but this month began also selling phones through China Mobile, the company with the most mobile subscribers in the world and which has been wooed by Apple.

"Xiaomi looks a bit like Apple but is really more like Amazon with some elements of Google," Lei told Reuters earlier this month. "The mobile phone is only the carrier," he said, indicating the company's aim is to sell mobile Internet services.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

SAN FRANCISCO — Governments in 74 countries sought information on more than 38,000 Facebook users in the first half of 2013, and the social-networking giant complied with most of those requests.

Half of the them came from the USA, Facebook said Tuesday in its first report on the breadth of data inquiries it receives from government agents. As withother companies, it is initially hard to tell much from Facebook's data, and how information on individuals was parsed.

The report comes on the heels of allegations by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden that nearly every major Internet company — including Facebook, Google and Microsoft — routinely forks over troves of data on potentially millions of people to national intelligence agencies.

Facebook has more than 1 billion users worldwide.

U.S. authorities were by far the most active in mining Facebook, seeking information on 20,000 to 21,000 users between January and June — or more than 100 users a day — according to Facebook.

The New York Times website was hacked Tuesday, the latest in a series of high-profile attacks on media websites.

It is the second failure of the Times' site in two


weeks. It went dark on Aug. 14 due to what the publication said then was an internal problem, not the result of hacking.

The Times said Tuesday the website first crashed at about 3 p.m. ET following an online attack on the company's domain name registrar, Melbourne IT.

Marc Frons, chief information officer for The New York Times Co., issued a statement that the outage was "the result of a malicious external attack" and advised employees to "be careful when sending e-mail communications until this situation is resolved," according to a story that appeared on the newspaper's website.

Frons also said the attack was carried out by the Syrian Electronic Army "or someone trying very hard to be them." The SEA, a group of hackers who support Syrian President Bashar Assad,have organized and carried out online attacks on prominent websites in recent months.

Matt Johansen, head of the Threat Research Center at WhiteHat Security, tweeted Tuesday that he was sent to an SEA domain when he tried to go to the Times' website.

Twitter said Tuesday its website also was affected by a similar attack, but it didn't refer to SEA.

Later in the day, a Twitter account that seemingly belongs to SEA showed an image that indicates SEA also attacked Twitter's domain.

The Times said its site was restored shortly after the initial crash, but the hackers quickly disrupted it again. Trying to call up the website rendered varying experiences for readers in different places.

For many, the site was completely down. Others reported that typing the website's Internet protocol address —


third-party vendors, "widget" developers and advertising networks.

But corporate websites' Domain Name System (DNS), which assigns the site's domain names and indexes them on designated servers, remains particularly vulnerable to hacker attacks, Ollmann said. "It's a very complex equation," he said, adding, "there are soft points."

Twitter also said its trouble stemmed from its DNS provider, which "experienced an issue" that resulted in users having trouble viewing images and photos Tuesday. The attack on the unnamed vendor resulted in the outage of a Twitter domain used for images, twimg.com. Twitter did not confirm that SEA was involved. "No Twitter user information was affected by this incident," it said.

A day after the Times' Aug. 14 crash, the SEA also took down the websites of The Washington Post, CNNand Time. The companiessaid SEA hacked the Internet service of Outbrain, a content recommendation company whose software widget is embedded in their websites.

Such attacks underscore the vulnerability of electronic links and communication that now underpin much of the information flow in the U.S. But targeting media sites brings more attention for hackers, Ollmann said. "If the website of GE or The New York Times went down, which is going to generate more attention?"

The Wall Street Journal, a competitor of the Times, reacted quickly to the news of the outage. The newspaper, which requires subscribers to pay a monthly fee to access its articles, tweeted Tuesday that it is temporarily removing its pay wall for all readers.

The Times allows readers to read several articles for free each month, but requires a subscription


for full access to its site.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. — When Isabelle Olsson, the lead industrial designer for Google Glass, arrived at Diane von Furstenberg’s New York studio to fit models for the new device, she wasn’t concerned about how the models would look strutting along the runway wearing tiny screens and computers on their faces.

Instead, she was nervous about color.

The current palette for the frames of Glass, the Internet-connected eyewear, is limited: cotton (white), tangerine (orange), sky (blue) and two shades of gray. Although wearing a pop of turquoise or coral on your face might fly in Silicon Valley, Ms. Olsson worried they would clash on the runway.

But when she entered the studio days before Fashion Week last fall, she saw coral crepe tunics and flowing turquoise pants.imagination of consumers who have become more enamored with mobile gadgets than PCs. Response to the newest version of its flagship Windows operating system, Windows 8, has been lukewarm.

In his statement, Ballmer noted that the company is moving in a new direction and needs a CEO that will be there for the longer term.

Microsoft, he added, “has all its best days ahead.”

Ballmer, 57, met Microsoft founder Bill Gates in 1973 while they were living down a dormitory hall from each other at Harvard University. He joined Microsoft in 1980 to bring some business discipline and salesmanship to a company that had just landed a contract to supply an operating system for a personal computer that IBM would release in 1981.

Ballmer, a zealous executive prone to arm-waving and hollering,


office, according to a sworn declaration filed in a lawsuit. Ballmer then launched into an obscenity-laced tirade In which vowed to “kill” Google.

By 2012, the iPhone was generating more revenue than Microsoft was as an entire company and giving people less reason to replace their PCs. Again, Ballmer had to scramble in an attempt to adapt and ordered a dramatic makeover of Windows so it could run on mobile devices, as well. The new system, Windows 8, borrowed many of its ideas from the software that ran the iPhone, just as Microsoft had copied some of the concepts for its early versions of Windows from Apple’s Macintosh.

The iPhone’s immense popularity helped Apple overtake Microsoft as the world’s most valuable company while Ballmer was CEO.

In midday trading, Microsoft sharesanalyst Avivah Litan. "It's a very attractive target. It's very visible, and that's what these Iranian state attacks are all about, making a political statement by disrupting a visible website."

More recently, a copycat group of profit-minded hackers has conducted denial-of-service attacks against certain U.S. banks as a smoke screen to divert attention while they execute an Ocean's 11-style wire transfer fraud.

Litan earlier this month blogged about that caper. These bad guys, she says, set into motion sophisticated denial-of-service attacks that overwhelmed pretty sturdy bank network security. While tech staff labored manually to get the banks' websites back into service, the crooks scrambled behind the scenes to extract funds from a bank employee's privileged account, which they had gained access to.

Instead of getting into one customer account at a


time, the criminals used the employee's account to control the master payment switch for wire transfers, and moved as much money as they could from as many accounts as possible for as long as possible, Litan reports.

"Considerable financial damage has resulted from these attacks," says Litan.

However, Litan says those copycats would have a considerably harder time trying to extract funds from a stock exchange, where funds move about in a highly complex process understood only by stock market tech gurus.

It's more plausible that the Iranian ideological hackers would be behind a disruption of Nasdaq, like the three-hour outage that began shortly after noon, Eastern time, Litan reasons.

The first wave of denial-of-service attacks attributed to the Cyber Fighters of Izz ad-Din al-Qassam began last September and lasted about sixcontent recommendation company whose software "widget" is embedded in the websites of several major publications.

As a result, the websites operated by three Outbrain clients — The Washington Post, Time and CNN — contained messages that referred to the SEA.

USA TODAY is also an Outbrain client, but its site was not affected.

That development — combined with the hack of the Twitter accounts of several New York Post reporters on Tuesday and the website outage of The New York Times on Wednesday — is being viewed by some security experts as evidence that major U.S. news outlets have now emerged as prime targets for nation-state adversaries of the U.S.

The New York Times attributed its outage to a server problem.

"It's starting to look like there's an organized campaign targeting major U.S.


media outlets," says Tom Kellermann, Trend Micro's vice president of cybersecurity. "It's not clear whether their end game is to target reporters' sources or to use the news sites as watering holes (to infect patrons.)"

In a statement, Emilio Garcia-Ruiz, managing editor of The Washington Post, confirmed that "some articles on our website were re-directed to the Syrian Electronic Army's site for a period of about 30 minutes" Thursday morning.

Garcia-Ruiz pointed out a tweet by SEA that claimed it used Outbrain as a vehicle for the attack. "We have taken defensive measures and removed the offending module," Garcia-Ruiz wrote. "At this time, we believe there are no other issues affecting the site."

A few days ago, Post newsroom employees were targets of a phishing attack that was allegedly by theSyrian Electronic Army, Garcia-Ruiz said. "The attack resulted in one staff writer's personal account being used to send out a Syrian Electronic Army message," he said.

CNN also confirmed Thursday that an Outbrain headline widget used by its international website, CNNi.com, ran headlines referring to SEA. The widget was subsequently removed. Its main website, CNN.com, was not affected, the company said.

"The security of a vendor plug-in that appeared on CNNi.com was briefly compromised today. The issue was quickly identified and (the) plug-in disabled," said CNN spokesman Matt Dornic.

In a statement, Time Inc. said "content provided by Outbrain that appeared on some of our sites was impacted by the hacking activity at Outbrain. We're no longer running that content."

Outbrain issued this statement: "We are aware that Outbrain was hacked earlier


down for several hours. The Times cited technical problems and said there was no indication the site was hacked.

Monday, August 05, 2013

Kirobo, a talking robot that also recognizes faces, was launched Sunday on a cargo transfer vehicle and will reach the International Space Station in six days.

The robot is part of a program that aims to provide companionship using such devices to people living alone including the elderly.

Kirobo boarded the Kounotori 4 cargo transfer vehicle launched from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Tanegashima Space Center atop an H-IIB launch vehicle on Sunday morning, the Kibo Robot Project, which counts Toyota and Robo Garage as two of the project partners, said on its website.

The black and white robot, with red boots, is a little over 13-inches (34 centimeters) tall,the Navy, the execution was weighted dangerously in favor of Air Force needs. Indeed, to a man, Navy aviators and naval aviation specialists argued that the plane, the F-111, was unstable and too heavy for its thrust to take off from carriers.

In the political climate of the Johnson Administration, however, the Navy's concerns were swept aside, and like the loyal officers they were, the Navy's admirals kept their objections quiet in public.

