beast-dogs provide the heroes with a terrible battle. Room 2: The Mechanical Door And The Tragic Family Having laid put the hounds Vvikush and Vvoralgu to rest, the heroes descend one of several small stairways that exits the dusty, bone-strewn entrance hall (there are four; three of them lead to deserted dusty servants’ quarters, barracks, and kitchens with little loot to speak of besides rust-eaten pieces of iron and the scattered bones of the baron’s stricken retinue and vassals). They find themselves in what appears to be a throne chamber. A moth-eaten rug and dusty tapestries hang from the walls, depicting the victories of the hero Nastra of the Lightning Hair. Behind the throne is heavy bronze door with an intricate mechanical lock on it. In this room lie the gruesome remains of Jjun of Irgoz’s tragic family, who died from the horrible disease inflicted by Jjun’s curse and whose bodies were fed upon by the devilish hounds- three age-blackened and dog-savaged mummified bodies in the faded tatters of ancient gowns, their limbs and faces unnaturally twisted in disturbing ways by rigor mortis. The corpses of the cursed count’s two daughters lie in each others’ arms at the foot of the throne, their legs separated from their bodies and their stomachs ruptured by the corpse-eating hounds. Their shriveled eyes are small black pits and their teeth shine very whitely. Across the room, the body of the lady countess Tleyeson lies on her back, surrounded by a black coating of some flaky black substance, actually the rotten material that the countess wretched up before she died. Her body, too, was savaged and eaten of by the dogs, her face is twisted in a horrible shriek. This sight, while tragic, seems irrelevant to the heroes. They must be more concerned with opening the mechanism which seals the door, a contraption obviously constructed by a sorceror learned in mechanical arts. It is a combination lock, and in order to open the door, four ivory wheels (each marked with a number symbol) must be rotated to form the correct code. But what could the code be? Clues lie on the door itself. It is a great, heavy, bronze relic, worked with symbols of the traditional birth-to-death cycle of the Sun Dog (from young pup, to angry warrior pierced by arrows, to one-eyed leader, to emaciated dying elder). If the heroes look closely, they can see indicated in the relief the phrases: "Let answers spring forth as lightning" and "A hair is the breadth between the open door and the closed", old proverbs. The words "lightning" and "hair" are juxtaposed. If the heroes are very good at inference, they will know that the numbers of the combination are hidden in sequence on the tapestries of Nastra of the Lightning Hair, worked into scenes therein. There is a simpler solution, though it is likewise obscured by time and age. All three corpses of Jjun’s family know the combination, if the heroes can convince them to divulge it. After a few minutes of inevitable frustration in which the heroes cannot devise the solution, the body of the youngest daughter will speak in a low, hissing whisper: "Father is inside. He doesn’t want us to see him." A startling interjection from a hundred-year-old mummy! The youngest daughter is the most forthcoming, and will divulge the combination to the door if it is promised that she will see her daddy and that she will marry the handsome Prince of the Kingdom someday (she is a bratty and fickle little child who wants her dreams fulfilled, even in the grip of undeath). The other two corpses are angry and bitter, having dwelt a century beyond the veil of death, and are very mistrustful of the heroes (recognizing them as the treasure seekers that they are), and will not speak unless the heroes can prove that they will see be allowed to see Jjun of Irgoz one last time. Room Three: The Hall Of Dust And The Giant The great bronze portal opens with a sigh of old musty air. Within, the heroes perceive a long hallway lined with thick Kaitakian carpets. At the far end, a short stair is elevated into the baronial bedroom. The heroes pace up the carpet, their footsteps raising puffs of heavy dust. Thick cobwebs tear apart as they brush through them. Approaching the stairway, they discern a large dark figure, seated on the steps and slumped against the wall. This figure is Xaggarng, the count’s personal bodyguard. Loyal to his death, this huge man died puking out his rotten innards into his lap (like the countess), and his shriveled corpse is encrusted with the gruesome dried remnants. The heroes should know by now that the dead do not rest well in this cursed keep. As they near the doors to the bedroom, Xaggarng releases a thick sound like a deep sigh, and a cloud of black dust pours forth from his distended jaw. Flickering green embers awaken in the wrinkled pits of his eyes as he lifts himself heavily from the steps. Despite the withering of age and mummification, which has made his grey-black skin peel away from his bones and crack apart at his gruesomely-twisted teeth, he remains a giant among men, 7 feet tall, with long arms and hands that have become claws through the action of rigor mortis. He fills the narrow hall and attempts to smother the heroes in a horrible embrace. An unholy strength fills him, and driven by a loyalty to Jjun of Irgoz that lives beyond death, he will not die until hacked into pieces. Room 4: Jjun Of Irgoz The heroes ascend the staircase, spattered with the congealed guts and caked dust of the terrible fort. This is the count’s bedroom, the family abode buried deep beneath the keep, and (hopefully) just above the coffers. As the heroes push open the bronze doors to the bedroom, they are driven back by an overwhelming, sick stench of rot and foulness. They feel an unfamiliar wetness as the dust that cakes their sandals is washed away by a thin, warm fluid. The heroes are standing in a dark chamber, filled with a noxious moisture and humidity not present in the rest of the dust-choked fort. The blackness of the chamber is complete- their torches gutter and flicker in it. The fluid that rushes across their toes lies in slicks and pools across the stone floor of the chamber, and has reduced a once-fine Kaitakian bed-rug into a soggy rotten mat of mushy fibers. Along the walls, several ancient divans have collapsed into wet piles of splinters and rotten silk. In an alcove in the left wall, there is a step upward into the private family shrine, containing statues of Tlonos, the Mother Goddess, One-Eyed War, and a small altar to the God of Gods. However, examining this altar will show that the sacrifice bowls of these altars have been defiled with some kind of stinking filth, and the statue of Tlonos (the goddess who preserves from harm) has been strewn with what appear to be human entrails. The heroes move slowly through the defiled room, until coming upon the great platform of the count’s bed. Lying in the center of the denuded slab of the bed is the cursed lord himself, Jjun of Irgoz. Cursed never to die, but to live eternally, cancerously stricken by the hideous curse of disease which slew his entire household. Over the course of a century, the endless pain has driven him beyond insanity, and all semblance of what it is to be human has been lost to his rotten brain. He appears to the heroes now in a form that could only be vaguely described as human- composed of rot-blackened organs that swell and split, clustered around his crumbling bones like sacks of stinking awful, with his intestines hanging in ropey coils from his belly. His arms hang long and loose and end in twisted skeletal claws. His skull seems to have collapsed into a mass of hideous tentacular cancers that writhe and whip about in a medusa-like fashion. All that remains of his skull are the bridge of his nose and his eye-sockets, nested masklike and eerie amidst the pulsing, rotten flesh. Out of a mouth-like cavity, filthy grey-black puke, filled with shredded, bloody organs, dribbles and splashes about on the floor. This is the horror that was once Jjun of Irgoz, lord of the keep. The horror-that-was-Jjun will not die easily. With a disturbing howl, the creature reverses its joints and crawls up the wall and ceiling of the chamber like a cockroach. The creature attacks with its flesh-tearing claws, and spits hideous plague-bearing fluid at the heroes, a substance so filled with the curse that it raises festering sores on their arms and causes them to bleed from their noses and mouths. The creature also attacks them with its intestines, which animate like arms to strangle and slap at the heroes. This disturbing atrocity seems impervious to pain, and only after it has been hacked apart into tiny fragments (or burned) will the creature die. With the end of its life, there is a huge sighing throughout the keep, and a wave of putrescent air sweeps out from the bedroom throughout the whole tower. Room 5: The Treasure Chamber There is a small door at the back of the bedroom. It opens upon a narrow stairway that descends deeply into the bedrock. The heroes descend the shadowed stairway with trepidation- the bottom is illimitable inky blackness. When they reach the landing of the stairway, they find themselves in a low-roofed long slot chamber. At the far end they find, finally, the coffers of Jjun of Irgoz. The heroes have worked striven hard for this moment, and crack their knuckles in anticipation. The lid of the stone box is slowly pried away to reveal… Nothing. What is this? No gold bars stamped with old Imperial seals? No jewels? No silver goblets, jade rings? What have they been fighting for? None of these things remain the box. Some of the count’s unscrupulous guards and his vizier broke into this chamber and stole away with the gold, escaping the plagued household with the treasure, before dying of the disease somewhere out in the badlands. Left over at the bottom of the cask, however, is something that might highly interest the heroes- it is a document, on vellum, marked with the gold-leaf seal of the Great King himself (of a hundred years ago). It is a deed of debt, redeemable to the Great King at any time, for a tract of land to the bearer- a gift to Jjun of Irgoz for taking on a command in a Godforsaken wasteland and giving up his ancestral tracts. This document bears the seal of a Great King, and is written in the most proper of High Sorgic. Should the heroes present this document to an Imperial governor, they are fully within their power to demand a tract of Imperially-sponsored land be given over to their lordship as their manor, with accompanying serfs and servants. (0) (9) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (9) By: MysticMoon ( Dungeons ) Plains - Rooms/ Halls A Five Room Dungeon about finding the Imperial city of The Lost Empire. Background The merchant Godfrey is under a compulsion which has settled in through recurring dreams. He has been be-spelled by those forgotten wizards of The Lost Empire. Night after night, he has been experiencing wondrous dreams of an ancient city full of magic and beauty. He finds himself transformed into a large bird, soaring high above the city. His flight takes him to the southeast. Farmland passes by, followed by thick forest. Beyond the forest is a foul smelling bog. Every detail of his flight is vividly etched into his memory. Landmarks he was unaware existed are plainly visible. Whatever lies beyond the bog is shrouded in mist and so he descends upon the invisible currents, following his instincts. Like an arrow he flies, straight and true. There is no thought, no question as to why. His destination is a city long ago abandoned and forgotten, hidden behind the foreboding bog and lying within the fog-shrouded hills. Somehow he knows that this city has lain untouched for more than three thousand years. In the dream he lands outside the outer wall. He cannot breach the gate, yet he knows a key is buried in a particularly tall hill. He digs within the hill and unearths a key, a great gem-encrusted, silvery-platinum key which unlocks the front gate and allows him entrance. Once past the gate, he sees that trees have broken through the cobbled streets and some of the stone buildings. Vines cover the walls and crumbling roofs. Birds nest and small mammals lair. He wanders the empty streets. Eventually, he comes upon a great palace of granite and marble, decorated in gold leaf and semi-precious stones. Instinctively following the winding hallways, he comes upon the royal treasury. It is heaped with all manner of precious metals and stones, treasures beyond compare. He reaches out a hand to grasp these treasures. He wakes. Without knowing how, he is certain that something scared away the inhabitants, something that made them flee, something scary enough to cause them to leave behind great piles of gold and silver. But he is just as certain that that danger disappeared long ago. These are only half-truths, bolstered by a firmly planted suggestion. The city in question was not abandoned, but was instead teleported straight into a demon dimension and all its inhabitants were slain. All but the twelve wizards whose greed allowed them to be tricked into performing the ritual which so devastated the land. Those twelve have been imprisoned and tortured for the past three thousand years. With what little strength they are allowed, they occasionally send a magical suggestion out into the mortal realm to bring help. The sole remaining link left behind is the pentagram around which they performed the ritual. It has since been buried and is guarded by fell creatures, for it is the only means of ingress into the city. The dead souls of those who failed still haunt the grassy plains. The compulsion is very strong. Very few possess the force of will to resist. Friends and companions may question, but the dreamer never loses certainty, never questions the likelihood of such a treasure remaining unnoticed for millennia. Godfrey has been unable to secure assistance. He is desperate, for the dreams grow in strength each night. He seeks the player characters out for hire. He tells them every detail of his dream, certain that some deity or relic from the ruins are communicating through him. He offers the party huge shares of the loot, possibly even gifts upfront, if only they will accompany him there. Room 1: The Buried Pentagram Their journey takes them through the Arnathian forest, which is only lightly populated. Any of the locals will be coldly distant, watching the party with obviously disapproving stares. If questioned, they treat the characters with barely concealed contempt. If coerced or charmed, they will only say that the characters are not the first to brave the bogs and that none who ventured in have ever returned. Beyond the forest are bogs full of muck and water, slimy creatures, and creeping or rotting vegetation. Anyone with any geographical knowledge will have no clue what lies beyond the bogs, except for the existence of the great spike-toothed mountains which ring the entire realm, and those are at least a hundred miles farther off. Making it to the entrance requires braving these bog lands, which are inhabited by various monstrous creatures. The number and variety of monsters are more than should seem natural. Once past the bogs, the party enters grassy plains. Aside from the hilly contours, the grassy plains are featureless. A constant, creeping fog covers the land and provides very little visibility. Without the unerring, unquestioning direction of Goddfry, the party would easily become lost. The actual entrance is a pentagram buried beneath a particularly tall hill and is guarded by several minor demons hiding within the mist. Once they reach the hill, Godfrey will ignore everything, including the attacking demons, except for the hillside. Other than incessant ramblings about having found the city, he will be completely focused upon digging. The party must hold off or defeat the guardians until the pentagram is exposed. Once that happens, it will drag the players into the demon realm. Room 2: Freeing the Wizards The demon realm is hot. The cloudless sky is a deep, solid red. No sun is visible but heat pours down unrelentingly. The air shimmers with it. All color has been bleached from the surrounding buildings and human remains. The buildings are in disrepair, just as the dreamer saw, but without the trees, vines, and wildlife. Instead, strange creatures like giant, red-orbed rats scamper about while gold-limned eyes watch from the shadows and unseen serpentine scales make scraping sounds somewhere nearby. All vegetation has long since disintegrated. The ground is made up of stone, gravel, and sand of various orange and red hues. Jagged, red-tipped mountains ring the land. The pentagram has been replaced by a circle of scorched black rock. Not far away, and on the same hillock, sits a tower of green and black veined malachite. The tower spirals up and appears full of brooding malice. The entrance is sealed and will not budge. Godfrey survived to this point, he will become despondent and do little to help. The players may wander about the city. They are left unmolested. There is little to interest them, however. The buildings are crumbling. Anything not made of stone has disintegrated or rusted beyond use. Bones are scattered about, slowly crumbling into dust. Whatever creatures lurk in this place are small and quick to scatter. At some point they come upon or notice another hill, not quite as high as the one they came from. Atop the hill sits a squat, square tower of coal-black iron, untouched by the ages. It is built in a different architectural style from the rest of the city. Engravings of devils, demons, and the tortured dead adorn its surface. If Godfrey is still alive, his gaze goes blank for a moment and then clears. Without being able to explain why, he heads toward the hill. The great doors swing open and screams echo from within for a short time before finally tapering off. Out walks a procession of the demons represented on the outer surface. The sheer number and power of the demons should be enough to discourage any heroics on the part of the players. Once emptied, the tower doors swing shut with a clang. A couple of eight-foot tall, goat-headed monstrosities remain outside as guards. At their sides are horns, capable of sounding an alarm. The players must figure out how to gain entrance without alerting the demon hordes. Held captive inside are the original twelve of the wizard council. All appear to be in their fifties, sixties, and seventies. They are each bound with silver manacles. Each wizard is also wound around by a large serpent. The serpents keep the wizards’ bodies and legs pinned. Their maws are widely extended with dagger-long fangs exposed and a hand span away from the tender flesh of a throat. The first wizard to catch sight of the players calls out in surprise, only to be struck by the serpent. He screams aloud and instantly goes into convulsions. Blood pours from his eyes and his head lolls drunkenly. His screams finally give way to moans. The rest of the wizards watch the party with wide eyes but dare not move or speak. If a player approaches or attempts to strike a serpent, it will repeat the earlier performance. The players must figure out how to free the wizards. Once free from the serpents, the wizards relate their tale. Their magical bonds have kept them weak, but forcefully removing them causes the affected wizard to suddenly age 3,000 years and die. This should happen to at least one wizard. They can be set free from their prison, but the bonds must stay. This prevents the wizards from accessing their magic and assisting the party too much. Room 3: No Easy Escape Without the wizards’ power there is no easy way to return to the mortal realm. The wizards’ escape is discovered as the party exits the tower and the pentagram was a one-way trip. The party is hounded from many directions and must hide out in the city. Some of the wizards are killed in the process, being too weak to defend themselves, too slow to keep up, and too numerous for the party to protect them all. The remaining wizards claim that escape can be made through the tower, but the party must travel back toward danger to get the key. The key is in the old imperial palace and demons have taken up residence there. Room 4: Recovering the Key The palace is huge but the wizards help direct them toward the royal treasury. It is guarded by a hulking demon of scaly red with goat hooves, short, curved black horns, and a broad bladed scimitar. Backing him up are a number of small, long-clawed imps. Most of the original treasure has been pilfered but there remain a few items; however much gold, silver, and items of note that the GM deems appropriate. There is one item, however, that the wizards are particularly interested in. It is a short, leaf-bladed sword of obviously skilled make, though not ostentatious. The wizards appear somewhat disappointed that the only obvious embellishment is bare: a small setting for a jewel in the guard. The players may need to fight their way in or out of the palace. More wizards will likely perish in the process, but at least a couple should survive. Room 5: Safe Once More Once the party makes it to the tower, the sword is used as a key to open the door. The party enters the large entryway with the remaining wizards. The interior of the tower is made up of solid quartz in various shades (clear, rose, violet, etc.) In the entryway is a pedestal with a number of semiprecious stones in a box of scrimshaw and velvet. Clearly visible within are shards of malachite, white onyx, agate, amethyst, and lapis lazuli, with more underneath. One of the wizards inserts the malachite shard into a slot next to the box. This returns the tower to the mortal realm. If asked, the wizards will only say that the other stones are essential to the mysteries of the tower. Whatever gratitude they feel toward the players, they become very vague when questioned about the tower itself. Once back in the mortal realm, the wizards annihilate the pentagram and promise to set about restoring the world. With the help of the characters, of course. After the pentagram is destroyed, the fog blows away. Great sighs of relief are heard as this happens. Followup The bottom floor is as far as anyone can go in the tower. According to the wizards there are more keys needed to access the higher levels. One of those keys is the sapphire that was removed from the sword’s guard. They have no idea where it may be. (0) (9) Add/View Ideas (0) Add/View Comments or Vote (9) By: Ancient Gamer ( Dungeons ) Any - Rooms/ Halls In the ramshackle town of Spear Malice only a single building still stands. It has defied the Great War and its spears of light; nuclear blasts that devastated the entire state, and ever since then it has defied the onslaught of time. Its halls have not yet been breached, and a wealth of technological treasure await, ripe for plunder! But there are others who crave this treasure; others that will do anything to claim it. Mercenary Shrine During the Great War the border town now known as Spear Malice was hit hard. Caught within the blast radius of a nuke, most buildings came toppling down. Of course, the century and a half since that time has not helped either, and today Malice is a truly ramshackle place where the Divine Spear Tribe holds sway, and their Warlock King, John One-Eye, is the undisputed master of the nearby wastes. It is in this town, on the intersection between Wolf Path and the Path of the Ancients, that the Mercenary Shrine stands; a circular building, like a silo on four pillars, apparently unharmed by the blast that tore down the rest of the town. There was something solemn about the only building that still stood unharmed, a certain virtue or innocence. A square logo with a dot inside was painted on both north and south side of the edifice. It seemed the tribals used it for throwing contests, for the southern side logo was dotted with splashes, dents and marks. For a moment it seemed like someone was moving on the top of the huge tower, but it must have been a trick of the eye, for no rungs or ladders were visible. Brushing the dust and sand from the beige flak jacket he had found in an abandoned military depot, Kendall Bruise-Bone ran crouched towards the rusted wreckage of trucks he spotted beneath the edifice. It would not do to be spotted by the natives, for they were hostile and their preferred meat was that of men. Room #1: The Entrance The silo shaped edifice has been placed on four massive pillars of steel and concrete, so the entrance is actually in the open air below the building. Bricks from the collapsed neighboring buildings seems to have blasted into this region, and several ancient trucks that are parked here have fist sized holes in them, and are partially covered in earth and bricks. Gangs of tribal savages often walk the streets near this area, so PCs must either keep quiet, have considerable diplomatic skills or be ready to fight. An elevator is visible inside one of the steel support pillars, and its doors are wide open. Inside they will find cracked mirrors on the walls and the ceiling. The control panel has been destroyed, the remains bent and broken on the floor, and now a wide array of wires emerge where it was once placed. The wires still carry an electric current, which will be clear from the jolts they will get if they touch two wires at once. Also there is a hatch in the ceiling, but it is locked. Marks suggest that someone has tried to break open the lock, but obviously they failed. To get up the PCs must either use their electrical skills and send the elevator up, or they must pick the difficult lock and climb up to the floors above. Note that a certain code has to be entered to access the upper levels, and at the moment the PCs have neither the codes nor the interface required to enter the codes. Therefore the elevator doors will only open on the first room inside the facility (the second "room" of the dungeon). Note: - There are three digits on the panel: 0, 1 and 2. - 0 would be the entrance, i.e. here. 1 is the control room and 2 is the Mercenary shrine. Setting the mood for the remainder of the "dungeon": - The nuclear power supply of the Mercenary Shrine is fully operational, and a hatch down to it can be found under one of the collapsed trucks, but the wires carrying the power to the building above was slightly damaged during the nuclear blast. This means that the power is almost stable, but on random intervals the power goes down, stopping the elevator and covering the rooms in a blanket of utter darkness. Only the implants of Luc - the cybernetic ghost, the space craft and the sentry drone will remain powered on during these short periods of no electricity. Room #2: The Control Room Projections are shown on the walls of this rotund chamber. Several projections show the devastated areas of the surrounding town, while one shows some sort of armoured bipedal robot pacing back and forth in another rotund chamber, where red banners hang on black walls, a huge, oval table dominate the room and skeletons litter the floor. If the PCs change active cameras with the control panel (described below), more rooms can be seen: 1) A circular hangar with black walls and a brown military space craft (if they open the hangar roof while watching the camera feed from the room, they will notice tribals entering the hangar from above, prodding the space craft with their spears and screaming jubilant). 2) The entrance, now overrun by tribals pointing at the elevator and screaming. 3) The room the PCs currently occupy. In a large chair, its leather black and comfortable in spite of the years, a skeleton is seated. Its spine has been reinforced with black metal alloys from the neck and up, and the unmistakable soft whirring of awaking machinery can be heard from within its skull. On a closer look the PCs realize that the skeleton had cybernetic implants in life and the left side of the skull is covered by the same black metallic alloys as the neck; light emitting diodes bathe the inside of the skull in nuances of green and red. The back of the skull, and the chair behind it, has been blown away, a shotgun still in the hands of the skeleton. The skeleton will move its neck and seem to follow the PCs, its vision enhancement implant pinpointed on the face of the closest PC. The rest of the skeleton is quite dead and unmoving. In front of the skeleton is a huge control panel, briefly described above, and the locks barring the elevator doors from opening at the upper levels can be opened with it (successful computer skill use). Any PC with devices that can communicate via short wave radio, or has a wire with the RJ2001 jack needed to connect to the machinery, may converse with the deceased mercenary, or what remains of it. It seems the mercenary had invested in major optical enhancements, targeting systems as well as memory storage implants. This means the dead cyborg remembers who it was and what has happened. Unfortunately there is a small malfunction in the hardware, caused by the suicide, and this makes the cybernetic ghost (as beings such as this are called) quite difficult to communicate with. Any eloquent and diplomatic PC can persuade the cyborg to provide much info however: 1) The cyborg knows how to unlock the lock on the upper levels. 2) The cyborg knows that the sentry drone upstairs can be hacked, and that it is vulnerable in the rear of its neck. 3) The cybernetic ghost remembers how to power up the space craft on the uppermost level. 4) The ghost also remembers how to open the retractable roof panels, to make the space craft’s take off a little more convenient. The PCs can also choose to rob the skeleton of its implants. The skull can also be separated from the rest of the skeleton and, if so, it might turn out a reluctant and difficult, but valuable, ally. The cybernetic ghost still refers to itself as Luc, a 44 year old mercenary. (Its correct age would be 195 years, given the time it has been trapped here, but that is something it will not acknowledge). Note: - Luc committed suicide after he realized what had happened. Half of his skull has been blown away and the shotgun is still in his skeletal grip. Room #3: Mercenary Shrine This room is the mercenary shrine, or the contract room, in which potential employers discussed with the leaders of the mercenary clan. The room is basically a meeting room, with a huge, black oval table at the center and many luxurious chairs surrounding it. At the far end of the chamber is an altar of sorts, the altar of contracts, in which agreements are kept. The rule is to honour the contract, religiously, or break the contract at your peril. Nowadays the PCs might find that the old, rotting contracts disintegrate at touch. A dog tag on a chain with two teeth lies discarded among the contracts. "Cole ‘Durmenthir’ Anderson" is the name printed on it. Of note in this chamber are the number of skeletons strewn on the floor, the assault rifles hung on the walls or scattered amongs the fallen and the fully operational sentry bot that stands astride the meeting table, in battle position, waiting for the PCs to exit the elevator. The robot is well armoured and well powered. It has kept vigil for the last century and a half, never failing and never pausing. When the nuke hit, the electromagnetic pulse did not penetrate the solid walls of the shrine, but the sentry bot assumed an attack was underway and in the resulting chaos it started killing the potential employers that had attended a meeting. As the shocked and dazed mercenaries tried to stop the sentry bot, it categorized them as enemies too and ultimately killed the twenty people attending the meeting. This compelled Luc, the former mercenary with cybernetic implants, to shut down the elevator from the control room. The exact details of the robot is left up to the GM in question, but Luc, the cybernetic ghost, will inform the PCs that its frontal armour is formidable, requiring heavy guns to breach, but some essential neck cables are vulnerable to attack. This information can also be gleaned by PCs using the surveillance cameras to their full advantage. Also, if possible, the sentry bot will not use projectiles (it has been programmed to keep the facility as intact as the situation allows). The elevator stops on this level. A ladder leads up to a hatch in the ceiling, and the hangar above. Note: - Extremely skilled hacker PCs can connect wirelessly to the bot and hack it, preferably from behind shelter. Its firewalls and passwords are rather good, but not impossible. Room #4: Hangar The hangar has walls and floor painted black, with a thick, yellow H painted on the floor, a circle surrounding the H. On this letter, H, a flat, broad spacecraft stands. Its hull has been painted military brown. Its gangplank has been lowered and entrance is possible. For the space shuttle to take off, the roof doors should be opened, but it is possible to crash through them if they put the thrusters on full. (It is likely that this will damage the rudder and hull). If the roof doors have been opened, the room will be occupied by eight tribals wielding spears and knives and crossbows. They will squat atop the space vessel, some even having gone inside to study this ancient piece of wonder. The tribals have no skill at electronics and computers, so they are limited to poking and punching random buttons. If the GM thinks a military space shuttle is too great a reward, he should have them push the wrong buttons and crash the shuttle half way through the wall. It will still contain much desired spare parts and can eventually be repaired by the stalwart PCs. Additionally the tribals, already having found the tracks of the PCs, have realized the elevator is now functional and will be approaching from behind too. The PCs should find some choke points, and quick, for this battle is about to become hot. Combat Set Up: If the roof panel has been opened: The two sentinels atop the tower were quite surprised when the roof began to slide beneath their feet. To their wonder they discovered the hangar beneath and whistled to six fellow tribals on the ground, who promptly climbed the tower using the ropes that were dropped from above. These eight are exploring the hangar even as the PCs emerge from the hatch. They will remain in hiding, but the two ropes hanging from above should warn the PCs that they are not alone. Regardless whether any tribals are in the hangar: The PCs did not ascend the elevator shaft unnoticed, regardless whether they ascended by using the elevator or by climbing. Several tribals followed their footsteps and, unless the PCs were cunning and sealed the elevator doors programmatically, they will assault the PCs from behind. Any assault rifles left in the Mercenary Shrine will be picked up. Though of little or no technical skill, there are tribals who know how to operate these. There seems to be no end to the savages, and the PCs must stem the flow themselves, either by sealing off the hatch, sealing the elevator or leaving (using the shuttle). If the shuttle is disabled it should prove quite a task to escape, but diplomacy, stealth or brute force might win the day. If the PCs hacked the sentry bot: The sentry bot is online and will defend the PCs to the best of its abilities. It uses its hands to choke, punch and disable and, just to invoke fear, it sometimes rips throats and hearts out of the bodies of its opponents. It will employ firearms if the going gets too tough. About the tribals: The tribals attack like hunters would, using cover then throwing, or shooting, spears and bolts at the PCs. Some tribals have molotov cocktails and will not hesitate to throw these. In melee they will use spears and knives. John One-Eye, the Warlock King of Spear Malice: A huge individual, one eye torn from its socket, will eventually come into view, pushing his minions forward. This is John One-Eye, the Warlock King. To these tribals, John’s advanced tech is nothing short of magic and they fear and dread the veteran soldier, handing him their daughters and part of their loot. John is a tough nut to crack, wearing full body armour and wielding two Beretta 9mm handguns. John also has three hand grenades that he does not hesitate to use, even should one of the tribals be caught in the blast. At the end of the day he prefers watching from a distance, but if enough of his men are slain he will come, for he has sought the contents of the tower for a long time and is not about to let the PCs get away with it a

