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In his speech to the Labour Party Conference in Brighton yesterday, Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a half-hearted attempt to seize the high ground on reforming Parliament by promising that if Labour is returned to power next year, it will organise a referendum to ask the public whether they want to stick with the present discredited first-past-the-post voting system for general elections, or switch to an Alternative Vote system (AV), such as that used in Australia. But it would be wrong for electoral reformers to start popping the champagne corks. First, it is highly unlikely on present polling evidence that Labour will win the next election (at least with an outright majority), which makes the pledge worthless; if there is going to be a referendum held, it ought to be on the same day as the general election. Second, AV is not a huge advance on first-past-the-post. Yes, it gives voters a degree of preferential expression in constituencies in which no candidate gets over 50% of the vote. But it is still a majoritarian system, not a proportional one. And fair voting must be predominantly proportional.
So, what should we all do now? The first thing is to express disappointment at Mr Brown's failure to tackle the problem of Britain's political bankruptcy head-on. Then one can usefully sign up to the campaign being run by the NGO Unlock Democracy, which is calling for a citizens' convention, which would give people the opportunity to help choose the electoral system they would like, rather than effectively imposing it from above (as New Labour loves to do). In the meantime, I shall be arguing for STV — the singe transferable vote, which gives electors a far greater chance of getting the elected representatives they want, as well as promoting greater diversity. If it's good enough for the Irish — including the residents of Northern Ireland — why isn't it good enough for mainland Britain's general elections?

subset: commoncrawl


text: On today's Your Call, we'll speak with Ken and Melanie Light. They spent five years documenting the Central Valley through photographs and essays for their book, "Valley of Shadows and Dreams." They met people struggling with foreclosures, environmental pollution, water scarcity, immigration, extreme weather, and an ever-widening wage gap. How do we move towards social, economic, and environmental justice for our nation's bread basket? It's Your Call, with Holly Kernan and you.


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Apne doubts clear karein ab Whatsapp (8 400 400 400) par bhi. Try it now.
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Question From class 11 Chapter PROBABILITY
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What is probability experiments :
Deterministic experiments
Random or probabilistic experiments
Elementary event sample space and examples
What is event occurrence of event
Algebra of events
negation of an event verbal description and equivalent set theoretic notation
Certain event and impossible event
Compound events
Mutually exclusive events


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Zebra Tree
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Original drawing by Alfred Basha.
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- Original Drawing
- Japanese pen with watercolor on fine grain paper 200 g/m2 – approximately 120 lb
- Certificate of Authenticity is 8.27 × 11.69 inches on Hahnemühle Rice Paper 100 gsm
- Size: 21.7 x 29 cm // 8.3 x 11.7 inch
- Hand signed by Alfred Basha
- Year 2019
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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention about 80% of adults have came in contact with HSV-1. HSV-1 is very common seem there aren't... For detail, click here
HSV can be transmitted through skin to skin contact with or without sores and even when you have been asymptomatic for years. The virus always exists in your nerve cells and will always shed from the skin to some extent, so your partner may become infected if he or she doesn't already have antibodies in the area of contact.
anything herpes is passed via open sore so if you have no sores / open wounds in your mouth you are fine same goes for sex but the exception is being able to pass it after just shaving since you open your pores for your own skin cells and miniscule blood to enter their body. jope this helps!


text:
I'm new to java. I just need a little clarification.
1. Create a class called Student that has name, grade, house as instance variables
2. Create a constructor that take these (3) items as parameters and sets them to your private instance/global variables
My code:
public class Student { String name; int grade; String house; public Student(String studentName, int studentGrade, String studentHouse) { name = studentName; grade = studentGrade; house = studentHouse; }
The one thing that I'm confused about is that I looked at the java tutorial for making constructors. It was a bicycle example. The instance variables for the Bicycle class (public int cadence, public int gear, public int speed) were NOT the same as the parameters in the constructor(int startCadence, int startSpeed, int startGear). Why is this? My assignment seems to want me to make my constructor parameters the same as my instance variables.


text:
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said it rescinded its recent invitation to a U.S. envoy because Washington perpetrated a "grave provocation" by allegedly mobilizing nuclear-capable bombers during recent military drills with Seoul.
Bob King, the U.S. special envoy for North Korean human rights, had been scheduled to visit North Korea on Friday to seek the release of an American detained in November for committing "hostile acts." Kenneth Bae, a 45-year-old tour operator and Christian missionary, was sentenced in April to 15 years of hard labor.
An unidentified North Korean Foreign Ministry spokesman said in remarks carried by state media late Saturday that his country intended to allow King's visit for talks on Bae even though the U.S. and South Korea were conducting annual military drills.
But he said the U.S. "beclouded the hard-won atmosphere of humanitarian dialogue in a moment" by allegedly infiltrating B-52H strategic bombers into the sky above the peninsula during the exercises. He called it "the most blatant nuclear blackmail against us."
The annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian drills, which ended Friday, were computer-simulated war games that U.S. and South Korea say are defensive nature. Calls to the office of the U.S. military command in Seoul seeking comments were unanswered Sunday.
Earlier this year, the U.S. took the unusual step of sending nuclear-capable B-52 and B-2 bombers to participate in springtime military drills with South Korea as tension was running high after a string of warlike rhetoric from North Korea, including vows to launch nuclear war. The flights drew a furious response from Pyongyang. Animosities have since eased, with Pyongyang moderating its rhetoric and seeking diplomacy with Seoul and Washington.
State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said Friday the U.S. was "surprised and disappointed by North Korea's decision" and remains gravely concerned about Bae's health. Bae's family expressed disappointment but said they were holding on to faith that North Korean and U.S. diplomats would resume talks soon. Bae suffers from multiple health problems.
Bae is at least the sixth American detained in North Korea since 2009. The others were eventually allowed to leave without serving their terms, with some releases coming after prominent Americans, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, visited North Korea.
Analysts say North Korea has previously used detained Americans as bargaining chips in its standoff with the U.S. over its nuclear and missile programs. International disarmament talks on ending North Korea's nuclear ambitions remain stalled since 2009.
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Previous Years
2004 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
2005 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
2006 Backpacking Light Staff Picks
Another year has gone by and it is time once again for the BackpackingLight staff to come up with their lists of favorite pieces of gear. Some have commented that it is getting noticeably tougher to come up with three pieces of gear that have become most favored and most depended upon over the past year. But in due time the staff came up with their lists and this is the result.
This isn't an "Editor's Choice" or formal endorsement, just a list of gear we like.
Enjoy – and don't forget to add your own 2008 favorites in the forum below. –Your BPL Eds
|Backpacking Light Staff Member
|Favorite Pieces of Gear
|Ryan Jordan
|Alpacka Packraft
|Titanium Goat Vertex 8+ and Titanium Stove
|Beartooth Merino Hoody
|Chris Townsend
|Inov-8 Terroc shoes
|Caldera Ti-Tri
|Jack Wolfskin Gecko
|Roger Caffin
|Silnylon & Carbon Fibre Two-Man Double-Skin Winter Tent
|Coleman Xtreme
|Canon A95
|Mike Martin
|Nunatak Skaha Plus Down Sweater, Front Pocket Version
|SMC Snow Saw
|Arcteryx Alpha SL Pants
|Will Rietveld
|Trail Designs/AntiGravityGear Caldera Keg
|Keen Ridgeline Trail Running Shoe
|Sea To Summit Mullet Cap
|Mike Clelland!
|The FireLite SUL Short Handled Titanium Spoon
|Hefty Trash Compactor Bags
|FlexAir Dual Compartment Ultralight Pillow
|Carol Crooker
|GoLite Footwear Sun Dragon Shoes
|Big Agnes Clearview Air Pad
|Big Agnes Cyclone SL Chair Kit
|Kevin Sawchuk
|ULA Conduit
|Bushbuddy Custom
|Nunatak Arc Specialist (w/ 2oz overfill/custom sizing)
|Sam Haraldson
|Google Earth and gpsvisualizer.com Software Packages
|FireLite Mini Firestarting Kits
|Ultralight Adventure Equipment Amp Backpack
|Don Wilson
|Arc'Teryx Squamish Windshell
|Canon 40D Camera
|Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke
|Alan Dixon
|Olympus E-520 Digital SLR Camera with Zuiko 12-60 mm Lens
|Anti Gravity Gear Caldera Kitchen (for AGG 3-cup Pot)
|Bozeman Mountain Works Stealth 1 Nano Tarp
|Doug Johnson
|Trail Designs Caldera Keg
|Six Moon Designs Refuge X
|Hilleberg Kaitum 2
|Rick Dreher
|Hennessy Hammock Hyperlite Asymmetrical
|BPL FireLite Ti Trappers Mug
|Pacific Outdoor Equipment Insulated Airmat (Thermo 6)
|Ben Klocek
|Golite Jam2
|Canon PowerShot SD630 Camera
|Patagonia Wool 2
|Janet Reichl
|Teva Aniso eVENT Shoe
|Petzl E+Lite Headlamp
|Granite Gear Air Space Bag
|Alison Simon
|REI Sahara Convertible Pants
|REI Stoke 19 Day Pack (DIAD pack)
|Pro Bars (new Savory flavors)
Ryan Jordan, Publisher and Editorial Director – Bozeman, Montana
|Alpacka Packraft
|It's taken me four years to put the packraft on my picks list, but now I'm ready. The deal was sealed this year as I shared my other boats on some great trips with friends and family. It's one thing enjoying a ride in a packraft, it's quite another watching somebody else do the same. My model of choice: the little Alpacka, with a spray deck (90 oz in blue) and Sawyer Packraft Paddle (28 oz). Photo: Pacific Creek, Teton Wilderness, July 2008.
