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Sunday, August 10, 2014
28mm Spanish Civil War Republican Guardia de Asaltos (Assault Guards) and a Spanish Romanesque Church from Barrage Miniatures
37 comments:
Excellent work on the miniatures and the church, Curt. Honestly I can't second your doubts about it.ReplyDelete
And many thanks for the hint to WBQ. Seen the add on many blogs and will definetely follow your advice.
Thanks Stefan, I think my hand-wringing is because I botched the first paintjob on it. (I forgot to mention it also began with a red roof until it dawned on me that the tile-work was slate and not terracotta - doh!)Delete
Excellent miniatures (and painting) and an outstanding piece of tabletop terrain with that building.ReplyDelete
Looking forward to digesting WBQ issue number 1.
Cheers Kiwi! Enjoy WBQ, it's a great read.Delete
Great work on the minis and the church, love the pictures too...And the WBQ n°1 is really stunning!ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Phil! Yes, Millsy definitely pulled all the stops on the WBQ debut.Delete
Lovely work thereReplyDeleteReplies
Thank you PK!Delete
Another Curt's materpiece! Really nice painting work both, the Asaltos and the churchReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Benito, you're too kind (but I'll bask in your accolades anyway)!Delete
Fine additions Curt, but that church is a stunning piece of kit - you lucky so and so!ReplyDeleteReplies
It was indeed a coup getting that lovely model from Alf. I'm delighted you like it Michael.Delete
ooh.. i do like that church... very , very niceReplyDelete
Thanks Curt! It really was a team effort and without some amazing content it would be nothing.ReplyDelete
Speaking of which, when can we expect a submission from you? :-)Replies
But your steady hand at the helm clinched it my friend.Delete
Submission? Hmm, I'll have to ponder on that...
And while I'm here, what's with this "being characteristically lazy" cobblers? I seem to recall being involved in a couple of painting challenges in recent years which only a chronically un-lazy individual ever would attempt to run...ReplyDeleteReplies
Curt's hiding his wealth under a bushel again, he's one of the busiest people in the blogosphere!Delete
Still, if you're planning any step-by-step project logs on SCW matters, I'm sure there'd be a lot of interest...!
Nope, I'm a complete slug at heart - if I didn't have my murder of hobby servitors on hand I'd be exposed as the fraud I am. :)Delete
Great work Curt - having had the chance to see all of these up close a couple weeks ago, I can tell you they all look amazing on the table - just incredible.ReplyDelete
And way to go Millsy!!Replies
Thanks Greg! A good portion of these were completed on your fine hobby desk prior to the game! I must have picked up some of your painting mojo when I was visiting.Delete
Fantastic painting work with the Guardias and the church. Really nice!!! "Barrage Miniatures" have wonderful products in their catalogue.ReplyDeleteReplies
Yes, Barrage does have a wonderful range of hobby treats to be sure (his matts are amazing). I need to make another trip to Madrid to ingratiate myself with Alf...Delete
Great looking figures and church. I up for leading the guards in the fight against the fascist scum!
You got it Peter, they're all yours the next time we roll out with them.Delete
No Pasaran!
Great looking troops and church; very much like the actual items. Best, DeanReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks very much Dean!Delete
Great looking troops Curt and really like the church!!ReplyDelete
Thanks Christopher!Delete
Absolutely amazing work my friend! I'm really hard pressed not to get into SCW right now by ordering some of those amazing Empress figures. The church is great also and to be honest I'd have done the same mistake in using a too dark basecoat.ReplyDeleteReplies
Thanks Nick. Yes, I often use dark basecoats for timberframe buildings as it makes sense (and saves time) but I stutter-stepped a bit with something featuring stone and mortar.Delete
All you SCW stuff does look really good. It really is a joy to behold. The church is a triumph as well.ReplyDelete
I am planning to let postie control the Guardi Asalto when I run my game there!Replies
Haha, Postie would be a good Asalto commander, but perhaps a fascist command may be more to his character? ;OPDelete
Very nice figures Curt, always like that shade of blue. I almost just bought that church for my Dark Ages terrain, thought it was very nice. was not sure about Dark Ages though, do not think they had bells. Did find a nice one that should do on the Cavilier Books site. I hope you are well. Personal Regards,ReplyDelete
Thanks John! Great to hear from you. The bells are cast separate so you could leave them out if you wished.Delete
Great work all round a Curt, Asaltos, Church.ReplyDelete


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Jakarta: In a bid to crack down on cheats, Indonesian football association PSSI Wednesday signed an agreement with Switzerland-based Sportsradar to provide intelligence about global betting on the Indonesian Super League (ISL) and other tournaments until the end of 2016.
Sportradar`s Fraud Detection System (FDS), which recently received an ISO certificate of quality, will be used to monitor betting behaviour and patterns for the remaining 290 matches of the 2014 season, including the ISL and Divisi Utama.
The FDS will cover all 1,538 matches in both the 2015 and 2016 ISL, Inter-Island Cup and Divisi Utama. The PSSI are also in discussions to start using Sportsradar`s Fraud Prevention Services (FPS) to help educate those involved in Indonesian football about the dangers of match-fixing.
"We understand that approximately $65 million is bet on the ISL alone every season. This is a staggering figure. We cannot afford for even $1 of that to be placed on a manipulated outcome," said Joko Driyono, general secretary of PSSI, in a statement.
"We at the PSSI are absolutely committed to ensuring that football in Indonesia is exciting for players, attractive for sponsors and broadcasters and exhilarating for fans. Credibility and integrity is key to all of that and that is why we have brought Sportradar on board as our partners. There simply is no better system out there to highlight and explain suspicious betting behaviours around sporting events and we look over the next two and half years," he added.
Andreas Krannich, Sportsradar`s managing director strategy and integrity, said the organisation would work hard to keep Indonesian football clean.
"Monitoring over 1,800 matches for the football association of Indonesia is a responsibility that we take very seriously. The PSSI have not only put their faith in us and our Fraud Detection System, but they have done so for the long term. This is a great honour and we will work tirelessly in partnership with the PSSI to ensure that full and fair competition prevails across Indonesia," he said.

subset: commoncrawl


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High CD4 count attenuates stroke risk in HIV
HIV/AIDS-related skin conditions
No difference in stroke risk for HIV-positive patients
In a 15-year study, risk for ischemic stroke was 40% higher among individuals with HIV, but having a high CD4 count or low HIV RNA appeared to attenuate this risk, according to researchers.
Michael J. Silverberg, PhD, MPH, of the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research in Oakland, California and colleagues sought to identify the association between HIV infection and the incidence for ischemic stroke in 24,768 HIV-positive and 257,600 HIV-negative patients included in the Kaiser Permanente Northern and Southern California system for the years 1996 to 2011.
The ischemic stroke rate per 100,000 person-years was 125 (n=151 events) for HIV-positive adults, and 74 (n=1,128 events) for HIV-negative adults (adjusted rate ratio 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.7), the researchers reported in AIDS.
However, the risk for ischemic stroke was not elevated among patients with HIV who had a recent CD4+ count of at least 500 cells/mL (rate ratio: 1.0; 95% CI 0.8–1.4) or recent HIV RNA less than 500 copies/mL (rate ratio 1.1; 95% CI: 0.9–1.4) compared with those without HIV.
Recent CD4+ cell count less than 200 cells/mL (rate ratio=2.5; 95% CI, 1.3-4.6) was the only independent risk factor for ischemic stroke after the researchers adjusted for recent HIV RNA and nadir CD4 count.
The study supports the idea that immunodeficiency may play a role in ischemic stroke risk. It also suggests CD4 cell count may be useful beyond it's function as a way to monitor HIV and may have additional utility in those with sustained virologic suppression.


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at RP, and if there is room for two cars? Tent camping, no camper. looks like a small site, but cannot tell. please let me know. thanks
Site question
General discussions specific to Rollins Pond, neighbouring campground to Fish Creek. Ask a question, share your experiences at Rollins or make suggestions to others.
3 posts • Page 1 of 1
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Wed Feb 15, 2012 10:06 am
- Your Real Name (optional): Lori C
Site question
Happy New Year! Wondering if anyone has stayed on Site 60
- Rollins Fan
- Devote Rollins Pond Camper
- Posts: 503
- Joined: Sun Jul 20, 2008 4:58 pm
- Years at Fish Creek: 19
- Camping Equipment: small travel trailer
- Your Real Name (optional): Anne
- Location: St Lawrence Valley, NY
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Re: Site question
I've never stayed on that site, but walked through the area a lot. The sites there are pretty close to each other. You aren't far from the showers and could park the second car there, if needed.
Now posting wildlife videos on YouTube as nymcmoo
Other photos posted at http://www.wunderground.com with the handle of mcmoo
If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito.
- Devote FCP Camper
- Posts: 60
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- Camping Equipment: tent, canopy, kayaks
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Re: Site question
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Ok we have a winner! All BRK's gang members liked this lunch. Hell froze over, pigs flew, and Easter was in May. They like pretzels, they like wurst, or in this case hot dogs, therefore this wasn't too hard to figure out. In the big lifestyle overhaul this summer, the children switched from private school to public school- two of them have never rode a bus and all three had to figure out how to open a locker. He he. Little Lady no longer has access to a microwave, and the boys are tempted to buy school lunches (I'm sure pizza and corn would be their daily choices) instead of taking lunch from home. That leaves me with being creative. We will still do Mason Jar Meals, but will keep in mind that multiple jars will get heavy over the course of the day since they cannot always make it to their lockers.
Here is what to do…
Grab as many soft pretzel rolls as you will need. I got mine from Trader Joe's, I have seen them at Harris Teeter too in the bakery section.
Using a long thin knife, and working from both ends, core out the center of the roll. I made my tunnel no larger than the size of the wurst so when the kids bit into it, the wurst didn't go shooting out the other end. Also, save the bread crumbs for another use.
Now while you are working on your inner sculptor, grill your favorite bratwurst. Here I used Trader Joe's uncured extra Huge Beef Hot Dogs, because they didn't have bratwurst. While the grill was going I grilled some chicken too for our salads. See? Never waste good heat. I'll show you in another post what else I did with that chicken. Deal?
Now you have to put the wurst or hotdogs down through the center of your pretzel rolls without WD40. It works best if you let the wurst cool off. Hold the roll in one hand and gently push the dog down in the roll. If you must, use the knife and shave a little more innards out to get the wurst in there. Patience.
Wrap the pretzel wursts in deli paper and slide each back in the original bags for packing. Refrigerate until ready to eat, or store in a lunch box with an ice- we like our Packits. To reheat, remove from plastic sleeve, leave in paper, and microwave for 30 seconds. If you do not have a microwave, these taste nice at room temp, simply remove from fridge about one hour before lunch to get rid of the chill. Dip in mustard if you like.
I have a few more cool lunches that I have been making that are definitely in the rotation as requested by my Team.
I'll share them next week.
Are you Packing Eat?


