text:
The presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday, March 28, 2015, turned out to be a disaster for the family of Raphael Abiodun, a commercial motorcyclist, after he allegedly beat his wife, Bose, to a stupor for over-celebrating the outcome of a result in their local government.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that Abiodun was bitter when the results in their Igangu area of Omu-Aran in Irepodun local government area of Kwara State, came out in favour of candidates his wife supported in the House of Representatives and Senatorial elections and she purportedly jubilated a bit too much.
The action of the wife was said to have got her husband really mad and not able to hold it back, he descended on her and beat her so bad that he inflicted severe injuries on her.
It took the intervention of neighbours and some commercial motorcyclists in the area to save the situation from degenerating further.
According to an eyewitness, Abiodun accused his wife of not being sympathetic with him on the negative outcome of the elections for his party.


text:
Exploring Taormina, Sicily
Holy cannoli, I love this place! Apologies for the radio silence the past week or so, after leaving Rome and arriving in Sicily, we've been on one huge, disconnected journey. Let's just say that I might be "creatively borrowing" wifi from a mystery panino shop down the street from our apartment. Either way, a lot of memorable moments have occurred since we've touched down in the land of the Godfather. One, amazing food. Like, drool worthy cannoli, pistachio covered EVERTYHING, fresh squeezed blood orange juice, and just-caught-this-morning-seafood. I obviously didn't capture the few seconds our food existed on our plates for this post. Sorry 'bout it!
Toarmina is the perfect place for anyone interested in experience seaside living. I've jokingly called this place the Stone Harbor, New Jersey of Italy. Obviously this place has beaches New Jersey hasn't even dreamed of… but it's town center is clean and suits visitors just enough. Feeling enveloped in Sicilian culture, it's food and history has been a warm and welcoming experience for us here, as I'd imagine it being the same for its other visitors. Its people are friendly, its shops are adorable and it's town is suited perfectly for someone who wants to do and see it all. A huge thank you to Julie for recommending this little seaside town to us!
Luke and I are living the beach life like it's our job. One quick stroll past our bus stop and we had this amazing moment where we were blown away by how incredibly close we are staying to the water. Our apartment is one bus stop away from the center of the mountain town of Taormina, so we look at the calm water speckled with a few sail boats and have woken up to pastel peach ocean sunrises instead. What can I say, life's rough. We've become regulars at the stone cover beaches surrounding Isola Bella (literally translated as Island Beautiful… yeah, I know). It's waters are as clear as I could ever imagine. Sidenote: I'm disgusted with how spoiled we've become by this place!
In other news, I've become slightly terrified of Mount Etna. Our first bus trip back to our apartment included us glimpsing at its newly formed chimney openings on the north east side, bubbling hot lava down onto the hills below. Yeah. I was TERRIFIED after peeking at that. There's something really thrilling about staying so close to Europe's most active volcano, but there's also an underlying sense of fear I've felt being so close to Etna. Yikes!
Being a bit disconnected has been a blessing in disguise for this gal. Being here in southern Italy has been deeply emotional journey (more on that in my next post) and the time I've spent soul searching has led to some amazing insight. Sometimes not having wifi can do that for you! Although I don't have an overwhelming amount of pictures and posts to share of our time here, I can honestly say that I've been more present and centered during our days and nights in Sicily.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Code: PRZ-cfcc6a3
Check out and mingle with the world's best new music and entertainment talent over 5 unforgettable days.
Enjoy true Rock n Roll - The South by South West festival in Austin, Texas, is a veritable fantasyland for music fans. Established UK bands go there to 'break' the States while world-famous American musicians showcase their new work.
Unmissable - Based out of one of the best hotels in Austin, you will experience some of the newest and most innovative live music ever. As part of your package we will provide you with a pass to the Music Festival, giving you access to all of the incredible gigs on offer. An absolute must.
Disclaimer: Pins in map may not be accurate if Google Maps cannot find the exact address. In this case an approximation is made.
Austin, Texas


text:
The Junior Ranger Program is an exciting opportunity for children and their families to learn about the park. Becoming a Junior Ranger helps youngsters understand the park's ecosystems, the cave, and the animals. It also helps them learn how they can help protect all parts of our environment. Junior Ranger booklets are available at the bookstore or as a printable version. There are activities for children up to age 12.
Last updated: February 2, 2019


text:
A Good For You Lipgloss!/
If you spend enough time on the beauty blogs, then you have probably heard about this. But I am asking you now - have you tried it yet?
I am talking about Tarte's newest innovation - a lip gloss that is good for you. Yes, Inside Out, a creation between Tarte and Borba, one of the leading nutraceutical companies, is here. And it is a sure fire winner.
Seeing as the average lip gloss user will ingest 2 - 4 pounds (YES - POUNDS) of lip gloss in a lifetime, than it should be good for you, right? That is where Borba's expertise comes in. So this gloss not only shines well, tastes great (like pomegranate), moisturizes lips as it shines them - but the vitamins inside the gloss pack a long-term punch in helping skin retain moisture, restore radiance, and clarify. Not just the lips - your skin. On your entire body!
Inside Out comes in three shades: Om - a sheer shimmery, pale pink; Apple-A-Day - a sheer shimmery hot pink; and Liquid Sunshine - a sheer shimmery nude shade. I have been
eating wearing Om, since I received it. Gosh, I hope they are in the process of creating more shades, but I would hate to not use a lip gloss that is not good for me, even though I am sure I will. ;)
Check out Tarte Cosmetics for all of the shades. Each Inside Out Lip Gloss retails for $21.00.
What are you waiting for? Buy one for yourself now and at least make your lip gloss habit one that is good for you! Plus, it comes with one packet of Borba's Clarifying Aqua-Less Crystalline Skin Balance Water Mix.
Del.icio.us Tags: beauty, makeup, lipgloss, lip gloss, Tarte, Tarte Cosmetics, Borba, nutraceutical
Furl Tags: beauty, makeup, lipgloss, lip gloss, Tarte, Tarte Cosmetics, Borba, nutraceutical


text:
Some good commentaries change forever the way one reads a text (for instance, among late antique authors, Green's recent Ausonius), while others provide a resource which one can fall back on when faced with textual cruces, whether for explication or for confirmation of one's own suspicions. The long-running Dutch Philological and Historical Commentary on Ammianus Marcellinus, begun in the 1930s and now in its eleventh volume, has always belonged to the second category. That this is the case is no reflection on the commentators (P. de Jonge for books XIV-XIX, the present collective for XX-XXIII) but rather on our fourth-century author: Ammianus, despite the truncation and the occasional mutilation of the extant text, remains too various and too shifty to be penetrated by lemmatic commentary; it takes the sweeping, some might say prejudicial, generalizations of an E.A. Thompson to impose an interpretation on the author. Here, in their commentary on Book XXIV of the Res Gestae, den Boeft, Drijvers, den Hengst and Teitler do precisely what they have done in their commentaries on Books XX through XXIII: provide every difficult, and many transparent, lines of Ammianus' text with a careful philological gloss, while attending to such major historical problems as can be addressed within the confining parameters of their lemmata.
Book XXIV, the least intrinsically interesting in the whole of the Res Gestae, is in some ways perfectly suited to the approach of the commentators. Beginning with Julian's crossing into Assyria and ending with the aftermath of the decision to retreat from Ctesiphon, it contains only a single, short excursus (on the sexuality of palm trees, no less) and functions as a brief, unemphatic interlude between the ominous preparations for the Persian expedition in Book XXIII and the climactic death of the emperor in Book XXV. At the same time, its narrative of the army's progress is muddled enough to defy precise reconstruction and leaves ample scope for comparison with Zosimus and Libanius, our other principal sources for Julian's campaign. Given this, the two chief tasks of any commentator on Book XXIV are to explicate its chronology and its geography. The authors of the volume under review do both as well as the available evidence allows: their provisional chronology (xiii-xxiii, summarized on xxiii) makes the best of Ammianus' maddeningly vague temporal clues, while the maps (xxviii-xxix) improve upon those in Fontaine's edition of Books XXIII-XXV (the Barrington is unfortunately of no use here). The student of late Roman military history will be grateful to have the commentators' guidance on both these points, and, though it will probably not occur to the Latinless to look here, Rolfe's many mistranslations of military vocabulary are noted and corrected throughout.
Commentaries prove themselves by long use, rather than in continuous reading, and early reviews are therefore hazardous. On the other hand, having used the volume under review while teaching Ammianus this term, there are really very few specific points I would wish to dispute: the phrase summa res at 24.1.1. is hardly obscure; that the Saracen Assanitae of 24.2.4 are the Ghassanids seems established; the commentators are surely right in accepting Ammianus' report, at 24.4.24, that Julian awarded the corona obsidionalis to the first soldiers to penetrate beneath the walls of Maozamalcha, but their argument would be much strengthened by appeal to Julian's general, but also haphazard and sometimes solecistic, antiquarianism; nothing verbally distinguishes the description of the animals in the Persian royal hunting park near Ctesiphon at 24.5.2 as visa rather than the lecta that the commentators find in Ammianus' other references to wild animals. And while I cannot agree with the commentators' view that the well-known lacuna at 24.7.3 was very short -- it seems to me to require several rhetorically balanced sentences of epitomized debate amongst the emperor's chief generals -- they make a strong case for their position.
If these points of dispute seem trivial, grounds for approval come at a similar level of detail. The discussion (at 24.2.7 and 24.6.1) of the royal canal, the Naarmalcha, between the Euphrates and Tigris above Ctesiphon, is exemplary, and the commentators usefully underscore how frequently our ancient authors, not least Ammianus himself, fail to distinguish rivers from canals. If it does not solve the problem of Julian's route or the point at which the fleet left the main course of the Euphrates, that is because the problem is insoluble; the commentators' conjecture of intersaepta for interrupta at 24.2.12 is felicitous; and they are surely right to stress the phrase avidae semper ad ulterior cupiditatis at 24.7.3 as evidence for Julian's plan to penetrate deep into Persia, leaving Ctesiphon untouched behind him.
The Dutch commentary is now venerable enough to allow some estimate of its general value as a reference tool and this volume conforms to the model of its predecessors throughout. It assumes that the user will have ready access to the earlier volumes, making frequent reference back to them, and the reader will also want a copy of Paschoud's Zosimus handy. Like previous volumes of the series, a fairly comprehensive classical library is required to make full use of the material presented by the commentators, particularly because comparanda are cited fully enough to establish verbal connections without indicating context. As in the others, philological insights are more plentiful and useful than historical ones. Also as in the others, too little weight is given to the Greek qualities of Ammianus' Latin, which Norden and Willamowitz underscored (and on which Barnes has recently insisted), and to Ammianus' familiarity with historical traditions that are, so far as we know, exclusively Greek (for instance at 24.2.16, where Ammianus retails a story about Scipio Aemilianus and Polybius at the gates of Carthage which is otherwise known only from Zonaras). As with the earlier volumes, however, the serious student of Ammianus will find cause to turn here. The cost of the series is a deterrent to individuals not independently wealthy, and it is rather an all or nothing sort of venture as single volumes are useless without access to the others. But any research library worth the name must brave the investment.


