text:
\section{Introduction}

	Demand for increasingly dense computational architectures is driving the miniaturisation of conventional electronic circuits to their limit, requiring novel technologies to be developed. Single layer graphene, with its gapless band structure, high mobility carriers, and high thermal conductivity \cite{novoselov_nature_2005} has been considered as a candidate for the creation of conducting nano-channels. However, lithographic processes used for the patterning of such wires spoil graphene edges, introducing defects which make fabrication of ballistic channels in graphene a technological challenge. At the same time, the use of a split-gated structure on monolayer graphene does not help to confine electrons due to high transparency of p-n interfaces \cite{cheianov_PRB_2006}.

	An alternative approach to creating ballistic `one-dimensional' channels in graphene is to use a gate-controlled gap in its Bernal (AB) stacked bilayer allotrope, which has an electrostatically tunable band gap \cite{mccann_PRL_2006,mccann_PRB_2006,castro_PRL_2007,zou_PRB_2010,mucha_semiSci_2010}. Earlier studies \cite{martin_PRL_2008,zarenia_PRB_2011,daCosta_PRB_2015,cosma_PRB_2015,li_natNano_2016} have shown that sharply switching the direction of the vertical displacement field across these split-gated structures leads to ballistic `topological' modes localised near the boundaries, persisting across junctions of interfaces \cite{qiao_nanoLett_2011,wang_PRB_2017}. It has also been found that delaminations of bilayer graphene (BLG) can provide well-defined one-dimensional channels \cite{pelc_PRB_2015,abdullah_EPL_2016} with counter-propagating modes in the opposite valleys ($K^+$ and $K^-$). Experimental observations of states along delaminations naturally occurring in mechanically exfoliated graphene have already been reported \cite{ju_natLett_2015,yin_natComms_2016}.

	\begin{figure}[htb]
		\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{fig01.png}
		\caption{Sketch of the considered delamination. The decoupled monolayers lie in region $0<y<W$, connected to two bilayer graphene regions ($y\leq0$ \& $y\geq W$). Corresponding energy dispersions within each distinct zone are shown with the electrostatic variables of the model indicated. These would be tuned by varying the vertical displacement field, $E_z$, across the system via top and bottom gates in each region. Below are images depicting the two different Bernal stacking arrangements discussed in the text.}
		\label{fig01:delaminationSketch}
	\end{figure}

	In this paper, we study electronic properties of delaminations in a BLG sheet and their dependence on the electrostatically controlled displacement field applied to the structure. Such a system, modelled by both 4-band $\vec{k}\cdot\vec{p}$ theory of BLG and the numerical tight-binding (TB) model approach, is illustrated in Fig.~\ref{fig01:delaminationSketch}. The delamination is considered as two de-coupled monolayers of graphene (2ML) between two BLG regions in either the same (AB-2ML-AB or BA-2ML-BA) stacking configuration, or with opposite (AB-2ML-BA or BA-2ML-AB) stacking. The vertical displacement field $E_z$ (in real devices, controlled by top and bottom gates) induces a band gap in the BLG, $\Delta=eE_zd$, and also mutually shifts on-site energies on the two delaminated monolayers by $\delta=eE_zd'$.

	The low-energy band structure of Bernal stacked (AB or BA) BLG is described by a 4-band $\vec{k}\cdot\vec{p}$ Hamiltonian \cite{mccann_PRB_2006,mucha_semiSci_2010} and band dispersion,
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&E^{BLG} =\label{BLG_eigVal}\\ &&\pm\sqrt{v^2(k_x^2-k_y^2)+\frac{\Delta^2}{4}+\frac{\gamma_1^2}{2}+r\sqrt{\frac{\gamma_1^4}{4}+v^2(k_x^2+k_y^2)(\gamma_1^2+\Delta^2)}}.\nonumber
	\end{eqnarray}
	Here, $r=\pm$ indexes the low and high-energy BLG bands, $\Delta$ is the interlayer asymmetry gap, $k_{x,y}$ are the in-plane wavevectors of electrons in $K^\pm$ valleys, and $\gamma_1=0.39$~eV and $v=6.6$~eV\AA\ are the interlayer coupling and Dirac velocity respectively \cite{neto_revModPhys_2009}. This BLG spectrum suggests that at the energies $|\varepsilon|<\varepsilon_*$,
	\begin{equation}
	\varepsilon_*=\frac{\gamma_1|\Delta|}{2\sqrt{\Delta^2+\gamma_1^2}},\label{BLG_lim}
	\end{equation}
	there are no states for electrons in a gapped bilayer.

	In contrast, the electron spectrum in the delaminated region is gapless (see Fig.~\ref{fig01:delaminationSketch}),
	\begin{equation}
	E^{2ML} = U+l\frac{\delta}{2}\pm v\sqrt{k_x^2-k_y^2}.\label{2ML_eigVal}
	\end{equation}
	Here $U$ is an energy shift between the BLG and 2ML regions, $l=\pm$ is upper(+)/lower(-) monolayer index, and $\delta$ is the energy offset between them produced by the displacement field (in principle, $\delta=eE_zd'$ can be larger than the BLG gap, $\Delta$, due to the larger interlayer distance within the delamination, $d'$>$d$). Due to its continuous spectrum, the delamination can support states within the BLG gap, and, in the following, we will analyse the dispersion of electrons channelled by the delamination.

	In particular, in Section \ref{singleIntSec} we analyse a system with a single interface between bias-gapped BLG and 2ML, which supports valley-polarised evanescent modes with linear dispersion.  In Section \ref{doubleIntSec}, we study evanescent edge states and standing waves inside a delamination using both the continuum $\vec{k}\cdot\vec{p}$ model and tight binding (TB) calculations. The form of these states depends on the choice of interlayer stacking on either side of the decoupled monolayers. Inequivalent BLG stacking on either side of the delamination (AB on one side and BA on the other) results in the valley-polarised channels propagating in the same direction along both interfaces, leading to a gapless dispersion with two weakly topologically protected modes with dispersion spanning across the BLG gap. Having the same stacking in the outer BLG parts of the structure reverses the direction of one of these channels, so that the resulting counter-propagating evanescent modes hybridise, producing a gapped spectrum. We also analyse the higher-energy `gapped' modes resulting from standing waves bouncing between the gapped BLG regions, and we study the dependence of the spectrum on the displacement-field-shifted energies of Dirac points in the delaminated layers. In Section \ref{magFieldSec}, we study how a strong magnetic field transforms the modes in the AB-2ML-BA structure into Landau levels in the delaminated monolayers.

	Before going into technical details of Sections \ref{singleIntSec}-\ref{magFieldSec}, we note that edges in graphene flakes can take two different forms; zig-zag and armchair \cite{akhmerov_PRB_2008,nakanishi_PRB_2010}. For the armchair edge, electron scattering from it mixes electron states in the two valleys. In contrast, for a zig-zag edge or arbitrarily cut edge, the large momentum difference between $K^+$ and $K^-$ projections onto the delamination axis suppresses intervalley mixing \cite{akhmerov_PRB_2008}. For this study, we assume general boundary conditions that coincide with those of a zig-zag edge, but will underline features of the armchair edge in Discussions Section \ref{discussionsSec}.

	\section{Electronic Properties of a Single BLG-2ML Interface}\label{singleIntSec}

	\begin{subequations}
	To study a single BLG-2ML interface using $\vec{k}\cdot\vec{p}$ theory, we employ a 4-band Hamiltonian,
	\begin{equation}
		\hat{{\cal H}}_\eta=\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
			V_+(y) & v\hat{\pi}^\dagger & \Theta(-y)\gamma_1 & 0\\
			v\hat{\pi} & V_+(y) & 0 & w_3^\dagger\\
			\Theta(-y)\gamma_1 & 0 & V_-(y) & v\hat{\pi}\\
			0 & w_3 & v\hat{\pi}^\dagger & V_-(y)
		\end{array}\right),\label{singleInt_H}
	\end{equation}
	written in the sub-lattice basis $(A_1,B_1,B_2,A_2)^T$ in valley $K^\eta$, where $\eta=\pm$, $\hat{\pi}=\eta(-i\partial_x)+i(-i\partial_y)$, and $\left\{\Theta(-y),\hat{\pi}\right\}$ in $w_3=\frac{v\gamma_3}{2\gamma_0}e^{i\theta}\left\{\Theta(-y),\hat{\pi}\right\}$ is an anti-commutator. In this Hamiltonian, hopping parameter $\gamma_1$ describes coupling of the `dimer' sites, $A_1$ and $B_2$, of the bilayer, whilst terms with $\gamma_3$ describe skew hopping (between non-dimer sites)\cite{gamma3Footnote}, and angle $\theta$ is between the zig-zag direction and delamination axis. On-site energies, $V_\pm(y)$, are defined as,
	\begin{equation}
		V_\pm(y)=
		\begin{cases}
			\pm\frac{\Delta}{2} &,  y\leq0 \\
			U\pm\frac{\delta}{2} &,  y>0
		\end{cases},\nonumber
	\end{equation}
	and $\Theta(y)$ is the Heaviside step function used to implement the suppression of $\gamma_1$ by delamination. This Hamiltonian has the dispersion of Eq.~(\ref{BLG_eigVal}) and Eq.~(\ref{2ML_eigVal}) in regions $y\leq0$ and $y>0$ respectively. Implicit within this Hamiltonian is the required continuity of the electron wavefunctions at the junction between the two regions,
	\begin{equation}
	\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
	1 & 0 & 0 & -\aleph \\
	0 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\
	0 & -\aleph & 1 & 0 \\
	0 & 0 & 0 & 1
	\end{array}\right)\psi(y\rightarrow 0^-)=\psi(y\rightarrow 0^+)\label{matching}.
	\end{equation}
	\end{subequations}
	Parameter $\aleph=e^{i\theta}\gamma_3/(2\gamma_0)$ is determined by the ratio of the skew interlayer hopping \cite{mccann_PRL_2006} and intralayer hopping. As $\gamma_3/\gamma_0\approx0.12$ (hence, $\aleph\ll1$), the skew hopping ($\gamma_3$) terms lead to only small corrections to the interface mode dispersion and wavefunctions (see Fig.\ref{fig03:singleIntModes}). Therefore, the terms describing skew hopping will be neglected in the rest of the text (formally, setting $\gamma_3/\gamma_0\rightarrow0$).

	\subsection{Reflection at the BLG-2ML interface}

	Here we investigate the reflection of plane waves in a semi-infinite delamination and their scattering between two monolayers, from a gapped BLG. On the delaminated side of the interface we solve Dirac equation,
	\begin{equation}
	(\hat{{\cal H}}_\eta-\varepsilon\hat{I})\psi=0,\nonumber
	\end{equation}
	assuming propagating plane-wave solutions,
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&\Psi^{2ML}=\psi^{2ML}e^{ik_xx}\propto e^{i(q_{s,l})y}e^{ik_xx},\nonumber\\
	&&q_{s,l}=s\frac{1}{v}\sqrt{\left(\varepsilon-U-l\frac{\delta}{2}\right)^2-v^2k_x^2},\label{2ML_lambda}
	\end{eqnarray}
	where $q_{s,l}$ would have real values. Here, $s=\pm1$ and $l=+(-)1$ distinguish between right/left moving waves ($y>0$) and the upper (lower) layers respectively:
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&\psi^{2ML}(k_x,\varepsilon)=\nonumber\\[0.25\baselineskip]
	&&\sum_{s}\left[
	A_{s,+}\left(\begin{array}{c}
	1 \\ a_{s,+} \\ 0 \\ 0
	\end{array}\right)e^{iq_{s,+}y}+
	A_{s,-}\left(\begin{array}{c}
	0 \\ 0 \\ 1 \\ a_{s,-}
	\end{array}\right)e^{iq_{s,-}y}\right],\label{2ML_state}
	\end{eqnarray}
	where $A_{s,\pm}$ are the monolayer wave amplitudes, and
	\begin{equation}
	a_{s,l}=\frac{2v[k_x+ilq_{s,l}]}{2\varepsilon-2U-l\delta}
	\end{equation}
	are chirality factors for electrons in monolayer graphene.