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January 23, 2009
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA, APPELLEEv.ANGEL REYES, APPELLANT
Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence entered on March 23, 2007 in the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County, at No. 1388-93.
The opinion of the court was delivered by: Madame Justice Greenspan
CASTILLE, C.J., SAYLOR, EAKIN, BAER, TODD, McCAFFERY, GREENSPAN, JJ.
ARGUED: October 20, 2008
This matter comes before this Court on direct appeal from the imposition of a sentence of death upon Appellant, Angel Reyes, for the first-degree murder of his four-year old daughter Marcia Reyes on May 25, 1993. We affirm.
The record establishes that Appellant and Julia Martinez moved in together and had a child, the victim Marcia Reyes. Ms. Martinez also had two sons, Javier and Louis, who were young adults with whom Appellant did not get along. In August of 1992, Appellant and Louis Martinez had a fight. When the altercation ended, Appellant grabbed Marcia's hand and led her to the edge of a body of water where, upon being confronted by Ms. Martinez, he remarked that if Ms. Martinez called the police and had him arrested, she would find Marcia in the river with her throat slashed. N.T. 11/17/93,147. Later, Appellant threatened to harm Marcia if Ms. Martinez even had contact with her son Louis or if she attempted to leave the city. Id.
On May 25, 1993, Ms. Martinez met her son Louis at the home of a relative who lived in Chester, Pennsylvania, in order to avoid Appellant. Appellant, however, saw Louis in Chester and confronted Ms. Martinez about whether Louis was in Chester. When Ms. Martinez indicated Louis had been in Chester, Appellant placed Marcia in his car and drove off with her. He returned approximately twenty to twenty-five minutes later without her. Upon returning, he stated, "I did it, it's all finished." N.T. 11/17/93, 55-59, 65.
Later that night, Appellant appeared at the Chester Police Station and admitted to both Sergeant Lawrence Platt and Detective Walter Loveland that he killed his daughter Marcia. Following Miranda warnings,*fn1 Appellant later told authorities that he drowned his daughter by dropping her into Ridley Creek off a bridge located in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. N.T. 11/17/93, 104-108. The decedent's body was recovered the next day. An autopsy revealed that she drowned and that the manner of death was homicide.
Appellant was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2502(a), aggravated assault, 18 Pa.C.S. § 2702(a)(1), and endangering the welfare of children, 18 Pa.C.S. § 4304. He was tried in November of 1993 by the Honorable Frank T. Hazel, sitting without a jury. At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Hazel found Appellant guilty of all charges. In January of 1994, a jury was empanelled for a penalty hearing. On January 13, 1994, the jury returned a verdict of death, finding one aggravating circumstance, namely, that the victim was a child under twelve years of age, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(16), and no mitigating circumstances. Appellant filed motions for reconsideration of sentence and/or a new sentence, which were denied. Appellant then filed a supplemental motion for a new sentencing trial, which was also denied. On July 19, 1994, the trial court imposed on Appellant a sentence of death for the first-degree murder conviction and a consecutive two and one-half to five year term of imprisonment for the conviction on endangering the welfare of children. Appellant filed a direct appeal in this Court,*fn2 and on July 31, 1996, the judgment of sentence was affirmed. Commonwealth v. Reyes, 681 A.2d 724 (Pa. 1996). Appellant then filed a petition seeking a writ of certiorari in the United States Supreme Court.
On November 21, 1996, while the petition for writ of certiorari was still pending, Appellant filed a pro se petition pursuant to the Post Conviction Relief Act, 42 Pa.C.S. §§ 9541-9546 (PCRA). In February of 1997, new counsel was appointed, and Appellant filed an amended PCRA petition. Both PCRA petitions were subsequently withdrawn.
On April 14, 1997, the United States Supreme Court denied Appellant's petition for a writ of certiorari. Reyes v. Commonwealth, 520 U.S. 1174 (1997). A death warrant was signed on May 6, 1997. On May 21, 1997, Appellant filed an emergency motion for stay of execution and asked that his prior PCRA petitions be reinstated. On May 23, 1997, Appellant's emergency motion was granted. New counsel was appointed, and on January 23, 1998, Appellant filed a second amended PCRA petition. The matter was assigned to Judge Hazel for disposition. Following several evidentiary hearings, Judge Hazel issued a clarifying order, dated July 26, 2001, which vacated Appellant's death penalty and granted him a new sentencing hearing, but denied Appellant relief from his convictions.
Appellant thereafter appealed to this Court. After reviewing Appellant's substantive claims, this Court affirmed the order of the PCRA court denying Appellant's request for a new trial and granting him a new penalty hearing. Commonwealth v. Reyes, 870 A.2d 888, 892-893 (Pa. 2005). On remand, a new penalty hearing was held in March 2007 before Judge Hazel and a jury. The Commonwealth presented evidence with respect to the aggravating circumstance set forth at 42 Pa.C.S. § 9711(d)(16).*fn3 The evidence showed that Appellant murdered his four-year-old daughter by intentionally throwing her off a bridge into Ridley Creek.
In mitigation, Appellant testified that he grew up in poverty in Puerto Rico, with ten other siblings, in a one or two room home that lacked electricity, plumbing, and furniture. He also averred that when he was a child, his father abused him by beating him regularly and by depriving him of necessities. This narrative was corroborated by several of Appellant's relatives. Appellant conceded that the abuse occurred more than thirty years prior to the killing of his daughter and, despite the abuse, he still loved his father.
Dr. Pedro Ferrerra, an expert in the field of forensic psychology, testified that he examined Appellant at the behest of Appellant's counsel. Dr. Ferrerra related that his examination revealed Appellant to be of low-average intelligence. Dr. Ferrerra explained that, with respect to the killing of his daughter, Appellant repressed the anger he felt toward his father and this repressed anger became manifest after Ms. Martinez disobeyed him and saw her son. According to Dr. Ferrerra, the anger Appellant felt towards Ms. Martinez was expressed in the killing of his daughter. N.T. 3/19/07, 111-113. Finally, Dr. Ferrerra opined that Appellant's capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct and/or conform it to the law was substantially impaired. N.T. ...
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Fans of The Walking Dead comic book series will be happy to hear this. One of the characters absent from the first two seasons is making his TV debut soon.
TVLine has learned that actor Chad Coleman will be joining the cast of The Walking Dead as Tyreese. Coleman is known for his role as Dennis "Cutty" Wise on The Wire and providing the voice for 'Coach' in Left4Dead 2.
In the comics, Tyreese is a very prominent character with the survivors, joining them after Atlanta and staying with them throughout their tenure in the prison. Tyreese is an Ex-NFL star that specializes in blunt weapons against the undead, carrying his trusty hammer everywhere he went.
Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead stars Andrew Lincoln, Laurie Holden, Steven Yeun, Norman Reedus, Chandler Riggs, Lauren Cohan, Scott Wilson, Melissa McBride, David Morrissey and Danai Gurira.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)


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Poll: Is inducing physical pain in others necessary in getting better at aikido?
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Dojo: Roppongi Yoshinkan Aikido / Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan
Location: Tokyo
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 571
Re: Poll: Is inducing physical pain in others necessary in getting better at aikido?
I would say its inevitable.
I think everyone agrees that there are better ways to do techniques than to use pain. The best techniques are ones where uke feels nothing until they splat on the mat.
However, that being said, I don't think that you can get to that point with any technique without first going through the "me give pain" stage. For one thing, until you know where the threshold of pain starts during a technique, you can't avoid it.
This is, I feel, especially true in people who have been training for maybe a year or two, they probably haven't developed the feedback sense to know how much pressure and/or pain they are inflicting. This is the reason 3rd/4th kyu's are so difficult to train with. They've got the strength and some technique, but usually not the sense of uke that's needed to judge how strong they are applying the technique.
With apologies to the 3rd/4th kyu's out there who this doesn't apply too...
Hiriki no yosei 3 - The kihon that makes your head ache instead of your legs
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text:
Silent in Sin
3For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
—Psalm 32:3-4
Guilt is a very painful place to live. Attempts to remove a person's guilt include a company that sells ordinary brown paper bags on which are printed these instructions: "Place the bag securely over your mouth, take a deep breath and blow all your guilt out, then dispose of the bag immediately." The product receives kudos for creativity but a lame award for reality. Sounds crazy, but people will try almost anything to remove the heaviness of their guilt.
King David knew guilt. What was the central problem of his guilt? Silence. David kept silent about his sin. Who was David silent with? David was silent about the sin with God. And that's not good.
After time went by, there finally came a point in David's life when he became very quiet with God. His silence was a futile attempt to hide from God and to run from God. Adam and Eve tried to hide from God and that didn't work very well for them. Jonah tried to run from God and that didn't work very well for him either. David's attempt at silence with God, well, it didn't work very well either.
Remaining silent in sin before God is like the little boy who holds his hands up to his eyes and because he can't see the person right in front of him he thinks they can't see him. Have you ever done that? It may work with a child, but it's not a game to play with our omniscient God. Yet King David thought being silent in sin somehow meant God was unable to see his condition and his sin.
The result of David's silence was intense suffering. He describes it as if his bones were wasting away and he was groaning all day long because of God's hand being heavy upon his life. His strength was dried up like that of a plump grape plucked from its life-source, the vine, and left out in the heat of the sun to shrivel. Silent in sin is a horrible place to live.
David's experience is a warning for us all. It's warning that the momentary enticement of sin is not worth the pain of sin. Even more, staying silent in sin rather than repenting before God is not worth its cost. Staying silent in sin before God is indeed a very bad place to live.—Doug Helmer
· Has there been a time in my life when God's hand was heavy on me in order to bring me to a place of repentance?
· Is there any sin in my life I have been holding onto and staying silent with God about?
Prayer – Father, thank You for Your faithful love. Thank You for those times when Your hand weighs heaving on my life, calling me away from sin and back towards You. May I be quick to run from sin. Help me with that, Lord! May I be quick to repent of sin. Father, I hear Your warning through King David. May I not stay silent in sin. In Jesus' name, Amen