text:
Iran is demanding that Bashar al-Assad be allowed to run in any future presidential election in Syria, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday. Iran's deputy foreign minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, said on Sunday, "We emphasized unequivocally that only Assad himself can decide on his participation or non-participation in the elections and it is only the people of Syria who can say whether they will vote for him or not." On Saturday, international powers including the United States, Russia, and Iran agreed to a framework under which a transition government in Syria would draft a new constitution and hold elections in 18 months. Assad's specific fate was left unclear. Under Assad's leadership, the Syrian regime, with the help of Iran and Hezbollah, has murdered tens of thousands and displaced millions through the use of barrel bombs, indiscriminate air raids, massacres, intentional starvation, and chemical weapons attacks.
The Obama administration has insisted that Assad must be removed from power. On October 2, President Barack Obama stated, "What started off as peaceful protests against Assad… evolved into a civil war because Assad met those protests with unimaginable brutality…[T]he only way to accomplish [an inclusive political transition] is for Mr. Assad to transition, because you cannot rehabilitate him in the eyes of Syrians." Furthermore, the administration has argued that Assad's removal is a prerequisite to successfully eradicating ISIS, which in turn is a prerequisite for stabilizing Syria. Last Thursday, speaking at the United States Institute of Peace, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that "neither peace nor the defeat of Daesh [the Arabic acronym for ISIS] is possible with Assad in power." Just two days later, Kerry expounded upon the relationship between Assad and ISIS: "Assad has cut his own deal with Daesh. They sell oil. He buys oil. They are symbiotic, not real enemies in this. And he has not, when he had a chance over four years, mounted his attacks against Daesh." In June of last year, the Secretary emphasized that "Assad is one of the principal reasons – the principal reason – that ISIS exists. President Assad is a magnet for jihadists and foreign fighters from around the world."
The decision was approved by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein.
Last month, an Israeli court upheld Salah's conviction on charges of incitement to violence and sentenced him to eleven months in prison.
The government's statement explained that the decision to outlaw Salah's group was "a vital step in maintaining public security and preventing harm to human life."
For years, the northern branch of the Islamic Movement has led a mendacious campaign of incitement under the heading 'Al Aqsa is in danger' that falsely accuses Israel of intending to harm the Al Aqsa Mosque and violate the status-quo. In this context, the northern branch has established a network of paid activists (Mourabitoun / Mourabitat) in order to initiate provocations on the Temple Mount. This activity has led to a significant increase in tension on the Temple Mount. A significant portion of recent terrorist attacks have been committed against the background of this incitement and propaganda.
Various Israeli security experts and Palestinian activists have attributed the recent wave of Palestinian violence to incitement, particularly over false charges that Israel is threatening the al-Aqsa Mosque.
The new ban on the northern branch of the Islamic Movement means that those who remain active in the organization are subject to arrest, with all of the group's property subject to seizure.
The Times of Israel reported:
After the security cabinet declared the movement illegal in a meeting late Monday night, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon signed an edict banning any activity connected to the group.
Israeli security forces then carried out a series of overnight raids on the organization's offices, seizing computers, documents and cash in regional branches across the country, the Israel Police and Shin Bet security agency said. Police also froze bank accounts linked to the organization and a number of NGOs working alongside it.
In total, 17 regional branches were ordered closed, including offices in Umm al-Fahm, Jaffa, Nazareth, Kfar Kana, Turan, Beersheba and Rahat.
The group was founded in the 1970's as both a political and religious outreach group. In 1996, it split into northern and southern branches. The southern branch has typically been more moderate, with some of its members serving in the Knesset.
"The Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement is endangering the security of the State of Israel and collaborating, according to intelligence we have collected, with Palestinian terror organizations, including Hamas, in order to inflame the current situation and encourage violence," said Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon, who signed the order banning the Islamist group.
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan emphasized that the move to outlaw the organization was part of a global effort to fight Islamic extremism. "The State of Israel must set an example and spearhead the fight against radical Islam, whose emissaries we saw slaughtering innocents in Paris, New York, Madrid and Israel," he said. "The Islamic Movement, Hamas, the Islamic State and other [Islamist] organizations have a common ideological platform that is the cause for terrorist attacks around the world and the wave of terror in this country."
French President Francois Hollande declared yesterday that France would seek to amend its constitution to give the state broader powers to fight terrorism.
In an article tracing the history of both the northern and southern branches of the Islamic Movement, to be published in the December 2015 issue of The Tower Magazine, Raffa Abu Tareef, a Druze researcher with 25 years of experience in the Israeli Defense Forces,wrote:
Perhaps the most problematic issue in regard to the relationship between the Movement and the Israeli state is its continuing relationship with Hamas. More than once, Movement activists have expressed pride in Hamas' accomplishments, maintained connections with Hamas on the ground, and even intervened politically in Hamas' relationship with the Palestinian authority.
At a time when the pragmatic faction chose to work as a mediator between Hamas and the PA, members of the radical faction took the side of Hamas against then-PA President Yasser Arafat's policies. The radical wing, like Hamas, criticized the agreements the PA signed with Israel and accused the PA of appeasement. It published prominent Hamas figures in its journal, and held meetings with Hamas leaders outside of Israel. In the days of the first intifada, the Islamic Movement began a large-scale effort to send clothing, food, and money to the territories in general and Hamas in particular. The Movement aided orphans, wounded families, the needy, the hospitalized, and the handicapped. And as later become clear, many of those aided were Hamas members and their families. In July 1995, the Israeli police closed the offices of the Movement's aid committee and confiscated documents and equipment. This was another expression of the process by which the religious revival in the Israeli Muslim community led to political radicalization.
In 2011, British Home Secretary Theresa May sought to deport Salah, who had entered Britain illegally, on grounds that his presence there was "not conducive to the public good."
This past August, a congressional delegation that visited the Temple Mount, site of the al-Aqsa Mosque, witnessed members of the northern branch harassing a group of Jewish visitors. (via TheTower.org)


text:
in 1975 Suzuki Sensei received his 8th Dan, the highest grade ever given by the Federation of All Japan Karatedo Organizations. In that same year he also received the highest title in the Japanese martial arts, Hanshi, awarded to him by the Uncle of Emperor Higashikuni. Suzuki Sensei is the only living Wado-ryu karateka to hold this title. On January 29, 1982, Suzuki Sensei's mentor and teacher, Otsuka Meijin peacefully passed away after naming his son Hironori Otsuka II as his successor.
Suzuki Sensei continued to train and teach Wado-ryu throughout the world and especially Europe where Wado is one of the most popular styles of karate. In 1991, Suzuki Sensei founded the Wado Kokusai Karatedo Renmei, the Wado International Karatedo Federation (WIKF), in an attempt to maintain the quality of Wado-ryu as taught to him by his teacher, Otsuka Meijin.
In addition to his accomplishments in karate, Suzuki Sensei is a 2nd Dan in Tenshin Koryu Bo-Jitsu and a 1st Dan in Judo. Suzuki Sensei also studied Zen doctrine with the high priests, the late Yamamoto Genpo and Nakagawa Soyen. Suzuki Sensei continues to be active in the formation and development of his organization. He travels extensively around the world holding seminars and training camps to further the advancement of Wado-ryu karate


text:
Voice Therapy
Our voice is our primary tool when communicating who we are and our sense of self. We understand that it can be frustrating when your voice doesn't match who you are. Through voice therapy, we can help you to improve your voice quality (raspy, hoarse, breathy, etc.), resonance, pitch, and volume. We can also help you with the care of your voice, how you feel about your voice, and how your voice is reflecting who you are.
Our Approach
At Well Said: Toronto Speech Therapy, we have the experience and dedication to help you achieve measurable results and an optimal voice, giving you the confidence in every day life. Using an evidenced-based and adult-centric approach, we will work with you employing the latest research, and with your other health professionals (e.g., your ENT) to achieve your voice goals.
Our services are covered by most workplace and education insurance plans. Try our "Is Voice Work for Me?" self-reflection tool below to discover how you might benefit.
Is Voice work for me?
Are you unsure if voice work is right for you? Try our new self-assessment tool by clicking on the box below. A box will open with a series of questions that will help you decide if this work is right for you.
Commonly Treated Goals
- Glottal fry
- Upspeak
- Voice breaks and shakes
- Aphonia and dysphonia
- Breathing
- Resonance
- Pitch
- Voice quality
How it works
Learn the instrument
Understand the anatomy and physiology of your voice, your instrument and how it differs from the standard production.
Care and prevention
Learn how to take care of your voice, how to prevent voice disorders and how to achieve your optimal voice.
Practice the New Way
Achieve your goal through step-by-step and supported practice in a safe space.


