A frantic flurry of 11th-hour attempts to stave off Greece's bankruptcy and exit from the eurozone underscores Europe's colossal failure in dealing with the country's debt crisis. How did it come to this?
Greece became the first EU country to default on its creditors late on Tuesday as it failed to make a €1.5 billion payment to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). At the same time, the world's biggest and most divisive bailout of a sovereign state came to a bitter end five years after its launch, leaving Greece alone, insolvent and on course for a possible exit from the eurozone. Greek voters now head for a critical referendum on Sunday, facing a horror choice between more brutal austerity and a leap into the unknown.
In a defiant televised address on Wednesday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras showed no sign of backing down from the referendum, urging Greek voters to say "No" to proposals put forward by Greece's trio of creditors (IMF, eurozone and European Central Bank) in return for a bailout extension. "'No' does not mean rupture with Europe, but a return to a Europe with values," Tsipras said, adding that a popular mandate would strengthen his hand at the negotiating table.
The Greek leader's address ended speculation that his government was having second thoughts about the referendum. Earlier in the day, Tsipras had appeared to waver as he sent a letter to his creditors saying he would accept the creditors' conditions with some minor changes. This came a day after Greece tabled surprise new proposals in a desperate bid to avoid defaulting on its debt.
Both moves were swiftly knocked down by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Addressing German lawmakers at the Bundestag, Merkel repeated her stance that there is no point in resuming talks until after Sunday's vote. Others, including French President François Hollande and US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, urged all parties to strike a deal at once. And as Pope Francis called on the faithful to pray for Greece, doubts emerged about the feasibility of Sunday's vote. The Council of Europe, an independent human rights watchdog, warned that a hastily arranged referendum would fall short of international standards. It was just the latest twist in a rollercoaster two weeks that has taken the European Union to unprecedented levels of brinkmanship.
The history of the EU has always been one of messy compromise and "kicking the can down the road". This time Greece's left-wing Syriza government has refused to kick the can any further and no compromise, however messy, could be reached. Five months of deadlocked talks have given way to a slanging match, with all parties now scrambling to deflect the blame for a catastrophic failure that has eroded the eurozone's credibility and shattered the myth of the single currency's irreversibility.
EU leaders don't want to go down in history as those who presided over the break-up of the euro. At the very least, they are desperate to clear their names if the break-up cannot be stopped. Since the collapse of talks over the weekend, representatives of Greece's creditors have rushed to lay the blame squarely on Tsipras's shoulders. In an unusually strongly worded speech on Monday, EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker said he felt "betrayed" by the Greek leader. "I have done everything I could" to secure a deal, said an emotional Juncker, proclaiming that Greeks were "close to [his] heart" but that the creditors' goodwill had been "thrown to the wind" by the actions of Tsipras's government.
In a sign of how relations have soured, Juncker accused the Greek prime minister of telling lies about the creditors' proposals. But his suggestion that they did not include further cuts for Greek pensioners – 45% of whom already live below the poverty threshold – raised more than a few eyebrows in the press room. It drew a swift rebuke from a government spokesman in Athens, who accused Juncker of telling a "preposterous lie".
The best part was yet to come. The Commission chief went on to suggest that the creditors were "about to discuss debt relief" when Greece abruptly ended the talks. If that is true, then Tsipras must have been either incredibly unfortunate or incredibly foolish to break off talks just as his central demand (and that of every Greek government for the past five years) was finally being addressed. One side is surely lying – or are they both?
The seemingly endless dispute between Greece and its creditors has been one of sharply conflicting narratives. Creditors speak of reforms, where Greeks see only savage austerity. When the former Troika calls for "compromise", Greeks understand "humiliation" (the sweeping red-inked corrections to Greece's proposals are a case in point). Creditors say Greece has been slow to slash spending, whereas Athens points out it has cut further than any other country in recent history. Juncker describes the bailout programme as "growth-oriented", while the Syriza government says it is recessionary and tantamount to "fiscal waterboarding". After five years of "shock therapy", it is easy to see why: Greece's economy has shrunk by a quarter, its industrial output by a third, and millions have been pushed into poverty.
How do you say 'austerity' in German?
Accounts of how talks collapsed over the weekend also differ. The creditors say Greece walked out of negotiations after Tsipras called a referendum. But the view in Athens is that its finance minister was pushed out of a Eurogroup meeting and was told, when he questioned the legality of the move, that the group "can do what it likes because it is an informal body".
The referendum call is itself a subject of controversy. One view is that Tsipras shirked his responsibility by passing a toxic decision on to the Greek people. Another sees the Greek leader as a model democrat: he was elected to secure concessions but was offered little or nothing, thus rather than betray his election promises he will let Greek voters choose.
Greece's creditors were thrown off balance by Tsipras's move. The last time a Greek premier called for a referendum, in 2011, he was duly removed and replaced by a more pliant technocrat. This time, Greece's creditors have sought to regain the initiative by turning the referendum into a vote on the euro: vote no to the proposals, and you're out of the eurozone. "It is time for Greeks to speak up and to shape their own destiny," said Juncker on Monday, presumably unaware that increasingly desperate Greeks have been speaking out loud and clear for the past five years.
This fundamental incomprehension translates into sharply opposed public opinions. The German mood in particular has soured over Greece's perceived ingratitude. Europe's richest country has put up with the lion's share of Greek debt, accounting for €77 billion of the more than €310 billion forked out by Greece's lenders since the start of the crisis. No wonder the Germans are aggrieved when Athens accuses them of being ungenerous. But that is only one way of seeing the matter. What Germany doesn't – or would rather not – see is that cash-strapped Greeks never got the money, or only a fraction of it. More than 90% of the bailout money has gone to bailing out the German and other foreign banks that held Greek debt in the first place and then paying interest on Greece's debt, which is now much larger than it was at the start of the crisis.
This is how Greeks view the equation, and so did the non-European IMF delegates who warned against imposing such a programme back in 2010. Leaked minutes of high-level IMF meetings held at the time have shown that critics of the bailout deal imposed on Greece warned against doling out such harsh treatment on an ailing patient.
"It is very likely that Greece might end up worse off after implementing this program," said Argentina's Pablo Andrés Pereira, mindful of the disastrous impact of past "rescue packages" imposed on his country. His Brazilian counterpart, Paulo Nogueira Batista, warned that the bailout deal "may be seen not as a rescue of Greece, which will have to undergo a wrenching adjustment, but as a bailout of Greece's private debt holders, mainly European financial institutions". Both said debt restructuring should have been on the table, a view echoed by the Swiss, Egyptian, Iranian and Russian representatives.
IMF economists have been arguing for years that Greece's programme is unsustainable and in breach of the organisation's own rules on debt sustainability. It is a remarkable feature of the Greek debt crisis that Greece's government has enjoyed such little (if any) support among fellow EU members when most economists, including such heavyweights as Nobel laureates Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz, have consistently endorsed its analysis of Greece's woes (namely, that the country's debt is unsustainable and that austerity is making things worse) and blasted the "insanity" of its creditors. Both have urged Greek voters to reject further austerity by voting "No" in Sunday's referendum.
There is a strong case to argue that Greece's debt crisis is really about politics and the irreconcilable clash between Europe's political establishment and the first party to have genuinely challenged it. French economist Henri Sterdyniak told FRANCE 24's sister radio RFI that the creditors' "aim is to sink Greece and show that there is no possible alternative to the orthodoxy". Giving ground to Syriza would bolster anti-establishment parties across Europe and suggest that a genuine change of policy in the eurozone is a possibility, Sterdyniak argued. If this is the case, was a "compromise" deal ever possible without one side caving in completely?
Crisis summit after crisis summit, we have heard the phrase "inches away from a deal" countless times, only for the deal never to materialise. Juncker again made the claim on Monday, saying Tsipras had scuppered talks when a deal was within sight. The only person who has never sounded optimistic – and has consistently been proved right – is German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaüble, presumably because he and other like-minded "hawks" in eastern and northern Europe had enough clout (and willingness) to shoot down any deal that featured concessions to Syriza.
Earlier this month, when Juncker and several eurozone leaders hailed Greece's new proposed reforms, which European Council chief Donald Tusk patronisingly described as the first "serious proposals in weeks," Schäuble promptly took the fizz out of the celebrations by saying he saw "nothing new" on the table. The German finance minister then rebuked EU Commission officials for welcoming the Greek proposals as "a good basis for progress". His even tougher Finnish counterpart, Alexander Stubb, followed suit by dismissing the ensuing crisis summit as "a waste of air miles".
Ironically, Schäuble – of all people – has openly contradicted EU leaders' main argument against a "No" vote on Sunday. On Tuesday, he was quoted as saying that a victory for the "No" camp would not automatically entail Greece's exit from the single currency. Greek voters tempted to reject the creditors' programme but fearful of being kicked out of the eurozone may take heart from this. Should Schäuble thus strengthen the "No" campaign, it would not be the first – nor probably the last – irony in this never-ending saga. The rollercoaster goes on.