text:
A central Illinois couple are charged with child endangerment after allegedly abandoning a 4-year-old girl at a Springfield liquor store.
A central Illinois couple are charged with child endangerment after allegedly abandoning a 4-year-old girl at a Springfield liquor store.
The girl's mother, Lee Ann Harris, 24, and stepfather, Damen L. Boston, both of Springfield, are each charged with one count of endangering the life or health of a child in Wednesday's incident.
A clerk saw one of the adults push the girl inside the door before they left the store Wednesday afternoon, according to Capt. Jack Campbell of the Sangamon County Sheriff's Department. The clerk waited 10 minutes to see if they'd return before calling police.
Officers called the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and soon found the couple. Harris was wanted on an unrelated warrant, Campbell said.
The child was not injured in the incident and is in DCFS custody. Her name is not being released.
Harris and Boston claimed they left the girl in the store because a friend was going to pick her up, Campbell said.
"We don't believe that story," he said, because the couple didn't speak with the clerk to inform him of the arrangement.
Harris and Boston are being held in Sangamon County Jail. Bond has not been set, and it was not immediately clear whether they have attorneys.
According to a listing dated Monday on the (Springfield) State Journal-Register Web site, a couple with the same names recently got a marriage license.


text:
Westworld has an ARG. The image above appears if you click and hold on the site's logo. Also, holding the shift button shows this.
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Westworld ARG
Posted by John at 8:07 PM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, arg, westworld
The Dream-Quest of Vellitt Boe by Kij Johnson is terrific
Professor Vellitt Boe teaches at the prestigious Ulthar Women's College. When one of her most gifted students elopes with a dreamer from the waking world, Vellitt must retrieve her.Sort of a cross between Frodo's early adventures upon leaving the shire and The Graveyard Book. I frequently stopped and reread passages because I enjoyed them so much.
Posted by John at 7:36 PM Links to this post
"Fox Updating King Arthur as Police Procedural Drama 'Camelot'"
The drama, which landed at Fox in a competitive situation with a script plus penalty commitment, reimagines the legendary stories of King Arthur in a police procedural. When an ancient magic reawakens in modern-day Manhattan, a graffiti artist named Art must team with his best friend Lance and his ex, Gwen — an idealistic cop — in order to realize his destiny and fight back against the evil forces that threaten the city.
Familiar IP continues to be in high demand as broadcast networks, cable and streaming services look to cut through a cluttered landscape featuring more than 400 original scripted series. For its part, Fox has found success with its twist on Sleepy Hollow
Posted by John at 1:39 PM Links to this post
Force Awakens level added to Star Wars Battle Pod arcade game
Posted by John at 1:25 PM Links to this post
Labels: star wars, video games
"All GOP State Senate Candidates Have Same Kids In Ads"
It seems all the targeted Republican state senate candidates had a big TV shoot recently, as they've all posted their first ads online in the past few weeks.
one thing does stand out: each candidate is talking to the exact same group of students in the exact same school hallway.
It seems the Republicans' Senate Majority Fund brought in all their targeted candidates and senators to one city to do a big joint TV shoot with their consultant.
Posted by John at 9:44 AM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, politics
Stylized Ron Perlman figure
The latest edition to the Gangsters Kingdom line is Heart 3 Bartley.
Posted by John at 7:36 AM Links to this post
Labels: toy
"Local people, along with many economists and officials, often think these data centers are a key to an industrial revival. But the reality is less impressive"
Mecklenburg County, which received $2.1 million from the state for the project, has given Microsoft 350 acres and offset personal property taxes by 82.5 percent, according to Wayne Carter, the county administrator.
"I've worked on a lot of nuclear power plants, and these things are a lot bigger than that," said E. W. Gregory, the head of the local electrical workers' union. But "the first thing they put in was a guard shack and a fence. I've filled rooms with people looking for entry-level work. None of it lasts."
The companies come to places like Boydton for basics like land, water and electricity. Even with low local wages, people are a high-cost item. As small as the staffs at these mammoth facilities are, companies say, perhaps a third of the company jobs will eventually be filled by robots.
Posted by John at 7:25 AM Links to this post
Labels: job hunting, politics
DC Comics super hero figures are the next Happy Meal toys at McDonald's
Posted by John at 6:29 AM Links to this post
Labels: dc comics, happy meal toys, mcdonald's, toy
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
ThreeA's Black Widow figure available for preorder
Posted by John at 8:47 PM Links to this post
"The Philippine Drug Crackdown Has Claimed 2,000 Lives in Two Months"
"Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines since June 30, has continued his bloody war on illegal drugs, resulting in more than 2,000 violent deaths over the past two months at the hands of law enforcement, vigilante groups, and other unidentified actors."
Posted by John at 8:44 PM Links to this post
Labels: crime, law, phillipines, politics
White Dwarf magazine is back
It's here at last – the start of the latest, greatest incarnation of White Dwarf, the Ultimate Warhammer Magazine. At 156 full-colour A4 pages, it's a beast of a magazine bringing you all your favourites from White Dwarf's long history, freshly re-imagined, alongside a whole heap of stuff you never dreamed of. We've got all the latest news in Planet Warhammer, Army of the Month, the Battle Report, A Tale of Four Warlords, the Ultimate Guide, Blanchitsu, Readers' Models and much, much more. That's not to mention that this issue is a boxed game special, bringing you 24 pages of rules for no less than 9 different games! This is simply the finest issue of White Dwarf we've ever made. Get one now – and check out our subscription offers, because there's much, much more to come.
Released on Friday 2 September, the first issue comes with our most amazing cover mount ever, a special gift to you to celebrate the glorious return of monthly White Dwarf.
Posted by John at 8:43 PM Links to this post
Labels: games workshop, miniatures
"There is no national database of guns. We have no centralized record of who owns . . . the firearms"
Anytime a cop in any jurisdiction in America wants to connect a gun to its owner, the request for help ends up here, at the National Tracing Center, in a low, flat, boring building that belies its past as an IRS facility, just off state highway 9 in Martinsburg, West Virginia
The National Tracing Center is not allowed to have centralized computer data.
"That's the big no-no," says Charlie.
That's been a federal law, thanks to the NRA, since 1986: No searchable database of America's gun owners. So people here have to use paper, sort through enormous stacks of forms and record books that gun stores are required to keep and to eventually turn over to the feds when requested. It's kind of like a library in the old days—but without the card catalog. They can use pictures of paper, like microfilm (they recently got the go-ahead to convert the microfilm to PDFs), as long as the pictures of paper are not searchable. You have to flip through and read. No searching by gun owner. No searching by name.
Every corridor in the whole place is lined with boxes, boxes up to the eyeballs. In the loading dock, there's a forklift beeping, bringing in more boxes. "You go, 'Whoa!' " he says. "Okay? Yeah, but a million a month?" Almost 2 million new gun records every month he has to figure out what to do with.
Posted by John at 8:06 PM Links to this post
"A 25-year-old with no Trump ties raises $1 million by dangling 'dinner' with the GOP nominee"
In just its first three weeks of operation, Hawes' PAC spent more than $108,000 on Facebook ads, offering an opportunity to win "Dinner with Donald Trump" — and netted itself nearly $350,000 in donations, according to federal records.
The biggest chunk of the money raised — $133,000 — went to a company that Hawes founded and owns, CartSoft LLC. The purpose of the payments is described on federal records as "media" and "media purchasing," though CartSoft's website describes itself as an online payment-processing platform.
Since its launch, the PAC has collected more than $1 million, Hawes told POLITICO. It has reportedly spent $0 on behalf of Trump.
But the dinner scheme is just the beginning.
"International corporations that want to intimidate countries have access to a private legal system designed just for them"
ISDS was originally devised as a forum in which to resolve conflicts between countries and the foreign companies that do business within their borders. But the system puts countries at a striking disadvantage.
Only companies can bring suit. A country can only defend itself; it cannot sue a company. Arbitrators who decide the cases are often drawn from the ranks of the same highly paid corporate lawyers who argue ISDS cases. These arbitrators have broad authority to interpret the rules however they want, without regard to precedent and with almost no public oversight.
ISDS was once an obscure quirk of international law, but it has exploded in recent years, as elite law firms have devised new and creative ways to deploy it.
A Newcrest spokesman told reporters at the time that the company regretted that the shooting had occurred, but said, "It's really in a sense nothing to do with Newcrest although it did happen on our site."
Posted by John at 4:28 PM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, law, politics
"A crucial clinical trial of the most promising new treatment for Parkinson's disease in decades might be delayed because of a feud between a key scientist and the influential Michael J. Fox Foundation"
The trial offers Moussa, a little-known scientist, a chance to vault into the top ranks of researchers, while Fox and its collaborators could reinforce their standing and tap into a bonanza of donations from wealthy philanthropists and worried patients.
The episode also highlights the tension between scientists and foundations that are no longer content simply to dole out money. Following the lead of the colossal Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, major medical research philanthropies increasingly seek to coordinate or manage studies, or control details of how they are done — vexing many grant recipients.
Posted by John at 4:17 PM Links to this post
"The U.S. is on track this year to post the longest stretch of falling food prices in more than 50 years"
Nationwide, the price of a gallon of whole milk on average was down 11% to $3.06 in July over a year ago; the price of a dozen large eggs fell 40% to $1.55 in the same period.
The glut is so severe in some places that dairy farmers have been dumping millions of pounds of excess milk onto fields. The U.S. Department of Agriculture just bought $20 million worth of cheese in response to hard-hit dairy farmers' requests. The cheese was given to food banks and others through USDA nutrition-assistance programs.
Posted by John at 4:11 PM Links to this post
Labels: food
"Japan's $320 Million Gamble at Fukushima: An Underground Ice Wall"
the ice wall is intended to seal off the reactor buildings within a vast, rectangular-shaped barrier of man-made permafrost. If it becomes successfully operational as soon as this autumn, the frozen soil will act as a dam to block new groundwater from entering the buildings. It will also help stop leaks of radioactive water into the nearby Pacific Ocean, which have decreased significantly since the calamity but may be continuing.
However, the ice wall has also been widely criticized as an expensive and overly complex solution that may not even work.
Since the accident, five robots sent into the reactor buildings have failed to return
Posted by John at 4:09 PM Links to this post
Labels: japan, natural disaster, science
Monday, August 29, 2016
Two books from my wishlist on sale at Amazon:
Charlatan: America's Most Dangerous Huckster, the Man Who Pursued Him, and the Age of Flimflam is $1.99:
The inspiration for the 2016 Sundance Film Festival documentary, NUTS!. "An extraordinary saga of the most dangerous quack of all time...entrancing" –USA TodayThe Friends of Eddie Coyle: A Novel is $2.99:
In 1917, John R. Brinkley–America's most brazen con man–introduced an outlandish surgical method for restoring fading male virility.
It was all nonsense, but thousands of eager customers quickly made "Dr." Brinkley one of America's richest men–and a national celebrity. The great quack buster Morris Fishbein vowed to put the country' s "most daring and dangerous" charlatan out of business, yet each effort seemed only to spur Brinkley to new heights of ingenuity, and the worlds of advertising, broadcasting, and politics soon proved to be equally fertile grounds for his potent brand of flimflam.
Culminating in a decisive courtroom confrontation, Charlatan is a marvelous portrait of a boundlessly audacious rogue on the loose in an America ripe for the bamboozling.
George V. Higgins's seminal crime novel is a down-and-dirty tale of thieves, mobsters, and cops on the mean streets of Boston. When small-time gunrunner Eddie Coyle is convicted on a felony, he's looking at three years in the pen--that is, unless he sells out one of his big-fish clients to the DA. But which of the many hoods, gunmen, and executioners whom he calls his friends should he send up the river? Told almost entirely in crackling dialogue by a vivid cast of lowlifes and detectives, The Friends of Eddie Coyle is one of the greatest crime novels ever written.
"The best crime novel ever written--makes The Maltese Falcon read like Nancy Drew." -- Elmore Leonard
Posted by John at 7:12 PM Links to this post
"I tried to help this psychiatrist figure out why Facebook is recommending that her patients friend each other"
"He laughed and said, 'I don't know any of these people who showed up on my list— I'm guessing they see you,'" recounted Lisa. "He showed me the list of friend recommendations, and I recognized some of my patients."
She sat there awkwardly and silently. To let him know that his suspicion was correct would violate her duty to protect her patients' privacy.
Another one of her female patients had a friend recommendation pop up for a fellow patient she recognized from the office's elevator. Suddenly, she knew the other patient's full name along with all their Facebook profile information.
Posted by John at 1:39 PM Links to this post
"Several SoCal USPS Employees Charged With Stealing Or Not Delivering Mail"
Norman A. Muschamp, 48, who worked for the Mid-City District of Los Angeles, is accused of taking part in a scheme where information from victims of ID theft was used to order pre-paid PayPal debit cards and have them sent to fake addresses along his route. He is accused of receiving the debit cards from the mail, then giving them to the others involved in the alleged conspiracy in exchange for cash.