text:
http://m.nzherald.co.nz/aviation/news/article.cfm?c_id=556&objectid=11622517 From huge loss to soaring profit, the Aussie airline has made a dramatic turnaround. But boss Alan Joyce never had any doubts, he tells Grant Bradley
By Grant Bradley
Alan Joyce has been at the centre of what has been described as the biggest turnaround in Australian corporate history.
And as he nears eight years as chief executive of Qantas, Joyce characteristically says he had very little doubt the airline could pull it off.
From a A$2.8 billion loss in 2013-14, the airline reported statutory net profit after tax of A$688 million for the first six months of this year. Qantas is now in a position to return close to A$1 billion to shareholders this year.
This from an airline which faced worker outrage when it grounded its fleet during a high-stakes industrial battle in 2011, whose value plunged by more than A$1 billion after a 2012 profit downgrade, leaving it a takeover target, and is in the midst of laying off 5000 workers to cut costs.
In the dark financial days, Joyce was a target for politicians, and a public petition called on him to resign.
In Auckland this week to talk to New Zealand company directors about running a volatile business, Joyce says, with a fair degree of understatement: "There's been a lot of positive and a lot of tough times."
Like Air New Zealand in this country, 96-year-old Qantas is embedded deep in the Australian psyche. Most Aussies feel a deep sense of ownership of the Red Roo and anyone who runs it is under minute scrutiny and intense pressure.
But Joyce has a thick hide. "I remember doing an interview on Australian TV and we had two commentators who had done a poll - 90 per cent said I should resign and they asked my reaction." His reply was blunt: "It's not a popularity contest." Joyce says what mattered to him was whether the board and shareholders thought the airline was on track. They did, and Qantas stuck with it.
One of those strategies is to solidify its presence in New Zealand, largely through its budget offshoot, Jetstar, which was set up under Joyce and first flew in Australia from Newcastle to Melbourne in 2003.
Jetstar, with its distinctive orange livery, has been flying across the Tasman since 2005, on main trunk routes since 2009 and now into the heartland on regional routes.
Those routes now feed into a growing international network Qantas has forged through partnerships with global giants Emirates, China Eastern and American Airlines.
The better Qantas is, the better Air New Zealand is - the consumer in New Zealand wins and that's great for everyone.
It means Kiwis can fly on a Qantas ticket from Dunedin to Dubai and on to Dublin aboard partner Emirates, and from late June, Nelson to New Orleans on American.In addition to providing cut-rate fares to leisure travellers, Joyce says that to be truly competitive in New Zealand, Qantas needs to offer a network that can appeal to corporate and government accounts (which will be up for tender later this year), as well as looking after the travel trade.
This was the rationale for the regional operation, the domestic operation and an international operation - which needs to have a transpacific component.
"We were clearly, in some parts of that, not competitive," he says. "Now we have all components of it."


text:
So today I have been to Manchester and back, and I think the interview went pretty well!! So a very good day indeed.
There was only two of us being interviewed this afternoon – which shocked me! – but apparently they only have between 35 and 40 students per year as students in total… And considering the amount of people who apply (something stupid like 400) I am feeling rather proud and confident that I was given the opportunity to attend an interview there.
The women who interviewed us gave us a quick talk/presentation on the course as a whole; what sort of work they do each year, competitions and various study trips. Something that was made very clear was that the course was definitely driven more to the architectural side rather than interior furnishings (that would be the worst course for me …). And because of this, I knew I was in the right place.
Even sat in "The Gallery" (a little cafe which holds live music from time to time!) I knew that I was sitting in the right place…
I think everything is coming together slowly now… And all I really need to do is focus on my school work to make sure I get the best possible grades in August – and one's which I deserve!!


text:
Crime & Courts
High court to hear case of violent video games
WASHINGTON — A California law that would forbid the sale of violent video games to minors won a hearing before the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, as the justices voted to take up the state's argument that exceptionally violent material can be kept out of the hands of children without running afoul of the First Amendment.
The move could signal that the court's broad protection for free speech in other contexts does not necessarily extend to children and teenagers.
Six other states — Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Washington — have laws similar to California's. So far, all those measures have been invalidated on free-speech grounds in response to suits by the video-gaming industry.
In was something of a surprise that the high court agreed to hear California's appeal just a week after the justices, in a 8-1 ruling, struck down on free-speech grounds a federal law that made it a crime to sell videos of animals being tortured or maimed.
The court gave two reasons for declaring that law unconstitutional. First, the justices said they were wary of creating a new category of unprotected expression, and second, they said the law was so broadly worded it could extend to out-of-season hunting.
Over the many months the court considered the animal-cruelty case, it kept on hold California's appeal in the case of violent video games. Based on last week's ruling, the justices might have been expected to deny the appeal and to allow the state's law to expire. Instead, they voted to grant the appeal and hear the case in the fall.
"It strikes me the court might be willing to draw a line between the 'adult First Amendment' and the 'child's First Amendment'," said Rodney Smolla, a free-speech expert and dean of the Washington and Lee Law School in Virginia.
"Despite this court's strong inclination to endorse expansive free-speech rights in the general marketplace, it has been willing at times to carve exceptions for speech involving children."
As an example, he cited the court's ruling in 2007 that said a high school senior could be disciplined for unfurling a banner on the street outside his school that said "Bong Hits 4 Jesus." The court's opinion was written by Chief Justice John Roberts, the father of two young children.
At issue are popular video games that permit young players to shoot, wound or kill human characters. Citing psychological research showing that repeat players become more aggressive and hostile, the California Legislature voted in 2005 to limit the sale or rental of games in which players "virtually inflict serious injury upon images of human beings ... in a manner that is especially heinous, cruel or depraved."
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he was pleased with the court's action.
"We have a responsibility to our kids and our communities to protect against the effects of games that depict ultra-violent action, just as we do with movies," he said.
In their appeal, the state's lawyers cited a 1968 ruling that said minors can be prevented from buying sexual material that would be protected as free speech for adults. It urged the justices to stretch this ruling to apply to the sale of violent material to minors.
The court will hear the case of Schwarzenegger v. Video Software Dealers Association in the fall. If California prevails in the high court, the other state laws could be revived as well.
Leaders of the video-game industry said they were surprised by the court's move, but they said they were confident the free-speech rule would prevail.
The stakes are high however the court rules, said Mike Gallagher, president of the Entertainment Software Association.
"All types of media could possibly be implicated by this decision, as video games and other forms of entertainment like movies and music are coming closer and closer together to the point where you can't always separate one from the other, "he said.
The California measure would require violent video games to be labeled as suitable only for those age 18 and older. It would impose a $1,000 fine on retailers who sell or rent these violent video games to minors. Parents would be permitted to buy or rent these same video games for their children.
Before the law could go into effect, the Entertainment Software Association and the Video Software Dealers Association went to court and a federal judge in San Jose, Calif., blocked the law from being enforced. Last year, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a 3-0 ruling said it was unconstitutional.


text:
A $29.00 value - Ticket included with your Cancun All-Inclusive!
|Preços de bilheteria
|Criança ( 5 - 11 )
Sumário breve:
Catch a wave and get a feel for surfing on the FlowRider – a surf simulator that produces a constant wave of rushing water on an inclined surface, perfect for trying your hand at surfing or body boarding.
Never surfed or body boarded? No problem. If you're new to the sport, instructors are on hand to give you tips and coach you before you attempt the wave. FlowRider is super easy to get the hang of, so whether you're a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, you'll be surfing or body boarding in no time.
Once you have a feel for the flow, you can attempt twists, tricks, jumps, and more. The FlowRider features a soft surface, like a trampoline, so even if you fall, you can bounce right back up. It's a great way to try out any tricks you've been wanting to try in the real ocean too.
Present your pass at check-in for your tour.
If you choose to make a reservation, please call at least 48 hours prior to desired tour date, by calling +52 998 848- 8300, or emailing firstname.lastname@example.com . Please provide your pass number(s) and mention Flowrider at AquaWorld when booking. You must have your pass(es) the day of your reservation. All reservation requests will be confirmed within 24 hours.


