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In a special, one-night-only movie event, taking place on May 5th, Syfy is airing the four-hour re-imagining of the classic tale, Treasure Island, featuring an all-star cast led by Eddie Izzard (as Long John Silver), Elijah Wood (as Ben Gunn) and Donald Sutherland (as Flint). In this version, directed by Steve Barron and written by Stewart Harcourt, Robert Louis Stevenson's swashbuckling adventure story about fantastical treasure, youthful courage and murderous greed has a fresh, new feel. The film also stars Toby Regbo, Rupert Penry-Jones, Shirley Henderson and Nina Sosanya.
During this recent interview to promote the film's premiere, actor Eddie Izzard talked about how he got involved with this project, his inspiration for Long John Silver and how he made the role his own, finding the unique look for the character, the high and low moments during shooting, working with a real parrot, and that they're already talking about doing another film. He also talked about being a big fan of science fiction and the imagination, his desire to continue doing dramatic work, and being offered a role in the Munsters reboot, Mockingbird Lane, from creator Bryan Fuller and with a pilot directed by Bryan Singer. Check out what he had to say after the jump:
Question: How did you get involved with this project?
EDDIE IZZARD: I was asked if I wanted to do it. They said, "Do you want to it?," and I said, "Well, I'd like to do it, but I'll only do it if the script has teeth and is gritty." I feel the story has been portrayed in a somewhat lighter fashion, over the years, and has gotten watered down. So, I said, "It's got to be harder than Pirates of the Caribbean," which is fun, but a bit flotsam and jetsam. I wanted something with teeth. So, we went to Stewart Harcourt and came up with the final version of the script that we did, which had teeth in it.
The story of Treasure Island has been made into films many, many times. What do you think the appeal is, of this particular story?
IZZARD: Well, it's interesting. I was born in Aden, which is in the city of Yemen, an Arabic country. The Gulf of Aden has all the Somali pirates going around, and we know that it's hellish down there. You can get caught by those pirates, and you just do not want that to happen. But, pirates plus time equals romance. We have a different take on it. The story is interesting. We worked at it to fight for the soul of Jim Hawkins (Toby Regbo). Anyone in their youth can identify with that, even young tomboy girls and women, because he's not like a big macho man. He's slight, but feisty. So, it's a story that anyone can identify with. Going to the Caribbean in those days is like going to the Moon now. Imagine there is $500 million on the Moon. Could you go and get it? It's one of those stories. You get caught up in it and it just gets nasty. It's about death and blood and life, and finding yourself. What would you do in those situations? It doesn't end with a Hollywood happy-go-lucky thing. It's got all these things that can appeal to people across the ages, and it did in the U.K. already.
Long John Silver has been portrayed so many times. Did you have any particular inspiration for your version?
IZZARD: Churchill was my inspiration. It sounds kind of weird, but obviously you're looking for a fresh take, and the interesting thing with Silver is that he keeps changing sides and shifting the ground. Sometimes it's pushed upon him, but sometimes it's him manipulating and moving. Churchill has been voted by the British people as the greatest British person ever, in a television poll program that they did. This is someone who changed his political party twice, which is called "Ratting." Winston Churchill was not only a rat, but he was a double rat because he changed from the conservative party to the liberal party, and then back to the conservative party. He should have been vilified and dead and out for the count. In the end, because of going up against the Nazis, he's become our greatest person ever.
Robert Louis Stevenson based Long John Silver upon a friend of his who was actually an editor and a journalist and a poet that actually wrote the Invictus poem that influenced Nelson Mandela when he was in prison. It's about the indomitable spirit, which is in that poem. We worked out that the treasure was the equivalent of something like $500 million, so imagine what you would do to get $500 million, if it was buried on a treasure island. That's the essence of Silver, and that's the story we wanted to do. We wanted to do a real kick-ass version, as opposed to a campy version, which I think has been done before. This one was with teeth. Twenty main characters go out there, and only about four come back, and I wanted Silver to be the engine behind it. I'm a very determined person, and I like to bring that to my characters.
Why did Churchill help you in understanding who John Silver was?
IZZARD: It's all about the indomitable spirit. The vast majority of people respect you, if you've got a good heart. The interesting thing about John Silver is that he has a mixed heart. He will blow different weathers. Silver's heart is not there. He is a greedy man, or a man who has worked hard to steal a lot money, and he feels that he deserves this $500 million, or at least his share of the $500 million. That is how I portrayed him. If you look at the history of Churchill, it's all over the place. He was against India getting its freedom. He kept changing parties. He was on the wrong side of the right decision, many times. In World War II, he made the right decision. With Long John Silver, you think, "Well, I think I'd be okay having a beer with this guy. I think I like him. I'm not sure. I don't really trust him, but I think I like him."
How important was it to you to find that specific look that is very unique to this character?
IZZARD: Once you cut your hair off, you don't have to worry about whether your hair is in the right place. Shaving the head was the big dramatic departure. I didn't have any set ideas on how it should be. We obviously knew there was going to be a lot of crutch work, which is really important in how he moves. We worked with moving people on that. But, shaving the head defined it. I'd been trying to do a role where I could shave my head, for some time. If you ever do choose to shave your head, it's all about the skull shape. You've got to have a good skull. Some people have an unfortunate skull that doesn't quite work, and you don't know that until you get down there. For eight years, I've been saying to make-up artists, "Could you do a bald cap on me, at some point? I just want to see what it looks like when I have no hair, to find out if it works." So, when they came to me for this, with a mock-up of me with no hair, in a Long John Silver look and said, "Would you think of doing this?," I said, "Yes!," immediately because I'd been trying to do this for so long. So, we went down to a very short buzz cut to check out the skull shape, and I thought, "This is going to work."
I cut all my hair off, when I got to Dublin. My skull worked, which was just genetic luck. I was very happy with my skull shape, so that changed everything and made it interesting. The accent that I use is a London accent. There are a lot of villains in London. London was huge, in the 1700s. It became a city of a million people. The last city, before that, of a million people was Rome. Everything collapsed after Rome, and then it built all the way back up. In the 1700s and early 1800s, London became the size of what Rome was. It was a really pumping city. And, out of that, a lot of villainy was coming. The make-up and the tattoo came up from the make-up designer. He did a brilliant job, giving him that wonderful punk edge. And then, they added designs to the crutch. Learning to use that was very tricky, actually. I set up an assault course so that I could practice and get used to it. But, in the end, I got very comfortable with that crutch, which is now sitting at my home in L.A. I will use it in Treasure Island 2 as well because I now know how to do it.
Was the look of the production one person's vision, or was it a lot of people working on it together?
IZZARD: That was a lot of ideas. We all wanted to do something different, and this felt like a 1700s punk thing. Also, the skin colors of the actual actors was very important because we felt that's what the pirates would have been like. In a lot of films, through the last century, you had a lot of white pirates and a lot of white people. People were black, brown and white. The whole mixture was in there, and I really liked that. I think that's going to resonate because that's what the world really is. This film could play all around the world and people in different countries could say, "See, I could have been a pirate." That was the look, and a lot of different people contributed to that, from costume design and make-up design to the overall design. And, we had the different buzz cuts and Mohican cuts. It looked like Mad Max meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Goodfellas. I think that we've reset Treasure Island. I hope this is the benchmark that everyone has to measure Treasure Island books by.
What was it like to work with your co-stars, Donald Sutherland and Elijah Wood?
IZZARD: Elijah Wood came onto the scene and he was just a joy. He had no attitude and no size to him. He just joined us, hung out with us and was great. I'd love to work with him again. It was quite an honor to work with these people. And then, Donald Sutherland coming and playing John Silver was crazy. I had worked with Elliot Gould on Ocean's 12 and 13. It was quite amazing to have words with Elliot Gould, and then to work with Donald Sutherland. He was great and he gave me a book on Treasure Island. Sometimes it blows my mind to work with people who I've known from a long time, and then finally get to work with.
What were the high and low moments during shooting?
IZZARD: When I was seven, I said, "I want to act." When I was 10, I realized that films exist, and I wanted to be in them. Not a comedian, I wanted to be a dramatic actor. Films just seemed such fun, and like such a great thing to do. To do a drama that's a film and that's on location – two locations here with Dublin, Ireland, doubling for Bristol on the West Coast of England, and then Puerto Rico, for our treasure island – with such great actors as well, were highs, just to be with that team. I always tried to be the captain. I encouraged everyone to play soccer, or fútbol, as we call it. I like team activities. Just doing the work was a high.
The low was that it was bloody freezing in Dublin. Dublin was the coldest in the U.K., at this time. It was snowing. That's real snow in the film. We didn't buy the snow. That was actual snow. Some people got frostbite. Some of the extras got frostbite on the day we were running around, at the beginning of the film. And then, in Puerto Rico, it was extraordinarily hot. I had to hide under an umbrella between takes because it was that hot. The temperature differences were the crazy thing.
Were you able to relate to playing a character who can be so disloyal, at times?
IZZARD: If you know anything about me, as a transvestite who's gotten this far in my career, and you remember all the transvestites who are out and doing okay in their careers, it's not a big group. Obviously, I'm determined. I run marathons. I'm going into politics. I do productions. I've played the Hollywood Bowl. I do gigs in the French language. His fallibility is at the center of all of us. I don't believe in God. I believe gods and devils are within us. It's our own battle. Our life's battle is to appeal to the gods within us, and to fight the devils within us. To be weak and greedy is a potential for all of us there. If we look at Nazi Germany, the German people are not bad people. But, if someone grabs hold of the country and says, "Agree with me or I'm going to kill you," then a lot of people fall into line. Some people don't. Some people fight it. Some people get out. Some people become part of the resistance. But, it's a difficult thing to do. These are the stories of our life that should mold us and, hopefully, make us better people.
So, within watching Silver, I tried to appeal to my own demons. I know that I have done things in my life where I thought, "I shouldn't have done that. I'm ashamed of that. That's no good." I try to push for better. I try to be positive. I try to be generous. But, at times, you're not. Sometimes you're very selfish. Your ego gets involved. You want to be a Buddhist monk, but only Buddhist monks get to be Buddhist monks, and I don't think I am that. You've just got to dig inside you. He's a real person, and he was also trying to do a very difficult thing. He's dealing with a bunch of greedy, avaricious pirates who are way worse than him, so he has to keep them saying, "No, have patience." They're saying, "I'm getting sick and tired of hanging on." They just want to kill people, drink, get stoned, have sex and have money. How you organize that is very difficult. It's very difficult politics. If you analyze what you would do if you were Silver, you'd have a bloody rough and tough time. He does as good as he can do.
How were you able to get into the mind-set of someone with such contradictory personality traits?
IZZARD: I think most of us are actually like that. It's written slightly larger because he is John Silver and there is $500 million at stake and everyone's wanting to kill each other, and it's a life and death struggle. But, if you just look at the gossip pages online, that garbage that almost takes over human life. That's not an American thing. That's a human thing. That happens in Britain, that happens in Russia, and it will happen anywhere. When people are not being generous, they fall back into gossip and bickering, which is part of all of us. To tap into that, all you've got to do is start feeling less generous. That stuff is all swimming underneath. The story drives him forwards and backwards. He flies by the seat of his pants. The high point for Long John Silver is almost it he middle of the film, when he does the flag of truce. After that, it actually goes downhill because they laugh that he has a bank account, which is very rare. Silver is an intelligent bloke and an ambitious one. You've just got to take ambition and greed and smash them together, and it's probably at the center of most people.
What was it like to work with a real parrot?
IZZARD: It was curious. I wasn't worried about being upstaged by the parrot, but I didn't want to get too parrot-centric. Parrots have to act into the wind. They're just standing there and trying to be parrots. Because bird feathers move backwards on their body, if there's a big breeze coming up the wrong way, the wind blows all the feathers the wrong way, so they will turn around and face into the wind. That was a practical problem. You could only do scenes that faced the direction of the wind. If you started turning, he would turn with you and, in the end, he'd be facing backwards while you were talking forwards, and that just looked bizarre. I'm sure that if you were really a pirate, you wouldn't worry about it, but in the camera, it looked bonkers. That was the big problem. The other one was that the parrots get attached to you, so you have to be positive and confident with them, but not friendly. You can't be friendly. If you're too friendly with them, then they get to like you and then they won't leave you. It's a slightly fine line, acting with parrots. I was happy to be in a number of scenes with them, but I didn't want them to just take over the film.
Is there something that you learned, while making this film, that surprised you?
IZZARD: Some of the very experienced actors didn't have that many lines, but they're still very good and qualified people, and a number of them were saying that this was the greatest time they'd ever had. I felt that it was my job – and I've studied this on George Clooney, from the Oceans movies – to lead from the front. I worked out that you can and should set the tone from the top. As I had the role of John Silver, I was always trying to make sure that everyone felt included, and hopefully that worked. When you haven't enough time or budget, and it's really hot and really cold, you can still live a life. We had a great adventure, just in the making of Treasure Island. It is an adventure, and we had an adventure. You can do that, as long as you give a damn about other people. That's what I learned.
Syfy is airing Treasure Island as one long, 4-hour film, but in the U.K., it across two nights. Do you think that will change the viewer experience, at all?
IZZARD: This is the Godfather of pirate movies. I've actually seen it both ways. In Britain, there has become this model of grabbing people on Sunday night, and then you drag them through to Monday night. But, there's always a slight drop-off over the next night. We did a screening for the crew in London and we had a half-hour break in between. By the end of the first movie, you're going, "What happens now?" When The Godfather came out, it was too long, but then it became a classic. I think that's what we've got.
After doing so much comedy in your career, how have your goals, as an actor, changed in recent years?
IZZARD: Well, I don't know if my goals have changed in recent years. I think my opportunities have changed. Now, I'm being offered Long John Silver in Treasure Island, and a film called Lost Christmas in the U.K., which will hopefully come out this year and which I'm really pleased about. I've just been offered Mockingbird Lane, the pilot (for The Munsters reboot) with Bryan Singer and Bryan Fuller, in America. I wanted to be a dramatic actor when I was 7. That's all I wanted to do. I don't think I really knew that comedy existed at 7. I just thought you laughed. But, I worked out that acting existed, and then I realized films existed, so I just wanted to do that.
As the comedy started taking off, I started saying, "I want to do dramatic roles." It's almost like a schizophrenic career, which drives agents and managers nuts. But, I refuse to do a lot of comedy things. I just want to do dramas. And now, people are believing me and trusting me, and I've gotten better at my dramatic craft. Drama and comedy are different, and you need to know what the differences are, which I now know. The bottom line of comedy is to be funny, and the bottom line of drama is to be truthful. You can be truthful and funny, but if you're not truthful in a drama than the audience leaves you and goes, "I don't believe in what he's doing and saying." You try to do that, in every scene.
I'm very happy with Treasure Island. There are a few scenes in there which I go, "I didn't land that like I should have," but there are also some where I thought, "I'm very happy with what I did." And, to be working up against these other actors is great. The change recently is that I've gotten better at my game. I know where what I'm doing now. Now, I can start to really grow, dramatically. Hopefully, people are seeing and sensing that. Some are actually giving me the chance to do that.
Are you a science fiction fan?
IZZARD: I am a big science fiction fan. I'm a big imagination fan, which actually ties in with sci-fi, which is the place of imagination. I loved Harry Potter, particularly the end films. I haven't actually read the books. I'm a dyslexic person, so I avoid books. I did read a couple of Isaac Asimov books, but there are so many books out there which I haven't read because I'm just such a slow reader. At the moment, I'm going through Netflix, with Star Trek: The Next Generation. I'm a fan of the future.
I do have a big vision. I'm a transvestite, and you have to work out how you can get transgender admitted into society. I don't have a problem with the vision thing. I've had to have one because I'm trying to carve a place for myself, in the future. I like fantasy stories and science fiction stories because within that, hopefully, there is a truth. Game of Thrones is very interesting. I just started watching that.
In the past, we do see our present and our future. Humans keep behaving the same. I was big fan of The Matrix, particularly the first one. I got a bit lost in the other two. Those stories that are gritty and edgy and have human sensibilities, I love living through those. For a lot of people, it gets them out of their normal lives, which might be not that exciting, and it's a place of crazy fantasy. My life has almost become like a sci-fi film, in a way, but one that I'm controlling and it's okay. I'm very happy with where I am, at the moment.
With this film having been such a success in England, do you any interest in maybe doing a follow up?
IZZARD: Yes, we're already talking about Treasure Island 2. It's a dangerous thing to do a follow up to a classic. You can fall flat on your face. But, we would like to do one, so we will see how that progresses. I do believe that there was TV series that actually only happened in Australia, but that was about John Silver and his continuing exploits. I think it does actually have legs, so I would like to do another one.