Weight: 118 oz in specified setup
|Titanium Goat Vertex 8+ and Titanium Stove
|OK, so it's not my first choice for long distance hiking or SUL. But there is something to be said about the benefits (social, practical, and emotional) of having fire crackling in a wood stove inside your tent. Who said car camping and backcountry base camping can't also enjoy ultralight style? The tent with a carbon pole weighs about 5.5 lbs, and the small titanium box stove will only set you back 2.5 lbs. Add 10 lbs of gear and 10 lbs of food, and you're still tipping the scales sub-30 lbs with potential for extreme comfort and high class wilderness living.
Weight: 8 lbs for both
|Beartooth Merino Hoody
|While you've been waiting for this product to come to market, I've had the privilege of wearing it all year. This is my absolute favorite piece of clothing, period, if there is any possibility of temperatures less than 50 degrees.
Weight: 8 oz (size medium)
Chris Townsend, Senior Gear Editor – Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland
|Inov-8 Terroc shoes
|When I first changed from boots to shoes many years ago, I couldn't imagine hiking footwear as light as Inov-8s. I've tried several of the range, and the Terrocs are the ones that fit my wide feet best. After several years of wearing Terrocs on every type of terrain, they have become firm favorites. I find them supportive and stable on rough terrain, and the grip is excellent. They're surprisingly durable for such ultralight shoes too. I've worn them on two twelve-day high level crossings of the Scottish Highlands on the TGO Challenge, and they're still in good condition, with just a dab of superglue needed on a couple of seams.
Weight: 330 g (11.6 oz)
|Caldera Ti-Tri
|When the Caldera Cone appeared, I was excited and impressed. An ultralight alcohol stove system with the same protection as the full weight Trangia was a wonderful breakthrough in design. It was the first ultralight alcohol stove I used regularly. The Ti-Tri system is even better as it can be used as a wood burner with alcohol as a back-up on trips where wood won't be available all the time, or for stormy weather where I want to cook under cover. The latest version of the Ti-Tri even has a lightweight grate that fits inside the cone. The Ti-Tri is the result of collaboration between two innovative ultralight gear companies, Titanium Goat and Trail Designs. It's great to see such companies working together to produce such an excellent product.
Weight: 7 oz for 550 ml size
|Jack Wolfskin Gecko
|Simple lightweight fleece tops are often overlooked in favor of more hi-tech softshell and synthetic insulated garments. However, when I look at the warm top I use more than any other, the one that finds its way into my pack year round, it turns out it's the Gecko, a fleece sweater with no features other than a short neck zip and a stand-up collar. In summer this is often the only warm top I carry. In winter I may wear it all day as a mid layer. Durability is excellent – my Gecko is in good condition despite being used hundreds of times during the last eight years. And at a weight of just 8 oz, it's the lightest fleece sweater I know.
Weight: 8 oz
Roger Caffin, Senior Editor – Berrilee, NSW, Australia
A bit of a mix this year – one MYOG tent, one faithful canister stove and a faithful camera.
|Silnylon & Carbon Fibre Two-Man Double-Skin Winter Tent
|This is the tent my wife and I had in our epic trip featured in When Things Go Wrong. Despite being pitched on a saddle right in the path of an extreme storm (a very silly place, really), it and we survived the night in relative comfort. It just goes to show what an MYOG project can produce. This tent has generous space for my wife and me, with a groundsheet space of 2.2 x 1.2 m (7.2 x 3.9 ft) and an internal height of a bit under 1.0 m (39 in). The bathtub groundsheet and the inner tent kept the spindrift out all night – and would keep insects out too. It has good ventilation when we need it, with roof-height vents at both ends, as well as optional ground-level clearance all around if the sod cloths are raised. There is a large vestibule at the front end, big enough for disrobing, storing our packs, and cooking dinner.
Weight: 1.77 kg (62 oz)
|Coleman Xtreme
|This is the gold standard for winter stoves. The weight quoted includes a full 300 g fuel canister. Some liquid fuel stoves weigh this much with an empty fuel canister! I have used this stove for many years, and it has been wonderfully reliable. I know that when I fire it up, we are going to have a hot dinner in short order. It does not flare up even when starting (unlike many liquid fuel stoves!) and can be operated quite safely inside my tent while the storm rages outside. It can simmer gently or melt snow.
Weight: 726 g (25.6 oz)
|Canon A95
|It may be getting old these days, and it may be only five megapixels and lack image stabilisation, but this camera has served me for many years now with great faithfulness. I trust and rely on it. I can use it freehand, on a tripod, or hooked up to my computer. How did I get this photo of it? I used a mirror!
Weight: 303 g (10.7 oz) – including 4 AA lithium batteries
Mike Martin, Senior Techniques Editor – Coeur d'Alene, Idaho
|Nunatak Skaha Plus Down Sweater, Front Pocket Version
|This jacket is unbelievably warm for its weight. The 800+ fill-power down, Pertex Quantum shell fabric, and half-zip cut weight, while the hood, handwarmer pocket, and fully-baffled construction add warmth. This is my "go to" parka for temperatures ranging from 0F to 45F. I use it in my daypack for backcountry skiing and as part of my sleep system with a quilt. The Skaha Plus has no unnecessary features that add bulk or weight, while the pass-thru pocket is almost worth the 13.7-ounce weight alone as a handwarmer for my chronically cold fingers. Nunatak is a semi-custom shop, so I ordered my jacket with overfill to further improve its warmth per weight ratio and allow me to take it into colder conditions. If I could change one thing, it would be to use a slightly heavier, but sturdier and less snag-prone zipper.
Weight: 13.7 oz (size large with 1.5 oz overfill)
|SMC Snow Saw
|Are you looking for the lightest possible winter shelter? Bring a tool instead of a tent and build your own! The SMC Snow saw is one of the lightest commercially available snow saws at 3.4 ounces. It is beautifully made from a single piece of anodized aluminum. And, it cuts through snow like butter. Adding a snow saw to your winter kit allows you to make much more precise shapes out of snow than a you could with a shovel alone. Let your inner snow sculptor free and build lavish kitchens, snow walls, doghouses, or even an igloo. Ever play with Lego blocks as a kid? A saw gives you ability to make life-size blocks. All you need is the right snow, enough time, and your imagination. The only modification I've made to mine after a year of use is to wrap the grip in bicycle handlebar tape to make it warmer and more comfortable to hold.
Weight: 3.4 oz
|Arcteryx Alpha SL Pants
|After slogging through wet snow for four days at 9,000 feet elevation on Backpacking Light's Wilderness Trekking Course III in the Fall of 2007 wearing lycra tights and a pair of non-waterproof wind pants, I began a search for a better leg layering system for cold, wet, snowy conditions. I wanted a waterproof/breathable shell to protect against possible rain that I could put on easily while wearing snowshoes, or alternatively, a shell that was breathable and well-ventilated enough that I could leave it on continuously over a wide range of conditions. The Arcteryx Alpha SL pants fit the latter criteria perfectly. The 2-layer Goretx Paclite pants have "hip zips" that run from the cuffs to the hipbone area. This obviously doesn't allow fully separating the zippers to put the pants on over boots or snowshoes, but by stopping the zip below the waist, the design minimizes bulk under a pack's waistbelt, and relieves stress on the top of the zipper. The zips are still long enough to provide amazing ventilation – so much so that I've found the pants can simply be left on constantly, eliminating layering changes. For the past year, my snowshoeing leg layer system has consisted of the SL Pants, long johns of appropriate thickness for the expected temperature range, and shortie gaiters. I've found the combination to be extremely dry and comfortable over a wide range of temperatures, precipitation types, and wind conditions.
Weight: 9.3 oz (size medium-tall)
Will Rietveld, Associate Editor – Durango, Colorado
|Trail Designs/AntiGravityGear Caldera Keg
|I can't imagine a lighter complete cooking system than this. The minimal essentials consisting of a pot and lid, Caldera cone, and alcohol stove weigh just 2.7 ounces, and the complete kit with lip guard, insulator sleeve, fuel bottle, measuring cup, and carrying tube (which doubles as a bowl and cup) adds another 3.6 ounces. An expanded kit called the Caldera Caddy Sack (US$15) from AntiGravityGear adds a pot cozy and stuff sack. The pot in this system is a recycled Heineken 25.4 ounce beer can, which is easily damaged. But the beauty of the complete kit is that everything fits inside a thin plastic tube with a screw cap, which protects the contents and makes the system very compact for packing. In use, I preferred to use the beer can pot for just boiling water, and the plastic bowl, cup, and cozy for hydrating food and eating/drinking. The latter are easier to eat out of and clean.
Weight: 6.3 oz
|Keen Ridgeline Trail Running Shoe
|I have wide feet, so it's hard to find lightweight footwear that fits me well. I found the Keen Ridgeline to be comfortable right out of the box, and it continues to be comfortable after many miles of on- and off-trail hiking. They are quite light, but still provide plenty of cushioning and support. I like a low cut trail runner that has a good midsole TPU plate for rock protection and support, plus a grippy outsole, and a breathable mesh upper that doesn't let a lot of dust and sand to come through. And (for me) the toebox needs to be really wide. Fit and comfort are probably the most important attributes when choosing a trail shoe, and the Keen Ridgeline is one that really comes through for me.