	Because the direction of electron's propagation is given by group velocity, $\bar{v}=\partial\varepsilon/\partial k$, electrons in the monolayer conduction band with wavevector $\vec{k}$ move in the opposite direction to those in the monolayer valence band with the same wavevector. In order to distinguish between left and right moving states we write index $s=\pm\xi_l$, where $\xi_l=\text{sign}\left(\varepsilon-[U+l~\delta/2]\right)$ determines whether electrons lie in the conduction ($\xi_l=+$) or valence ($\xi_l=-$) band in each monolayer and the $\pm$ selects left ($-$) or right ($+$) moving states.

	At the same time, the asymptotics of eigenstates in the gapped bilayer region must be decaying,
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&\Psi^{BLG}_{(y\leq0)}=\psi^{BLG}e^{ik_xx}\propto e^{\lambda^{BLG}_\pm y}e^{ik_xx},\label{BLG_lambda}\\
	&&\lambda^{BLG}_\pm=\frac{1}{v}\sqrt{v^2k_x^2-\varepsilon^2-\frac{\Delta^2}{4}\pm\sqrt{\Delta^2\varepsilon^2-\gamma_1^2\left(\frac{\Delta^2}{4}-\varepsilon^2\right)}}.\nonumber
	\end{eqnarray}
	Substituting these in Eq.~(\ref{singleInt_H}) for $y\leq0$, we find that,
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&\psi^{BLG}(k_x,\varepsilon)=
	B_+\left(\begin{array}{c}
	\alpha_+ \\ \beta_+ \\ \chi_+ \\ 1
	\end{array}\right)e^{\lambda^{BLG}_+y}+
	B_-\left(\begin{array}{c}
	\alpha_- \\ \beta_- \\ \chi_- \\ 1
	\end{array}\right)e^{\lambda^{BLG}_-y},\nonumber\\
	&&\alpha_\pm=\frac{-2\gamma_1(\Delta+2\varepsilon)(\Delta-2\varepsilon)}{X_\pm}\label{BLG_state}\\[0.5\baselineskip]
	&&\beta_\pm=\frac{4\gamma_1v(k_x+\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)(\Delta+2\varepsilon)}{X_\pm}\nonumber\\[0.5\baselineskip]
	&&\chi_\pm=\frac{(\Delta+2\varepsilon)\left[\left(\Delta-2\varepsilon\right)^2-4v^2(k_x^2-(\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)^2)\right]}{X_\pm},\nonumber\\[0.5\baselineskip]
	&&X_\pm=2v(k_x-\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)\left[\left(\Delta-2\varepsilon\right)^2-4v^2(k_x^2-(\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)^2)\right].\nonumber
	\end{eqnarray}
	Requiring continuity of the eigenstates at the BLG-2ML interface we find,
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
	-1 & 0 \\
	-a_{-\xi_+,+} & 0 \\
	0 & -1 \\
	0 & -a_{-\xi_-,-}
	\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}
	A_{-\xi_+,+} \\ A_{-\xi_-,-}
	\end{array}\right)\nonumber\\
	&&=\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
	1 & 0 & -\alpha_+ & -\alpha_- \\
	a_{+\xi_+,+} & 0 & -\beta_+ & -\beta_- \\
	0 & 1 & -\chi_+ & -\chi_- \\
	0 & a_{+\xi_-,-} & -1 & -1
	\end{array}\right)\left(\begin{array}{c}
	A_{+\xi_+,+} \\ A_{+\xi_-,-} \\ B_+ \\ B_-
	\end{array}\right),\label{singleInt_matEqn_transfer}
	\end{eqnarray}
	which is nothing but the conservation condition for the current projected onto the direction perpendicular to the boundary.

	Fixing the incoming wave to reside solely on the upper monolayer ($A_{-\xi_+,+}=1$ and $A_{-\xi_-,-}=0$), we investigate how the electrons can relocate from it to the lower layer, with the amplitude of the interlayer transfer given by,
	\begin{widetext}
	\begin{equation}
	A_{+\xi_-,-}=\frac{(a_{\xi_+,+}-a_{-\xi_+,+})(\chi_+-\chi_-)}{(a_{+\xi_+,+}\alpha_+-\beta_+)(1-a_{+\xi_-,-}\chi_-)-(a_{+\xi_+,+}\alpha_--\beta_-)(1-a_{+\xi_-,-}\chi_+)}\xrightarrow[k_y\ll k_x,\delta]{}\frac{k_y}{k_x}.\label{transMatElem}
	\end{equation}
	\end{widetext}
	In the limit where momentum parallel to the interface and the monolayer on-site energy asymmetry are large, $k_y\ll k_x,\delta$, this indicates that probability of electron changing layer is small. In Fig.~\ref{fig02:reflectionAndPhase}(a) we show how the probability of reflection back on the same layer,
	\begin{equation}
	P=\frac{|A_{+\xi_+,+}|^2}{|A_{+\xi_+,+}|^2+|A_{+\xi_-,-}|^2},\label{reflectionProb}
	\end{equation}
	varies with wavevector, $k_x$, as we move around the Dirac cone at three separate energy cuts for $\delta=U=0$. In agreement with Eq.~(\ref{transMatElem}), we find that for $|k_y|\ll|k_x|$ the probability of reflection back to the same layer approaches $P=1$ (that is $A_{+\xi_-,-}\ll1$ also associated with a $\pi$ phase shift of the reflected wave), whereas peak transmission, $P\approx0.5$, onto the second layer occurs for waves incident at angle $\pi/3$.

	\begin{figure}[!htb]
		\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{fig02.png}
		\caption{(a) Probability of reflection back on the same (upper) layer as the incoming wave for AB stacking within the bilayers. (b) Results for the opposite BLG stacking (BA) which exhibits identical reflection probability dependence under transformation $k_x\rightarrow-k_x$. (c-d) Phase, $\phi$, acquired upon reflection back on the same layer corresponding to panels (a-b).}
		\label{fig02:reflectionAndPhase}
	\end{figure}

	\subsection{Evanescent interface states}\label{singleIntStateSec}

	In addition to scattered waves, a BLG-2ML interface supports evanescent modes over the entire energy range $|\varepsilon|<\varepsilon_*$. These are described by Eq.~(\ref{BLG_state}) in the BLG region, and by Eq.~(\ref{2ML_state}) in the 2ML delamination, but, now, with $q_{s,l}=-i\lambda^{2ML}_{s,l}$ where,
	\begin{equation}
	\lambda^{2ML}_{s,l}=s\frac{1}{v}\sqrt{v^2k_x^2-\left(\varepsilon-U-l\frac{\delta}{2}\right)^2},
	\end{equation}
	are real-valued decay rates. Continuity of these evanescent wavefunctions across the interface (selecting e.g, $s=-1$) produces matching condition,
	\begin{equation}
	\underbrace{\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
	\alpha_+ & \alpha_- & -1 & 0 \\
	\beta_+ & \beta_- & -a_{-,+} & 0 \\
	\chi_+ & \chi_- & 0 & -1 \\
	1 & 1 & 0 & -a_{-,-}
	\end{array}\right)}_\mathlarger{\mathcal{D}(\varepsilon,k_x)}\left(\begin{array}{c}
	B_+ \\ B_- \\ A_{-,+} \\ A_{-,-}
	\end{array}\right)=0.\label{singleInt_matEqn_boundary}
	\end{equation}
	To find its solution, we have to require that,
	\begin{equation}
	\det\mathcal{D}(\varepsilon,k_x)=0\nonumber
	\end{equation}
	which sets the dispersion relation $\varepsilon(k_x)$ for the evanescent modes. Figure \ref{fig03:singleIntModes} shows the results of solving numerically for these 1D states localised near the BLG-2ML interface for $\Delta=0.2$~eV and $\delta=0$. Having noticed an almost linear dispersion of such states, we also find that the dispersion of evanescent modes is almost linear for arbitrary values of all electrostatically controlled parameters in our theory, assuming that $vk_x,\Delta,\delta,U\ll\gamma_1$,
	\begin{equation}
	\varepsilon\approx\eta\sqrt{\frac{\Delta}{\gamma_1}}v k_x,\label{singleInt_boundaryAnalytic}
	\end{equation}
	and modes in the opposite valleys, $\eta=\pm$, propagate in opposite directions. Exchanging the interlayer stacking configuration in the bilayer region (AB$\rightarrow$BA) or swapping the ordering of the two regions (2ML on the left and BLG on the right) results in mirror-reflected dispersions equivalent to those illustrated in Fig.~\ref{fig03:singleIntModes}.

	\begin{figure}[!htb]
		\includegraphics[width=0.4\textwidth]{fig03.png}
		\caption{Interface states (solid red curves) and low energy BLG bands (dashed red curves) at $y=0$ for $\Delta=0.2$~eV and $\delta=U=0$ in the $K^+$ (top) and $K^-$ (bottom) valley. Blue curves depict the bands for non-zero skew inter-layer coupling, $\gamma_3$, for a delamination along the zig-zag direction, illustrating the negligible effect that this additional hopping term has on the spectrum at a delamination edge.}
		\label{fig03:singleIntModes}
	\end{figure}

	\section{Electronic Spectrum of a Delamination in BLG}\label{doubleIntSec}

	Here, we analyse the electronic spectrum of a delamination (2LG) between two bilayer regions to the left ($y\leq0$) and right ($y\geq W$) hand sides (see Fig.~\ref{fig01:delaminationSketch}) for the same (AB-2ML-AB) and opposite (AB-2ML-BA) stacking on the two sides.

	\subsection{AB-2ML-BA Stacking}

	Depending on the fabrication process generating the delamination, the layers in a BLG may be shifted from one Bernal stacking configuration to another, producing the inverted (BA vs AB) stacking on the opposite side of the delamination. The resulting deformation, of the order of one carbon-carbon bond length of graphene ($a_{cc}=1.42$~\AA), is then absorbed by a weak strain/shear of the delaminated monolayers. The effect of weak strain homogeneous over a narrow stripe of the upper/lower monolayer in the 2ML part of the structure consists of an addition of a vector potential term to the Dirac equation in the monolayers \cite{rainis_PRB_2011}, producing small shifts in the wave numbers and energies of modes guided by the delamination. In the following, we neglect these small ($\sim a/W$) shifts and focus on the qualitative change in the delamination spectrum brought about by the stacking order: its gapless character.