Then came the day Vice Admiral Connolly joined a team headed by the Secretary of the Navy at a Senate hearing conducted by John C. Stennis, the chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee.

Gerald E. Miller, a retired admiral who was present as an aide to Admiral Connolly, recalled that Mr. was sympathetic to the Navy's position.


682 S.E.2d 391 (2009)
STATE of North Carolina
v.
Ronald ANDERSON.
No. 248P09.
Supreme Court of North Carolina.
August 27, 2009.
Ronald Anderson, Pro Se.
Robert Montgomery, Special Deputy Attorney General, for State of NC.

ORDER
Upon consideration of the petition filed by Defendant on the 17th of June 2009 in this matter for a writ of certiorari to review the order of the Superior Court, Camden County, the following order was entered and is hereby certified to the Superior Court of that County:
"Dismissed by order of the Court in conference, this the 27th of August 2009."
Nanobox CNG pictures at City of Tyler

Nanobox CNG pictures at City of Tyler

One of the first unit of Galileo Nanobox CNG installed in US was in City of Tyler, Texas.

Galileo Nanobox CNG Fill Station

This unit was configured to provide CNG fast fill through the integrated dispenser as well as overnight slow fill for several trash trucks used by the city on the daily basis. There are close to 20 CNG operated light duty vehicles ( F150 trucks) also used in the fleet.

According to the City, a significant portion of the costs involved in converting the fleet, and building the fueling station, was covered by grants and community donations from businesses.


Perhaps there was never such a sad and desolate figure in Tudor history as the diminutive Lady Jane Grey, the child unwillingly groomed and manoeuvred towards the throne of England by her ambitious and self-serving parents. It was a game of political chess in which Jane was the principal pawn – and which would leave 4 people dead at the hands of the axe-man. Jane was executed on 12 February 1554, following her reluctant involvement in the attempted coup, aimed at placing a Protestant queen upon the throne, after the death of Edward VI. To commemorate this anniversary and her life, in this blog post we will roll back time to visit the family home of Bradgate House, where Jane lived during her years before the family relocatedtheir power-base to Sheen, on the banks of the River Thames, close to the royal court.

Bradgate House: A House of Ambition

Bradgate Park was one of two parks belonging to the Manor of Groby. Its history can be traced back to at least the eleventh century when an area of land encompassing what is now Bradgate Park was given to a loyal compatriot of William the Conquerer, Hugh de Grentmesnil, who fought with William at the Battle of Hastings.

Our story, though, really begins in the mid-fifteenth century, when the owners of the estate, the Ferrers family, did a spectacular bit of fortuitous social climbing. This began when the younger son of Reginald Grey, 3rd Baron Grey de Ruthyn, married the heiress, Elizabeth Ferrers, in 1427. It was their son,


John Grey, who made the spectacular match with Elizabeth Woodville of Grafton in Northamptonshire. Of course, the family’s fortunes were transformed by Elizabeth’s later marriage to King Edward IV. It would be her eldest son from her first marriage to John Grey, Thomas, who would establish a new house at Bradgate, the power-base of the Grey family during the first half of the sixteenth century.

The Grey family were now related closely to the royal family. When the Wars of the Roses ended with Henry VII’s decisive victory at the Battle of Bosworth, Thomas Grey found himself as the new 1st Marquess of Dorset, half brother to the new queen, Elizabeth of York, and so essentially brother-in-law to Henry VII, and ultimately uncle to the princes and princesses ofthe House of Tudor.

Essential to any upwardly mobile Tudor courtier was a house to reflect their wealth and status. To being with, Thomas began to construct a house at the old manor of Groby around 1488. However, as John Leland states in his Itinerary, whilst Thomas Grey laid the ‘foundations and walls of a great house’ there, he left them half-finished, abandoning work part way through. Subsequently, and for unknown reasons, he commissioned the building of a new house at an entirely virgin site within the pale of Bradgate Park – and thus Bradgate House was born.

Sadly, Thomas was unable to make much headway with his new project as he died in 1501, having spent various amounts of time in prison or exile. His Yorkist blood never sat


entirely easily with a suspicious Henry VII. Thomas’ son, another Thomas, the 2nd Marquess fared somewhat better, picking up the building of Bradgate where his father had left off. He gained the friendship of the young Henry VIII, and so, during the early part of Henry’s reign, the 2nd Marquess’ star rose even higher at court, part of the select ‘band of brothers’ who accompanied the king in his many energetic and courtly pursuits.

With favour came wealth, and so this Thomas was able to make significant progress in completing the work begun by his father, such that, by the time of his death in 1530, Bradgate House was probably largely completed. But what of this house? Today, it lies in ruins, a shadow of its former glory. Butwhat manor did the Greys of Groby build as a symbol of their status and power? What did the home of Lady Jane Grey actually look like?

Bradgate House: A Tudor Riddle

One of the puzzles left behind with the ruins of Bradgate House is how little is actually known for certain about how it appeared in the sixteenth century. Historically, there has been a real paucity of information on the appearance of the original manor built by the Greys. Virtually no documentary evidence from the protracted building campaign survives – and one source describes the ruins, and evidence above ground, as being of ‘doubtful value’ (probably on account of later redevelopment obscuring the original layout and utility of the rooms).

What we do know is that Bradgate was one of


about the house, built by the 1st and 2nd Marquesses of Dorset, between the years 1499-1530, from the information that is currently available to us. (Note: This may be revised depending upon the final conclusions drawn from the current work being done on the site).

Bradgate House: The Appearance of the Tudor Mansion

Usually, when I write about great houses of the era, I am describing buildings arranged around a single, or double courtyard (one or two hollow squares). However, this was not so at Bradgate, where the main buildings appear to have been arranged in a ‘U’ shape around a south-facing courtyard. This was also where the main entrance was located.

Directly opposite the gate was the great hall, (which formed the bottom of the ‘U’ shaped arrangement, part ofthe north range), with an east wing (on the right) and west wing (on the left), each one flanked by an octagonal tower. There does not currently seem to be any evidence of a great gatehouse or a moat. The latter features were considered defensive and belonging to an earlier age; the Grey’s new house at Bradgate was one of a new generation of buildings, designed specifically as a comfortable, luxurious family home.

There is a detailed description of the appearance of the early Tudor house in Bradgate House and the Greys of Groby. A Sketch of their History, by John D. Paul. It is so rich with information that I have included the relevant abstract here, in full, along with a floor plan from the book.

‘The house consisted


of two wings joined together on the north side by the building of the great hall, which must have been eighty feet long by about thirty feet in width. The hall was wainscoted and lighted by large windows on each side, and had an open-timbered roof. At the east end, adjoining the wing which contained the private apartments of the family, was the dais or raised platform upon which stood the table where the Marquess and his family sat at their meals. To his right hand was a bay window looking into an enclosed garden at the back, and to his left stood the sideboard loaded with the silver cups, tankards and plate which were used at his table.

The bay window and the recess at the end ofthe table afforded to the family the partial privacy which was all that the manners of the time required. A wood fire probably burned upon a hearth in the middle of the hall and the smoke found its way out through a louvre in the roof. In the wall at the lower end of the hall may still be seen the holes in which were inserted the joists which supported the floor of the music gallery. The meals of noblemen were always enlivened by music — ‘Fro Kechene came the fryst course, With pipes and trumps and tabours.’

The wainscot was continued round the end of the hall under the music gallery. Beneath the gallery was a passage, reached from the hall by two doors, and beyond were the


buttery and pantry with the kitchen and bakery, which occupied the western wing of the house. Close to the music gallery was a door with a porch opening from the hall into the enclosed garden at the back. The large cellar required for the storage of the food of such a household extended beneath the floor of the great hall and towards the west.

Looked at from the front, the house measured about 200 feet from the extreme eastern corner of one wing to the western corner of the other. The front of each wing was about 50 feet wide and was roofed in two spans and presented two very effective upright gables to the front. Then, set back about 60 feet from the front of the two wingsand joining them together, was a long building containing the entrance hall with its side door, and the large common hall and porch…

The western wing was occupied by the principal kitchen, probably open to the roof, with its great roasting fireplace 15 feet wide, which is still standing. Behind this was the bakery, with so many ovens in it as to suggest that a considerable part of the food consumed in the house was baked. The two stories and garrets over this secondary kitchen contained no doubt the chambers of the domestics.

The opposite, and eastern, wing of the house comprised the chapel and private apartments of the family. There is a curious projection which contained a staircase, attached to the west wall of the chapel. The chapel has


been so much defaced that it is difficult to guess how it was originally arranged. We are told that it opened out of the dining room. It probably had a gallery reserved for the use of the family, access to which was gained by a staircase of which we see the remains. The long, narrow building, to the north, forming one side of the garden in the rear of the house, contained no doubt a kitchen and other offices added to the house when fashion ceased to compel the family to dine with the rest of the household in the common hall.’

As we might expect, the east range, containing the family privy apartments had the best view out of its fine, mullioned windows. It overlooked the large, formalgarden, which had a raised parterre running around its perimeter. This feature is clearly evident today structurally, although the delicate English garden has long since been lost. The elevated walkway allowed those enjoying the outdoor space to be able to look down upon, and enjoy, the full impact of the garden below them, and at the same time get glimpses of the surrounding parkland. The whole area is now covered with grass.

Bradgate Park: The Childhood Home of Lady Jane Grey

The ruins of Bradgate sit so serenely amidst one of the finest, and best-preserved, medieval hunting parks in England that it is hard to imagine the drama which began to unfold here as thunder rolled around the throne in mid-sixteenth century England. With the dying embers of Henry VIII’s


reign, began the titanic struggle for the future religious landscape of England. Protestantism became firmly established under the young Edward VI, while those in power around him not only coveted personal wealth and status but an earnest desire to keep Catholicism at heel.

Through her blood, the young Lady Jane Grey became unwillingly embroiled first in Thomas Seymour’s’ personal family struggle for power with his brother, Protector Somerset, and later in those arising between Protestant and Catholic factions – and their figureheads. But let’s not rush ahead of ourselves!