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Hector Camacho, a boxer known for his lightning-quick hands and flamboyant personality who emerged from a delinquent childhood in New York's Spanish Harlem to become a world champion in three weight classes, died Saturday in San Juan, P.R., four days after after being shot while sitting in a parked car. He was 50.
His death was reported by Dr. Ernesto Torres, the director of the Centro Médico trauma center in Puerto Rico, who said Camacho had a heart attack and died a short time later after being taken off life support. He was declared brain dead on Thursday.
The police said that Camacho was shot in the left side of the face on Tuesday night as he sat in a black Ford Mustang with a friend, The Associated Press reported. The bullet fractured his vertebrae and was lodged in his shoulder when he was taken to the Puerto Rico Medical Center. The friend, Adrian Mojica Moreno, was also killed.
The police said that two men fled the scene in a sport utility vehicle but that no arrests had been made. They said that nine bags of cocaine were found in Moreno's pockets and that a 10th was found open in the car.
Fighting in bouts sanctioned by professional boxing's myriad organizing bodies, Camacho, who was widely known as Macho Camacho, won titles as a super featherweight (maximum 130 pounds), a lightweight (135 pounds) and a junior welterweight (140 pounds). In his last title bout, at age 35 in 1997, he fought at 147 pounds and lost to the welterweight champion Oscar De La Hoya.
Terrifically agile and fast afoot, Camacho had a sackful of canny tricks gleaned from his teenage years as a street fighter; he was known occasionally to spin his opponents 180 degrees and reach around to punch them from behind. Rather than a slugger, he was a precise, impossibly rapid-fire puncher and deft counterpuncher who early on drew the admiration of the boxer who was then the avatar of hand speed, Sugar Ray Leonard.
"Not only quick, but accurate," Leonard said in 1982 after watching Camacho, then a super featherweight, dispatch Johnny Sato in four rounds. He added: "I told him that people are always asking who's going to take my place. I told him he could."
Fifteen years later, Camacho, who was six years younger than Leonard, ended Leonard's comeback attempt at 40, knocking him out in the fifth round.
In the 1980s and '90s, few boxers were more attention-grabbing than Camacho. He was known for his hairdo, which featured a spit curl over his forehead; his clownish antics at news conferences; his brashness and wit, especially whenever a reporter with a pad or a microphone was around; and his dazzling outfits. He variously entered the ring in a diaper, a Roman gladiator's outfit, a dress, an American Indian costume complete with headdress, a loincloth and a black fox fur robe with his nickname, Macho, stitched across the back in white mink.
"From now on I'm going to dominate this game," he said in an interview with The New York Times in 1985, after he defeated José Luís Ramirez to win the World Boxing Council lightweight crown, his second title.
Hector Camacho Dies at 50
10 Photos
View Slide Show ›
Three years earlier, he had earned $50,000 for whipping Sato. Camacho, who was then 20, acknowledged that this was a lot of money, but he told Sports Illustrated, "A few years ago, if I had met Sato on 115th Street, I would've done the same thing for nothing."
As a teenager Camacho was a brawler, a serial shoplifter, an admitted drug user and a car thief, and he never put that part of his nature behind him. He was arrested numerous times on charges including domestic abuse, possession of a controlled substance, burglary and trying to take an M-16 rifle through customs. This year he turned himself in after a warrant charged him with beating one of his sons. A trial was pending at his death.
Hector Luis Camacho was born in Bayamon, P.R., near San Juan, on May 24, 1962. After his mother, Maria, separated from his father when Hector was 3 years old, they moved to Spanish Harlem. He started boxing at 11 and eventually won three New York City Golden Gloves titles, though after the first one he found himself in a cell at Rikers Island, serving three months for car theft.
At 15, after being thrown out of a number of schools, he entered a Manhattan high school for troubled youths, where he came under the influence of a language teacher, Pat Flannery, who taught him to read and became a father figure, guiding him to the Golden Gloves. Flannery is credited with giving Camacho his nickname.
Camacho won his first professional fight in 1980, and he earned his first title, the World Boxing Council super featherweight crown, by knocking out Rafael Limón in August 1983. His last fight, at 161 pounds, was in 2010 in Kissimmee, Fla.; he won. His professional record was 79-6-3, with 38 knockouts.
Camacho was married once and divorced. His survivors include his mother; his father, Hector; three sisters, Estrella, Esther and Raquel; a brother, Félix; four sons, Hector Jr., Taylor, Christian and Justin; and two grandsons. Hector Jr. is also a professional boxer.