My grandmother's name on my father's side is Naab and she was born in Nierstein/Germany..Schwabsburg is next to Nierstein. There are still people with the name Naab living there. Rumour had it that the ancestors moved there sometimes in the Middle Ages. At the farmhouse, being in the possession of the family since the 15th or 16th century is the exit of a secret tunnel which, my relatives still living there, believe, runs all the way to the Landskrone in Opppenheim, which was a fortress.


I am honored to be the Head of The English Modern School and Kindergarten – Wakra campus, where faculty and staff are committed to educating the young mind in an inspiring and challenging learning environment. Our students strive to be Critical Thinkers and Dynamic Achievers in line with our school's mission and vision.
English Modern School and Kindergarten prides itself in putting students at the heart of everything we do, by motivating and challenging them to achieve their full potential as Independent Learners. Through our expected schoolwide learning results and rich curriculum we nurture student's individuality by helping them to become Global Citizens, who can impact their world. Our school's character education program teaches tolerance and empathy which gives students life skills in becoming Ethical Individuals.
The school's environment and facilities are designed to facilitate teaching and learning, and we are fortunate to have skilled, dedicated and knowledgeable staff who deliver excellent teaching and instructions to students. Our staff is committed to providing our students with exceptional learning experiences in and out of the classroom. We aim to meet the student's holistic learning and developmental needs in and out of the school by working in partnership with all of our stakeholders.
We value and embrace the crucial role that our school plays in Al Wakra community, and our contribution to the State of Qatar is of great importance to us. Hence, we work closely with parents and stakeholders to meet the ever-growing demands of students and our school community in the fast-paced world of 21st-century education.
It is imperative that we continually improve students overall educational attainment and work with parents to ensure that students attend school regularly and are ready to learn. We would not relent in our efforts to bring out the best in every child and ensure that no child is left behind in their education because every child matters; the children are at the center of all we do as educators and collaborative facilitators of learning and development.
On behalf of The English Modern School and Kindergarten board of directors, faculty, staff, and students thank you for visiting our website. Please contact us should you need any additional information.
Thank you for entrusting us with the care and learning of your children.