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Social media giants Facebook, Google’s YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft said on Monday they were forming a global working group to combine their efforts to remove terrorist content from their platforms. The logo of the social network Facebook is seen on a beach during the Cannes Lions Festival in Cannes, France, June 21, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard Responding to pressure from governments in Europe and the United States after a spate of militant attacks, the companies said they would share technical solutions for removing terrorist content, commission research to inform their counter-speech efforts and work more with counter-terrorism experts. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism “will formalize and structure existing and future areas of collaboration between our companies and foster cooperation with smaller tech companies, civil society groups and academics, governments and supra-national bodies such as the EU and the UN,” the companies said in a statement. The move comes on the heels of last week’s call from European heads of state for tech firms to establish an industry forum and develop new technology and tools to improve the automatic detection and removal of extremist content. The political pressure on the companies has raised the prospect of new legislation at EU level, but so far only Germany has proposed a law fining social media networks up to 50 million euros ($56 million) if they fail to remove hateful postings quickly. The lower house of the German parliament is expected to vote on the law this week. The companies will seek to improve technical work such as a database created in December to share unique digital fingerprints they automatically assign to videos or photos of extremist content. They will also exchange best practices on content detection techniques using machine learning as well as define “standard transparency reporting methods for terrorist content removals.” Earlier this month Facebook opened up about its efforts to remove terrorism content in response to criticism from politicians that tech giants are not doing enough to stop militant groups using their platforms for propaganda and recruiting. Google announced additional measures to identify and remove terrorist or violent extremist content on its video-sharing platform YouTube shortly thereafter. Twitter suspended 376,890 accounts for violations related to the promotion of terrorism in the second half of 2016 and will share further updates on its efforts to combat violent extremism on its platform in its next Transparency Report. The social media firms said they would work with smaller companies to help them tackle extremist content and organizations such as the Center for Strategic and International Studies to work on ways to counter online extremism and hate. All four companies have initiatives to counter online hate speech and will use the forum to improve their efforts and train civil society organizations engaged in similar work.

Version 2.0.1b New Microtransactions: Added a new microtransaction: Stygian Raise Spectre Effect Added a new microtransaction: Gore Skull Helmet Skin The individual pieces for the Necrotic Armour Set are now for sale. Divination Cards: Added 12 new Divination Cards. Map Mods: Added a new end-game map mod: of Giants. This mod provides increases to the area of effect of skills used by monsters. Added a new end-game map mod: of Deadliness. This mod provides increases to critical strike chance and damage of monsters. Added a new end-game map mod: Titan's. This mod provides increases to life and area of effect for the Unique Boss. Added a new end-game map mod: of Congealment. This mod provides monsters with immunity to life and mana leech. This mod only appears at high tier maps and is rarer than most mods. Added a new end-game map mod: of Insulation. This mod provides monsters with elemental status ailment avoidance. At high tier maps this mod provides immunity to elemental status ailments. The Overlord's (increased unique boss damage and speed) end-game map mod has been changed to contain two lines of text when rolled on an item and on the map overlay. The Deadly (increased monster damage) end-game map mod has been renamed to Savage to more correctly represent the name of the mod when used on monsters. Posted by GGG_Neon on Grinding Gear Games on

Get the latest news and videos for this game daily, no spam, no fuss. Deep Silver and 4A Games announced today that Metro: Last Light will be bundled with the 300 Valve-produced Steam Machine systems going out to beta testers later this year. The publisher also confirmed that Metro: Last Light will support for Steam OS and the Steam Controller when they are released publicly sometime next year. "We are excited by the prospect of bringing the ultimate Metro experience, powered by next-gen PC hardware into the living room," 4A Games CTO Oles Shishkovstov said in a statement. "Metro: Last Light will be a great showcase for Steam OS and the Steam Controller." Deep Silver also released the dedicated Linux version of Metro: Last Light on Steam this week. It supports Steam Play, allowing owners of any Steam version to automatically find the game added to their Windows PC, Mac, or Linux Steam libraries. Yesterday, Valve showed off the images of its own Steam Machine prototype. Announcements from multiple partners for their own Steam Machines are expected at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, with the hardware going on sale starting in mid-2014.

Image caption Protesters around the US have repeatedly called for the halt to the ban on gay military personnel A US appeals court has ordered the Obama administration to stop enforcing the ban on allowing gay men and women serving openly in the military. The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a previous ruling which allowed the government to continue enforcing the "don't ask, don't tell" law (DADT). President Barack Obama has repealed DADT, allowing gay military members to be open about their sexuality. But the law is still being enforced while the Pentagon drafts new rules. 'Change of hardships' A three-judge panel at the court in San Francisco said DADT must be lifted because the Obama administration concluded in December 2010 that it was unconstitutional to treat gay Americans differently under the law. "The circumstances and balance of hardships have changed, and [the government] can no longer satisfy the demanding standard for issuance of a stay," the panel said. American servicemembers are no longer under threat of discharge as the repeal implementation process goes forward R Clarke Cooper, Executive director, Log Cabin Republicans The panel noted that Congressional lawmakers repealed the ban on gay military personnel in December and that the Pentagon is in the process of writing new rules for the policy. The "don't ask, don't tell" law forbids gay soldiers from acknowledging their sexual orientation. The removal of the ban on gay members of the military came in response to a motion brought by Log Cabin Republicans, an organisation for gay Republican Party members. Last year, the group persuaded a lower court judge in California to declare the ban, which was formally adopted in 1993, unconstitutional. But the government appealed US District Judge Virginia Phillips' decision, and the Ninth Circuit Court agreed to keep the policy in place until it could consider the case. Officials at the Pentagon said on Wednesday they would comply with the court order and inform commanders in the field. Gay advocates said an appeal from the Pentagon on the ruling is unlikely, considering the Obama administration is committed to repealing the policy. "The ruling... removes all uncertainty," said Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director R Clarke Cooper. "American servicemembers are no longer under threat of discharge as the repeal implementation process goes forward," he added.

Salimullah Khan. Image from the Taliban’s Voice of Jihad website. The Afghan Taliban mourned the death of the leader and founder of a Pakistani Islamic university known to have supported al Qaeda and other jihadist groups in the region. Mawlana Salimullah Khan, the Pakistani cleric, was also the president of Pakistan’s largest confederation of Deobandi seminaries and schools. His son and grandson were deported from the United States for immigration violations after the FBI linked them to an al Qaeda plot in California. “It is with great sadness to have learnt that a famous scholar of the Islamic world, the head of Wifaqul Madaris al-Arabiya Pakistan and a renowned scholar of Hadith and Tafsir, Hazrat Mawlana Salimullah Khan Sahib (may Allah have mercy on him) passed away due to an ongoing illness,” the Taliban announced yesterday in a statement released on Voice of Jihad, its official propaganda website. Salimullah has “rendered unforgettable services in social and intellectual fields” and “shall forever be remembered for his extensive services in the promotion and growth of religious Madaris (seminaries) and centers of learning.” His death is “an irreparable loss for the entire Muslim world and specifically for the followers of knowledge, Dawah [preaching] and Jihad.” The Taliban thanked him for providing “Jihadi services.” Salimullah was one of the founders of Jamia Farooqia, an Islamic university in Karachi, Pakistan known to have “strong connections to the Taliban movement in Afghanistan,” according to The Los Angeles Times. Syed Saleem Shahzad, the Pakistani journalist who was murdered by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate for exposing ties between jihadist groups and the state, described Jamia Farooqia as one of several “pro-Taliban seminaries” in the country. Al Qaeda founder Osama bin Laden “counted the scholars of the Farooqia school among his supporters” during his infamous 1998 press conference where he declared war on the United States and the West, The Sacramento Bee reported in 2005. Salimullah son, Muhammad Adil Khan, and grandson, Muhammad Hassan Adil, were arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2005 and ultimately deported for immigration violations. The two were arrested and linked to an al Qaeda plot tied to the Farooqia Islamic Center in Lodi, California. According to The East Bay Times, government officials said that Jamia Farooqia was “a ‘haven’ for mujahideen fighters” and Salimullah’s son “hoped to create a similar school in Lodi to train future jihadis.” In addition to his ties to al Qaeda and the Taliban, Salimullah also had “at least a historical connection to Harakat-ul-Mujahideen,” one of many Pakistani jihadist groups aligned with al Qaeda, according to The Los Angeles Times. Harakat-ul-Mujahideen was listed by the US government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in Oct. 1997. Harakat-ul-Mujahideen was founded by Fazlur Rehman Khalil, who signed Osama bin Laden’s 1998 fatwa. Pakistani intelligence had used Khalil as an emissary to communicate with al Qaeda. Asim Umar, the current emir of al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, was also a leader in Harakat-ul-Mujahideen [See FDD’s Long War Journal reports, Osama bin Laden’s Files: The Pakistani government wanted to negotiate and US adds Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, leader to terrorism list.] Salimullah also served as the president of Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia Pakistan, a confederation of more than 18,000 Deobandi seminaries and schools throughout the country. Many Pakistani madrassas are fertile recruiting grounds for jihadist groups and some are known to actively recruit, indoctrinate, and train students to wage jihad throughout south and central Asia and beyond. In 2013, Salimullah and Wafaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia proposed a cease-fire between the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan and the Pakistani government. The Pakistani Taliban has taken advantage of peace deals to regroup and rearm for the next wave of fighting. The Pakistani government has done little to stop schools like Jamia Farooqia and Salimullah from supporting jihadists. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal. Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Watch out, humans, the U.S. military has released an all-seeing, unmanned helicopter-like aircraft into the wild, according to Aviation Week. The Boeing A160T Hummingbird was photographed in Belize, where it was test flying a tree-penetrating Darpa radar called FORESTER. Locals were given a heads-up thanks to a press release from the U.S. Embassy. There's no sign of the document on the website, but local reports say that the the Belize government invited the U.S. to test the Hummingbird in a mountain range 25 miles from the Guatemalan border. A few dozen military personnel - both Belizean and American - are involved in the testing, which will last until September. U.S. Special Operations Command got its new gear in November of 2008, but at the time the unmanned hovering aircraft couldn't see through trees. The synthetic-aperture radar now onboard is designed to detect slow moving people and vehicles - even if they're hiding in dense foliage. It enables super high resolution imaging by using the motion of the helicopter to create an artificially large aperture. As if the unmanned A160T platform, which can fly 2,500 nautical miles for 24 hours at up to 30,000 feet, wasn't high tech enough. The Hummingbird represents a completely new approach to helicopter design, with a special adjustable-speed rotor enabling it to be super quiet. This particular model is unarmed. But the aircraft - officially dubbed the YMQ-18A by Special Ops - could also prove useful in urban areas or in Afghanistan, where its radar could help it surveil forested mountains and bring supplies to special forces teams at night. It's not the only robotic helicopter-esque aircraft used by the military. This spring, a prototype of Northrop Grumman's MQ-8B Fire Scout, operating off of the frigate USS McInenry, helped bust up a drug deal at sea. 60 kilograms of cocaine were seized, and another 200 kilos were thrown overboard, according to the Navy. Of course, neither robotic machine truly flies itself. They either have a pilot controlling them remotely, or a pre-determined computer program. The only true self-flying full-size helicopter is the Unmanned Little Bird, which had its inaugural no-humans-involved flight in June. Photo: Boeing See Also: Photo: Boeing

Joy C Raphael’s new book, Slaves of Saudis: Terrorisation of foreign workers, sheds light on the infamous reality of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia. Not only does the author gather multiple stories of Asian workers, including Indians, being mistreated in the kingdom, he also put them in context with historical and cultural details about the Gulf region. The book is more a collection of short testimonies written in a journalistic way than a non-fiction novel. Raphael is a senior journalist who has worked in Saudi Arabia for 14 years. He is currently the editorial pages editor of the Oman Tribune in Muscat, Oman.What is the purpose of your book? JCR: The book exposes what’s happening in Saudi Arabia to migrant workers. I have seen it all. Even in my earlier book, Mutawas: Saudi Arabia's Dreaded Religious Police, I exposed what the religious police was up to and their foul behaviour with expats and even Saudis. What responsibility, if any, does the Indian government have in the situation faced by its citizens in Saudi Arabia?JCR: The Indian government is clearly not equipped to deal with the problems faced by over two million Indians in Saudi Arabia. The embassy cannot handle all the issues. Moreover, the Indian government wants smooth relations with Saudi Arabia for several reasons, such as oil and the Muslim votebank, and so looks the other way. Of course, NRI minister Vyalar Ravi and others pay lip service to the problems Indians face, but nothing much is ever done. So the problems linger on and on and get bigger and bigger. DNA special: Saudi localisation drive is latest blow to NRKs How do you see the situation for Indian workers in Saudi Arabia with the new "Nitaqat" labor law? JCR: A lot of Indians are going to lose their jobs. But you cannot blame the Saudi government for that. There is high unemployment there — about 30% — and a lot of discontent, so the government has to do something. And that is to ensure employment for Saudis. Then, there are news reports that thousands of Indians based in Saudi Arabia are applying for emergency certificates to leave the country. These are people without passports. In other words, illegal aliens. Now why did they become illegal aliens? They all ran away from their employers to escape different forms of brutality. Many may not have been paid their salaries for months.Some people have called Indians to leave Saudi Arabia and boycott the country. What are your thoughts on this?JCR: Boycotting Saudi Arabia is all hogwash. We need them more than they need us. A good number of Indians are getting their salaries and are being treated well. They need the jobs. I don't think they will leave. And there are thousands waiting to come as the rupee is sinking — 58 to a dollar. That's great money. If Indians don't go, others are there to take up jobs. Countries like Saudi Arabia will need expats for a long time, and there are enough Filipinos, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans ready to go.

Amazon's cloud computing infrastructure is growing so fast that it's silently becoming a core piece of the internet. That's according to an analysis done by DeepField Networks, a start-up that number-crunched several weeks' worth of anonymous network traffic provided by internet service providers, mainly in North America. They found that one-third of the several million users in the study visited a website that uses Amazon's infrastructure each day. Most people still think of Amazon as the internet's giant shopping mall – a purveyor of gadgets, books and movies – but it's quietly become "a massive utility" that is either on the sending or receiving end of 1 percent of all of the internet traffic in North America, says Craig Labovitz, a well-known internet researcher and co-founder of DeepField. "My mother, for example, has heard of Facebook. She's heard of Google. She buys stuff from Amazon. But I don't think most people realize just how pervasive Amazon is becoming," he says. "The number of websites that would now break if Amazon were to go down, and the growing pervasiveness of Amazon behind the scenes, is really quite impressive." Amazon introduced its first cloud service, the Elastic Compute Cloud, in 2006, basing it on the technology it had developed in-house while building up Amazon.com. It's now caught on as a quick way for companies to spin up servers without actually having to set up their own computers. Amazon now sells even more data center resources – storage, databases and search-indexing, for example – as cloud services. It's popular with companies that see big spikes and drops in computing demand. Netflix uses it to handle the back-end of its streaming service, which is in hot demand on Sunday nights and then gets quiet a few hours later. And Amazon even managed to build one of the world's 50 most powerful supercomputers on its cloud. One of cloud supercomputing company Cycle Computing's clients, pharmaceutical research firm Schrödinger, recently built a massive supercomputer on Amazon's cloud. It ran a chemical simulation for three hours and then was gone. Cost of compute resources: $15,000. "It puts access to massive quantities of supercomputing power into the hands of anyone," says Cycle CEO Jason Stowe. "At this point any small organization can afford to use it, if only for a brief period of time" But a big question remains: How big is Amazon's cloud? How many servers power its data centers? The company didn't respond to a request for comment on this story – like many cloud providers it considers this type of information a proprietary secret. But there are a few clues out there. Last month Accenture's Huan Liu did a bit of internet sleuthing and came up with a guess: 445,000. That number could be high. Gartner researcher Lydia Leong estimates that Amazon's cloud business was $1 billion in 2011, more than five times the size of its closest competitor, Rackspace. Last week Rackspace Chief Technology Officer John Engates was happy to tell us how many servers he has in his data centers: 80,000. But only 23 percent ($189 million) of Rackspace's 2011 business was in the cloud. That implies that Rackspace could do the same amount of cloud business as Amazon with maybe 100,000 servers. Amazon itself has lobbed out some impressive-sounding tidbits about its cloud. For example, the company stored 762 billion objects in its S3 storage cloud last year – three times the 2010 tally. Another favorite: Amazon says that “Every day Amazon Web Services adds enough new capacity to support all of Amazon.com’s global infrastructure through the company’s first 5 years, when it was a $2.76 billion annual revenue enterprise.” Amazon was founded in 1995, when a 200 MHz Pentium Pro chip was pretty much top-of-the-line, and since Amazon hasn't said how much infrastructure it required for those first five years, this number is also hard to parse. The company operates several data centers – it calls them "availability zones" – in Virginia, the West Coast, Singapore, Tokyo and Europe and, clearly, they have been growing fast in the past few years. According to data compiled by Adrian Cockcroft, director of cloud architecture at Netflix, Amazon has increased the number of IP addresses assigned to servers in those data centers more than fivefold in the past two years – from just over a quarter-million IP addresses in February 2010 to more than 1.7 million last month. That could show that Amazon's business is growing even faster than most people realize (Gartner pegs its growth rate at about 30 percent year over year) or it could mean that Amazon is simply loading up on IP addresses in anticipation of future growth. As is so often the case with Amazon's very important infrastructure: the answer is cloudy. This story has been updated to correct the name of the company that built an Amazon cloud supercomputer. It was Amazon.