subset: commoncrawl


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NYC Junto Newsletter
A free monthly written by Iris Bell, April 29, 2017
Contents at a glance
Calendar of events, NYC and beyond
* Ayn Rand Meetup, Sunday, April 30, 3:00pm
* Rand's "Virtue of Selfishness" Workshop, Wed., May 17
* Calligraphy 1906-2016, Grolier Club, May 17 — July 29
* Spring NY Heroes Hike at Bear Mountain, Sunday, May 21
* Free To Believe – Defending religious liberty for all, June 1
Alex Epstein and human flourishing
* Trump on energy, best since Reagan? Q/A with Alex
* DiCaprio's global warming guru backs out of Alex debate
The arts and beauty
* Epoch Times: Self-Portraits — Meeting the artist eye-to-eye
* Seeing with expert eyes, recommended by Dianne Durante
* Aristos, online review of the arts — lots in this April issue
Items of interest
* Why no innovation in education, as in other industries
* "Terror" isn't the threat, the ideology behind it is: "dawa"
* Trump executive order to reduce Fed in K-12 education
* Seasteading Institute floating free trade zones in Dubai
* How JetBlue Does It, interview with Peter Robinson
* Exploit-the-Earth Day, by Craig Biddle
* Professor worked in check-casher, we're getting it wrong
* Ayn Rand's Counter-Revolution, in the New York Times
* Bernard Lewis, in 1976, foresaw the rise of radical Islam
* "Her Opponent" surprising version of THE debates
* Five Ayn Rand walking tours in NYC, by Fred Cookinham
* Local meetings and sites: free market and Objectivist
* Facts about this Junto newsletter and Junto
Junto monthly newsletter continues, Junto meetings end
The purpose of this newsletter, by Iris Bell, is to let you know about items related to achievements, free markets, education and Romantic arts…with an emphasis on Objectivism and the human flourishing movement.
The most important part of each item is here, with a link for more information. There are surprises in every issue, great items which are getting little notice. To subscribe to this newsletter put "Junto list" in the subject line, email your name and preferred email address to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Junto's founder and host is Victor Niederhoffer. Visit his site here.
Calendar of events, NYC and beyond
Ayn Rand Meetup, Sunday, April 30, 3:00pm
As always, we'll talk about Ayn Rand, her works, challenges, Objectivist life, options, associations and knowledge. Give and take, open to all, no charge, no reservations. It's on the last Sunday of each month. At The Midtown Restaurant, 155 East 55 Street, between 3rd and Lexington Avenues, mid-block, north side of 55 Street, in Manhattan, free.
There are one to two dozen people at each Meetup. Benny Pollack, Ayn Rand Meetup organizer, says: "Join our group of regular Objectivists for a lively discussion on topics related to Ayn Rand and Objectivist philosophy in general.
"Please join us. If you are already versed in the topic, want to learn or just want to spend an intellectually stimulating afternoon, please come. I hope to see you there." Learn more here.
Ayn Rand's "Virtue of Selfishness" Workshop, Wed., May 17
NY Objectivists Meetup, 7:00pm to 9:15pm, Marymount Manhattan College, 221 East 71 Street, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, room 505, cost $10.
Philosophy professor and Aristotle scholar Carrie-Ann Biondi is leading this workshop on Ayn Rand's rational ethical egoism. She teaches ethical theory and applied ethics courses for undergraduate students. This takes place where she teaches, Marymount Manhattan College.
We've worked through chapters from Ayn Rand's "The Virtue of Selfishness." In this final session we'll summarize the prior session's "The Cult of Moral Grayness" and "The Argument From Intimidation," then open the discussion to any issue from chapters we analyzed in the book. We can also explore more fully any similarities to Aristotle's ethics. You can post questions for the discussion or submit questions to Carrie-Ann or Robert here.
Calligraphy 1906-2016, Grolier Club, May 17 — July 29
The word calligraphy comes from the Greek for "beautiful" (calli) and "writing" (graphy). This decorative art goes back centuries, spanning cultures. Exhibitions of Asian, Persian and Medieval Western art include beautiful writing, yet modern Western calligraphy isn't often recognized. Curator Jerry Kelly, book and type designer, typographer and calligrapher, presents examples by over 80 Westerners, demonstrating how alive it is in the computer age. 47 East 60 Street, Monday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm, free. Learn more here.
Spring NY Heroes Hike at Bear Mountain, Sunday, May 21
10:30am to 4:30pm, Bear Mountain Inn, Seven Lakes Drive & Route 9W, Bear Mountain, NY. This is a meetup of the NY Objectivists/Celebrating the Philosophy of Ayn Rand.
After the summit hike and lunch we'll set aside time for those who want to speak about their goals and achievements in our Celebrate Self segment of the gathering. Afterwards, you're welcome to join the dinner, most likely at Bear Mountain Inn. Learn more here.
Free To Believe – Defending religious liberty for all, June 1
Atlas Network, 6:00pm to 8:00pm, The Penn Club, 30 West 44 Street. Reception for Bill Mumma, president Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. He sees prospects for religious liberty in the Trump Era, a major transformation of the Judiciary will provide tremendous opportunities to advance all liberty. Open to Atlas Club and Trendsetters members, all others there's a $50 suggested donation. Register here.
Alex Epstein and human flourishing
Trump on energy, best since Reagan? Q/A with Alex Epstein
Alex, author of "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels," talks about global warming, fracking, Ayn Rand and the president-elect with Nick Gillespie and Jim Epstein, December 2, 2016.
"What [Trump] has said about energy…is the best of any president since Reagan," says Alex…has so far been an advocate for "Americans to reach their full energy potential." "Man…survives by impacting nature," he told Reason. [The environmental movement] "says [this] essence of human survival is bad. And that's wrong." "…our energy prosperity has depended on the ignorance of politicians." Listen to this podcast here.
DiCaprio's global warming guru backs out of Alex debate
Alex Epstein, author of "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels" was to debate Terry Tamminen, CEO Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. Terry claims he has "urgent business." It was to be in May at the Collision Conference, New Orleans, it was scheduled for two months. The current plan is Alex will debate former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, Jr., recently named director Center for the New Energy Economy, Colorado State University.
"Not who I initially wanted, but this should be an entertaining debate nonetheless." Tune to Facebook Live stream on the Planet:Tech Facebook page, May 2 at 12:30pm CST here and more here.
The arts and beauty
Epoch Times: Self-Portraits — Meeting the artist eye-to-eye
Eleventh Street Arts features 28 artists' self-portraits. See how artists are able to project themselves into the world through their technical abilities and their artistic gifts. Viewing a self-portrait is an intimate meeting of gazes of the artist and viewer, separated in time and place. It is qualitatively different from looking at any photograph of the same artist, created in less than a second.
"There is something that pauses you when you look at a self-portrait, a special painting. It really is an introspective work of the artist, deliberately laboring over his or her face for many hours," said Colleen Barry, an artist and curator of the exhibit. Epoch Times is a broadside newspaper/site, see paintings and read here.
Seeing with expert eyes, recommended by Dianne Durante
Alexandra Horowitz's, "On Looking: A walker's guide to the art of observation." Dianne writes, "Even though I'm not an artist, I felt like I saw more after reading this book. Horwitz walks the same few blocks in Manhattan with a toddler, a dog, a doctor, a calligrapher, an entomologist, a blind person, and others with very particular points of view." Look at it here…and if you click "Look here" above the cover of the book, then click on the "Print Version," you'll be able to read many pages throughout this book.
Learn about Dianne Durante's free weekly email with recommendations in fields such as sculpture, painting, literature, nonfiction, movies, architecture and decorative arts, see a sample here.
Aristos, online review of the arts — lots in this April issue
* Ever heard of Camille Claudel? Even if you know her story, you'll be happy to know she at last has her own museum, here
* Boston will have the largest display of Botticelli's works in the U.S., 24 paintings from international lenders as well as important loans from Harvard and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, more here.
* A preview of a show featuring self-portraits by some of the most worthy Classical Realists working today. [Also see Epoch Times: Self-Portraits above] More here.
* Michelle recommends the columns of Epoch Times's writer Milene Fernandez on Classical Realist art, here.
Items of interest
Why no innovation in education, as in other industries
A documentary on this subject, "School Inc." is based on the work of the late Andrew Coulson. He spent the last several years of his life examining this question for the Cato Institute. Coulson's discoveries and insights about the educational process were developed by the award-winning producers at Free To Choose Network. Find out if it's on public TV in your area, here.
"Terror" isn't the threat, the ideology behind it is: "dawa"
Ayaan Hirsi Ali in the Wall Street Journal, talks about ideas and about her short book (which is free). She seeks to add a new four-letter word — dawa — to the West's vocabulary. It describes the ceaseless, world-wide ideological campaign waged by Islamists as a complement to jihad. It is, she says, the greatest threat facing the West. America is far from immune, and her book, "The Challenge of Dawa," is an explicit attempt to persuade the Trump administration to adopt "a comprehensive anti-dawa strategy before it is too late."
Dawa are the activities carried out by Islamists to keep Muslims energized by a campaign to impose Shariah law on all societies — including countries of the West. Dawa she explains, is "conducted right under our noses in Europe, and in America. It aims to convert non-Muslims to political Islam and also to push existing Muslims in a more extreme direction." The ultimate goal is "to destroy the political institutions of a free society and replace them with Shariah."
Since 9/11, "In focusing only on acts of violence," she says, "we've ignored the Islamist ideology underlying those acts. By not fighting a war of ideas against political Islam — or 'Islamism' — and against those who spread that ideology in our midst, we've committed a blunder." Read the WSJ article here and get her book, 63 pages plus notes, free from Hoover Institute here.