Weight: 13.4 oz/shoe (men's 9)
|Sea To Summit Mullet Cap
|I personally prefer a hiking cap with a removable skirt that can be easily added when it's needed for sun and wind protection. The Sea to Summit Mullet Cap is the best I have found. The cap is constructed of seven pieces, so it really fits well, and its H2Off fabric is very durable as well as UV and water resistant. The skirt attaches to four Velcro patches on the cap, so it's very easy to add or remove. To hold it in place in the wind the cap has an elastic cord and cordlock in back and a snap on the skirt under the chin. I have been wearing the Mullet Cap year-around on numerous trips for three years now and it just keeps going and going. When it gets dirty, it cleans up well in the wash machine, and there are very few signs of wear. I like to wear a billed cap like the Mullet when wearing a hooded jacket, to keep the hood from blocking my vision and to keep my eyeglasses dry in the rain. This type of cap is also called a Havelock, named after an English general (Major General Sir Henry Havelock) who popularized it during campaigns in India in the mid 1800s.
Weight: 2.7 oz
Mike Clelland!, Contributor – Driggs Idaho
These are tight times. There is a collective belt tightening going on all around us, and I worry people equate lightweight camping with spending big bucks. Not true. These Spartan picks reflect my Scottish heritage. Each item is under $10.
|The FireLite SUL Short Handled Titanium Spoon
|Spoons have been around for a long time, right? Way back – when one of our creative ancestors might have carved the very first spoon out of a mastodon bone. In the intervening years, you think we would have perfected it. Well, it happened – finally! The FireLite SUL Short Handled Titanium Spoon is a monument of simplicity and functionality. There is a subtle little flat area right along the tip, and that simple detail makes it delightfully easy to clean out the inside of a mug or the cook pot. It doesn't stop there: the handle on the spoon is stiff and straight, the perfect tool to clean the inside of a smooth walled pot. Gloppy caked on crud is effortlessly shaved off with this fine spoon. Plus, you can even eat dinner with it!
This little spoon is flawless.
Weight: 0.25 oz
|Hefty Trash Compactor Bags
|I do NOT use a pack cover. I line my backpack with ONE plastic bag. I have no redundancy. These bags are plenty big to line my lightweight backpack with enough extra to wrap over at the top for absolute waterproofing. These are highly specialized, heavy gage (2.5 mil) white plastic, designed for those electric kitchen trash compactors, and easily found in the grocery store. I have yet to find anything better or lighter. These are sturdy enough to last for multiple trips; I used one for all of last summer, and I plan on getting another year out of it. Plus, they're white, so it's easy to find stuff in the bag. If the tarp is wet in the morning, I stuff it in the bottom of my backpack first, then put the compactor bag on top. Everything inside the compactor bag stays dry. I put my rain gear on top, outside the bag, because if it rains, I'll end up wearing it. Simple!
Weight: 2.2 oz
|FlexAir Dual Compartment Ultralight Pillow
|I need a BIG pillow when I sleep. A traditional camper will simply roll up his pile jacket and extra down vest, jam it in a stuff sack, and get a wonderful support for his noggin. Not so for the UL camper. When I go into the mountains, I plan on sleeping in all my clothes, leaving nothing for my head. Now, I've tried the other FlexAir pillows, and the slightly heavier Dual Compartment version is the only choice for true head cradling. Just don't blow it up too much, or it feels like you are trying to balance your skull on a beach ball. Also, the straw is a wonderful addition to you arsenal of tools. I used my humble straw to fill a water bottle in the high country of the Gallatin Range in August. We could hear water trickling inside some rocks, but there was no way to get at it. My team mates were dejected, but I whipped out my little pillow straw and eased it into a crack, concocting a nice little faucet. My pillow system saved us!
Weight: 0.98 oz
Carol Crooker, Associate Editor – Mesa, Arizona
|GoLite Footwear Sun Dragon Shoes
|The Sun Dragons are kind to my feet. Their "Soft Against the Ground" technology keeps my feet fresher during long days of hiking on rocky trails than any other shoes I've worn. The wide toe box is another boon. I don't need to go up half a size – and risk tripping over the excess – to get toe space. I've been wearing the 2007 models of these shoes. They wear out quickly, but the 2008 versions are reported to be more durable (both the 2007 and 2008 models are available from online retailers). Although branded by GoLite, the shoes were developed by the Timberland Invention Factory. Doug Clark, formerly of the Invention Factory, bought the shoe design and started a new company to continue manufacturing this line of GoLite shoes. The new line will be delivered to retailers by mid-February but the Sun Dragon is not being carried forward. The new Force model has the same outsole but is heavier (14-15 oz, MSRP $110). The Fire and the Comp are the remaining 2009 trail runner models. Both are lighter weight race shoes with a new lower profile outsole.
Weight: 11.8 oz (335 g) 2007 model
|Big Agnes Clearview Air Pad
|I've been getting my best nights of sleep ever in the backcountry on the Clearview pad, a simple air mattress. The secret is the soft polyurethane shell that has more give than the tougher (and heavier) shells of the Big Agnes Air Core and Pacific Outdoor Equipment Ether Thermo pads. The Clearview has no insulation, but I've found it just as comfortable with a thin closed cell foam pad on top for warmth. I like to add a 1/16-inch foam pad when it's 35 F to 45 F, and I've slept comfortably with a 3/8-inch pad down to low 20s F.
Weight: 11 oz (312 g) for 20 x 60 x 2.5 inch mummy
|Big Agnes Cyclone SL Chair Kit
|A chair kit is my backpacking luxury item. I find it very relaxing to lounge back in a chair when I'm cooking meals. There is something about being able to tilt back slightly that puts my back at ease better than any rock or tree I've leaned against. The Cyclone is the lightest chair kit out there, and carrying an extra 6 oz for the added comfort is definitely worth it for me!
Weight: 6 oz (170 g)
Kevin Sawchuk, Ultralight Ambassador – Alamo, California
|ULA Conduit
|The ULA Conduit is my favorite pack. Its light weight, simple design, and durable materials set it apart from most other packs of its size. Add generous waistbelt pockets, several usable water carrying options, and a large mesh outer pocket, and there's no other pack with such practical features. Its smaller and bigger brothers are my other favorites when less or more capacity is needed.
Weight: 20 oz
|Bushbuddy Custom
|There's currently only one of these in existence but it takes the Bushbuddy concept and makes it applicable to larger groups and winter travel. Its larger size makes it about three times easier to use than the regular Bushbuddy, so melting snow and cooking for three to four people is feasible. Keep talking to Fritz, and he may make this commercial. Shown with a one-gallon pot.
Weight: 10.5 oz
|Nunatak Arc Specialist (w/ 2oz overfill/custom sizing)
|Tom Halpin makes a mean sleeping bag. I've had several of his bags over the years, from a thirteen-ounce super fast-packing lightweight to a twenty-four-ounce version that kept me warm at 5 F without insulated clothing. Tom's top notch service, workmanship, material choices, and bag options make these my favorite bags.
Weight: 18 oz
Sam Haraldson, Marketing Director – Bozeman, Montana
|Google Earth and gpsvisualizer.com Software Packages
|For those looking into free digital solutions to research, plan, and map routes for their upcoming excursions, a collection of online applications are available to do this easily. First, using the Google Earth software, draw a path that coincides with the route you are planning. There are layers available for the Google Earth application that allow you to view USGS topographic maps overlaid on the surface of the earth, which make finding your route easier if you plan to walk trails. Once you've dialed in your path, export the file and visit gpsvisualizer.com. You can upload the exported file and use the various sections of the website to create elevation and distance profiles, convert your data into various formats, print maps, and more. We can talk about gear in online forums until our keyboarding fingers bleed, but it's not worth anything unless you plan some quality trips to take it on. The Google Earth and GPS Visualizer software broadens your ability to visualize a trip beforehand, helps you to remember it after, and does a fine job of it.
Weight: 0.0 oz
|FireLite Mini Firestarting Kits
|There is a feeling of self-sufficiency I get from starting a fire in my camp stove using the FireLite Mini Firestarting Kit. Although I still carry a lighter and some waterproof matches in a watertight emergency backup kit, I enjoy a small wood fire for a number of reasons. Being able to leave the chemical fuels at home and burn a fuel sustainable to the environment I'm in, as well as not having to plan a fuel resupply strategy nor carry its weight on my back are all great reasons to pack this product.
Weight: 0.81 oz. (23 g)
|Ultralight Adventure Equipment Amp Backpack
|Bridging the gap between super-ultralight and super-durable, the Amp is the perfect pack for weekend-plus backpacking trips. With an ideal volume for gear and consumables needed for a weekend or more, and the carrying comfort to match, the ULA Amp went with me on all of my short backpacking excursions in 2008. In the dead of summer, its volume was just right for a couple of liters of water, my tarp, UL 60 Quilt, and a Caldera Cone cook kit. The Amp's design is such that it stays below your neck and between your shoulders. This, paired with its durable construction, make it excellent for off-trail pursuits, and I carried it on numerous summit bids this year. The ULA Amp hits home for its size, durability, and perfection in filling a niche.