Sherry Naomi Watanabe, 48, is accused of hoarding mail as opposed to delivering it to customers along her Placentia route. According to a plea agreement, she was found to have over 48,000 pieces of mail that she was supposed to deliver stored in her home.
Posted by John at 12:37 PM Links to this post
Labels: crime
Magneto comics illustrated by Gabriel Walta are on sale today
99 cents each (cross purchase for Amazon/Comixology). Kris Anka X-Men, too.
Posted by John at 6:45 AM Links to this post
"I noticed Panera has a 'gluten-conscious cookie.' What does that mean?"
AP interview with Panera's CEO:
A: That is gluten-free cookies in a world where the lawyers won't let you say "gluten free." You cannot walk into a Panera and be a celiac without having flour dust in the air. We're not telling you this is celiac standard. So our lawyers say we can't say gluten free. They're gluten conscious.
Having said that, there is no gluten in that cookie. That doesn't mean that your personal injury lawyers have permission to go after us.
Q: So your lawyers came up with the name?
A: As a simple, single soul that goes into Panera, I feel good about eating that cookie because I often try to avoid gluten. It has no gluten in that cookie. I'm not telling you that it meets the highest standards of whatever.
I think it's a stupid name.
Q: Why is the CEO of Panera trying to avoid gluten?
A: There are times when I want to eat it, and times that I don't. I would suggest that gluten tends to be tied to carbs. And I try to balance my carbs and my proteins and my fats.
Posted by John at 6:37 AM Links to this post
Sunday, August 28, 2016
Over the Garden Wall
Posted by John at 7:11 PM Links to this post
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Unlocking puzzle box
Posted by John at 9:00 PM Links to this post
"California bans ITT tech from accepting new students"
"We took today's action in the interest of protecting potential students who are considering enrolling in ITT."
ITT operates vocational schools at more than 130 campuses in 38 states, often under the ITT Technical Institute name. Last year, it enrolled 45,000 students and reported $850 million in revenue.
Posted by John at 8:43 PM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, fraud, law, school
"When the government planned to make it easier for mutual funds to quit mailing investors billions of pages of reports each year, the paper industry got involved"
American mutual funds estimate they spend more than $300 million every year chewing up 2 million trees to print and send investors 440 million densely written reports—which many recipients promptly toss out unread.
So last year, regulators proposed what to them was an obvious adaptation to the age of Venmo, bitcoin and mobile banking: make it easier for funds to provide certain records electronically.
But what was logical progress to some loomed as a menace to others—notably the American Forest & Paper Association and the Envelope Manufacturers Association. The two industries' jointly funded group Consumers for Paper Options rallied retiree and consumer groups to join their campaign, decrying what they call the government's "rush to digitize." They persuaded a bipartisan coalition of politicians—especially from the paper-heavy state of Maine—to threaten legislation blocking the rule.
Posted by John at 8:12 PM Links to this post
Labels: government waste, law, politics
"Carson Block, the renowned short-seller and founder of research firm Muddy Waters LLC, has taken a short position in St. Jude Medical Inc., denouncing the security of its cardiac devices"
Block warned that tens of thousands of Americans are living with ticking time bombs: St. Jude pacemakers and defibrillators that are easily compromised, causing potentially fatal disruptions.
Muddy Waters became aware of the potential flaws after a startup cybersecurity company, Miami-based MedSec Holdings Inc., approached the short-selling firm three months ago. The hackers had been working for more than a year, ferreting out security flaws in medical devices made by four leading companies. One stood out from the rest: St. Jude's products had an "astounding" level of problems, including lack of encryption and authentication between devices, which could allow hackers to tap into implanted devices, said MedSec Chief Executive Officer Justine Bone, herself an experienced hacker.
Bone said her company's compensation is tied to the success of Block's trade, an arrangement she knows will lead to some criticism.
Posted by John at 8:50 AM Links to this post
"The War on Rhinos? It's an Investment Bubble"
Since the start of the current war on rhinos, in 2006, journalists and wildlife trafficking experts alike have treated the trade as a product of Asia's new-found wealth combined with old-style traditional medicine: Rich buyers pay astounding sums for rhino horn in the belief that it will cure cancer or a host of other ills.
This reporting often comes with an undertone of bafflement or even thinly veiled condescension. Buyers, mainly in China and Vietnam, appear to be so naive that they ignore the total absence of scientific support for the medicinal value of rhino horn and put their faith instead in a substance that is the biochemical equivalent of a fingernail.
But a new paper in the journal Biological Conservation raises a startling alternative theory. Rhinos are dying by the hundreds for what may be in essence an investment bubble, like tulips in 17th-century Holland or real estate in 1920s Florida.
"Rhino horn pieces are portrayed in the Chinese media," Gao and his coauthors write, "as an excellent investment opportunity whose value is tied more to the rarity of the raw materials rather than the artistic nature of the item. The aggressive media attention has played a significant role in the growth of the art market." Press reporting about outlier items—those sold for astronomically high prices—"drives the perception that collecting rhino horn is highly profitable and influences black market prices."
Posted by John at 8:32 AM Links to this post
"The Average Joe Accused of Trying to Sell Russia Secrets"
When promotion after promotion passed satellite engineer Gregory Allen Justice by, he allegedly turned to the Russians to solve his family's dire financial straits.
The story of Justice is a cautionary tale of low employee morale combined with a 49-year-old man's overactive imagination. As described in the affidavit, Justice's preferred method for escaping the frustrations and anxieties of everyday life seemed to be watching Jason Bourne films and popular spy shows, like The Americans, a critically acclaimed series about deep-cover Soviet spies that Justice supposedly mentioned multiple times to his contact. Even the questions he allegedly asked about his handler's exact role in the Russian government—quizzing him about the FSB, Russia's successor to the KGB—sound as if he had watched The Bourne Supremacy one too many times.
Justice had apparently been prepping for this act of corporate and national betrayal for several years. Starting back in 2013, he allegedly began spending thousands of dollars on online training courses, signing up for such topics as "Spy Escape and Evasion" and "Legally Concealed." According to FBI computer records, Justice also researched the "sovereign citizen" movement and its highly esoteric arguments that U.S. citizens are, in fact, Constitutionally immune to any form of federal oversight, including income tax.
Justice clearly reveled in what many military and security professionals jokingly deride as "tacticool."
Posted by John at 8:24 AM Links to this post
Labels: crime, los angeles, spy
Friday, August 26, 2016
"That woman who had a cricket-throwing meltdown on an NYC subway now says it was all an act"
On Friday, an 18 minute video began circulating on Facebook, which depicted the entire incident—including the moment when the insects were released, first by the woman, then by another passenger who hits the container of bugs out of her hand. Unlike the blurry Instagram footage, this video is clear, and contains shots from multiple angles. It's the sort of video which gives the impression that maybe this wasn't such a spontaneous event, after all.
Intrigued, we called Zaida Pugh, the woman who posted the video, to find out where the footage came from. After speaking for some time, Pugh admitted finally "'It was a prank, I'm an actress. That was me."
The entire episode, she said, was a performance art piece meant to highlight the way people with mental and emotional health issues are treated.
"I did this to show how people react to situations with homeless people and people with mental health," Pugh explained. "How they're more likely to pull out their phone than help."
Pugh, 21, claims to have done over 50 similar "pranks."
"I hate doing auditions, and I really like the reactions," she explained. "I like it when it goes viral and people react and think."
In fact, this is not Pugh's first brush with viral fame.
Posted by John at 4:30 PM Links to this post
Thursday, August 25, 2016
Sad rock creature
Posted by John at 7:44 PM Links to this post
Labels: sculpture
"A hepatitis A outbreak in Hawaii has sickened at least 168 people, with at least 46 of them hospitalized"
"Health officials found that the outbreak was likely linked to frozen scallops served raw at a chain of sushi restaurants, Genki Sushi."
Posted by John at 7:28 PM Links to this post
Labels: hawaii, restaurant
New tee at Last Exit to Nowhere
Posted by John at 12:47 PM Links to this post
Labels: last exit to nowhere
"Should I Switch to Aluminum-Free Deodorant?"
There are two rumors, older than "them thar hills," that aluminum in underarm antiperspirant is potentially harmful to our health. The first is that it causes breast cancer, the second is that it causes Alzheimer's. There isn't any good evidence for either.
Posted by John at 12:26 PM Links to this post
Labels: science
The recently opened Marcus Mariota Sports Performance Center at the University of Oregon
The physiology area is the most eye-catching with a small boxing ring for shadow boxing, complete with overhead ring lighting in the shape of a glowing yellow "O." It is important to note that no sparring is allowed in the boxing ring; it is for exercise purposes only. The area also features heavy punch bags, speed bags, exercise bikes, antigravity treadmills and strength diagnostic areas in the form of instrumented platforms. The physiology area also contains a bone density scanner and an examination room, as well as a neurocognitive center, which in part will help diagnose and treat concussion symptoms.
Posted by John at 12:19 PM Links to this post
Labels: college sports, sports
"Vogue Brazil criticised for photographs of able-bodied actors digitally altered to look like Paralympians"
A publicity campaign for the Rio 2016 Paralympics has come under fire for digitally altering photos of able-bodied pin ups to give them disabilities.
The images of actors Cleo Pires and Paulo Vilhena, who are ambassadors for the Brazilian Paralympic Committee (CPB), appeared in Vogue Brazil under the tag "We are all Paralympians".
They had been photoshopped to feature the disabilities of Paralympic table tennis player Bruna Alexandre, who had her right arm amputated when she was just three months old, and sitting volleyball player Renato Leite, who has a prosthetic leg.
Posted by John at 12:16 PM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, sports
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
"Designing Symbols of Identity for the Refugee Olympic Team"
"my first reaction was to use black and orange, the colours of the life vests. My second reaction was to design a flag so easy that a six-year-old kid can draw it."
Gilbert Gottfried podcast about the The Golden Girls
He interviewed the author of a book about the show--anecdotes include Bea Arthur so hating being teased about her looks that she was driven to tears at a script-reading.
Posted by John at 7:40 PM Links to this post
Labels: podcast
Nnedi Okorafor talks about the inspiration for Binti
The scifi novella that just won the Hugo award had present day inspiration:
My own situation inspired the plot- I left my rather close-knitted Nigerian American family in Chicago to go teach at the University at Buffalo, NY. It was a contentious departure. Writing Binti was a way of exploring my own fears of making the wrong choice (which it wasn't). I'd also never written a story set in space because space scares me. Facing and conquering fear seems to be at the heart of the novella's inspiration . . . . Also, I have always loved the Himba people of Namibia, so I knew I wanted to write about them at some point. And lastly, for some reason, I was inspired to write murderous aliens when I saw a sweet little blue jellyfish in a lagoon while in the strange awesome country of the United Arab Emirates.
Posted by John at 7:35 PM Links to this post
Labels: book
"Small towns can't handle the sharing economy tourism boom"
In the teeny-tiny village of Joshua Tree, California, population 7,000, there are more than 200 vacation rentals on Airbnb.
In recent years, visitors to Joshua Tree National Park have soared, and last year the number of visitors hit a record high, surging by more than 27 percent to over 2 million.
Whereas before visitors might have been forced to find a new vacation destination if all the local hotels had booked up, now admirers of the region's famous stark landscape have a bevy of alternatives.
Posted by John at 7:29 PM Links to this post
"Curt Schilling Is the Next Donald Trump"
He's living proof of a truism H.L. Mencken noted nearly 100 years ago, i.e. that for a certain kind of person in America, failure is something you've got to sprint after at full speed to catch – it won't come to you:
"In the United States the business of getting a living is enormously easier than it is in any other Christian land – so easy, in fact, that a forehanded man who fails at it must almost make deliberate efforts to that end.
"Here the general average of intelligence, of knowledge, of competence, of integrity, of self-respect, of honor is so low that any man who knows his trade, does not fear ghosts, has read fifty good books, and practices the common decencies stands out as brilliantly as a wart on a bald head."
he might run for high office anyway, and would get lots of people to fund his effort, still more proof of how awesome it is to be a white guy in America.
Here you can be not just a failure, not just a spectacular failure, but a spectacular public failure, and people will keep throwing money and opportunities at you.
Posted by John at 7:24 PM Links to this post
Labels: politics
"Kuwait's new DNA collection law is scarier than we ever imagined"
[Government officials were quoted] saying the government will use the DNA database "to aid in the verification of Kuwaiti citizens," while another official said the data will help "arrest forgers and others who falsely claim their lineage." Senior officials at the Ministry of the Interior told the newspaper Al-Shahed last week that they expect 200,000 people to refuse DNA testing, fearing that their true bloodlines will be exposed.
Kuwaiti citizenship is restricted to families that have been there since 1920, and is passed down through fathers' bloodlines, with few exceptions. Out of a population of about 3.3 million, just over a third are citizens. Being an oil-rich country, Kuwaiti citizenship comes with a long list of benefits, including free education through college, free healthcare, grocery subsidies, unemployment benefits, and monthly government checks per child.