Starting at the beginning, Jane’s relationship with Bradgate began several years before events would come to a head. Until recently, it was said that the great grand-daughter of King Henry VII and Elizabeth of York was born at Bradgate House inOctober 1537. However, modern historians, such as Eric Ives and Nicola Tallis, believe that this is incorrect – and that Jane was, in fact, born in London, in the tumultuous year of 1536 – and most probably at Dorset House, in London.

It seems that the Marquess and Marchioness of Dorset did not move to Bradgate until Jane was almost two years old, in 1538. It was at this time that her association with Bradgate most likely began. Jane certainly spent a good deal of time at Bradgate through her childhood, where she was ruled with an iron fist – as we shall hear shortly. With Henry VIII’s death, life in rural Leicestershire was about to change for this quiet, good-natured child. Negotiations between the Marquess of Dorset and


Sir Thomas Seymour resulted in Thomas acquiring the wardship of Jane in early 1547, shortly after Henry’s demise. The deal was that in return for £2000 paid to Lord Admiral Seymour, he, in turn, would work diligently to secure her marriage to the boy king, Edward. This would bring the Dorsets into the inner circle of the royal family. It would be the perfect Protestant match, and with it would come immeasurable status and influence for all concerned.

With the agreement sealed, Jane must have ridden away dutifully from Bradgate Park, through the south-facing gates of the manor, along the cobbled track towards Anstey, then on to London. She was destined to take up residence with Sir Thomas, who soon thereafter married the dowager queen, Katherine Parr. Both Katherinewrites:

‘I shall in most hearty wise require your lordship, to commit her to the governance of her mother, by whom for the fear and duty she oweth her, she shall most easily be ruled and framed towards virtue, which I wish above all things to be most plentiful in her.’

After acting as chief mourner at the funeral, Jane returned to Bradgate a few days after this letter was received, ‘under the escort of Mr Rouse the house-steward, and of Mr Harrington’. She was around 11 or 12 years old by this time. In October, Seymour himself visited Bradgate in a renewed attempt to persuade the Dorsets to once again send Jane to live within his household. This time he was successful, and with another payment, this time for


of the most touching records of her young life, and time, at Bradgate House. It comes from Roger Ascham, Princess Elizabeth’s schoolmaster. He records, in detail, a meeting with Lady Jane in her chamber (presumably in the east wing), during his visit to the house. Although quite lengthy, it is so revealing of the life Jane knew at Bradgate – both the joys of learning and the pain of the ‘hell’ she endured under her parents’ rule – that it is worth reproducing in full.

‘Before I went into Germany, I came to Bradgate in Leicestershire, to take my leave of that noble lady Jane Grey, to whom I was exceeding much beholden. Her parents the Duke and Duchess, with all the household, gentlemen and gentlewomen, were hunting inthe last time that ever I saw that noble and worthy lady.”

In 1552 the new Duke and Duchess of Suffolk relocated the family’s power-base to London, in Sheen, close to the royal court. Here they might more easily implement their ambitious plans. In an alliance with the Duke of Northumberland, Jane was first wed into a family she came to detest before the sixteen-year-old was forced to accept the Crown following the death of Edward VI. Her fate is well-known; her husband, father and father-in-law all going to the block alongside her under the rule of the new Catholic queen, Mary I.

As a result of the botched coup, the Greys’ estates were forfeited to the Crown. However, eventually, Bradgate House was returned to the family during the reign


of James I, when the son of Lady Jane’s uncle, Sir John Grey of Pirgo, was created Baron Grey of Groby. He moved back to the park. The house was visited by royalty in 1696, but in 1739, it was finally abandoned and boarded up. With no one to care for the building, first, the weather, then locals removing materials from the site, accelerated the decline and ultimate ruin of a great Tudor mansion, once home to an innocent child murdered by her parents’ ambition.

Visitor Information

Bradgate House is to be found in Bradgate Park, just outside Leicester. The park is open to the public throughout the year, during daylight hours. According to Antony Emery in his Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales, the park is one ofnearby Leicester have decamped to the Bradgate, but if you are prepared to walk away from the main footpath, uphill, along smaller tracks that criss-cross through the bracken, you can find your space – and enjoy wonderful views of the park and ruins.

It is possible to see the ruins easily from the park during daylight hours, but they are walled off and inaccessible, except on certain viewing weekends, throughout the year, when guided tours also run. Although no dates are currently listed, this seems to be the place to check in advance for opening times.

There are plenty of places to picnic, or find something to eat and drink, including a cafe by the car park. Other tea rooms and pubs can be found in the nearby village.

Finally, if


you visit in 2019, during the summer, you may see the dig run by the University of Leicester in progress. You can find more out about it via the Facebook page.

Sources:

The History of the Country Houses of Leicestershire and Rutland by Kairos Press

Bradgate Park: Childhood Home of Lady Jane Grey by Joan Stevenson Anthony Squires (Kairos Press)

Bradgate House and the Greys of Groby: A sketch of their history, by John D. Paul

Ready to Plan Your Next Tudor Adventure?

Then look no further! Subscribe to the blog and you will receive a download link to receive your FREE mini travel guide, A Tudor Weekend Away…in Kent, as a ‘thank you’ for joining The Tudor Travel Guide community. This mini guide contains a weekend itinerary in Kent, the so-called ‘Garden ofof an election, which could trigger a leadership race should she secure less than 60-per-cent support from party members.

But with May still the party’s lone representative in Parliament, no one appears positioned to challenge her and few are openly questioning the way she has run the three general election campaigns since she took over as leader in 2006.

Even Bruce Hyer, the former New Democrat who crossed the floor to join the Green Party, only to lose his seat on Oct. 19, supports May continuing in the job.


and diabetes. Each year, NCDs kill 38 million people (including 28 million people in low- and middle-income countries and 9 million people under 60 years of age), thereby accounting for more than 75% of the world's annual deaths.

In the United Kingdom, studies report that roughly one quarter of adults are obese, and a further third or more are overweight. This “obesity epidemic” extends to children; according to the National Child Measurement Programme for England (NCMP), about 9% of 4–5-year-olds and 19% of 10–11-year-olds were obese in 2013. In parallel, the UK has not seen the improvements in child and young adult mortality seen in comparable European states.

Why Was This Study Done?

Cross-sectional surveys in the UK, United States, and elsewhere have documented the obesity epidemic, but longitudinal data—drawn fromby comparing the trajectories of the 50th centile for adult males across the five cohorts, the researchers could see how the age at which BMI values reached the obese range varied between eras among this group.

The data revealed that most of the between-cohort, and thus between-era, increases in BMI took place in the highest centiles, indicating that overall gains in BMI mainly comprised very high BMI individuals carrying even more weight. Across the 1946, 1958, and 1970 cohorts, the age at which the 50th centile of adults entered the overweight range decreased from 41 to 33 to 30 years in males and 48 to 44 to 41 years in females. The probabilities of overweight and obesity across adulthood also increased. While children in the 50th BMI centile have


diseases around the world and on overweight and obesity and diabetes (including some information in Spanish)The US Department of Agriculture's ChooseMyPlate.gov website provides a personal healthy eating planThe Weight-control Information Network is an information service provided for the general public and health professionals by the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (in English and Spanish)MedlinePlus has links to further information about obesity (in English and Spanish)

An analysis of cross-sectional data from repeated household surveys in India,
combined with data on economic growth, fails to find strong evidence that recent
economic growth in India is associated with a reduction in child
undernutrition.

Background

Economic growth is widely perceived as a major policy instrument in reducing
childhood undernutrition in India. We assessed the association between
changes in state per capita income and therisk of undernutrition among
children in India.

Methods and Findings

Data for this analysis came from three cross-sectional waves of the National
Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted in 1992–93,
1998–99, and 2005–06 in India. The sample sizes in the
three waves were 33,816, 30,383, and 28,876 children, respectively. After
excluding observations missing on the child anthropometric measures and the
independent variables included in the study, the analytic sample size was
28,066, 26,121, and 23,139, respectively, with a pooled sample size of
77,326 children. The proportion of missing data was
12%–20%. The outcomes were underweight,
stunting, and wasting, defined as more than two standard deviations below
the World Health Organization–determined median scores by age and
gender. We also examined severe underweight, severe stunting, and severe
wasting. The main exposure of interest was per capita income at the state
level at each survey period measured as


economic growth rather than the
other way around. In this study, the researchers assess the association
between economic growth and child undernutrition in India by analyzing the
relationship between changes in per capita income in individual Indian
states and the individual risk of undernutrition among children in
India.

What Did the Researchers Do and Find?

For their analyses, the researchers used data on 77,326 Indian children that
were collected in the 1992–93, 1998–99, and
2005–06 National Family Health Surveys; these surveys are part of
the Demographic and Health Surveys, a project that collects health data in
developing countries to aid health-system development. The researchers used
eight "ecological" statistical models to investigate whether there was an
association between underweight, stunting, or wasting and per capita income
at the state level in each survey period; these ecological models assumed
that the risk of undernutrition wasstories and photographs of food distribution

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is the United Nations body mandated to lead and coordinate international action to protect refugees and resolve refugee problems worldwide; its website provides detailed information about its work in the Western Sahara refugee camps in Algeria

Oxfam also provides detailed information about its work in the Algerian refugee camps, a description of the camps, and personal stories from people living in the camps

An article published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations explains the double burden of malnutrition

OBJECTIVE—To study the association between socioeconomic deprivation and childhood obesity. DESIGN—Cross sectional study. SETTING—All state primary schools in Plymouth. Plymouth is a relatively deprived city in the United Kingdom, ranking 338th of 366 local authorities on the


childhood obesity could be avoided.

Conclusions

Socioeconomic inequalities in childhood obesity and zBMI increased in England between 2007–2008 and 2011–2012. Inequalities in the prevalence of underweight did not change. Traditional methods of examining inequalities only at the clinical thresholds of overweight and obesity may have led the magnitude of inequalities in childhood BMI to be underestimated.