Activist Post Every single day carries a new story (or stories) about egregious assaults by police against the citizens who have entrusted (and paid) them to serve and protect. Even the Bureau of Justice Statistics had to conclude recently that police brutality is grossly unchecked across the nation by the political system. Such unchecked power is even more frightening when we see police becoming as militarized as any Third World dictatorship. And of course, to back up this lawlessness is a ready-and-waiting prison-industrial complex that leads the world in caging its own citizens. Shooting pets, tasering kids, no-knock SWAT raids, raping, pillaging … you name it – and it will only get worse until people have the courage to take action in huge numbers and put a stop to this madness that has been tolerated for way too long. The October 22 Coalition to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation has been mobilizing every year since 1996 for a National Day of Protest on October 22, bringing together those under the gun and those not under the gun as a powerful voice to expose the epidemic of police brutality. Please view their videos below and find a location to participate. The Coalition also works on the Stolen Lives Project, which documents cases of killings by law enforcement nationwide – the second edition of their book documents only the tip of the iceberg with 2,000 confirmed cases. According to the Coalition, 2014 has been particularly bad with 800 documented cases. Click HERE to enlarge The full statement from the Coalition is as follows: The Call for the 19th National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization On the eve of the 19th annual National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation, a defiant new spirit is in the air. In Ferguson, Missouri, people continue to rise up in outrage against the killing of Mike Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old Black youth who was just days away from starting college. Despite the rapid and ruthless militarization of the town by racist police and the National Guard, people defied curfews, tear gas, rubber bullets, and calls for a return to business-as-usual—and oppression-as-usual—by protesting and rebelling for ten consecutive, sweltering nights in August. Thousands from around the country gathered in Ferguson this past weekend to stand in solidarity with the brave people of Ferguson. These are the moments where the decades of racist abuse, criminalization, and police terror at the hands of this system came crashing against fearless resistance from the very people it seeks to control, inspiring justice-seeking people not just nationwide, but around the world. The National Day of Protest was founded to oppose exactly these kinds of abuses. This year, in big cities and small towns, in the face of police brutality, repression, mass incarceration and the criminalization of youth we say, Let the spirit of Ferguson ignite hearts nationwide with an uncompromising passion for justice! In the United States, this year has seen a litany of state violence, with increasing documentation and coverage making these ongoing atrocities more difficult to deny. Over 800 people have been killed by law enforcement nationwide, at least 200 since Mike Brown, and at least 23 people in one week. Although police criminalization of and violence against women and transgender people is nothing new, they have become more newsworthy of late. There seems to be no level too low for law enforcement to stoop in their violence, whether it is against children and young teens, the elderly, the deaf, or those who are emotionally or mentally distressed. In New York City, the era of mass criminalization of Black and brown communities through “stop and frisk” was supposed to be over thanks to the election of a supposedly progressive mayor. What de Blasio brought instead though, was the return of William Bratton, the architect of Stop and Frisk! Bratton’s highly oppressive “broken windows” style of policing, in which the smallest “crimes” are aggressively policed, has already led to an increase in police brutality and public mistrust. In this year, NYPD’s use of “Broken Windows” has led to the highly publicized chokehold death of beloved community member Eric Garner, the beating of an 84-year-old immigrant man for allegedly jaywalking, a chokehold on a 7-month pregnant woman for barbecuing in front of her home, a young man kicked in the head while lying on the ground handcuffed, numerous people beaten for falling asleep on the subway, a raid of Harlem housing projects, and numerous other atrocities. Even some of the most well-known cultural aspects of New York are under attack, as subway performers are being arrested at astonishing rates simply for trying to earn a living as they have been doing for decades. Meanwhile, the same City Council that voted so strongly for police reforms earlier this year has remained silent in the midst of a new “progressive” administration, lifting their voices only to cry out for 1,000 more cops! We have seen other attempts at creating some modicum of accountability being thwarted or ineffective, such as the gutting of civilian oversight mechanisms and useless federal investigations of police departments by the U.S. Department of Justice, while those who document police misconduct are under attack. But we applaud the different ways that people have risen up and persevered. Law enforcement departments across the country have come to use on a routine basis the exertion of military enforcement and control in communities that are deemed a “social disturbance.” Although there has been a long history of the militarization of police, the revelation of just how much military weaponry has been supplied to local law enforcement by the Pentagon and how the uprising in Ferguson was dealt with are a sobering reminder of the capabilities of law enforcement to exert standing army-like control over the population of non-combatant civilians. It also would be a moral crime to ignore the fact that the intensification of police arms and enforcement is borne out of the desire, on behalf of the state, to quell the expression of people of color in their demands for justice. Through the unabated organizing and pressure from the people, we can rejoice over the release of political prisoners Lynne Stewart and Eddie Conway (and hopefully soon Sundiata Acoli), but we must continue our fight for the many political prisoners who continue to be unjustly locked up, along with the hundreds of thousands imprisoned for non-violent offenses due to discriminatory practices in the criminal justice system. The U.S. has the highest number of prisoners in the world, incarcerating almost one-third of the world’s female prisoners, and having more than 60% of prisoners being people of color – still a minority of this nation’s population. Despite solitary confinement being internationally designated as torture, over 80,000 languish in such conditions, including some as young as 16. Solitary confinement led to a death sentence for some, and more egregious evidence of torture in prisons are now coming to light. This brazen inhumanity is exemplified by border patrol’s abuse of immigrant children seeking safety within our borders, and the warehousing and deportation of literally millions of immigrants by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under such a corrupt system, no imprisonments are legitimate! The Call for a Month of Resistance to Mass Incarceration, Police Terror, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation declares that this “will not stop unless and until millions of people, of all nationalities, stand up and say NO MORE, in unmistakable terms. The history of this and every other country shows that without struggle, there can be no positive change; but with struggle this kind of change becomes possible.” October 22nd is a day that people around the nation have mobilized every year since 1996 for a National Day of Protest to Stop Police Brutality, Repression and the Criminalization of a Generation. It is crucial that we bring forward a powerful National Day of Protest in cities and towns across the U.S. to challenge the ongoing violence against the people. This October 22nd, stand with thousands across the country to express our collective outrage, creativity, and resistance in response to the crimes of this system. Learn more about the history and mission of the October 22nd coalition here: http://october22.org/history.html Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/575298722532007/ Stop Mass Incarceration: http://stopmassincarceration.net/ Find Your Local Place of Action Below Last updated 21 October 2014. Information is posted as it is received, so check later if your area is not listed yet – contacts for areas with actions in previous years are included when this year’s details have not yet been sent in. Please email [email protected] if you know of an action that is not listed below or if any corrections need to be made and to send reports of your protest! ANYWHERE WITH PHONE ACCESS Virtual Freedom School 8:00PM EST Webinar on “Our Bodies/Our Beings/Our Babies and the Imprint of Police Brutality 559-546-1880, Access Code: 286792# https://www.facebook.com/events/973367242690046/ ARIZONA Phoenix, Arizona *ON OCTOBER 25TH* 8:00PM Assemble for march at Civil Space Park at ASU Downtown Campus https://www.facebook.com/events/1609974492563066 ARKANSAS Fayetteville, Arkansas *ON OCTOBER 25TH* 9:00AM Gather at University of Arkansas Courthyard (in front of fountain) for march to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 224 N East Avenue After program at St. Paul’s, lining sides of HWY 71 Business in Fayetteville at the major intersections until 12PM http://fayettevillefreezone.com/fayetteville-marches-in-solidarity-for-human-rights-sat-oct-25/ ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/HandsUpNWA CALIFORNIA Anaheim, California 5:30PM Assemble at the parking lot of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Anaheim, 511 S. Harbor Boulevard ~ 657-229-4053 ~ [email protected] (Quin) Central Valley, California ~ 209-518-7997 or 209-513-4421 Fresno, California 5:30PM Assemble at the northeast corner of N and Mariposa Street, across from the Fresno Police Headquarters http://fresnoalliance.com/wordpress/?p=9999 ~ 559-250-2434 or 559-942-0708 (Irene) ~ [email protected] Hayward, California [no contact provided last year] Los Angeles, California 2:00PM Gather at Olympic and Broadway https://www.facebook.com/events/631411423623693 ~ 213-840-5348 ~ [email protected] or ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/October22ndCoalitionLA/ 7:00PM Candlelight Vigil for the 3rd Angelversary of Michael Nida II 12620 Paramount Blvd., Downey, CA https://www.facebook.com/events/1505238699723839/ ~ [email protected] ~ http://www.michaelnida.com/home.php ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Justice-For-Michael-Nida-II/171901759570991 Oakland/Bay Area, California 1:00PM Rally and march from Oscar Grant Plaza (14th and Broadway), Oakland https://www.facebook.com/events/366711800154054/ ~ 510-984-3648 ~ [email protected] or ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/October-22-Coalition-To-Stop-Police-Brutality-San-Francisco/203521866383449 Oxnard, California ~ 805-328-4763 ~ [email protected] ~ http://todopoderalpueblo.org/ Redding, California [no contact provided last year] Redwood Curtain, California 12:00PM Speakout at the Art Quad on HSU campus in Arcata 3:00PM Rally on Arcata Plaza 4:00PM March to Safeway parking lot near 7th and F Street 5:00PM Critical Mass/group bike ride toward Eureka 7:00PM Speakout at Cesar Chavez Park, 14th and E Street, Eureka, followed by candlelight vigil https://www.facebook.com/events/379319495556890 ~ 707-633-4493 ~ [email protected] ~ redwoodcurtaincopwatch.net Riverside, California [no contact provided last year] Sacramento, California 9:00AM-4:00PM Rally at the North Steps of the California State Capitol, with funeral procession through the streets of the Capital https://www.facebook.com/events/364140490400019 ~ 916-546-5FTP (Christina Arechiga, Director of California Campaign to End Police Terror and Justice for Ernest Duenez Jr.) ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/endpoliceterrornow Salinas, California 6:00PM Rally at Salinas Police Department, 222 Lincoln Avenue https://www.facebook.com/events/704464579637245/ San Bernardino, California [no contact provided last year] San Diego, California 5:30PM Rally at City Heights Park, followed by march ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/capbsandiego 6:30PM Rally at City Heights/Weingart Library and Performance Annex, 3795 Fairmount Avenue Candlelight march to and rally/vigil at I15 Overpass Light Brigade Message “Stop Police Terror” https://www.facebook.com/events/1473251772950123 ~ [email protected] ~ http://uaptsd.org/ ~ https://twitter.com/UAPTSD ~ https://www.facebook.com/uaptsd San Francisco, California 11:00AM San Francisco State University Die-in – Assemble in front of the library and march to Malcolm X Plaza for the die-in https://www.facebook.com/events/485185524956482/ ~ https://www.facebook.com/blacknbrownsfsu 12:00PM Bay Area-wide Walk Out – Rally at San Francisco City Hall 3:30PM Mass migration to Oscar Grant Plaza https://www.facebook.com/events/324283454399340 ~ [email protected] 4:00PM Spoken Word & Open Mic commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense and the National Day of Protest Against Police Brutality at Auntie April’s Chicken & Waffles, 4618 3rd Street https://www.facebook.com/events/940216355994484 5:00PM Speakout and Press conference at the SF Police Department Military Equipment Center, Deharo Street and 17th Street ~ [email protected] 6:00PM Join with Alex Nieto supporters to speak out at the SF Police Commission Meeting at Balboa High School, Green Room, 1000 Cayuga Street https://www.facebook.com/events/378407538984854/ San Jose, California 12:15PM Live art, flash mob, die-in, and live drum circle at De Anza College at the Main Quad (in front of the library), 21250 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Cupertino 1:30PM Public Policy Teach-in in Conference Room A https://www.facebook.com/events/1476737715947289/ ~ [email protected] Santa Ana, California ~ https://www.facebook.com/ChicanosUnidosOC Santa Clara, California ~ [email protected] San Rosa, California One-Year Anniversary Community Potluck and Sunset Vigil for Andy Lopez 4:30PM Potluck and music at W Robles Avenue and Moorland Avenue 7:00PM Azteca blessing 7:30PM Candlelight vigil https://www.facebook.com/events/1511862465727774/ ~ 707-331-7389 (Ana Salgado) or 305-458-4071 (Terri Carrion) ~ https://www.facebook.com/JusticeforAndyLopez COLORADO Denver, Colorado 5:00PM Gather on the West steps of the Colorado State Capital https://www.facebook.com/events/732260496821238 ~ [email protected] Fort Collins, Colorado 10:00PM (doors open 9:00PM) Hodi’s Half Note, 167 N College Avenue https://www.facebook.com/events/971887506162149/ CONNECTICUT Hartford, Connecticut 4:30PM Gather at Keney Park (Woodland Terrace) https://www.facebook.com/HartfordMassIncarceration/photos/a.1533134666916100.1073741825.1533134246916142/1540865249476375/?type=1&theater ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/HartfordMassIncarceration/ New Haven, Connecticut 5:30PM Rally at New Haven City Hall, followed by march to the police department https://www.facebook.com/events/604863192973108 ~ [email protected] DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Washington DC 5:30PM Candlelight vigil at the Washington Ethical Society, 7750 16th Street NW https://www.facebook.com/events/386250278199662 ~ http://www.ffoip.org/ ~ http://www.ethicalsociety.org/ ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Washington-Ethical-Society/39879906039 6:30PM Corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and Howard Road SE http://thepeacehousedc.org/2014/10/13/protest-against-police-brutality-repression-and-the-criminalization-of-a-generation-washington-dc/ ~ 202-842-2873 ~ http://thepeacehousedc.org/ FLORIDA Jacksonville, Florida 4:00PM Assemble at Heming Plaza Sponsored by: New Jim Crow Movement https://www.facebook.com/events/934436513238321 ~ 904-631-1674 ~ [email protected] Lake Worth, Florida 5:00PM Protest in front of the Lake Worth precinct office of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, 120 N. G Street Simultaneous online petition/call-in drive ~ [email protected] (Lynne) Miami, Florida ~ 305-761-6843 ~ [email protected] GEORGIA Atlanta, Georgia 4:00PM Demonstration and speakout at Woodruff Park (Edgewood and Peachtree), followed by march ~ [email protected] or ~ 770-861-3339 ~ [email protected] HAWAII Honolulu, Hawai’i 9:00AM-12:00PM Leafletting, banner drops and displays at McCarthy Hall, UH Manoa Campus 6:00PM Assemble in front of Honolulu Zoo (Kalakaua and Kapahulu) for march through Waikiki http://stopmassincarcerationhawaii2014.blogspot.com/2014/09/events-in-solidarity-with-october-month.html ~ http://stopmassincarcerationhawaii2014.blogspot.com/ IDAHO Boise, Idaho ~ [email protected] ILLINOIS Carbondale, Illinois 10:30AM Vigil at location TBA http://fergusonoctober.com/day-of-action/blacklivesmatter-day-action-vigil/ ~ 803-414-5518 ~ [email protected] Chicago, Illinois 9:00AM Release of the official WCG Shadow Report to the UN Committee Against Torture, “Chicago Police Violence Against Youth of Color” at Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, 800 S. Halstead Street https://www.facebook.com/events/393181967499789/ ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/WeChargeGenocide 12:00PM Rally at Daley Plaza (Washington and Dearborn), followed by march https://www.facebook.com/events/560615807383459/ ~ 312-933-9586 ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/October-22-Chicago/302904095656 6:00PM Silent protest at 11th District Police Station/Court Building, 3151 West Harrison Street https://www.facebook.com/events/1487848628144241/ ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/WeChargeGenocide Rockford, Illinois 5:30PM Gather outside main entrance to county jail (Winnebago and State), then march to the Federal Courthouse (Court and Chestnut) https://www.facebook.com/events/299085523620612 ~ 815-398-6322 or [email protected] (Minister Johnson) ~ [email protected] (Christopher) Download Your First Issue Free! Do You Want to Learn How to Become Financially Independent, Make a Living Without a Traditional Job & Finally Live Free? Download Your Free Copy of Counter Markets INDIANA Indianapolis, Indiana 6:30PM Rally at 1 Monument Circle https://www.facebook.com/events/615188135259181 IOWA Des Moines, Iowa 6:00PM 251 East 1st Street, across from Des Moines PD https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152858989967780&set=a.10150120472212780.323987.509787779&type=1&theater Iowa City, Iowa 7:00PM Rally Iowa City Hall, 410 E Washington Street https://www.facebook.com/events/570347173111473/571810019631855 KANSAS Wichita, Kansas [no contact provided last year] KENTUCKY Lexington, Kentucky 2:00PM Walkout at all area universities 6:00PM Assemble at William Wells Brown Elementary, 555 E. 5th Street for march to 7:00PM Rally at Fayette County District Courthouse, 215 W. Main Street https://www.facebook.com/events/787590071299525/ ~ [email protected]il.com (April) Louisville, Kentucky 12:00PM Rally at 6th and Jefferson, across from Louisville Metro Hall, followed by march to 7th and Jefferson https://www.facebook.com/events/722099337866574/ ~ 502-874-7148 LOUISIANA New Orleans, Louisiana ~ [email protected] MARYLAND Baltimore, Maryland 5:30PM Assemble at Baltimore City Hall https://www.facebook.com/events/862755707068011/ ~ 443-928-5533 (Ameejill) ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baltimore-Bloc/436997373037153 MASSACHUSETTS Amherst, Massachusetts [no contact provided last year] Boston, Massachusetts Share your story online (via Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) to promote violence awareness (mention @Live4Bo and hashtag your city) – winner to be announced on October 22nd https://www.facebook.com/Justice4BO/photos/a.1918467531626676.1073741827.144891648984282/2019329368207158/?type=1&theater ~ 617-506-9426 ~ [email protected] ~ http://www.live4bo.com/ ~ https://www.facebook.com/Justice4BO 12:00PM Gather at Harvard University Science Center, corner of Kirkland and Oxford Street 12:00PM Gather at UMass Boston in front of the Student Center 4:00PM Gather at Ruggles T Station http://revolutionbookscamb.org/ ~ 617-492-5443 ~ [email protected] Cambridge, Massachusetts ~ https://www.facebook.com/PeacefulStreetsProjectBoston Lynn, Massachussetts [no contact provided last year] Springfield, Massachussetts 3:00PM March for Justice: Survival and Resistance from 467 State Street https://www.facebook.com/events/1478985709042825/ 5:30PM Know Your Rights training & potluck at Western Mass Recovery Learning Community, 340 Main Street https://www.facebook.com/events/289273551279431/ ~ 413-734-4948 ~ [email protected] ~ http://arisespringfield.org/ ~ https://www.facebook.com/ariseforsocialjustice MICHIGAN Detroit, Michigan ~ 313-768-7202 ~ [email protected] East Lansing, Michigan 3:00PM Rally at Beaumont Tower, 1206 E Oakland Avenue at the Michigan State University Campus, followed by march https://www.facebook.com/events/871186929567125 Kalamazoo, Michigan 11:30AM Assemble for march at Red Square on Academy Street and Thompson (at the center of Kalamazoo College Campus), followed by rally on the quad https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153227366323906&set=gm.718729631549290&type=1&theater MINNESOTA Minneapolis, Minnesota October 20-24 Week of Action in and near University of Minnesota https://www.facebook.com/events/305348296317258 ~ https://www.facebook.com/StudentsUnitedAgainstPoliceBrutality 6:30PM Rally at North Commons Park, Golden Valley Road & Morgan Avenue North, followed by march https://www.facebook.com/events/878060595554684/ ~ 612-874-7867 ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/CommunitiesUnitedAgainstPoliceBrutalityMN ~ http://www.cuapb.org/ Twin Cities, Minnesota ~ 651-270-7592 (Raees) ~ [email protected] MISSOURI Ferguson, Missouri 5:00PM Rally at Canfield Drive, 9300 W. Florissant, followed by march that will proceed through Canfield Apartments to the police station at 222 S. Florissant Road https://www.facebook.com/1453132474947612/photos/a.1453135334947326.1073741827.1453132474947612/1491251664469026/?type=1&theater ~ 314-282-7087 ~ [email protected] Kansas City, Missouri 12:00PM Panel at University of Missouri-Kansas City Student Union, Room 402 (5100 Cherry Street) https://www.facebook.com/events/289831277877328 ~ 816-777-6574 (Rashad) ~ [email protected] St. Louis, Missouri 6:00PM Panel on “LGBTQ+ & Black Oppression: Why We Should All Care About Ferguson” at Blank Space, 2837 Cherokee https://www.facebook.com/events/758024147580248/ ~ 314-265-4756 ~ [email protected] Also see ~ http://stlftp.tumblr.com/ NEVADA Las Vegas, Nevada ~ 678-683-8279 (Cecily) ~ [email protected] NEW JERSEY Freehold, New Jersey ~ [email protected] Montclair, New Jersey 4:00PM Rally at Church Street Plaza, walk to Unitarian Universalist Church Montclair, mobilize for petition-signing and legislative action in Trenton http://www.uumontclair.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Mass-Incarceration-Postersmall.pdf ~ 973-651-6396 ~ http://www.uumontclair.org/social-justice/undoing-racism/ Newark, New Jersey Leafletting at ten locations throughout Newark by the Newark Communities for Accountable Policing (details TBA) ~ 973-854-1730. ~ [email protected] Union County, New Jersey ~ 973-801-0001 NEW MEXICO Albuquerque, New Mexico 4:30PM Gather at Civic Plaza, 400 Marquette Avenue NW, march to 400 Roma APD headquarters https://www.facebook.com/events/1557863584425122 ~ 505-934-2259 (Dyna) ~ [email protected] ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/October-22-Coalition-to-Stop-Police-Brutality-Albuquerque/417594535009220 Santa Fe, New Mexico 8:00AM First Judicial District Court Building, 225 Montezuma Avenue https://www.facebook.com/OccupySantaFe/photos/a.283786624982431.81340.283089501718810/921016294592791/?type=1&theater ~ [email protected] NEW YORK Albany, New York 1:00PM Rally at Townsend Park, intersection of Henry Johnson, Central & Washington http://fergusonoctober.com/day-of-action/albany-ny-october-22-solidarity-rally/ ~ 518-461-5702 ~ [email protected] Buffalo, New York ~ 716-587-1570 (Lewuga) ~ [email protected] Long Island, New York 6:00PM Rally at First Universalist Church, 51900 Rt. 25, Southold https://www.facebook.com/events/745299402231754 ~ 631-765-3494 ~ https://www.facebook.com/UUSouthold New York, New York 1:00PM Assemble at Union Square South in Manhattan, march to Times Square https://www.facebook.com/events/1493373830919151/ ~ 866-235-7814 (toll-free voicemail and fax) ~ [email protected] ~ http://nyc.october22.org/ ~ https://www.facebook.com/pages/October-22-Coalition-to-Stop-Police-Brutality-New-York/87429681537

Under the provision to set up state-based marketplaces, subsidies are supposed to be available to many lower- and middle-income people who do not have access to coverage from employers or other sources. It may be difficult, however, for officials running the exchanges to know who is entitled to subsidies if employers do not report information on the coverage they provide to workers. Enrollment in the exchanges is to begin Oct. 1, with insurance coverage taking effect on Jan. 1. “We are on target to open the health insurance marketplace on Oct. 1 where small businesses and ordinary Americans will be able to go to one place to learn about their coverage options and make side-by-side comparisons of each plan’s price and benefits before they make their decision,” Valerie Jarrett, Mr. Obama’s senior adviser and liaison to the business community, wrote on the White House Web site. But even some supporters of the law dispute that the establishment of the health insurance exchanges is on schedule, especially since progress varies by state and some Republican-led states are resisting the health care law and withholding resources for putting it into effect. Much of the administration’s public effort, especially at the Department of Health and Human Services, has been directed toward spreading the word to uninsured Americans, especially younger and healthy individuals whose participation is needed to help keep down premiums for everyone else. About 85 percent of Americans are insured, so most individuals will be unaffected, at least initially. Behind the scenes, however, the administration has been fielding questions and criticisms from businesses about the reporting requirements — especially the Treasury Department, which has responsibility, given its oversight of the tax reporting system. Employer groups were quick to applaud the delay. At the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which has strongly opposed the law, Randy Johnson, senior vice president for labor, immigration and employee benefits, said in a statement, “The administration has finally recognized the obvious — employers need more time and clarification of the rules of the road before implementing the employer mandate.” E. Neil Trautwein, a vice president of the National Retail Federation, said the delay “will provide employers and businesses more time to update their health care coverage without threat of arbitrary punishment.”

The nerdy toy makers at ThinkGeek used input from NASA scientists to create a candle that smells like space. NEW YORK — Space enthusiasts can now bring the smell of the cosmos into their homes without ever leaving Earth with a new votive candle created by an online toy company. The minds behind ThinkGeek — a company that specializes in nerdy gifts — have crafted a scent that smells like outer space in candle form. "Space is the ultimate science-y thing. When we decided to come up with a line of geeky candles, there was a lot of debate as to what type of scents we'd be going after," ThinkGeek spokesman Steve Zimmermann told SPACE.com last week during the American International Toy Fair here. "One of them obviously is space. It's also the biggest challenge which kind of excited us. Has anybody ever really contemplated what space would smell like?" Zimmermann and his colleagues quickly found out that plenty of people were asking and answering that same question. "Obviously they don't stick their heads out the window," Zimmermann joked, "but it's one of those things that when the shuttle landed, they're getting certain smells off of it."The ThinkGeek team responsible for the candle called on NASA for tips on how to make the most accurate — yet best-smelling — aroma possible. [Astronaut Explains Space Smells (Video)] This set of four candles includes the smell of space. (Image: © ThinkGeek.com) Some of those smells include a gunpowder-smelling, ozonelike odor that is distinct to space. Astronauts returning from space walks have described the smell of space as out-of-this-world acrid aroma that could be the result of atomic oxygen adhering to their spacesuits. But the creators behind the smell of space candle did not think a burning smell would sell well in a world filled with flowery votives. "Honestly, it does smell like there's a little bit of lavender in there," Zimmermann said. "I'm not sure if that was NASA-approved lavender, but it's definitely one of those things that we put there because it's a candle." "Our first versions were very, very gunpowdery and very, very smoky and really more into the acrid ozone smell," Zimmermann added. "It took a little bit to refine what we were looking for, so when we came out with it, we knew this was going to be the thing." The smell of space candle is available as one in a new set of four theme-scent candles sold by ThinkGeek. The other scents include a deodorant-like homage to Nirvana called "Teen Spirit," a cinnamon scented "Retro Arcade" candle and a fresh, green ode to the "Lord of the Rings" called "Middle Earth." Follow Miriam Kramer on Twitter @mirikramer or SPACE.com @Spacedotcom. We're also on Facebook & Google+.