text:
McMenamins Artists Lost and Found
Saturday 25 February 2017 — Category: Miscellaneous
As I wrote in yesterday's article, almost all of the content of the old McMenamins Web site made it into the new site. One significant exception is the biographies of the famed McMenamins artists, who have put in untold hours for more than twenty years to give McMenamins properties their unique and much-admired look.
On the old site, there was a side menu listing 13 artists, as you can see in the screen shot to the right. Clicking on an artist's name took you to another page where you could read a short biography about that artist, and see some of their artwork. It is beyond my comprehension why these artist bios were axed from the new site.
Because this omission bothered me so much, I decided to track down the bios and make them available to the world once again through my Web site. Using various techniques to scour the Web, I was able to successfully download all of the relevant text and images. Today, I am happy to announce that what was lost has been found!
Instead of presenting each biography on a separate page, I have put all 13 below on this page. In order to keep this page from looking too cluttered and overwhelmingly-long, I have placed each bio in a collapsible section, which can be opened or closed individually by clicking on the artist's name. I have also included links which open or close all of the bios in one fell swoop.
I am inspired by the following stories, and am so glad that I have been able to rescue them from oblivion. I hope you will enjoy and appreciate them as well.
Olivia Behm [+]
Behm was labeled as an artist from a very early age, thanks to parents who quickly realized that they needed to buy drawing paper for the little girl who kept taking books off of their shelves and drawing pictures all over the pages.
Her education includes the University of Minnesota Art School, St. Petersburg Jr. College in Florida, where she obtained an Associate's in Fine Arts degree, and San Diego State University, her last official stop as an art student undergraduate, studying ceramics, metal working and enameling. Behm has continued taking classes throughout her life in painting and illustration.
She moved to the Portland area from Napa, California, in July 1990 and started a jewelry business that she focused on for 12 years.
In early 2003, Behm met fellow McMenamins artist Jenny Joyce, with whom she connected instantly. Joyce invited Behm to come and "paint for a day" at the Hotel Oregon. Behm quickly found her "home" among the other artists and the company as a whole and has enjoyed steady work as one of our core artists ever since. Olivia writes:
I started my painting career with McMenamins early in 2003 when Jenny Joyce took me under her wing and began teaching me to paint decorative borders at McMenamins Hotel Oregon in McMinnville. Myrna Yoder and Lyle Hehn were there as well. I met Kolieha Bush when we started in on the second wave of art (decorative borders, lettering stories and painting portraits on the walls of the rooms) at McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon. Somewhere in there I was honored to meet Kolieha's partner, fellow artist Joe Cotter.
These guys were larger than life to me, but I found them all to be down-to-earth and a lot of fun to work with. I was introduced to folks as "the newbie" for many years, until Eona Skelton Lorberbaum joined the group, having been discovered through her fabulous chalk art for the company. Since then, we've had several more join our fold, enduring dusty construction sites, painting in all kinds of light and weather, and at various heights, from pretty close to the ground, to pretty darned high up. Sometimes it can be a bit tricky getting to the spot that needs art, but once you're there, the creative forces take over and the sheer love of painting causes one to forget the discomforts.
We alternate decorative painting on-site with painting fine art panels in solitude in our studios. I've really enjoyed the back-and-forth of working alone and then with the team. Through the years I have learned so much from, and bonded with the other artists and our wonderful historian, Tim Hills, until now they all feel like family, and, honestly, each of them is still "larger than life" to me.
Kolieha Bush [+]
I am an artist based in Eagle Creek, Oregon. I have been producing art professionally for more than 30 years. There are several different mediums that I work with — papier mâché, paint, oil, clay, bronze, pen and pencil. My artwork ranges from quiet and contemplative pieces, to work portraying the more exuberant and joyful side of life. I like to paint people, plants, birds ... I like music and movement. I keep working until the piece feels "true" to me.
I have displayed my artwork at the Oregon Country Fair since 1979. The free, creative spirit of the fair has had a definite influence on me and what I do as an artist. Originally I sold papier mâché in the form of Peculiar Piñatas, and gradually moved toward more sculptural pieces, many incorporating natural objects such as sticks, vines and moss.
My figurative bronze works developed after I made a life-sized papier mâché sculpture of a woman in 1985. My sculptor friend, Nano Lopez, worked at an art foundry. He encouraged me to refine the piece and to have her cast in bronze. I learned all about the lost wax bronze casting process and in 1986, The Young Woman was my first bronze sculpture cast at a foundry in Walla Walla, Washington.
Beginning in 1980 my partner Joe Cotter and I shared a studio / gallery space called the Chameleons Garden in Estacada, Oregon. Joe painted, made silk-screened prints and cards and worked with ceramics. I painted, made various papier mâché creations and sculpted. We also held years of weekly life-drawing sessions. My brother Peter Bush, owner of Rosebush Marimbas, joined us in 1986, making fine hand-crafted marimbas. The Chameleon's Garden was a great work place and the site of many art gatherings in the 1980s and early '90s.
The first mural project I worked on was called Struggle and Hope. It was sponsored by the Portland Central America Solidarity Committee back in 1988 and designed by Bill Garnett. A group of artists were called together to paint it. We were taught how to take Bill's small scale sketch and by using a grid, translate the drawing to the full mural size. Very useful information! The mural was originally located in Portland but now can be seen at the Rock Creek Portland Community College campus.
I am a founding member of the Artback Artists Cooperative in Estacada. Organized in 1993, we have painted a large-scale, outdoor mural in our small, rural community each year since 1994. I have been the lead artist on four of them: Celebration 1998, Tree of Life 2002 (in collaboration with Reeva Wortel and Emily Hyde), Bird Party 2007 and most recently on the renovation of Joe Cotter's The Cycle of Wood mural. I also have murals in the National College of Natural Medicine, the Molalla Public Library and Eagle Creek Elementary school.
My artwork has been in The Spiral Gallery, a cooperative in downtown Estacada, since its inception in 2003. The Gallery provides a much-needed and much-appreciated gathering space for artists and their supporters.
Finally, since 1997, I've had the good fortune of working for McMenamins as one of the artists painting in their historic hotels and pubs. I am grateful to Mike McMenamin for being so supportive of the arts. I enjoy the opportunity to work with the other artists, who have become friends as well. As a group, we have had three shows together in the Portland area.
Jonathan Case [+]
Jonathan Case spent his formative years on a boat in Mexico, where he had nary to do but hole up in a cabin and draw, read and plot his escape from paradise.
He made it out eventually, traveling to the American south to study performing arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.
He is a member of Portland's own Helioscope (formerly Periscope Studio), the largest collective of comics artists and writers in the United States. There, he connected with longtime McMenamins artist Myrna Yoder and began contributing paintings to the company.
You can see more of his work at JonathanCase.net
Joe Cotter [+]
Joe Cotter had long been at the fore of artistic pursuits in Oregon. And it was McMenamins' good fortune that, for several decades, Joe and his wife, Kolieha Bush — also an artist of remarkable talents — created exceptional pieces for our properties.
A Boston native, Cotter studied journalism at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He graduated in 1975 and then moved to the the Portland area. Cotter took art classes at Portland State University and eventually got involved with the local outdoor painting scene.
Cotter painted many murals around Oregon during the past 25 years — for McMenamins, for Outside In, at Saburo's Sushi House, and in doing so, he collaborated with such noted artists as Isaka Shamsud-Din and Baba Wagué Diakitée. His last major project, completed with his wife, was a mural on the corner of Southwest 12th Avenue and Morrison Street in Portland.
Cotter also painted with the Estacada-based Artback Artists Cooperative. Cotter and the group completed numerous murals since 1994.
Murals were central to Cotter. He wasn't an attorney but he learned about the legal process and he used that knowledge to work with a tireless group of mural advocates who fought for greater expression of murals in Portland and Oregon. Along with fellow advocates Mark Meltzer and Joanne Oleksiak of the Portland Mural Defense, Cotter worked for years to make the city sign code less restrictive toward murals.
Joe Cotter passed away on Saturday, March 31, 2012. His lovely, magical artwork can be found throughout McMenamins' establishments. We have lost a friend and one of the color masters of the company. Cheers, Joe.
For more details about Joe and his art, see these McMenamins blog posts:
"A FAMILY, A FAIR" : A Piece by Joe Cotter, 2010
Joe Cotter: Remembrances from His Fellow Artists
Andy Eccleshall [+]
I live in Edmonds, Washington, with my wife Ingrid and son Jack. I have been a professional artist for 30 years.
Born in the Midland town of Stafford, England, I began my artistic career at the age of 16 specializing in architectural illustration and landscape painting. Stafford is an ancient town nestled in the lowlands of the North Midlands and surrounded by farmland and moorland. Mist covered pastures in the fall, dramatic scenery of the Pennine Hills and a pastoral rolling landscape with features centuries old were constant sources of inspiration for me.
After several years as a fine artist and illustrator, I returned to education in 1992 at the Exeter College of Arts and Design in southern England. In 1994, I moved to the United States and travelled extensively during the first few years. I was dazzled by the enormous contrasts in the landscapes across the country — the beauty of the changing seasons against the neverending and ever-changing landscape. I moved to Seattle in 2000 with my family and to Edmonds in 2002.
I am inspired by drama in nature and contrasts in light and form. I am fascinated by atmosphere, light and weather and the moods they create. This country and especially this region is blessed to have such a wealth of inspiration.
Lyle Hehn [+]
In 1980, Hehn graduated from Linfield College with a bachelor's degree in art. Shortly after that he married, and he and his wife moved to the Chicago area where he had a series of industrial and warehouse jobs. During this time he also took nearly all of the technical drawing and graphics classes offered at a nearby junior college. The design department of the college eventually gave him his first graphics job, where he helped produce and illustrate all sorts of college publications.
Following that, he worked for AT&T doing graphics on computers for about two years, during which time he also sold a few of his freelance illustrations in and around Chicago. After returning to Oregon, Hehn tried his hand at 3D computer animation and assisted with cell animation, prop and model making, and process photography for a small animation company in Portland.
Since 1988, Hehn has been employed by McMenamins. His brother Paul was one of the company's managers, and Hehn was hired to paint a sign on a door at the Fulton Pub. Other McMenamins projects gradually followed. At first he did just decorative wall painting in the pubs, but as the company expanded, Hehn also began to design logos and labels and signs for their various locations, along with murals and illustrations.
Jenny Joyce [+]
The visual arts have always resonated with me. Before we had a television, as children we would gather around a book belonging to my mother. The book had full color prints of the world's 100 "most famous" paintings and we would fabricate stories about the images. Now I realize how much that programmed me to love narrative in the visual arts. As a child, the mystery of a good painting would intrigue me. To this day, I still believe that mystery is always a component of my art.
There was a fabulous art department in my high school, and I took as many classes as I could. Following high school, I went on to get a degree in Fine Art Education from Hofstra University in New York.
Immediately after graduation, I went into the Peace Corps, teaching English in Ethiopia. It was an invaluable experience. Leaving the United States and coming into contact with such a different culture and economic climate opened me up to a world view that has to be experienced to be comprehended.
From the time of my return to this country, until the present, I have focused on painting. I began in Abstract Expressionism, eventually evolving to being primarily a landscape painter. I shared my love of painting and drawing with children as an artist in the schools, and began doing interior and exterior murals, along with my studio work. As a studio artist, I show paintings at the Portland Art Museum's Rental Sales Gallery and the Guardino Gallery in Portland's Alberta Arts district.
In 1993, my friend Joe Cotter called and told me that Mike McMenamin was looking for artists to paint doors for Edgefield, the former county poor farm in Troutdale, Oregon. I went with Joe to Edgefield one winter day and showed my portfolio to Mr. McMenamin. We agreed I would begin with a series of paintings on doors, highlighting the natural history of the area. The very first painting I did was an owl.
Over the years working with McMenamins, of course, the subject matter has varied widely, from straight historical representation to wildly imaginative takes on history and people. I've done everything from simple decorative treatments, like borders in rooms, to spot pieces on walls, to painting faces on pipes, as well as doing lettering and portraiture.
Working like this, in such a variety of settings and with many diverse goals, has been a wonderful opportunity to grow as an artist. There is also the added benefit of working with a group of talented and inspiring artists, and for a company that is unique in its vision.
You can see more of Jenny's work at JennyJoyceArt.com
Yolanda Valdes Rementeria [+]
My interest in art began at an early age. In my native city of Ensenada, B.C., Mexico, my first teachers encouraged me to paint what was around me. Soon I developed a love of nature and found inspiration in its many forms. The ideas for my artwork are often a direct response to the landscape. Done in the plein air tradition, they are painted in the environment that inspires them.
While my landscapes are representational, some of my other artwork is imaginative and somewhat abstract. I enjoy using a variety of media, because after years of exploration, I find my preference of medium depends on the subject at hand.
Also, I am fascinated by the role culture plays in enhancing people's lives; it is a realization I came to through nine years of teaching in a kindergarten I opened in Mexico. Perhaps it was this understanding that moved me to travel outside my country to Oregon.
Since graduating from Portland State University, I have shared my interest in art with children and adults in various ways. I taught Spanish through art and cultural awareness in Lake Oswego Public Schools and at Catlin Gabel Progressive Independent Day School in Portland. It has also been a joy teaching children painting in workshops at various fairs, festivals and summer programs.
Community service has been another important way for me to use art to give back. I've been honored by invitations to participate in art programs for seniors and underprivileged children in Mexico, Costa Rica and Bolivia. One of the most memorable and emotional experiences I've had was surviving the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City and then providing support during the aftermath. Here in Oregon, I have volunteered with the Migrant Education and STEAM programs within the public school system.
I feel fortunate that my participation in art has been such a highly rewarding experience. My artwork has been viewed and recognized in juried shows and national and international exhibits, as well as through purchase awards and corporate commissions. Above all, these achievements have given me the opportunity to share my art and to meet wonderful friends.
In 1999, I met Mike McMenamin at the Mexican Consulate in Portland. Mike had heard about my work from a mutual friend. I brought some paintings to show him and was delighted when he invited me to create art for the remodeling of McMenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove, Oregon. Since then, I've painted for McMenamins Crystal Ballroom in Portland and at the Old St. Francis School in Bend. I enjoy the concept of creating art that reflects the cultural, historical and social make-up of a community.
Brenna White [+]
Brenna White was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Brenna knew she was going to be an artist from the time she was a small child and has been a working artist for the last 16 years. Painting in bright, vibrant color, there is always a whimsical story within her work.
Eight years ago, Brenna discovered her additional passion — teaching — while instructing after-school art classes for kindergartners through fifth-graders. Brenna realized she had a connection with the kids and felt the calling to be in the classroom full time. She then went back to school and received her Master's Degree in Teaching. Brenna now spends her days teaching middle school language arts and social studies, but always finds the time to continue creating art.
When she's not creating Brenna leads a very busy life, but loves to be at home with her family, enjoys watching her kids play sports, is always up for a walk outside, and is always happy to meet up with friends. Brenna lives happily in Tualatin with her incredible husband Ryan, her awesome son Eli, and fantastic daughter Samantha. She also shares her home with her dogs Zeke, Joe and Hazel and her cat Sampson. You can view more of her art at Blue Lucy Studios.
Reeva Wortel [+]
Wortel is a Portland native who at the age of 12 started taking formal and not-so-formal art lessons in exchange for babysitting from longtime McMenamins artists Joe Cotter and Kolieha Bush. This began Wortel's early understanding of narrative art as well as her adoration of the McMenamins artists' work.
After Wortel went off to art college and traveled the world, she came back to Portland and asked Mike McMenamin if she could paint for him. To her surprise he said yes.
Wortel's work strives to capture the essence of a person, place, time or thing with color, movement and emotion.
Reeva is an interdisciplinary artist who creates projects that combine painted portraits, interview techniques, performance and large-cale installation. Driven by a commitment to develop the technique of portraiture beyond its traditional limits, she has worked in communities as a social justice advocate and artist, honing a technique to create portrait collections that narrate the stories of our time. It is a process that involves in-depth interviewing, photography, painting and installation.
Wortel has been the recipient of several grants as a muralist, choreographer and installation artist. She has worked as a teaching artist in public and private schools in Oregon, New York and Louisiana. Wortel also works as a McMenamins painter illustrating the in-depth history of their properties through her paintings.
You can view more of her art at ReevaWortel.com
Myrna Yoder [+]
Yoder received her Masters of Fine Arts in Printmaking from Indiana University in 1990. She had thought she wanted to teach, but there was a recession and teaching jobs were few and far between. When she didn't get a job, she headed back to Oregon where she had been born and raised.
Portland became Yoder's new home and she began working as the sales shop manager for a small nonprofit craft gallery. The pay was minimal, so when a friend who managed the McMenamins Raleigh Hills Pub asked if she could draw art on their chalkboards in exchange for a meal, she jumped at the chance!
For several months Yoder drew pictures on the chalkboards along with the lists of the available beers. Ed Lawrence, the manager, asked her if she could paint something on the pub's back door. Excited about the prospect of earning a little extra money, Yoder agreed.
However, what she didn't tell him was that she had not painted for nearly 10 years. Her degree was in printmaking, specifically woodcuts. While her drawing skills were strong, she did not have much experience in painting or even working with color, since most of her woodcuts were black and white.
Nonetheless, Yoder showed up one morning and spent the day painting on the door. She propped it open and stood outside, virtually in the parking lot, painting. She used the paint straight out of the tubes, painting by value. She used yellow for the lightest areas and blues for dark areas and the other colors for the in-between values. By the end of the day, the pub had a painting on its back door and Yoder had some money in her pocket.
Pub manager Lawrence was happy with what she had done and got permission to have Yoder paint something in the pub's bathrooms. This time, working at night, she painted murals that went all around the rooms.
In the ladies' room, Yoder painted a scene including an elderly nude woman getting ready to get in the tub. Mike McMenamin was a little worried about the content, so he showed it to his young daughter Shannon to see what she thought. She liked it, the painting stayed and they invited Yoder to do some work at the Power Station Pub at Edgefield.
Since the early 1990s, Yoder has continued to work for McMenamins. She thought it was just going to be a short-term opportunity, but one job followed another — now, almost twenty years later, she's still painting. She has created something at almost every property — murals, illustrations, graphics, decorative borders, faces on pipes ... she has even snuck some woodcuts in!
Myrna affirms: "It is always an adventure and I am happy that I have gotten to participate in making the McMenamins properties places that people enjoy visiting and making parts of their lives."
Cathie Joy Young [+]
Young started painting for McMenamins at the beginning of the Kennedy School project in the mid-1990s. Her brother, Scott Young, had been painting for McMenamins for several years and suggested she apply for a job as painter.
At that time, the core group of painters working at the Kennedy School included Lyle Hehn, Jenny Joyce, Myrna Yoder and a few others. Lyle, Scott and Cathie Joy tended to begin work at the end of the day when the construction crew was beginning to disperse. Thus they would end up painting into the early morning hours, "drinking lots of coffee, listening to creepy late-night radio, telling stories and getting punchy."
On some of the following projects Young worked on, Jenny and Myrna would also work late at night; the more painters and the later the hour, the more fun and kooky it became. Along with extremely high levels of productivity, there was often hijinx and general silliness.
Young also painted at Edgefield, Hotel Oregon, Roseburg Station Pub & Brewery, Mission Theater, Grand Lodge and various pubs. For the last ten years, she has been doing her own artwork in one form or another and most recently has concentrated on acrylic paintings, which she shows and sells in galleries and at CathieJoyYoung.com
Scott Young [+]
On the old McMenamins Web site there was neither a photo nor a bio of Scott. I scoured the Web, but couldn't find anything more than what we already know: that he is the brother of Cathie Joy.
UPDATE 19 March 2018: Sometime during the past year, McMenamins added bios of their artists to their Web site, including many newer artists who are not included here. In addition, there is a new article about the McMenamins artists on the 1859 Oregon Magazine Web site. Because my listing has some details that these others don't, and vice versa, between all three of our sites you will get the most complete information.
Reader Comments
On May 6, 2017, Don Gaconnet wrote:
Talented artists for sure. I would love to paint and create all day for a living instead of doing technology...
On July 12, 2017, K slaydon wrote:
I appreciate you doing this. I've tried hard to find where these artist sell their work and have very little luck. Have you experienced any site or location where these artists sell their art work? If so, please share! Thanks.