But when you go to the traders there isn't actual space for an extra exosuit.
Do you stack the exosuits? does the exosuit and tired leader go back to the player board?
It is probably the former, but wanted to make sure.
It's a giant spot that can hold any number of exosuits. Just like the spot above it where you get water.
Yup. Just have them share the space.
Let's all have a deep, think-y game... with theme!
Most questions about the rules are answered in the rulebook and FAQ/errata thread here on BGG. (Ex. The rulebook has a section explaining how hex pools (nomads/water), hex slots, and worker slots function, which answers this question.) Do consider giving those two another read before starting a thread.
I actually did give it a read, probably 2 looking for this.
I also did a search in the forum.
I knew the space is shared, and that there was no blocking, but was wondering how people physically placed the hexs on the board, and if there was some explanation about this.
i know it is a minor question, but i looked for it before i started another thread.
Personally, I don't fault you at all for starting a new thread. I rather think the bigger problem is people asking new questions in already established threads for fear of starting a new thread of their own.
A separate thread with a good descriptive title (like this one has), is easy both to find for those with the same question, and to weed out for those not interested.
Just cram them all in there! That area of the board is certainly large enough to accommodate several hexes placed down next to each other.
I know this reply is several months out of date, but even using the beautiful model exosuits I just put them on the edge of the board......all fits just fine.


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RHS ESL Teacher, Michelle Land, Elected Vice President of NJTESOL/NJBE
When Randolph High School ESL teacher Michelle Land first began teaching English to students from other countries, she was actually a language student herself living in another country. She had travelled to Norway to be with her then boyfriend (now husband) and was learning Norwegian at the University of Oslo. It was an easy way for Michelle to earn some money as teaching English was in high demand. Little did she know at that time that she would grow to love teaching English as a second/foreign language.
Michelle had been teaching full time in Norwegian schools for several years. It was a unique but rewarding challenge for her to teach English in Norway, even though she could speak Norwegian fluently. This was especially true because some of her students were not native speakers of Norwegian. They were immigrants who had been given the opportunity to come to Norway to escape economic hardships, political or religious persecution. She was trying to teach them their third (or maybe fourth) language, via a language that they did not speak fluently.
Initially, Michelle did not realize the trauma her students had experienced was a barrier to their learning in any language. However, she discovered that once their emotional well-being was addressed and healed, they became eager and willing learners. "The opportunity to help students learn and grow became one of my greatest joys," Michelle said. "The excitement I felt in each class and the possibilities I could see in each student helped confirm that this was not just a job, but a lifelong career. I hoped that I could bring this enthusiasm and the lessons I had learned in Norway with me to my new job in Randolph."
In September 2003, Michelle returned to Randolph after 13 years. "In 1990, I had spent one year as a permanent substitute at RHS. Many of the familiar faces were gone, but some, including my mother Barbara Ruggeri, were still there. It felt like coming home," Michelle said. "Even though I was in a different school from where I had substituted, I was extremely thankful for the opportunity that Joe Lorent had given me, and ready to get to know more about the middle and elementary schools I would be working in. Under Joe's guidance, and my mentor Noreen Drucker, I began working with students who were similar to the immigrants and refugees I had worked with in Norway. With each new group of students who entered my life, I got to learn more about the world and our small place in it. Each student represents a thread that ties us all together through our mutual experience in the classroom. This enriches my life more than any typical job could ever do."
Being new to teaching ESL in the United States, there were new teaching standards and state bilingual codes that Michelle needed to dive into. Fortunately, she joined NJTESOL/NJBE (New Jersey Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages/New Jersey Bilingual Educators) early on. It is an association of educators and administrators around the state who support ELLs (English Language Learners) at all levels of public and private education. (See https://njtesol-njbe.org for more information). Michelle's mentor Noreen Drucker had been elected to the Executive Board of the organization, and had suggested she consider running for her office when her term was over. She decided to run and won the position at that time for two consecutive two year terms. The executive board works hard to support ELLs and the people who work with them at all levels.
"I feel that being part of NJTESOL/NJBE has made me a better educator for my amazing students. NJTESOL/NJBE helps me to be aware of federal and state legislation that affect our district. It also gives me the opportunity to learn new and best practices from others in the field throughout our state and country," Michelle said. "The professionals in this organization are dedicated, amazing and inspiring individuals that I look up to."
During her last term on the Executive Board, she was approached about running as Vice-President for the organization. Michelle saw this as an opportunity to add further value. "I was honored to be considered and jumped at the opportunity to run for the office this spring. Luckily, I won the election and am now the Vice President of NJTESOL/NJBE for the next two years," Michelle said. "The responsibilities of the position are focused on chairing our spring conference, supporting the advocacy positions of the organization, sharing information with our members through social networking, writing articles 4 times a year for our publication, and succeeding to the Presidency in two years."
Members of the Executive Board have already met virtually since the school year ended in order to make some important decisions about how the organization will move forward during this pandemic. The organization's members across the state have been asking for guidance and support on how to best address the needs of their ELLs. Michell is working with her organizational team to provide members with every opportunity to serve their districts and students with strategies, resources and support.
"I could never have considered running for any position in NJTESOL/NJBE without the support and guidance I have received here in Randolph. The Randolph Township School District's ELL population is always evolving. With that evolution, has come excitement, joy, as well as change and challenges," Michelle said. "Our present supervisor, Paula Paredes-Corbel, with support of school administrators and central office, has guided us through much of our most challenging growing pains. She creates an environment in which our students feel safe and secure. She is always going above and beyond to support her ESL teachers, as well as the staff that work with the ELLs. As a result, several of our ESL and mainstream teachers have been chosen as presenters at the NJTESOL/NJBE annual spring conference. They, in turn, have represented our school district on a state level with their knowledge, experience, and fervor. Randolph can be very proud of the positive impact our district has had on the NJTESOL/NJBE organization."
Congratulations Michelle on your appointment and for all the work that you do to support students at RHS as well as students around the state.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Comfort and warmth in every colour! The warmth of wool under your feet and a fine upper for comfort in your ski boots.
WarmthThe sock sole contains 50% wool.
Moisture managementGood perspiration wicking towards the outside of the sock.
PrecisionMEDIUM thickness recommended for most ski boots.
Ensure the product is completely dry before putting away.
Designed for keeping your HANDS WARM during winter sports activities.This warmer is ideal for winter sports activities.
Designed for junior allmountain snowboarders (and skiers), snowboarding 1 to 3 weeks per year on all terrain.In addition to its freestyle look and large fit, the SNB JKT 500 BOY jacket is warm, waterproof and breathable, ideal for children in snowparks.
Designed for anyone skipping rope regularly (2 to 3 times per week) who wants to track their progress.Handle with 4-function counter: calories, minutes, number of turns, alarm. The perfect skipping rope for letting off steam by working on your cardio, burning calories, and improving your performance.
Designed for Thanks to the inside surface's 3D structure, air is imprisoned and keeps the body warm thanks to its naturally insulating capacity.
Designed for Thick and cushy socks thanks to large plush loops: it is the warmest model in our range.