In reflecting on Assembly 2016 in Saskatoon, one thing is certain: We are entering a period of uncertainty in the life of Mennonite Church Canada and its area churches. The most hopeful sign in this state of affairs is that the delegates had enough faith in our leaders to begin a new process with few specifics. That says a lot about the strength of our communion, another shining example of one of our founding Anabaptist beliefs—that our particular brand is a “priesthood of believers” and not a hierarchy of top-down leaders who hold most of the authority. We can have this faith because we will all be an integral part of the outcomes. Even though the shaping of a new union has been assigned to the moderators of the five area churches, there has been a call for a more diverse leadership—one that is less patriarchal in composition and includes younger adults, women and persons of non-European ethnicity. The appointment of a new moderator for MC Canada in this two-year interim, Calvin Quan, from Toronto Chinese Mennonite Church, is a good start. MC Canada will continue to play a role in the next two years, but will defer to a new emerging vision and structure, as a “transition coordinator” works with all of the entities involved. That person has yet to be hired. We should all pray that a person of deep faith, full of integrity and wisdom, as well as administrative skills, is found. During this transition process, though, there will need to be some lighthouses that can shed light and give direction as we travel along what can be some foggy shorelines. As noted, we will need to stay true to the character of our collective faith expression and to the spiritual roots that have grounded us over the past 500 years. In simple terms, our Anabaptist identity should fundamentally stay intact even as the structure changes. One of those lighthouses is Canadian Mennonite. As a 62-year-old national publication, we have been telling the stories of our faith consistently over the decades, even as the culture changes around us, even as we have developed our faith and expanded our witness in our country and around the globe. During its 113-year history, MC Canada and its predecessor, the Conference of Mennonites in Canada, has served as the shaper and guardian of our Anabaptist/Mennonite identity. Even though our numbers have diminished, they have faithfully reminded us of who we are and what is our role as congregations and believers. They have done this through faith formation, our international witness, leadership training and stewardship education. This contribution, this gift, should not be lost in the transition. It should be honoured for what it has done to give us new vision, to shape and enhance our spirituality, to see that our pastors and leaders are properly trained to meet the challenges our congregations face in the 21st century. As its role diminishes over the next several years, there needs to be a keeper of our national identity, a place for national conversation and a forum for all of the “priests” to have a say. That’s why Canadian Mennonite is needed more than ever. Every two weeks, we tell the stories that reinforce our shared identity as a people. These are more than just happy tales. Our five correspondents across the country seek out those stories that represent the best witness to our faith, the most unique expression of who we are. Our columnists and opinion writers give us insights at the forefront of Christian thought and practice. Our Milestones announcements help to keep the family together. We not only foster dialogue, we monitor and sometimes temper the conversation. Right now the church seems captive—sometimes obsessed—with sexuality. While this topic requires a thorough airing, it is taking our attention away from other issues that ought to consume us more, such as finding our place in a post-Christian culture and extending hospitality beyond our enclaves to our neighbours. With our independence from the church establishment, Canadian Mennonite can be its critic from time to time while still functioning as a partner in leadership circles. This is especially important as we forge the new structures that serve us. For all of these reasons, Canadian Mennonite is a lighthouse during a time when the fog is settling in. See more on Assembly 2016: Hope through lament and loss ‘We are all responsible for what happens next’ Delegates vote to allow space for differences

You may have heard from friends and acquaintances or have read from online articles and medical related infomagazines how chiropractic helps a lot of people who suffer from chronic headaches or migraines, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and other posture related problems; how it provides them with relief and remedy for those painful and distressing conditions. You may even know people within your close knit circle who spread the gospel of chiropractic healing, because they themselves have personally experienced its soothing and relieving effect. Indeed, chiropractic has more than enough testimonials to entice you that alternative medicine may not be “alternative” to some people, but a regular and habitual sought-after treatment. These testimonials from ordinary people have given the practice of chiropractic the necessary yet natural way of marketing to make it mainstream. However, there are celebrities and, in particular, famous athletes who preach about how chiropractic enables them to spike up the level of their performance for any endeavour they do in their career and personal living. The ultimate woman warrior of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and UFC female fighter, Ronda Rousey, mentions about how her strength and agility are maintained by chiropractic care. Let us hear it from Lady Rowdy herself… A lot of the injuries that I get during training, I can count on my Chiropractor because he always helps me get better. Thanks a lot to Chiropractic! Many of us know how Ms. Rousey had to put up against a number of strong and muscle built female fighters. Yet, with the performance boost from the caring hands of her chiropractor, she has them taken down on the floor. Way to go, Lady Rowdy! [clear]Here is the thing, Ronda Rousey is not the only popular athlete who has chiropractic as a booster for physical performance and sports endurance. Allow me to give the space to these champions… I suffered a blunt trauma hit to my thigh by skiing into a rock at high speed. My leg was swollen badly and I only had 15 degrees of movement in my knee. In the two days before our trip, [chiropractor] John helped me increase the movement and flexibility to 90 degrees with ART and other a stretching techniques. During the backcountry trip John paid special attention to my helping me increase my movement and manage the swelling. His excellent treatment made me realise that good chiropractic is not just about “cracking your back and neck.” John’s attention to detail and kind nature really allowed me to excel while injured and now my leg has made a full 100% recovery. -Rex Pemberton, BASE jumper, extreme sports enthusiast, and youngest Australian ever to climb Mount Everest I came to him [chiropractor, Dr. Mulholland] for assistance with a serious hamstring injury prior to the London Olympic Games. He was able, in a very short time frame, to speed the healing and recovery. His understanding of the human body and the needs of athletes is second to none. I really like his holistic approach that looks at the whole body rather than parts in isolation. – Rebecca Wardell, Olympic Champion from New Zealand I strongly believe that regular chiropractic adjustments enabled me to deal with the enormous physical stresses placed on my body during this time. Throughout my professional sporting career, obvious emphasis was placed on eating well and this is where I developed my enthusiasm for good nutrition. – Daniel Irvine, Australian Rugby League Legend, nephew of “Great Ken” Irvine, and presently a Chiropractor Lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I’ve been going to Chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It’s as important to my training as practicing my swing. – Tiger Woods, Professional Golf Player and World Champion So there you go! You have read from people who use physical endurance and bodily fitness to make a living and who have put their name in athletic stardom, how chiropractic helped and continuously assists them with their performance. Lest we forget, the Number One basketball legend in our era has this to say… References: www.augerchiro.com, www.milwaukiechiropractic.com, www.sportandwellnesschiropractic.com, theidealathlete.com, www.irvinechiropractic.com.au, rexpemberton.com

The Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P are still the current smartphones of Google, the smartphones were introduced back in September 2015. Tech fans are now waiting for the tech monster to unleash their successors. Advertisement Reports have been pumping the internet that Google will introduce a couple of new smartphones under a new title, the upcoming smartphones of Google will be called Pixel (was named as Nexus Sailfish) and Pixel XL (formerly called Nexus Marlin), which means that the Nexus branding is going down the drain. It seems like Google is trying to bring a new brand into existence that will catch the consumer's attention, a brand that will not only include the tech company's smartphones, but some of their other devices. As Google already unleashed the Pixel Chromebooks in the past, based on the report of Android Headlines. Google Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones have leaked several times online, and both of these devices were also certified by the FCC already. The official unveiling of the sought after Google smartphones for 2016, formerly dubbed by their codenames HTC Sailfish and HTC Marlin, is drawing near. The tech monster is most likely going to officially unveil the two smartphones at the company's event on October 4, according to PC Advisor. However, in terms of specifications, it has been said that the Google Pixel and Pixel XL will come along on the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 System on Chip (SoC), as well as similar RAM of 4 gigabyte. But, the smartphones internal built-in storage will come in two different models, 32 gigabyte and 128 gigabyte. It is not yet confirmed on whether or not the two devices will be made available in both handset variants. Pixel (Sailfish) is speculated to have the standard size of 5-inch, while the Pixel XL (Marlin) will come out as an expanded option of 5.5-inch, Christian Today reported. Advertisement Watch The Video Here:

Here's what two Californians are being charged with: The couple, Daniel Weston and Mary Ann Parmelee, and three other people are accused of luring their two victims to an office where the men were tied up, held for hours and beaten, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney said... Each count of felony torture, defined as inflicting "great bodily injury" for the purpose of "revenge, extortion, persuasion and for a sadistic purpose," carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. Defense lawyers were not immediately available for comment. So two civilians get a potential life sentence for tying up and beating two people for hours; but the former president of the United States and his underlings get off scott-free for tying hundreds up in excruciating stress positions for months, freezing victims to near-death (and over it), using the Khmer Rouge technique for waterboarding someone 183 times, inducing psychosis through sensory deprivation, keeping someone awake for 960 hours, and killing at least 20 and as many as 100 individuals. It's good to be the king in Washington. The elite media will never let their sources face, you know, the rule of law. We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.

Is Atheism Morally Superior? Atheists think that atheism is morally better than Christianity. Is it? It is easy for atheists to attack the morality of Christianity, which claims that: We are ruled by an all-powerful dictator who convicts us of thoughtcrime and will torture us if we do not bow before him – like an everlasting Jafar with unlimited wishes. God commits or commands ethnic genocide, mass rape, child sacrifice, and baby-killing. Women are inferior, gays are evil, critical thinkers are in danger of hellfire, etc. So, it’s not hard for atheists to think they are morally better than Christians. But are they? It’s hard to say. There is no such thing as “atheist morality.” Atheists can embrace a variety of moral views. It’s just that none of them will mention gods. But maybe atheists can point to one moral system that doesn’t include gods and is “better” than Christian morality. In that case, how would they know their system is “better?” The Problem Alonzo Fyfe points out that atheists and Christians come to their moral decisions in exactly the same way: Moral reasoning is done, then, in about the same way that Luke Skywalker uses the force to read the future. You first clear your mind of all distractions, close your eyes, and concentrate on the act in question. Then, The Force will deliver the answer to you, as to whether the act is right or wrong. If it says ‘wrong’ this doesn’t mean that you don’t like it. This means that it has an intrinsic ought-not-to-be-doneness that applies to all beings. It is all a bunch of hocus pocus, simple tricks, and nonsense, if you ask me. Of course, we all point to “evidence” and “reasons” for our moral ideas. Christians point to mystical notions of “divine law,” statistics, and biology. Atheists point to mystical notions of “intrinsic human rights,” statistics, and biology. But almost nobody bothers to ask whether their notions about morality are grounded in anything that actually exists in our universe. We just know what feels right based on our knowledge and biases and experience, and then proclaim that as a universal moral law for everybody. (Unless you’re a relativist, in which case you do not claim to be morally superior to Christianity.) Atheist moral reasoning is primitive, mystical hocus pocus, just like Christian moral reasoning. The arguments I hear in defense of pro-choice, liberal, or libertarian positions are just as irrational as the ones I hear in defense of a pro-life agenda or prejudice against gays. The fact is that very few atheists can coherently explain why their morality is better than Christian morality, instead of just different. Christians and (some) atheists may come to their beliefs in very different ways, and atheists may be more in touch with reality in this area. But Christians and atheists come to their morals in the same way (the Luke Skywalker way). Neither are in touch with reality, here. Atheists need to take morality seriously. They are using the same moral process as those who defended slavery, racism, sexism, tribal war, and the divine right of kings. We must do better than that. We must not simply attack bigoted religious morality. We need to offer a better alternative. An alternative that, like our beliefs, is grounded in reality, not moral feelings. Desire utilitarianism is one promising alternative, but it is mostly untested. We need to work together on this, and move beyond Luke Skywalker moral thinking.

In January WizKids has revealed details on its upcoming line of licensed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dice Masters products, scheduled to release in January. Five new products are planned for the initial release, including a Box Set, a Team Box, a Playmat, a Tin Set, and a series of Dice Bags. These products are part of WizKids’ new line of TMNT products announced at Origins, which will also include HeroClix figures (see “‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Comes to Tabletop”). The new series includes more than a dozen new characters for the Dice Masters game, including the turtles themselves: Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo, as well as their allies and enemies. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Dice Masters Box Set includes everything needed to play the game, including dice and cards. MSRP is $34.99. The Tin Set will package those in a deluxe metal box. MSRP is $39.99. The Team Box will be a sturdy plastic box with a magnetic closure and internal compartments for sorting dice and cards. Dice and cards featuring the four turtles and Splinter will also be included. MSRP is $19.99. The Playmat helps players keep their dice organized during the game, with color-coded areas for holding dice and cards, and a track for recording player “life” during the game. The mat will measure 24 inches by 13 inches. MSRP is $19.99. Dice Bags will be available in five different styles, including versions for each of the main Turtles characters and a more general TMNT version. MSRP is $14.99 for each bag. Dice Masters combines elements of collectible card games and deckbuilder games, primarily using dice instead of cards. The Marvel Dice Masters core set, released last year, was honored with an Origins Vanguard Award at the Origins Game Fair last month, and was recently expanded with the introduction of the Amazing Spider-Man set (see “New Set For Award-Winning ‘Marvel Dice Masters’”). Dice Masters continues to be quite popular, ranking fifth on ICv2’s top 10 list for Spring of 2015 (see “Top Collectible Games-Spring 2015”).

Whether or not you plan to buy the new Moto X Pure Edition when it arrives in September, you should be rooting for Motorola to sell record numbers of them. This new direct-to-consumer approach from a brand like Motorola is something that could help continue to change this industry for the better if it were to succeed. Sure, there are pretty substantial benefits to be had here in the short run if you buy their new flagship, but we could all see some real benefits in the long run. I talked about the reasons for buying an unlocked phone recently, almost all of which were touched on yesterday from Motorola. Motorola spoke of a phone experience through the new Moto X that is free of carrier interference, which means a phone that doesn’t have bloatware. It also means a phone that can be updated much quicker, because Motorola doesn’t have to go through those long, drawn-out carrier approval processes. Instead, they can do all of the testing on their end and update the phone when the software is ready. Of course, the benefits here are much deeper than software. Motorola has now cut out the middle man by selling these phones directly to you and I, so that has allowed them to lower prices. The new Moto X Pure Edition, with those specs, is an absolute steal at $399. Think if Google hadn’t partnered up with carriers this time around for the Nexus 6 – how cheap would it have been? Speaking of the Nexus 6, Motorola more than likely took what they learned there in terms of network connectivity and applied it to the Moto X, giving it what may be its most important feature – complete carrier freedom with all US carrier band support. There aren’t many phones on the planet that just work on all carriers, but again, Motorola was likely able to do this so easily because they ditched carrier partnerships with this phone. They also understand that the market is changing and people want to be able to switch carriers often to find the best deal for them. All of that is available to you in the short run, because for the first time I can recall, the US has a flagship phone that is affordable, completely unlocked, and will ship directly to you. That’s all great, of course, but as I mentioned in the opening, we should all be rooting for this to be a huge success so that this industry well take notice. If Motorola were to succeed, who knows, but maybe in a few years Motorola won’t be the only big brand selling directly to you and I. Maybe Motorola won’t stand alone with unlocked flagships that work everywhere, yet won’t break the bank. Maybe Motorola won’t be the only company letting you customize your phone or get updates without carriers getting in the way.

Darksiders 2 PC Technical Review Product: Darksiders 2 Author: Sean Ridgeley Editor: Eric Amidon Date: August 16th, 2012 Introduction, setup, requirements Vigil Games is back again with Darksiders 2, an action game that follows the 2010 prequel and lays on the RPG elements thicker this time around. Where the first game was delayed significantly on PC, this time around you get a simultaneous release. If you're curious as to whether or not it's a good time or a poor port, read on for a light technical analysis. Test Setup Processor: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 2.8GHz (Stock) Memory: Corsair XMS3 8GB DDR3-1600 (1333 mhZ) Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 3.5" 7200RPM Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 6950 2GB (Stock) Driver: 12.8, no CAP Resolution: 1680x1050 Input: Logitech G400 mouse @ 1600dpi, Leopold Tenkeyless Linear Touch Mechanical Keyboard System Requirements

(Manan Vatsyayana/AFP/Getty Images) Compiled by the U.S.News & World Report library staff 1. The Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, was born Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935 to peasants in Taktser, a village in northeastern Tibet. He was one of five children in the family. 2. He was found by Tibetan monks when he was 2 years old. The monks tested the boy to see if he was the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama. He passed the tests and had physical traits that the monks were looking for such as moles in certain places and long ears. At 2, he was renamed Tenzin Gyatso, took the throne at age 4 and became a monk at age 6. 3. The Dalai Lama grew up in Tibet's thousand-year-old Potala Palace in Lhasa. But he has lived in exile in India since the Chinese Army crushed an uprising in his homeland in 1959. 4. In 1989, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, for his work advocating nonviolent means to free Tibet from China. 5. His Holiness's hobbies include meditating, gardening, and repairing watches. 6. The Dalai Lama first visited the United States in 1979. He toured for seven weeks, during which he spoke at a number of universities including UCLA, Georgetown, and Harvard. A service in his honor was held at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. 7. It was a long-time dream of the Dalai Lama to visit the Johnson Space Center in Houston. During his 1979 visit to the United States he was scheduled to tour the space center, but the tour was cancelled at the last minute. 8. President Bush in October 2007 joined with congressional leaders in a ceremony in the Capitol rotunda to present the Congressional Gold Medal to the Dalai Lama in recognition of his human-rights work. In doing so, the White House said, Bush became the first sitting U.S. president to meet the Dalai Lama in public. Previous meetings with Bush and his predecessors have been so-called private meetings, a diplomatic charade intended to avoid angering Chinese leaders who seek to deny international recognition of the Dalai Lama. 9. The Dalai Lama is extremely interested in science and has for many years been involved with research looking into how meditation affects the brain. He has spoken at numerous scientific conferences on the subject and once explained, "If science proves some belief of Buddhism wrong, then Buddhism will have to change. In my view, science and Buddhism share a search for the truth and for understanding reality." 10. The Dalai Lama has an interest in machines, which he developed as a young boy. As a teenager he repaired a movie projector by himself, without its guide or any instructions. He has been known to say that he would have become an engineer if he hadn't been a monk. Sources: The Boston Globe Current Biography Dalailama.com Facts on File World Digest Globe and Mail Maclean's The New York Times USA Today The Washington Post Wisconsin State Journal

A criminal group that targeted several homes of Asian victims in metro Atlanta may now be operating in Athens, according to a media report. This week, a University of Georgia research scientist and his wife returned home to find someone had smashed out the glass in a back door, the Athens Banner-Herald reported. Four days before, another Athens couple arrived home to find a smashed back door and a ransacked house. The victims of both burglaries are Asian. The burglaries netted thieves more than $18,000 in cash and jewelry, according to the report. Peachtree City police Lt. Matt Meyers, whose city has had several incidents this year involving Asian victims, said he has shared information with investigators in Athens. A link came in July, when Peachtree City arrested three suspects, one of whom had a cellphone that contained information for an Athens address, according to the report. Read more of the story here.

Unfortunately, the way things were organized, I was forced to decide between them. In a way, the choice was made for me because the science teaching was so uncreative and discouraging. In biology, there was a teacher who talked about how when you cried, the tears got rid of toxins, so it was good for you to cry. I said, “What about the other way — is it good to laugh?” And the teacher said, “Please, be serious.” Years later, it turns out that some scientists think it’s healthy to laugh. But a question like that, whether it turns out to be true or not, is a good thing to hear from a kid. You want to hear curiosity. How did you become so passionate about science? Through reading. When I was in my early 20s, I started reading every article of every issue of Scientific American. At the time, I’d been reading a lot about the paranormal and telepathy, and I thought Scientific American would help me know if any of that was true. There, I discovered a whole other way to think, based on evidence. And so I left my interest in spiritualism behind, in favor of critical thinking. After that, I began to read books about science avidly. Even today, it’s what I mostly read. You must have been thrilled when the magazine asked you to host its television series “Scientific American Frontiers.” Oh, I think they asked a lot of people. I used to joke that a letter came addressed to “Occupant.” I said I’d only be interested if they’d let me do the interviews. I saw it as a chance to learn about their work from scientists themselves. They took a chance on me because they didn’t know how it would turn out with someone who wasn’t a trained science journalist.

Washington State Fines Two Marijuana Growers For Using Prohibited Pesticides Pesticides on your pot? Finally, some answers. Cannabis Plants / Shutterstock A little over a month ago, two of Washington’s largest cannabis producers were quietly barred from all sales, pending a Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) investigation into illegal use of prohibited pesticides. According to documents obtained by The Stranger, New Leaf Enterprises, makers of the popular Dama line of products, and BMF Washington LLC, whose cannabis is used by brands including Liberty Reach and JuJu Joints, received stop sale orders on December 29 and December 17 of last year, respectively. According to those documents, which also included reports from investigators in both cases, the investigations were prompted by third-party complaints. The stop sales were not announced to the public, but murmurs abounded in the industry that something had gone awry with New Leaf. A public records request filed with the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board regarding stop sale orders revealed that both New Leaf and BMF were the targets of WSLCB pesticide investigations. The WSLCB, to its credit, has clearly stepped up its pesticide enforcement game. Previously, when WSLCB investigators encountered disallowed pesticides at a grow, they were forced to call Erik Johansen, the Washington State Department of Agriculture’s (WSDA) pesticide guru, for help. This time, they brought WSDA pesticide experts—including Johansen—along for the ride. And in the New Leaf case, the WSLCB also contracted the state's first lab equipped for pesticide residue testing, Trace Analytics, in a major shift for an agency that had previously dismissed residue testing as expensive and unnecessary. An Old Issue for New Leaf For Boris Gorodnitsky, one of New Leaf’s co-owners, these complaints come as no surprise. The owners got their start in the unregulated medical marijuana market, where they were quite open about using controversial pesticides on their crops. When I reached Gorodnitsky last week to discuss the stop sale, the origin of his misfortunes seemed to be old hat to him. Just another complaint from advocates still fired up about his medical growing practices, he said. New Leaf was, in fact, slapped with a fine for a pesticide violation in April of last year due to similar complaints, though it was only for storing pesticides in an unlabeled container. When I spoke to Gorodnitsky about the fine last fall, he assured me that the container was actually premixed plant nutrients, and the violation was due to a misunderstanding with the company’s assigned investigator. This more recent incident was a similar, albeit larger, misunderstanding, he said. Gorodnitsky stressed that he had never sprayed disallowed pesticides on his legal grow at any point, and claimed that he had been the victim of confusing WSLCB rules. According to those WSLCB reports linked above, the saga began when an enforcement officer, accompanied by three WSDA pesticide experts, visited New Leaf’s South Park facility on October 21, 2015, in response to a complaint. They met with New Leaf’s compliance officer, Adrian Ramirez, who gave them a walkthrough, whereupon they discovered a number of eyebrow-raisers, including an empty bottle of an unapproved pesticide and several unlabeled bottles of fertilizer. They asked Ramirez directly if the legal grow had ever used Eagle 20, a disallowed pesticide that releases cyanide when heated, to which he replied that they had in the medical grow but not the legal one. That distinction—between medical and legal—is at the heart of all this. (Medical marijuana has long been unregulated.) After that first visit, investigators say they returned on November 12, 2015, to collect plant samples for testing. Those plant samples, which were collected together in one container, tested positive for significant levels of myclobutanil; the active ingredient in Eagle 20; spiromesifen, the active ingredient in Forbid 4F; and dinotefuran, the active ingredient in another banned pesticide, called Safari 20. When investigators returned once more to issue a stop sale based on the results, Gorodnitsky and Dax Colwell, New Leaf’s other owner, insisted that they hadn’t sprayed their legal grow, and the contamination must be due to what Gorodnitsky called a “loophole,” wherein the growers were allowed to bring in plants from their medical grows that were already tainted. Under I-502, which legalized recreational marijuana use, new producer licensees were extended a 15-day grace period in which they could bring in any seeds, cuttings, or plants they so desired from the unregulated medical marijuana market into the I-502 market. The idea was to ensure there would be enough marijuana supply to meet early demand (there still wasn’t), by embracing the state’s preexisting pot plants no questions asked. During New Leaf’s 15-day grace period, Gorodnitsky said, they brought in mother plants from the medical grow. Mother plants are larger, more genetically desirable plants from which “clones”—the cuttings used to propagate new cannabis plants for production—are taken. In this case, the mother plants had been sprayed with Eagle 20 and Safari 20 in New Leaf’s medical grow, where such tomfoolery was allowed. Both are systemic pesticides, which means the chemicals linger in the plant’s system for long periods of time and can be passed on to clones. Though investigators were skeptical about Gorodnitsky’s mother plant hypothesis, wondering if detectable levels of pesticides could linger on plants for as long as a year, they agreed it was worth looking into further. According to Gorodnitsky, his own testing showed a noticeable difference in pesticide residue between mother plants and the rest of his crops. Indeed, once investigators separated mother plant samples from others, they obtained similar results. According to Brian Smith, the WSLCB’s communications director, the agency decided to lift the stop sale based on these results. It did, however, issue the standard $2,500 fine and 10-day suspension for first-time pesticide violations. The agency also required New Leaf to destroy all mother plants and all concentrate products created from plants propagated prior to November 12, 2015. Concentrates were targeted for destruction because studies have found that the process of extraction can drastically increase the concentration of pesticides in finished products. New Leaf will still be allowed to sell whole buds from plants propagated prior to November 12, 2015, Smith said, but must label packages with a warning that the product “may contain trace amounts of disallowed pesticides.” “It was an education for everyone,” said Gorodnitsky. “When they came in to do testing, we weren’t worried. It was a shock. When we did our own testing, things became clarified as to how those pesticides came in. It’s been quite a ride. We laid off pretty much 90 percent of our work force in January because we couldn’t afford to pay them without revenue.” Despite Green Light, Issues Remain Though it is easy to sympathize with any cannabusiness complaining that the WSLCB’s rules and regulations are needlessly arcane, New Leaf is not exactly squeaky clean. When the WSLCB received results back from its first batch of samples, they tested positive for Forbid, which is a non-systemic pesticide. A swab of an empty pesticide applicator bottle taken in the WSLCB’s second round of sampling also tested positive for Forbid, which would seem to indicate recent application. Gorodnitsky told me that this was also leftover from the transferred mother plants. When asked why the Forbid hadn’t dissipated over the course of a year, he offered this explanation: “We had strains that we didn't run in 502 but we kept the mothers alive. They were just sitting under low light not growing all year.” He said that Forbid was definitely not present in the mothers used for production. In his defense, the LCB’s second round of tests do not indicate the presence of Forbid, just Eagle 20, Safari 20, and others. However, WSLCB investigators also discovered “Hormex Vit B-1 & Growth Hormones” on their first sweep, whose label specifically warns against human consumption. “Do not use or store near food or feed. Do not use on plants that are to be used for food or feed,” it reads. Also troubling was co-owner Colwell’s reported conduct on the WSLCB’s third visit. The WSLCB’s investigator notes in his report that, after investigators left a conference room discussion to retrieve samples, “Hildebrand, [New Leaf’s head grower], and Colwell stayed behind and had a private conversation in the conference room with the doors closed. I could overhear Colwell yelling expletives at Hildebrand and instructing him not to talk to us. When Hildebrand returned to the grow rooms he would not make any statements or answer any questions about pesticide use.” WSLCB inspectors also observed that, “Gorodnitsky said there had been two to four generations of mother plants since New Leaf received a license.” In our most recent interview, Gorodnitsky, by way of complaining about the WSLCB’s strict pesticide enforcement, said, “If they go in to a producer and they find that they were spraying, that’s one thing. That’s something they need to address and do whatever they need to do. But if they find a level of systemic pesticides that are low and can be eliminated over a couple generations, that can be done over less than a year.” Except, it would seem, in the case of his peskily retentive mother plants. It should also be noted that, by Gorodnitsky’s own estimates, earlier generations of plants at New Leaf likely contained higher concentrations of the disallowed pesticides, and consumers have been exposed since January 8, 2015, when New Leaf obtained its license and transferred its mother plants over. Whether or not New Leaf was knowingly using illegal pesticides, it’s likely that other growers are. Gorodnitsky, when mounting his defense against the charges, went to a recreational marijuana store and purchased several samples from competing producers. He declined to share the identities of his samples with the WSLCB or me, but said that “the vast majority of product we tested” tested positive for the same pesticides he’d been busted for. When asked if the results indicated that his competitors were actively spraying, he replied, “No comment. I don’t want to speculate about what other people are doing.” While Gorodnitsky couldn’t confirm intentional pesticide abuse from his samples, BMF’s case seems to indicate that there are people out there—people with a whole lot to lose—who are willing to take that risk. Backpacks, Misters, and Foggers, Oh My! WSLCB spokesperson Smith declined to comment on the BMF investigation, as it is still wrapping up, but the investigator’s reports for BMF indicate that the WSLCB found that, of the 17 pesticides on site during an October 8, 2015 visit, 12 were disallowed pesticides. Also, the WSLCB collected one sample of plant matter and three samples from various applicator jugs and backpack sprayers. All four tested positive for unapproved pesticides. BMF was issued a violation notice, and will receive the same penalty as New Leaf. Peter Saladino, BMF’s owner, issued a statement via his PR firm, saying, “In 2014, our lead grower consulted with a horticultural expert to help our organization create an approach for our cannabis growing operation that would allow us to produce the highest-quality cannabis products possible using the smallest amount of chemical products, including pesticides.” The statement said that pesticides were never applied to flowering plants, which can retain more residue, and that Saladino believed everything they were using was legit. BMF’s PR firm also supplied a list of six disallowed pesticides it says were used before the company became aware of its error. That list included pesticides containing abamectin and spiromesifen. Worth noting here is the fact that the PICOL database, which lists the pesticides that are allowed on marijuana in Washington, is freely available on the Washington State University website, and BMF employs a dedicated compliance officer whose job is, in theory, to know this type of shit. Indeed, Smith confirmed that all growers receive education on the PICOL database saying, “There is a bright line on this. At minimum, [the PICOL list] is reviewed during final inspection.” Finally a Wake Up Call? “Patients have long been aware that the state's cannabis is being grown with pesticides,” said Muraco Kyashna-tocha, a long-time cannabis safety activist. “There has been no actual testing to verify that the final cannabis consumable does not contain any pesticide residue. In fact until recently there were no labs able to perform cannabis pesticide testing, which of course kept the public unaware that our cannabis contains pesticides.” She’s right. Until very recently, investigators could have taken all the samples they wanted, but they would have had nowhere to take them for that all-important pesticide residue testing. Essentially, to catch a pesticide cheat, they would have had to walk in on them in the act of spraying plants. Now, thanks to the Washington State Department of Health’s (DOH) proposed rules for “compliant” products, which include requirements for pesticide residue testing, our state’s labs have been gearing up to offer such services in order to meet the state’s July 1 deadline for retailers to begin offering compliant products to medical patients. With testing, and increased collaboration with the WSDA, the WSLCB’s enforcement arm finally has teeth. Kyashna-tocha praised the WSLCB’s new set of dentures as an important step for consumer safety, but said it still wasn’t enough. “No one has ever gotten cancer from pot," she said. "But, sadly, I think we will see cancer patients in a few years who got sick from the pesticides in their pot. I really wish we had done better from the beginning.”