Trump executive order to reduce Fed in K-12 education
ChoiceMedia.tv reported on this. It's a site about freeing education, whose creator visited Junto. Trump's executive order requires Education Secretary Betsy DeVos study whether and how the federal government has overstepped its legal authority in K-12 schools, part of a broader effort to shift power from D.C. to states and local communities. "Previous administrations have wrongfully forced states and schools to comply with federal whims and dicate what our kids are taught," Trump said. "But we know that local communities do it best and know it best."
The order doesn't invest DeVos with new authority. She has broad powers to revise or withdraw policies of her predecessors, more here.
Seasteading Institute floating free trade zones in Dubai
Over 4,000 special economic zones (SEZs) around the world are proving so successful that more are being created. Joe Quirk, author and "aquapreneur" with Atlas Network partner Seasteading Institute, explained why new floating free trade zones off the coast of Dubai would allow for "maximum wealth creation." The prototype for the Seasteading Institute's Floating Island Project already floats in the Netherlands.
"Hong Kong…became in practice a startup government," Quirk points out. "In 1961, it was a British colony with British rule of law…over the next 36 years, the wealth of the average person in Hong Kong…grew 87 times….the country's leaders soon discovered that its success could be replicated through an expansion of economic freedom….China designated the fishing village of Shenzhen to try a similar experiment in business freedom. So, in 1979 when it was designated a special economic zone, Shenzhen didn't even have a traffic light….Today, Shenzhen manufactures 90 percent of computer keyboards, 90 percent of computer mice…people keep moving there because per-person GDP is the highest in all of mainland China." See him speak and read more here.
How JetBlue Does It, interview with Peter Robinson
Here's an airline people love. JetBlue executives explain the unique culture of their company on "Uncommon Knowledge," the online and TV show. CEO Robin Hayes and chairman Joel Peterson talk to Robinson about how JetBlue has remained successful, despite the regulations, competition and pitfalls of running an airline. JetBlue continues to have double-digit operating margins and great customer loyalty by focusing on safety, culture and delighting customers. It's been voted best airline for customer satisfaction by JD Power 12 years in a row.
Even after Airline Deregulation Act 1978, airlines are still one of the most regulated industries in the U.S., with over 13,000 pages of FAA regulations. 21% of the cost of an air ticket goes to government taxes. JetBlue has a low-cost structure to compete and hasn't gone into debt to fund its planes. It's innovative, bringing its investment arm to the Silicon Valley to further integrate disruptive technology into their airline. They use technology to improve customer relations, track equipment and improve ticketing. Their culture empowers all employees to improve customers' experiences, from check-in to picking up their bags. Watch, listen or read the interview here.
Exploit-the-Earth Day, by Craig Biddle
"Because Earth Day is intended to further the cause of environmentalism — and because environmentalism is an anti-human ideology — on April 22, those who care about human life should not celebrate Earth Day; they should celebrate Exploit-the-Earth Day. Exploiting the Earth — using the raw materials of nature for one's life-serving purposes — is a basic requirement of human life. Either man takes the Earth's raw materials — such as trees, petroleum, aluminum, and atoms — and transforms them into the requirements of his life, or he dies. To live, man must produce the goods on which his life depends; he must produce homes, automobiles, computers, electricity, and the like; he must seize nature and use it to his advantage. Environmentalism is not concerned with human health and wellbeing — neither ours nor that of generations to come. If it were, it would advocate the one social system that ensures that the Earth and its elements are used in the most productive, life-serving manner possible: capitalism. Read more by Biddle in his magazine's blog, The Objective Standard, here.
Professor worked in check-casher, we're getting it wrong
University of Pennsylvania professor Lisa Servon worked as a teller to find out why customers used the service. Prevailing wisdom holds that customers would be better served by a bank. But she found check cashers were often cheaper and served customers' needs better than banks. Three reasons customers gave were cost, transparency and service. Read more here.
Ayn Rand's Counter-Revolution, in the New York Times
This op-ed is in the Times online version: History of Communism, 100 years after the Russian Revolution. How a refugee from Bolshevik Russia became the ultimate apostle of American anti-Communism, by Jennifer Burns, associate professor history Stanford University, research fellow Hoover Institution, author of "Goddess of the Market: Ayn Rand and the American Right." An essay in the series Red Century, about the history and legacy of communism 100 years after the Russian Revolution. Read it here.
Bernard Lewis foresaw the rise of radicai Islam in 1976
Forty years ago, nobody foresaw the rise of radical Islam — except for the preeminent historian who both predicted and explained it, and much else besides. The role of Islam in politics? There wasn't any to speak of. Imagine, then, the surprise of the readers of Commentary magazine when the January issue landed in their mailboxes bearing these words on the bright yellow cover: "The Return of Islam." The byline…Bernard Lewis, the eminent British historian of the Middle East, just recently transplanted to America. Thus did the West receive its very first warning that a new era was beginning in the Middle East — one that would produce a tide of revolution, assassination, and terrorism, conceived and executed explicitly in the name of Islam. Read the rest of this celebration of Lewis's 100th birthday here.
"Her Opponent" surprising version of THE debates
Marion DS Dreyfus reports on this Off Broadway play: "[it] sets audiences back on their heels. Since it deploys exact lifts from the presidential debates between Hillary and Donald Trump, we know the words already….What transpires, however, is a revelation, partially evoked by the clever switching of genders….She has mountains of attitude, swaggers around the stage while her dainty dipsy opponent jaws on and on about inconsequential Big Ideas that never left the launching pad, though they came complete with chipmunk cheeked grins and arrogant harrumphs to share with her presumed humongous following everywhere.
…using their own debate words. And something amazing occurs….a resounding bull's eye hit. After the debate itself is over, with the audience marveling….the audience gets a mic and we are able to express what we felt…Every member of the audience who professed to loathe and detest Mr.Trump…turned out to reconsider the candidates in light of the flip-around. Several DNC people said they now understood why Trump won: Hillary was a wonk, boring, unfriendly, artificial. Brenda/Trump was forceful, funny, natural engaging and often, in retrospect about Russia, correct….the producers will be taking this intriguing experiment out on the road….[one of the producers] told me he had, months ago, 'known' that Trump was the lesser, the stupider, of the two party leads. Now…he realized Trump was by far smarter than the Hillary entity….it's a wow of an experience and actually the most fun I've had at the theatre for many a moon. Orbach Theatre, 50th and Broadway, here.
Five Ayn Rand walking tours in NYC, by Fred Cookinham
*Atlas Shrugged, *Ayn Rand's Park Avenue, *Ayn Rand's Fifth Avenue, *Skyscrapers of The Fountainhead and *Ayn Rand on Broadway. Private tours $30 per person. Read about his tours of colonial and revolutionary NYC history, vaudeville history, newspaper history, the changing styles of architecture that form the historical background of The Fountainhead, and places in NYC where Ayn Rand lived and where she laid her scenes in Atlas Shrugged. Arrange tour, get information, call Fred at home: 718-397-9019, on cell: 917-607-9019, email: fcookinham [at] juno.com His site's here.
Local meetings and sites: free market and Objectivist
*** Groups which meet in Manhattan ***
Manhattan Libertarian Party
NYC Ayn Rand Meetup
NY Objectivists/Celebrating the Philosophy of Ayn Rand/NY Heroes
*** Sites to visit ***
Aristos: An online review of the arts
Atlas Network
The Atlas Society
The Atlasphere
Ayn Rand Institute
Ayn Rand Lexicon
Cato Institute
Center for Industrial Progress
ChoiceMedia.TV: School choice news and events
The College of the United States
The Federalist
Forum for Ayn Rand Fans
The Heartland Institute
Independent Institute
Institute for Justice
Liberating Education
Liberty Magazine
Ludwig Von Mises Institute
The Objective Standard
The Objective Standard's Blog
Objectivism Online
Powell History
Real Clear Politics
Reason Papers
Rebirth of Reason
The Savvy Street
Sense of Life Objectivists
taxPOLItix by Alan J Dlugash
Robert Tracinski at The Federalist
The Tracinski Letter
*** Facebook groups ***
These groups are about free markets, creativity and/or Ayn Rand. Some are open to anyone. To read and post to closed ones ask to become a member. You can sign up for notices of new postings.
These groups have from 8,000 members to under 100. Some have been around years, others are new, some have daily postings, others rare ones.
A R Group
Ayn Rand
Ayn Rand friends
Ayn Rand International
Ayn Rand: Voices of Youth
For The New Intellectuals
Free Minds
Friends Who Like The Ayn Rand Institute
The Impact of Aristotle Upon Christian, Islamic, & Jewish Cultures
New York Area Objectivists
New York Objectivist Salon
The Objective Standard, an online and paper publication
Objectivism for Intellectuals
Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand
Objectivist Inventors, Scientists and Engineers and Friends!
Objectivist movement
Reason Matters
Romanticism Watch
Stop Blaming Capitalism for Socialism's Failures
Students For Liberty
Facts about this Junto newsletter and Junto
* Our host is Victor Niederhoffer. For 31 years, until September 2016, he sponsored Junto meetings. Each month he presented a speaker, some are podcasts here. His site is dedicated to the scientific method, free markets, deflating ballyhoo, creating value and laughter; a forum for us to use our meager abilities to make the world of specinvestments a better place. Visit his site here.
* To subscribe to this newsletter put "Junto list" in the subject line, email your name and preferred email address to: firstname.lastname@example.com
* Iris Bell continues to write this newsletter. She's a freelance graphic designer. She was Ayn Rand's and Nathaniel Branden Institute's graphic designer.
* Oleg Atbashian created NYCjunto.com. His own famous site, The People's Cube, presents important political issues with humor and satire.