text:
Hospitality Collection Single Hand Towel
Softness: Soft
Absorbency: Absorbent
(1) 16" x 27" Hand Towel
The Hospitality Collection is perfect for those who want their bathroom to be outfitted like a 5-star hotel. Each towel is made to meet the high standards of luxury hotels like Marriott, Hilton, & Hyatt. If you're looking for a towel that won't break the bank, but will leave you dry and happy, our Hospitality Collection will be perfect for you.


text:
The Wellington Colts 12U travel baseball team competed in the Omaha Tournament of Champions in Bellevue, Nebraska. The competition was held June 24-29 at the Omaha Champions Village.
The Colts placed third at the tournament, which drew teams from around the country. Wellington went 4-0 in its seeding games against teams from Missouri, Illinois and Texas to claim the second overall seed.
The Colts earned a first-round bye in the Gold Division bracket and then defeated the West Coast Dirtbags 12-6 in their first playoff game.
Wellington led the tournament in runs scored, outscored its opponents 74-31 and hit a tournament-best nine home runs. Two pitchers also combined to throw a no-hitter in the second seeding game against the Texas Twisters.
Team members are: Drew Beno, Jason Neff, Jeremy Neff, Austin Houk, Tyler Barrella, Joey Ingebritson, Chance Leggio, Dylan Leggio, Andrew Szretjer, Ian Logsdon, Nic Argento, Ross Vitaliano, Jack Ronan, Jake Luongo and Nic Johnson.
Coaches are Jimmy Beno, Lenny Neff, Jason Davis and Scott Houk.