Also living in Kuwait, though, is a significant Bidoon minority–descendants of nomadic Arab tribes that for some reason or another didn't apply for, or didn't qualify for Kuwaiti citizenship after independence from Britain in 1961.
Posted by John at 7:21 PM Links to this post
Labels: middle east, politics, privacy
NFL teams are struggling drafting players used to playing spread offenses
The first and most pressing part of the NFL's ability to grapple with spread athletes, then, is figuring out exactly who can play in the pros. This was always tough, but it's now even harder because the NFL demands techniques that spread athletes aren't trained to perform.
In this regard, the Minnesota Vikings face a very modern problem: They're trying to win now behind historically gifted running back Adrian Peterson, and they need run-blocking offensive linemen to help him. In the spread era, though, those draftees are increasingly tough to find. "When you have a running back like we do, you're going to run block, and run blocking is basically out of a three-point stance," said general manager Rick Spielman. "And spread offenses in general are hardly ever in a three-point stance."
Posted by John at 7:16 PM Links to this post
"The Secret Furry Patrons Keeping Indie Artists Afloat"
there is still at least one online community that treats artists with respect and pays fair prices for original work — one community that artists can rely on when editors, publishers, and social networks make it more and more difficult to get paid. When it comes to commissioning original works of art, nobody can match the furries.
At an unsteady time to be a professional creative, furry commissions offer stable supplementary income for many artists.
Posted by John at 7:14 PM Links to this post
Bryce Harper holding Katie Ledecky's medals while she throws out the first pitch
Katie Ledecky had Bryce Harper hold all of her medals while she threw out the first pitch. (via @CSNNationals) pic.twitter.com/lXdz3TAkXf— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 25, 2016
.@katieledecky will ALLOW @Bharper3407 to hold her gold medals: https://t.co/lnZVkHX4Hj pic.twitter.com/vXPZcko3DK— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) August 25, 2016
Posted by John at 7:12 PM Links to this post
Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Dark Tower The Drawing of the Three: The Sailor #2 cover
By Jay Anacleto.
Posted by John at 8:52 PM Links to this post
Labels: dark tower, stephen king
Deadpool: Back in Black #4 cover
By Salvador Espin.
Posted by John at 8:49 PM Links to this post
Labels: comic book covers, marvel
What really happened at the end of Interstellar
Posted by John at 8:05 PM Links to this post
"The US Department of Agriculture announced on Tuesday, Aug. 23 that it plans to purchase 11 million pounds of surplus cheese for $20 million"
"The department noted the cheese surplus is at its highest level in 30 years and dairy producers' revenues have dropped 35% over the past two years."
Posted by John at 4:32 PM Links to this post
Monday, August 22, 2016
2016 Hugo Award-winner Binti is really good
$2.99 at Amazon.
Posted by John at 7:46 PM Links to this post
Labels: book
"Sir Ian McKellen was offered one million pounds to dress as his Lord Of The Rings character Gandalf and officiate at the wedding of a Facebook billionaire"
"I said, 'I am sorry, Gandalf doesn't do weddings.'"
Posted by John at 7:32 PM Links to this post
Labels: lord of the rings, weddings
Shadows of the Empire Evolution covers
Posted by John at 3:38 PM Links to this post
Labels: comic book covers, star wars
"Hundreds of Americans wash up illegally in Canada after river party"
About 1,500 Americans floating down a river that separates the United States from Canada had to be rescued from the water when strong rains and winds sent them illegally into Canadian territory, the country's coast guard said on Monday.
The Americans were taking part in the annual Port Huron Float Down on Sunday in the St. Clair River, which runs between the U.S. state of Michigan and the Canadian province of Ontario.
"They were terrified of entering another country without documentation. No one carries their passport or any ID, and a lot were drinking alcohol," Peter Garapick, superintendent of search and rescue for the coast guard, told CBC television.
Posted by John at 1:11 PM Links to this post
Labels: canada
Ghostbusters Rowan figure available for preorder
Posted by John at 1:08 PM Links to this post
Labels: ghostbusters
"Supercell's latest game, 'Clash Royale,' has delivered declining revenue for four consecutive months"
"The videogame-research firm estimates July 'Clash Royale' revenue at $62 million, less than half of the $133 million the game generated in March"
Posted by John at 1:01 PM Links to this post
Labels: video games
"Massachusetts to tax ride-hailing apps, give the money to taxis"
"The law says the money will help taxi businesses to adopt 'new technologies and advanced service, safety and operational capabilities' and to support workforce development."
Posted by John at 11:48 AM Links to this post
I assume part of the plan if Spider-Man wasn't available for Captain America Civil War:
An early keyframe painting I did for #CaptainAmericaCivilWar #Antman #Giantman vs. #CaptainAmerica Whaa?? pic.twitter.com/ZU6DD2rGvk— Andy Park (@andyparkart) August 22, 2016
Posted by John at 10:09 AM Links to this post
Labels: marvel
"Is This An Ad? Beyoncé And Her Super Bowl Airbnb"
It was a freebie! According to reps for Airbnb, Beyoncé was not paid to post about her stay. However, a source familiar with the situation told BuzzFeed News that her rental fee was comped by Airbnb (the host got paid).
"We're huge fans of Beyoncé and we're thrilled to see her Facebook post and hope she was crazy in love with her Airbnb listing," Airbnb wrote in a statement at the time. This is, you'll notice, doesn't indicate whatsoever that Beyoncé wasn't a paying Airbnb customer — to me, this statement implies the opposite, that she is a paying customer.
The FTC has rules – lots of rules – about how bloggers or social media stars are supposed to disclose if they're getting paid to post about a product or company. But these are confusing, especially if it's not a paid ad, but a free gift like a comped hotel room – something that celebs get all the time. The general rule of thumb, though, is that the average person should be able to tell if something is an ad or not.
I consider myself pretty knowledgeable on this kind of stuff, and I couldn't really tell. Bobby Finger, host of the Who? Weekly celebrity gossip podcast, wrote in Jezebel that he wasn't sure if it was an ad, either. If someone whose job is writing and podcasting about celebrity gossip can't tell if this was an ad or not, then how is the average person supposed to know? Especially when Airbnb PR's statement to the press at the time was so ambiguous.
Posted by John at 8:22 AM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, fraud
"China's Corpse Salvagers Profit From Misfortune"
Hundreds of people went missing as a result of China's summer of heavy rains, floods, mudslides, and dike breaches, according to the latest figures, and most of the missing have since been found dead. Around the country, opportunistic scavengers make money when they find these lost bodies.
According to an article in newspaper Chinese Business View, a man known only by his surname Wang was asked to pay 100,000 yuan ($15,000) to a corpse salvager who had found the body of his sister.
Posted by John at 8:18 AM Links to this post
Labels: china
Sunday, August 21, 2016
"Leonardo DiCaprio, the Malaysian Money Scandal and His 'Unusual' Foundation"
On the evening of July 20, under a tent at a vineyard in St. Tropez brimming to his specifications with booze, billionaires and babes, Leonardo DiCaprio was preparing to host one of the glitziest charitable events of the year: the third annual fundraiser for his Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Earlier that same day, under far less glamorous auspices half a world away, the U.S. Department of Justice was filing a complaint with the U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles that suggested the recent Oscar winner is a bit player in the planet's largest embezzlement case, totaling more than $3 billion siphoned from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund called 1MDB.
much like the gala in St. Tropez, with its expressions of one-percenter excess ostensibly in support of saving the environment (guests helicoptering in to dine on whole sea bass after watching a short film about the dangers of overfishing),
Multiple attendees who spoke to THR describe the annual LDF galas as freewheeling bacchanals in which wives feel outnumbered by suspiciously predisposed Slavic women in bustiers and couples openly cavort in the bathroom stalls.
Posted by John at 7:17 PM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, crime, law, politics
The Sisters
Posted by John at 7:10 PM Links to this post
Labels: laika
"This 81-year-old got fired from Disney — and refuses to stop working"
Before he knew it, he was 65. Human Resources told him it was time to retire.
Instead, he came back — as a contractor. When his contract ended, he pulled a George Costanza and went rogue, hijacking an empty desk.
Posted by John at 4:26 PM Links to this post
Labels: disney
"Meet the worst ants in the world"
As my neighbors watered the plants in our backyard, I watched ants boiling out of cracks in the brick patio, racing to escape the onrushing tides. Looking more closely, I discovered they were carrying tiny white bundles in their mandibles. I recognized eggs and larvae. The ants were rescuing their brood from a flood apocalypse caused by oblivious humans.
Later, when surveilling a trail of ants marching across my kitchen counter, I spotted one that was enormous—twice as big as a typical worker, with an elongated, bullet-shaped abdomen. I was watching a queen ant marching through my kitchen. The experience gave me chills; there was something genuinely awe-inspiring about seeing a queen in person. I had never heard of ant queens wandering around in the open. I guess I thought they were egg-laying machines, like the Queen in Aliens, and never left the deepest confines of the ant nest.
But spring isn't just about expansion. For Argentine ants, it's also time for their annual sacrifice. Hidden from human eyes, in shallow tunnels beneath tree trunks and underground, the worker ants kill 90 percent of their queens. By one estimate, the queens go from 30 percent of the population to less than five percent. It's hard to say why the workers would do this at the beginning of their mating season; Tsutsui called it "mysterious and bizarre behavior." So far, scientists have not been able to figure out whether this annual sacrifice changes the genetic makeup of the colony. It seems that the queens are killed with little regard for age, fitness, or genetic relatedness to the rest of their sisters.
After the queens have been executed, mating season begins.
Posted by John at 4:13 PM Links to this post
"putting 'Ben-Hur' in the ranks of the summer's biggest flops"
Ben-Hur's" backers aggressively courted the Christian community, doing outreach to pastors and holding taste-maker screenings for religious leaders. The studios also hoped that producers Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, who earned devout points with "Son of God" and the miniseries "The Bible," would help them turn out audiences.
Posted by John at 4:06 PM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, religion
"A federal judge on Friday referred Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his second-in-command for criminal prosecution"
Sheriff Arpaio and Mr. Sheridan had also made numerous false statements under oath, Judge Snow wrote, and "there is also probable cause to believe that many if not all of the statements were made in an attempt to obstruct any inquiry into their further wrongdoing or negligence."
The referral does not mean the sheriff will face criminal charges; it is up to federal prosecutors to decide whether to pursue the case.
Posted by John at 4:02 PM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, law, police
Friday, August 19, 2016
"Bay Area transit system to subsidize Uber, Lyft rides"
Passengers ordering Uber or Lyft car trips within two test areas of Dublin [California] will be eligible to get door-to-destination service at a big discount under a partnership between the ride-hailing companies and the Wheels public bus system in Dublin, Alameda and Pleasanton.
The Livermore Amador Valley Transit Authority, which operates Wheels, said the one-year pilot project could help pave the way for changes in how public transit agencies in the United States serve suburban areas hampered by far-flung bus routes, few riders and little money from fares.
Posted by John at 6:57 PM Links to this post
Labels: california, politics
JCVD's Amazon pilot is streaming
He plays a former superspy who decides he's bored in retirement.
Posted by John at 2:00 PM Links to this post
Labels: jcvd
I don't think I have enough room in my home to exercise with the Quad Mace
Posted by John at 11:49 AM Links to this post
Labels: exercise
Von Miller dances up a storm in the new Madden commercial
Posted by John at 11:25 AM Links to this post
Labels: dancing, video, video games
"These Are The Tiniest Condos You Can Buy In L.A. Right Now"
The "top 10 consists mostly of condos that are under 500 square feet, but still over $200,000. Let's take a look, shall we?"
Posted by John at 10:24 AM Links to this post
Labels: architecture, los angeles
Revoltech 1966 Batmobile available for preroder
"Only feathers from the left wings of geese are used in the [Badminton] tournament shuttles"
Fans in the stands and viewers watching on television have no way of telling, but Yonex included four grades of shuttles, from slow to fast, that are deployed based on the conditions at the badminton venue
To figure out which shuttle to use each day in Rio, a tournament referee and a representative from Yonex go to center court before the first match. On a recent morning, as a sprinkling of athletes and fans filed in to the building, Boris Reichel, who works for Yonex, took three No. 2 shuttles and three No. 3 shuttles and went to the service line.
He hit them with a gentle arc to the singles service line on the other side. The shuttles landed a few inches short. He then went to the other side and hit them back again. This time, they all landed closer to the line. Reichel figured that the shuttles had flown farther in that direction because of a draft coming from the doors that were opening on that side of the building.
Posted by John at 9:30 AM Links to this post
"Reeling From Effects of Climate Change, Alaskan Village Votes to Relocate"
Residents of a small Alaskan village voted this week to relocate their entire community from a barrier island that has been steadily disappearing because of erosion and flooding attributed to climate change.
In the unofficial results of an election on Tuesday in the village, Shishmaref, residents voted 89 to 78 to leave. The plan would move the village, which is 120 miles north of Nome, to one of two sites on the mainland about five miles away, officials said. But the village needs an estimated $180 million from a patchwork of sources to complete the move, according to a 2004 estimate.
Posted by John at 9:22 AM Links to this post
Labels: global warming
"U.N. Admits Role in Cholera Epidemic in Haiti"
it represents a significant shift after more than five years of high-level denial of any involvement or responsibility of the United Nations in the outbreak, which has killed at least 10,000 people and sickened hundreds of thousands.