After hours of delays for last minute amendments which caused the suspension of testimony and debate a legislation that legalizes and establishes a regulatory structure of recreation marijuana passed the Assembly Appropriates Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday night, according to reports on Politico, InsiderNJ and NJGlobe.
Pearl Lee, the Republican candidate for Red Bank Mayor last month, told MMM that she reached out to Monmouth Republican Chairman Shaun Golden to express her interest in challenging Democrat Assembly Members Eric Houghtailing and Joann Downey in the 11th legislative district next year.
Lee, 64, a retired small business owner, had never sought elected office before securing the Republican nomination for Red Bank Mayor last year as a write-in candidate in the June primary. She sought the nomination after learning that the local party failed to field a candidate to challenge Democrat Mayor Pat Menna.
We haven't heard from Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop since Assemblyman Declan O'Scanlon challenged him to pressure Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto to put the extension of the 2% limit on arbitration awards for police and firefighter salary contracts up for a vote. But Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini, a Democrat, called to say that he supports O'Scanlon's effort.
Jersey City Police Officers were awarded a 2% pay increase by a state appointed arbitrator this week.
Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, not the Democrat nominee for Governor, declared that the best interests of his city's residents and taxpayers prevailed, according to Hudson County View.
The arbitrator's decision will enable Mayor Fulop and the city council to keep their budget within the two-percent levy cap and hold the line on property taxes from substantially increasing.
"This is not a day where we say that we won, but rather that the best interest of the city, its residents and the taxpayers prevailed," Fulop said in a statement reported by HCV.
Both houses of the New Jersey Legislature passed a budget last night which Governor Chris Christie signed, ending the three day shutdown of non-essential government services.
New Jersey state parks and beaches will be open today, the 4th of July. Courts, MVC offices and all other state operations will return to their normal operating hours tomorrow.
At at 10pm press conference announcing a deal on legislation to change the State's oversight of Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto said that would ask Christie to support their desire to pay state employees for their forced day off on July 3.


text:
BREAKING: Alberta Christian homeschool group seeks injunction to reopen
Trinity Christian School claims the order was 'unreasonable' and violates the Charter.
Lianne Laurence
Tue Nov 1, 2016 - 6:37 pm EDT Fri Jun 18, 2021 - 7:24 pm EDT
GRANDE PRAIRIE, Alberta, November 1, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — Alberta's largest homeschooling operator, which the NDP government shut down last week, has asked the court to quash the decision, claiming it is "unreasonable" and violates natural justice and the Charter of Rights.
In an application filed November 1 at the Court of Queen's Bench in Grande Prairie, Trinity Christian School Association and Wisdom Homeschooling and representative parents requested a judicial review of Minister Dave Eggen's decision.
Trinity and Wisdom also asked the court for an injunction requiring the NDP to reinstate their funding and accreditation pending the court's judicial review "in order to protect students and parents from the disruption occasioned by the decision."
Jay Cameron, lawyer for Trinity and Wisdom, also filed the application with Alberta's solicitor general, Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Education.
"I haven't heard from the government at this point but I expect it will be contested," he told LifeSiteNews.
The hearing is scheduled for November 4 at the Court of Queen's Bench in Grande Prairie.
Eggen announced October 25 that he was permanently withdrawing Trinity Christian School's accreditation, citing an audit that alleged financial irregularities. Eggen also alleged that Trinity failed to properly supervise its homeschooling program with which 3,500 children are registered, and which it contracted out to the Derwent-based Wisdom.
"We are seeking a stay of that order or alternatively, an injunction," Cameron said. "The court could grant the order requested, or could reserve, or could grant the application."
The 10-page application refutes a number of NDP allegations, including Eggen's contention that Trinity's contracting Wisdom as a third party was in contravention of provincial legislation.
The application also seeks an injunction preventing Alberta Education from seizing student files.
Cameron is a Calgary-based lawyer with a background in constitutional law and administrative law.
The court document is posted on Wisdom's webpage here.
Alberta Ndp