text:
Sustainable Finance
Bloomberg's products and services provide essential information to the world's most influential audiences. We are a signatory of the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact. We strongly believe that sustainability brings more efficiency to the global markets. At Bloomberg, sustainable finance encompasses all forms of investment activity, including analysis of businesses, government and capital markets — integrating environmental and social considerations with financial analysis.
Our primary purpose is to serve our customers' current and future analytical needs. Increasingly, that requires us to integrate sustainability insights — both risks and opportunities — into our products and services.
The Bloomberg Terminal integrates Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) data into financial analysis, making it relevant and actionable for the financial community. Our uniquely integrated platform — including Bloomberg Intelligence, Bloomberg News & Media, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, Fixed Income and Commodities — gives shape and credibility to the concept of sustainability, which has traditionally been a hard-to-define term.
Read more about our sustainable finance products and about sustainable investing.
You can also sign up to receive a subscription of Bloomberg's Sustainable Finance Brief.
Sustainable Business
At Bloomberg, our commitment to sustainability runs through everything we do. The primary objective of our sustainability strategy is to decouple the company's growth from environmental impact, while proving the business case for sustainable operations.
As of year end 2017, we have improved operating margins, minimized risk and collaborated with our partners to implement more than 120 environmental projects. Our efforts have resulted in 834,209 metric tonnes of avoided CO₂ emissions—the equivalent of more than 4.5 years of Bloomberg's carbon emissions—and avoided $103 million in operating costs.
We have increased the amount of renewable energy powering our offices (making strides towards our goal of 100% renewable energy by 2025), built our offices to the highest green building standards and improved energy efficiency by more than 44 percent. We are also the only magazine publisher to produce 100% of our magazines from sustainable paper sources.
We are committed to certifying our office spaces to the highest environmental standards. By the end of 2017, we attained LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum-the highest LEED rating-for 17 projects and LEED Gold for 17 projects. In addition, our new European Headquarters became the first office building in London to receive a BREEAM rating of "Outstanding," the system's highest rating. With its BREEAM score of 98.5, the building has the highest design-stage rating of any commercial building in the world.


text:
Nature Shoot
Two of our favorite things are photographing people, and photographing nature. When we find opportunities to combine the two, we couldn't help but fall in love all over again with being inspired by the beautiful landscapes around us, that can easily be used to bring out the best in people.
We recently visited the Redwoods Regional Park in the Oakland hills, in California, and we were able to produce some pretty amazing portraits for one of our good friends.
Take a look, and send us a message if you are interested in getting portraits or headshots taken.


text:
In this paper we intend to develop the concept of ethic in marketing so the first section is concerned with presentation of the components of marketing and how each of them can subject of unethical practices. We try also to discuss some relevant issues related to the same. In the second section we focus on empirical study in order to show that many unethical marketing practices may be occurred especially which are related to pricing and advertizing practices.
Keywords: Advertizing, Ethics, Marketing, Marketing Mix, Pricing, Unethical Practices
Article Review Status: Published
This work by European American Journals is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License


text:
Back to Rockville
Janet Jackson postpones Unbreakable Tour (again)
Facing unspecified surgery, Janet Jackson has been forced to postpone her Unbreakable Tour, which included a February stop at the Sprint Center. It is the second time Jackson has had to postpone a Kansas City show on this tour.
On Oct. 25, a show scheduled for later that week at the Sprint Center was one of several postponed so Jackson, under doctor's orders, could give her voice a rest. In November, the Sprint Center show was rescheduled for Feb. 15.
Over the holidays, Jackson announced the need for surgery and the most recent postponement on her Facebook page. She also pledged to reschedule every show:
"I learned today from my doctors that I must have surgery soon. It breaks my heart to tell you that I am forced to postpone the Unbreakable Tour until the spring. Every date will be rescheduled. Please hold on to your tickets. They will be honored in a special way when the new schedule is announced. Please pray for me, my family and our entire company during this difficult time. There will be no further comment. I love you all so much and am ever grateful for your understanding and your love. Gon' b alright."
Tickets for the postponed shows will be honored at the rescheduled show. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase.
Timothy Finn: 816-234-4781, @phinnagain


text:
Fighting the War of Ideas
By Zeyno Baran
November/December 2005
Islam and the West are not engaged in a clash of civilizations -- at least not yet. But the West is being drawn into the clash of two competing ideologies within the Islamic world. Proponents of the first believe that Islam is compatible with secular democracy and basic civil liberties. Proponents of the second are committed to replacing the current world order with a new caliphate -- that is, a global Islamic state. They are the ones who seek to trigger a true clash of civilizations, partly in order to force the more moderate Muslims to choose their interpretation of Islam.
Extremist Islamist organizations such as al Qaeda have become well known in recent years for trying to accomplish their objectives through terrorism and political violence. Less well known, however, are the complementary organizations devoted not to direct action but to ideological struggle. Of these, the most important has been Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT, or the Party of Liberation), a transnational movement that has served as radical Sunni Islamism's ideological vanguard.
HT is not itself a terrorist organization, but it can usefully be thought of as a conveyor belt for terrorists. It indoctrinates individuals with radical ideology, priming them for recruitment by more extreme organizations where they can take part in actual operations. By combining fascist rhetoric, Leninist strategy, and Western sloganeering with Wahhabi theology, HT has made itself into a very real and potent threat that is extremely difficult for liberal societies to counter.
HT's ideology and theology, which are derived from those of other radical Islamist groups, are simplified to make them more accessible to the masses. Whereas many other Islamist groups insist that their particular religious interpretation is the only valid one or are obsessed with a single issue, such as Israel or Kashmir, HT keeps its focus on the broader goal of uniting all Muslims under the Islamist banner and thus emphasizes issues of more general concern, such as the clash of civilizations or the injustices suffered by Muslims worldwide. Other radical Islamists therefore tend to see the group not as a competitor but as an ally and often use HT's concepts and literature (readily available on the Internet) to rally their own supporters...
link of source :


text:
I have eleven interviews awaiting transcription for a publication that will be available this spring. I am deeply indebted to those who shared their stories of love, land and loss with me. The hope is that this publication will raise awareness around the issue of land access for beginning farmers and to give voice to landless farmers who might not have been heard otherwise. The publication will be registered under Creative Commons' Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0) license. (click here to learn what that means)
I'm done recording interviews for now, but I am still excited to accept written submissions for this publication. Deadlines for submissions is March 1st, 2014. Any submissions can be kept anonymous. This project is open to conventional and organic market farmers, migrant workers, farm hands, subsistence farmers and apprentices–anyone for whom your relationship to land constitutes the center of your life or livelihood. If you're interested in participating in or supporting this project or have any questions feel free to call 207-716-6441, or send an email to email@example.com.
This listening project has its roots in Maine; however, I am open to hearing any farmer's story who wants to tell it and welcome submissions or input from anyone regardless of their location. This project has been given a small starter grant by an organization called ROSC (Resources for Organizing Social Change) which is dedicated to promoting grassroots organizing in Maine. However, much of this project is being funded by my own personal resources, which as a small farmer, are greatly limited. We will be throwing a fundraising event/barn party in either late spring or early summer to help cover publishing costs–check back for details! Any donations can be granted to the project by pressing the pay pal button below and entering the desired donation amount. Any support you can give is needed, welcomed, and appreciated.
"And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed. "
— John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath


text:
|{a classic outfit under $150}
So here is the deal. I saw a girl wearing a version of this outfit earlier this week. She looked so pulled together, yet comfortable I just had to
The belt helps structure the dress, and the long cocoon-like sweater is what sets it apart from your basic cardigan. Pair it up with some cool-girl boots and you are good to go.
And yes, the entire look is under $150. For simple pieces you can mix and match, I think it is a real deal.


text:
Bedford Blues have revealed that all-time leading point scorer James Pritchard will be leaving the club at the end of the season to take up a player/coach role with National One side Coventry.
Pritchard, 36, or Skippy as he is known, celebrated his testimonial with the club last season and has been a key figure at Goldington Road for more than a decade.
Originally from Parkes in Australia, Pritchard started his sporting career in Rugby League before switching codes, and continents, to join Bedford Blues in 2001.
After a mini tour around the UK and France with Plymouth Albion, Northampton Saints and Perpignon, Pritch returned to Bedford in 2006 and made the town his home.
Pritchard's successes on the field are clear for all to see and, during the 2014/15 season, he overtook Andy Finnie as the Blues all-time leading point scorer.
This achievement was coupled with the international equivalent when he surpassed Gareth Rees's record of 491 to become Canada's leading point scorer and in 2015 he took part in his fourth Rugby World Cup.
Paying tribute to Pritchard, Blues director of rugby Mike Rayer said: "Pritch has been immense for Bedford Blues throughout his career and will be remembered as a club legend at Goldington Road for many years to come.
"Everyone connected to the club wishes James the very best of luck in his new role and we would like to send him away by having a successful end to our season here at the Blues."
Skippy won't be alone when he arrives at the Butts Lane Arena as he will be joined by former Blue, and former housemate, Brendan Burke in a new look coaching team which also comprises of Boris Stankovich, Brendon Snyman, and director of rugby Rowland Winter.