The new growth charts in the UK, the UK-WHO charts, comprise prescriptive data from the WHO standard between two weeks and four years of age. Little is known about the development of obesity risk in normal UK infants, who are necessarily not fed according to the WHO recommendations and do not live in constraint-free environments (the selection criteria of the WHO standard source sample), using the new charts. Here, we investigated infant growth trajectories andand communicable, maternal, and perinatal diseases caused 23% of DALYs; in Chiapas, they caused 29% of DALYs. At the same time, the absolute rates of noncommunicable disease and injury burdens were highest in the Southern region (105 DALYs per 1,000 population versus 97 nationally for noncommunicable diseases; 22 versus 19 for injuries).

Conclusions

Mexico is at an advanced stage in the epidemiologic transition, with the majority of the disease and injury burden from noncommunicable diseases. A unique characteristic of the epidemiological transition in Mexico is that overweight and obesity, high blood glucose, and alcohol use are responsible for larger burden of disease than other noncommunicable disease risks such as tobacco smoking. The Southern region is least advanced in the epidemiological transition and suffers from the largest burden of ill health


in all disease and injury groups.

Gretchen Stevens and colleagues estimate deaths and loss of healthy life years (measured in disability-adjusted life years, DALYs) for Mexico as a whole and its 32 states.

Editors' Summary

Background.

The impact that a particular disease has upon a population is known as the “burden of disease.” This burden is estimated by considering how many deaths the disease causes and how much it disables those still living. The relative contributions of different diseases and injuries to the loss of healthy life from death and disability vary greatly among countries. Broadly speaking, in low-income countries (such as many African countries), infectious diseases and undernutrition are the major causes of ill health and death whereas in high-income countries (for example, the United States), noncommunicable diseases such as heartlanguages)

The United Nations provides information on ongoing world efforts to reduce hunger and child mortality

The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide; its website provides detailed information about malnutrition in Chad, including a video of the current food crisis in the country

Starved for Attention is an international multimedia campaign launched in 2010 by Médecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF) and the VII Photo agency to rewrite the story of childhood malnutrition; information about MSFs work in Chad to tackle malnutrition is available

More than one-third of deaths during the first five years of life are attributed to undernutrition, which are mostly preventable through economic development and public health measures. To alleviate this problem, it is necessary to determine the nature, magnitude and determinants of undernutrition. However,


with an accelerated reduction in annual death rates since 2000.

Why Was This Study Done?

Socioeconomic factors play an important role in chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, with mortality rates almost twice as high in deprived than affluent areas. However, the potential effect of population-wide interventions on reducing inequalities in deaths from coronary heart disease remains unclear. So in this study, the researchers investigated the role of behavioral (changing lifestyle) and medical (treatments) management of coronary heart disease that contributed to the decrease in deaths in England for the period 2000–2007, within and between socioeconomic groups.

What Did the Researchers Do and Find?

The researchers used a well-known, tried and tested epidemiological model (IMPACT) but adapted it to include socioeconomic inequalities to analyze the total population of England aged 25quintile death rates had remained the same.

The researchers found that between 2000 and 2007, death rates from coronary heart disease fell from 229 to 147 deaths per 100,000—a decrease of 36%. Both death rates and the number of deaths were lowest in the most affluent quintile and the pace of fall was also faster, decreasing by 6.7% per year compared to just 4.9% in the most deprived quintile. Furthermore, the researchers found that overall, about half of the decrease in death rates was attributable to improvements in uptake of medical and surgical treatments. The contribution of medical treatments to the deaths averted was very similar across all quintiles, ranging from 50% in the most affluent quintile to 53% in the most deprived. Risk factor changes accounted for approximately


NCHS. The additional centiles permit a more precise assessment of normal growth and earlier detection of aberrant growth as it crosses centiles. Elimination of extreme centiles reduces the risk of misclassification. A complete set of charts is available at the CPEG web site (http://cpeg-gcep.net).

Social inequalities in a variety of indicators of child health were measured using a 'small area' geographical method of social classification. Cross sectional analyses of routine child health information and of a population survey of the height of primary school children were used. Social classification was by census enumeration district of residence using the Townsend deprivation score. Over 21,000 children resident in Northumberland born between January 1985 and September 1990, and 9930 children aged 5-8.6 years in Northumberland schools were studied. The following differences betweenkilled, including many Hindu activists who were returning from work in Ayodhya. Although the official line was that Muslims carried out the assault, many commentators believe that it was planned and orchestrated in order to trigger anti-Muslim pogroms.

According to government figures, hundreds of people died in the resulting violence, which took place over a three day period. The death toll may in fact be in the thousands, depending on whether or not violent incidents in areas outside of the city are taken into account. However one spins the numbers though, the violence was overwhelming. Women were raped, children were burned alive and property was destroyed.

Narendra Modi was cleared of complicity in the pogrom by the India’s Supreme Court. Many commentators, however, were dissatisfied with the ruling, believing that


the killings needs to be reexamined.

Hence, the Weimar analogy. The current layout of the Indian parliament echoes that of the 1932 Reichstag. An energetic right-wing party with clear ties to racist and nationalist violence is facing bitterly divided left-wing groups. Modi currently leads the National Democratic Alliance, which fell short of the 272 seats necessary for power with 159 seats. It has been polling well enough to potentially add big gains to that number, as opposed to the United Progressive Alliance, which has governed with a comfortable majority but has become increasingly unpopular. The United National Progressive Alliance continues to hold a strong minority presence in the Lok Sabha. If both coalitions rally their respective bases, and are willing to work together, then they could very well preventModi from taking power.

For Indian progressives, this may feel like drinking poison. The UPA has been aggressively pursuing neoliberal policies in the country, and continues to be plagued by patronage politics and other manifestations of elitism.

However, the question that needs to be answered for India’s Left is what kind of politics need to be practiced at the moment. The UNPA is currently led by Parakash Karat of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Mao’s greatest success in the years before his own seizure of power was that he understood how marriages of convenience are sometimes necessary. It was the reason that he temporarily suspended his animosities with Chinese nationalists in order to oppose Japanese imperialism.

India is obviously in a different situation, but the same approach is necessary. Modi’s


The two kiwi chicks which scampered into the bush of Orokonui Ecosanctuary yesterday were the latest in an "essential'' campaign to raise the young birds without the presence of predators.

Two young Haast kiwi, between 50 and 60 days old and weighing about 600g, were transferred to small pens in the sanctuary so they could grow and learn to fend for themselves.

The chicks were transported by Department of Conservation staff from the Haast Tokoeka Sanctuary.

They would be in the pens while they acclimatised and then released into the wider 14ha "kiwi creche'' area.

When they are large enough to fend for themselves in about a year they will likely be transferred to a kiwi sanctuary where predators have not been eradicated.

Haast Tokoeka supervising ranger Stacey Lockie holds on to "Gingernut''before its release into an enclosure at Orokonui yesterday. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

Doc biodiversity ranger Jacinda Amey said the campaigns to raise the birds in predator-free zones like Orokonui were "essential'' to the kiwi conservation effort.

"They need that time to grow, and then when they are older they can usually fend off stoats.''

Kiwi had been raised at Orokonui in this way for just over three years after Doc discovered old methods were not working, she said.

In the past, some chicks were raised in small pens in close proximity, which often led to disease.

Haast kiwi numbers are estimated at between 300 and 400.

Orokonui head ranger Kelly Gough said the two chicks released there yesterday were taken as eggs and never interacted with their parents.

"Kiwi are always very independent. Kiwi parents


The Arizona Cardinals defense gave up 21 first half points en route to the season opening loss to Washington. The unit struggled to stop the run and keep tabs on the running back coming out of the back field. It was a surprising start for Arizona’s defense, the side of the ball many felt comfortable with entering the season. Sunday brings a chance at redemption and a chance to take an early lead in the division. Standing in the way of redemption is the Los Angeles Rams. How will the defense attempt to slow down the Rams high-powered offense? Can the Cardinals contain explosive running back Todd Gurley? Today we take a look at what to expect when the defense takes the field against a tough Los AngelesOn outside zone runs the outside blocker attempts to create a seal to allow the runner outside and away from the pursuit. Setting the edge prevents that from happening and turns the play back to the middle of the field. The idea is to keep containment and prevent the big gain. In previous years the Cardinals did this using the outside linebacker to dive down to the line of scrimmage to set the edge while the ends attempted to get penetration. The new scheme relies more on the interior of the line to get the penetration with the ends attempting to keep the edge.

Latest Cardinals News

The key will be containing the run with the front seven. Committing eight or nine defenders to the run opens up play action


KYODO NEWS - Apr 20, 2020 - 21:33 | World, All

China's Foreign Ministry said Monday it condemns and opposes interference by politicians in Western countries over Hong Kong police's crackdown on democracy advocates.

"Certain Western politicians' gossips and criticisms over Hong Kong police's making arrests according to law, and even demands that charges be dropped, are gross interference in China's Hong Kong affairs and a serious violation of Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence," spokesman Geng Shuang said in a regular briefing in Beijing.

"We express strong condemnation and staunch opposition to it," he said, adding that nobody is above the law and Hong Kong police's law enforcement should "not be subject to distortion or smears."

"Hong Kong matters are China's internal affairs not to be intervened by anyforeign forces. We urge the relevant sides to respect Hong Kong's rule of law and judicial independence, stop endorsing anti-China Hong Kong disruptors and meddling in China's domestic affairs," Geng said.

At least 15 people were arrested Saturday for allegedly organizing and taking part in unauthorized march protests last year, during some of the hundreds of anti-government demonstrations that began in June in opposition to a now-withdrawn extradition bill.

They include veteran democrats Martin Lee and Margaret Ng, both barristers and former lawmakers, media mogul Jimmy Lai, founder of the anti-government Apple Daily newspaper, former and incumbent lawmakers, and activists from radical groups

Foreign countries including the United States, Britain, Canada and Australia have either condemned or expressed concerns over the mass crackdown as China's infringement upon the rule of law


Nice played the resident housekeeper and mistress of the house. The Radio 4 show is recorded in Arthur's flat where guests are invited to join Arthur at home and to become a live audience for bands, poetry and comedy. The show was first broadcast in 2009, with a second series in 2010.