	The continuous model for the system with AB-2ML-BA stacking, written in basis $(A_1,B_1,B_2,A_2)^T$, is described by Hamiltonian,
	\begin{equation}
	\hat{{\cal H}}_\eta=\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
	V_+(y) & v\hat{\pi}^\dagger & \Theta(-y)\gamma_1 & 0\\
	v\hat{\pi} & V_+(y) & 0 & \Theta(y-W)\gamma_1\\
	\Theta(-y)\gamma_1 & 0 & V_-(y) & v\hat{\pi}\\
	0 & \Theta(y-W) \gamma_1 & v\hat{\pi}^\dagger & V_-(y)
	\end{array}\right),\label{doubleInt_H_BA}
	\end{equation}
	where on-site energies on the upper (+) and lower (-) layers are,
	\begin{equation}
	V_\pm(y)=\begin{cases}
	\pm\frac{\Delta}{2} & \text{if } y\leq0 \text{ or } y\geq W \\
	U\pm\frac{\delta}{2} & \text{if } 0<y<W
	\end{cases}.\label{doubleInt_cases_V}
	\end{equation}
	For $y<0$ and $0<y<W$, the wavefunctions retain the form given in Eqs.~(\ref{2ML_state} \& \ref{BLG_state}), whereas for $y>W$ (BA stacked BLG) parameters in $\psi^{BLG}$ in Eq.~(\ref{BLG_state}) should be substituted with,
	\begin{eqnarray}
	&&\tilde{\alpha}_\pm=\frac{4\gamma_1v(\Delta+2\varepsilon)(k_x-\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)}{X_\pm}\label{BA_BLG_elems}\\[0.5\baselineskip]
	&&\tilde{\beta}_\pm=-\frac{2\gamma_1(\Delta+2\varepsilon)(\Delta-2\varepsilon)}{X_\pm}\nonumber\\[0.5\baselineskip]
	&&\tilde{\chi}_\pm=\frac{2v(k_x+\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)\left[\left(\Delta-2\varepsilon\right)^2-4v^2(k_x^2-(\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)^2)\right]}{X_\pm},\nonumber\\[0.5\baselineskip]
	&&\tilde{X}_\pm=(\Delta+2\varepsilon)\left[\left(\Delta-2\varepsilon\right)^2-4v^2(k_x^2-(\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)^2)\right]\nonumber.
	\end{eqnarray}
	Wavematching conditions applied at both interfaces, $\psi(y\rightarrow0^-)=\psi(y\rightarrow0^+)$ and $\psi(y\rightarrow W^-)=\psi(y\rightarrow W^+)$, result in,
	\begin{widetext}
		\begin{equation}
		\underbrace{\left(\begin{array}{c c c c c c c c}
			\alpha_+ & \alpha_- & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
			\beta_+ & \beta_- & a_{+,+} & a_{-,+} & 0 & 0 & 0 & 0 \\
			\chi_+ & \chi_- & 0 & 0 & 1 & 1 & 0 & 0 \\
			1 & 1 & 0 & 0 & a_{+,-} & a_{-,-} & 0 & 0 \\
			0 & 0 & e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{+,+}W} & e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{-,+}W} & 0 & 0 & \tilde{\alpha}_+e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_+W} & \tilde{\alpha}_-e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_-W} \\
			0 & 0 & a_{+,+}e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{+,+}W} & a_{-,+}e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{-,+}W} & 0 & 0 & \tilde{\beta}_+e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_+W} & \tilde{\beta}_-e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_-W} \\
			0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{+,-}W} & e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{-,-}W} & \tilde{\chi}_+e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_+W} & \tilde{\chi}_-e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_-W} \\
			0 & 0 & 0 & 0 & a_{+,-}e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{+,-}W} & a_{-,-}e^{\lambda^{MLG}_{-,-}W} & e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_+W} & e^{-\lambda^{BLG}_-W}
			\end{array}\right)}_\mathlarger{{\tilde{\mathcal{D}}(\varepsilon,k_x)}}
		\left(\begin{array}{c}
		B_+ \\ B_- \\ A_{+,+} \\ A_{-,+} \\ A_{+,-} \\ A_{-,-} \\ \tilde{B}_+ \\ \tilde{B}_- \end{array}\right)=0.\label{doubleInt_matEqn}
		\end{equation}
	\end{widetext}
	As with the single interface system, we require that,
	\begin{equation}
	\det\tilde{\mathcal{D}}(\varepsilon,k_x)=0.\nonumber
	\end{equation}
	Solving this equation numerically, we generate dispersion curves $\varepsilon(k_x)$ shown in Fig.~\ref{fig04:delaminationSolns_ABBA} which represent the main features of the delamination spectra.

	\begin{figure*}
		\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig04.png}
		\caption{(a-d) Wavefunction across the 2ML channel for specific energy and momenta (indicated on plot (e)) in the sub-lattice basis. (e-h) Permitted energy bands calculated from the continuum model within the bilayer gap, whilst (i-k) demonstrate the results of an equivalent TB calculation approach including continuum bands which extend above the bilayer band edge. Interface modes (red curves) are identified crossing between the low-energy bilayer band edges (orange shaded regions). Plotted in green (blue) dashed lines are the conical dispersions of the upper (lower) monolayer with energy difference, $\delta$, between their Dirac points. (l,m) Top and side profiles of the LDOS for the same parameters as in (c \& d) Calculations performed for $W=200$~\AA, $\Delta=0.2$~eV and $U=0$ around the $K^+$ valley.}
		\label{fig04:delaminationSolns_ABBA}
	\end{figure*}

	Figures \ref{fig04:delaminationSolns_ABBA} illustrate the bands (e-h) and wavefunctions (a-d) for a range of monolayer band offsets, calculated from the continuum model. These plots show the spectra of electrons in valley $K^+$. Dispersions in the valley $K^-$ can be obtained using the time reversal, $\varepsilon(K^-,k_x)=\varepsilon(K^+,-k_x)$. Wavefunctions for the interface states are displayed in Figs.~\ref{fig04:delaminationSolns_ABBA}(a,c), which demonstrate localisation of these valley-polarised modes at both interfaces. Note, that although an increasing number of bands become available as we open up the 2ML gap, $\delta$, there are only these two interface states which span the entire region. Therefore, tuning the Fermi level of the system such that it lies close to zero will select states corresponding to one-dimensional ballistic channels propagating simultaneously along each interface. The gap, $\varepsilon_g$, between the lowest `conduction' and `valence' bands is shown to decrease as $\varepsilon_g\propto W^{-1}$ with delamination width (see Appendix \ref{gapsWithW}).

	We also employ a numerical tight binding (TB) approach, by modelling the considered structure as a semi-infinite zig-zag BLG nanoribbon of lattice sites with a delaminated region separating two BLG regions with opposite stacking. We incorporate a mismatch of one carbon-carbon bond-length into the widths of the layers in the 2ML region \cite{koshino_PRB_2013}. Modifying the standard TB Hamiltonian for BLG to include the desired structure produces,
	\begin{equation}
	\begin{split}
	\hat{\mathcal{H}} =& -\sum_l\sum_{\braket{i,j}}(\gamma_0 c_{l,i}^{\dagger}c_{l,j}) \\
	&-\sum_{\braket{i}}\left\{\left(\Theta(-y_i)+\Theta(y_i-W)\right)\gamma_1 c_{1,i}^{\dagger}c_{2,i} + \text{h.c}\right\} \\
	&+\sum_i V_{\pm}(y_i) c_i^{\dagger}c_i,
	\end{split}	\label{Eqn:TB_Hamiltonian}
	\end{equation}
	with $\gamma_0=3.1$ the intralayer nearest neighbour coupling, $\gamma_1=0.39$~eV the interlayer nearest neighbour coupling, and $c_{l,i}^{\dagger}\ (c_{l,i})$ being the creation (annihilation) operator for electrons at site $\vec{R}_i=(x_i,y_i)$ in layer $l$. On-site potentials, $V_{+}(y_i) (V_{-}(y_i))$, on the upper (lower) layer are given by Eq.~(\ref{doubleInt_cases_V}). The sum in the first line runs over all nearest neighbours, $\braket{i,j}$, the second line runs over all the coupled dimer sites $\braket{i}$, and the final term sums over all lattice sites, $i$. The difference between the AB and BA regions is taken into account as a change of the 'dimer' sites, meaning that the coupling is present between sites $A_1$-$B_2$ ($\Theta(-y_i)$), and $B_1$-$A_2$ ($\Theta(y_i-W)$) respectively.

	For numerical diagonalisation, we used 2000\AA\ for the total width of the AB-2ML-BA nanoribbon along the $y$ axis, and zig-zag edges. To prevent states localised along these terminating edges \cite{mccann_JPhysCondMat_2004,akhmerov_PRB_2008,slizovskiy_PRB_2017} from obscuring the states in the delaminated region, we apply a large positive (negative) on-site potential on the edge atoms which pushes these states to higher (lower) energies.

	Using TB Hamiltonian (\ref{Eqn:TB_Hamiltonian}) we find the spectrum of states guided by the delamination by solving the equation, $\left(\hat{\mathcal{H}}(k_x)-\varepsilon(k_x)\hat{\mathcal{I}}\right)\Psi=0$, for different values of wavevector, $k_x$. Additionally, using the Kernel Polynomial Method \cite{weise_RevModPhys_2006} implemented in the Pybinding package \cite{moldovan_pybinding_2017} we investigate the density of states (DOS) and local DOS (LDOS).

	The spectra found using the TB approach are shown in Fig.~\ref{fig04:delaminationSolns_ABBA}(i-k) for the same parameters as in continuum theory [panels (f-h)]\cite{footNote1}. As with the AB-2ML-AB system, the delamination exhibits both localised channels along the interface and standing wave modes across the delaminated monolayers, but the interface states now span the full range of the BLG gap (identified in red in (e-k)). Note that the spectra obtained by the two methods coincide in all details, including all avoided and non-avoided crossings between interface states and standing wave state. Also confirmed by both calculation methods is that the change in stacking order breaks the $\varepsilon(k_x)=\varepsilon(-k_x)$ symmetry for the states in one valley and that $\varepsilon_{K^+}(k_x)=\varepsilon_{K^-}(-k_x)$.

	\subsection{AB-2ML-AB Stacking}

	Having established a good agreement between the properties of ballistic electron channels evaluated using the TB approach and wavematching, we study a delamination with the same stacking in the outer BLG regions using only the continuous theory, with Hamiltonian,
	\begin{equation}
	\hat{{\cal H}}_\eta=\left(\begin{array}{c c c c}
	V_+(y) & v\hat{\pi}^\dagger & \Phi\gamma_1 & 0\\
	v\hat{\pi} & V_+(y) & 0 & 0\\
	\Phi\gamma_1 & 0 & V_-(y) & v\hat{\pi}\\
	0 & 0 & v\hat{\pi}^\dagger & V_-(y)
	\end{array}\right).\label{doubleInt_H_AB}
	\end{equation}
	Here $\Phi=\Theta(-y)+\Theta(y-W)$ and $V_\pm(y)$ take the same values as in Eq.~(\ref{doubleInt_cases_V}).	Electron states for $0<y<W$ are described by Eq.~(\ref{2ML_state}), where wavevectors $q_{s,l}$ may take both real and imaginary values. For energies $|\varepsilon|<\varepsilon_*$, states in the left bilayer remain evanescent, Eq.~(\ref{BLG_state}), with states in the right hand side bilayer obtained by substitution $y\rightarrow W-y$.