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 The Rhode Island Supreme Court has imposed reciprocal discipline based on a Massachusetts disbarment The facts giving rise to the respondent’s disbarment in the Commonwealth are briefly summarized as follows. In late 2008, the respondent was involved in a group drive of automobile enthusiasts in Massachusetts. Tragically, the driver of the vehicle immediately in front of the respondent’s vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian. The respondent was a potentially necessary witness in any future civil or criminal action that could ensue from this incident, and may also have been subject to possible civil liability due to his participation in the group drive. Despite these glaring conflicts, the respondent offered to provide legal representation to the other driver, and failed to obtain his informed consent to the conflicts. The other driver was subsequently criminally charged for his actions leading to the death of the pedestrian. The respondent, who had limited experience representing defendants in criminal cases, provided woefully inadequate legal representation, including improperly advising the client and failing to timely obtain an opinion from an accident reconstruction expert. Moreover, the respondent made misrepresentations to the client regarding the nature of his legal fee, payments to the expert, and the payment of fees to co-counsel. The respondent intentionally misused approximately $17,500 that he had obtained on behalf of the client. He also entered into an improper business arrangement with this client relating to an agreement to repair and either lease or rent the client’s car. The Sentinel & Enterprise reported on the accident and trial, in which the attorney represented the defendant. Rhode Island attorney George Philip, who was driving behind Conant the day of the accident, represented him along with attorney Susan Turner. Conant was the first in a line of BMWs driving up Wachusett Street when he went around a curve and lost control, said Assistant District Attorney Blake J. Rubin. The BMW he was driving crossed the roadway and struck McCaffrey near the driveway of744 Wachusett St. Police measured 284 feet of tire marks indicating where the car was sliding out of control, said Leominster Police Sgt. Ryan Malatos. Leominster Police Sgt. Richard Kinney reconstructed the accident for the investigation and determined Conant's BMW was traveling about 62 mph in a 40 mph zone when it went into the spin. The attorney appeared in response to a show cause order and had not opposed disbarment. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2017/02/the-rhode-island-supreme-court-has-imposed-reciprocal-discipline.html

I went in thinking I would prefer the Porsche. I generally like Porsches, because they're subtle, and understated, and they don't like to be the center of attention, just like me. I wear old t-shirts. Porsches are for people who wear old t-shirts. Ferraris are for people who wear form-fitting silk shirts with dragons on them. So I drove the Porsche, and I loved it. Of course I loved it. I generally love older Porsches, and I had driven this particular model of Porsche before, and it was just as good as I remembered. Next up, I would drive the Ferrari. I knew I would enjoy it, sort of, and then I'd film a scene where I tell people that the Ferrari is cool and all, but it's also annoying for about 47,000 reasons, so I personally prefer the Porsche. Then I drove the Ferrari. The Ferrari is cool and all. It's also annoying for about 47,000 reasons. But I'm not so sure I prefer the Porsche.

Artist Kerry Callen has created a great set to comic art that shows us whether Superman or Batman is a better superhero. This is what the artist had to say about her series: For decades, fans have argued who is the better superhero, Superman or Batman. It recently occurred to me that the best way to determine this is to see how they’d fare if one replaced the other on their comic covers. Will one fare better than the other? This should decide once and for all who's superior! I selected six covers and then created six alternative images. You can check all of those comic cover and alternate covers below. They are sure to give you a laugh, and I can’t argue with who the winner end up being. First up, Superman #32. Superman is being hit by multiple lightning bolts--

Feb 6, 2017 This blog post will demonstrate how deep reinforcement learning (deep Q-learning) can be implemented and applied to play a CartPole game using Keras and Gym, in less than 100 lines of code! I’ll explain everything without requiring any prerequisite knowledge about reinforcement learning. The code used for this article is on GitHub. Reinforcement Learning Reinforcement Learning is a type of machine learning that allows you to create AI agents that learn from the environment by interacting with it. Just like how we learn to ride a bicycle, this kind of AI learns by trial and error. As seen in the picture, the brain represents the AI agent, which acts on the environment. After each action, the agent receives the feedback. The feedback consists of the reward and next state of the environment. The reward is usually defined by a human. If we use the analogy of the bicycle, we can define reward as the distance from the original starting point. Deep Reinforcement Learning Google’s DeepMind published its famous paper Playing Atari with Deep Reinforcement Learning, in which they introduced a new algorithm called Deep Q Network (DQN for short) in 2013. It demonstrated how an AI agent can learn to play games by just observing the screen without any prior information about those games. The result turned out to be pretty impressive. This paper opened the era of what is called ‘deep reinforcement learning’, a mix of deep learning and reinforcement learning. Click to Watch: DeepMind’s Atari Player In Q-Learning Algorithm, there is a function called Q Function, which is used to approximate the reward based on a state. We call it Q(s,a), where Q is a function which calculates the expected future value from state s and action a. Similarly in Deep Q Network algorithm, we use a neural network to approximate the reward based on the state. We will discuss how this works in detail. Cartpole Game Usually, training an agent to play an Atari game takes a while (from few hours to a day). So we will make an agent to play a simpler game called CartPole, but using the same idea used in the paper. CartPole is one of the simplest environments in OpenAI gym (a game simulator). As you can see in the animation from the top, the goal of CartPole is to balance a pole connected with one joint on top of a moving cart. Instead of pixel information, there are 4 kinds of information given by the state, such as angle of the pole and position of the cart. An agent can move the cart by performing a series of actions of 0 or 1 to the cart, pushing it left or right. Gym makes interacting with the game environment really simple. 1 next_state, reward, done, info = env.step(action) As we discussed above, action can be either 0 or 1. If we pass those numbers, env , which represents the game environment, will emit the results. done is a boolean value telling whether the game ended or not. The old state information paired with action and next_state and reward is the information we need for training the agent. Implementing Simple Neural Network using Keras This post is not about deep learning or neural net. So we will consider neural net as just a black box algorithm that approximately maps inputs to outputs. It is basically an algorithm that learns on the pairs of examples input and output data, detects some kind of patterns, and predicts the output based on an unseen input data. Though neural network itself is not the focus of this article, we should understand how it is used in the DQN algorithm. Note that the neural net we are going to use is similar to the diagram above. We will have one input layer that receives 4 information and 3 hidden layers. But we are going to have 2 nodes in the output layer since there are two buttons (0 and 1) for the game. Keras makes it really simple to implement a basic neural network. The code below creates an empty neural net model. activation , loss and optimizer are the parameters that define the characteristics of the neural network, but we are not going to discuss it here. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 model = Sequential() model.add(Dense( 24 , input_dim=self.state_size, activation= 'relu' )) model.add(Dense( 24 , activation= 'relu' )) model.add(Dense(self.action_size, activation= 'linear' )) model.compile(loss= 'mse' , optimizer=Adam(lr=self.learning_rate)) In order for a neural net to understand and predict based on the environment data, we have to feed it the information. fit() method feeds input and output pairs to the model. Then the model will train on those data to approximate the output based on the input. This training process makes the neural net to predict the reward value from a certain state . 1 model.fit(state, reward_value, epochs= 1 , verbose= 0 ) After training, the model now can predict the output from unseen input. When you call predict() function on the model, the model will predict the reward of current state based on the data you trained. Like so: 1 prediction = model.predict(state) Implementing Mini Deep Q Network (DQN) Normally in games, the reward directly relates to the score of the game. Imagine a situation where the pole from CartPole game is tilted to the right. The expected future reward of pushing right button will then be higher than that of pushing the left button since it could yield higher score of the game as the pole survives longer. In order to logically represent this intuition and train it, we need to express this as a formula that we can optimize on. The loss is just a value that indicates how far our prediction is from the actual target. For example, the prediction of the model could indicate that it sees more value in pushing the right button when in fact it can gain more reward by pushing the left button. We want to decrease this gap between the prediction and the target (loss). We will define our loss function as follows: Mathematical representation of Q-learning from Taehoon Kim’s slides We first carry out an action a, and observe the reward r and resulting new state s`. Based on the result, we calculate the maximum target Q and then discount it so that the future reward is worth less than immediate reward (It is a same concept as interest rate for money. Immediate payment always worth more for same amount of money). Lastly, we add the current reward to the discounted future reward to get the target value. Subtracting our current prediction from the target gives the loss. Squaring this value allows us to punish the large loss value more and treat the negative values same as the positive values. Keras takes care of the most of the difficult tasks for us. We just need to define our target. We can express the target in a magical one-liner in python. 1 target = reward + gamma * np.amax(model.predict(next_state)) Keras does all the work of subtracting the target from the neural network output and squaring it. It also applies the learning rate we defined while creating the neural network model. This all happens inside the fit() function. This function decreases the gap between our prediction to target by the learning rate. The approximation of the Q-value converges to the true Q-value as we repeat the updating process. The loss will decrease and score will grow higher. The most notable features of the DQN algorithm are remember and replay methods. Both are pretty simple concepts. The original DQN architecture contains a several more tweaks for better training, but we are going to stick to a simpler version for now. Remember One of the challenges for DQN is that neural network used in the algorithm tends to forget the previous experiences as it overwrites them with new experiences. So we need a list of previous experiences and observations to re-train the model with the previous experiences. We will call this array of experiences memory and use remember() function to append state, action, reward, and next state to the memory. In our example, the memory list will have a form of: 1 memory = [(state, action, reward, next_state, done)...] And remember function will simply store states, actions and resulting rewards to the memory like below: 1 2 def remember (self, state, action, reward, next_state, done) : self.memory.append((state, action, reward, next_state, done)) done is just a boolean that indicates if the state is the final state. Simple right? Replay A method that trains the neural net with experiences in the memory is called replay() . First, we sample some experiences from the memory and call them minibath . 1 minibatch = random.sample(self.memory, batch_size) The above code will make minibatch , which is just a randomly sampled elements of the memories of size batch_size . We set the batch size as 32 for this example. To make the agent perform well in long-term, we need to take into account not only the immediate rewards but also the future rewards we are going to get. In order to do this, we are going to have a ‘discount rate’ or ‘gamma’. This way the agent will learn to maximize the discounted future reward based on the given state. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 minibatch = random.sample(self.memory, batch_size) for state, action, reward, next_state, done in minibatch: target = reward if not done: target = reward + self.gamma * \ np.amax(self.model.predict(next_state)[ 0 ]) target_f = self.model.predict(state) target_f[ 0 ][action] = target self.model.fit(state, target_f, epochs= 1 , verbose= 0 ) How The Agent Decides to Act Our agent will randomly select its action at first by a certain percentage, called ‘exploration rate’ or ‘epsilon’. This is because at first, it is better for the agent to try all kinds of things before it starts to see the patterns. When it is not deciding the action randomly, the agent will predict the reward value based on the current state and pick the action that will give the highest reward. np.argmax() is the function that picks the highest value between two elements in the act_values[0] . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 def act (self, state) : if np.random.rand() <= self.epsilon: return env.action_space.sample() act_values = self.model.predict(state) return np.argmax(act_values[ 0 ]) act_values[0] looks like this: [0.67, 0.2], each numbers representing the reward of picking action 0 and 1. And argmax function picks the index with the highest value. In the example of [0.67, 0.2], argmax returns 0 because the value in the 0th index is the highest. Hyper Parameters There are some parameters that have to be passed to a reinforcement learning agent. You will see these over and over again. episodes - a number of games we want the agent to play. - a number of games we want the agent to play. gamma - aka decay or discount rate, to calculate the future discounted reward. - aka decay or discount rate, to calculate the future discounted reward. epsilon - aka exploration rate, this is the rate in which an agent randomly decides its action rather than prediction. - aka exploration rate, this is the rate in which an agent randomly decides its action rather than prediction. epsilon_decay - we want to decrease the number of explorations as it gets good at playing games. - we want to decrease the number of explorations as it gets good at playing games. epsilon_min - we want the agent to explore at least this amount. - we want the agent to explore at least this amount. learning_rate - Determines how much neural net learns in each iteration. Putting It All Together: Coding The Deep Q-Learning Agent I explained each part of the agent in the above. The code below implements everything we’ve talked about as a nice and clean class called DQNAgent . 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 class DQNAgent : def __init__ (self, state_size, action_size) : self.state_size = state_size self.action_size = action_size self.memory = deque(maxlen= 2000 ) self.gamma = 0.95 self.epsilon = 1.0 self.epsilon_min = 0.01 self.epsilon_decay = 0.995 self.learning_rate = 0.001 self.model = self._build_model() def _build_model (self) : model = Sequential() model.add(Dense( 24 , input_dim=self.state_size, activation= 'relu' )) model.add(Dense( 24 , activation= 'relu' )) model.add(Dense(self.action_size, activation= 'linear' )) model.compile(loss= 'mse' , optimizer=Adam(lr=self.learning_rate)) return model def remember (self, state, action, reward, next_state, done) : self.memory.append((state, action, reward, next_state, done)) def act (self, state) : if np.random.rand() <= self.epsilon: return random.randrange(self.action_size) act_values = self.model.predict(state) return np.argmax(act_values[ 0 ]) def replay (self, batch_size) : minibatch = random.sample(self.memory, batch_size) for state, action, reward, next_state, done in minibatch: target = reward if not done: target = reward + self.gamma * \ np.amax(self.model.predict(next_state)[ 0 ]) target_f = self.model.predict(state) target_f[ 0 ][action] = target self.model.fit(state, target_f, epochs= 1 , verbose= 0 ) if self.epsilon > self.epsilon_min: self.epsilon *= self.epsilon_decay Let’s Train the Agent The training part is even shorter. I’ll explain in the comments. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 if __name__ == "__main__" : env = gym.make( 'CartPole-v0' ) agent = DQNAgent(env) for e in range(episodes): state = env.reset() state = np.reshape(state, [ 1 , 4 ]) for time_t in range( 500 ): action = agent.act(state) next_state, reward, done, _ = env.step(action) next_state = np.reshape(next_state, [ 1 , 4 ]) agent.remember(state, action, reward, next_state, done) state = next_state if done: print( "episode: {}/{}, score: {}" .format(e, episodes, time_t)) break agent.replay( 32 ) Result In the beginning, the agent explores by acting randomly. It goes through multiple phases of learning. The cart masters balancing the pole. But goes out of bounds, ending the game. It tries to move away from the bounds when it is too close to them, but drops the pole. The cart masters balancing and controlling the pole. After several hundreds of episodes (took 10 min), it starts to learn how to maximize the score. The final result is the birth of a skillful CartPole game player! The code used for this article is on GitHub.. I added the saved weights for those who want to skip the training part. References

As far as mainstream holidays go, Valentine’s Day is perhaps the most heteronormative of all. From greeting cards and gifts, to television shows and movies, society inundates us with messages that Valentine’s Day is an occasion to celebrate monogamous, heterosexual relationships. It’s a day when men buy flowers, chocolates, and (for the more adventuresome) frilly panties for their ladies before having a candlelight dinner punctuated by kisses and declarations of love and fidelity. So on a day when almost everything seems to be about “devoted husbands” and their “beloved wives,” what are gays and lesbians supposed to do? Research suggests that single gay people often respond to Valentine’s Day by trying to ignore the holiday altogether, teaching themselves to view it as “just another day.”1 Many single heterosexuals adopt this strategy as well in order to cope with the societal stigma attached to flying solo. Thus, regardless of sexual orientation, single folks tend to pursue the common strategy of distancing themselves from the holiday. In contrast, partnered gays and lesbians tend to take a quite different approach. Rather than ignoring Valentine’s Day, many same-sex couples view it as an opportunity to rebel against a heteronormative society and express pride in their gay identity. As some real world evidence of this, in recent years we have witnessed gays and lesbians holding kiss-ins and mass weddings in very prominent public locations on February 14th. Likewise, there’s an Occupy Valentine’s Day movement sweeping Tumblr this month to protest heterosexual “couple-talism.” Such demonstrations are at least partly a response to heteronormative retailers and media messages, but they are also a way of calling attention to same-sex couples’ lack of full marriage equality. As the legal and social standing of same-sex relationships continues to change, it will be interesting to examine whether the holiday is marketed any differently and also whether gay and lesbian couples come to celebrate it more like their heterosexual counterparts, or if they will make their own unique traditions. Interested in learning more about relationships? Click here for other topics on the Science Of Relationships. Like us on Facebook to get our articles delivered directly to your NewsFeed. 1Newman, P. J., & Nelson, M. R. (1996). Mainstream legitimization of homosexual men through Valentine’s Day gift-giving and consumption rituals. Journal of Homosexuality, 31, 57-69. Dr. Justin Lehmiller – Science of Relationships articles | Website/CV Dr. Lehmiller’s research program focuses on how secrecy and stigmatization impact relationship quality and physical and psychological health. He also conducts research on commitment, sexuality, and safer-sex practices.