Janice is the artistic director and founder member of Birmingham-based Women and Theatre. The company is committed to social change through new theatre and drama and in its mission statement states that it aims to make heard the voices of those who are not usually listened to. The company performs in a variety of settings including schools, arts centres, health centres and conference halls. She ran the 'Laughing for a Change' project, funded by Time to Change,Since the beginning of KING Art Games’ Kickstarter campaign for Battle Worlds: Kronos iGR has been happy to help increase the exposure of the German developers dream project. We started by introducing Battle Worlds: Kronos on our first Kickstarter Spotlight article. Since then we’ve been happy to congratulate KING Art on achieving their initial goal, as well as their first stretch goal. The developers are now on their way to the second set of stretch goals that would include porting Battle Worlds: Kronos to mobile devices! Something that we can all get excited about.

Recently I had the chance to catch up with Colin Gilzean, Producer of Battle Worlds: Kronos at KING Art Games on Skype. Colin was nice enough to share a fantastic amount of details about KING


media darling, also when Harrison still had a bit of interest around him. When he fought Price it was a domestic fight and he (Harrison) was the laughing stock of the country and wouldn't sell a ticket if he'd fought anyone else, anywhere else.

Tyson Fury can't sell a ticket in Manchester even though he's got Channel 5, why do you think he keeps fighting Belfast?

Hatton's appeal has little to do with the fact he's a Mancunian. He appeals to ALL Brits because of his "bloke from the pub" personality. People from all over the country go to his fights, no just people from Manchester.

Apart from Hatton's comeback, when was the last time a Mancunian fighter sold out an arena or an arena sold out for a boxing event?

Hayevs Harrison was when Haye was the world champion and a media darling, also when Harrison still had a bit of interest around him. When he fought Price it was a domestic fight and he (Harrison) was the laughing stock of the country and wouldn't sell a ticket if he'd fought anyone else, anywhere else.

Tyson Fury can't sell a ticket in Manchester even though he's got Channel 5, why do you think he keeps fighting Belfast?

Hatton's appeal has little to do with the fact he's a Mancunian. He appeals to ALL Brits because of his "bloke from the pub" personality. People from all over the country go to his fights, no just people from Manchester.

Apart from Hatton's comeback, when was the last time a Mancunian fighter sold out


Two decades ago, though, record store windows, bathroom stalls in dank punk clubs, and the bumpers of weary Toyota Corollas bore that slogan with utter seriousness and conviction. Skating was no joke in 1999. Good news for Tony Hawk.

By the end of the ’90s, Hawk had already been skating professionally for the better part of two decades. He’d seen an entire incarnation of skate culture rise and fall through the ’80s, watching Nash wide boards and vertical ramp competitions fade even as boarders like Rodeny Mullen invented new tricks that would define the era that would make Hawk an international star. The street skating world that replaced it felt raw and sexy, a way of life rather than a sport. Fuzzed-out homemade VHS tapes showed people doing impossiblyof closure in 1998. Activision, a storied but at the time faded publisher founded by Atari developers in the 1980s, had to finally finish a disintegrating project called Apocalypse, a game in which Bruce Willis would follow you around, helping you blow up bad guys and shouting inane action movie quips. When the two companies teamed up, they retrofitted one of Neversoft’s unfinished projects into a new version of Apocalypse, which also became the testing ground for an ambitious skateboarding game. Before Tony Hawk, there was John McClane’s Pro Skater.

Mick West (Neversoft cofounder, lead programmer of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater): We ran out of money working on a game called Big Guns for Sony. They kept changing what the game was and eventually canceled. Activision was a half-hour


launch from preorders and stuff like that. And then it comes off a bit and then it maybe builds in the holiday. But that game never dropped. It never slowed. So it launched well, but it kept growing. It just kept selling and selling.

Mat Piscatella (executive director, games, The NPD Group): Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a wild game from a sales perspective. It started out a bit slow. It was the no. 31 best-selling game of 1999, selling right around 800,000 units. It was outsold that year by games like Wheel of Fortune, Ready 2 Rumble Boxing, and A Bug’s Life. However, it sold over 5 million units lifetime, and was the second-highest-selling game among 1999 releases over time, second only to Pokemon Yellow. And, of course,Love this club

Leeds boss Warnock: Rogers would've had our total support

Leeds United boss Neil Warnock says Robbie Rogers would've received the club's total support if he'd come out while still on the books.

Warnock insisted his sexuality would have been accepted within the squad.

"We are in uncharted territory but I hope, and believe, if he had come out while at Leeds he would not have found it as difficult as he feared," wrote Warnock in his column for the Independent.

"If he had come to me and said he wanted to go public I would probably have suggested we get all the lads together and tell them as a group.

"Robbie is a nice lad, but he had injury problems when with us and a spell on loan to Stevenage, so


Students claimed that armymen suddenly boarded the bus and began beating up the driver.

A video of children crying after the driver of their school bus was allegedly assaulted by army personnel at Zawoora in South Kashmir's Shopian region has sparked outrage on social media, with netizens condemning the "high-handedness" of security forces.

The incident also triggered protests by local residents and students, who demanded action against those involved in the incident. "We are stuck in a traffic jam when a convoy of army personnel suddenly appeared out of nowhere. They badly assaulted driver uncle," an agitating student alleged.

The driver, identified as Gulzar Ahmad Rather, had to be hospitalised with head injuries. There were over 50 students in his bus when the incident occurred.

Police said they are still ascertaining theOnce again, the Chlotrudis Society's annual awards ceremony at the Brattle Theatre on Sunday made up for the numbing, disappointing spectacle of the Oscars, though there might have been a few too many (four)Trudies going to "Winter's Bone" for my taste. But any bunch with the astuteness to honor "Dogtooth," "Marwencol," "Animal Kingdom," and "Mother" in the same evening is okay in my book.

So it's time to close the books on 2010 and, like Johnny
Hallyday in this still from Johnnie To's "Vengeance" (number 9 in A.S. Hamrah's
Ten Best list), and raise a toast to "Another Year" (Number 1 in A.S. Hamrah's
Ten Best list). Brett Michel also offers
his thoughts and judgments on the past year in film.

But first the results of this year's "Where's Whitey?" award for Best
Animal Performance


of 2010. Despite a late surge from such newcomers as
the chicken in "The Social Network" and "the donkey, the llama,and especially the two cats in Jean-Luc Godard's 'Film Socialisme,'" which unfortunately had to be disqualified because it didn't open here yet, the overwhelming winner was "Little Blackie" from the Coen Brothers' "True Grit."

Boston PhoenixChlotrudis 17Published 3/22/2011 by Peter Keough
Once again, the Chlotrudis Society's annual awards ceremony at the Brattle Theatre on Sunday made up for the numbing, disappointing spectacle of the Oscars, though...Vaugondy (1769) et Jacob Krüger (1855).

Oviedo, qui confond vaillamment Atlantide et Hespérides, assimile sur sa lancée l'Atlantide à l'Amérique : ce n'est pas de la pure poésie de sa part, mais sans doute le meilleur moyen de démontrer que le continent américain appartient à l'Espagne depuis, disons, la nuit des temps. Il doit avoir probablement raison, puisque Charles Quint le croit sur parole — lui faisant connaître par retour de courrier sa joie d'apprendre que "depuis trois mille quatre-vingts ans déjà, ces terres appartiennent à l'apanage royal et que Dieu, après tant d'années, les ait rendues à leur possesseur".

Don Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, historien de l'Empire inca, fait imprimer en 1572 à Cuzco une _Historia general llamada indica_ : selon lui, l'Amérique est la seconde extrémité de l'île


Gina Prince-Bythewood honored at UCLA

Gina Prince-Bythewood honored at UCLA

The director of Love & Basketball and Disappearing Acts, Gina Prince-Bythewood, will be honored today at UCLA.

Published June 11, 2009

The director of Love & Basketball
and Disappearing Acts
, Gina Prince-Bythewood
, will be honored today at UCLA. Prince-Bythewood is a UCLA grad and is being recognized as the UCLA Filmmaker of the Year.

The filmmaker's most recent work is The Secret Life of Bees
, which starred Dakota Fanning
, Jennifer Hudson
, Queen Latifah
and Alicia Keys
. Prince-Bythewood came under some criticism that the characters in the film were "magical Negroes." The director responded with this:

Our Black experience is as multi-faceted and complex as any other race but when people are confronted with something out of their familiarity, rejection or criticism often follows.

Think about the uproarDuring his 27-year Hall of Fame career, Nolan Ryan recorded 324 wins, seven no-hitters and 5,714 strikeouts. A new biography by Rob Goldman, Nolan Ryan: The Making of a Pitcher, includes never-before-told anecdotes and personal recollections. Here is an excerpt.

Of all of Nolan Ryan's achievements, few garnered more attention than the 20-second skirmish between Ryan and veteran third baseman Robin Ventura in 1993. The fight has come to symbolize his Texas toughness, and it made Ryan a symbol of middle-age defiance.

Much has been made about the "Ventura Fight" but most don't realize its roots started three years earlier in Florida.

In the 1990s, Chicago's Craig Grebeck was one of baseball's smallest everyday players. Just 5'7", he compensated for his lack of stature with the attitude of Goliath.

During a spring


training game against the Rangers in 1990, Grebeck hit a home run on the first pitch and pumped his fists triumphantly as he jogged around the bases. Sitting on the Rangers bench, Ryan stared at the Lilliputian and made a mental note.

A few months later the Rangers were at Comiskey Park. Ryan was on the mound, and Grebeck hit a home run off him. As he had in Florida, Grebeck whooped it up rounding the bases. When Ryan got back to the bench, he asked pitching coach Tom House, "Who is that boy?"

House told him Grebeck's name.

"How old is he?" asked Ryan next. “He looks like he's about 12."

"He's pretty young," said House.

"Well, I'm gonna put some age on the little squirt. He's swinging like he isn't afraidthe two teams accelerated:

August 17, 1990: Ryan hit Grebeck again in his first at-bat on the first pitch. Three innings later the Sox retaliated by hitting Rangers third baseman Steve Buechele.

September 6, 1991: Ryan hit Ventura in the back at Arlington.