text:
I had the pleasure of doing some more strike off sewing for Vintage Lace Prints! I really love their style, and the fabric they print on is such amazing quality! I wish I could buy all of it and just hoard it forever.
*this post may contain affiliate links. for more info, click here*
The cowgirl prints & panels in this round are stunning! I received the Glass Slipper panel and the Cowgirl Main print, both in cotton lycra. I just adore the light pink color, the white lace pattern, and best of all – the gorgeous watercolor elements!
"Forget glass slippers, this princess wears cowgirl boots"! I just die, this panel is so sweet! And so perfect for little cowgirl princesses!
Maci loved that we got to visit my bff's horses for photos! They are beautiful and were not shy at all!
The details in this print are gorgeous, Maci was jumping up and down with excitement when she saw her new shirt. 🙂 I can't get over the quality of Vintage Lace Prints fabric. It's a great weight, it's super smooth, and has amazing stretch and recovery.
For this top, I used one of my all-time favorite pattern combos – the Brooklyn bodice with the Riley skirt. So twirly, girly, and perfect!
There are some other gorgeous panels and prints to choose from, and Vintage Lace is running these in Cotton/Lycra, French Terry, and woven! So many beautiful options to choose from! And did I mention Panty panels!? For adults and girls! Sooo cute 🙂
I was also thrilled to get to test one of their gorgeous Lace prints from this round as well! The details are incredible and this print is coming in a lovely assortment of jewel tones, perfect for fall! I made Maci the newly updated Jolly Roger Raglan with some additions from the new Add-on pack! I did the crossover funnel hood and the inseam pockets. She loves it!
It was perfect because the weather was a little chilly when we were taking pictures, and she kept saying how cozy it was! Pretty sure I need a hoodie like this for myself now!
Adding pockets to anything is a sure fire way to ensure that your kids love what you sew for them! 😉
Make sure to scoop up some of the gorgeous fabrics that are available in Round 8 over at Vintage Lace Prints. The preorder closes on October 8th, and is the best way to ensure that you will get what you want! Retail is usually limited and often sells out pretty quickly! If you're not a part of their Facebook group, make sure to join to stay up to date on all of the amazing things they're doing over there!


text:
The inaugural NYC American Craft Beer Festival hit the Lexington Armory today with a sound wallop.
Squigs (Artsy Guy) here. Where to start? There were craft brews from all over this great nation of ours: Kelso, Stone, Weyerbacher, Great Divide, Rogue, Victory, Cigar City, Clown Shoes, Wandering Star, Brooklyn, Green Flash, Long Ireland, Empire, and on and on and on. And everyone brought some A game. This hop head was particularly jazzed with a lot of IPAs, double IPAs, and black IPAs on the docket. But there was so much more, and we happily took the tour in two ounce servings.
In addition to the suds, there was food to be had. I particularly enjoyed the pulled pork sandwich with twice-baked potato salad on top. Jimmy devoured a Frito pie. And there were tables offering ways to connect with fellow beer lovers, books for purchase (our pal Josh Bernstein with his Brewed Awakening), apparel, and more. And a special package deal allowed folks into the connoisseur lounge for an extra fee. We have to say that the perk was well worth it. Pours of special limited and vintage releases from some amazing breweries. Live music. Nosh presented on trays. (I particularly enjoyed the bacon wrapped scallops.) And all of this in a dimly-lit (and muraled) downstairs room in the armory that had a fun speakeasy feel with setees and standing tables.
Mastermind Robert Howell led a team that organized an event that to this Guy seemed to run seamlessly. His background in huge rock events was evident. And the craft beer community was out in force. As The Happy Hour Guys always say, the best thing about events like this and the craft of craft beer is the community it all brings together. It was great to see old friends and meet new ones, all brought together by the art of beer. Jimmy and I encourage you all to keep an eye on this event which we hope wallops us again in the future. That's what's HOPpenin', y'all! Cheers!


text:
Mayor steps down after being banned from every pub in his town
A MAYOR has stepped down after he and his partner were barred from EVERY pub in his town after going on a drinking spree.
Wayne Ronayne stood down as Mayor of Gosport after he and his partner Paula Carter upset local pub owners on his first day in office.
The pair, both 54, were barred from 36 pubs in the area, after the Mayoress reportedly threatened to get a Wetherspoon's shut down before being escorted from the premises.
Former Royal Navy warrant officer Ronayne announced his resignation yesterday, after just 40 days in the role.
He is thought to be the first person in the history of the town to ever leave the ceremonial position before his year-long term was up.
The Conservative said he does not admit any wrongdoing and blamed social media for damaging his public profile.
Ronayne said: "My decision is not based on any admission of wrongdoing or my inability to undertake the role.
"It is based on the now-damaging public perception of me that has been vigorously generated by certain members of our community.
"I do not wish to bring the position of the mayoralty into disrepute nor tarnish the good reputation of Gosport."
I do not wish to bring the position of the mayoralty into disrepute nor tarnish the good reputation of Gosport
Police were called as the drinking session on June 4 got out of hand.
Ronayne was slapped with a six-month ban by Pub Watch, while Carter was barred for 12 months.
The pair were refused entry to two pubs in the seaside town, The Star and Nelsons.
Stephen Brown, the duty manager at Nelsons, said: "Ms Carter said to me 'do you know who I am?'
"I said 'no, I don't', and she said 'I'm the mayoress of Gosport, I can have you closed down'.
"I politely said she still wouldn't be coming in, she was clearly drunk and then continued to be rude and had to be dragged away."
Nelsons owner Arthur Caraccio added: "We expect better behaviour than this."
Gosport Pub Watch defended their action to bar the former Royal Navy warrant officer.
Chairman Phil Cox said: "Everybody is treated the same. People need to be treating licensees and staff with respect.
"But we don't expect the mayor of Gosport, who represents our town, to be involved in incidents like this."
Ronayne will remain as a councillor on the town council.
Lib Dem rival councillor Peter Chegwyn said: "He's done the right thing and the public will recognise that. But he should have done this a month ago."


text:
An article published in last week's New York Times made me a little queasy. Entitled "Skipping the Architect: Wise or Otherwise?", it profiles a handful of people who, empowered by user-friendly drawing apps like SketchUp, have decided to do their own design work. An excerpt:
Philippe Jeanty was interested in saving money but also time when he decided to design a house using SketchUp. Mr. Jeanty, a 58-year-old doctor with no architecture or engineering training, spent several months coming up with a plan for a one-story, three-bedroom house in Fairview, Tenn., with thick, insulated walls and numerous windows. Using SketchUp, he was able to keep tweaking the design until he was satisfied. "If we had to discuss the plans with an architect and said, 'We want to change this, change that,' it would be an endless number of meetings," Mr. Jeanty said.
As it was, he just hired a draftsman and a builder to carry out his plan, and his lack of design knowledge, he said, wasn't an issue: "The only thing we really regret is putting marble in too many places. It's a pain to maintain."
Here at SketchUp HQ, we're more than a little conflicted about stories like this one. On one hand, it's great that folks like Dr. Jeanty are able to realize their ideas using our software—I'd love to congratulate him on his successful project. On the other hand, owning a scalpel doesn't make me a surgeon. I would no sooner remove my own gall bladder than proceed with a major building project without consulting an expert.
SketchUp is used by everyone from schoolchildren to world-renowned architects, and that's exactly how we like it. But how should we react to stories that portray accessible tools as a replacement for domain expertise? How do we continue to encourage enthusiastic amateurs without downplaying the importance of trained professionals?
The original NYT article didn't include a feedback thread, which is a shame. If you like, feel free to use this post's Comments to let us know what you think.