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I often create ultra-wide images on my iPhone (stitched together with Pano.app), and I'm looking for user experience examples to display them on a website. These are not spherical or 360º images (which many of the display tools seem to focus on).
A typical pano image aspect ratio (Gerding Theater, Portland, Oregon):
I've been using Tumblr to post photos to, because it's easy. Their ultra-wide image handling & user experience leaves much to be desired. I'd love to empower users to really get immersed in the images - either full-width or zoomed in. It wouldn't have to animate.
Have you seen:
- Any web services that handle ultra-wide images well?
- HTML only (no flash)
- Any good iOS-based UX app examples?
- Any good Wordpress photography themes that handle this use case well?
- Any other good web-based examples?
I don't mind rolling my own solution; I'm trying to think outside the box.
Got any suggestions, or examples that blew you away? Would love any links or ideas.


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In Pennsylvania, state senate leaders want to stop guaranteeing pensions for future state workers and teachers. Here's why:
The Pennsylvania State Employees' Retirement System and Public School Employees' Retirement System are proud achievements of 20th Century state government.
Like similar plans in other states, SERS and PSERS have enabled hundreds of thousands of hardworking teachers, police officers, prison guards and social workers to retire on up to 70% of their maximum yearly wages, keeping them in their homes and cars and restaurants and off the streets -- while also guaranteeing private-sector-executive-style six-figure annual payments. plus medical benefits, to ex-judges, Penn State sports coaches, assistant school district administrators with extra degrees and four-word titles, double-dipping General Assembly members, and other privileged members of the bipartisan public-employee elite.
Public pensions are like paper currencies: They work well when managed by principled fiscally responsible people, if you can find them, but are vulnerable to political decisions to boost spending, cut income, and leave the program unsustainable for future generations.
Pennsylvania is a prime offender: Under former Gov. Tom Ridge (R), the state in 2001 boosted pensions even as it cut taxpayer support. (Public workers also pay more than 6% of their paychecks into the fund, but it's not enough to pay all the future checks.)
To replace lost state revenues, the plans hired hundreds of expensive private-sector money managers, some of them political donors, to jack up assets.
The Inquirer Business Weekly Newsletter
Business news and analysis sent straight to your inbox every Tuesday morning.
That hasn't worked. The result is a multibillion-dollar and growing shortfall between what the pension plans have amassed and what they're going to have to pay hundreds of thousands of surprisingly healthy retirees for decades to come; along with rapidly increasing demands on taxpayers that are driving local school taxes up, outraging citizens.
Gov. Ed Rendell (D) very late in his administration was prevailed upon to trim state pension costs by raising the collection age to 65 and doubling the minimum service period to 10 years.
And yet the gap widens, and pensions are forcing state and local tax spending higher. So now the Republicans who run the State Senate, led by Sen. Dominic Pileggi, R-Delco, say they are introducing legislation to kill the guaranteed-pension system, effective for future state and school employees after this year, and replace it with a private-sector-style, 401(k)/403(b)-type program where it's up to amateurs (retirees) to pick stocks and funds and tighten their belts when the market goes south. Though their own pensions and those of current constituents will be safe. More here.


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Showalter encouraged with Johan's throwing program
BALTIMORE -- Johan Santana threw a bullpen session on Tuesday, and manager Buck Showalter said he's encouraged with the way the left-hander has progressed. Santana, who is at the team's spring complex in Sarasota, Fla., threw all his pitches and is working as if he's on a five-man rotation right now.
The Orioles would ideally like Santana, who could be an option in June, to have a 10 mph difference between his fastball and offspeed pitches.
"He had one of the best changeups in baseball, but if his velocity is only 85, can he drop his changeup to 75?" Showalter said. "I don't know, and is 85 enough? I think the hitters are going to answer a lot of those questions.
"I know in my mind what I'd love to see on the gun in a perfect world. But all indications are so far, so good. He hasn't had any setbacks."
Top prospect Dylan Bundy, who tweeted his progress in Monday's first full mound session, threw 25 fastballs on Wednesday and continues to progress back from Tommy John surgery. Bundy is considered a little behind Santana in terms of timeline.