August 2, 1993: Two days before the Ventura fight, Roger Pavlik of the Rangers hit Ron Karkovice. Chicago retaliated by hitting Dean Palmer twice and Mario Diaz once.

"We had a lot of going back and forth that season," says Ventura. "Guys were getting hit regularly, and it was just one of those things where something was going to eventually happen."

The night before the fight, on August 3, the White Sox manhandled the Rangers 11–6. Ryan was slated to start the following day against Alex Fernandez.

In the first inning,


Ventura tagged Ryan for an RBI single. In the Rangers' half of the second, Fernandez hit Rangers leadoff batter Juan Gonzalez on a 2-2 pitch. When Ventura came up again in the third frame, Ryan's first pitch plunked him on the back.

"If you look at the replays, the ball wasn't really that far inside," says House. "It was just barely off the plate and it went off Ventura's back. Robin was starting toward first base when he abruptly turns and charges the mound instead. And the closer he got to Nolan, the bigger he looked. If you watch it in stop action, you can see Ryan's eyes were like a deer's in a headlight.

"So everybody was surprised by what Nolan did next: Bam! Bam! Bam! Three punches rightsoon as it left my hand I knew I was in trouble, 'cause I knew it was gonna be down. When he hit it, I had to turn to see where it went because I knew he really got it. It turns out he hit it two-thirds up the way in straight-away center field in old Arlington Stadium."

Your browser does not support iframes.

"I was watching Bo as he went around," adds House, "and boy, it was impressive. Two superstars in the moment, and as Bo is jogging around first base, Nolan makes eye contact and Bo makes a gesture like, I gotcha! and Nolan gives him a look like, What the hell is he talking about? "Well, the next time Bo's up, first pitch is a curveball, and


Bo was like spaghetti-legged. Nolan struck him out six more times after that. I think he faced Bo 20 times, and struck him out 12 times."

The day after Jackson’s tape-measure home run, when Ryan came out for stretching at 4:30, nobody was on the field.

"I'm thinking, I may have the time wrong, when all of a sudden I hear way off in the distance, ‘Hey, Nolan!’" he recalled. "I look out and the whole team is sitting in the bleachers where the ball landed, and they’re waving at me. They were making sure I wasn't going to forget it."

In a 1990 home game against Kansas City, Jackson led off the second inning with a one-hopper back to the mound that caught Ryan square in the mouth.

"Nolan was moreembarrassed than hurt," recalls trainer Bill Ziegler. "He was bleeding like a stuck pig. So in between innings the Rangers team doctor, Dr. Mycoskie, stitched him up. He pitched the rest of the game with black stitches coming out of his lip and blood all over the place."

Kansas City’s George Brett later said, "Nolan’s scary under normal conditions, but facing him when he was all bloody was another level of intimidation altogether."

The Jackson-Ryan rivalry was rooted in mutual respect, so it wasn’t so surprising that Bo came to his rescue on August 4.

Ruth Ryan was awfully glad he did.

"After Ventura rushed the mound, everyone in the park, including my kids, went wild," recalls Ruth, who was seated in the family section. "When Nolan didn't come out of the


pile, I got concerned. With his bad back, sore ribs, and other ailments, he could easily have suffered a career-ending injury."

When Nolan finally did emerge, he was visibly winded and his jersey was unbuttoned. Otherwise, he seemed to be intact. But a few moments later there was more pushing and shoving and the fight resumed. This time, Ryan and Ventura remained on the fringes, but some other players really got into it. Rangers coach Mickey Hatcher had a bloody gash above his eye, and Chicago manager Gene Lamont was taking on all comers. Several White Sox players taunted Ryan and he considered rejoining the fray, but the umpires restrained him.

When it was finally over, Ryan remained in the game and Ventura and Lamont were ejected.

Of all people, CraigGrebeck, whose gesture somewhat precipitated the tension three years earlier, came off the bench to pinch-run for Ventura. Ryan promptly picked him off first.

In a show of stubborn focus, Ryan pitched four more innings. When he left at the end of the seventh, he had struck out five and given up three hits, with one earned run.

Texas won the game 5–2, but the score was really irrelevant.

"It was a split-second thing," Ryan told reporters after the game about his brawl with Ventura. "All you can do is react. you don't have time to figure out your options."

Lamont believed his player getting hit wasn't an accident, and admitted his getting tossed was an act of protest after Ryan was allowed to remain in the game.

"I think our guys felt


Nolan hit guys on purpose and that was probably part of the reason Robin charged the mound, and they didn't like it," says Lamont. "I'm also positive there wasn't a vendetta. If there was one, it was without me knowing about it, and if that was the case our players would have been out there a lot quicker than they were."

Leaving the park, Ryan figured he'd heard the end of it, but at the postgame dinner at a nearby restaurant, Reid Ryan and his friends couldn't stop rehashing the action. Brother Reese had videotaped the game, and when the family returned home, he entertained all comers by replaying the brawl over and over.

When Reese asked his dad, who was in the kitchen sorting the mail, if he wantedto view the fight, he responded with a firm no.

He was in a distinct minority. Broadcast networks were showing the fight continuously, and the late-night talk shows picked it up. The next morning the melee was front-page news.

"Remember the Alamo!" George W. Bush proclaimed in the Dallas Daily News. "I saw Nolan square away like a bull and thought, This guy [Ventura] has lost his senses. It was a fantastic moment for the Rangers and elevated [Ryan’s] legend."

Chicago's Jack McDowell insisted Ryan was culpable and was pleased that Ventura charged him. "Ryan had been throwing at batters forever, and no one ever had the guts to do anything about it," the Sox pitcher complained. "Someone had to do it. [Ryan] pulled that stuff wherever he goes."

Fans across America


subsided. The Ventura fight has become a part of American folklore, an integral part of Ryan's legacy. Photographs of the fight are as common as postage stamps, clips of it are shown every season, and the clip has been viewed more than half a million times on YouTube.

For almost two decades the two key combatants never crossed paths. Closure finally came in 2012, when Ventura was named manager of the White Sox. Early that season, Ryan and Ventura discreetly met in the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington tunnel. Ryan congratulated Robin on getting the manager's job; Ventura gave Ryan kudos for his recent successes in Texas.

"I have nothing but respect for Robin and wished him the best," said Ryan.

A man of his word, as team president Ryan issued aeducation, a creationist who had been ousted in Minnesota, would try to water down the teaching of evolution.

But once the new proposed standards were finally written, they were widely lauded for acknowledging the backbone of biological science for the first time in state history. So this time around, the criticism comes from those who believe students should be taught about alternate theories, too.

In their current form, the standards simply contain a vague reference to "changes over time." That's why in 2005, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute gave Florida an F grade during a review of science education programs nationwide, saying that overall - and not just because of evolution - the state's standards were weak and, at times, factually inaccurate. The same reviewer gave the new standards a


much better grade.

But not everyone is pleased.

Kim Kendall and Lynda Follenweider, parents in northern St. Johns County, are leading a charge to get the State Board of Education to "red flag" the new standards. They aren't against teaching evolution but want the standards to leave open the possibility of discussing other theories. When they called to find out more about a November public hearing in Jacksonville, they found out it was canceled. It has since been rescheduled, along with another one in Tampa. Two meetings in other cities went on in November as scheduled.

The two say the department is trying to quietly pass the standards without widely publicizing opportunities for public comment because evolution is such a hot-button issue.

The two successfully lobbied state Sen. Stephen Wise, R-Jacksonville, tospeak to the board at its meeting Tuesday, even though the science standards won't be on the agenda.

Tom Butler, spokesman for the Department of Education, said he believes the department has "gone above and beyond" to get the information out about the changes. He pointed out that the Web site set up for people to review the standards has gotten a lot of visitors, and that the department is holding more than the one required public hearing. All were advertised in the Florida Administrative Weekly.

The writers and researchers of the new standards will consider the public comments before bringing the final draft to the board.

Already, one of the board members Kendall contacted has said she'll vote against the new standards as they are written: Donna Callaway believes teachers


 The bag was received in Dallas by a laboratory technician and then given for testing to Buddy Goldston, a chemist.  Goldston opened the end of the bag which had not been heat sealed, removed some of the substance, tested it, heat sealed the end of the bag he had opened, placed an identification label on the bag, and returned the bag by registered mail to the DEA office in Little Rock.  Sanders received in Little Rock a plastic bag that had been heat sealed on both ends and bore his identification label as well as that of Buddy Goldston.

6
Appellants were indicted on April 30, 1980, and after two continuances were tried on September 8, 1980.  The government's case consisted primarily of Sanders' testimony, Goldston'scontinuance, although at the time Glaze was no longer a hospital patient.  Ten days before the scheduled trial date appellants requested a third continuance which was opposed by the government.  A hearing was held on the matter, and the district court denied appellants' request.

10
Appellants contend this denial was erroneous because Glaze's physical condition and his inability, until shortly before the trial date, to travel from his home in Joplin, Missouri to his lawyer's office in Fayetteville, Arkansas made it impossible for him to assist in the preparation of a defense.

11
Whether a continuance should be granted or not rests in the sound discretion of the District Court and only a showing of a clear abuse of discretion will justify an overturning of the District Court's ruling.

12
United States


Dr. Pimsleur was a researcher in applied linguistics and focused on the process of language learning. He created the Pimsleur audio series, which are widely regarded as the authority on language learning audio resources along with the US government's FSI's audio tapes. Pimsleur's efficient method will introduce you to a language by placing you into a situation where you must participate and talk back. You will listen and repeat while picking up useful phrases with excellent pronunciation. As new material is introduced, it is tied in with the previous lessons in such a way that forgetting material is minimized, such as building upon older vocabulary/phrases or recalling older phrases at a specific timed intervals.

The series is provided by Simon and Schuster. The recommended method of use is toandhave all joined‘s upcoming World War II flick ““. They’ll co-star along sideand. Diane Kruger (“Troy”, “National Treasure”) will handle the role of German actress Bridget Von Hammersmark. Her character will figure into the plot to kill the Nazis. Actress Nastassja Kinski was first rumored to be up for the role.The flick is set during World War II where a band of U.S. soldiers, who are facing death by firing squad for their misdeeds, are given a chance to redeem themselves by heading into the perilous no-man’s lands of Nazi-occupied France on a suicide mission for the Allies. Variety reports the film is set to begin production on Oct. 13 with shooting taking place in Germany.