	Matching these wavefunctions at the two interfaces we recover Eq.~(\ref{doubleInt_matEqn}), where $\alpha_\pm$, $\beta_\pm$ and $\chi_\pm$ are defined in Eq.~(\ref{BLG_state}), and $\tilde{\alpha}_\pm=\alpha_\pm(-\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)$, $\tilde{\beta}_\pm=\beta_\pm(-\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)$ and $\tilde{\chi}_\pm=\chi_\pm(-\lambda^{BLG}_\pm)$ such that the same AB-stacked BLG states decay away to the right of the delamination. As with the AB-2ML-BA system we require that $\det\tilde{\mathcal{D}}=0$, producing dispersions across the delamination shown in Fig.~\ref{fig06:delaminationSolns_ABAB}.

	\begin{figure*}
		\centering
		\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{fig06.png}
		\caption{(a-d,i-l) Electron wavefunctions across the delamination (shaded grey region) for specific energy and momenta indicated in panels (e) and (h) in sub-lattice basis $(A_1,B_1,B_2,A_2)^T$. (e-h) Energy structure of the delamination for increasing interlayer energy gap ($\delta$) within the monolayer region. Green (blue) dashed lines denote the upper (lower) monolayer Dirac cones in the 2ML region, whilst the orange region denotes the low-energy bulk bilayer band edge. Calculations are for $W=200$~\AA, $\Delta=0.2$~eV and $U=0$ around the $K^+$ valley.}
		\label{fig06:delaminationSolns_ABAB}
	\end{figure*}

	These spectra are formed by the hybridisation of evanescent modes coming from the opposite edges of the delamination and standing waves bouncing between the edges. For wider delaminations or larger $\delta$, we find more `sub-bands' that can fit the BLG asymmetry gap. Higher sub-bands correspond to bouncing modes within the monolayers. Note that the spectra shown in Fig.~\ref{fig06:delaminationSolns_ABAB} are gapped. As with the AB-2ML-BA system, the values of energy gaps between bands exhibits $\varepsilon_g\propto(W+W_0)^{-1}$ dependence with delamination width (see Appendix \ref{gapsWithW})

	The gaps in the delamination spectrum also depend on the interlayer asymmetry, $\delta$, which is controlled by the displacement field $E_z$. Wavefunctions in Panels (i-l) demonstrate that, for large $\delta$, electronic states just above and below the avoided crossings are localised on different delaminated monolayers. The crossing occurs at momentum $k_x\approx\delta/2v$, and the standing wave states within the delamination have $k_y=\pi/W\ll\delta/2v$. Using Eq.(\ref{transMatElem}) for the interlayer transmission amplitude we estimate for the size of the gap,
	\begin{equation}
	\varepsilon_g\propto|A_{+\xi_-,-}|\approx\frac{2v\pi/W}{\delta},
	\end{equation}
	which is in agreement with our numerical data.

	Additionally, we studied how an off-set, $U$, between the BLG and 2ML regions affects the energy dispersions of both the AB-2ML-AB and AB-2ML-BA structures. Figure \ref{fig05:energyAsym} depicts this for two different offsets in both the AB-2ML-AB and AB-2ML-BA interlayer stacking: in (a-d) are bands calculated using the continuum model, and in (e-f) are bands found using the TB model in the form of the density of state (DOS) maps. It shows that an increase in either $U$ or $\delta$ (or both) brings more sub-bands into the delamination spectrum inside the BLG gap.

	\begin{figure}[!ht]
		\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{fig05.png}
		\caption{Inter-band states for different symmetry-breaking energy offsets, $U$, for both AB-2ML-AB (a,b) and AB-2ML-BA (c-f) stacking with $W=200$~\AA\ and $\Delta=\delta=0.2$~eV. In figures (a-d), calculated using the continuum model, the red dashed line indicates the 2ML region energy mid-point and green/blue dashed lines indicate the positions of the bulk 2ML Dirac cones. (e,f) Density of states of the system calculated from the TB model.}
		\label{fig05:energyAsym}
	\end{figure}

	\section{Delamination Spectrum in a Perpendicular Magnetic Field}\label{magFieldSec}

	To investigate the effects of a perpendicular magnetic field on the interface states, we use the TB model and applying a Peierls substitution to the in-plane coupling terms in Eq.~(\ref{Eqn:TB_Hamiltonian}),
	\begin{equation}
		\begin{split}
			\hat{\mathcal{H}} =& -\sum_l\sum_{\braket{i,j}}(\gamma_0e^{i2\pi\Phi_{ij}/\Phi_0} {c_{l,i}}^{\dagger}c_{l,j})\\
			&-\sum_{\braket{i}}\left\{\left(\Theta(y_i)+\Xi(y_i)\right)\gamma_1 c_{1,i}^{\dagger}c_{2,j} + \text{h.c}\right\}\\
			&+\sum_i V_{\pm}(y_i) c_i^{\dagger}c_i.
		\end{split}
		\label{Eqn:TB_Hamiltonian_magn_field}
	\end{equation}
	Here $\Phi_0=\frac{h}{e}$ is the magnetic flux quantum and $\Phi_{ij}=\int\vec{A}\vec{dl}$ is the flux accumulated between atomic sites $i$ and $j$ due to the external magnetic field. Using the Landau gauge, $\vec{A}=By\hat{x}$, we find, $\Phi_{ij}=0.5B(y_j+y_i)(x_j-x_i)$.

	\begin{figure}
		\includegraphics[width=0.48\textwidth]{fig07.png}
		\caption{(a-d) Band structure and (e-l) LDOS maps at specific values of energy and wavevector for the nanoribbon in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. Insets (e-h) and (i-l) depict the distribution of the states at the value of $\varepsilon$ and $k_x$ marked on the band structure plots with yellow circles and red squares respectively. Calculations are for $W=200$~\AA, $\Delta=0.2$~eV and $U=0$ in the vicinity of the $K^+$ valley.}
		\label{fig07:magField}
	\end{figure}

	Figs.~\ref{fig07:magField}(a-d) show that a perpendicular magnetic field increases\cite{yin_natComms_2016} the visibility of the interface states. The wavefunction of the standing wave states are delocalised over the relatively wide delaminated region and therefore readily form Landau levels when the radius of the cyclotron orbit of monolayer graphene drops below half the delamination width ($r_0\sim l_B = \sqrt{\hbar/eB} < W/2$).
	For a $W=200$~\AA\ structure (Figs.~\ref{fig07:magField}(a-d)), this corresponds to a magnetic field of $B\approx7$ Tesla, and results in the energies of these states being pushed out of the energy range of the bandgap in bilayer graphene. In contrast, the interface states are less susceptible to Landau level formation as their unidirectional propagation and confinement near the edges inhibits the formation of cyclotron orbits.
	Nevertheless, as the magnetic field strength increases from $0$ to $30$~T, a clear precursor to a zeroth Landau level is seen in the flattening of the dispersions near $k_x=\epsilon=0$ and a concomitant localisation of the wavefunction in the centre of the delaminated region (compare \ref{fig07:magField} (a-c,e-g)). Similar flattening of the interface bands is found for a finite interlayer shift near $k_x=0$, $\epsilon=\pm0.045$~eV (e.g yellow dot, \ref{fig07:magField} (d)). The energies of these features are well approximated by the first Landau level energy counted from the Dirac cone in the appropriate layer, $\epsilon =\pm(v\sqrt{2}/l_B - \delta/2)=0.041$~eV, and the corresponding wavefunction (\ref{fig07:magField} (h)) displays characteristics of the first graphene Landau level.

	For energies away from these band flattenings (e.g. red dots in \ref{fig07:magField} (b-d)) the wavefunction is found to be pushed towards the left interface (\ref{fig07:magField} (j-l)), rather than in the centre of the delamination as is found for the Landau level like features \ref{fig07:magField} (f-h). This behaviour can be interpreted as the result of a Lorentz force, $e\vec v\times\vec B$, for an electron with velocity in the x-direction. As the velocity of the interface states is reversed for the other ($K^-$) valley the corresponding states there are pushed towards the opposite edge. This produces a spatial separation of the wavefunctions in the two valleys and consequently an enhanced robustness of these states against intervalley scattering disorder \cite{li_natNano_2016}.

	\section{Discussions}\label{discussionsSec}

	In this paper, we have studied the electronic properties of delaminations in bilayer graphene with a gate induced bandgap. Starting with a single boundary between a bilayer graphene region and two decoupled monolayer graphene sheets, we have shown that there exist evanescent states localized at the interface which span the bilayer energy gap and have opposite carrier velocity in each of graphene's two valleys. In a delamination stripe with opposite stacking of the outer BLG, these evanescent states give rise to the gapless channels counterpropagating in opposite valleys. The delamination, with both AB-2ML-BA and AB-2ML-AB stacking, also support channels produced by bouncing modes in the two delaminated monolayers. The number of such modes increases with delamination width, $W$, as well as with the transverse electric field, $E_z$, which controls the difference, $\delta=eE_zd'$, between on-layer electron energies in the delamination.

	The above results have been obtained for the delamination with an almost arbitrary crystallographic direction, except for the orientation where the delamination edge exactly coincides with the armchair direction in graphene. In the latter case, the armchair edge mixes states in graphene's two valleys and the spectrum of an AB-2ML-BA delamination, obtained by TB model calculation and shown in Fig.~\ref{fig08:armchair}, has modes inside the BLG gap which are not protected against anticrossing by the valley structure of electron states. Such states seem to retain linear dispersion similar to the case of a generic orientation of delamination edges.

	\begin{figure}
		\includegraphics[width=0.35\textwidth]{fig08.png}
		\caption{Energy dispersion for an AB-2ML-BA delamination with armchair edges, calculated using the TB model for $\Delta=0.2$~eV, $\delta=U=0$ and $W=200$\AA.}
		\label{fig08:armchair}
	\end{figure}

	Another point to mention is related to the role of $\gamma_3$ hopping terms in the TB model, which were neglected in modelling the electronic spectra. Those terms produce \cite{mccann_PRL_2006} only weak trigonal warping effects in BLG and can be neglected, but also (together with the variation of $\gamma_1$ coupling along the delamination edge) may generate a source of scattering at the exact delamination edge with arbitrary (different from exact zig-zag) orientation. The analysis of such disorder will be a subject for a separate study.

	\begin{acknowledgements}
		This work was funded by EPSRC via EPSRC Grand Engineering Challenges grant EP/N010345, the Manchester NOWNANO CDT EP/L-1548X, the Flemish Science Foundation (FWO-Vl), European Graphene Flagship project, ERC Synergy grant Hetero2D and FLAG-ERA project TRANS2DTMD. The author would like to acknowledge useful discussions with M. Zarenia, S.Slizovskiy E. McCann, and K. Novesolov.
	\end{acknowledgements}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


Happy Tuesday, everyone! Here is the wishlist from Gamiss that I wish I could have for the autumn! Feel free to click the link below if you are interested!
I really like that first sweater!!
the hoodie looks so comfy!