text:
Valentine Day and lonely people in France
Insee published recently a paper (in French), well in line with the Valentine Day, which characterizes people living alone or in couple by socio-professional category, along with the data.
Between 1990 and 2008 (two population surveys), the proportion of people living alone mostly increased for people under 60. After 60, 38% of women live alone, for only 17% of men, because women are married to older men, and live longer than them, in average. See that proportion by age:
Spatially, there is a kind of South/North opposition. During the working life, lonely people live in the South (left), while lonely retired people live in the North (right), with an exception for Île-de-France (Paris) with a high proportion whatever the age:
Daily casualties in Syria
Every new day brings its statistics of new deaths in Syria… Here is an attempt to learn about the Syrian uprising by the figures. Data vary among sources: the Syrian opposition provides the number of casualties by day (here on Dropbox), updated on 8 February 2012, with a total exceeding 8 000.
We note first that the attacks accelerate, as the cumulated graph is mostly convex (click to enlarge):
Plotting the numbers by day shows the bloody situation of Fridays, a gathering day in the Muslin calendar. This point was especially true at the beginning of the uprising, but lately any other day can be equally deadly:
There are almost twice as much deaths on Fridays as any other day in average:
Here are boxplots for the logarithm of daily casualties by day of the week:
and their density estimates, first coloured by day of the week, then by Friday vs rest of the week:
Here is the code (with clumsy parts for fitting the data frames for ggplot, do not hesitate to comment on it)
library(ggplot2) input=read.csv("http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1391912/Blog%20statisfaction/data/syria.txt", sep="\t",header=TRUE,stringsAsFactors=FALSE) input$LogicalFriday=factor(input$WeekDay =="Friday",levels = c(FALSE, TRUE), labels = c("Not Friday", "Friday")) input$Date=as.Date(input$History,"%d/%m/%Y") input$WeekDays=factor(input$WeekDay, levels=unique(as.character(input$WeekDay[7:13]))) # trick to sort the legend qplot(x=Date,y=cumsum(Number), data=input, geom="line",color=I("red"),xlab="",ylab="",lwd=I(1)) qplot(x=as.factor(Date),y=Number, data=input, geom="bar",fill=LogicalFriday,xlab="",ylab="") qplot(log(Number+1), data=input, geom="density",fill=LogicalFriday,xlab="",ylab="",alpha=I(.2)) qplot(log(Number+1), data=input, geom="density",fill=WeekDay,xlab="",ylab="",alpha=I(.2)) qplot(WeekDays,log(Number+1),data=input,geom="boxplot",xlab="",ylab="",colour=WeekDays)
Create maps with maptools R package
Baptiste Coulmont explains on his blog how to use the R package maptools. It is based on shapefile files, for example the ones offered by the French geography agency IGN (at départements and communes level). Some additional material like roads and railways are provided by the OpenStreetMap project, here. For the above map, you need to dowload and dezip the files departements.shp.zip and ile-de-france.shp.zip. The red dots correspond to points of interest longitude / latitude, here churches stored in a vector eglises (use e.g. this to geolocalise places of interest). Then run this code from Baptiste's tutorial
library(maptools) france<-readShapeSpatial("departements.shp", proj4string=CRS("+proj=longlat")) routesidf<-readShapeLines( "ile-de-france.shp/roads.shp", proj4string=CRS("+proj=longlat") ) trainsidf<-readShapeLines( "ile-de-france.shp/railways.shp", proj4string=CRS("+proj=longlat") ) plot(france,xlim=c(2.2,2.4),ylim=c(48.75,48.95),lwd=2) plot(routesidf[routesidf$type=="secondary",],add=TRUE,lwd=2,col="lightgray") plot(routesidf[routesidf$type=="primary",],add=TRUE,lwd=2,col="lightgray") plot(trainsidf[trainsidf$type=="rail",],add=TRUE,lwd=1,col="burlywood3") points(eglises$lon,eglises$lat,pch=20,col="red")
Google Fusion Tables
A quick post about another Google service that I discovered recently called Fusion Tables. There you can store, share and visualize data up to 250 MB, of course in the cloud. With Google Docs, Google Trends and Google Public Data Explore, it is another example of Google's efforts to gain ground in data management. Has anyone tried it out?
France open data at data.gouv.fr
Today is launched the (beta version of the) brand new French website for open data, at data.gouv.fr (do not misunderstand the url, it is in French!). On prime minister's initiative, it collects data from various ressources, among which the institute for statistics INSEE, most of the ministries (Finance, Culture, etc), several big companies (like the state-owned railway company SNCF) for an open, transparent and collaborative model of governance. Datasets are available in CSV or Excel spreadsheet, under open licence for most of them, and should be updated frequently (monthly).
Some of the datasets you can find: list of 3000+ train stations with geolocalisation (later with traffic?); geolocalisation of road accidents; the comprehensive list of books in Bibliothèque Nationale de France (which scans and stores each and every book published in France); the number of students in Latin and ancient Greek classes; France national budget, etc… among 350 000 others.
I have added the link in our datasets page.
Triathlon data with ggplot2
As Jérôme and I like so much to play with triathlon data, it is a pleasure to see that we are not alone. Christophe Ladroue, from the university of Bristol, wrote this post yesterday: An exercise in plyr and ggplot2 using triathlon results, followed by part II, way better than ours, here and here. For example, the time distributions by age, "faceted" by discipline (swim, cycle, run and total), look like this
As the number of participants to the Stratford triathlon (400 or so) is a bit small for this number of age categories, it would be nice to compare with the Paris triathlon results (about 4000).
Here is the rank for the 3 disciplines and for the total time, "colored" by the final quartile (check the full part II post for colors by quartile in the 3 disciplines):
We see that the rank at the swim lag is not much informative for the final performance, all 4 colors being pretty mixed at that stage, and that it is tidied by the cycle lag. It is the longer one, and as such, the more predictive for the final perf. It is nice to see that some of the poor swimmers finally reach the first quartile (in orange). Check those ones whit sawtooth patterns: first quartile at swimming, last cycling, first running, and last at the end!
An interesting thing to do with that kind of sports databases would be to build panel data. As most race websites provide historical data with the participants names and age, identification is possible. It is the case for Ipitos, or for Paris 20 km race, with data from 2004 to 2010 (and soon 2011). Remains to check if enough people compete in all the races in a row, my guess is that the answer is yes. The next steps would be to study the impact of the age on the progress, and on the way ones manages the effort from the beginning to the end of the race (thanks to intermediate times in running races, or discipline times in triathlon). Well, maybe in a later post.
World Tourism Day, and Google Public Data Explore
Today is the World Tourism Day! So let's speak about some tourism related datasets – and others.
Among other nice functions, Google offers a Public Data Explore in a beta version which provides a collection of datasets from OECD, IMF, Eurostat, World Bank, US Census Bureau, etc (cf. our datasets page as well). It is possible to plot these data directly online, with the following (limited) types: lines, barplots, maps and scatterplots.
The page reads "Data visualizations for a changing world"… nothing less! As someone writes on Andrew's blog, it reminds a lot of Hans Rosling work with Gapminder's motion charts: "Unveiling the beauty of statistics for a fact based world view".
It is really easy to use, and a good opportunity for math highschool teachers to show nice graphs to students before they learn how to use R. The pointer to R is straightforward as it displays the same plots as the googleVis R package. For example for Tourism data, the number of nights spent in European countries looks like this in 2009 (click for getting the motion chart version!)
The barplot goes like this:
Power of running world records
Following a few entries on sports here and there, I was wondering what kind of law follow the running records with respect to the distance. The data are available on Wikipedia, or here for a tidied version. It collects 18 distances, from 100 meters to 100 kilometers. A log-log scale is in order:
It is nice to find a clear power law: the relation between the logarithms of time T and of distance D is linear. Its slope (given by the lm function) defines the power in the following relation:
Another type of race consists in running backwards (or retrorunning). The linear link is similar
with a slightly larger power
So it gets harder to run longer distances backwards than forwards…
It would be interesting to compare the powers for other sports like swimming and cycling.
Triathlon in three colors
With Jérôme Lê we are planning to swim/bike/run Paris triathlon next July. Before begining the trainning, we want to know where to concentrate efforts. Let us look at some data.
The race distance is known as Intermediate, or Standard, or Olympic distance, with 1.5 km swim, 40 km ride and 10 km run. Data for 2010 Open race (ie not the Elite race) can be found on a site of running races results called Ipitos, after free registration. It consist in 1412 finisher times, for the three parts of the race. Gender is available. Histograms normalized as probabilities are as follows, for time in minutes:
Times for swimming are shorter than the two other parts (resp. 30, 70 and 50 minutes in average). The larger standard deviation is for cycling (resp. 4, 8 and 7 minutes). So larger differences in time are done in this part of the race.
It appears that the skew is positive for the three parts of the race: it sounds usual for that kind of event. It is open to everyone, and most of newcomers enlarge the bulk of the right tail. The cycling histogram is the most skewed (resp. .5, 1.3 and .9). We can see that with boxplots and density estimates. These are done with centered data:
As expected, no outlier is found on the left of the distributions: this is the "no-superman" effect. On the contrary, the otherside of the box outliers are overcrowded, the "nowcomer" effect.
As an aside I have plotted the normalized 3 dimensional data in a square array, with squares of a color defined by data in the RGB model. Sampling 1024 of the 1412 finishers, this provides this (pointless) Richter-like plot:
The following triangle is obtained as in this post:
The fact that the points cloud is on the left illustrates the massive skewness of cycling. The few points outside the cloud correspond to poor performers in the corresponding sport, with swimming at the bottom left, cycling at the bottom right, and running at the top. For example, for the three light green points, loosy bikers, but rather good at swimming and running.
Random Colours (part 2)
In this previous post, Julyan presented the paintings of Gerhard Richter, and asked whether the colours were really "randomly chosen", as claimed by the painter. To answer the question from a statistical point of view (ie whether the colours are uniformly distributed in the (r,g,b) space or in the (x, y, r, g, b) space for instance, where x, y is the position and r, g, b the 3 colour components), we need to extract the data. Let's take for example the following 1024 colours painting.
The data corresponding to this painting would be a 32*32 table, and in each cell of the table there would be a colour, represented for instance by 3 numbers, like in the RGB colour model. Tonight I've made a python script that extracts this data, with Julien's help. I took the marginal mean colour along both axis and converted it into grey scale. This gives two lines with white segments and grey segments. From that it is easy to find the middle of the segments, which gives the squares' centres. Once the square centres were found, I simply took the mean colour of a smaller square around each centre.
As an output the script creates a BMP file with one pixel per colour (so it's a tiny image, obviously 32*32 pixels), and a R file with 3 matrices called "R", "G" and "B", available here. This format is usually convenient since it's plain text but if you want another one just ask me. If we zoom on the output BMP file we get:
The script is available here if you want to try it or modify it. I fear that there might be a slight mistake in the script because the colours don't seem to be exactly the same in the output as in the input, but hopefully it's close enough. The script needs an image to work on, for instance you can try on the pictures from this gallery. I tested it on two other pictures:
- one with 10 colours. R file here, bmp here.
- one with 192 colours. R file here, bmp here.
So now we have the data for three pictures (10, 192 and 1024 colours), and we can start to do some real stats. Are we going to find the same results in the RGB model as in the HSV model for instance ? If not, which colour model should we use?
To be continued!


text:
DREAMS, BELIEFS, ACTIONS AND HARD WORK These four magical ingredients make up the very inspiring and motivating world of Kawaii Philippines. One of Kawaii Philippines' aims is to empower more kawaii enthusiasts and to be more confident and open about their kawaii selves.
(Photos from @uly_0919, @apsaqui, @milo.jp, @epgonda, @kicx07, @psychodolliedeity, @kawaiiphbook & @rainbowholic)
(Height: 8 in. / Width: 6 in.)
What's so quirky about this book? The whole Kawaii PH team and their friends compiled a cohesive guide for fellow kawaii enthusiasts. This book makes up their stories, experiences, inspirations, blogs and actions to help spread what is the magical world behind kawaii. What are the other kawaii contents of the book? "Beyond the Cutest Dreams" also has an interactive way of engaging the readers. The Kawaii PH team included pages that contain mini games and activities. You can also find do-it-yourself tutorials and dessert recipes in this 100-page kawaii book! All the proceeds from the books will go to the Kawaii Fund! (kawaiifund.org)
Words by Micaela Cruz & Ysa Rodriguez
For local orders, please proceed to Kawaii PH Store instead or click here for the product page. (Update as of July 13, 2015: We already ran out of Kawaii PH Book stocks with the original book cover. Please take note that the current available version of the books is the one with the longer version of the tagline in Japanese. No worries, the content is still the same. ^^)