Looking for news you can trust? Subscribe to our free newsletters. Coffee brewing is in the midst of a revolution, and I’m not talking about the AeroPress. It comes in the form of a small 2-by-2-inch single-serving pod that requires a special machine. Keurig, owned by Vermont-based Green Mountain Coffee, makes the most popular pods, called “K-Cups.” At the press of a button, the Keurig brewer punctures a small hole into the aluminum lid of an individual plastic cup filled with grounds, flushes it with steaming water, and, voilà! Out comes one hot cup of joe. When Keurig launched its specialized brewing system in 1998, it might have come off as a bit niche. Not anymore. According to a survey by the National Coffee Association, nearly 1 in 5 adults drank single-cup-brewed coffee yesterday, making it the second most popular way to brew after the traditional drip methods—and far more popular than espresso machines. Keurig would not tell me what types of plastic go into its #7 blend, saying the information was proprietary. The single-serve method has experienced impressive growth: According to the Seattle Times, while US consumers bought $132 million worth of coffee pods in 2008, they forked over $3.1 billion for them last year, compared to $6 billion for roasted coffee and $2.5 billion in instant coffee. Keurig also has similar brewing systems and pods for tea and iced beverages, and will roll out a system for Campbell’s soup later this year. What Keurig customers love, proclaims Green Mountain’s 2013 annual report, is the system’s “Quality, Convenience, and Choice”—and let’s be real, it’s convenience that trumps for most busy Americans. Keurig systems take under a minute to brew coffee, and cleaning them is laughably easy: Just chuck the used coffee pod in the trash, then press a button, and a “cleansing brew” shoots hot water through the system to clear it of residue. But critics warn that the packaging needed for these systems comes with environmental and health-related costs. By making each pod so individualized, and so easy to dispose of, you must also exponentially increase the packaging—packaging that ultimately ends up in landfills. (And that’s to say nothing of the plastic and metal brewing systems, which if broken, aren’t that easy to recycle either.) Journalist Murray Carpenter estimates in his new book, Caffeinated, that a row of all the K-Cups produced in 2011 would circle the globe more than six times. To update that analogy: In 2013, Green Mountain produced 8.3 billion K-Cups, enough to wrap around the equator 10.5 times. If Green Mountain aims to have “a Keurig System on every counter,” as the company states in its latest annual report, that’s a hell of a lot of little cups. Green Mountain only makes 5 percent of its current cups out of recyclable plastic. The rest of them are made up of a #7 composite plastic, which is nonrecyclable in most places. And for the small few that are recyclable, the aluminum lid must be separated from the cup, which also must be emptied of its wet grounds, for the materials to make it through the recycling process. Even then, chances are the pod won’t be recycled because it’s too small, says Darby Hoover, senior resource specialist at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Keurig just released a sustainability report announcing that the company plans to make all coffee pods recyclable by 2020, among other ecofriendly efforts. The company says it’s evaluating the type of plastic used in the cups, exploring potential biodegradable and compostable packaging, and coming up with an easier way for customers to easily prepare them for recycling. Some competitors already have recyclable or biodegradable versions of this single-serve pod; Nespresso’s lid and pod is made entirely from aluminum. A Canadian brand, Canterbury Coffee, makes a version that it says is 92 percent biodegradable (everything save for the nylon filter can break down). Finding a substitute is an interesting challenge, says Keurig spokeswoman Sandy Yusen, because coffee is perishable, and so the material used must prevent light, oxygen, and moisture from degrading the coffee. Another reason to look beyond plastic is a concern with what could leach out of the material when heated. Yusen confirmed that the #7 plastic used in K-Cups is BPA-free, safe, and “meets or exceeds applicable FDA standards.” But new evidence suggests that even non-BPA plastics can test positive for estrogenic activity. (Our “Frightening Field Guide to Common Plastics” contains more information about this.) “No. 7 plastic means ‘other,'” says the NRDC’s Hoover. “You don’t know what it is.” One concern with this plastic mix is the presence of polystyrene, containing the chemical styrene, which Hoover warns is especially worrisome for workers. A possible carcinogen, styrene can wreak havoc on the nervous systems of those handling it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chemical also shows up in tobacco smoke and home copy machines, and in the Styrofoam used in food containers. The New York Times determined that single-brew coffee ends up costing more than $50 a pound, even for Folgers. Keurig would not tell me what types of plastic go into its #7 blend, saying the information was proprietary, nor would it confirm or deny the presence of polystyrene in the mix. Keurig does make a plastic and mesh reusable coffee filter. But why use a filter that necessitates cleaning—and also requires a fancy-schmancy brewing system—over the traditional method? As Hoover points out, “you’re essentially giving up the convenience of the little teeny tiny cup.” It’s not just convenience that’s sacrificed. By my calculations, a K-Cup-worth of coffee will run up your tab way more than grounds and a filter (not including the cost of the brewer); a standard pod of Green Mountain coffee costs 68 cents, while one cup of the company’s Vermont Blend brewed the traditional way costs about 44 cents, filter included. The New York Times did a more comprehensive analysis of the actual price of single-brew coffee, and determined that it ends up costing more than $50 a pound, even for standard brands like Folgers, compared to the less than $20 you can expect to pay for a bag of roasted beans. Call me a cheapskate, but I’ll stick to freshly ground coffee that doesn’t require a bulky brewer and billions of plastic pods to be delicious. Earth designed by Ben King from The Noun Project. Coffee capsule designed by Stefan Brechbühl from The Noun Project.

Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe The Magic NutriBullet is ideal for making delicious, satisfying, frosty smoothies and meal replacement drinks. the simplest half is that you just mix your ingredients and drink your smoothie out of the exact same dishwasher-friendly cup no mess! and, the facility of the Magic NutriBullet distributes flavor in such the way that each molecule of your smoothie is detonating with flavor. A deliciously satisfying, fruity drink that’s good for any time and any place. Now the time for this recipe ingredients. So, Let’s go for Smoothie recipe ingredients. You may see also more of our Nutribullet Recipes. Ingredients for Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe. Here these are. Paw of contemporary or frozen strawberries. One banana you must need. 1 cup ice also needed. And also Splash of fruit crush. When you have all the ingredients then you need the instructions to make this lovely Strawberry Banana smoothie recipe. Let’s go for it. Simple instructions for Strawberry Banana Smoothie Recipe. As we tend to all cookers recognize that initial ought to add all ingredients to a Tall Cup or during a Party Mug and twist on the Cross Blade. Then Lock all the ingredients On and mix til they become smooth. And now it is ready and you can drink it very easily. You can leave the first-rate on the strawberries; that’s wherever lots of the nutrients area unit. See Also

This thermal power station was completed in 1972 and was decommissioned between 2001 and 2008, it’s chimney was once the tallest structure in New Zealand, it is now being demolished and in the final stages of demolition. We began exploring this Power Station back in Easter where after trekking down in the darkness from the top of a hill we eventually reached a shoreline where we met a couple of angry seals who we had to dodge as they tried to attack us. Once we found our way in, avoiding light and the risk of areas with motion detectors we reached the main building, our eyes were greeted with a wonderland of ‘pipe-porn’ and steel. The first thing we knew we wanted to hit was the turbine room and to reach this we needed to scale some ladders through the maze of pipes and steel. Upon reaching the turbine room we found a gigantic space full of yellow turbines, all fully lit up, the whole place echoed as you walked through it which made us feel on edge. After documenting the turbine room we advanced on to find the control room, from intel we had been given we attempted to enter through to the control room where we were met by locked doors, the control room was not to be seen that visit. Included in this post are pictures months apart, the second series of pictures were pictures taken when the turbine room was mostly deconstructed but we finally found an intact control panel room :). Power Station from the coast Power station chimney detached! Ladders up to the control room Beneath the turbines Turbine room Turbine room Turbine Turbine room Turbine room Controls inside turbine room Dismantled controls Dismantled pipe-porn Now dismantled under the turbines Remnants of the turbine room Remnants of the turbine room Remnants of the turbine room Remnants of the turbine room Sealed off control panels in turbine room Entrace to the control room Control room Control room Control room Control room Control room Control station 1 Control station 2 Evacuation Map of alarms at the power station Futuristic control panels Futuristic control panels Futuristic control panels Control Gauges Emergency phone Turbine room controls Control room Alarm panel Guages Control station 2 Control station 3 Control station 3 Control station TV Control room Graphs This way to control room Active power Active power grids Active power grids Active power grids Time to go Advertisements

A Hezbollah fighter reacts as he fires a weapon in Western Qalamoun, Syria August 23, 2017. REUTERS/Omar Sanadiki BEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian army and its allies have surrounded Islamic State forces in a second large enclave in the center of the country, a military media unit run by Hezbollah said on Thursday. The Syrian military advanced south from southern areas of Raqqa province, joining up with their forces north of the town of al-Sukhna in Homs province and in so doing closing the circle around the pocket of IS insurgents. The IS enclave, located west of al-Sukhna and extending north into Hama province, totals approximately 2,000 square km (770 square miles), according to the Hezbollah military media unit. The Syrian army secured Al-Sukhna, 50 km (30 miles) northeast of the ancient city of Palmyra, earlier this month. It was the last major town in Homs province held by Islamic State. Last week, Syrian forces surrounded another large IS enclave in central Syria to the west of the one encircled on Thursday. The jihadists have lost swathes of Syrian territory to separate campaigns being waged by government forces backed by Russia and Iran, and by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is dominated by the Kurdish YPG militia. The SDF is currently focused on capturing Raqqa city from Islamic State. Islamic State still controls nearly all of Deir al-Zor province, which is bordered to the east by Iraq. The Syrian government holds a pocket of territory in Deir al-Zor city and a nearby military base.

MADRID- Spanish tax authorities say they are investigating allegations of tax irregularities involving soccer playerLionel Messi in documents released by an international probe of offshore accounts. The Barcelona star was among those named in reports by international media who received a vast trove of data and documents leaked from a law firm based in Panama. Foreign leaders named in data leak on offshore tax havens Still in the initial discovery stages as journalists pour through the 11.5 million files, the "Panama Papers" leak has implicated world leaders, businesses and celebrities in the practice of using shell companies to launder and hide money, avoid taxes, and other dealings. Messi's family released a statement Monday denying wrongdoing and threatened to sue media outlets that released the information linking the Argentine player to accounts in Panama. Last year, Spanish authorities charged Messi and his father with three counts of tax fraud for allegedly defrauding Spain's tax office of 4.1 million euros ($4.4 million) in unpaid taxes from 2007-09. They go on trial in late May and face nearly two years in prison if found guilty. Prosecutors had said Messi -- a four-time world player of the year -- was not fully aware of his father's unlawful activities and should not have been charged, but the state attorney's office contended that the Argentina forward knew enough to also be named in the case. FC Barcelona supports arguments made by Messi family: https://t.co/aIMWsNPGEs pic.twitter.com/LA8YePOSiE — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) April 4, 2016 Messi is not alone in the soccer world to be caught up in the data leak. A FIFA judge who helped ban Sepp Blatter for financial misconduct is now under investigation by his ethics committee colleagues after being named in an international probe of offshore accounts. The FIFA ethics prosecution chamber said Monday that it "opened a preliminary investigation to review the allegations" linked to lawyer Juan Pedro Damiani of Uruguay. Damiani was identified in a vast trove of data and documents leaked from a law firm in Panama, Mossack Fonseca, which specializes in creating offshore accounts that can be used to avoid tax. He heads his family's legal and accountancy practice in Montevideo founded by his late father, Jose Pedro Damiani. The FIFA case against Damiani was opened in March after ethics judges learned of his "business relationship" with former FIFA vice president Eugenio Figueredo, a fellow Uruguayan arrested in Zurich. In addition to Damiani, suspended UEFA president Michel Platini said all his accounts and assets are known by tax authorities after he was named in leaked documents about offshore accounts from the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca. According to the Le Monde newspaper, Platini has been managing an offshore company funded in Panama in 2007 and named Balney Enterprises Corp. Platini's advisers said in a statement Monday that the former France international soccer star "wants to inform that, as he stated it many times to the journalists in charge of the investigation, all of his accounts and assets are known to the tax authorities in Switzerland, where he has been a fiscal resident since 2007." Platini's advisers declined to confirm whether he actually managed the company. Platini was suspended from office in October by FIFA's ethics committee and is now serving a six-year ban over a $2 million payment that former FIFA president Sepp Blatter approved from FIFA funds in 2011.

Cheap car insurance with dui in california? i know drinking and driving was dumb and dont drink anymore for a year. i need car insurance where can i find the best deal something cheap for a whole year for liabilty for my shitty car. ANSWER: I would recommend you to visit this internet site where one can get quotes from different companies: INSUREFOREVERYBODY.INFO RELATED FAQS: I am looking to buy a house. I need cheap house insurance. Where would I find this? I am looking to buy a house. I need cheap house insurance. Where would I find this? "What is the average price of insurance of a $15,000 car for a paramedic?" 21 years old , good credit rating works and goes to school, trading in 1998 jeep cherokee sport" Which auto insurance companies only go back three months for accidents and violations? Which auto insurance companies only go back three months for accidents and violations? $9 car insurance in Yahoo sidebar ad.? Going to the address gets blank page except for Your website is ready"". http://www.news9consumer.com/ . Go figure. No one will believe $9; it's a trap" Where can i get affordable medical insurance? I need to get affordable medical insurance for my wife and I. We both work and our jobs don't provide insurance. Any suggestions? Cheapest car insurance for a single? I'm 20 years of age and my parents said that having my name put on the insurance mean that there insurance will go from 800$ to 2500$. Now, I'm fairly clueless right now so I'll be doing my own research but what would you say is the best and cheapest insurance for a single male such as myself. Any recommendations?" Any suggestions on how to lower my car insurance? I'm an 18 year old female driver, and about a month ago I got into a bad car accident due to a malfunction. When this occurred, the insurance and everything else was under my dad's name. Now that I bought a new car, my dad wants everything to be under my name because he doesn't want to get screwed over"" with high insurance and such" How much is the General car insurance? I want the cheapest car insurance possible, I don't care about coverage." I have cancelled my car insurance? i live in england How much do most people pay per month for life insurance? no sale pitches please... Affordable health insurance? my company offers helath insurance for $300.00 a week. If I signed up for this I would end up bringing home 250.00 to support my family. IMPOSSIBLE! Where can I go to find more affordable helth insurance on my own for my family. I live in Massachusetts so it can not be a limited benifit plan. Any websites or phone numbers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks How can I get affordable health insurance because of obama care? I work but i have 2 kids to support and I Make Minimum Wage.. plus rent and bills.. Does anyone have any suggestions about how i could possibly get health care or what will happen if I just simply cant afford it? And no smart *** remarks like get a better paying job. Jobs are hard to find where I Live and i am making it with what i have. But obama forcing us to have health insurance is making me wonder what Options i have. Medicare? or some kind of afforable health insurance? would love to hear people who are in the same boat i am. and any POSITIVE Suggestion would be helpful. Thanks How much does a moped cost? I am looking into a cheap way to get around town and someone told me mopeds are pretty cheap. but i need to know how cheap. How much does a moped cost new? how much would gas cost me on average? what about license and registration? would i have to buy insurance and if so how much does that cost? links to a site that would tell me these things would be very helpful. thank you for your time. (i am an 18 year old female and this will be my first vehicle and first time driving anything, i don't know if that makes a difference)" What is the best dental insurance without a waiting period for major services? Need the best insurance individual dental plan without a waiting period for a root canal - would appreciate some recommendations. Not looking for the cheapest plan at all, just the best one, best coverage without a waiting period. Thanks" Where can i find affordable life insurance for my 81 yr old granmother? I live in Illinois, and I work for the UI, but im not sure if I can add my grandmother on my insurance...So Im trying to find somewhere that will take senior citizens, but something i can afford.." Do you support Single Payer Health Insurance? I have look examined our Health Care Crisis in this country quite alot for various school papers and what not. From my personal observations and my research it seems the best solution is to adopt more or less what Canada and most other industrialized nations have for health-care, which is a single-payer sort of system. Total coverage health insurance for everyone. Think about it: No deductibles, no insurance premiums, or people with-out health-care coverage, or those people tying up the emergency room and driving up costs because they cant afford to get there problem taken care of at a clinic. The system would be financed much the same way Medicare and Medicaid are. In fact these two systems are known to be much less expensive and wasteful then normal Insurance or even HMO's because the extra overhead for marketing and 6 figure CEO salaries is not there. Anybody have an opinion on this???" Collecting on a life insurance policy? My father, whom I haven't seen in years, died recently. According to the divorce decree, he was to maintain a life insurance policy payable to his children; me my sister, and brother. I was told I have to file a Demand"" that the money from the policy be paid to us. It has already been cashed by his trust" Medical insurance question? I am 18 and make about $400 a month. i am having some serious health issues and my family has no money or insurance. is there a way i can get cheap insurance or something? Funeral cost insurance? I have his permission to discuss this with his insurance company for him, and have done so before. I hate to think of him being ripped off by a company he trusted. It just doesn't seem right that he has paid a huge fee just to save his own money. I don't have life insurance myself, have never believed in it, but my father believes he should have had more than he paid in when it comes to benefits. I don't want to call the insurance company to complain if this sort of pay out is normal." Who thinks GEICO is a great insurance company? I think their ads on TV are so right - they have not only the lowest rates (at least for me), but the best customer service too. I have never filed a claim, but recently requested some insurance record from them. Even though I am not their customer anymore (currently do not own a car), they still were very helpful on the phone, sent me the requested letter immediately and even did a follow up on it. I think they are awesome. Who had similar experience with them or any other company? PS - I am not a GEICO employer :))" How to use cash balance in whole life insurance policy.? How to use cash balance in whole life insurance policy.? Has anyone heard of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York? I'm looking for the current name and address of this life insurance company. Car insurance? the 3 points are from the 11/10/04... UK question. Can't find affordable Health Insurance for my wie? You guys are great, I talked to another person in SS and my wife got signed up for Medicare, I appreciate you input and wish I could choose all you guys for best answer. Being on my Tax return gave her the Medicare so I don't know the other people I talked to maybe because it was Medicare and not SS boy what a run around they gave me. Thanks again." "Would you buy a 17 year old a dodge challenger if she gets good grades , do what she needs to do around the house, keep up on everything?" Would you buy a 17 year old a dodge challenger if she gets good grades , do what she needs to do around the house, keep up on everything?" Cheap car insurance with dui in california? i know drinking and driving was dumb and dont drink anymore for a year. i need car insurance where can i find the best deal something cheap for a whole year for liabilty for my shitty car. ANSWER: I would recommend you to visit this internet site where one can get quotes from different companies: INSUREFOREVERYBODY.INFO Can i get full coverage insurance with a suspended drivers license? Can i get full coverage insurance with a suspended drivers license? What is the average coast for general liability insurance for a trucking company? I'm thinking of starting a new trucking company. What date should I start my new car insurance? I am currently looking to change car insurance companies. I am in the UK. My current car insurance ends at Noon on 29th March. Since my insurance ends at Noon, should I start my new insurance with another company on 29th March so that the two overlap (for half a day!) or should I start the new one on 30th March, so I go for half a day without insurance? I assume that most insurance car policies start at midnight and you can't change the start time online, only the start date? What would be best?" Do I need public liability Insurance ? We are starting a service that matches companies to website designers. Its an online service. Theoretically there could be issue between the companies meeting through our service. Would we require some sort of public liability insurance to cover us for such issues ? or maybe some other sort of insurance.? regards Ashley Life insurance quotes make me save money? Life insurance quotes make me save money? Who regulates car insurance companies in the UK? How can I contact them? Does the best buy insurance cover my ipod touch being lost/stolen? i lost my ipod touch and i got 3 years of insurance on it and best buy is closed right now since its new year so idk if im covered. i want to know if either i can get a free ipod or get a discount on a new one with my insurance Best Pet Insurance for Dog? I am getting a rescue 5 month old dog (will be neutered and have all shots) and will want to buy pet insurance. Any suggestions on good companies for the price? Help with finding a good honest health insurance provider? I am a college student looking for affordable insurance with decent coverage. (it's like a needle in a haystack, I know) I don't have any major health problems, so that wouldn't be an issue. I'm already looking into state regulated programs, but I was wondering what privately owned companies might have to offer. What companies have you had a good personal experience with? Or what companies have given you the run-around? What companies should I avoid? P.s. I live in central minnesota if that makes a difference." "Generally, does renters insurance cover damage caused from moving out?" As I was moving my couch on my own I accidentally caught a piece of my carpet and did some some major damage. I ripped up about 400 square inches of my former apartments carpet. My old landlord says repair is not an option and replacement of entire apartment carpeting is required, $1800!!! I have renters insurance, but before I consult an agent I was wondering if I was wasting my time. Does this type of damage generally get covered under normal renters insurance?" Home Insurance advised me not to submit a SMALL claim because if a bigger claim is submitted in the future it will be denied. True? My side fence fell down from old age. My neighbor and I hired a fence company to install a new fence which cost $2000. We split the cost, so my share is $1000. I submitted this to my insurance company, where my deductible is $500 and the insurance company will re-imburse me the remaining $500. But I all got was my agent advising me not to submit this claim because if there is another bigger claim in the next 5 years, that claim will be denied... Even though I will be paying my yearly premium, submitting a claim can hurt me if I submit another claim within a short time period. WTH am I paying insurance for then?? I have been a customer for over 15 years and my agent advised me of this BS?? Is this what it comes down too? You pay into the system and you can't use it? Are all Insurance companies advising home owners not to submit small claims because future bigger claims will be denied? Should I submit the claim and take my chances in the next 5 years, or just pay the fence in full in case something happens in the next 5 years?" Can I add my girlfriend to my health insurance if we live together? Some states allow benefits for partners."" Is this the same? I am insured by Humana (Open Choice PPO)""" "With the new Health Care Bill, what happens if you don't buy insurance?" In the new health care bill that just passed through Congress, it says, Every American must buy a health insurance plan"" But what will the consequences be for those of us who can not afford to buy health care at all right now? I" How much does your car insurance increase when you have two traffic violations in a year? I was pulled over again for turning right on a no turn on red"". The first time the insurance company said they wouldn't increase the premium. How much would it increase? $200 for the year? more?""" Are insurance companies really uninformed about climate change? It is interesting how many say that they're just trying to increase premiums. One might consider that they're competing with each other, and any company that increases premiums that are not matched by competitors will lose business. You'd think that, being conservatives, these folks would realize that basic capitalist principle. Seems that they're not all that good at being conservatives, and are only trying to divert attention from global warming." What are the recommended coverage i should have for auto insurance? i don't know anything about auto insurance, so im trying to figured out what i should include in my policy, not just standard, but recommended coverage, so that if anything happen the insurance company can't say this or that doesn't covered...im a person that rather be safe than sorry later... so far i have statefarm in Florida, and here are my coverage and limit so far: liability bodily injury 10/20, property damage 25 per accident. no-fault coverage comprehensive collision uninsured motorist bodily injury 10/20 is there anything else i need to add or missing? is there different between the personal injury protection and no-fault coverage? is my limit enough? my friend has 50/100 limit and pays much lower premium than me (about 40% less)." Need cheap health insurance for my family....? Im unemployed and currently receiving unemployment. I need leads or info on cheap or affordable health insurance for my 3 children and I. I live in Dallas, Texas if that helps or makes any difference." What auto insurance companies provide insurance for adult driver with learners permit? The car is registered in my name has current tags, plates, etc. I live in California and I am 26. I just got my permit to learn to drive. Since I live in small town and driving school here is only available to high school students and I don't have friend that will let me practice/use their car for driving test I have to use mine. I have a licensed friend who will teach me on my car but won't let me drive theirs because its manual and Ive never driven and they don't want to mess up their transmission." How do you figh no insurance ticket? if you get into an accident without insurance, how do you fight it both the police and the insurance." I'm getting my first car soon do you all recommend the camaro as a first car why or why not? I'm getting my first car soon do you all recommend the camaro as a first car why or why not? Auto Insurance average for me? I've had my temps for about 8mos now, and I'm going Togo to driving school for my license. I'm 17 years old. How much do you think average coverage should be?" What is the average cost of car insurance? What is the average insurance cost for a 19 year old male with a early 90s sedan? Which is the cheapest yet reliable auto insurance company? Which is the cheapest yet reliable auto insurance company? Life Insurance general info? I am looking for information on life insurance, really general stuff, like what the different policy types are and what should determine my decisions. Does anyone know of a general info site so I can arm myself with knowledge before talking to an agent?" What's the insurance for a lamborghini gallardo? NO! i'm not looking foward on buying one.. Cant afford it. People told me insurance for this car was $1000 a MONTH.. but i asked a couple people with lamborghinis in gas stations and they said they only pay $2700 a YEAR for their cars... What do you have to say to this? They were in their 30's.. Cheap car insurance with dui in california? i know drinking and driving was dumb and dont drink anymore for a year. i need car insurance where can i find the best deal something cheap for a whole year for liabilty for my shitty car. ANSWER: I would recommend you to visit this internet site where one can get quotes from different companies: INSUREFOREVERYBODY.INFO

One news organization. Two crime stories. Two groups of suspects from different races. And two very different types of images. Same day. Same crime. Same news station. One University pics. The other mugshots. pic.twitter.com/ENMal2mKLH — Tsunade-Sama (@honeycoquette) March 30, 2015 Mic's Dennis Clifton reported that when Iowa sister news sites thegazette.com and KCRG.com published stories about two groups of men — one black and one white — arrested for burglary last week, it didn't take long for readers to start asking why the white suspects were pictured in suits and ties (their wrestling team photos), while photos accompanying the story about the black suspects were mug shots. Clifton reported that the story wasn't updated with mug shots of the three white suspects who were formally booked until after the social media backlash. KCRG said in a statement that the organization's policy was to use the best images available, and the white suspects' mug shots simply weren't available when the story was published, so their wrestling team photos were used instead. According to the publication, the the mug shots were published as soon as it had access to them. When it comes to race and crime, media bias is a huge problem Whatever happened, the story has attracted attention because the contrast in the photos of the black and white suspects is a visual reminder of a problem that transcends the outlets' handling of these two burglary cases: media bias against African Americans. Another recent example is highlighted in a report by the progressive research center Media Matters, which concluded that New York City television stations give disproportionate coverage to crimes involving black suspects. The Media Matters study found that between August 18 and December 13, 2014, the stations (WCBS, WNBC, WABC, and WNYW) used their late-night broadcasts to report on murder, theft, and assault cases with black suspects at much higher rates than black suspects were actually arrested for those crimes. According to New York City Police Department statistics, African Americans were suspects in 54 percent of murders, 55 percent of thefts, and 49 percent of assaults. But the suspects in the stations' coverage were black in 74 percent of murder stories, 84 percent of theft stories, and 73 percent of assault stories. Negative images in the media affect how black people are treated in real life "This type of overrepresentation sends a message that it's okay and it's justified to fear black folks. It sends a message about who black people are that is harmful and hurtful," said Rashad Robinson, executive director of the civil rights group ColorOfChange, in the video above. ColorOfChange released a report titled "Not To Be Trusted: Dangerous Levels of Inaccuracy in TV Crime Reporting in NYC," in response to the Media Matters study. "What people see and hear in the media has a tremendous effect on their lives," Robinson said. "It has a tremendous effect on decisions they make, from decisions that are made in the schoolhouse to the courthouse." Correction: according to a representative of The Gazette/KCRG, the photos in the story about the wrestlers were updated immediately after the publication received the mugshots. The piece has been updated to reflect this. WATCH: 'Why recording the police is so important'

In the United States, it’s illegal to take the abortion drug mifepristone without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images It’s an inescapable fact: Making abortion harder to access means forcing women to go to greater lengths to end their pregnancies. Given the way laws in many states are tightening, that sometimes means going back to the days of abortions that may not be strictly legal. These days, it’s not so much coat hangers and back alleys as taking the Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs that induce pregnancy loss through cramping and bleeding. The medication is generally safe and effective (though like every drug, it carries a warning label). But in this country, if you take it without a prescription or a doctor’s supervision, you can be on the wrong side of the law. That’s the backdrop for a local news report that Jennifer Whalen, a 38-year-old mother in Washingtonville, Pa., was charged in December with felony and misdemeanor counts for ordering the abortion medication misoprostol and mifepristone online for $45. Whalen got the drugs for her 16-year-old pregnant daughter back in January 2012. She said she couldn’t find an abortion clinic nearby, she didn’t want to go out of state, and she didn’t know she needed a prescription for the drugs. The felony count Whalen faces is for “medical consultation and judgment”; the misdemeanors are for not being licensed as a pharmacist, endangering the welfare of a child, and “simple assault.” Whalen, who is out on bail, isn’t the first to be arrested for a DIY medication abortion. The same thing happened to a mother of three in Idaho in 2012 who took RU-486 (now known as Mifeprex) when she was as much as 20-weeks pregnant.* She said the closest clinic was hours away, would have charged $500, and because of state law, required multiple trips. You can read more examples here. Under proper supervision, misoprostol, which initially won FDA approval for reducing gastric ulcers, is a globally recognized means of ending an unwanted pregnancy. Taken with mifepristone, misoprostol becomes more effective and produces fewer side effects. Women in Latin America, Africa, and other places where surgical abortions are harder to come by have used the drugs quietly for years. And in the United States, the rate of medication abortion is rising even as the rate of abortion overall has fallen. (The decrease is true in states that have not imposed increasing restrictions on abortions as well as those that have and predates the latest round of restrictions, suggesting it stems from increased use of contraception, not shutting down clinics.) The question is how far into a pregnancy women can safely take this medication on their own. In this country, the FDA protocol, approved in 2000, goes up to only nine weeks. It’s probably safe for weeks beyond that gestation date, however. The question is: How safe, under what circumstances, and with what supervision? That’s become one of the battles in the new wave of state legislation, with 14 states requiring the doctor to be in the room when a woman takes it (rather than listening in by phone or teleconference while a nurse or midwife sees the patient). While those laws and other restrictions on medication abortion are being challenged in court, women are voting for medication abortions with their feet. Read Lindsay Beyerstein’s instructive piece in the New Republic on “miscarriage management”—the euphemism in Texas for women crossing the border into Mexico (where Beyerstein bought a box of misoprostol for $38.50) and heading home to take it.* In Texas, no one has been prosecuted for that, as far as I know. But Beyerstein rightly raises questions about drug purity and the care women receive if they have complications. Are we reverting back to a world in which abortion is conducted more and more away from the medical mainstream, with secrets and whispers? Even more troubling is the prospect Whalen’s arrest raises: that women will go to prison for seeking to end pregnancies, or, in Whalen’s case, aiding their daughters. As Robin Marty pointed out, abortion opponents shy away from this end result. She quotes the group Priests for Life: “We’ve never called for punishment for the women who have abortions.” But when you make surgical abortions harder to get, and more women opt for DIY medication abortions, some of them will be prosecuted. That’s the sad and scary lesson of this case. *Correction, Feb. 19, 2014: This post incorrectly stated that RU-486 is the morning after pill. It is not. It also suggested that Lindsay Beyerstein took misoprostol. She purchased it but did not take it.