Posted by John at 8:29 AM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, politics
"Chinese parents are less willing to gamble their child's future on the slim chance of Olympic success"
entering the final weekend, Chinese athletes are far behind their pace for gold in the last two Olympics -- and in real danger of coming in third in the standings behind Great Britain.
At one level, the system worked handsomely, culminating in China's record haul of gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. But even at its zenith, the central factor that made that success possible -- a large pool of parents desperate for better opportunities for their kids -- was disappearing.
Over the last five years, rural incomes have grown faster than urban incomes, while China's falling birthrates -- and greater economic opportunities -- mean that Chinese parents are less willing to gamble their child's future on the slim chance of Olympic success. The impact on China's sports schools has been debilitating. As of May, there were 2,183 sports schools in China, producing 95 percent of Olympians. While that might sound like a lot, in 1990 there were 3,687 such schools. In just one sport -- table tennis -- enrollment has declined 75 percent since 1987.
"The team is called the super-recognizers, and each member has taken a battery of tests, administered by scientists, to establish this uncanny credentia"
Three times a week, the Met issues an online bulletin, "Caught on Camera," featuring video stills of unidentified suspects committing crimes. Many officers ignore it, but Porritt found the activity of picking out faces quietly absorbing, like doing a crossword puzzle. He soon became known for his prowess at making identifications—"idents," in the Scotland Yard vernacular—and last year he was asked to join the super-recognizers.
By some estimates, as many as a million CCTV cameras are installed in London, making it the most surveilled metropolis on the planet.
When a super-recognizer makes an ident, she must submit it for "peer review," in which a second super-recognizer—usually Eliot Porritt—renders an independent judgment.
Posted by John at 8:15 AM Links to this post
Labels: human body, police, science
New tees at Last Exit to Nowhere
Inspired by An American Werewolf in London and Tremors.
Posted by John at 8:12 AM Links to this post
Labels: last exit to nowhere
"China's Empty Oceans"
On Wednesday, Indonesia celebrated its Independence Day with a bang -- blowing up several Chinese boats that had been caught fishing illegally in its waters and impounded. China doesn't dispute Indonesia's territorial claims, but Chinese fishermen have more pressing concerns. According to reports in Chinese state media this week, overfishing and pollution have so depleted China's own fishery resources that in some places -- including the East China Sea -- there are virtually "no fish" left.
Posted by John at 7:34 AM Links to this post
Hong Kong Objects to Poster for The Arrival
it was another alien object in the poster that captured the most attention: an iconic Shanghai building sticking out from what is supposed to be the north side of Hong Kong Island. In the hours after the poster went up on the film's promotional Facebook page on Tuesday, hundreds took to the comment section to protest the film with the hashtag #hongkongisnotchina.
By Friday afternoon, the poster had been removed from the page. And statements posted on the film's official Twitter and Facebook pages blamed a "third-party vendor" for making an error in the poster. A new poster was put up featuring the same Shanghai Oriental Pearl Radio and TV Tower, this time in its rightful city
Posted by John at 6:35 AM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, china, movie posters, politics
"US Swimmer Agrees To Make $11,000 Donation To Charity In Order To Leave Brazil"
"Once Feigen has donated 35,000 Reals ($10,800) to Braziian charity Instituto Reacao (Reaction Institute), he will have his seized passport returned and be free to leave the country, Costa said."
"CERN Scientists Under Investigation After Fake Human Sacrifice"
A CERN spokesperson has told Agence France-Presse that the video is only a prank and that nobody actually died.
Still, she says, "These scenes were filmed on our premises without official permission or knowledge" and "CERN does not condone this type of spoof." An investigation is underway.
Posted by John at 6:30 AM Links to this post
Thursday, August 18, 2016
"the Mylan pharmaceutical company has jacked up the prices for an EpiPen — the portable device that can stop a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction — from around $100 in 2008 to $500 and up today"
Following a recall by Mylan's chief competitor last year, the company now enjoys a near monopoly.
And because they have a stated expiration date of one year, parents refill them annually, incurring an additional co-pay each time.
Posted by John at 4:20 PM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, medicine, politics, science
Wednesday, August 17, 2016
"Chinese airlines need to hire almost 100 pilots a week for the next 20 years to meet skyrocketing travel demand"
Facing a shortage of candidates at home, carriers are dangling lucrative pay packages at foreigners with cockpit experience.
Giacomo Palombo, a former United Airlines pilot, said he's being bombarded every week with offers to fly Airbus A320s in China. Regional carrier Qingdao Airlines promises as much as $318,000 a year. Sichuan Airlines, which flies to Canada and Australia, is pitching $302,000. Both airlines say they'll also cover his income tax bill in China.
Posted by John at 7:55 PM Links to this post
Gwenpool custom action figure
By MM Customs.
Posted by John at 7:34 PM Links to this post
Labels: custom toys, marvel, toy
Gwenpool joins Marvel Future Fight
Posted by John at 7:31 PM Links to this post
Labels: marvel, video, video games
ThreeA's Black Widow
Available for preorder at the end of the month.
Posted by John at 7:26 PM Links to this post
"In CRISPR Fight, Co-Inventor Says Broad Institute Misled Patent Office"
A junior scientist formerly employed by the Broad Institute says the storied MIT-Harvard institution's claim to have invented CRISPR gene editing isn't accurate, and that the organization misled the patent office.
The former graduate student, Shuailiang Lin, made his accusations in an e-mail sent to Jennifer Doudna, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who is Broad's chief rival for scientific and commercial credit to CRISPR.
In the e-mail, sent on February 28, 2015, Lin called the Broad's claims "a joke" and "unfair to me and [to] science history."
The e-mail was sent as part of a job request to Doudna. In it, Lin, who is from China, seemed ready to barter inside information and assistance with the patent case in exchange for a job. "I am willing to give more details and records if you are interested or whoever is interested to clear the truth," he said.
Lin says that in early 2011 he was the only lab member working on CRISPR and that the lab was not then able to sort out how to make the technique work, something he says he can document with lab notebooks, e-mails, and results that "recorded every step of the lab's failure process."
Posted by John at 1:07 PM Links to this post
Labels: fraud, intellectual property, law, politics, science
Deus Ex Go is in the appstore
Posted by John at 12:00 PM Links to this post
Labels: deus ex, video games
The new light bone KYRIE 2 colorway
Posted by John at 10:52 AM Links to this post
Aliens 30th Anniversary Ripley Rescuing Newt two-figure pack
By NECA, available for preroder.
Posted by John at 10:13 AM Links to this post
Labels: toy
10 Cute & Creepy Minutes of Little Nightmares Gameplay
They did it live action, too:
First day presenting @LittleNights to the press is over! What better way to end than seeing it in the flesh?! pic.twitter.com/vTPy590mWX— Tarsier Studios (@TarsierStudios) August 17, 2016
Posted by John at 9:12 AM Links to this post
Labels: video games
"Walmart's Out-of-Control Crime Problem Is Driving Police Crazy"
It's not unusual for the department to send a van to transport all the criminals Ross arrests at this Walmart. The call log on the store stretches 126 pages, documenting more than 5,000 trips over the past five years. Last year police were called to the store and three other Tulsa Walmarts just under 2,000 times. By comparison, they were called to the city's single Target store 44 times.
All this is still happening more than a year into a corporate campaign to bring down crime—a campaign Walmart says is succeeding. Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon, who took charge of the giant retailer in February 2014, has made reducing crime a top priority. The company's new strategy primarily involves shifting employees within stores—moving them from the storeroom and aisles to store exits
He can't believe, he says, that a multibillion-dollar corporation isn't doing more to stop crime. Instead, he says, it offloads the job to the police at taxpayers' expense. "It's ridiculous—we are talking about the biggest retailer in the world," says Rohloff. "I may have half my squad there for hours."
There's nothing inevitable about the level of crime at Walmart. It's the direct, if unintended, result of corporate policy.
Posted by John at 8:20 AM Links to this post
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
"The Herschel backpack: how Generation Y carries capitalism's mythologies"
From last summer, but new to me:
Was a law passed recently that mandated every person under 30 own one of those blue and brown Herschel backpacks? How else can we explain how ubiquitous they are? Step onto a university campus and 90% of the students will be wearing one, seemingly in defiance of the laws of supply and demand.
The Herschel trend is fascinating. In 2014 the Guardian's Paula Cocozza went digging for the source of the bags' popularity. Brothers Lyndon and Jamie Cormack, both apparel industry veterans, founded the company in 2009 because they "did not feel there was a very compelling story being told about bags".
They named the company after Herschel, a tiny town in Saskatchewan where their great-grandparents settled after emigrating from Scotland in 1906.
In other words, the Herschel backpack is a bag for the rugged individual.
Posted by John at 8:35 PM Links to this post
Labels: advertising
Posters for The Arrival
Posted by John at 11:23 AM Links to this post
Labels: movie posters, poster
"NSA and the No Good, Very Bad Monday"
a group is hosting an auction for code from the "Equation Group," which is more commonly known as the NSA. The auctioneer's pitch is simple, brutal, and to the point:TC:
How much you pay for enemies cyber weapons? Not malware you find in networks. Both sides, RAT + LP, full state sponsor tool set? We find cyber weapons made by creators of stuxnet, duqu, flame. Kaspersky calls Equation Group. We follow Equation Group traffic. We find Equation Group source range. We hack Equation Group. We find many many Equation Group cyber weapons. You see pictures. We give you some Equation Group files free, you see. This is good proof no? You enjoy!!! You break many things. You find many intrusions. You write many words. But not all, we are auction the best files.This released included two encrypted files, and the password to one was provided as proof while the other remains encrypted. The attackers claim that they will provide the password to the second file to the winner of a Bitcoin auction.
The public auction part is nonsense. Despite prevailing misconceptions on cryptocurrency, Bitcoin's innate traceability means that no one could really expect to launder even $1M out of a high profile Bitcoin wallet like this one without risking detection, let alone the $500M being requested for a full public release. The auction is the equivalent of a criminal asking to be paid in new, marked, sequential bills. Because the actors here are certainly not amateurs, the auction is presumably a bit of "Doctor Evil" theater—the only bids will be $20 investments from Twitter jokesters.
The fact that any of this was found is a black eye for the NSA. While Snowden rightly notes that the agency is not made of magic, leaving an entire staging server up, even in the benighted summer of 2013, is a foolish and reckless move. Now that these files are public state actors can easily pin a certain type of attack on the NSA. "This leak is likely a warning that someone can prove US responsibility for any attacks that originated from this malware server," wrote Snowden. Further, it shows that the NSA is sloppy, something that anyone with a passing knowledge of government IT would understand.
Posted by John at 9:20 AM Links to this post
"YouTube Stars Are Now Being Used for North Korean Propaganda"
Louis Cole is a 33-year-old vlogger from the U.K. with about 1.8 million subscribers on his FunForLouis YouTube channel. He's a highly competent travel vlogger, part of a subset of daily YouTubers
Which brings me to his travels in North Korea, a series of videos that he's currently uploading. Cole and a bunch of other vloggers recently went on a trip through the reclusive, politically repressive nation, beaming back positive depictions of people and places that all seem . . . awfully tidy, judging from what we know—or, to be fair, what politicians and journalists tell us—about North Korea. It all seems highly suspicious
Posted by John at 7:29 AM Links to this post
Labels: advertising, korea, politics
"Angela Aulani Ka'aihue, who's running for Congress against incumbent U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, has posted several signs declaring that she's 'healthy and cancer free'"
Kaaihue acknowledges the controversial nature of the signs, but continues to point to her health as a reason to vote for her.
"If you have cancer, it's almost like having AIDS, you don't want people to know," she said.
Posted by John at 6:49 AM Links to this post
"Pennsylvania's Attorney General Is Convicted on All Counts"
She was a rising Democratic star. She was the first in her party to be elected state attorney general.
Ms. Kane was caught up in a web of scandal and counterscandal, threaded with lewd emails, political rivalries and alleged leaks. It has cost other state officials, including two State Supreme Court justices, their jobs and Ms. Kane her law license, although she has remained on the job as attorney general.
Posted by John at 6:32 AM Links to this post
Labels: corruption, crime, fraud, law, politics
"the administration's $1 billion deal to detain Central American asylum seekers"
As Central Americans surged across the U.S. border two years ago, the Obama administration skipped the standard public bidding process and agreed to a deal that offered generous terms to Corrections Corporation of America, the nation's largest prison company, to build a massive detention facility for women and children seeking asylum.
The four-year, $1 billion contract — details of which have not been previously disclosed — has been a boon for CCA, which, in an unusual arrangement, gets the money regardless of how many people are detained at the facility. Critics say the government's policy has been expensive but ineffective.
Posted by John at 6:28 AM Links to this post
Labels: immigration, law, politics
Monday, August 15, 2016
Funko Pint Size Heroes
Spider-Man, DC, and Steven Universe figures--$5 for one, and also available by the case.
Posted by John at 7:47 PM Links to this post