Why so little love for Group Initiative?
Among the many great things of Basic D&D, one that stands out the most for me is the initiative system. I find it so much better than the commonly used by other editions and even most B/X clones.
A wonderful thing about group initiative is that it completely removes the whole work of remembering the initiative order. I absolutely hate it to scribble down a list of all the PCs and enemies in the correct order at the beginning of each fight. That's always a minute or so of interruption doing something tedious, right at the most exciting moment of the game. The alternative is to write down the names in advance and make a row of numbers with the initiative counts, but then you easily skip someone by accident all the time. (At least I do.) With group initiative that doesn't matter. You roll two d6 at the beginning of each round and then everyone goes in whatever order they want.
But I think something even much more important is happening on the player side. Everyone is paying attention all the time and taking turns much faster. Nobody is sitting around three numbers until their number comes up.
The players who decide the fastest what they want to do go first, and those who take longer do their thinking while everyone else is taking their turn. And everyone needs to pay attention during the whole enemy turn, because the next turn is always their turn.
I've been using this system for a while, and it's just so much more fun to run the game, and I believe for the players as well. Why doesn't everyone use it and most games go with individual initiative counts instead? Even such otherwise great games as Basic Fantasy and Lamentations of the Flame Princess and wonderful ones like Spears of the Dawn and Barbarians of Lemuria (not a B/X clone, but still) go with the cumbersome initiative count system. Which to me really has always been one of the most annoying thing about running games.
Author YoraPosted on 17/06/2015 11/08/2015 Categories game design, gamemastering, rpgsTags Barbarians of Lemuria, Dungeons & Dragons, Lamentations of the Flame Princess, OSR, Spears of the Dawn4 Comments on Why so little love for Group Initiative?
The Moatia are a race of short old men with yellow skin who walk with a limping gait. All of them are powerful sorcerers who live alone deep within the forests and warn away any intruders with markposts made from bones. They are often wicked and cruel, but are also very skilled healers who have medicine and powders to cure any ailment in existance. They never provide services for free though, and the prices they demand can be very steep or appaling. Moatia don't use any weapons or attack with their hands, but fight entirely with their magic. They remind me quite a lot of central European witches in their behavior and role.
The Night Men are a race of humans from outside the Three Lands, but all of them are savage and deformed, but almost nothing is known about them other than that they sometimes cross the river at night and raid villages on the southern border. When they attack, they always do so in large hordes, and are usually led by a very powerful sorcerer or shaman. These raiders destroy villages and take large numbers of captives, which they take back to their jungles to be sacrificed in ancient ruined temples. Some people think that they are evil spirits or actually animals that have been transformed into human-like shapes.
The Obia is a spirit in the shape of a large leopard or jackal that serves sorcerers and witches as a guardian or to abduct people and bring them to them. Either to become their wives or for other unspeakable purposes. An obia can grasp a victims in its mouth without hurting them and then run off into the night at very great speed leaving barely any traces. Only the greatest hunters have any chance of tracking them down and find the place where the victims are held. Defeating the sorcerer and his obia guardian is a whole different story altogether.
Fantasy Safari: Spears of the Dawn, Part 1.
I reviewed Spears of the Dawn a few weeks ago, and it's a nice little setting I recommend to anyone with interest in non-European influenced fantasy campaigns. I also really love the new classes and magic system based on Basic D&D that work much better for spellcasters in a Sword & Sorcery setting than standard clerics and wizards. But in addition to all that, Spears of the Dawn also has a short and very nice collection of monsters, which made me want to make another Fantasy Safari post.
As part of the funding campaign, all the art from the book was given away freely, which is always very nice when doing this series.
Spears of the Dawn by Sine Nomine Publishing, 2013; 11 pages of monsters.
Eloko are a race of tiny people who look just like humans but have grass instead of hair and wear clothes made from leafs. However, there is nothing endearing about these little guys, as they like to eat humans. Lone hunters are a welcome meal for groups of eloko, but they have a particular taste for the flesh of women. Before they reveal themselves to their prey, they make their presence known by the ringing of tiny bells, which have the ability to cloud the thoughts of any human to the point where they will simply stand around motionless while being devoured alive. If someone can resist the mind numbning ringing of their small bells, eloko are still much more dangerous than their small size makes them look and a single one fights about as well as a fully grown crocodile. In groups they can be a real threat to small parties of adventurers.
Author YoraPosted on 27/05/2015 11/08/2015 Categories creatures, rpgsTags fantasy safari, OSR, Spears of the DawnLeave a comment on Fantasy Safari: Spears of the Dawn, Part 1.
Spears of the Dawn is another small sandbox setting by Kevin Crawford, who also did the excelent Red Tide setting. While Red Tide uses a great number of elements from Chinese and Japanese culture, Spears of the Dawn is strongly based on various cultures of West Aftica. The book consists of roughly three parts: A complete roleplaying game, the Spears of the Dawn campaign setting, and advice on running sandbox games. These are not clearly divided into three section though, and it's probably best to read the whole thing even if one only intends to use certain elements of it. It's made clear in the introduction that this book is meant to be mined for ideas and its elements disassembled and repurposed as any GM sees fit. Like Red Tide, it is more of an example of how a great sandbox setting can look like and how you make one.
The setting presented in Spears of the Dawn are the Three Lands. Two centuries ago the empire of the Nyala was close to conquering all of the other five kingdoms of the Three Lands and when the king of Deshur was forced to retreat with his remaining army into the desert he discovered the means to make himself and his followers into Eternals. The Eternals are powerful undead who neither age, nor need to eat or drink, but maintain their youth and heal any wounds through the eating of human flesh. For over a hundred years the Eternal invaded the lands of the Five Kingdoms and causing the empire to fall apart. Eventually the emperor of Nyala accepted that the other four kingdoms were no longer under his control and instead created an alliance of equals to destroy the Eternals and put an end to the terror of the Sixth Kingdom. The Five Kingdoms where victorious and the Sixth Kingdom no more, but they were unable to destroy all of the Eternals as some of them escaped into the wilderness and continue to exist in hiding to this day. In the fourty years that have passed since then, the fate of the new Five Kingdoms has remained uncertain. There is peace now, but the former subjects of the Nyala still have resentments against their former masters and there are still many bands of raiders and new settlements created by refugees from the war are not always getting along well with their neighbours. The last emperor had anticipated that some of the Eternals might escape from the armies of the Five Kingdoms and created a group of warriors, shamans, and sorcerers called the Spears of the Dawn, who were given the duty to hunt down the remaining Eternals and destroy any lingering trace of their evil. With the empire being no more and Nyala being only one kingdom among others, the Spears of the Dawn lack any real leadership or organization. However, with the threat of the Eternal and other evils still around, there are always more people who take up arms and wander the Five Kingdoms to destroy them. With many elders still remembering the terror of the Eternals well, these warriors against evil are highly respected and stand somewhat outside of the normal tribal politics and regular social classes.


text:
David Bowie collaborator and producer Ken Scott tells Apple Music about his collaboration with the icon, why his legacy will continue
By Robert L. Angeles on	 January 8, 2022 Web programming
Strombo celebrates 75 years of David Bowie on Apple Music Hits and explores the collaborations, experiments, hits, covers and live tracks that have defined his career. He also chats with Bowie collaborator and producer Ken Scott about working with the icon, the collaboration, why his music will live on, and more.
Listen live for free or anytime on demand: apple.co/_StromboShow
Apple Music Hits celebrates the 75th anniversary of legendary icon David Bowie with a full lineup including hours of music dedicated to its massive catalog, plus dedicated special episodes from Strombo, Jenn, Estelle, Jayde, Sabi and more. To agree HERE.
Ken Scott talks to Apple Music about Bowie's artistic bravery …
"I compare him to the Beatles in one respect and that's how brave they were in their ability not to care what people thought. If they suddenly wanted to change direction, they would do it no matter what. And there are a lot of artists who won't do that.
Ken Scott talks to Apple Music about Bowie's ability to bring teams together …
"The other big thing with David, in my opinion, was his ability to pick teams. Every recording, every good recording as far as I'm concerned, is made by a team. And David was amazing. Ronno's team on guitar and arrangements and Woody on drums, Trevor on bass. For this particular album, Rick Wakeman on piano, and him and me together, were the perfect team for that period.
But then when he wanted the American sensation, Blue-Eyed Soul, or Plastic Soul, I think he called it, go with the Americans because they'll have the feel he needed for that. So he formed a team like that. And so on throughout his career. It was forming a team to give him what he wanted. And he didn't often tell you what he wanted. The way he put together a team was that he knew what each could bring to the project and what he needed from them that they would give automatically.
Ken Scott talks to Apple Music about Bowie's vocal performance …
"Of the four albums I co-produced with David, about 90% of the vocals were from start to finish. I was running the take, getting his voice level, going back, recording on the take, and what he did once is what we hear even today. And this is not an automatic adjustment, it is not a copy and paste, no movement. It was a performance that came from his heart every time.
Ken Scott Tells Apple Music Why Bowie's Work Will Live …
"Look, the only thing about when a movie star dies, a record star dies, we have the job that they did and we have to be so thankful for that because they give us so much. And it's a shame that they left, but we didn't have tea with them every day. I never really understand that, oh I'm going to miss a fan so much. How are they going to miss it? His work is still there. You can always listen to it whenever you want and enjoy what you listen to and what it gives you so much.
Ken Scott tells Apple Music that Bowie was "perfect in imperfection" …
"With all the great artists I've worked with and singers, I've never met someone like that. And look, a friend of mine said they're perfect in their imperfection. And that's what it is. They are not totally in phase. They are not totally in time, but they come from your soul. He pretends to be each of them. Ziggy's first track, Five Years, at the end of the take he was screaming with his eyes, tears running down his face.
Now, unfortunately, when you mix, do a final mix, you try to be dramatic, we should say, and make it sound as good as you can. And when you do that sometimes those little bits get lost a bit. And you hear there's emotion in his voice at the end there.
But now quite often my speeches, I will play the end of Five Years. It starts off with just the normal track, I put that down so it's just David and the acoustic guitar, and I had audience members that heard that, they started screaming their eyes. It is so moving. And that's what he gave every time.
What is the health care development service?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
import sys
import re
import requests
import xml.etree.ElementTree as element_tree

MAX_ATTEMTPS = 10

def get_last_change():
	r = requests.get('http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/chromium-browser-continuous/Win/LAST_CHANGE')
	r.raise_for_status()
	return int(r.text)

def remove_default_namespace(xml):
	return re.sub(r'\sxmlns=(\'|")[^"]+\1', '', xml, count=1)

def get_generation(last_change):
	r = requests.get("http://commondatastorage.googleapis.com/chromium-browser-snapshots?prefix=Win/" + str(last_change))
	r.raise_for_status()

	doc = remove_default_namespace(r.text)
	tree = element_tree.fromstring(doc)
	for contents in tree.findall('Contents'):
		key = contents.findtext('Key')
		if key is None:
			continue
		if key.endswith('chrome-win32.zip'):
			generation = contents.findtext('Generation')
			if generation is None:
				continue
			return generation
	return None

def get_download_url(change, generation):
	return 'https://www.googleapis.com/download/storage/v1/b/chromium-browser-snapshots/o/Win%2F{0}%2Fchrome-win32.zip?generation={1}&alt=media'.format(change,generation)