(CNN) The US State Department is pulling out all families of employees and nonessential personnel from Cuba, after a string of mysterious attacks against US diplomats. Several US officials tell CNN that 21 US diplomats and family members became ill after apparent sonic attacks. The American embassy will continue to operate with a 60% reduction in staff. The officials said the US will stop issuing visas in Cuba effective immediately because of the staff reductions and the decision is not described as a retaliatory measure. Officials say there will still be consular officials in the embassy available to assist US citizens in Cuba. The State Department is also issuing a travel warning, urging Americans not to travel to Cuba because they could also be at risk as some of the attacks against diplomats have taken place at hotels where Americans stay, a senior State Department official told reporters Friday. "The decision to reduce our diplomatic presence in Havana was made to ensure the safety of our personnel," said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in a written statement. "We maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba, and our work in Cuba continues to be guided by the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States." In a statement Friday, the Cuban foreign ministry called the decision "hasty" and one that "will affect bilateral relations." Josefina Vidal Ferreiro, the director general of the ministry's US division, said, "the Government of Cuba has no responsibility for the alleged acts and is seriously and rigorously complying with its obligations under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, as regards the protection of the integrity of diplomatic agents accredited in the country and their families, without exception." The statement reiterated "Cuba's willingness to continue an active cooperation between the authorities of the two countries, for the full clarification of these facts, for which a more efficient US involvement will be essential." One senior US official said they expect the United States to ask Cuba to further draw down their personnel in Washington to voice US displeasure over the issue, but no decisions have been made. The decision came after an exhaustive review of US diplomats' safety in Havana and discussions with the Cuban government, which has vociferously denied any involvement in the attacks. In a meeting with Tillerson Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denied that Cuba was involved in attacks on diplomats and said the United States was politicizing the incidents. He said his government would continue to work with US authorities investigating the attacks. "The secretary told him independent of who is doing it, the Cubans have a responsibility for the safety and well being of our people," a senior State Department official told CNN. At least 21 US diplomats and family members have been affected by the incidents that began in November, causing a baffling array of maladies from hearing loss to dizziness to concussions. US officials say there may have been as many as 50 attacks, a senior US official told CNN, the most recent in August. Some victims have had long lasting symptoms and, in at least one case, permanent hearing loss. Despite the harassment, some US diplomats told CNN they did not want to depart, saying the reductions likely played into the hands of whoever was behind the attacks and would leave the embassy understaffed during a crucial period where Raul Castro is expected to step down as president of Cuba. Barbara Stephenson, president of the American Foreign Service Association, said the organization that represents diplomats is against the drawdown. "Our view is that American diplomats need to remain on the field and in the game," Stephenson told CNN. "We have a mission to do and we're used to operating around the globe with serious health risks. We are not saying there aren't health hazards there. But there are health hazards everywhere and we want the same choice. " Investigators haven't determined the cause of the incidents, but US officials told CNN they are convinced someone has targeted American diplomats in Havana with a sophisticated device never deployed before, at least not against US personnel. Canadian diplomats have suffered similar health problems, according to US and Canadian officials. But seven months after complaints to Cuban officials and assurances from Castro that the incidents would be investigated, US officials are frustrated by the lack of progress and have considered a range of options from scaling back the embassy to limiting the number of people who risk exposure to a full-on shuttering of the embassy, three senior US officials told CNN. "We have to consider it. We thought we had corralled this, and then the two cases in August took place," a senior US official said. "It is not as if the attacks address individual personnel officers. Our personnel is broadly at risk. So we have to consider next steps because we need to protect our people." A setback to US-Cuban relations The removal of the diplomats is a setback to US-Cuban relations following the "new beginning" heralded by former President Barack Obama when he and Castro agreed to restore full diplomatic relations and to try to move past decades of Cold War tensions and mistrust. It comes at a crucial moment as Castro prepares to step down as President in February and Washington needs eyes and ears on the ground. The Obama administration relaxed restrictions on US citizens visiting the island and, for the first time in over 50 years, re-established direct flights as well as allowing US cruise ships to travel to the island. The State Department removed Cuba from its list of countries that support state terrorism and Obama visited the island in 2016, the first sitting US president to do since the Cuban revolution. Some hard-liners in Cuba, including the late Fidel Castro, criticized the opening with the United States, but many Cubans rejoiced as Americans returned to the island in large numbers for the first time in a half century. Even though he had explored opening hotels in Cuba, during the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump vowed to close the embassy if Cuba didn't agree to "a better deal" with the US. In June, before a crowd of anti-Castro Cuban exiles in Miami, President Trump vowed to tighten restrictions on traveling and doing business with Cuba unless Havana stopped repressing human rights and political freedoms. Trump blasted the island's government again in September in his speech before the UN General Assembly. "The United States has stood against the corrupt and destabilizing regime in Cuba and embraced the enduring dream of the Cuban people to live in freedom," Trump said. "My administration recently announced that we will not lift sanctions on the Cuban government until it makes fundamental reforms." More questions than answers In November, following the US presidential election, American diplomats began to experience a series of strange incidents. As CNN first reported in August, diplomats were awoken late at night in their homes feeling unwell and hearing sounds that resembled insects or metal dragging across the floor. They were unable to determine the source of the sound, but when they left the room or area they were in the incidents stopped immediately, two US government officials said. By February, the State Department had concluded their diplomats were the targets of a campaign of harassment and they needed to raise the issue with Cuban officials. The devices used in the incidents have never been found, two US officials said, but appeared to be a type of sonic weapon that emitted sound waves capable of inflicting physical harm. But the physical symptoms that people exhibited varied greatly, preventing doctors consulted in the United States from reaching a conclusion about what caused the trauma, two US officials said. US government technical experts were also baffled. Some affected diplomats had lines of sight to the street in their homes, while others had shrubbery and walls that blocked views of their homes. Some heard loud sounds when the incidents took place, while others heard nothing. It does not appear either the US Embassy or the ambassador's residence were ever targeted, three senior US officials told CNN. "Following instructions from the top level of the Cuban government, a priority investigation was opened as from the moment these incidents were first reported and additional measures were adopted to protect the US diplomats and their relatives," said a statement released by the Cuban Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. Speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York, Cuba's foreign minister Rodríguez said his government "has taken into account the data contributed by the US authorities and so far has found no evidence whatsoever that could confirm the causes or the origin of the health disorders referred to by US diplomats and their relatives." US officials said Raul Castro denied the attacks and authorized FBI teams to travel to the island to help with the investigation, which is being led by Cuba's Interior Ministry. Additional Cuban security guards were stationed in the neighborhoods in Havana where US diplomats live and responded within minutes when the diplomats reported a suspected attack. US officials felt Castro would not have personally assured the Americans that Cuba had no part in the incidents if it had been a Cuban operation, a US official told CNN. Still, US officials said the Cubans' denials strain credibility as the incidents took place in the diplomats homes and in hotels, locations that Cuba's extensive intelligence apparatus are known to closely monitor. The officials said they believe even if the Cubans didn't know about the incidents at the beginning of the investigation, they must have a clearer idea of what transpired than they are letting on. Many diplomats live in Havana's upscale Siboney neighborhood, which has surveillance cameras and Cuban security guards posted in front of many diplomats' homes. Top Cuban officials -- including Raul Castro -- have houses in the same area and are heavily guarded. Other incidents took place in hotels in Havana where US diplomats were staying, said three senior US officials, also locations that Cuban intelligence services closely monitor. "It is increasingly apparent the Cubans are involved in some way," a senior US official said. "The Cubans are all over our people while they are down there. If it was a few attacks, you could say that maybe it was the Russians or Iranians screwing with us, but when it happens so many times, especially in the same hotel, it is hard for us believe someone can get close enough to our people so many times. Unless these are beams from outer space." After several employees who suffered attacks had to leave Havana due to health concerns, the State Department asked the Cuban embassy to send two of its diplomats home as a reciprocal measures. Earlier this month, Republican Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Florida; Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas; Richard Burr, R-North Carolina; John Cornyn, R-Texas; and James Lankford, R-Oklahoma; called on Tillerson, to declare all accredited Cuban diplomats in the United States persona non grata and, if Cuba does not take tangible action to stop the threats against American diplomats, to close the US Embassy in Havana. Rubio was a staunch opponent to the opening with Cuba under Obama and has supported Trump overturning the measures. But State Department officials said the decision to pull out diplomats was purely a safety issue and unrelated to Washington's relationship with Cuba. The reductions in staff will further hobble the US embassy, which is still recovering from flooding caused by Hurricane Irma. Consular services, including the issuing of visas to Cubans traveling to the US and American citizen's services department, have been closed as repairs were being made. Several of the families of the 50 diplomats stationed at the embassy evacuated ahead of the storm and have yet to return to the island.

I recently bought a MacBook Pro (with ‘Retina’ screen), but when I hooked it up to my Dell U2410 monitor via HDMI cable I was shocked by the poor picture quality. The contrast was all wrong and text was misshapen. No amount of calibration in the monitor or software would fix it. Short answer: OS X thinks my monitor is a TV, and is using the YCbCr colour space rather than RGB. I had to override an EDID setting to force the RGB colour space, and it is now working correctly. Long answer: I haven’t owned a Mac for a while and had forgotten how difficult much of the “Apple community” can be when it comes to anything that can’t be adjusted in System Preferences. Googling for problems with external monitors on MacBooks found dozens of threads on official and unofficial Apple forums, all full of people with the same problem. The most common response was to blame the monitor, despite assurances from the stricken users that the monitor worked beautifully in Linux and Windows, even on the same machine under Boot Camp. “You just haven’t calibrated it!”, “You are just too used to Retina now!”, “You just need to buy a Thunderbolt display!” Apple people also like to solve problems by throwing more money at it. (I realise that owning a Mac makes me an Apple person, too. Hypocritical self-loather?) My lucky break was reading that the current colour space was “YCbCr” when I was browsing the monitor’s settings menu. I was sure that it was using RGB when hooked up to my PC, so I started searching instead for forcing RGB mode in OS X. It didn’t appear to be available out-of-the-box, but I have had some experience in overriding EDID settings for similar purposes so I searched instead for that. I found this thread on the EmbDev.net forums. Mr Schwarz, thanks very much. Your thread and script was incredibly helpful and informative. It was written to fix problems connecting an external monitor via DisplayPort, but it fixed my HDMI issue just the same. I’ve summarised the required steps below. My last word is to wonder what Apple is playing at. It seems that this problem has been reported by a lot of people for a long time, and I expect it would require a fairly simple software update. Do they just not care about those using third-party components, or are they actively attempting to force people on to Thunderbolt displays? How to force RGB in Mac OS X These steps have been updated for Mac OS version 10.11, “El Capitan”. See below for differences for previous versions of the system. Download the patch-edid.rb script from the forums thread above, or download Andrew Daugherity’s improved patch-edid.rb script from his github page. Put the script in your home directory. Disable “rootless” mode, you can follow these instructions: How to modify System Integrity Protection in El Capitan. Reboot. Connect only the external monitor(s) in question, if you can (I closed my MacBook lid, for example). The script will make override files for any connected monitor. Type “ruby patch-edid.rb” in Terminal. A new folder will be created in your home directory. Move it into the “/System/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides” folder. You may have to create the Resources and Overrides folders. If Finder tells you that you are overwriting an existing folder, consider backing it up first. Restart your computer. The picture quality should be fixed from this point. Re-enable “rootless” mode, the instructions are available on the same guide: How to modify System Integrity Protection in El Capitan. Reboot. Enjoy your monitor. To undo the changes, either delete the folder you had copied to the Overrides folder (if it didn’t already exist) or replace it with the folder you had backed up. You will need to re-enable rootless mode to do this. Earlier versions of Mac OS X The process is a little more straightforward. There are two differences to the steps above: You do not need to disable/re-enable rootless mode and perform the subsequent reboots. The overrides folder location is “/System/Library/Displays/Overrides”. Updates I no longer own a Macbook Pro, but if you’re having trouble with any of these steps, please have a look through the comments below (and note that there are multiple pages). Many questions have been answered with helpful tips from others. Update, 20 Nov 2016: In the comments Marcus has proposed a faster method that doesn’t require SIP to be disabled. Others have had success with it so give it a go if you’re uncomfortable with disabling SIP. Update, 8 Feb 2016: A comment from nos1609 below, warns about a bootloop that can occur when running other patches (like the pixel-clock patch) simultaneously, and how to get around it. Update, 23 Nov 2015: According to Peter’s post, you don’t need to disable SIP if you use recovery mode. If others have similar success with this method I’ll update the process. Update, 3 Oct 2015: I have amended this post to target El Capitan. I have taken the steps from bigmcguire’s process, posted in the comments. Although some are still having issues, it appears to be working for people. Thanks! Update, 29 May 2015: Mac OS 10.11 El Capitan does things a little differently. You must first disable the new ‘rootless’ mode and then use a different overrides folder: /System/Library/Displays/Contents/Resources/Overrides. Rootless can then be re-enabled if desired, as confirmed by nos1609 in the comments below. El Capitan is still in beta, I’ll update this post if the issue is still apparent afterwards. Update, 26 May 2014: If you have had trouble with limited resolutions being available after the fix, check out Ibrahim’s comments here. Update, 28 Nov 2013: If the process appears to work but doesn’t seem to make a difference, consider Tom’s comments below. Depending on your monitor an extra tweak may be required. Update, 13 Nov 2013: Andrew comments below that he has modified the script to add some useful new features, and provides a link to his GitHub for those wishing to use it instead. Update, 27 Oct 2013: If you’ve applied this fix before, the OS X Mavericks update will overwrite it. I’ve successfully re-applied the fix by following exactly the same steps, and other commenters below have done so, too.

0 Race may be factor in fatal stabbing of JBLM soldier LAKEWOOD, Wash. - Lakewood police are looking for five black men in their mid 20s after a 20-year-old Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier was stabbed to death early Saturday morning, police said. Friends have identified the victim as 20-year-old Tevin Geike. The stabbing happened after 2:30 a.m. in a parking lot in the 12500 block of Pacific Highway Southwest. According to authorities, a vehicle passed by three active duty JBLM soldiers and yelled something about being "white." One of the soldiers then yelled back something about the men treating combat solider with disrespect. The car turned around and stopped next to the soldiers. Police said five men got out of the car, surrounded the soldiers and a verbal confrontation started between the two groups. The driver called the other men back to the car when he realized the men really were combat soldiers. According to police, as the group returned to the vehicle, one of the men bumped into Tevin Geike . His friends saw him fall to the ground as the car drove away. He’d been stabbed. Police say say the victim had multiple stab wounds. He died from his injuries at the scene. Glenn Zimmerman was friends with Geike. He left a rosary near the murder scene on Saturday. “I want to find the people that did it so bad. He was only 20 years old,” said Zimmerman. “What was it all over, just cause they were some white boys?” he added. Zimmerman said Geike was about to be discharged from the Army. He was getting ready to move off base in 5 days. He’s remembering Geike for his service and his friendship. “He was a kind hearted person and he was just a really good friend. I hope everyone remembers him for the smile he had on his face,” said Zimmerman. Police described the main suspect in his early 20s, about 6 feet 1 inch tall, medium build and wearing a blue zip up. The driver was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, short cropped hair and wearing a blue and white horizontal striped shirt. One man was described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, short hair and wearing a gray tank top. Another man was described as 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, wearing camouflage pants (described as paintball splats). The fifth man is described as 5 feet 6 inches tall. Police are now looking for the five black men and their vehicle is described as a midnight blue BMW sedan or VW Jetta with four doors, tinted windows, stock rims and low-profile tires. Anyone with information is urged to call the Lakewood Police Department.

Marquez managed to finish on the podium at Assen, narrowly beating satellite LCR rider Cal Crutchlow and Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso on the final lap in an intense final-lap battle. The Spaniard said post-race he was not pushing as much as he could have, conscious of not wanting to record a third non-finish of the season, and was not prepared to take the same risks as Valentino Rossi and Danilo Petrucci ahead. It means Marquez lies fourth in the standings, 11 points behind new leader Dovizioso. But the 24-year-old seems to be convinced that his factory Honda will not be getting any significant upgrades soon. “I don’t expect big changes [from Honda] before next year," he said. "I hope to manage this situation in the best way possible and let’s see if next year can be a good season for us." Marquez has been complaining about a lack of acceleration for a year and a half, something he has to make up by taking big risks under braking - a possible explanation of why he suffered 13 falls during the first eight races. In contrast with Honda, Yamaha brought two new chassis for Valentino Rossi and Maverick Vinales to try during post-race testing at Barcelona. Both riders went on to race the new frames at Assen. “We had a test in Montmelo but we didn’t try anything because we didn’t have anything new," said Marquez. "We will have another one this summer in Brno, let’s see if there we can find something. “On Friday, riding behind Valentino, I realised from the first moment that he was using the new chassis, because I noticed he was riding differently. On the entry of the corner they have gained something. "In this area is where we used to make a difference. Now we are at the same level and it is true that they’ve done a step forward, but we still believe in ourselves." Translation by Irene Aneas

Sophie Simmons probably will not be racing out to pick up a copy of Katey Sagal’s new memoir, Grace Notes. In the revealing book, the Married With Children star, 63, details an affair she had with Gene Simmons 43 years ago. Sophie Simmons, the 24-year-old daughter of the Kiss rocker, thinks the account is unnecessary. “I feel like it’s no one’s business, really,” she said on the Allegedly With Theo Von & Matthew Cole Weiss podcast on Tuesday. “I mean, if Katey wants to write a book about her life, cool — but to write about someone and then have it affect their family I feel like is a really kind of low place to go to try and sell a book.” Simmons added, “And she should probably look at her own family — I’m just saying — before pointing fingers … because other people could write books too.” Burn! Sagal — who has been married to screenwriter Kurt Sutter since 2004 — met Gene Simmons, 67, in a bar in Santa Monica, Calif., where she was singing as a waitress in the ’70s. View photos Gene Simmons and Katey Sagal reunited in 2003 at a Musician’s Assistance Program fundraiser. (Photo: SGranitz/WireImage) More “At first, I thought Gene was really weird,” the Sons of Anarchy alum writes. “I took him home with me that night because he was quite persuasive, and I like men.” Simmons ended up signing Sagal and her band to his label, but they were dropped after one album. The affair was on and off for several years, but ended when she told Simmons she was going to marry bassist Freddie Beckmeier unless he married her instead. Simmons reportedly laughed at the idea, so Sagal did tie the knot with Beckmeier in 1977. They divorced three years later. Sophie Simmons, who is a musician as well, said her family will brush off the story. “It really doesn’t affect us — we’re so tight as a family,” she explained. “My parents are so crazy in love. I mean, congrats to the one groupie who thought they got ahead, but apparently didn’t. … You’re a really talented actress, so it worked out.” Gene Simmons wed his longtime love, Shannon Tweed, in 2011 after three decades together. They have two children: Sophie and Nick, 28. Sagal, meanwhile, is on her fourth marriage. She and Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter share a 10-year-old daughter, Esme, born via surrogate. Sagal is also mom to a daughter, Sarah, 22, and a son, Jackson, 21, from her third marriage, to Jack White. Read more from Yahoo Celebrity:

A bipartisan plan to stop indigenous art fraud has stuttered to a halt, with Arts Minister George Brandis failing to meet the federally funded body behind it. The Indigenous Art Code's chairman Ron Merkel, QC, this week wrote Senator Brandis an open letter, questioning his understanding of indigenous artists' problems, given his controversial plans to reform the Racial Discrimination Act. Artist Maree Clarke says those who copy art onto carpets and tea towels are stealing from artists. Credit:Angela Wylie Mr Merkel said in the letter the minister had spent a "great deal" of time on his exposure draft, which he had explained "to be based in part on the right of people to be bigots, thereby embracing their right to engage in the public vilification of, among others, Aboriginal people on the ground of their race". "If that endeavour means you have no time to consider protecting Aboriginal or other indigenous artists from continuing exploitation ... it may be appropriate for this important project to be handed over to the indigenous affairs section of the Department of Prime Minister [Tony Abbott] and Cabinet."

We can now reveal the synopsis for “Ladies and Gentlemen, My Name is Paul Heyman“. The new WWE DVD and Blu-ray hits stores on August 5th. One of the most controversial managers and figures in WCW, ECW and WWE History! For the first time ever, fans get the full story of the life and career of Paul Heyman. From his beginnings as a ringside photographer at MSG, to becoming a manager at WCW, then heading up the infamous ECW, Paul has his own unique brand of over-the-top, in your face entertainment that has developed him a cult-like following. Unfortunately his financial savvy didn’t match his creative genius, and ECW was eventually purchased by WWE. Since joining WWE, Paul has gone on to great heights, including managing Brock Lesnar, when he finally broke Undertakers WrestleMania Streak this year. This collection includes great behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, with past and present talent talking about Paul’s contribution to the world of sports-entertainment. Featuring interviews with Raven, Tommy Dreamer, Joey Styles, Mick Foley, Rob Van Dam, Stephanie McMahon and of course the man himself. Pre-order your copy of the Paul Heyman DVD/Blu-ray now… Some new information coming out of the official synopsis above is that Raven looks to have been interviewed for the documentary portion of the set. The winner of our Ultimate Warrior DVD giveaway has been selected. Congratulations to Sebastian Diaz! You’ve been notified at the same email used to enter the giveaway. Since the Warrior’s untimely passing, this 2-disc version of “The Self Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior” DVD has been selling for as much as $60 here on eBay.com. The latest WWE DVD to hit stores was “RAW: After The Show”. A slightly updated trailer for the DVD and Blu-ray has been released by WWE, which you can watch below. The next title incoming is WrestleMania 30 on May 13th, followed up by Greatest Wrestling Factions on May 27th. Both will be released on DVD and Blu-ray formats.