text: Does anyone happen to have a pas pump bracket off snd could measure some bits for me? Saves me taking it off and re bleeding it all again. I need to know the hole centers for the bracket which bolts to the block and the thread on the banjo fitting in the side of the pump (the feed pipe)


text:
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Just a year after the global downturn derailed Dubai's explosive growth, the city is now so swamped in debt that it's asking for a six-month reprieve on paying its bills — causing a drop on world markets yesterday, and raising questions about Dubai's reputation as a magnet for international investment.
The fallout came swiftly after a Wednesday statement that Dubai's main development engine, Dubai World, would ask creditors for a "standstill" on paying back its $60 billion debt until at least May.
The company's real-estate arm, Nakheel — whose projects include the palm-shaped island in the Persian Gulf — shoulders the bulk of money due to banks, investment houses and outside development contractors.
In total, the state-backed networks nicknamed Dubai Inc. are $80 billion in the red, and the emirate needed a bailout earlier this year from its oil-rich neighbor, Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Markets took the news badly — with the Dubai woes giving investors twin worries.
In Europe, Britain's FTSE 100, Germany's DAX and the CAC-40 in France opened sharply lower. Earlier, in Asia, the Shanghai index sank 119.19 points, or 3.6 percent, in the biggest one-day fall since Aug. 31. Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 1.8 percent, to 22,210.41.
"Dubai's standstill announcement . . . was vague, and it remains difficult to discern whether the call for a standstill will be voluntary," said a statement from the Eurasia Group, a Washington-based research group that assesses political and financial risk for foreign investors interested in Dubai.
"If it is not, Dubai World will be going into default, and that will have more serious negative repercussions for Dubai's sovereign debt, Dubai World and market confidence in the UAE in general."
Dubai became the gulf's biggest credit-crunch victim a year ago. But its ruler, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, had continually dismissed concerns over the city-state's liquidity and claims it overreached during the good times.
When asked about the debt, he confidently assured reporters in a rare meeting two months ago that "we are all right" and "we are not worried," leaving details of a recovery plan anybody's guess.
Then, earlier this month, he told Dubai's critics to "shut up."
"He needs to produce a recovery plan that will be respected by those who want to do business with Dubai," said Simon Henderson, a gulf and energy specialist at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. "If he does not do it right, Dubai will be a sad place."