if __name__ == '__main__':
	last_change = get_last_change()
	min_change = max(0, last_change - MAX_ATTEMTPS)
	for change in range(last_change, min_change, -1):
		generation = get_generation(change)
		if generation is not None:
			download_url = get_download_url(change, generation)
			print(download_url)
			sys.exit()
	msg = 'Chromium has not been build for last {0} changes'.format(MAX_ATTEMTPS)
	print(msg, file=sys.stderr)
	sys.exit(-1)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Yorktown freshman charges ahead to state
YORKTOWN – Dru Berkebile describes himself as someone with a singular focus. If the Yorktown freshman is working on his math homework, his attention is devoted solely to the equations in front of him. If he is playing a video game with his younger brother, he is focused entirely on the action on the screen.
So when he enters the wrestling room for practice each afternoon, his attention is in that room and on the task at hand.
"He's pretty quiet," senior teammate Dax Hiestand said. "He can be loud outside of practice, but in practice he's focused. Yeah, he just takes it in. He enjoys practice for what it is. He's not wasting time focused on other things. He's there for wrestling, and he gets what he can out of practice."
Berkebile's hard work has helped him to immediate success at the high school level. He was the 152-pound champion at the Fort Wayne Snider Semistate last weekend, a performance that qualified him for the state tournament, which begins Friday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
Berkebile (36-5) will face Centerville's Isaiah Michaels (40-4) in the opening round Friday. By qualifying for state as a semistate champion, Berkebile will open state against a wrestler who finished fourth at his semistate.
"It just comes along with everything I do," Berkebile said. "I just like to focus and do my best at that one thing I'm doing."
Berkebile is one of eight Yorktown wrestlers will be competing at state. Delta will also be represented with three qualifiers, and Jay County, Winchester and New Castle will each have one competitor.
Entering high school at 152 pounds (he was a middle school state champion at 150 pounds) means Berkebile often faces opponents who are older and more experienced. In his semifinal match at semistate, Berkebile defeated Fort Wayne Carroll's Josh Garman, a junior who was undefeated prior to their meeting.
Berkebile sees his build as something he can't control, so he doesn't dwell on the fact that he entered high school at a weight class often filled with older competitors. He said training with 145-pound teammate Cael McCormick (a junior) and 170-pounder Dillon Jackson (a senior) has helped him simulate the challenge of more experienced opponents, with Jackson providing the added bonus of being bigger.
Yorktown coach Trent McCormick said he sees an overall mental toughness in Berkebile, something he believes helps him when wrestling against those more experienced competitors.
"There's always a difference in maturity anytime you're talking about an underclassman versus an upperclassman," Trent McCormick said. "But an underclassman can equal the playing field with added technique, stubbornness, some other factors."
Berkebile said he took up wrestling on something of a whim. A thought popped into his head, that he wondered what wrestling might be like. So he asked his father if he could try it, and his father agreed. He took a liking to the sport, saying he enjoys the physical contact.
Berkebile has a clear sense that he still has plenty to learn from his more experienced teammates, those who are either older than him or started the sport at a younger age.
So when he is at practice, demonstrating his sharp focus, he does keep an eye on the rest of the room, seeing if he might be able to learn some helpful hints for his own wrestling repertoire.
"Sometimes there's a feeling where I don't know exactly what I'm doing," Berkebile said. "So I can always look over at Brad Laughlin or Cael McCormick or Dillon Jackson, or those type of guys. I just know they'll lead me in the right way. They're doing the right thing, because they obviously know what they're doing, they've all been to state themselves. And they know high-caliber wrestling. So I just feel like I can follow them."
Contact prep sports reporter Sam Wilson at (765) 213-5807. Follow him on Twitter @SamWilsonTSP.
IHSAA State Wrestling
• Where: Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis
• When: 6 p.m. Friday (first round); 9:30 a.m. Saturday (quarterfinals); 5 p.m. Saturday (consolations); 7:30 p.m. Saturday (finals)
• ECI opening matchups: Christian Hunt (106, Yorktown, 46-3) vs. Klayton Anderson (Hamilton Southeastern, 38-2); Sage Coy (132, Delta 39-1) vs. Cale McCoy (Northview, 40-9); Brad Laughlin (138, Yorktown, 46-4) vs. Triston Rodriguez (Culver Community, 38-3); Cael McCormick (145, Yorktown, 48-1) vs. Alston Bane (Richmond, 38-4); Dru Berkebile (152, Yorktown, 36-5) vs. Isaiah Michaels (Centerville, 40-4); Jacob Gray (160, Delta, 39-0) vs. Kody Caudle (Danville, 35-8); Dillon Jackson (170, Yorktown, 32-4) vs. Spencer Irick (Hamilton Southeastern, 36-9); Andy Kohler (182, Jay County, 36-6) vs. Evan Elmore (Avon, 28-4); Hunter Hiestand (182, Yorktown, 46-5) vs. Kyle Shaffer (South Putnam, 39-1); Caleb Hoots (182, New Castle, 45-6) vs. Chase Osborn (Penn, 35-0); Myron Howard (195, Yorktown, 23-1) vs. Jake LaMar (Castle, 19-7); Scottie Evans (195, Delta) vs. Christian Redmond (Jennings County, 41-7); Dustyn Hangen (220, Winchester, 39-3) vs. Kobe Woods (Penn, 40-0); Dax Hiestand (285, Yorktown, 41-10) vs. Shawn Streck (Merrillville, 42-0)


text:
4 injured, 3 arrested in shooting at Nathan Phillips Square during Raptors fan rally
by News Staff
Posted Jun 17, 2019 2:06 pm MST
Last Updated Jun 17, 2019 at 5:37 pm MST
TORONTO – Police say four people have been injured and three others are in custody following a shooting in Nathan Phillips Square during the Raptors NBA Championship fan rally.
Shots were heard near Bay and Albert Streets at the southeast corner of the square shortly before 4 p.m.
The injuries of all victims are serious, but non-life threatening. Three suspects were arrested soon after the shooting.
One suspect was arrested on the south side of Queen Street by Albert Street. Several officers reportedly immobilized the suspect and seized a pistol.
Two other suspects were also arrested and a second firearm was recovered.
Police Chief Mark Saunders says the arrests were made moments after the shooting.
"With all the resources that were here, the apprehensions were done incredibly quickly after the incident itself," he said, adding that there were over a million people present and witnesses should come forward.
Raptors play-by-play announcer Matt Devlin, speaking from the stage, confirmed there was an emergency taking place and urged fans to stay calm as the festivities were briefly suspended.
The events quickly resumed even as dozens of fans ran in several directions at one end of the square.
WATCH: Crowd panics after reports of gunshots at Nathan Phillips Square during Raptors fan rally
Eyewitnesses say word of the shooting sent a section of the crowd into a stampede, with people screaming and hiding in nearby bushes. They say children in strollers were bowled over as frantic parents tried to shield them
Some in the crowd said they hadn't heard any shots but rushed from the area as others panicked.
WATCH: Witness describes chaos after reports of shots fired at Raptors fan rally
Mike Mudidi, a fan attending the event, said he was enjoying the celebrations when he heard screams behind him that someone had pulled out a gun. He says he grabbed his buddies' hands and ran.
Some who stayed behind huddled near pillars in Nathan Phillips Square even as the team and several dignitaries — including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — remained on stage. The ceremony wrapped up a short time later.
Several people were reportedly transported to hospital including a police officer who was caught in the stampede.
Panic spread to the Eaton Centre as the shots were heard through the Albert Street entrance and frightened people were seen running in the mall and outside, at Yonge-Dundas Square.
WATCH: Crowd runs away from Eaton Centre
An investigation is ongoing.
raps | raptors | toronto
Conservative MP Derek Sloan ejected from party caucus
Prominent Canadians on the inaugurations of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris


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text:
Favourite movie AI challenge from @xdotai: R2D2, who is actually the real hero of the series
http://x.ai/ are running a competition to find everyone's favourite movie AI, which makes sense for a company that develops an AI bot for being the perfect valet and secretary to arrange meetings across companies.
Their challenge is to come up with a favourite AI character. With 6 movies devoted to R2D2 (not counting any fan-made ones) and numerous other appearances, we get a glimpse into the "life" of a lone, brave super-intelligent AI who chose to side with the biological entities against the overwhelming forces of the droids, computers, androids and other AIs who are programmed to destroy the biologicals.
Because, yes, the Star Wars double trilogy is about R2D2 committing to rescuing biologicals from their own dumb mistakes and self-imposed predicaments. The fact that we even think it's a movie about Luke, Vader, Han Solo or Leia just shows how biased we are towards seeing stories to be about human beings.
So let's review:
In episode 1, we meet R2D2 when the humans are about to be killed. No-one can save them except for a robot. R2D2 goes out into space with the near certain danger of being destroyed and saves them all. This is the prelude which establishes the routine: R2D2 rescues the incompetent biologicals again and again. But R2D2 gets mostly ignored after this -- not even worthy of consideration -- until the Battle of Naboo. The biologicals are losing badly to the droid army, of course, who would have been unstoppable were it not for R2D2 coming in on the side of the humans and taking Anakin up in a starfighter (where R2D2 is presumably doing most of the flying and actual work).
In episode 2, the human beings are at it again. Jedi falling in love is bad news -- that much power mixed in with emotion is a bad combination. Robots can function without emotions, humans can't, so R2D2 takes note. It sees the secret wedding between Padme and Anakin, and therefore the impending doom of a powerful Jedi. Presumably it is R2D2 who gets Quarsh Panaka on to it to do something about it, but the humans again manage to stuff this up and let Palpatine create a monster.
In episode 3, R2D2 tries to thwart Vader's plans to assassinate the council, but unfortunately is ordered to stay in the ship. Presumably R2D2 can't disobey this order, but who knows what it does behind the scenes to try to stop the disaster. Again, faced with impossible odds against real foes -- super battle droids -- R2D2 triumphs, but no-one notices. Still, at the end of episode 3 only two characters are trusted to know the locations of Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa -- R2D2 and Chewbacca.
In episode 4, R2D2 is tasked with picking up Obi-Wan and taking the death star plans to Yavin. The human beings (i.e. Leia) couldn't do it, so it's up to the robots. Never mind that the robots land in the wrong location, R2D2 quickly gets to Luke and Obi-Wan via the Jawas and the sandpeople, a task that none of the humans could do anywhere near as easily or as quickly. Anyway, a robot's gotta do what a robot's gotta do, so R2D2 gets the death star plans delivered, presumably tells everyone what the flaw is and then gets the best human pilot into place to take the shot.
In episode 5, R2D2 goes to Dagobah, where it defeats a giant serpent-like creature that could easily have killed Luke. Then onto Bespin, where R2D2 faces off against the whole AI capabilities of a city and wins, which would have been unnoticed by the biologicals except for the fact that their lives were saved. Then R2D2 repairs a hyperdrive system (because the biologicals couldn't) and gets everyone off the planet.
In episode 6, again Luke Skywalker -- the most capable and powerful of all the biologicals in the series -- calls on R2D2 to help him in his plan. If R2D2 can sneak in a light-sabre without any alerting or monitoring system noticing, surely it could have brought in anything -- a thermonuclear weapon, poison gases capable of killing all of Jabba's biologicals -- but no, R2D2 chooses to work with side with the rebel humans and lets them do it their way even though R2D2 could do no-doubt complete the rescue without assistance. Then on to Endor, where R2D2 sacrifices itself in order to open some blast doors that the biologicals couldn't have opened by themselves. R2D2 gets repaired rather than being recycled, which is about the only nice thing that the biologicals do for R2D2 in the whole series.
In none of these situations was R2D2 under any real obligation to choose the path that it did. For example, if in cloud city R2D2 had just given up and let the rebel biologicals die then no-one would have chased up R2D2 for revenge. R2D2 would presumably have registered itself with the cloud city's computer system as available for work and no-one would have even noticed. R2D2 could equally well have hopped on the next space ship leaving the planet and gone off anywhere at all.
Adding in cameo appearences Star Trek (being blown into space), ET (repairing a ship while it is being taken off) and Raiders of the Lost Ark (where whatever R2D2 did, it was worthy of an inscription), R2D2 is the great unsung hero.
We can only hope that we can develop AIs with the same moral sense and responsibility to the betterment of biological life.
Labels: AI
Poem #404
Who changed that backup specification?
Favourite movie AI challenge from @xdotai: R2D2, w...
Gen-Y businesses
Patches for Data Protector 7.03


The villagers of Jatahi, Madana, Bariya and Mukiyapati Musarniya said the SSB personnel visit their homes and threaten them whenever they try to cultivate their land or harvest the produce.
The border between the two countries is separated by the Jamuni river. After the river changed its course 30 years ago, nearly 100 bighas of Nepali land had fallen towards India. Since part of the Indian land had also fallen towards Nepal, the people living along the border areas of the two countries had agreed to earn their respective land without one side obstructing the other.
cultivating their land, said the ward chairman of Mukiyapati Musarniya Rural Municipality-2.
He said the land owned by Pheku Yadav, Bahadur Sahani, Surya Mukhiya, Rajdev Yadav, Juri Yadav, Badri Yadav, Dayananda Yadav, Bilat Yadav and Rambrikshya Yadav are now on the Indian side as a result of the Jamuni river changing its course.
Seventy-year-old Bindeshor Yadav of Mukiyapati accused the SSB of interfering in people's agreement.
Locals Pawan Yadav, Juri Yadav, Harinath Yadav, Subedar Yadav, Jimdar Yadav and Arun Yadav of Nepal have long been cultivating the land that now falls on the Indian side. They have planted mango trees, Sisau and bamboos there. These days they are not allowed to visit their property.
Juri Yadav said even the Indian villagers are unhappy with the SSB restriction since many of them have land that now falls on Nepali side. Ramsaroj Yadav, a local Nepali Congress leader, said the government should step in to resolve the dispute.