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It seems that the PC port of Grand Theft Auto IV is having some problems; the official forums are filled with people suffering from glitches, crashes, and graphical issues. Oh, my. How bad have things gotten? Gamers are reporting that Steam is actually offering refunds on a case-by-case basis.
Well, does Best Buy give refunds if you open a PC game and it's buggy? I don't believe you can get refunds for open merchandise. Because you are downloading a game from a service, there's nothing to "open", however I think that customers should be reading reviews and forums before they buy downloadable software.
I'm not sticking up for Rockstar, however their PC titles usually have issues from what I've read.
i was planning on getting this game but going to wait like i do with most pc games. this is getting worser and worser. this is a story that doesnt get much news, i understand that there are so many pc configs that no pc is ever the same. when a pc game released i feel like i am a beta tester and its bull. this is one big reason why pirating is so bad and was one reason why i pirated bioshock because the pirated version was the most stable one. i bought bioshock on steam for it to just crash so i pirated. i hate pirating games and i dont do it no matter what now but come on can this problem with pc gaming get more attention.
Well I am not buying it for PC.I have never enjoyed a GTA game on PC.I feel bad for those who wanted to get the definitive PC version
GTA 4 is a huge disappointment. I hope GTA 5 brings me back to chaos happy days
You can't rest on your laurels, so why are they doing it. I might download a torrent file of this just to spite them, they don't deserve my money for this.
(A little OT) Good old valve giving us refunds, now THERE'S a developer.
Steam is a vision of the future, I buy all the PC games on there I can, and often don't bother if it isn't on steam. I love it!


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Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes (World Heritage)
Kumano Kodo Overview
Kumano Grand Shrines
Oji Shrines
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes
- Nakahechi | The Imperial Route to Kumano
- Kohechi | The Mountainous Route to Kumano
- Ohechi | The Coastal Route to Kumano
- Iseji | The Eastern Route to Kumano
Kumano Kodo Name Variations
Kumano Kodo Overview
For over 1000 years people from all levels of society, including retired emperors and aristocrats, have made the arduous pilgrimage to Kumano. These pilgrims used a network of routes, now called the Kumano Kodo, which stretched across the mountainous Kii Peninsula.
The walk itself was an integral part of the pilgrimage process as they undertook rigorous religious rites of worship and purification. Walking the ancient Kumano Kodo is a fantastic way to experience the unique cultural landscape of Kumano's spiritual countryside.
In July 2004, the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes were registered as UNESCO World Heritage as part of the "Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range" property.
Kumano Pilgrimage History >>
Kumano Kodo Audio Guide >>
Kumano Kodo Etiquette >>
Kumano Kodo Route Maps >>
Kumano Kodo Accommodation Reservations >>
Kumano Grand Shrines
The focus of the Kumano pilgrimage is to worship at the three Grand Shrines of Kumano. As a set they are referred to as the Kumano Sanzan: Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama Taisha and Kumano Nachi Taisha.
Oji Shrines
A distinctive characteristic of the Kumano Kodo are Oji, subsidiary shrines of the Kumano deity, which line the route. These were important sites of religious rites and offerings and are still essential elements of the Kumano pilgrimage.
more Oji Shrines >>
Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes
Nakahechi | The Imperial Route to Kumano
The Nakahechi pilgrimage route starts from Tanabe on the western coast of the Kii Peninsula and traverses east into the mountains towards the Kumano grand shrines. It is the most popular route for pilgrims from western Japan. Starting in the 10th century, the Nakahechi route was extensively used by the imperial family on pilgrimage from Kyoto. This trail has traditional lodgings in isolated villages along the way and is excellent for multi-day walks.
Nakahechi Maps>>
more Nakahechi Route >>
Kohechi | The Mountainous Route to Kumano
The Kohechi route cuts through the center of the Kii Peninsula from north to south, linking the Buddhist temple complex of Koyasan and the Kumano Sanzan. It is characterized by steep trails that cross over three passes of over 1000 meters elevation along its 70 km length. The Kohechi is an isolated walk on its northern sections and hikers should be well prepared when attempting it.
Ohechi | The Coastal Route to Kumano
The pilgrimage route runs south from Tanabe along the coast to Fudarakusan-ji Temple. The views from the well preserved passes offer expansive scenic vistas over the Pacific Ocean. During the Edo period (1603-1868), this route was used for both worship and sightseeing, and the beautiful landscape attracted many writers and artists.
Iseji | The Eastern Route to Kumano
The Iseji route runs along the east coast of the Kii Peninsula between Ise-jingu Shrine and the Kumano Sanzan. The use of this trail rose dramatically in the Edo period (1603-1868) with the increasing number of pilgrims to the Ise-jingu Shrine. After paying homage in Ise, devotees would continue on the Iseji route to Kumano. To prevent erosion from heavy rains, extensive sections were paved with picturesque cobblestones. This route has a diversity of mountain passes, bamboo forests, terraced rice fields, and beaches.
Kumano Kodo Name Variations
There are many variations and translations of the name "Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Routes". The following is a list of some of them.
- Kumanokodo
- Kumanokodou
- Kumanokodoh
- Kumano-kodo
- Kumano Kodou
- Kumano Kodoh
- Kumano ancient road
- Ancient road of Kumano
- Kumano old road
- Old road of Kumano
- Kumano ancient path
- Ancient path of Kumano
- Kumano ancient trail
- Ancient trail of Kumano
- Kumano Sankeimichi
- Kumano michi
- Kumano Kodo ancient ways
- Kumano Kaido


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Search our database of handpicked sites
Looking for a great physics site? We've tracked down the very best and checked them for accuracy. Just fill out the fields below and we'll do the rest.
You searched for "magnetism"
We found 1 result on physics.org and 36 results in our database of sites
(of which 35 are Websites, 0 are Videos, and 1 is a Experiments)
Search results on physics.org
Introduction to magnetism, covering the magnetosphere, magnetic field lines and electromagnetic waves.
Magnet man: Cool experiments with magnets
Almost every aspect of magnetism dealt with comprehensively with illustrations, many links and a great number of straightforward magnetism experiments.
Magnetism and Electromagnetism
A good revision guide to magnetism and electromagnetism aimed at UK GCSE level. Simply explained and well presented with animated diagrams.
How magnets work
An explanation of magnetism from howstuffworks.com: How you make magnets, why they stick and some common myths about magnetism.
Oerstead's Experiment, electric current and magnetism
Hans Christian Oersted performed an experiment to show that electricity and magnetism are linked and is the basis for understanding electromagnets.
Electricity and Magnetism
A site linking to many other sites, each dealing with an aspect of Electricity and Magnetism
IPPEX Interactive Electricity and Magnetism
Animated tutorial on basic electricity and magnetism including static charge, moving charge, voltage, resistance, and current. Requires flash.
Electricity and Magnetism Animations
A catalogue of electricity and magnetism animations.
Basics of magnetism
Introduction to magnetic fields and forces.
Magnetism Demo
Instructions on how to make high magnetic fields without the need for large currents