text:
package com.rp.aula.design.abstractfactory.exercicio;

public interface Pizza extends Produto {

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Does your company communicate with leads often, provide a vast array of marketing collateral, or frequently share demos? Then you would benefit from a sales and marketing portal. Read on for an overview.
A static website is one that presents all of its information on your website's pages, and that information rarely changes. When it does change, it is manually updated. A dynamic sales and marketing portal, on the other hand, serves up relevant and continually updated information, so that your leads and prospects will always have the greatest insight possible into what your company can do. It also allows your visitors or prospects to interact with your company exactly how they want to.
Responsive design is generally the ultimate goal, but requires a more extensive budget than mobile-friendly development.
If the idea of integrating your website with a sales and marketing portal sounds overwhelming, you may be pleased to hear that most Content Management Systems (CMS's) adapt well to corporate portals. You can even sometimes use the portal itself to make changes to other information on your website. DotNetNuke and other open-source CSM platforms, in particular, are well-suited to sales and marketing portal integration.
Clarity has extensive experience designing and developing sales and marketing portals, and not only can we build one for you, we can also guide you through the process of using it. Whether you want to provide specific individuals with certain documents or integrate custom communication features, we can help. Consult with a Clarity representative today to learn how.


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Tag: Rauner Administration
Bruce Rauner paying former charter school operator $250,000 per year to advise him on education policy
While Republican Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner claims to be a guy who wants to fix Illinois's fiscal problems, his actions as governor say something much different.
For example, Rauner is paying Beth Purvis, a former head of a Chicago charter school, $250,000 in Illinoisans' taxpayer money every year to advise Rauner on education policy:
In her role as Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's education policy adviser, Beth Purvis is pulling in a $250,000 annual salary, the Associated Press reports.
That salary is more than twice as large as the earnings of previous officials in the position. Of Rauner's Cabinet members, Purvis, the former head of the Chicago International Charter School (CICS), is earning the largest salary, according to the news organization.
The former CICS CEO told the AP that the $250,000 salary is "commensurate with what I've been paid in the past."
Given that charter schools divert taxpayer money from public schools and lower the quality of education for Illinois children, it's horrible that Rauner would hire someone who was an administrator of a charter school to advise him on education. What's just as bad, in my opinion, is that the Rauner Administration is paying a political adviser more than any of our state's constitutional officers (governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, and comptroller) earn, which is a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money.
Our state's fiscal problems are too severe for anyone in our state's government to collect a quarter of a million dollar salary every year.
Friday, March 20, 2015 Thursday, August 6, 2015
$250000/year
Beth Purvis
charter school head
charter school operator
education adviser
fiscal mess
fiscal problems
large salary
political adviser
Rauner Administration
taxpayer money
waste of taxpayer money


The eDocPrintPro API allows the integration of the printer driver in own applications, as well as the program-controlled setting and querying of all functions and parameters that can also be set via the user interface of the respective printer driver.
With the version 3.19.0 there also is a new SDK available now.
The PDF/A level 1 to level 3 functions can be used through the SDK now.
VBA support for MS-Office 32 and 64bit was added, VBA sample macros are available.
The, in the source code or as VS-projects, delivered applications got extended with the new functions.
The CHM (Compiled HTML Help) documentation got updated and supplemented.
To use the functions of the SDK under the different operating systems and with varying printer versions there is a SDK demo. With it the printer settings can be read or set. The events from the printer for start and end of the printing process = creation of the PDF file gets evaluated and shown on the user interface.


text:
CapoVelo.com - | Are We Not Men? We Are DIVO Bike!
post-template-default,single,single-post,postid-39100,single-format-standard,no_animation
Are We Not Men? We Are DIVO Bike!
By Gianni Pericolo - In FEATURED ARTICLES, LATEST ARTICLES, THE DOUBLE DIAMOND
Ok, so the title might be a bit of a stretch, but for the Generation X'ers who remember the groundbreaking 1970's-80's band DEVO, will regale the group's ability to mingle both aesthetic genius and cutting-edge music.
Similarly, there's an Italian bike brand that closely bears the same name, which also mingles aesthetic genius, but with carbon fiber instead of music.
When you strip-away the veneer of mass-produced bike brands that seem to inundate the market these days, there exists a deep grain of beauty that encompasses bikes like DIVO, that still maintain a deeply rooted tradition in the art of handmade bike building.
DIVO is the creation of former ex-pro rider, Pietro Caucchioli, who understands the degree of know-how and craftsmanship that's paramount for developing a bike that is destined to be ridden on the highest levels of the sport.
Indeed, DIVO bikes are crafted by a small guild of bike builders in Italy, whose DNA not only contains decades of mastery regarding each and every frame material to date, but who also recognize the need to embrace technology alongside tradition.
As a result, DIVO's ST and STX road bikes are a bold example of advanced carbon fiber design, wherein an intricate tube-to-tube fabrication process is used, with each tube profile yielding a specific ride quality and performance characteristic, thus allowing for infinite possibilities regarding custom geometry to suit each rider.
In addition, while both models are clearly aimed at taking advantage of the current aero bike trend with their strikingly angular tube shapes, especially the STX which utilizes a more aerodynamic rear triangle over the ST, varying sizes in tube profiles suggests the overall design confers as much comfort and compliance as it does the bike's ability to cheat the wind – which is something that can't be said for a lot of the so-called aero bikes on the market.
In addition, the ST and STX also capitalizes on all of the latest industry trappings, to include full internal cable routing for both mechanical and electronic drivetrains, exclusive one-piece BB and chain stays, as well as both a tapered headtube and carbon fork steerer tube – with the possibility of a disc brake version in the future.
You can learn more about DIVO custom bikes by visiting their site here.
Whip it Good!