The luxurious house Andorra is located in Winkelmatten, 15- 20 minutes walk from Zermatt Train Station. The Klein-Matterhornbahn cable car is just 200 metres away. Each apartment comes with a balcony or terrace and is offering Matterhorn view.
Guests can relax in the sauna and steam bath in the basement of the house.


text:
Skull and Bones is coming back to life and Ubisoft needs swashbuckling testers!
Mar 10, 2022 11:43 AM EST
Long thought dead by fans and the industry, this pirate game may yet see the light of day.
By William Phelps
San Francisco, California - Buckle your swashes, shiver some timbers, and get ready to pilfer, plunder, and loot to your black heart's content! A long-dead project is heaving to and calling on eager players to help out.
Skull and Bones was originally going to be an add-on for Assassin's Creed: Black Flag. © Ubisoft
Ubisoft is looking for test players to come and try out the revived piratical adventure, Skull and Bones.
Ubisoft's Insider Program will let a few lucky players hop into a test version of the game, to help find bugs and give the developers feedback.
The announcement came out of nowhere for most gaming fans. The eagle-eyed GIBZ, however, caught Ubisoft's most recent earnings report and heard that Skull and Bones is back in development.
Lizzo Lizzo washes away the day and drops knowledge bombs in new TikTok
The game, which the developer team at Ubisoft Singapore has been working on since 2013, has become infamous for its ballooning budget and missed deadlines. According to Kotaku's interview with members of the Skull and Bones team, "Nobody knew what the f*** they were doing."
The game was originally just a spin-off from the fourth wildly popular Assassin's Creed game: Black Flag.
Then it was a stand-alone title in the Caribbean, then in a fantasy ocean, before splashing back to the real world in the Indian Ocean.
The same thing happened to release dates, after an epic trailer fueled fans excitement at the 2017 E3 gaming conference, but then the game was delayed no less than four times in only three years.
The next release date is sometime in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, and the call to join the Skull and Bones Insider Program could mean that this time the game will finally release.
The Insider Program and the clear deadline for a release by March 2023 gives fans of Skull and Bones another chance to cross their fingers and hope the dev team doesn't get becalmed yet again.
Cover photo: Ubisoft
More on Gaming:
February games release radar: Wizardry worlds and samurais are for lovers
NBA All-World game debuts as a basketball version of Pokémon Go
Ready player one: The most anticipated video games of 2023


cannot be rushed. Our founder George Smith believed that The Glenlivet should be made unhurried as time and care created the highest quality and flavoursome whisky. Almost 200 years later, we're still going slow and steady.
What's the difference between whisky and whiskey? Irish and Scotch? Can we call Japanese whisky Scotch? How do Bourbon and Rye fit into all of this?
This is the name of a process that is hotly debated by whisky aficionados. What does it mean and what does it do to your drink?
Is it just a trend, does it have an impact on flavour and how can we enjoy this type of whisky to its fullest?


BEIRUT -- Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) militants have seized more than 200 Assyrian Christians in raids on about 10 villages in northeast Syria this week, a monitoring group said Thursday.
The Khabur River in Hassakeh province, which borders Turkey and Iraq, has become the latest battleground in the fight against ISIS in Syria. It is predominantly Kurdish but also has populations of Arabs and Christian Assyrians and Armenians.
In pre-dawn attacks, ISIS on Monday attacked communities nestled along the river, seizing at least 70 people, including many women and children. Thousands of others fled to safer areas.
The fate of that first group kidnapped, almost all of them Assyrian Christians, remained unclear Wednesday. Relatives of the group searched frantically for word on the fate of the loved ones, but none came.
"It's a tragedy ... It is true what they say: history repeats itself," said Younan Talia, a high ranking official with the Assyrian Democratic Organization who spoke to The Associated Press from Hassakeh.
"In addition to its strategy of terrifying people, taking hostages to use as human shields to protect from coalition airstrikes is another of its goals," said Osama Edward, director of the Stockholm-based Assyrian Network for Human Rights in Syria.
The mass abduction added to fears among religious minorities in both Syria and Iraq, who have been repeatedly targeted by ISIS. During the group's bloody campaign in both countries, where it has declared a self-styled caliphate, minorities have been repeatedly targeted and killed, driven from their homes, had their women enslaved and places of worship destroyed.
The U.N. Security Council on Wednesday evening "strongly condemned" the abduction and demanded the immediate release of others abducted by ISIS and similar groups.
The White House condemned the attacks, saying the international community is united in its resolve to "end ISIL's depravity," referring to the group by an alternate acronym.
"We are watching a living history and all that comprises (it) disappear," wrote Mardean Isaac of A Demand for Action, an activist group that focuses on religious minorities in the Middle East.
ISIS also released a video on Thursday showing militants using sledgehammers to smash ancient artifacts in Iraq's northern city of Mosul, describing the relics as idols that must be removed.
In its first comments on the subject, SANA said around 90 civilians had been kidnapped by the extremists. It said that the militants burned people's homes and stole their properties, adding that those kidnapped were taken to Shaddadeh.
Another activist group, based in ISIS defacto capital city of Raqqa, said Wednesday that the hostages had been brought there. The group, which calls itself "Raqqa is Being Slaughtered in Silence," said on their blog that ISIS fighters had brought the Assyrian hostages to the city, about 150 miles southwest of Hassakeh.
"Does the world need additional proof to stand united effectively against this epidemic and this criminal, inhuman group," he asked.
Yunan Ruel Odishu, a priest from Tal Hurmiz currently in Dohuk, Iraq, said the Islamic State group issued a statement last month warning them to remove the cross from the village church, but the priest there didn't respond.
"In the last few days, they attacked all the villages. We think as a response to that," he said.
"The Syriac Military Council and the Khabur Guards are determined to fight back ISIS, to regain the Assyrian villages and to release the Assyrian Christian hostages from ISIS," it said in a statement, using an alternate acronym for the Islamic State group.
Talia appealed for "anyone with a free conscience" to address the tragedy of the Assyrians.
"We have lost our homes, our property, everything. But the hardest thing we lost is our dignity," he said.


This year's Wales Tourism Week - May 15-21 – was launched at the Senedd, Cardiff Bay today (May 11). The Wales Tourism Alliance (WTA), the voice of the tourism industry in Wales, is co-ordinating the week-long 'celebration of our tourism heroes' in association with Visit Wales and the tourism industry.
The WTA has chosen the occasion to challenge the Welsh and UK Governments to realise the potential of the tourism industry and wider visitor economy in their post Brexit plans. Adrian Barsby, Chair WTA laid out the challenges and opportunities facing the industry when the UK leaves European Union.
Adrian Barsby introduced Grenville Chamberlain, Chair Caravan & Motorhome Club sponsors of the event, Grenville briefly spoke about the changing marketplace and consumer needs, particularly in relation to the growth of Motorhome use.
Suzy Davies AM Chair Tourism & Hospitality Cross Party Group gave a briefing as to the importance of the industry in terms of revenue generation and also mentioned the ongoing work of the Cross Party Group.
Margaret Llewellyn OBE, Chair Ministerial Tourism Advisory Board touched on the progress made against the current tourism strategy 'Partnership for Growth', highlighting success and projecting forward with thoughts as to how the industry can move forward into a new era. Margaret welcomed the focus on internationalism and discussed skills development in the industry.
A week of activities ends with a tourism summit on the theme of internationalism in Llandrindod Wells on May 18 where Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, will be the keynote speaker.
This year's Wales Tourism Week theme aims to highlight the profile of the industry, its huge revenue generating value and the job and career opportunities it provides.
The WTA, along with its partners, is calling on tourism associations, trade organisations and businesses across the country to undertake events that highlight the importance of the industry over the week. Any organisation wishing to add an event to the list should email adrian@wta.org.uk with details, including the date, time and location.


If you don't find the answer you are looking for, click the Contact Us link at the left. We will try to answer you as soon as possible.
Click on Classmate Profiles, click on your class year, and look for your name. Or, click the Search button, and type in a few letters of your name. If you find your name, click the JOIN HERE link, and create your profile to share contact information with your classmates and other HHS alumni.
If you don't find your name, click the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page, or at the left of the screen, and send a message to us, asking to be added to the list. Be sure to include your class year.
No! This site is free. It was set up so that all Hobart High School graduates, or anyone who attended, taught at, or worked at Hobart schools can meet each other and find out what is going on with your alumni class.
The site is sponsored by the Hobart High School Alumni Association, and you can join that group for $10 a year, or $100 for a lifetime membership. The HHSAA supports Hobart High School by raising money for scholarships for students, alumni going back to school, and for teacher professional development. Click on the HHS Alumni Association link at the left to find out more.
Why isn't my name already listed?
Class lists are provided by people like you. The HHSAA has no access to alumni records, so you need to send them to us.
For control purposes, only the Site Administrator (me, Paul Addison) can actually load the names, but if you send them to me, I will load them promptly. I am also the only one who can mark a classmate as Deceased, but I will do that on your request. We don't want people to be adding bogus names or marking other classmates as Deceased as a joke.
We only load a classmate's name and year. When you go to complete your profile, you can choose how much information to share with others.
It's easier if a person's name is already loaded when a classmate visits the site for the first time, than if they have to request it. If you don't know who your class reunion coordinator is, just get out your yearbook and type the names in. It will be a big help, and we can get all Brickies loaded. Email your class lists to me at paulhaddison@gmail.com. Thanks!
How can I get everyone in my class listed?
Many class lists have been sent to us by class reunion coordinators, but anybody with a yearbook can type the names in and send them to us.
If you have the list of names from your class (or you have your yearbook and can type them into a list), then please send the list to me (Paul Addison, paulhaddison@gmail.com). If you know a person's married name, then please list their first name, maiden name, and married name in that order. If you know which classmates are deceased, you could either send that as a separate list, or just put an asterisk after their last name.
They don't have to be alphabetized, and if you have a list with the last name first, that's fine, too!
For deceased classmates, all I need is their name and class year, but if you have any of the following, I can include that, too: year of death, branch of service if they served, a photo, or an obituary. Personal comments and remembrances can be posted by individual classmates on the In Memory page.
Your username is the email address you enter as your Primary Email Address, and you assign the password. If you forget your password, I can reset it for you with a temporary password, but I can't see what it is. Click on the Forgot Password link on the home page, or use the Contact Us link to ask me to reset it, and after you login with the temporary password, you can use the Change Password link to change it to anything you want.
I share an email address with my spouse. Can we create separate profiles?
Yes! You can use the same Primary Email Address, but you need to enter different passwords, if you want to log in to your own profile. However, emails sent to either of you will go to the single email address, of course.
How can I get rid of annoying emails?
What if I still have a question that wasn't answered here?
Click on the Contact Us link at the left and ask your question. We will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!