text:
Help us continue making miracles every day
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Learn more about starting a family.
At California Surrogacy Center, we offer gestational surrogacy, which involves fertilizing an embryo outside the womb and implanting it into a surrogate mother's uterus. If you're exploring the idea of surrogacy, we hope you'll join our family of compassionate surrogate mothers. From your initial screening, to matching you with future parents, through the fertility process, to delivery, we're here to guide you every step of the way.
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Learn more about becoming an egg donor.


text:
A lot of new things are coming down the pipe.
Getting ready to launch several new sites. Using new hardware, Co-location and Stack update.
The site is getting a long needed makeover (again).
Just did a quick a dirty update using a new page builder. Still some tweaking of colors and such, but we are coming right along.


text:
We were challenged to demonstrate to industry professionals the impact that government regulations will have on brands through a creative adventure rather than the 'typical' corporate comms route. How does the tobacco industry lead with a branding ban insight? We launched Future of Brands earlier this year with a teaser in Milan followed by the full exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
The Future of Brands aims to inspire other industries to unite and campaign against 'nanny state' legislation. As such, we wanted to deliver maximum disruption and stand-out in an illuminated landscape usually dominated by flat-packed 'take one' stands. Our objective was to dramatise the impact of increased regulations and branding bans via an experiential unit; taking attendees on an immersive journey in a dismal and cluttered exhibition environment. We moved away from the 'typical' corporate feel, instead we drove awareness on the excessive regulation that is slowly but surely crossing industries all over the world.
We invited cross industry professionals onto the exhibition stand to learn what is going on already and what could happen in the future for brands. The aim was to inform and facilitate conversation of what businesses can do next to combat the potentially bland future one faces. This event activation was to engage with likeminded professionals and spread the word that if industries do not unite then it is plain to see... there will be no future for brands. Both exhibitions proved to be very successful and struck a chord with the audience, and we're looking forward to touring the exhibition globally in 2017/18.
Users who viewed this page also looked at:


text:
This tasteful color combination and classic styling offers a great solution for a simplistic masculine air.
shown bottom to top
Shannon Beach Coverlet
Shannon Pearl Grey Coverlet
Coco Percale Sheets in White with Platinum Embroidery
Shannon Pearl Grey Flanged 12x16 Pillow
shown front
Coco Percale Pillow Case in White with Platinum Embroidery
looking for more options?
trade log-in to view detailed price list of options
Active trade accounts may log-in to view pricing. Consumers, please e-mail email@example.com for a retailer near you.


text:
May 25, 1963 - June 27, 2013
Poughkeepsie, NY
Joseph A. Galizia, 50 years old, finally lost his battle with cancer and passed away peacefully, with his wife, Marilyn, at his side, on Thursday, June 27, 2013. He was born May 25, 1963 and was the son of the late Joseph S. and Grace Tuccitto Galizia.
Joseph is survived by his much loved wife and best friend, Marilyn Henry, and her wonderful family. He also leaves his brother, Paul; niece, Carolyn Grace; sister-in-law, Lorraine and his loved companion, Auggie. Joseph was predeceased by his mother, Grace, in 1977 and his beloved father, Joseph Sebastian Galizia in 2003. In addition to many close friends, other special people of note are his Aunt Mary Bruno, Aunt and Uncle Josephine and John Tuccitto, and cousins: Mary Jo Sharpies and Anne Tuccitto; Dr. Michael Maresca and the entire staff at Hudson Valley Hematology and Oncology.
Joseph was a 1981 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes and received a BA in History and Native American Studies from SUNY New Paltz; an MA from SUNY Albany in History and Museum Studies and an MSed from Mt. St. Mary College. After working as an auto mechanic, Joseph finally found his love of education and with the unflagging support of his father, he became an archeologist and teacher. For over 13 years, Joseph taught 5th and 6th grade at Gidney Avenue Magnet School in Newburgh, where he truly loved all "his kids". Joseph also volunteered as an EMT with the Town of Newburgh Ambulance Corps and enjoyed his work with Mobile Life Support Services, where he was a NYS AEMT-Intermediate.
After the September 11, 2001 attack on our country, Joseph enlisted in the N.Y. Guard and served on active duty as an M.P. at Camp Smith. Later, as an NCO, Joseph found his true avocation and became a certified 68W Combat Medic. In his position as a military medic, Joseph was most proud of his role in teaching lifesaving combat medical skills to hundreds of soldiers who deployed to harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was extremely proud of being part of the NYANG's 106th RTI at Camp Smith, where he was mentored by CSM Corey Cush, SGM Stephen Gee and SFC Lamont Pugh. He was fond of saying "they helped make me a better man". His last posting was a lead medic and 1SG of the N.Y. Guard's Search and Rescue program headquartered in Troy.
Calling hours will be held on Monday, July 1st, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Robert H. Auchmoody Funeral Home, 1028 Main Street, Fishkill, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 2nd at 11:30 a.m. at St. Mary, Mother of the Church, Fishkill. Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.
The family suggests in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society in the name of Joseph A. Galizia. For directions or to send the family an online condolence, please visit www.hudsonvalleyfuneralhomes.com


text:
Giant Eyepieces That Swallow Spacecraft
Giant Eyepieces That Swallow Spacecraft
Al's talk covers his early telescope making projects, 50-plus years of attending Stellafane (the historic amateur telescope maker's convention in Vermont), and his Farrand Optical career experiences designing the NASA project-Gemini and Apollo-LEM visual simulators for astronaut training. Al will describe how they work and how, years later, the simulator views inspired him to develop the Nagler eyepiece, whose optical concept was derived from working on complex optical probes used for landing simulation.
About Al Nagler
Al Nagler is an optical designer best known for his innovative wide-field eyepieces and versatile, compact refractors. He also designed visual displays for the Gemini and Apollo Lunar Module simulators. Al became fascinated with astronomy after visiting New York's Hayden Planetarium. After attending the internationally recognized Bronx High School of Science, where his eight-inch reflector earned him an industrial arts award in 1953, he began a career at Farrand Optical Co. This led to a lifetime of amateur astronomy activities and the eventual founding of Tele Vue Optics in 1977. Tele Vue Optics is a company of fellow astronomy enthusiasts dedicated to enhancing the observing experience of amateurs worldwide.