text:
BSO Sessions: Twelve
Nicholas Hersh
Nicholas Hersh continues to earn acclaim for his innovative programming and a natural ability to connect with musicians and audiences alike. As Associate Conductor of the BSO, Hersh has expanded the reach of orchestral music in the mid-Atlantic region—most notably through BSO Pulse, a concert series that brings together indie bands and orchestral musicians in unique collaborations.
After stepping in to replace an indisposed Yan Pascal Tortelier to great acclaim, Hersh appears regularly with the National Symphony Orchestra in concerts throughout Washington, D.C. Other guest conducting appearances include the Houston Symphony, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. He earned a Bachelor of Music from Stanford University and a Master of Music Degree in conducting from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying with David Effron and Arthur Fagen. In 2011 and 2012, he was a Conducting Fellow with the prestigious Aspen Conducting Academy at Aspen Music Festival and School, studying with mentors Robert Spano, Hugh Wolff, and Larry Rachleff, and has participated in masterclasses with Bernard Haitink and Michael Tilson Thomas. Hersh is also a two-time recipient of the Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award.
Hersh is frequently in demand as an arranger and orchestrator, taking on anything from classical solo and chamber music to popular songs—adapting them for orchestra in an idiosyncratic, playable style. His symphonic arrangement of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody continues to see worldwide success as a viral YouTube hit, and he has had his work performed by orchestras around the globe.
Hersh lives in Baltimore with his wife Caitlin and their two cats, and in his free time enjoys baking (and eating) sourdough bread.