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Benefits & Financial Support
How to find out if you qualify for benefits
You may be entitled to receive benefits if you are on a low-income or have certain costs to meet because of your personal situation.
Check our information, If any of the following apply to you:
- you're on a low-income (employed or looking for work)
- you have dependent children
- you're ill or disabled
- you're caring for someone
- you're aged 60 or over
- you have been bereaved
- you're pregnant or have recently had a baby
You can check whether you may qualify to receive financial or other support by visiting your local government office. By reading the benefits and financial support information in this section, this will give you an idea of who can and can't claim specific benefits and other support services.
Changes that affect your benefit
If you get benefits and your circumstances change, tell your local government office as soon as possible. Reporting changes quickly, means you'll get any increase or new benefit faster. For some changes your payments may be reduced. Find out how a change in your circumstances can affect your benefit claim.
Changes you need to report
You must report any change in your circumstances to your local government office as soon as it happens, whether or not you think the change is directly related to your benefits.
Some examples of the changes you need to report include:
- getting married, entering into a civil partnership or moving in with a partner
- moving house
- getting a new job
- getting a salary increase
- inheriting or unexpectedly coming into money
- no longer being sick or ill
- travelling or moving abroad
How changes may affect your benefits
Sometimes a change in your circumstances may mean that your benefit rate will change, or that you become entitled to an additional or a different benefit. Other changes in your circumstances, for example getting a salary increase, may mean you no longer qualify for a benefit or will get a reduced amount.
Benefit fraud
If you deliberately fail to report a change in your personal circumstances you are treated as having committed benefit fraud. If you're prosecuted for benefit fraud you could be fined or get a prison sentence.
Other times your benefits may change
Sometimes your benefits may change even when your circumstances remain the same. For example, the government increases most benefit payments to make sure they keep in line with inflation each year. You'll be told of any changes that affect the amount of money you get.
Reporting changes
You can report a change in your circumstances or find out how your benefits might change, by contacting your local government office.
Understanding the benefits system
The benefits system provides practical help and financial support if you are unemployed and looking for work. It also provides you with additional income when your earnings are low, if you are bringing up children, are retired, care for someone, are ill or have any disabilities.
How to claim benefit
The government has a range of benefits to provide opportunities and support. These are handled by various departments and agencies. If you are entitled to any of these benefits, you will need to claim them from the right place. Find out how to claim the different types of benefits.
The different types of benefit
Benefits are available for people of working age, for pensioners, for families and children, and for disabled people and their care givers. Each of these areas is handled by different departments or parts of departments. Making a claim from the right area will make sure you get your benefit as quickly as possible.
Benefits are divided into four groups:
- benefits for people who are unemployed
- benefits for people who have retired or who are planning to retire
- benefits for families and children
- benefits for disabled people and care givers
Qualifying for a basic State Pension
You can get a basic State Pension from the qualifying years built up from the Government Insurance System. Find out more about how you can get a basic State Pension and when you can get it.
When can you get a basic State Pension?
State Pension age is the earliest you can get a basic State Pension usually at the age of 60 years. You have to claim it. You can also choose to put off claiming (defer) and take your State Pension later. If you choose to defer you could get extra State Pension or a lump-sum payment as well as your State Pension when you do claim.
Care Giver's Allowance
Care Giver's Allowance is a benefit to help people who look after someone who is disabled. In some instances, you don't have to be related to, or live with the person you care for. Find out who can get Care Giver's Allowance and how to claim.
Who can get a Care Giver's Allowance?
You may be able to get a Care Giver's Allowance if you:
- are aged 16 or over
- spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a person
Benefits and help when going back to work
When you return to work after being on benefit, some of your benefits may carry on for a short while. Find out more, including the benefits and support you may be able to get once you're working.
Child Benefit?
Child Benefit is a tax-free payment that you can claim for your child. It is usually paid every four weeks but can sometimes be paid weekly. There are separate rates payable for each child. The payment can be claimed by anyone who qualifies, whatever their income or savings.
Who can get Child Benefits?
If you're responsible for a child, you can get a Child Benefit for them.
Child Benefits if you adopt or foster a child
You may be able to get a Child Benefit if you live in South Africa and you're adopting or fostering a child. If you get payments towards the cost of the child's accommodation or basic maintenance from your local authority, you won't normally be able to get a Child Benefit.
You're going to adopt a child
If you're in the process of adopting a child, it is important to apply for Child Benefit as soon as possible.
You don't need to wait until the adoption process is complete, and in some circumstances you may be entitled to claim a Child Benefit for a period before the adoption.
The nationality of the child may not affect whether you're entitled to a Child Benefit or not.
You're a foster parent
If you're fostering a child, you may be able to qualify for a Child Benefit as long as your local authority isn't paying anything to help with the child's accommodation or maintenance.
If you're not sure whether you should claim a Child Benefit, get in touch with the local government office.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (accidents)
You might get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (accidents) if you're ill or disabled because of an accident or event that happened in connection with work. The amount you may get depends on your individual circumstances.
Who is eligible
You may be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if:
- you were employed when the accident or event happened
- the work accident or event that caused your illness or disability happened in South Africa
- There are some exceptions you can ask your regional Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit delivery centre about.
Who is not eligible
You cannot claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit if you were self-employed in work that caused your accident.
The amount of benefit you get depends on:
- your age
- the seriousness of your disability – assessed by a doctor on a scale of one to 100 per cent
Disability Grants
Disability Grants are tax-free benefits for disabled children and adults to help with extra costs you may have because you're disabled. Find out more about Disability Grants, including how much you can get.
Who can get Disability Grants?
You may get Disability Grants if:
- you have a physical or mental disability, or both
- your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or you have walking difficulties, or both
- you are under 65 when you claim
You can get a Disability Grant whether or not you work.
It isn't usually affected by any savings or income you may have.
Medical examinations
You may not necessarily need a medical examination when you claim a Disability Grant.
Reporting benefit fraud
Benefit fraud cost the country millions of Rands. If you think someone is committing benefit fraud, find out how you can report them and stop them taking money from the people who need it most.
What is benefit fraud?
Benefit fraud is when someone is dishonest in order to receive benefits or knowingly fails to report a change in their circumstances. This includes people who:
- do not report they are now living with a partner or that their partner has started work
- do not report they are receiving other benefits
- do not declare their savings or do not declare the right amount of savings
- are claiming for children who have left home
- do not report they have started work, or started to earn money
- do not report they have inherited money
- do not report they are going abroad, living abroad, or have changed address


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You are looking at 1 - 1 of 1 items :
- Spain x
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Country Study: China »
Source: IMF Research Bulletin, September 2004
Volume/Issue: 5/3
Series: IMF Research Bulletin
Author(s): International Monetary Fund. Research Dept.
Publisher: INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND
Publication Date: 30 September 2004
Keywords: fiscal rules, fiscal adjustment, structural reforms, emerging markets, Banks and banking, Bias (economics), Economic History, Financial Liberalization, Financial Repression, International Comparisons
The IMF Research Bulletin, a quarterly publication, selectively summarizes research and analytical work done by various departments at the IMF, and also provides a listing of research documents and other research-r...


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Italian Meaning:
The name Giuseppe is an Italian baby name. In Italian the meaning of the name Giuseppe is: He shall add.
American Baby Names Meaning:
The name Giuseppe is an American Baby Names baby name. In American Baby Names the meaning of the name Giuseppe is: He shall add.
SoulUrge Number: 22
People with this name have a deep inner desire to express their own power in a concrete manner and thus achieve something great for humanity.
expression Number: 8
People with this name are competent, practical, and often obtain great power and wealth. They tend to be successful in business and commercial affairs, and are able to achieve great material dreams. Because they often focus so strongly on business and achievement, they may neglect their private lives and relationships.


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Amazon will hold a news conference Thursday in Santa Monica, Calif., where it's expected to show its new Kindle lineup and possibly even a smartphone. I'm down in Southern California right now getting set to cover the event in the morning. But the company has already given a national TV audience a sneak preview.
In a highly unusual move, an Amazon ad that aired tonight during the Cowboys vs. Giants football game provided glimpses of what appeared to be a new Kindle reader with the rumored "Paperwhite" display, plus an unidentified tablet that could very well be a larger Kindle Fire.
Update: Here's our post from the event in Santa Monica with details on all of the devices.
See this follow-up post for live coverage from the Amazon event today in California.
The ad was also interesting for the broader message it sought to convey about the company.
It began, "We're the people with the smile on the box. We're the reinventors of normal. We dream of making things that change your life, then disappear into your everyday. Of making the revolutionary routine. Our accomplishments are things you barely think about, but can't imagine not having."
"Connecting your mouse to your front door was our moon landing. Creating Kindle, our four-minute mile. Customer reviews, our light bulb. And when we build you something new, you can expect everything to change a little more. Look around. What once seemed wildly impractical is now completely normal. And normal just begs to be messed with."
Follow-up: Jeff Bezos on the 'Amazon Doctrine,' and why it's better than Apple's approach
Here's the ad, via YouTube. What do you think?


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Despite the unpleasant weather 37 teams elected to take part in this first day of Pre-World competition and enjoyed one excellent and closely fought race. Racing was scheduled to start at 11:30 but the wind was light and shifting and it wasn't until 13:05 that racing eventually got underway following one postponed start attempt and two general recalls.
Justin CHISOLM, crew aboard GBR691 Team Barbarians, who will be providing regular From The Fleet reports at his web site www.offshorerules.com commented, "At the start the bulk of the fleet opted for the left hand end. A few boats started on the right by the committee boat, including ourselves on port, and headed out to the right hand side of the course where there was distinctly more pressure for the first three quarters of the beat. There were big waves, which combined with the lights airs resulted in large tacking angles making tacking very expensive. Three quarters of the way up the beat the boats on the right started to look a little less favoured and by the approach to the weather mark the boats from the left were right back in to it.
"Down the first run the early gybe was the smart move with those working the left hand side making huge gains. With the weather clearly deteriorating the committee dramatically shortened the second beat. As we went up the beat the wind increased enabling crews to hike fully for the first time. The final run was somewhat processional with few place changes. Shortly after the finish large flashes of lightening and loud claps of thunder were evident and the fleet were relieved to see flags AP over A flying sending the fleet home for the day. Soon after conditions deteriorated significantly confirming this decision as fully justified."
Italy's Alberto BOLZAN, helming Gianni CATALOGNA's ITA727 Pilot Italia was the victor in today's tough race with Matthias KELLER, helming SUI530 Acqua for Gianluca TRIBO, second overall and winning the Corinthian Division for the all amateur crews. Corinthian teams also took the next three places with Ronan DREANO and the team of Troel SIMON aboard FRA470 Cotes D'Armor third, Michael GOOD sailing SUI382 ZeroTwo fourth and Edoardo LUpi in ITA681 Torypyone fifth. F
Back ashore Principle Race Officer Hank STUART noted that although a challenging day for all involved it had provided excellent practise for the Race Committee. "We worked very well together on this first day. We have an outstanding international team which will be getting even stronger with the arrival shortly of my fellow Principle Race Officer Peter REGGIO, who will be running the second race course for the main championship series beginning on Sunday."
For the rest of the 117 crews entered to compete in the Volvo Melges 24 World Championship today was a day of measurement and preparation. Chief Event Equipment Inspector Eros AGNELI heads a large measurement team responsible for inspecting each of the boats competing in the regatta. The bad weather meant that some outside operations, in particular boat weighing and measurement, had to be suspended for part of the day, but weighing will commence again first thing tomorrow and the team anticipate rapidly catching up with the backlog. Despite the rain sail measurement, crew weighing and safety checks were all able to continue and are on schedule.
To help the teams get around while they are in Porto Cervo event sponsor Volvo Cars Italy has also provided a fleet of some 20 chauffeured Volvo courtesy cars which are available to transport competitors daily until 19:00. The fleet includes cars from across the Volvo range and in addition the brand new Volvo XC60 will be on special preview display for competitors to inspect at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda on Friday 6 June.
Friday will see the conclusion of the Pre-World regatta and on Saturday 31 May there will be informal practise racing giving both the competitors and the Race Committee a final chance to tune up. The Volvo Melges 24 World Championship 2008 commences on Sunday 1 June and runs through until Friday 6 June with 12 championship races scheduled. The 117-boat fleet will be split into four groups for an initial six race "round robin" series before dividing into gold and silver fleets for the final six races.
Volvo Melges 24 World Championship - www.melges24worlds2008.com
World Sailing Newsletter
World Sailing Newsletter is the weekly online newsletter of World Sailing.
It features the latest news and events from the sailing world together with features and info in an easy-to-use format.
It features the latest news and events from the sailing world together with features and info in an easy-to-use format.