Weight: 10.6 oz. (300 g)
Don Wilson, Editorial Correspondent – Tucson, Arizona
|Arc'Teryx Squamish Windshell
|This windshell has become my shell of choice over the past year. At about 5 ounces, it is not the lightest shell out there, but it has a very good feature set, very high quality production, and the nicest windshell fabric I've used. For my use, which includes some climbing, the fabric is a very good balance of comfort, breathability and durability which I have not found equaled in other windshells. I've taken it on many trips this year, from warm desert hikes to cold, high altitude climbs, and it has remained a favorite for the full breadth of my hikes. It also looks great. Everyone who sees it asks me about it. It will be with me for some time to come. Its biggest drawback is the price – MSRP is $139.
Weight: 5 oz
|Canon 40D Camera
|OK, this baby is HEAVY. It is a full DSLR weighing in at 2 or 3 pounds, depending on what lenses and other gear I carry. It has refreshed my interest in photography, dramatically improved my images, and generally added enjoyment to my trips, both during and after each hike. If that banishes me from the lightweight brotherhood, so be it. I rationalize it by convincing myself that if my other gear is light, I can carry this beauty. Best of all, there have been innumerable new opportunities to look with new eyes upon trees, and leaves, and snow, and flowing water. My hiking companions may get annoyed at times, but when we can all share a sunset in order to take a few pics, then it is all worthwhile. While I enjoy this specific camera, it is really the process of photography and awareness that has been the payoff. Street price about $800.
Weight: 2 to 3 lbs
|Letters to a Young Poet, by Rainer Maria Rilke
|This is another unconventional gear choice, but that's my mission. I carried this slim volume when I hiked the John Muir Trail with my wife a few years back. We read to each other at night, and discussed our reading while we hiked. This fine series of letters discusses the challenges of following your passion, and struggling to find your way through life. The enjoyment and memories of our ten day hike were perhaps more impacted by this small volume than any other gear choice we made. Hiking with your best friend, through beautiful and difficult terrain, all the while sparked by great conversation – that's about as good as it gets. MSRP $9, weight about 2 ounces.
Weight: 2 oz
Alan Dixon, Editorial Correspondent – Washington, D.C.
|Olympus E-520 Digital SLR Camera with Zuiko 12-60 mm Lens
|A six-ounce point and shoot camera won't do if I want sharp 16×20 inch or larger prints with rich, accurate color (or even smaller sizes, for that matter). So in the last few years, I have been taking a light digital SLR on more and more backpacking trips. I find that the Olympus E-520 hits the sweet spot of performance to weight for a backpacking camera. While I love the outstanding photographic results from cameras like the Nikon D300 with a 18-200 mm VR lens, or the Canon 5D Mk II with a 24-105 mm IS lens, they weigh around 3.5 pounds! True, the E-520's smaller 4/3 sensor gives up a bit in dynamic range, resolution, and ISO performance to the larger and much more expensive D300 or 5D. But the smaller and lighter E-520 performs admirably in most lighting situations (and with a bit of skill, in many difficult lighting situations as well). I prefer the E-520 over the slightly lighter E-420, for its built-in image stabilization and greater dynamic range. The Zuiko 12-60 mm (24-120 mm, 35 equiv) is a superb lens – one of the very best digital zooms on the market. Best of all, I get beautiful photographs from the E-520 and 12-60 lens combo.
Note: This may all change if Olympus' entry into the new Micro 4/3 Format camera comes in around 10 oz for the body. If so, with a fixed normal lens, one might get DSLR results from a 13-14 oz camera and lens combo. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
Olympus E-520 SLR Digital Camera (body only)
|Anti Gravity Gear Caldera Kitchen (for AGG 3-cup Pot)
|The AGG Caldera Kitchen is the ideal couple's ultralight cooking system, and my wife and I take it on every trip. The original Trail Designs Caldera made it on my list two years ago. In 2007, packaging genius George "Tin Man" Andrews introduced the AGG Caldera Kitchen. It added so many refinements in functionality and creature comforts to the Caldera system that I am including it again. The AGG 3-cup pot is consistently the most fuel-efficient pot for the TD Caldera system. This adds up to a lot fuel savings on long trips with two people. The 3-cup pot and cozy are a boon in sub-freezing weather. The stove works flawlessly in the 20's F. Our tea brews properly and stays hot. Our meals actually hydrate and are warm when we eat them. I like a small pack, and the AGG Caldera Kitchen is one of the most compact and abuse resistant two-person alcohol cook sets I've used. (When I solo I take a 2.5 oz Trail Designs Caldera Keg.)
The AGG Caldera Kitchen is an ultralight bargain. It includes a full mess kit for two, measuring cup, stove, windscreen, pot cozies, potholder, and stuff sack. A titanium pot alone can approach the cost of the full Caldera Kitchen. The Caldera Kitchen is quite green by backpacking standards, using only small amounts of natural alcohol fuel (vs. open fires, canister stoves etc.) Just say, "I will not use a canister stove again!"
Weight: 11 oz for full kit – (7 to 9 oz in our usual configurations)
|Bozeman Mountain Works Stealth 1 Nano Tarp
|I like the simplicity and ease of pitching a tarp. At less than 4 oz for a full-coverage tarp, the Cuben fiber Nano is my favorite solo shelter. The Stealth 1 Nano is big enough for two people in a pinch, and my wife and I have used it that way! (Oware calls the same size a 1.5-person tarp.) The large coverage has another weight savings. When I solo, it allows me to use a down bag without a bivy to protect it from rain that might blow under a smaller tarp. In most inclement weather, the Nano keeps me dry with room to store gear and cook. And as always, it provides views and ventilation that a tent simply can't match. The Nano, while expensive for a tarp, is still inexpensive compared to most UL tents, and you get what you pay for. A tarp or shelter with the same coverage in Spinnaker fabric is almost double the weight.
Weight: 3.9 oz
Doug Johnson, Associate Editor – Redmond, Washington
|Trail Designs Caldera Keg
|This is one incredible system. For $60, you get a 6.3 oz system that includes a custom Heineken pot with lid, stove with priming lip, Caldera Cone, a protective caddy that works as a mug or a bowl, insulation cozies for the pot, mug, and bowl, a measuring cup, a fuel bottle, and a silnylon storage bag. It boils water quickly, even in a breeze, and is extremely simple to use. It packs into a small package that protects all of the items. It may not be the lightest option but it's close, and it's become my go-to stove for most trips. The Caldera Keg is simply genius.
Weight: 6.3 oz
|Six Moon Designs Refuge X
|At just 16 oz, this is the lightest two-person floored tent in existence. Sure, it doesn't have a bathtub floor, and it's not the best shelter in high winds, and it's expensive… but it's big enough for two to sit up, has great ventilation, does well in hard rains or moderate winds, and weighs only one pound! This is truly a breakthrough shelter.
Weight: 16 oz
|Hilleberg Kaitum 2
|At under 6 lbs, the Hilleberg Kaitum is not an ultralight summer tent. However, the harder I push this shelter in winter and mountaineering settings, the more I love it. It is spacious for two with easily usable space and dual vestibules that give plenty of room for storage, cooking, and two climbers gearing up in the morning. Best of all, it's totally bomber; I've had this tent in treacherous conditions and laid in my bag smiling while the tent gets absolutely pounded. There are few tents that can claim this combination of usable space, moderate weight, and stormworthiness. The Kaitum is a winner in my book and will be with me on many more adventures.
Weight: 5 lbs, 8 oz
Rick Dreher, Photo Editor – Sacramento, California
|Hennessy Hammock Hyperlite Asymmetrical
|The Hyperlite is the latest iteration of Hennessy's lightweight hammock series. Thin, light fabrics and miniscule lines have reduced weight to 26 ounces while retaining the utility of heavier models. NOTHING is more comfortable to sleep in than a correctly set up hammock and the Hyperlite delivered throughout last season. The often overlooked advantage to hammocking is it opens up campsites where ground-dwellers need not apply, especially valued in popular areas on busy weekends, where a hammock provides solitude otherwise unavailable. The only thing they went too far with was the Tree Hugger straps, which are far too short in this model.
Now will somebody please develop under-insulation that's compact, affordable and easy to use?
Weight: 26 oz
|BPL FireLite Ti Trappers Mug
|Holding a pint at a scant 37 grams, the Trappers Mug is an impressive achievement. The incredibly thin material, strengthened by the rolled lip, is strong enough for the task and titanium's low heat transfer rate helps prevent scorched lips. The cup will deform in the pack if not stowed carefully, but can be bent back into shape easily.
I used my own hard-earned shekels on the Trappers Mug so this isn't a paid endorsement. (I will happily accept honoraria ex post facto.) You want titanium cookware because it is light, strong, doesn't absorb taste or odors and is practically indestructible, and the FireLite series has pared the weight down to the minimum conceivable using this material. Watch this space for the beryllium series.
Weight: 1.3 oz (37 g)
|Pacific Outdoor Equipment Insulated Airmat (Thermo 6)
|When sleeping ground-bound, the POE insulated air mattress (16.6 ounces) is the most comfortable option I've found. Unfolding from its submarine sandwich-sized sack, my three-quarter length mattress is my favorite three-season pad option. It's more comfortable than self-inflators, infinitely more comfortable than a closed-cell foam pad, packs smaller than either and is clearly warmer than a plain air mattress. The main trick is finding the correct inflation (sufficient give without touching the ground).