text:
Alternate Archetypes – New Westminster Breaks the Mould
There are a thousand ways to complain about a skatepark. Maybe the transitions are too mellow and the coping is too small. Maybe it lacks the specific features that make you excited to skate, whether that is a ledge, manual pad or pool. Perhaps the layout just lacks flow, and you find yourself stifling your momentum and cutting your line much shorter than it needs to be. Or maybe the scooter kids are so numerous and so relentless that you can't even roll from Point A to Point B. Whatever the reason, we always seem to find something to talk shit about. In fact, as skaters, shit talking seems to be one of our most well-honed skills, right up there with guzzling cheap brews and avoiding conventional adult responsibilities. So when a new park pops up that is almost unanimously celebrated by a notoriously discerning community, we have to ask: "What the hell went right?"
Jamie Maley, backside smith
Located in Queens Park, the newly opened New Westminster skatepark was built to replace the old, torn-out New West park, immortalized in Alex Chalmers' Sorry video part, among other mediums. From two-foot noping-topped quarterpipes to curved and snaking Derby curbs, an eight-foot pool-block topped deep end, miniature four and six foot kidney pool and much more, the new park offers a breath of fresh air to those of us who feel like Canadian skateparks have been stuck in the past when it comes to bowl and ramp features. The facility contains something for all skill levels while giving a humble nod to the legendary parks of the American Pacific Northwest, serving up a taste of that fabled Oregon 'crete without the nerve-rattling gnar found in places like Klamath Falls, Newberg and Lincoln City.
Mikey Ray, frontside kickflip disaster
"We wanted to create something that was custom." Says Colin Dion, founder and president of Transition Construction, the company responsible for building and designing the park. "We're trying to build nothing the same, to build features that haven't been built before." The Maple Ridge native has a deep history in skatepark construction, having co-founded New Line Skateparks with his brother Kyle back in 2000 before splitting off to pursue his own vision in 2014. And while Transition has been responsible for building numerous parks since then, New West is only the third park that the company has overseen entirely from its inception, including the design stages.
Stepan Soroka, hurricane
Much of the design of the New West park can be attributed to Jamie Maley, who describes his process as "drawing on napkins." While Maley lacks any formal design training, he cut his teeth conceptualizing and implementing the most recent upgrades at Vancouver's Leeside DIY, transferring the skills he acquired among the dirt and grime of the tunnel to his current role at Transition. When Maley comes up with a layout or an obstacle, he draws it and sends it to Transition's engineer Jay McIntyre, who turns it into a legitimate digital design that can be applied to a physical project. "Jay has been designing skateparks as long as I've been building them." Colin Dion says. "And when Jamie gave him New West, he was like 'What the fuck! This is the most challenging park I've ever had to draw.'"
Cory Lakeman, tre flip
And the challenges didn't stop there. After redesigning the park a modest four times, and moving the location due, in large part, to a nearby theatre group concerned about errant reefer smoke and bad language, the actual building process proved to be anything but a cakewalk. "Typically we pour a park that size in a week." Says Dion. "This one took us three. I was walking around thinking 'I don't know how we're gonna do that… that's fucked up.'" But with a talented crew of builders including project manager Danny Wartman, east coast concrete expert Brent Remley, Stevie Davison, Travis Godin, Trevor Moncaster, Stinky Mark, Theo Papanikolaou and others, the park was sculpted into its current immaculate form. "Everyone brought something to the table." Maley says. "It felt like the ultimate DIY." With each individual allotted the freedom to add their personal touch, the project was allowed to flourish beyond the sum of its parts.
Adam George, invert
Ultimately, the park's congruent functionality and unconventionality can be attributed to an unbridled passion for both building and skating exhibited among the Transition crew. Whether blasting shotcrete or crunching a back smith, applying that last stroke of the trowel or setting up for a nollie flip, you can bet that each crew member is operating straight from the heart. "We get to build these sanctuaries that touch so many people." Maley says. "And they're there for so fucking long… forever, basically. Aliens are gonna scope 'em and be like 'What the fuck are these things?'" Extraterrestrial visitation aside, New West was built with the long term in mind, intended to keep skaters challenged and engaged for many years to come.
Danny Wartman, frontside slash
And while New West may not be the dream park for every niche and subgenre within skateboarding (it certainly caters to transition-oriented skaters), there is nothing wrong with a little variety. In the greater Vancouver area, you hardly need to drive for 10 minutes in any direction to get to a skatepark, and the fact is that most of these parks offer a similar experience. Having a park that at least compares to the hallowed ground broken by Dreamland, Grindline and others not only legitimizes our scene on an international scale, but it diversifies and enriches our own subcultural mosaic. "We want to offer a different route for the future of Canadian skateboarding." Dion says. "Not necessarily the right route. Just different."
Adam Hopkins, frontside air
It is always easiest to focus on our differences, and to point out the negative. Maybe that's why we do it so much. But within our countercultural microcosm, the things that we perceive as setting us apart must seem inconsequential and frankly imperceptible to ninety nine percent of the general population. We're all just rolling around on little wooden planks with four wheels, and its spaces like New West that can remind us we're all in this together.
Jamie Maley, layback frontside feeble
Filmed by Chris Johnson and Sara Siraj
Text by Stepan Soroka
Photos by Rich Odam
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Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters called the officer who shot a knife-wielding man on I-75 last week "one brave individual" before releasing body camera video to the public Tuesday.
CINCINNATI (AP) — A Maryland slaying suspect shot and wounded by a police officer in Ohio is heard shouting at the officer to "kill me" as the officer repeatedly tells him to drop his knife and "get down," in body camera video that a prosecutor showed Tuesday while announcing the officer will not be charged.
The body camera video shows Glendale Officer Joshua Hilling's "remarkable restraint" in dealing with Pablo Javier Aleman and that Hilling is "one brave individual," Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters said.
Deters said Aleman, who is wanted by Baltimore County police in Maryland on a warrant in a 2016 homicide, is being held on an attempted murder charge stemming from his confrontation with the officer. It wasn't known if Aleman has an attorney in Ohio or Maryland who could comment on his behalf.
Deters said Hilling stopped Aleman when the officer saw the 46-year-old man walking along Interstate 75, north of downtown Cincinnati on March 29. When Hilling went to pat down Aleman, as standard practice before allowing someone into a police cruiser, Aleman drew a knife on the officer, who then shot Aleman once in the abdomen, Deters said.
After the initial struggle and shooting, the video shows Aleman armed with the knife walking toward the officer at times or walking back and forth on the road while asking Hilling over and over to "kill me" as the officer repeatedly shouts at him to "drop the knife" and "get down."
A slaying suspect shot and wounded by a police officer in Ohio is heard shouting at the officer to "kill me" as the officer tells him to drop his knife in video that a prosecutor showed Tuesday while announcing the officer will not be charged.
"Just stop, just stop," Hilling yelled at one point.
Other officers arrived on the scene, and Aleman dropped to the ground after police fired a stun gun, hitting him.
Aleman remained in the hospital Tuesday, where he was continuing to recover, Deters said. Hilling was not injured.
Maryland authorities have said Aleman is suspected in a man's fatal stabbing there March 17. Baltimore County Police spokesman Cpl. John Wachter has said that Aleman is wanted on an arrest warrant in the killing of 51-year-old Victor Adolfo Serrano. Serrano was found with multiple stab wounds in Baltimore County and pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released a motive for his death.
Deters said the Ohio charge against Aleman will be disposed of before he can be extradited to Maryland to face charges there. The prosecutor said there is a high probability that the knife recovered from Aleman in suburban Cincinnati was the one used in the Maryland slaying, but authorities are awaiting DNA results.
The Ohio case will be presented this month to a Hamilton County grand jury to determine whether to indict Aleman on the attempted murder charge. He could be sentenced in Ohio to 11 years in prison, if he is convicted of attempted murder, Deters said.


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Henry Skillman Breckinridge (25 mai 1886 - 2 mai 1960) est un avocat et homme politique américain, membre de l'éminente famille Breckinridge. Il a été United States Assistant Secretary of War de 1913 à 1916. Au cours du procès de l'affaire du bébé Lindbergh, il a été l'avocat de Charles Lindbergh. Breckinridge s'est opposé au New Deal par la droite. En tant qu'opposant au président Franklin Delano Roosevelt lors des primaires démocrates de l'élection présidentielle américaine de 1936, il a obtenu moins de 3 % des voix.

Jeunesse
Breckinridge est né à Chicago dans l'Illinois le 25 mai 1886, de Louise Ludlow Dudley et de Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Sr. Parmi ses nombreux frères et sœurs, son frère aîné Joseph Cabell Breckinridge Jr., est officier de la United States Navy durant la guerre hispano-américaine, mort alors qu'il servait sur le torpilleur USS Cushing. Un autre de ses frères aînés, Scott Dudley Breckinridge, est médecin et athlète olympique.

Contrairement au cousin de son père, John Cabell Breckinridge, général de division confédéré et ancien vice-président des États-Unis, son père Joseph est officier de Union Army du Kentucky pendant la guerre de Sécession, sert comme inspecteur général de l'armée et est Major général des volontaires durant la guerre hispano-américaine .