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Here is a tutorial on "How to Draw Unicorns". It contains tips on creating your own mystical beast. From horns to tails, I have your tips here. Good Luck!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


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Assessment |
Biopsychology |
Comparative |
Cognitive |
Developmental |
Language |
Individual differences |
Personality |
Philosophy |
Social |
Methods | Statistics | Clinical | Educational | Industrial | Professional items | World psychology |
Social psychology: Altruism · Attribution · Attitudes · Conformity · Discrimination · Groups · Interpersonal relations · Obedience · Prejudice · Norms · Perception · Index · Outline
This theory by Edward E. Jones and Keith Davis argues that people use others' behaviours as a basis for inferring intentions and, thereby their stable dispostions. An example of this would be if you observe one person striking another person and you infer that the perpetrator is a violent person, then that is a correspondent inference. However, if you attribute the action to something different, for example, an accident or play-acting, this would be a non-correspondent inference.
The problem of inferring a particular intention from observing an act is in many ways the most difficult problems for the social perceiver. When you observe someone behaving, how do you figure out what their intention is? A given action can be due to many different motivations; if you buy someone a drink in the pub, it could be; because you want to curry favour with them (a pay rise?); because it's your round, because the other person is skint; because the other person asked you (they're dying of thirst); because you are a generous and warm-hearted person; and so on.
Similarly, a particular motivation can be expressed in many different behaviours. If you want to impress someone, you can agree with them, complement them, buy them something, and so on. It should be noted that Jones & Davis' analysis only deals with how people make attributions to the person; they do not deal with how people make attributions about situational or external causes. Jones & Davis make the reasonable assumption that, in order to infer that any effects of an action were intended, the perceiver must believe (1) that the actor knew the consequences of the actions (the technician who pushed that button at Chernobyl did not intend the reactor to melt down), and (2) that the actor had the ability to perform the action (could Lee Harvey Oswald really have shot John Kennedy?).
To infer a particular intention however requires further analysis. In fact there are a number of factors here:
Common & non common effectsEdit
The idea here is to compare the consequences of the chosen actions with the consequences of the non-chosen alternative actions. The fewer the non-common effects, the more confident you can be in inferring a correspondent disposition. Or, put another way, the more distinctive the consequences of a particular action/choice, the more confidently you can infer intention & disposition.
Suppose you are planning to go on a postgraduate course, and you short-list two colleges - University College and the LSE. You choose UC rather than the LSE. What can the social perceiver learn from this? First there are a lot of common effects - urban environment, same distance from home, same exam system, similar academic reputation, etc. These common effects do not provide the perceiver with any clues about your motivation. But if the perceiver believes that UC has better sports facilities, or easier access to the University Library then these non-common or unique effects can provide a clue to your motivation. But, suppose you had short-listed UC and Essex University and you choose UC. Now the perceiver is faced with a number of non-common effects; size of city; distance from home; academic reputation; exam system. The perceiver would then be much less confident about inferring a particular intention or disposition when there a a lot of non-common effect. The fewer the non-common effects, the more certain the attribution of intent.
Social desirabilityEdit
People usually intend desirable outcomes. Socially desirable outcomes are not informative about a person's intention or disposition. The most that you can infer is that the person is normal - which is not saying anything very much. But socially undesirable actions are more informative about intentions & dispositions. Suppose you asked a friend for a loan of £1 and it was given (a socially desirable action) - the perceiver couldn't say a great deal about your friend's kindness or helpfulness because most people would have done the same thing. If, on the other hand, the friend refused to lend you the money (a socially undesirable action), the perceiver might well feel that your friend is rather stingy, or even miserly.
In fact, social desirability - although an important influence on behaviour - is really only a special case of the more general principle that behaviour which deviates from the normal, usual, or expected is more informative about a person's disposition than behaviour that conforms to the normal, usual, or expected. So, for example, when people do not conform to group pressure we can be more certain that they truly believe the views they express than people who conform to the group. Similarly, when people in a particular social role (e.g. doctor, teacher, salesperson, etc) behave in ways that are not in keeping with the role demands, we can be more certain about what they are really like than when people behave in role.
Only behaviours that disconfirm expectancies are truly informative about an actor. there are two types of expectancy. Category-based expectancies are those derived from our knowledge about particular types or groups of people. For example, if you were surprised to hear a wealthy businessman extolling the virtues of socialism, your surprise would rest on the expectation that businessmen (a category of people) are not usually socialist. Target-based expectancies derive from knowledge about a particular person. To know that a person is a supporter of Margaret Thatcher sets up certain expectations and associations about their beliefs and character.
Another factor in inferring a disposition from an action is whether the behaviour of the actor is constrained by situational forces or whether it occurs from the actor's choice. If you were assigned to argue a position in a classroom debate (e.g. for or against the free-market economy), it would be unwise of your audience to infer that your statements in the debate reflect your true beliefs - because you did not choose to argue that particular side of the issue. If, however, you had chosen to argue one side of the issue, then it would be appropriate for the audience to conclude that your statements reflect your true beliefs.
Although choice ought to have an important effect on whether or not people make correspondent inferences, research shows that people do not take choice sufficiently into account when judging another person's attributes or attitudes. There is a tendency for perceivers to assume that when an actor engages in an activity, such as stating a point of view or attitude, the statements made are indicative of the actor's true beliefs, even when there may be clear situational forces affecting the behaviour. In fact, earlier, psychologists had foreseen that something like this would occur; they thought that the actor-act relation was so strong - like a perceptual Gestalt - that people would tend to over-attribute actions to the actor even when there are powerful external forces on the actor that could account for the behaviour.
See alsoEdit
References & BibliographyEdit
Key textsEdit
Additional materialEdit
External linksEdit
- cs:Atribuce
- de:Attributionstheorien
- nl:Attributie (psychologie)
- zh:归因理论
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


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This is more than your typical folding kid's camping chair. It is lightweight, foldable and can be used both indoors and outdoors. We lack seating in our new home (awaiting the arrival of new furniture) so I was delighted to whip this out for Kenzie to perch on. It has a cup holder and snack tray which comes in handy when we are watching tv or hanging out indoors.
This chair really is the ultimate kids chair because it can be used from 3 months to 6 years of age. It features a five point harness which I can easily strap Mason into and the link loops for toys is wonderful for keeping him occupied.


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The fallout from the collapse of Curt Schilling's 38 Studios continues. The Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation has filed a lawsuit accusing Curt Schilling and other employees of 38 Studios of defrauding the state by securing a $75 million loan to aid in the development of Kingdoms of Amalur and other planned games.
In addition to the 38 Studios employees, the suit [PDF] also names a number of financial and legal firms that represented them in the deal. These defendants allegedly manipulated the EDC board and used false financial projections and misleading statements to make the company look like a much better investment than it was. "Defendants knew or should have known, but failed to inform the EDC board, that 38 Studios was destined to fail according to 38 Studios' own financial projections," the suit reads.
But the suit also names former members of the EDC, Keith Stokes and J. Michael Saul, who allegedly failed to inform the state when 38 Studios' failure was imminent in April of this year. The EDC members, who were fired in the wake of the studio's collapse, also allegedly failed to inform the state that taxpayers, rather than bondholders, might be on the hook for the failed loans in order to maintain the state's credit rating.
The state is seeking to recover the full $75 million it loaned—as well as unspecified damages—to make up for a reduced ability to issue future bonds and injury to the EDC's "reputation and credit." It's unlikely the state will see much money from 38 Studios itself, though; Schilling said in June that he was "tapped out" after investing his savings into the business, and a bankruptcy filing for the company showed nearly $150 million in debt owed to over 1,000 creditors.
In a video message attached to the complaint, Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee said the suit was brought with "the clear goal of protecting the taxpayers of Rhode Island.... My message to Rhode Islanders is this: I know you work hard for your paychecks, and for your tax dollars to be squandered is unacceptable. The board's legal action was taken to rectify a grave injustice put upon the people of Rhode Island."