It's slipperier than most pads when on silnylon tent floors and not as warm as thicker self-inflators, but in balance it's the best three-season pad I've used. I can imagine only a down-filled mattress as being a step up from this for overall comfort. Little wonder MSR is entering the fray next year.
Weight: 16.6 oz
Ben Klocek, Production Editor – Sebastopol, California
|Golite Jam2
|I love this simple pack that expands and contracts to fit my gear. With a little tightening of the compression straps, I don't even need to "MYOG" support using my sleeping pad. The roomy front pocket keeps all my essentials handy, and while the shoulder straps are a little on the wimpy side, this encourages me to keep my load light. I usually don't use the waist strap, as I love the freedom and the feel of the wind blowing up my shirt without it, but buckle that baby up and the load capacity increases by 10 lbs. My base weight hovers around 8.5 lbs, and with a weekender trailhead weight of 15 lbs, this pack is golden.
Weight: 1 lb, 5 oz
|Canon PowerShot SD630 Camera
|This is a simple, fast, high quality camera with a great macro and plenty of advanced options that can take a beating. When this camera finally died, I replaced it with another just like it. I carry it in my pocket on all trips and hardly notice it's there until I need it. Then, with a few button presses, I've got the right settings for the shot and – click – a perfect shot every time. The huge view finder is great, and I don't ever miss the "hold-it-to-your-eye" view finder that other cameras have. I love being able to hold it over my head or down near the ground without needing to get there myself and still getting great photos.
Weight: 5 oz
|Patagonia Wool 2
|Can you say soft? This shirt is like snuggling with my honey! I'd wear it all the time if I could afford more of them. The only downside is the price, so if you can find one on sale, get it. For a simple base layer that wicks away the sweat, stays smelling rosy fresh, and feels great on your skin, the Wool 2 is perfect. It's a lightweight fabric, so it can't take much abuse, but I use it as a base layer that is not subjected to much bushwhacking and rock. It's got a great slim cut, which looks great for town when worn over a t-shirt.
Weight: 5.9 oz
Janet Reichl, Editorial Correspondent – Durango, Colorado
|Teva Aniso eVENT Shoe
|The Teva Aniso has a softshell outer fabric and an eVENT waterproof-breathable lining. It fits well, breathes well, is quite light weight, and very supportive. I started out wearing them only when I was expecting some wet conditions, but since they breathe so well I now also wear them in dry conditions. I find them comfortable for desert hiking in cooler weather, and in particular I like that the softshell fabric doesn't allow sand to pass through like mesh uppers do. These shoes have a wider toebox, and though my feet are not necessarily wide, I find them very comfortable both on and off-trail. The OrthoLite midsole provides good cushioning and the aggressive outsole provides very good traction. The uppers have TPU reinforcements bonded to the softshell fabric for protection and extra support. The Aniso has held up well to off-trail hiking.
Weight: 11 oz/shoe (women's 7)
|Petzl E+Lite Headlamp
|On backpacking trips when I plan to do some reading or crossword puzzles in the evenings, I like to take the Petzl E+Lite instead of a pinch light. It's one of the lightest headlamps around, and frees my hands to do other things. It uses two CR2032 Lithium batteries, which are the flat ones that are commonly used in sport watches. The batteries are inexpensive and last a surprisingly long time. The light has low and high settings, plus a flash, is easy to turn on and off with light gloves and its ball joint pivot makes it easy to point to the desired angle.
Weight: 0.95 oz
|Granite Gear Air Space Bag
|The Granite Gear Air Space zippered stuff sack is a wonderful multipurpose item. The size small that I use is perfect to stuff my sleeping bag or insulated clothing. When in camp, it becomes a place to contain smaller items. At night I put any extra clothing in it and use it as a pillow. Its rectangular shape makes it easier to pack in a backpack and for it to stay in place when used as a pillow. The large opening provided by the long, waterproof zipper makes it easy to find things inside. On each end there is a grosgrain handle that provides counter force for zipping or to help pull the sack out of my pack. Made of silnylon, the sack slides easily out of a pack and is especially handy for wet weather or winter camping, when I can lay it down on the wet ground or snow and the things inside do not get wet.
Weight: 1.5 oz (size S)
Alison Simon, Editorial Correspondent – Washington, D.C.
Selections focused on economical purchase.
|REI Sahara Convertible Pants
|When I first started backpacking, I wore a set of convertible nylon trail pants. I can't remember who made them or what they weighed. All I knew was that they were the perfect set of trail pants. Five years ago, when I started lightweight backpacking, I "upgraded" to a pair of softshell pants with an inner nap that provided more warmth. Two years ago, I saw those convertible pants on the trail again and felt a longing to get them back on. Today, they are the only pants I wear, and I have not looked back. The reality is that I don't need that much warmth on my legs, and the softshell pants were slow to dry. The Sahara pants have a light, durable, and quick drying fabric (I'm big on washing clothes on the trail – everything I wear has to dry quickly, preferably during my washing up at the mid-day lunch break). The pockets on the Saharas (up to eight, depending on the pair) are great for storing the little stuff I use all day long (lip balm, sunscreen, mints, camera, dried fruit, etc.). The Saharas have a relaxed fit that is comfortably snug around my waist, yet has plenty of fabric at the knees and crotch to allow for full movement, including climbing. The twelve-inch zippered cuffs slide easily over my shoes, and the Velcro closures fit the cuffs perfectly around my ankle. In the two years that I have worn these pants, I have only taken off the pant legs once. But the ability to do so continues to send me back to these pants over a pair that doesn't have the versatility, for "just in case."
Weight: 12 oz
|REI Stoke 19 Day Pack (DIAD pack)
|Although it looks like I am getting a kickback from REI, it just happens that they have my favorite and most economical products this year. I discovered this gem of a technical, done-in-a-day (DIAD) pack this summer while looking for something to bring on a hill walking trip to Scotland. I needed a durable pack that I could climb in and that could withstand wind, rain, sleet, and whatever else Scotland wanted to throw in my direction. At 20 oz, the Stoke is about half the weight of similar hydration packs from well known hydration pack manufacturers. It holds just over 1100 cubic inches, which is enough for all my warm weather clothes, rain gear, lunch, and everything I needed for the day of hiking and climbing in the cold and wet weather of the Northwestern Scottish Highlands. Two compartments allow me to separate food from clothing, and the two mesh side pockets are available for smaller items. The Stoke withstood climbing abuse and the Scotland elements well (although I added a silnylon liner sack to keep clothing from getting wet on a very rainy day atop a Cullin). There is a small compression system atop the pack and a hand carry strap at the top. My favorite parts are the padded hip belt (with pockets) and padded shoulder straps, and, of course, the righteous orange color.
Weight: 20 oz
|Pro Bars (new Savory flavors)
|The original flavor Pro Bars have been around since the 1990s. In 2004 I stopped eating them because I need variety in my diet. There is only so much of one thing I can eat. In 2006, the company expanded their offering of bars to include four new flavors, Nutty Banana Boom, Apple Cinnamon Crunch, Cran-Lemon Twister, and Koka Moka. It was an improvement, but the new bars seemed to be based on the original Pro Bar formula, and therefore had a telltale taste similarity. Then came the magical year of 2008. Enter savory Pro Bars — Kettle Corn, Maple Pecan, Cocoa Pistachio, Cherry Pretzel, Sesame Goji (and of course, Superfood Slam, not a savory flavor, but still outstanding). Now there is a line-up of Pro Bars worthy of the major leagues for gourmet trail snacks. They taste great, and I love that there is a large variety to choose from. This summer I took some women out on a backpacking trip (their first ever) and by unanimous opinion the variety of pro bars were the favorite food item (the girls particularly loved Superfood Slam, while my personal favorite is Cherry Pretzel). I love that they average about 120 calories per ounce and have great organic, unprocessed nutrition. We now buy them in bulk, and I keep a stock on hand at all times. All I've got to say is "keep those flavors coming!"
Weight: 3 oz per bar


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Featured Links
Detour's Detour by David Kalat at Movie Morlocks
For my money, you won't find a more quintessentially noir film than 1945's Detour – it's got it all, from low contrast lighting to defeatist narrator to femme fatale, and in many ways, Detour displays the most primal forms of all these noir tropes. A while back I argued that Tom Neal's desperate narrator is a basically good man pulled inevitably towards tragedy, but David Kalat has a slightly different and pretty convincing take on it as well – that Al is a misanthrope who could quite possibly be guilty of everything that seems fated to happen to him. He also brings in much more about the source novel, its author Martin M. Goldsmith, and director Edgar G. Ulmer than I ever knew, making this a fascinating read – and making me want to rewatch the film again immediately.
Narration, Voiceover, and the Shape of the World by Bilge Ebiri at They Live By Night
Voiceovers are often condemned ipso facto because they're seen as being clumsy expository devices or ways to tell the audience about an event or character without just showing us. And certainly, they can be used that way, as lazy storytelling devices. But there are lots of other ways to use voiceover as well, and many voiceovers are inextricably part of a given film's appeal. Try to imagine Badlands without Sissy Spacek's dreamy, poetic voiceover (or True Romance, for that matter). Bilge Ebiri uses Malick's early films as examples, as well as several others that use voiceovers either poetically or to actually comment on or counteract the narrative-as-shown. There's a lot more than could be written about this topic, for sure, but this is good entry on the subject.