"God's blessing on America is directly related to His people waking up," Lotz told messengers and guests to the Baptist General Convention of Missouri annual meeting on March 31.

God has been setting off alarms through major historical events, including the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and the Southeast Asia tsunami.

"God wants to wake up His people.... It's time to hear the alarms," she said.

Christians will not be able to hear God's alarms until they experience personal revival, Lotz noted, pointing to Isaiah as an example.

The first five chapters of the Book of Isaiah do not indicate any sin in the prophet's life, Lotz said. "But God saw his potential for greatness," she added. "Isaiah needed to experience personal revival.

"Isaiah didn't seem tothink he needed anything," she said. "I wonder if you think you don't need anything."

The death of King Uzziah was God's alarm to Isaiah. The king's death shook the prophet emotionally, financially and spiritually, she said.

"In what way has your life been shaken?" Lotz asked.

When life is shaken, individuals tend to look at a specific event that shook it. Isaiah looked to God. "When we get a wake up call, it is appropriate for the child of God to look up," Lotz said.

Isaiah gives an Old Testament reflection of Jesus, she explained. Isaiah's eyes were opened to a fresh vision of Jesus' power. His eyes were opened to Jesus' position, person, presence and praise. And Isaiah more fully understood his position before God.

The prophet saw Jesus exalted in


asked.

Lotz added that when believers face difficulties "and you can still praise Jesus, that's when the world takes notice."

When Isaiah caught a fresh vision of God's holiness, he recognized his position before the Lord. The prophet had issued six woes to the Israelites. But when he saw God, he realized and acknowledged his own sinfulness.

"We are so good at blaming someone else. We blame others for our sin, but the choice for sin is our own," Lotz said.

"When was the last time you acknowledged your sin?" she challenged listeners. "Are we so focused on them [people outside the church] that we have lost sight of the sin in our own life?"

Jesus died on the cross not only to save people from sin and take them to heaven butman's very existence, (photo by Fred Bar-ta)Week features prominent spokesmen "Issues 74", a week of convocations featuring prominent Last chance arrives to contribute to 'Stone' Today is the final day that entries for the spring quarter edition of First Stone. All entries most be into the Signpost office by 4 p.m. to be considered. First Stone, the creative arts suppliment to the Signpost, is made up of original works by students, faculty and staff members of Weber State College. It includes short stories, poetry, art work and photography. "We are encouraging those in statement said that in an Institutional Council meeting over a year ago he told the council no major changes in the administration would take place at least for ayear. Bishop stated that after almost "


months of consultation with other key faculty members, administrators, and the Executive Committee of Institutional Council.In order to provide a structure which will insure future flexibility and will b e able to accomodate new ideas, President Bishop stated that it seemed appropriate also to establish at the present time the concept of rotation of deanships at Weber State College with the exception of the Dean of Allied Health who has only been in office one year. Bishop stated that the rotation of deans of all the other schools including the division of Continuing Education, will be effective June 1 of the current year. Anticipated reply Bishop anticipated reply from the audience and stated that "this no way implied that the people haven't done a tremendous job" but statedBar-ta)Week features prominent spokesmen "Issues 74", a week of convocations featuring prominent Last chance arrives to contribute to 'Stone' Today is the final day that entries for the spring quarter edition of First Stone. All entries most be into the Signpost office by 4 p.m. to be considered. First Stone, the creative arts suppliment to the Signpost, is made up of original works by students, faculty and staff members of Weber State College. It includes short stories, poetry, art work and photography. "We are encouraging those in statement said that in an Institutional Council meeting over a year ago he told the council no major changes in the administration would take place at least for ayear. Bishop stated that after almost " I- . spokesmen on various subjects


faculty members, administrators, and the Executive Committee of Institutional Council.In order to provide a structure which will insure future flexibility and will b e able to accomodate new ideas, President Bishop stated that it seemed appropriate also to establish at the present time the concept of rotation of deanships at Weber State College with the exception of the Dean of Allied Health who has only been in office one year. Bishop stated that the rotation of deans of all the other schools including the division of Continuing Education, will be effective June 1 of the current year. Anticipated reply Bishop anticipated reply from the audience and stated that "this no way implied that the people haven't done a tremendous job" but stated that for Weber State's future wouldMedia playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Sport should be part of everyone's life - Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex has met young rugby players at his first public event since he and the Duchess of Sussex said they would step back from royal life.

Prince Harry laughed and joked as he met children in Buckingham Palace's gardens ahead of the Rugby League World Cup 2021 draw, which he hosted.

He also met representatives of the 21 nations playing in the world cup.

Meghan and the couple's son Archie are in Canada but the duke will reportedly stay in the UK for meetings next week.

Talks involving the Queen, Prince Harry, the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Cambridge to discuss the couple's future were held on Monday at


the Queen's Sandringham estate.

The Queen released a statement agreeing to their wish to step back as senior royals, become financially independent and to split their time between the UK and Canada.

On Thursday, the prince appeared relaxed and at ease as he took part in the draw hosted at the palace - despite being questioned about his next move.

BBC Sport journalist Shamoon Hafez, who was at the event, said Prince Harry gave "a loud laugh" when a reporter asked him how talks on his future were going.

Image copyright Yui Mok/PA Wire Image caption Prince Harry hosted the Rugby League World Cup draw at Buckingham Palace

Image copyright Chris Jackson/Getty Images Image caption Children from St Vincent de Paul Catholic primary school are local tag rugby champions

Prince Harry hosted the RugbyLeague World Cup draws for the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments, as part of his role as patron of the Rugby Football League.

Speaking to BBC News, Jon Dutton, the tournament's chief executive, praised the prince for being "authentic", "engaged" and taking his time to meet representatives from participating nations.

The tournament runs from 23 October to 27 November 2021 in 17 cities across England, with 16 men's, eight women's and eight wheelchair teams taking part.

England will play Samoa in the opening match at St James' Park, Newcastle.

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The prince met ambassadors for the global tournament in the gardens of the palace

Prince Harry has enjoyed rugby since his school days and was a house games captain at Eton.

The duke was joined by ex-England player Jason


Robinson and Dame Katherine Grainger for the draw in the throne room of Buckingham Palace.

"Not only do I continue to see sport actually changing lives, but it's saving lives as well," the prince said at the event.

"Whether it's rugby league or sport in general... it needs to be in everybody's life."

Image copyright Rugby League Image caption Jason Robinson and Dame Katherine Grainger joined Prince Harry in the throne room

Image copyright AFP via Getty Images Image caption The prince helped with the draw to determine the group stages of the tournament

Before the draw, he met two ambassadors for the global tournament - James Simpson, England and Leeds Rhinos wheelchair rugby league star, and Jodie Cunningham, a rugby league player in the Women's Super League for St Helens.

He then spoketo 12 young rugby players from St Vincent de Paul Catholic primary school, who are tag rugby champions in Westminster for the third year running.

Prince Harry joked with the youngsters, telling them to look after the palace grass or he would get in trouble.

Posing for a team picture, he teased them, saying: "Some of you are really warm. Some of you haven't been running around."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Prince Harry shakes children's hands in the gardens of Buckingham Palace

Kevin Sinfield, former rugby league England captain and Leeds Rhinos director of rugby, said on Thursday that Prince Harry had been "fantastic for the sport".

"His enthusiasm, his energy, his engagement with young people in particular, has been outstanding," he told BBC Breakfast.

Mr Sinfield said the


Royal Family had helped to "massively" improve openness about mental health in rugby league, adding that Prince Harry had "really driven this".

Image copyright PA Media Image caption The duke hosted the event as part of his role as patron of the Rugby Football League

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Prince Harry attended last year's Rugby League Challenge Cup Final at Wembley

In a video message posted on Instagram on Thursday the prince said he was "proud" to support the tournament's decision to adopt a mental fitness charter - a programme including workshops for 8,000 young players and their families.

"The perception in rugby league is that you need to be tough," he said. "You can't show your feelings, you have to grin and bear it.

"But something like the mental fitnesscharter will help us make real progress in getting rid of the stigma associated with mental illness, and remind people that it's not just about being physically fit, but more importantly mentally strong."

Mr Sinfield added: "To have a real figurehead involved in it who's championing it left right and centre is only going to do good things."

Image copyright PA Media Image caption Former rugby league England captain Kevin Sinfield, pictured left in 2017, said Prince Harry has been "fantastic for the sport"

There has been speculation Prince Harry would travel to Canada after the draw but a source quoted by the Press Association said: "The duke has some meetings here early next week."

Prince Harry's brother, the Duke of Cambridge, did not mention the talks between senior royals during his


first official engagement of the year, on a visit to Bradford with the Duchess of Cambridge.

Meghan flew to Canada to join eight-month-old Archie ahead of the meeting.

On Tuesday she visited a charity in Vancouver which campaigns for teenage girls living in poverty.

Justice for Girls said Meghan visited to "discuss climate justice for girls and the rights of indigenous peoples".

Image copyright AFP/Justice for Girls Image caption The Duchess of Sussex discussed "the power of young women's leadership" on a visit in Vancouver, Justice for Girls said

Meghan also visited the Downtown Eastside Women's Centre in Vancouver.

The centre posted a photograph on Facebook of the duchess with staff and visitors, with a caption which said they had talked about "issues affecting women in the community".

It came as a legal document wassubmitted to the High Court in London by the Mail on Sunday, outlining its response to Meghan's legal action over its publication of extracts from a private letter she wrote to her father.

On Wednesday evening, Prince Harry launched the next leg of his Invictus Games, for wounded and injured service personnel and veterans, with an Instagram video.

The prince said he was looking forward to an "amazing atmosphere" in host city Dusseldorf, Germany, at the sixth edition of the tournament in 2022.


UPCOMING EVENTS

NTT DoCoMo, Japan’s leading wireless operator, is forming DoCoMo Capital, a venture fund to be based in San Jose, and to invest mainly in U.S venture companies that develop “advanced mobile communication technologies.”