The day cars drove themselves into walls and the hospitals froze. A scenario that could happen based on what already has. The Big Hack The day cars drove themselves into walls and the hospitals froze A scenario that could happen based on what already has. Illustrations by R. Kikuo Johnson On December 4, 2017, at a little before nine in the morning, an executive at Goldman Sachs was swiping through the day’s market report in the backseat of a hired SUV heading south on the West Side Highway when his car suddenly swerved to the left, throwing him against the window and pinning a sedan and its driver against the concrete median. A taxi ran into the SUV’s rear fender and spun into the next lane, forcing a school-bus driver to slam on his brakes. Within minutes, nothing was moving from the Intrepid to the Whitney. When the Goldman exec came to, his driver swore that the crash hadn’t been his fault: Moments later, on the George Washington Bridge, an SUV veered in front of an 18-wheeler, causing it to jackknife across all four lanes and block traffic heading into the city. The crashes were not a coincidence. Within minutes, there were pileups on 51st Street, the southbound BQE, as far north as the Merritt Parkway, and inside the Midtown Tunnel. By nine, Canal Street was paralyzed, as was the corner of 23rd and Broadway, and every tentacle of what used to be called the Triborough Bridge. At the center of each accident was an SUV of the same make and model, but as the calls came in to the city’s 911 centers in the Bronx and Brooklyn, the operators simply chalked them up to Monday-morning road rage. No one had yet realized that New York City had just been hit by a cyberattack — or that, with the city’s water system, mass transportation, banks, emergency services, and pretty much everything else now wired together in the name of technological progress, the _ real _ hacks The fictional account imagined here is based on dozens of conversations with cybersecurity experts, hackers, government officials, and more. An attack of such scope is unlikely, but each component is inspired by events that can, and in most cases have, happened. 1In 2015, carmakers began paying greater attention to the fact that some new vehicles, now connected to the internet, had become as hackable as laptops. In March, researchers found hackers were able to access the ignition on Audi, BMW, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Range Rover, Subaru, Toyota, and Volkswagen cars. 2Homeland Security recently estimated that one major cyberattack — the NSA chief has said it’s a matter of “when, not if” — could cost $50 billion and cause 2,500 fatalities. A third-year resident in the emergency room at Columbia University Medical Center in Washington Heights walked through the hospital as a television was airing images from the accident on the George Washington Bridge; that meant several crash victims would soon be heading her way. When she got to her computer, she tried logging into the network to check on the patients who were already there, but she was greeted with an error message that read WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR BITCOIN THIS TIME. Columbia, like major institutions across the country, had spent the past few years fighting so-called ransomware attacks, in which hackers locked a hospital or city hall or police department out of its own network until a Hospital security teams had gotten wise to the problem, but every network’s defenses had the same vulnerability: For weeks, a group of hackers had been sending LinkedIn messages to employees at Columbia pretending to be recruiters from Mount Sinai. When an employee opened an attachment featuring the recruiting pitch — as ten of them did — and enabled the macros as prompted onscreen — four of them did — they unknowingly unleashed malware onto their computer and gave the hackers a beachhead. After months of , the hackers blocked Columbia’s doctors and nurses from accessing their network, including patient files. Doctors couldn’t access prescription records telling them which patients were scheduled to take which drugs when and resorted to improvised , which many of the younger doctors had never done before. In nearly every corridor, they were consulting with one another in a panic, asking how much of their own expertise was really stored in the cloud and had just disappeared. 3In February, a hospital in L.A. paid 40 bitcoins, or about $17,000, to get back into its system. Russian hackers have even set up English-language call centers to explain to victims how to acquire and send bitcoins. 4Hackers recently sent Pennsylvania drivers fake traffic tickets with malware, using GPS data so the tickets seemed to be from red-light cameras on their route home. 5The average data breach is only identified five months later; hackers were allegedly inside a Ukrainian utility network for six months before shutting off electricity. 6In March, a D.C.-area hospital system was hacked and forced to keep paper records. They got so overwhelmed they turned away cancer patients with radiation appointments. The crowd in the waiting room swelled and grew more tense as nurses ran by patients, unable to give updates on when they might be seen. Various procedures were taking longer than they should have — one man was kept on a powerful antibiotic for several hours, with serious side effects, before a delayed lab result came back reporting that he should go off the medication — and the staff was having trouble keeping track of patients. A little before noon, a man walked into the hospital looking for his wife, whom he had dropped off early that morning for a simple surgical procedure. A few minutes later, the nurse told him that it appeared his wife had been discharged. Most New Yorkers were proceeding with their day unaware. But the city’s had begun to connect the dots: Six hospitals had already informed him that their systems had been shut down, and the city had sent out warnings to all the others. One Police Plaza had just reported that it, too, was locked out of the programs it used to dispatch , which made responding to the traffic accidents around the city that much harder. 7New York’s first head of cybersecurity started the job earlier this year. 8In April, Newark’s police were locked out of their computer system for three days. After a few phone calls to friends in the private sector, the cybersecurity chief got more nervous. At the beginning of 2017, one friend told him, she had been called to investigate a mysterious occurrence at a water-treatment plant: The valves that controlled the amount of chlorine released into the water had been opening and closing with . An alarm had gone off, so none of the tainted water had reached consumers, and the company’s CEO brushed off the consultant’s request to make the news public so others could prepare for similar attacks. 9Investigators recently reported a similar incident at an undisclosed water company. At MetroTech, New York’s cybersecurity chief pulled out the Office of Emergency Management’s 42-page booklet on how the city should react to a cyberattack — a copy of which he had printed out and stashed in his desk drawer in case his department’s own network was compromised — and was flipping from page to page when he got a call from a reporter. At 12:30 p.m., the Times published a story reporting that “government officials” believed that the city was being hit with a wave of cyberattacks that appeared to be ongoing. A tipster claimed the hackers had caused at least a dozen car crashes and debilitated multiple hospitals and agencies — with more to come. If they could crash a car, could they crash a subway? The Times report included a line from a nurse at New York–Presbyterian who said that the initial message announcing that the network was blocked had included a link to a web page that was displaying a timer ticking down to 1 p.m. and text that read MORE PATIENTS WILL BE ARRIVING SOON. European who launched the attack against New York had spent much of the previous decade breaking into American corporate networks — credit-card companies, hospitals, big-box retailers — and sometimes just because they could. When those attacks became routine, the group moved into more politically inclined hacks, both and on of various governments, and fomenting dissent. In the summer of 2016, the hackers received an anonymous offer of $100 million to perform a cyberattack that would debilitate a major American city. The group’s members weren’t much interested in death and destruction per se, so they declined their funder’s request for a But to self-identified anarchists with a reflexively nihilistic will to power, the proposition had some appeal. Causing disruption was something that had been on their minds recently, as their conversations veered toward the problems with global capitalism, the rise of technocentrism, bitcoin, and the hubris required to nominate a man like Donald Trump. Their animus got more personal when American authorities arrested a well-respected white-hat hacker who had broken into an insulin pump in order to show the dangers of connecting without proper security. The black hats were on the opposite end of the ideological spectrum but had more empathy for their fellow hacker than they did for the American people, who, they felt, deserved a comeuppance — or at least a very loud “Fuck you.” The plan was to show how much of modern life in a city like New York could be disrupted by purely digital means. The hackers would get paid, but they also hoped their attack would dent America’s complacent faith in order and in the technology and political authority that undergirded it. As a bonus, their services would be in even greater demand. 10Hackers are often identified by the malware they use: One group is known as Sandworm, because references to the sci-fi series ‘Dune,’ which features giant desert worms, were embedded in its code. 11The hacker world divides into white hats, who are the good guys, and black hats, who are out to cause havoc or for personal gain. 12According to the FBI, those hit by cyberattacks have paid more than $200 million in ransoms so far this year, compared with just $25 million in all of 2015. 13Earlier this year, Congress was the target of a string of ransomware attacks. 14An Italian company called Hacking Team has been criticized for offering hacking services to dozens of countries, many with poor human-rights records. 15Andrés Sepúlveda, a Colombian hacker, recently told Bloomberg that he had helped rig elections in nine different Latin American countries, including by installing malware on campaign routers to spy on digital and phone communications. 16Last year, a researcher claimed he had hacked into a plane’s seat-back entertainment system and could then access the cockpit controls on a Boeing jet flying from Denver to Chicago. Boeing has said this is impossible. 17In 2014, a company tracking medical devices at more than 60 hospitals found malware in every hospital. Last year, another researcher was able to manipulate several drug-infusion pumps so he could, potentially, deliver a fatal dosage of medication. No one had pulled off an attack of this magnitude, but it was possible to piece together a plan from various hacks that had been executed before, which, taken together, were a sort of open-source blueprint available to anyone with an interest in remote-control terrorism (and the time and manpower it required). This group was small, relatively speaking, and benign, relatively speaking. ISIS, for instance, might have a more pronounced bloodlust but not (yet) the technical capabilities; Chinese or Russian hacking operations would have many more resources and a much more sophisticated strategy that could bring even more targets, into play. 18It took several years for hackers allegedly working for the U.S. and Israel to develop Stuxnet, a computer worm that disabled an Iranian nuclear reactor in 2010. These hackers decided to start with cars. The team’s members found a particular automaker’s flagship SUV bought one to test their work (to help fund the operation, they had pulled from the millions they had made in several attacks against financial institutions, including a recent hack of the ), and, within a month, could shut off the ignition, turn off the brakes, and cause the steering wheel to jerk to the left. 19In 2015, for an article in Wired, two hackers in St. Louis took control of a Jeep traveling 75 mph, sprayed wiper fluid so the driver couldn’t see, then cut the transmission. 20In February, hackers stole the credentials of several employees in the Bangladeshi Central Bank using malware that tracked keystrokes as the employees entered passwords and were then able to transfer $81 million into private accounts. (They might have stolen more had they not misspelled the word “foundation” in one of the transfers, triggering an alarm.) The underlying system of financial transactions, known as SWIFT, has since come under scrutiny after similar attempted attacks at other banks. If you don’t think the threat of hacking is real, take a look at these eight examples of real, terrifying hacks that have happened right under our noses. Several other members of the team spent months trawling Shodan, a free search engine, launched in 2009, that allows savvy users to find devices with unprotected connections to the internet, from to Wi-Fi-enabled baby monitors. As they looked for ways to demonstrate vulnerability — to show just how many mundane features of urban life had been opened up to hackers in recent years — they found themselves focusing on something most New Yorkers use every day. The vast majority of the 70,000 elevators in New York City are not connected to the internet, but building managers had begun taking elevator manufacturers up on their offers to install remote-control systems as a way to cut costs. And so, an hour after the SUVs started crashing, a resident who had recently moved into a new tower in Hudson Yards was riding up to her 22nd-floor apartment when her elevator suddenly jerked to a halt. Across town, a bank of elevators in a Downtown Brooklyn office building that had installed the same software stopped working, with several members of a new-media start-up onboard one car. It didn’t take long for them to begin sharing their lighthearted grievances on social media. One of them pointed out a remarkable coincidence on Facebook: His friend in a different building had gotten stuck in an elevator too. 21In 2014, an Ohio man remotely accessed the thermostat in the home of his ex-wife, who’d left him for another man. “Since this past Ohio winter has been so cold I’ve been messing with the temp while the new love birds are sleeping,” the man wrote in a review of the thermostat on Amazon. “Doesn’t everyone want to wake up at 7 a.m. to a 40-degree house?” He gave it five stars. By now, officials at U.S. Cyber Command were monitoring the situation in New York. Both the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA had conducted practice operations to see how they would respond to a cyberattack, but this was the first time anyone in the government had been called to respond to a major incident, and American intelligence had long suspected that this particular group of Europeans might have more-than-indirect ties to the Russian government, but Putin wasn’t saying so, and the Russians quickly denied any involvement, as did the the and the If they were all to be believed, there were just a few hacker groups with both the expertise and the resources to pull off a multipronged cyberattack, and this one was near the top of that list. But there was only so much the government could do. The group’s members worked separately, and the Defense Department had only the vaguest sense of where they might be. 22In April, the Government Accountability Office reported that the Pentagon lacked a defined “cyber incident” chain of command. 23Chinese hackers are suspected in many attacks, such as the 2015 Office of Personnel Management breach, which disclosed the personal information of 21.5 million people. 24In 2013, seven Iranians allegedly got enough control over a Westchester dam to potentially open the sluice gate. 25North Koreans have been blamed for both the 2014 Sony hack and an attack on a South Korean nuclear-energy company in 2015. 26The U.S. has killed two ISIS hackers in airstrikes. One of them allegedly gave up his location by clicking a link he shouldn’t have. Their networks dark, hospitals fell into chaos. Illustration: R. Kikuo Johnson By the time the FDNY rescued the woman in Hudson Yards from her stalled elevator, and she had walked up seven flights of stairs to her apartment, grabbed a beer, and turned on the television, she found CNN airing footage of Wolf Blitzer stalking around the network’s midtown newsroom as befuddled members of the IT department, which didn’t have any better ideas, began unplugging every nonessential device they could. Companies started urging their employees to take the stairs, while many simply sent employees home. The mayor decided to continue running the subways, but at a delay to stagger trains and prevent accidents. Some people didn’t feel like risking it and trudged home through the snow instead. No one wanted to drive, and Uber, which had a number of drivers who used the targeted model of SUV, added a warning to its app that it couldn’t guarantee rider safety. (Still, demand drove surge pricing up to its maximum of 2.8 times the normal fare.) The security consultant who’d found the mess with the water-treatment plant went on TV to tell people that it appeared cyberterrorists had tried to hack the water supply. False reports of attacks on the and Amtrak and and a shot around Reddit and Twitter, until nobody wanted to do much of anything but get home, unplug their wireless router, and hope for the best. “With cyberattacks confirmed against cars and several hospitals, it’s impossible to say what might happen next — ” Blitzer said, before televisions around the city went blank. 27A 2013 report found that more than half of the world’s securities exchanges had been hit by a cyberattack. 28In 2008, hackers allegedly caused a pipeline in Turkey to explode by breaking into the network through surveillance cameras, which connected to the pipeline’s controls; the hackers were able to raise the pressure in the pipeline until it blew up. 29Several years ago, a German steel mill was hit with an attack that prevented its blast furnace from shutting down properly, resulting in significant damage. When the power went out, at 1 p.m., hundreds of subway cars carrying thousands of passengers who had decided to one group that got trapped in an L train under the East River had to walk more than half a mile underground to get to First Avenue, using the light of their dying cell phones to navigate. Many of them said later they were expecting another threat — a bomb, a gas attack — figuring whatever sinister group was behind all this was sophisticated enough to coordinate that, too. 30When the 2003 blackout hit, there were more than 400,000 passengers trapped on 413 trains throughout the subway system. It took nearly three hours to evacuate the cars and 36 hours to resume full service. Aboveground, traffic lights were out, so anyone willing to drive a car was crawling slowly through the snow. Many of the stranded were worried that the hackers had targeted their bank accounts, spiriting away their savings to some untraceable, block-chain account, possibly to fund future attacks — which were surely coming, according to the panicked chatter on the street. But all the ATMs were down, which made it hard to check. Credit-card readers didn’t work, and neither did Apple Pay, so anyone who’d gone cashless couldn’t buy anything. Stores around the city closed, and sporadic bouts of looting cropped up, along with rumors exaggerating the extent of it and the violence associated with it. Wall Street kept trading on backup generators, although most people wished it hadn’t: Within minutes of the outage, the Dow had plunged. For the hackers, getting access to the power grid had been simple enough. They mailed a to engineers at several companies that operate power-generating facilities in the New York area, with an attached letter saying the stick included an explanation of their benefits package for the upcoming year. Most of the engineers plugged the thumb drive into a home computer, but several took it to work and opened the document there. 31A recent study found that nearly half of us will pick up a random USB stick on the street, plug it in, and open whatever we find. Knowing what to do once they had was, for the hackers, a more difficult matter. In preparation, they had filled out the team with several electrical engineers who had been involved in a 2015 attack that knocked out power for several hours to a region in Ukraine the size of After the team got inside the utility’s networks, the electrical engineers spent several months poring over the code, examining the particular system and equipment that the utility was using, and chatting online with an engineer from one of the utilities whom they had found grousing about his job on a Reddit forum. After six months of trial and error, working on a mirror system they had built themselves for testing, the engineers were able to develop several pieces of malicious code that, once inserted, were capable of damaging transformers and generators throughout several parts of the 32Most major utilities are required to follow a set of cybersecurity regulations, considered reasonably robust. (For instance, many require two-step identification to access control systems.) But smaller utilities are often not held to the same standard. 33Two days before last Christmas, a worker at the Prykarpattyaoblenergo control center, in western Ukraine, watched as the cursor on his monitor began moving, then proceeded to shut down 57 different substations, leaving more than 230,000 Ukrainians in the dark. The hackers had used malware called BlackEnergy — common enough that it comes with its own “help” file. The U.S. government has acknowledged that a version of BlackEnergy has already been found inside domestic industrial systems. 34Last year, the Associated Press reported that, about a dozen different times, hackers had gained enough access to control portions of America’s power grid. Power companies are used to handling outages with a variety of causes — — but given the events of the day, had already deployed members of its Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team to New York by the time the power went out. As the DHS teams fanned out to the control centers at various utilities, reports had begun to trickle back from engineers who were in the field. While some had simply been knocked offline, one worker called back with worse news: Several transformers at one substation Workers at other facilities called back with similar news. The control center had noticed nothing amiss, which didn’t make sense, until the team from the DHS realized that the attackers had manipulated the displays on the control-center computers so that they were presenting information from 24 hours earlier, when everything had been fine. It was just a few lines of code, but the would last: Transformers are expensive pieces of equipment, and the utilities hadn’t stockpiled enough to replace every one. Getting certain parts could take 35Just a week before the Ukraine attack, a power plant in Westchester was knocked off-line when some equipment was hit by a particularly large bird dropping. 36The Department of Homeland Security has 691 people working in cybersecurity but has said that it needs many more and that it has difficulty attracting talent. 37In Ukraine, the utility was able to get the power back on by switching to manual operation, something that would be much more difficult in the more modernized American grid. 38In 2007, American hackers working in a government lab were able to destroy a generator simply by writing 21 lines of malicious code that caused it to spin out of control. Some of the generator’s parts were found 80 feet away. 39Only three incidents of physical damage caused by cyberattack have been publicly reported: the government-sponsored generator hack, Stuxnet, and the German steel mill. 40Electrical transformers, most of which are built overseas, can weigh more than 200 tons and have to be transported on railcars and barges. One transformer can take as many as 18 months to acquire. As night fell, the New York City sky was an inky black. Every building with a backup generator became a gathering place, while everyone else curled up with candles at home. (The FDNY had its busiest night of house fires since the ’70s.) Several people who lived in homes neglected by slumlords, with only electric heaters to keep them warm, were found suffering from hypothermia, and several more died of carbon-monoxide poisoning from a portable generator. The uncertainty over who was doing the attacking, and what the next attack might be, sent many people to bed with a looming dread. Something worse was coming, they were all sure, and every device they owned could be turned against them and was now a threat. When the power went out, so did the subways, stranding riders. Illustration: R. Kikuo Johnson As those who were able to sleep began to wake up the next morning, the attacks seemed to have stopped — though no one could say for certain. Security teams at every company and government agency had worked through the night to safeguard their systems, and the Pentagon, joined by intelligence agencies around the world, was trying to track down the offending hackers, who seemed to have decided to stand down and withdraw for a while. Traffic was light in and out of the city, and the subway remained closed as power came back on in spurts: Parts of the city had electricity within 24 hours, but it took days for other areas to come back online. When the subway finally started running again, it did so with delays and was filled with passengers who glanced anxiously at one another whenever the train unexpectedly hit its brakes. The city’s head of cybersecurity was fired, as were several of the engineers who had plugged in the USB sticks. Only a dozen people had died in the attack, but the city had undeniably changed. No buildings had been destroyed, no bombs had exploded, no money had been stolen, but each scenario now seemed not just possible but imminent. The direct was sure to be significant — the Dow dropped a thousand points by week’s end — and the personal trauma was still ongoing. The man whose wife had supposedly walked out of the hospital after having her surgery had spent all day and night searching for her, until his cell phone finally died. He went to the hospital the next morning and pleaded with anyone he could find. Eventually, one nurse, who hadn’t slept in 24 hours, found his wife in cardiology, lying down in a hospital bed with an 41In 2015, Lloyd’s of London published a report imagining a cyberattack in which 93 million people along the East Coast were left without power for days — a threat it judged to be within the once-in-200-year probability that insurers should prepare for. Such an attack, Lloyd’s estimated, could set back the American economy by more than a trillion dollars. 42A similar incident happened earlier this year at the D.C.-area hospital that was hit with a ransomware attack. But the worst damage was psychological. Because the grid that powers New York is connected with a larger regional grid, the outage affected tens of millions of people and set off a national debate that was more unhinged than most — a fearful swirl of xenophobia, Luddism, and political grandstanding. Everything that had looked like progress over the previous two decades now looked more like a Trojan horse: “Smarthome” devices and driverless-car initiatives became political footballs. For every measure to increase funding for there was a congressman demanding that even who tried to probe systems as a way to point out vulnerabilities before the bad guys got to them, be thrown in jail. The president’s domestic agenda was shelved, as the next 18 months required convincing the American people that their government was capable of protecting them from their own devices, even as security experts acknowledged that there was no way to build a world of interconnected systems that was completely secure. Americans had spent the past decade and a half gradually coming to terms with the fact of mostly by comforting themselves that the perpetrators were far away, separated by not only geography but the massive buffer of America’s national-security apparatus. Now even that apparatus seemed vulnerable to malicious redirection. Air-traffic control, a local bank, the that came with an electroshock function — cracking those seemed suddenly like child’s play. 43President Obama has proposed spending $19 billion on federal cybersecurity funding, an increase of 35 percent from last year. 44Some companies have launched “bug bounty” programs, in which third-party hackers are invited to attack a company’s system to probe it for vulnerabilities. After starting such a program earlier this year, General Motors reportedly got more than 100 submissions in three days. Soon after, the Pentagon launched a similar program. 45In March, a Justice Department representative said the Islamic State was “actively attempting” to cause major damage in the U.S. by means of cyberattack, and last month, the U.S. government acknowledged that it was conducting cyberattacks against ISIS. A loose coalition of hackers affiliated with ISIS recently announced that they were organizing under the banner of the United Cyber Caliphate. But most of the group’s attacks have been rudimentary: This spring, it published the names and addresses of 3,602 of New York’s “most important citizens,” which turned out to be a seemingly random list of names. 46iPhones are actually relatively secure, as evidenced by the difficulty the FBI had accessing information on the San Bernardino shooter’s iPhone, which makes them unlikely targets for hackers. It was hard to blame people for their anger when they had been told to trust that the devices they brought into their lives were safe, only to find that many of them weren’t. Parents who had done their Christmas shopping on Cyber Monday returned anything with a Wi-Fi connection. Everyone had to be reminded again of all the incredible benefits of a connected world. Doctors had to convince people that their implantable couldn’t be hacked. Americans begrudgingly accepted the inconveniences experts said were necessary — triple verification, firewalls between firewalls, encrypted encryption — but the phrase cybersecurity theater soon joined its airport predecessor in the lexicon of nanny-state policies. Copycat attacks sprang up around the world: trains going haywire in Japan; smart thermostats freezing pipes in Minneapolis; Chinese hackers noodling around a water utility in San Francisco. Americans suddenly realized that, although they had spent plenty of time anguishing about how to protect the country’s physical borders, with every device they bought, they had been letting more and more invaders into their cities, their homes, and their lives. They had moved everything they did online, thinking they were moving into the future; they woke up the morning after thinking they’d moved into a war zone instead. What frightened people most wasn’t the attack itself, but rather what it foreshadowed. The day after, the hackers had sent a drone flying over the city dropping leaflets with a simple message: WE’LL BE BACK. It almost didn’t matter whether they would. 47In 2014, security researchers found that they could hack into certain types of Bluetooth-enabled defibrillators and deliver shocks to a patient’s heart. *This article appears in the June 13, 2016 issue of New York Magazine.