Fortress of Solitutude: Jeanne Dielman… by Dennis Cozallio at Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule
Chantal Akerman's three and a half hour long opus Jeanne Dielman, 23 Quai de Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles is something of a test of endurance – it shows three days in the life of the title character, three days of carrying out menial housework, cooking, cleaning, caring for a neighbor's baby, writing letters, and entertaining a gentleman caller (yes, that's a euphemism). Dennis Cozallio's excellent essay points out how effectively the film conveys "the crushing weight of Jeanne's mundane day-to-day existence," and he's totally right. It's a perfect example of how to make a "boring" film really well – when shifts in her routine do happen, the effect is immense.
In Character: William H. Macy by Alex at And So It Begins…
I've shared entries from Alex Withrow's always-worthwhile series on character actors before, but when he got to William H. Macy, I couldn't resist. Macy is one of those actors who always perks up a film with his presence, and in fact, I'll often go see films just because he's in them. Even so, there are a lot on Alex's list I haven't seen, so I'll have to get on that. I do particularly recommend The Cooler, which actually stars Macy, even though he's still in a very "character actor" kind of part. And though Alex didn't mention it, he's a ton of fun in Mystery Men.
10 Little Known Movies You Need to See Now by Kevyn Knox at Anomalous Material
Kevyn Knox comes up with some pretty awesome lists for his Anomalous Material column, and though this one is largely unthemed, it's still a really great read. I've only seen a couple on here (one of them is Detour; see above for how much I love that film), but I'm definitely planning to move the others higher on my list. I hope Kevyn does more lists like this in the future. As if my to-watch list NEEDED to be any longer :)
Film Art: An Introduction Reaches a Milestone With Help from the Criterion Collection by David Bordwell
After pioneering the use of actual film captures instead of production stills for their textbook Film Art: An Introduction, David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson are going on step further, partnering with the Criterion Collection to include video clips with commentary for teachers to use along with the textbook. You'd think this kind of thing would be a given by now, but copyright laws are difficult even in an academic context, where you'd assume fair use would reign supreme. So getting Criterion's cooperation on this is a large step forward, and hopefully will open the door for more distributors and film textbook authors to take advantage of digital media in the classroom. Here's an example of what they're doing, with Thompson discussing Eliptical Editing in Varda's Vagabond. (click link to open in a lightbox)
Help Rescue the Hitchcock 9 at BFI
Hitchcock's films remain some of the most well-known and best-loved films of the entirety of classic cinema (and I'm not only speaking for myself there, I think), but there are still some of his films in need of preservation and restoration – especially his nine surviving silent films. The fact that only one of his silent films has been lost is amazing in and of itself, but these nine still need our attention. A few of them have been released on DVD, but the video quality is not the best. To rectify this situation, the BFI is undertaking the huge project of restoring all nine of these features to present as a retrospective in London in 2012, and they're still raising funds to complete the project.
10 Reasons Why 21 Jump Street Exceeded Expectations by Oliver Lyttleton at The Playlist
Oliver Lyttleton was killing it this week over at The Playlist, with at least three or four editorials that I considered featuring. I decided to go with this one because these ten reasons are so solid regardless of the film at hand – if more studio filmmakers would remember these ten things, we'd have such better Hollywood films all around. I haven't actually seen 21 Jump Street myself, but I'm far likelier to check it out at some point with articles like this floating around.
More Links!
- CS at Big Thoughts from a Small Mind catches up with The Night of the Hunter, one of my all-time favorite films
- Ed Howard at Only the Cinema writes up Bela Tarr's The Man From London, highlighting its noirish qualities and making me really want to see it
- Chris at Silent Volume discusses 1920's proto-noir The Dark Mirror, which I'm now dying to see
- Ryan at The Matinee watches three more anime films and decides his foray into them has been a success!
- The Playlist has their complete rundown on SXSW 2102M, from A to D
- A solid, in-depth article from Kristen Thompson at Observations on Film Art reminds us that One Summer Does Not a Slump Make
- Last week, Tyler at Southern Vision gave us 10 great films under 85 minutes long; now, the opposite: 10 Great Movies Over 180 Minutes Long
- Jake Hinkson at The Criminal Element gives a good rundown of Joan Bennett's life and career, along with a beginner's guide to her noir films
- Tony Dayoub at Cinema Viewfinder reviews the best of Elizabeth Taylor's films on DVD, including the quality of the DVDs
- Maybe a dead horse at this point, but Film School Rejects' Landon Palmer argues In Defense of Boring Movies (and I agree with him)
- Oliver Lyttleton at The Playlist details a long-dormant 1930s Hollywood-set noir project that sounds AWESOME – someone pick this up!
- Matthew Lee at Twitch picks three other YA series that are better than Hunger Games
Cool Videos, Trailers, and More
Full Prometheus Trailer – wowsers
Sound of My Voice Trailer – Another Earth's Brit Marling as a cult leader/possible time-traveler? I'm in.
David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis Teaser (NSFW)
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Trailer #2
Snow White and the Huntsman Trailer #2
Mondo artist Kevin Tong's Edgar Wright Triple Bill poster – WANT
Noteworthy News
- Criterion is after my pocketbook again in June, releasing Hitchcock, Soderbergh, Chaplin, and Boyle
- Looks like Tarsem may follow his big-budget Immortals and Mirror Mirror with war drama, in that troublesome but awesome middle budget range
- We may get another adaptation of Orwell's 1984 – is it gonna be a period piece this time?
- Survey says more than half of 18-34 year olds want to text during movies – HELL NO
- Record Store Day is coming soon (April 21), and here's what we have to look forward to
- After loving Goldfrapp's recent Singles collection, I'm stoked to hear they're working on new stuff
- A major Rock Band Network authoring group is planning to use Kickstarter to fund licensing songs from major labels
- As a self-admitted gamerscore whore, I'm kind of pleased Xbox Live Arcade games will soon offer 400 points each
- A Mass Effect anime film? Yeah, I'd probably watch that.


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An example of reform and recovery | Table of Contents | For further information
14 April 2010
Does regulatory reform play an important role in helping countries recover from crises? Do crises pose particular challenges for the implementation of regulatory reform programmes? This study aims to answer these questions based on case studies of regulatory reform responses to past crisis episodes in OECD countries.
Part I highlights the benefits of regulatory reform, the importance of undertaking reform in a crisis and what lessons can be learnt from reform implementation. Lessons draw from several case studies and OECD country responses to crises of the 1990s and early 2000s, with a focus on Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Part II presents the detailed case studies of Japan, Korea, Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Regulatory reform and the speed of recovery from crises:
examples from Mexico and Korea*
*. This figure shows the change in the GDP for Korea and Mexico during their respective economic crises. In the mid-1990s, both Mexico and Korea used regulatory reform as a key part of the strategy to stimulate recovery from economic crises. This was a successful approach as both countries experienced strong and relatively fast recoveries. In Mexico, the speed of recovery in 1994-95 favourably compares with that of the 1982-85 crisis. During the earlier episode, comprehensive regulatory reform programmes were not undertaken until at least 1988; this can partly explain the slower rate of recovery.
Source: OECD (2010), Regulatory Reform for Recovery: Lessons from Implementation during Crisis;
OECD (2010), Policy Brief on Regulatory Reform for Recovery and Growth, Forthcoming, May 2010.
Table of Contents
Part 1: Synthesis
I. Introduction
II. Study objectives and methodology
III. Macroeconomic context
IV. Implementing regulatory reform
V. Supporting competition
VI. Increasing market openness
VII. Conclusion
Part 2: Case Studies
Case Study 1 – Japan
Case study 2 – Korea
Case study 3 – Mexico
Case study 4 – United Kingdom
Regulatory Reform for Recovery: Lessons from Implementation, full publication (pdf)
Please contact Stephane Jacobzone: email@example.com.