TOKYO, JAPAN, May 9, 2005 — NTT DoCoMo, Inc. announced that it will establish a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary, named DoCoMo Capital, Inc., to invest in venture companies that develop advanced mobile communication technologies.

The subsidiary will take stakes in venture companies, mainly in the United States, to support their development of innovative technologies. Through these investments, DoCoMo intends to shorten development time, lower its research and development costs and expand its opportunities for developing mobile services and technologies.

Based in San Jose, California, the subsidiary is scheduled to begin operating on July 1, 2005.

About NTT DoCoMo
NTTReal estate has been the focus of Jason's freelance career. But, content he's created spans the spectrum of the online writing styles. This includes article writing, reviews, blogs, property and location descriptions, and several other styles.

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Jason earned a general journalism education alongside professional experience as an editor of a weekly publication, the Somerset Spectator, and a paid internship at the Home News and Tribune.

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Real estate is the focus of Jason's freelance career. Content created include blogs, location and property descriptions, and agent biographies. Future work includes an emphasis on more blogs as well as an affiliate page targeting the industry.

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8 Projects Completed

Blog writing has been the focus of Jason's writing. It also the focus of his professional growth as he learn more about


WADA is ready to forgive Russia

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has clarified its position regarding the September 20 withdrawal of the disqualification from the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA), which lasts for almost three years. The WADA admitted that they really softened their position, refusing to acknowledge the hard conclusions of the Richard McLaren Commission, who believed that Russia had an institutional doping system. Instead, WADA agreed to restore RUSAD's rights in return for the recognition of the conclusions of the commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) under the leadership of Samuel Schmid. The latter considered that, although anti-doping rules were violated in Russia and the employees of the Ministry of Sport were involved, there are no grounds to say that the scheme was maintained at the highestlevel.

The World Anti-Doping Agency named the reasons why the WADA Compliance Committee (CRC) last Friday recommended the restoration of RUSADA's rights, which has been disqualified for almost three years. Note that the news was unexpected. Moreover, the day before the announcement of the CRC decision, the British media claimed that the recommendation of the committee would again be negative - the BBC reported this, claiming that its correspondents had read the contents of the CRC letter.

However, as it turned out, the above letter was drafted a month ago. During this time, much has changed. Most importantly, WADA has repeatedly refused to consider the issue of reinstating Rusad's rights until the Russian side acknowledges the findings of the Richard McLaren Commission, suddenly softened its position. Recall that Mr. McLaren


Instead, Mr. Schmid limited himself to statements that some heads of the Ministry of Sport were involved in the doping system.

To soften the position WADA went in the summer, as informed by the Ministry of Sports in a letter dated June 22. After a long meditation, the Russian side agreed to fully recognize both the conclusions of the Schmid commission and all the decisions of the IOC taken on their basis. This follows from a letter sent on September 13 by the Russian Sports Minister Pavel Kolobkov to WADA president Craig Reed. In the document, Minister Kolobkov reports that "The Russian Federation fully adopts the decision of the IOC executive committee on December 5, 2017, based on the report of Samuel Schmid." Mr. Kolobkov also reports that Russiawill fulfill the second key requirement of WADA - to provide access to samples stored in the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory. However, the terms are not called. It is also noted that access to samples will be provided in agreement with the Investigative Committee of Russia, in the production of which there is a criminal case against the former head of the Moscow Anti-Doping Laboratory, and later the key informant of WADA Grigori Rodchenkov. By the way, the head of the CRC, Jonathan Taylor, noted that Russia will have no more than six months to fulfill its commitment to admission to the samples. Otherwise RUSADA can be disqualified again.

Craig Reedy explained that WADA went on a compromise version, because it was already impossible to sit and do nothing. "Now


the situation has moved from a dead center," - said the president of WADA. In addition, the WADA said that they went on a compromise, guided by pragmatism and fearing that serious progress made by RUSAD in the transformation into a structure that meets the requirements of WADA, may be lost.

Note that the disqualification of RUSADA remained, in fact, the only obstacle to the full restoration of the rights of Russian sports. Until now, the All-Russian Athletics Federation and the Russian Paralympic Committee have been disqualified, and the Russian Biathlon Union has been demoted to the temporary member of the International Biathlon Union (IBU).1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a multilayer insulating film of a semiconductor device deposited with insulating films such as an interlayer film and cover film and to a method for forming the film.
2. Description of the Related Art
A semiconductor device uses a structure in which a semiconductor active element or aluminum interconnection is covered with an insulating film or the semiconductor circuit is entirely protected with the insulating film.
For example, there are some multilayer interconnection structures in which aluminum interconnection is covered with a silicon oxide film, an SOG film is deposited on the silicon oxide film to smooth the surface, a PSG film is deposited on the SOG film, and aluminum interconnection is formed on the PSG film and covered with a silicon


nitride film.
However, when a semiconductor circuit chip is wire-bonded with leads and then they are covered with a resin package into a finished product to apply a high-temperature humidification test to the finished product, insulating films such as a PSG film and an SiN film of the semiconductor circuit may peel off each other at the probability of approx. 1/10,000.
It is estimated that the above phenomenon depends on an insulating material serving as a substrate, leaving time of an insulating film in the atmosphere, treatment method for deposition of the film, change of stress due to hygroscopicity of the film, or design pattern.
However, peeling of the insulating film under the high-temperature humidification test rarely occurs. Also, it rarely occurs in actual products. Therefore, the cause of the phenomenonIf you've ever walked up the Rambla – the leafy avenue running between the main square and the Mediterranean – you will have trampled on a work of art by the great Spanish surrealist Joan Miró. Midway up, at Plaça de la Boqueria, is a swirling medallion of ceramic paving; its red, yellow and blue shapes edged in black. The Pla de l'Os is one of the eye-catching monumental works created by the Catalan artist for the city of his birth – partly to celebrate its liberation after General Franco's death in 1975. He had opposed the fascist dictator from internal exile in Mallorca, not least through the aggressive freedom of his art.

Ask a typical tourist on the Rambla to name Barcelona's most creative genius and the chances


are they will nominate either Picasso (he adopted Catalonia and is celebrated with a wonderful museum) or Gaudí, whose molten buildings melt the hearts of visitors. But Miró belongs in the same class. As London's first major exhibition on the artist in almost 50 years, Joan Miró: The Ladder of Escape, opens at Tate Modern tomorrow, I went in search of Miró's Barcelona – from the colourful public monuments of the 1970s and early 1980s, to the secret corners of his youth.

Born in 1893, he spent his first 27 years in the city, summering in the Catalan countryside. He then moved to Paris, but returned for crucial periods. Though he died in Mallorca in 1983, aged 90, he chose to be buried on Barcelona's Montjuïc hill. Montjuïc parkis the tranquil setting for the Joan Miró Foundation, where the Tate show transfers in October. The fast way up is the Montjuïc funicular, inside Parallel Metro station. At Montjuïc, turn left for Josep Lluís Sert's 1975 creation.

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This white-washed museum smacks of Le Corbusier, but its vaulted spaces also reflect the Mediterranean culture and Catalan revival that nourished Miró's art (hence his Catalan spelling of Juan). The cafe-restaurant has a patio, while sculpture terraces offer views across the city. The director, Rosa Maria Malet, walked me through a collection that gives a chronological overview of the artist and his media, from oils, prints and collages, to terracottas, bronzes and ceramics.

Fond of junk and Catalan peasantry,


Miro wove shepherds' umbrellas into tapestries and painted on vineyard sacks. The assemblage was largely donated by Miró and his wife Pilar Juncosa, on condition that space be left to exhibit young artists' work.

It's 15 minutes' walk to the cable car, for a spectacular ride (€9) across the port to Barceloneta – the once-poor fishing quarter where Miró swam. Malet recalls that he took care of himself, the better to work with military discipline. In contrast to Picasso, his senior, Miró was not known for drinking or womanising.

Always dapper, he appeared as a bourgeois in a blue business suit. Yet he did relax in the Boadas coctelería, where Carrer dels Tallers meets the Rambla. In the tiny, triangular bar, I clocked a couple of Miró sketches on thewall, while a bow-tied artist of a different sort fixed me a Miró cocktail – a centennial tribute of gin, Jack Daniel's and Dubonnet, poured from extravagant height over ice. Miró would also repair to Los Tarantos on Plaça Reial – still a tablao flamenco (flamenco club) – perhaps finding inspiration for the witty cork-and-feather collage of his Spanish Dancer.

He grew up in the lanes of the Barri Gòtic. His birthplace at Passatge del Crèdit 4 is in a gated passage next to the Orio oyster bar at number 38 on Carrer de Ferran (then an elegant street where his father was a watchmaker and silversmith). You can eat oysters opposite the twin plaques – one in Castilian, the other in Catalan – flagging Miró's door. His parents'


attic later served as his studio, until he sold up in the 1950s. His rooms are now part of the Rialto hotel (Carrer de Ferran 42). He began drawing classes, aged seven, at a private school at Carrer del Regomir 13 – a medieval mansion, which now houses apartments. Heading south from City Hall, past Plaça del Regomir, look for a grand portal on the left, with a tiny courtyard. Further down the street, turn left on the Passeig de Colom to reach La Llotja, the stock exchange building with brass-lion door knockers, which housed the fine art academy where Miró enrolled in 1907 in defiance of his father.

He ate opposite, at 7 Portes (Passatge D'Isabel II 14), now an august eaterie. But I opted for Catalan roastchicken with prunes at 4 Gats (Montsió 3), the artists' tavern where he took life classes in the Cercle Artistic de Sant Lluc (look for the plaque above the menu outside).

Miró had his first solo show nearby, in 1918, at the Dalmau gallery – where his work was ridiculed and defaced. Cubist and surrealist exhibitions from abroad fuelled his impulse to flee what was then a stiflingly conservative city.

When he left for Paris in 1920, he said: "Definitely never again Barcelona. Paris and the countryside until I die." Yet he did return in the 1930s as Spain plunged towards civil war – a catastrophe that marked his art – and again when France was Nazi-occupied and Catalonia under Franco's yoke. War and exile cemented his ties, spurring the