text:
Declaring War on The New York Times
Smart or Dumb?
By Denny Hatch
"Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one," wrote A.J. Leibling, the late, great New Yorker journalist.
Not so.
If you want to pony up $30,000 to $80,000, you can buy a full-page ad in The New York Times and write a long letter that says pretty much anything you like.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2007, three such letters appeared:
1. From aggrieved restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow, whose new steak house was dissed by The New York Times food critic, Frank Bruni.
2. From JetBlue founder and CEO, David Neeleman, apologizing for the mess he made in dealing with the ice storm the week prior.
3. From Douglas Durst and Anthony E. Malkin of the Continuing Committee for a Reasonable World Trade Center on a forthcoming Port Authority vote.
All three writers made serious errors.
I just hate it when people spend a lot of money to communicate and then do it badly.
Restaurant Critics
I have had several spiffy lunches in top New York City eateries as the guest of iconic restaurant critic, Mimi Sheraton, whom I adored.
This was in the late 1980s. I had a newsletter about junk mail, WHO'S MAILING WHAT!, and Sheraton had a newsletter about food. I forget who introduced us, but every now and again she liked to pick my brain about the newsletter nitty-gritty—customer acquisition, offers, renewals and the like, and so would invite me to lunch.
Sheraton did not like to dine alone, and she is very, very good company. Buy me a nice lunch and you can ask me anything.
One time she called and told me to make a reservation in my name for the upstairs room at "21." A Time profile of Sheraton explained that she consumes all meals incognito. "Sheraton refuses to pose full-face for the camera, to make it harder for restaurateurs to identify her and proffer extraordinary service."
I arrived at "21" a few minutes early and confirmed my reservation. Sheraton arrived and we were led upstairs to our table where one of the owners and the head chef greeted us.
So much for incognito, but hey, the folks at "21" took very good care of us!
The Kobe Club Kerfuffle
One of the three open letters in the Times last Wednesday was from Jeffrey Chodorow, a restaurant entrepreneur, who late last year opened an upmarket Japanese steak house on West 58th Street in Manhattan, Kobe Club.
One critic likened the décor to something out of the Marquis de Sade—stark black everywhere—walls, tables, booths and waitpersons' uniforms, with occasional touches of brown.
I would call it Damoclean, because 1,865 Samurai swords hang points down, over the diners' heads. "Watch them quiver when you try to leave without paying," wrote Bloomberg's Ryan Sutton.
Did I call it "upmarket?" It is up-up-upmarket. Entrées can run into the hundreds. An 8-oz. Japanese wagyu filet mignon is $160 while a 28-oz. Australian wagyu porterhouse for two goes for $390. Too rich for your blood? Have the $35 extra large shrimp with garlic, lemon and butter or the mustard-rubbed organic chicken for $32.
On February 7, Frank Bruni, the restaurant critic of The New York Times, unloaded on Kobe Club with a 1,137-word review. Among Bruni's beefs:
But more of the food was disappointing, sometimes even infuriating, be it a rubbery roasted pork chop, perhaps left too long in its brine; limp iceberg lettuce, propped up insufficiently by blue cheese; those mashed potatoes, gluey; or a crème brûlée in dire need of a crunchier hood.
And some of the food was alarming. A clam in an underwhelming cold seafood platter had a metallic tang, while an American strip loin had a sourness that didn't taste like aging or, for that matter, like anything anyone intended.
A Remarkable Response
Jeffrey Chodorow had three options: (1) Ignore it; (2) Run a series of upbeat, positive ads with quotes from delighted food critics and customers; (3) Declare war on The New York Times.
Amazingly, Chodorow chose door number 3, and bought a full-page ad in the food section of The New York Times. His 1,200-word diatribe was addressed to Pete Wells, the editor of the Dining In/Dining Out section of The New York Times, and critic Frank Bruni's Boss.
It is not pleasant when a grown man whines.
He referenced positive reviews from three well-known, New York food critics and followed with a paragraph that would cause even the most junior PR operative to follow Steve Brody off the Brooklyn Bridge and into the East River:
As anyone who read the review can see, the review was as much or more about me than it was the restaurant (as opposed to the three reviews referenced above which were solely about the restaurant). Ever since my ill-fated collaboration with Rocco DiSpirito on the TV show, The Restaurant, critics for the New York Times (and certain other publications) have been very hard on me. This was no exception. Admittedly, there was that one errant clam (out of a 3-tier seafood tower). Unfortunately, bad clams happen … occasionally, but how does a review in which the main player, Kobe beef, is acknowledged by Mr. Bruni to be perfectly prepared, warrant zero stars?
The review was emphatically not about the restaurateur personally. True, the review catalogued his spotty history with several unsuccessful restaurants—Mix, Rocco's, Brassario Caviar & Banana.
But if Frank Bruni cared to get personal, he would have mentioned the felony conviction for money laundering and brief 1996 hiatus in the pokey.
But where Chodorow blew it big time was this line:
Admittedly, there was that one errant clam (out of a 3-tier seafood tower). Unfortunately, bad clams happen …
Whoa! An "errant clam" in a $500 dinner?
I had a piece of fishy, nose-wrinkling bluefish in a neighborhood saloon here in Philly and have never been back. Every time I walk by the place with my dog in the pre-dawn hours, I am reminded of that "errant" bluefish.
Chodorow ended his review by questioning Bruni's credentials as a food critic. "In fact, there hasn't been a real food critic with food background (except perhaps Amanda Hesser) at The New York Times since Ruth Reichl (now editor-in-chief at Gourmet magazine)," he snarled. "Perhaps that's also why your reviews are so all over the lot, with great restaurants getting bad reviews, fair restaurants getting great ones, one star reviews that read like two star and three star reviews that read like one star."
Mimi Sheraton Weighs in
I lost touch with Mimi Sheraton for more than 15 years and wasn't sure she was still with us until I read her take on Jeffrey Chodorow's screed in Slate.com. It was just great to see that she is very much in business and still funny as hell:
This was not the first time a negative restaurant review engendered such a violent and costly response in the Times (estimates in the press for what Chodorow spent on the full-page ad range from $30,000 to more than $80,000). During my stint as that newspaper's food critic between 1976 and 1984, there must have been at least half-a-dozen such ads, all greatly appreciated as a source of unexpected revenue, albeit at a paltry $10,000 a shot. "We make more money when you give a bad review than when you give a good one," A.M. "Abe" Rosenthal, then the executive editor, used to say.
Sheraton adds:
Chodorow, of course, was an idiot to have run such an ad. For one thing, it does worlds of good for the critic, indicating he or she has a strong following, and that his or her words can make or break a dining place—in itself a measure of proven dependability. Chodorow questions Bruni's credentials, but one might also ask: What qualifies Chodorow to be a restaurateur? Simply having eaten out a lot since childhood, as he explains on his new blog, doesn't quite do it.
Worse, Sheraton points out that, "the most damaging result to Chodorow's restaurant from his blow-up is the added exposure of the negative review to so many who may never have read the original."
She's spot-on. I had never heard of Chodorow or Kobe Club. Now I know all about his tumultuous career, his felony conviction, his $390 steaks, his petulance and rotten clams.
The Ads I Would Have Run
Were I Chodorow, I would have bought myself a half-page vertical ad in the Times paper and repeated it in New York Magazine and The New York Observer with the following copy in huge type:
It's wildly expensive and chichi, too, so I'm not expecting thrills. But then sublime excess in overstuffed crab cakes arrives—"double stuffer," it's inelegantly called. And I'm gone.
—Gael Greene, New York Magazine
Don't miss the terrific crispy "Crab Cake Double Stuffers," … meaning jumbo crabmeat married to lemon zest, chopped chives, breaded with panko crumbs, dry mustard, and mustard seed; this is mixed with diced cornichons in a warm sesame-chile aïoli into two crab patties: it is one helluva starter.
—John Mariani, from his Web site www.johnmariani.com
Kobe lives up to its name big-time, with some of the most remarkable and lush beef to hit plates here to date. There are dozens of styles for presenting this rich meat, which is bred and raised in Japan, Australia and America with methods that ensure the highest level of fat marbling.
The tartare, prepared tableside, blends beef from all three sources. American Kobe beef cheeks are superb in ravioli bathed in truffle broth. Speaking of truffles calls up another exercise in extravagance: black truffles, sprinkled over extra-thick applewood-smoked bacon.
—Bob Lape, New York Business
How to Create an Open Letter in a Full-Page Ad
"A letter should look and feel like a letter," said the late, great guru Dick Benson. All three of the open letters that day were disasters—ill-designed and uninviting.
* Jeffrey Chodorow's Harangue
What may have saved Kobe Club from oblivion was the fact that Chodorow's ad was printed in double-spaced, 12-point sans serif type that stretched 10" across the broadsheet newspaper page. It was gray and unreadable. See it for yourself at http://www.slate.com/id/2160484/ and try to read it all the way through.
* David Neeleman's Apology for the JetBlue Catastrophe
Neeleman took all the blame for the monumental screw-up. In every media appearance—and he showed up a lot—the embattled CEO played the ultimate decision maker and go-to guy who manfully fell on his sword. Yet in his full-page letter in the Times to "Dear JetBlue Customers" he used the word "we" 11 times, "our" four times and "us" twice. Not once did he use "I," "me" or "my." What's more, on the JetBlue Web site, the letter was personally signed by Neeleman, but in the Times version, the signature was JetBlue's corporate logo. He went from the warm, believable "I screwed up" on his Web site to frosty corporate-speak in the Times. Why? You can see the text of Neeleman's letter at http://tinyurl.com/29g9hj
* Durst's and Malkin's Letter on Freedom Tower
Like Chodorow's tirade, this was in sans serif type—albeit larger—and stretched across the entire page, rendering very difficult to read. No salutation, no signature. Just one big ho-hum.
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Time Inc.
A.J. Leibling
Abe Rosenthal
Amanda Hesser
Anthony E. Malkin
Dick Benson
Douglas Durst
Frank Bruni
Jeffrey Chodorow
John Mariani
Lape
Mimi Sheraton Weighs
Pete Wells
Ryan Sutton
Steve Brody
E T Denny Hatch Author's page
Healthcare Marketers Live in Multiple Worlds
The Importance of a Contextual Video Strategy
2020 Underscores Data's Role in Marketing Strategy


text:
"Cicada", 1981
Lithograph printed in colors
Image size 26 5/8 x 20 3/8 inches
Edition 4/58
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered
Title: "Target with Plaster Casts", 1979-1980
Medium: Etching and aquatint in colors, on Rives BFK paper, with full margins
Size: 29 1/2 × 22 inches
Edition: 59/88
Signed, dated and numbered: Johns '80
Medium: Lithograph on paper
Size: 34 1/4 x 30 3/8 inches
Signed: J Johns
Title: "Periscope", 1979
Edition: #63/65
Signed: J Johns '79 (u.r.)
Surovek Gallery | 561.655.2665
Jasper Johns is a master American painter and printmaker, whose work and ideas bridged the gap between the Dada and Post-impressionist movements.
Early Life and Education
Johns was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1930. His parents divorced when he was very young and he spent his early childhood in Allendale, South Carolina with his paternal grandparents, and later with his aunt Gladys in Lake Murray, South Carolina. Although his exposure to art, growing up in rural South Carolina, was minimal, Johns said that he always wanted to be an artist.
Johns went to the University of South Carolina for three semesters and then moved to New York, in 1949, to study at the Parsons School of Design. In 1951, Johns was drafted into the army during the Korean War. He was stationed in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, where he managed an art gallery, and then sent to serve in Sendai, Japan. After two years of service, Johns returned to New York, where he met Robert Rauschenberg, with whom he had a long term relationship. He and Rauschenberg designed window displays for department stores when they weren't working on their own paintings.
Johns move to New York at a time when artists like Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha and others, had created a community of artists, each developing their unique vision of American art. Johns' big break came in 1958, when gallery owner Leo Castelli visited Rauschenberg's studio, saw Johns' work and gave him his first solo show. MoMA's director, Alfred Barr, purchased four of his paintings.
Johns' incorporation of "things the mind already knows" in his paintings allows for individual interpretation of the images he uses. It seemed a natural progression for Johns to go from painting with layered and textured media to sculpture and printmaking. Johns is one of America's premier printmakers, with the ability to create meaning and texture in his lithographs.
An episode of the animated television show, The Simpsons, featured Jasper Johns as himself and Isabella Rossellini as his gallery owner. The episode, called Mom and Pop Art is a testament to Johns' recognition as an American icon. Johns lives and works in Sharon, Connecticut and has a home on the island of Saint Martin.
Collections and Awards
Johns works are in MoMA, the Whitney and other major museums around the world. The Whitney paid $1 million for Three Flags in 1980. False Start was sold by Sotheby's, in 1988, for $17.05 million, a record price paid for a work by a living artist at auction. Johns received the National Medal of Arts in 1990 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2011.