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text: Korean Job Discussion Forums :: View topic - How can I get my Degree Back from the school? Speak Korean Now! Korean Job Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in How can I get my Degree Back from the school? Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message JohnnyBravoJoined: 12 Jun 2003Location: Canada Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 8:08 am Post subject: How can I get my Degree Back from the school? I was just wondering how I can get my degree back from the school when I finish teaching in Korea. The last time I was there, I didn't get it back. I have heard that you can get it stamped or something at the Korean Embassy. How does that work? Any information would be appreciated. Regards, Johnny Bravo Back to top SquaffyJoined: 25 Feb 2003Location: All over the place Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 2:26 pm Post subject: Seems I am the one to tolerate such a daft question - don't EVER hand over the original degree certificate. Get some color copies made, get the Embassy to stamp them (notarisation) and use them. Simple. Do it and dont screw up. Be wise my friend. Back to top JohnnyBravoJoined: 12 Jun 2003Location: Canada Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 4:25 pm Post subject: OK, sorry its such a daft question, however, the last school I worked with told me that they HAD to have the original. I didn't know. I know better now. So, how do I get the degree notarized? Just bring it to the Korean Embassy? Thanks in advance for your help with these daft questions. Johnny Back to top GirlFromMarsJoined: 15 May 2003Location: Corea do Sul Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:38 pm Post subject: Johnny, call the embassy to find out their procedure, as it can vary in different countries. In my case, I didn't need to send them my original degree, just a certified copy and they notarised it. It's painless. Back to top maxxx_powerJoined: 17 Mar 2003Location: BWAHAHAHAHA! I'M FREE!!!!!!! Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2003 6:57 pm Post subject: How would I get my degree copied/certified while already in Korea? Now I'm feeling a little nervous with only the original. Back to top JohnnyBravoJoined: 12 Jun 2003Location: Canada Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2003 4:32 am Post subject: Thanks Mars Girl So, all I have to do is call the Embassy. Then all I'll have to do is send them a scanned copy of my degree and they will notarize it for me? Thanks again Back to top GirlFromMarsJoined: 15 May 2003Location: Corea do Sul Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2003 1:06 pm Post subject: no doofus. you call the embassy and they will tell you what to do. Back to top justagirlJoined: 17 Jan 2003Location: Cheonan/Portland Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2003 4:43 pm Post subject: Okay, so not everyone is an expert on what to do with their diploma...I for one, will not call you names, but try to help. If you are not in Korea: find a public notary and take your original diploma plus your color copy and have them notorize the copy for you. If you are in Korea: I believe either the embassy or Immigration has to notorize the copy of the diploma. Someone else with more knowledge, feel free to help out here. Maybe the EFL law site can help. Either way, do bring your original diploma to Korea. It's just a good thing to have with you for this line of work. By the way, Johnny Bravo, I'm not sure if a faxed copy would get notorized. I believe they'd have to see the original along with the copy. In any case, if you are not in Korea, you simply need to have a public notary do the notarizing. If you have given your original to your place of employment, tell them you have to have it back within a month. It is yours--don't let them keep it. [/url] Back to top GirlFromMarsJoined: 15 May 2003Location: Corea do Sul Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2003 4:36 am Post subject: Quote: Okay, so not everyone is an expert on what to do with their diploma...I for one, will not call you names, but try to help. I was trying to help! read the posts! All I said (twice now) is that he needs to call his embassy. This is because the procedure varies from country to country. In my case I only sent the embassy a certified copy of my degree. If Johnny is close enough to an embassy to go in with his original, then they will advise him to do that. Any name calling is because I don't like having to repeat myself and also because the time it takes to post here is the same time it would take to call the embassy. It was meant in a jesting tone so don't take the moral high ground. Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Forums:----------------FAQJob-related Discussion ForumGeneral Discussion ForumOff-Topic ForumTravel ForumCurrent Events ForumTechnology ForumBuy/Sell/Trade Forum You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Contact Dave's ESL Cafe Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved. Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe


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A flag for the season....football season that is. The Chicago Bears house flag is made of durable, polyester fabric designed with 2 heavy-duty metal grommets so it is easy to hang either inside your home or man cave or outside in the yard. The banner flag is decorated with the NFL team helmet in vibrant Bears colors. This officially licensed house and garden flag is made of durable polyester and is designed with 2 heavy-duty metal grommets so it is easy to hang.
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Our final today was between defending Champion and world # 2 Raneem El Weiley and world # 3 Laura Massaro from England. In the WSA head to head statistics Laura is ahead 7-3. Both players semi-final matches yesterday were not too long, so they should have arrived today in the final not too fatigued.
In the first game Laura got off to an amazing start taking an early lead of 4-1 and then 8-3 up. Laura found her rhythm and was hitting tight accurate deep lengths and putting Raneem under a lot of pressure. Raneem started to settle into the game a little and managed to get into the rallies more and play a few winners especially with her backhand drops this gave Raneem a little come back to 7-9 but Laura's amazing court coverage and perfectly formed rallies gave her nothing to play with and Laura won the first 11/8 with a great hold at the front.
In the second Laura got a 3-1 lead and Raneem was still not quite finding a deep length to put Laura under major pressure.
Laura didn't even finch when she was match ball up and very quickly went through to the win the 2012 Carol Weymuller Open in a glorious style [collecting her 10th WSA title] A very happy Laura said " I'm really pleased to win the title. I was really happy with the way I played and I managed to stick to my game plan as well as I could. Raneem had such a good week and I knew it would be tough today so it makes it even more special to win!"


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Game 10: Toronto at Minnesota pregame
My inbox was flooded after last night's game with notes from Blue Jays fans begging to know why on earth manager Cito Gaston didn't use Travis Snider as a pinch hitter on Tuesday night. The game was tied in the 10th, a righty was on the mound, and Gaston kept Jose Bautista in the game.
Gaston explained the decision today. Basically, Bautista is going to see action at third base this season on days Scott Rolen is off, so he's going to have to face right-handed pitching. That played a role in the move. Also, Gaston isn't one to potentially mess with the confidence/trust factor.
"It's kind of one of those touchy things," Gaston said. "You take a veteran out for a rookie to hit for him? I've always believed I might lose a game here or there, but I'm going to win one down the road by not doing things like that."
Now, later in the season, Gaston might not make a similar decision. Being only nine games in, though, he doesn't want to make a move that might have one of his players questioning the skipper's faith in him. Things were certainly magnified last night in light of the fact that Snider hit two bombs the game before.
Would I have subbed Snider for Bautista in that situation? Sure. But, that doesn't mean I don't see where Gaston is coming from. A similar scenario came up earlier in the season with first baseman Lyle Overbay — a point where Kevin Millar could have pinch hit against a lefty. Overbay is the first baseman and Gaston reiterated that by keeping him in the game.
There's more to managing than just making moves on the field. Gaston has to keep in mind the varying personalities within the clubhouse, and how certain players might react to being pulled from the game. Sometimes, remembering that aspect during certain situations might help explain some of Gaston's decisions.
Today's lineups:
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Scott Rolen, 3B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Michael Barrett, C
9. Travis Snider, LF
Starter: RHP Scott Richmond (0-0)
1. Denard Span, LF
2. Alexi Casilla, 2B
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Jason Kubel, DH
5. Michael Cuddyer, RF
6. Joe Crede, 3B
7. Mike Redmond, C
8. Nick Punto, SS
9. Carlos Gomez, CF
Starter: RHP Scott Baker (0-0)
13 Comments
Do you know why tomorrow's game is not an afternoon game ? Is there something going on at the Metrodome in the afternoon ? Seems kind of unfair the Jay's play an evening game that should end around 11pm , then board a plane to head back to TO. that will probably arrive around 3am then play another game at 7 pm . Oakland played this afternoon so they will be well rested. Don't get me wrong I like the fact we can watch tomorrow's game , I am just surprised by the timing .
Richmond actually looks pretty good so far tonight. Hopefully he can keep it up, give a rest to the bullpen and gain some confidence for his next start.
Looking ahead, I see that starting tomorrow the Jays face 3 Lefties in 4 days. I wonder if Cito starts Snider and Overbay in some of those games, or if he sticks to what he's doing.
I didn't forget the pistachios tonight. They seem to be working.
That's why Cito's doin what he's doin, I guess, JB. I would have been tempted too, but that's why I'n doin what I'm doin.
Wasn't it Joe Torre that said you have 2 months to find out what you've got, 2 months to get them organized, and 2 months to make a playoff run? So far, we are still in the first 2 months.
I mean, it was just because I forgot the pistachios last night anyway.
Great game by the Jays overall but particularly Hill and Richmond.
I really like what I saw from Snider last night. He struck out early on the high fastball, and later in the game he let those same pitches go on by and drew a walk. He also doubled and scored in the meantime. If he keeps doing that, he will have to move up in the lineup just to get some protection.
So where is everybody that was saying Richmond belongs in the minors??? Not a peep!
I would have loved to see Snider pinch hit, but hey if Cito has a plan ill jump on board. I think the results speak for themselves so far.
I was one of the people who didnt think Richmond standed a chance (maybe 3 or 4 starts tops). But that was impressive, it's only one start, but its a confidence booster. If the rotation gets on a little roll, this team could easily reel off another 7 wins in the next 10 games if not better. Halladay will be Halladay, but if Purcey Richmond and Romero give consistant solid 6-7 innings with 3-4 runs or less things could get scary good. The true test will come against some of the better teams (AL East).
I assume your comment was referring to my posts on Richmond.
In a nutshell what I said was "if he didn't do something to get left hand hitters out, he wouldn't be in the major leagues." I said this because left handers were hitting over .400 against him and all 3 hr's hit off him were left handers.
Watching him pitch last night, I noticed his pitches to left handers were elevated in the first inning and he got nailed with 3 hits and two runs scored-although the second one shouldn't have scored if Barrett got in front of the pitch instead of trying to grab it.
HOWEVER, in later innings, his pitch elevation was the same as it was for right handers-down in the zone and he was much more effective. In addition, his change-up was much more effective last night than in previous outings.
Of course, one start does not a career make, but if he keeps it down to lefties like he does to righties and keeps improving on the change up he very well might work out. Lets hope he does.
Scott Richmond is a mediocre at best AAA pitcher!! He deserves at hats of for his performance last evening but don't expect alot of this out of him. His ERA over 30 plus starts in the majors starts with a 6. If anything Brad Arnsberg deserves most of the credit for turning alot of average pitchers into usefull commodities. I would sign this guy to a forever contract…………. Turning average guys like Janssen, Marcum, Litsch etc. in decent plus players is a phenominal achievment never mind what he has done with the bullpen the last few years.
Most of you laughed last year when I insulted Gibbons and campaigned to bring back Cito ( for the last 2 years by the by).
A baseball team is no different than any business or corporation………. it is only as strong as management. They now have the right management in place and hopefully J.P. will keep his job as well. Always liked the guy other than the hiring and slow firing of Gibbons. I believe he has grown as a GM and now realizes that he does not have to CONTROL the field manager which was why Gibbons was here.
How's the Rolen for Glaus trade look now everybody? When I came out here a little over a year ago and did cartwheels over this trade people here questioned it. Scott Rolen is simply and has been for 10 years one of the best players in baseball and J.P. should get a raise for fleecing the Cardinals on that one.
You need to check your numbers on Richmond. He's had 7 starts (not 30) in the majors (5 last year and 2 this year) and his career era is a respectable 3.86, not 6 something.
It's too early to tell whether he'll make it or not. That in all likelihood will depend on how he does against left hand batters since righties are only hitting .143 off of him.
However, as I mentioned in my post above, if he keeps doing what he did last night he will be fine. He'll not likely be a Cy Young candidate, but he might end up being either a good 5th starter of a rightie specialist in the pen-much like Wolfe used to be.
Frankly,everyone here liked the Rolen/Galus trade; I can't remember anyone against it, although considering the kind of year Glaus had last year versus Rolen, some might have thought differently.
As good as Rolen looks right now, he has a lot of catching up to what Glaus put up last year-you might want to check that out.
As far as Richmond goes I was saying if he were to start 30+ times this season his ERA would be six something. The guy has NO chance to be a regular or even spot starter. The man I'm sure is a nice guy but not a professional ( major League) pitcher. Comparing Troy Glaus' career to Scott Rolen is nothing more than laughable. Defensively Rolen may be the best ever at the position and offensively Rolen is a hell of alot better too. Rolens' lifetime batting average about 30 points higher……slugging ( the most important offensive stat) and OBP higher as well.
Who's comparing careers on Glaus and Rolen? You talked about the trade and how valuable it was for the Jays. In that case you look at what each guy did last year for their new teams, not what they did for their career.
Last year Glaus:
33 doubles, 27 hr's, 99 rbi's
Last year Rolen
30 doubles, 11 hr's, 50 rbi's.
As I said, Rolen has some catching up to do in order to make it a "even trade" from the Jays perspective.


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IMDb | AniDB
In the year 2029, the world is made borderless by the net; augmented humans live in virtual environments, watched over by law enforcement that is able to download themselves into super-powered, crime busting mecha.
The ultimate secret agent of the future is not human, has no physical body and can freely travel the information highways of the world, hacking and manipulating whatever and whenever required.
source: blu-ray
runtime: 01:22:40
resolution: 1856×1008 (anamorphic 1865×1008)
video codec: h264 @ 12035 kbps / 23.976 fps
audio codec: 2.0 flac, 2.0 AC3
audio languages: japanese, english
subtitles: english (ass, srt)
file size: 7.6GB
ed2k: ghost_in_the_shell[1856x1008.h264.flac.ac3][niizk].mkv [7.64 Gb] [Stats]
thanks to niizk!


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February 18, 1949 - September 25, 2013
Campbell Hall, NY
Arlene M. Schoonmaker of Campbell Hall, NY entered into rest September 25, 2013 at Home with her family by her side; she was 64 years old.
Arlene was born in Peekskill, NY on February 18, 1949 to Royce and Blanch Kavanah Stubbs. She was the wife of Richard Schoonmaker.
Arlene was a retired LPN at St. Luke's Hospital.
Arlene was a former race car driver, she also loved Science Fiction and Astronomy, and she had a love for animals especially cats.
She will be dearly missed by her family. She is survived by her husband, Richard Schoonmaker of Campbell Hall; daughter, Rebecca and her husband, Mario Herrera of Wallkill, NY; brother, Royce and his wife, Lisa Stubbs of North Bangor, NY; grandchildren: David Schoonmaker, Alysha and Tiffany Herrera as well as a nephew, Lincoln Stubbs.
Cremation will be private.
In leiu of flowers, donations can be made in Arlene's name to the Mid-Hudson Animal Aide, 54 Simmons Lane, Beacon, NY 12508
Arrangements under the care of Thomas A. Murray of the David T. Ferguson Funeral Home, 20 North St, Washingtonville, NY 10992, 845-496-9106; for further info or to leave condolences or a fond memory of Arlene for the family, please visit our website at www.davidtfergusonfh.com.


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The statistics are shocking. One out of 88 children born today will be diagnosed with autism by the time they are eight years old. A married couple, who are two of the country's leading autism researchers, tells us what they're doing right now to help cut that number.
Luca was just 18 months old when his mom noticed something was just not right.
"Repetitive motions and, you know, getting frustrated," said Tracy Sekhon, Luca's mom.
He was diagnosed with autism. The husband and wife team of Dr. Eric Courchesne and Dr. Karen Pierce are working hard to help kids like Luca.
"What we discovered recently is that the child with Autism has 67 percent more brain cells," said Eric Courchesne, PhD, professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego.
Those cells are in the pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain important for social, emotional, and language functions. The doctor believes something happens in the second trimester when brain cells are being formed. Another issue, the CDC says the average age of diagnosis is four years old.
"We know that that's really too late," said Karen Pierce, PhD, associate professor of neurosciences at UC San Diego.
That's why Pierce is attacking the problem two ways.
"I developed this eye tracking test," Pierce said.
Babies watch a one minute movie. On one side of the screen, kids are dancing, on the other side, moving geometric shapes.
"They will fixate on that and they won't look at the social images and when a baby does that, um, so far, that's been 99 percent accurate that that child is actually going to be on the spectrum," Pierce explained.
She's also using imaging to show abnormalities in children's brains. The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier the treatment, and a better chance kids like Luca have a normal life.
Pierce was in the running in 2012 for Time magazine's most influential people for her work in the field of diagnosing autism. She says the goal of the team's research is to discover an autism test that could give a diagnosis at birth.
Additional Information:
BACKGROUND: Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first three years of life, mostly affecting boys. It affects the brain's normal development of social and communication skills. A report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that autism is more common than we thought. Doctors believe that the increase in autism is due to a newer definition. The term "autism" now includes a wider spectrum of children. For example, thirty years ago, a child with autism may have been thought to be strange; now that child would be diagnosed with high-functioning autism. Most of the time, parents can suspect that there might be something wrong when the child is 18 months. They might notice that their child has difficulties with social interactions, pretend play, and communicating verbally and nonverbally. The exact causes of autism are unknown, but research has led the scientific community to believe that genetic factors seem to be important. Identical twins are more likely than fraternal twins or siblings to both have autism. Similarly, language abnormalities are more common in relatives of autistic children. Chromosomal abnormalities are more common in families with autism. Other suspected causes (but not proven) include: diet, mercury poisoning, digestive tract changes, vaccine sensitivity, and the body's inability to properly use vitamins and minerals. (Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
SYMPTOMS: Most children who have autism appear normal before one or two and then they suddenly "regress." Symptoms can include: being overly sensitive in hearing, sight, touch, smell, or taste; performing repeated body movements; and having unusual distress when their routine changes. The symptoms will vary from moderate to severe. Children will have communication problems as well. They include: repeating words they memorized (such as commercials); the inability to maintain a social conversation; language develops slowly; communicates with gestures; a slow language development; does not point to direct others' attention to objects; does not adjust gaze to look at objects that others are looking at; and does not refer to their self correctly (for example, says "you want cookies" instead of "I want cookies"). Social interactions can signal autism too; for example, if they are withdrawn, show a lack of empathy, does not make friends, treats others as if they are objects, prefers to be alone, and does not play interactive games. (Source: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
TREATMENTS: There are a wide range of available treatments for autism. The most commonly used treatments include Pivotal Response Training (PRT): Floor Time, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), and Discrete Trail Training (DTT). "Behavioral" therapies focus on the principles of behavior and attempt to teach children skills by providing specific cues and consequences for behavior in order to teach them new skills. Therapies based on a "developmental" model focus on identifying a child's current ability level and guides them through a sequence of learning experiences that become more developmentally complex across time. (Source: www.autism-center.ucsd.edu)
NEW RESEARCH: Research at the UC San Diego Autism Center of Excellence focuses research on the causes of Autism. The studies focuses on Diffusion Tensor Imaging, that lets them look into the microstructure of white matter in the brain; Structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging, which reveals the neural underpinnings of autism; Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging to help map activity in the brain; genetics; brain tissue; and stem cell. Scientists made a big discovery when they found that a child with Autism has 67 percent more cortical cells, a type of brain cells only made before birth. The study compared postmortem tissue from the prefrontal cortex of seven boys, ages 2 to 16, who had autism, to six developing boys. This gives the scientific community more avenues to research. (Source: www.autism-center.ucsd.edu)


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Both Greenwich and Lewisham councils are intent on selling as much of their council housing to private developers as possible. Above is a leaflet being handed out at Blackheath station by Lewisham People Before Profit.
They're occupying five family homes that Lewisham council are attempting to dispose of. More info here: http://www.peoplebeforeprofit.org.uk/lewisham/lewisham-pbp-news/
The petition is here:
It's not just Lewisham. Take a 178 bus through Kidbrooke, and you too can witness this happening in a real time Ballardian fever-dream. Council housing ripped down, next to NHS surgeries, and schools with children playing next to the rubble. Massive Berkley homes signs say "For London, for Everyone".
The council flats were for everyone. We owned them. The luxury flats are not. The council are selling our land to developers. It's short term profit for long term misery.