Son grand-père paternel est Robert Jefferson Breckinridge, officier presbytérien, homme politique, titulaire d'une charge publique et abolitionniste. Son grand-père maternel est Ethelbert Ludlow Dudley, un éminent médecin de Lexington (Kentucky).

Après avoir été diplômé de l'université de Princeton et de la faculté de droit de Harvard, il commence à pratiquer le droit à Lexington (Kentucky).

Début de carrière

En 1913, à l'âge de 27 ans, il est nommé United States Assistant Secretary of War par le président Woodrow Wilson, un collègue du Parti démocrate (États-Unis). Dans le même temps, le secrétaire adjoint de la Marine est Franklin Roosevelt. En 1914, il est chargé de sauver les Américains piégés en Europe par le déclenchement de la Première Guerre mondiale en août. Les observateurs de l'époque et les historiens lui attribuent depuis de mauvaises appréciations pour son travail bâclé et son mépris des devoirs, à l'inverse d'Herbert Hoover, un ingénieur qui s'est porté volontaire pour aider et pour prendre en charge les opérations. En 1916, Breckinridge démissionne, avec le Secrétaire à la Guerre des États-Unis Lindley Miller Garrison, qui « préconisait une armée plus importante en opposition aux vues du président ». Pendant la guerre, il sert comme commandant d'un bataillon.

Il est membre des équipes américaines d'escrime aux Jeux olympiques de 1920 et aux Jeux olympiques d'été de 1928, et est capitaine lors des dernières. Aux Jeux de 1920, il remporte une médaille de bronze au fleuret par équipe.

Avocat new-yorkais
Après la guerre, il s'installe à New York et devient rapidement un éminent avocat. Il est président de la Navy League of the United States (« Ligue navale des États-Unis ») de 1919 à 1921 et organise à cette époque le premier Jour de la marine, qui est célébré en 1920. En 1933, il est conseiller du Joint Congressional Committee to Investigate Dirigible Disasters.

En 1934, il se présente comme sénateur américain de New York en tant que candidat du Parti constitutionnel, pour s'opposer à la politique du New Deal de Roosevelt, mais ne recueille que 24 000 voix, soit la moitié du vote communiste, et un huitième de plus que le candidat socialiste Norman Thomas.

En 1935, au cours du procès pour l'enlèvement du bébé Lindbergh, il est l'avocat de Charles Lindbergh. Il a servi d'intermédiaire pour les négociations liées à la rançon, assisté de Robert H. Thayer (en découvrant la disparition de son enfant, Lindbergh avait appelé Breckinridge avant d'avertir la police).

Primaires démocrates de 1936
Aux primaires démocrates de 1936, Breckinridge, farouche opposant au New Deal, est le seul candidat sérieux à s'opposer au très populaire sortant Roosevelt. FDR n'a par ailleurs comme opposants au sein du parti que par les candidats favorite son. Le test de Breckinridge sur la popularité du New Deal parmi les démocrates échoue : il perd largement. Cependant, dans le New Jersey, le président Roosevelt ne demande pas le vote préférentiel et perd cette primaire au profit de Breckinridge. Roosevelt récolte 19% des voix des votes écrits. Les candidats de Roosevelt au poste de délégué  balaient la course dans le New Jersey et ailleurs. Dans d'autres primaires, la meilleure performance de Breckinridge est ses 15% dans le Maryland.

Roosevelt remporte un total de 4 830 730 voix dans toutes les primaires d'État combinées (93,19%) contre 136 407 pour Breckinridge (2,63%). Breckinridge soutient le candidat républicain Alf Landon contre Roosevelt aux élections générales.

Vie privée
Breckinridge se marie trois fois. Son premier mariage a eu lieu le 7 juillet 1910 avec Ruth Bradley Woodman (1888-1941) à Genève, en Suisse. Ruth est la fille d'Edgar Horace Woodman, un avocat qui a été maire de Concord (New Hampshire) en 1883 et 1884. Avant de divorcer en 1925, Ruth et Henry sont les parents de deux filles :

 Elizabeth Foster Breckinridge (1911–2005), qui épouse John Stephens Graham (1905–1976), secrétaire adjoint au Trésor et commissaire de l'Internal Revenue Service.
 Louise Dudley Breckinridge (  -1934), qui est tuée, âgée de 17 ans, lorsqu'une balle se décharge accidentellement d'un fusil à cible qu'elle transporte. Au moment de sa mort, elle est étudiante au Vassar College.

Il se marie pour la deuxième fois le 5 août 1927 avec la mondaine Aida de Acosta (1884-1962) à Washington (district de Columbia). Aida, première femme à piloter un avion motorisé en solo, est une des filles de l'émigré cubain Ricardo de Acosta, qui est directeur d'une ligne de bateaux à vapeur et raffineur de sucre. Avant leur mariage, Aida était mariée à Oren Root IIII, fils d' Oren Root II et neveu d'Elihu Root. À New York, ils vivent au 455 57e Rue Est. Après vingt ans de mariage et une séparation de trois ans, ils divorcent en 1947.

Breckinridge se marie pour la troisième et dernière fois le 27 mars 1947 avec Margaret Lucy Smith (1913–2011), fille de l'horticulteur John Raymond Smith de Gloucestershire, en Angleterre. Ensemble, ils vivent au 67-38B 190th Lane à Fresh Meadows (Queens) et sont les parents d'une fille, Madeline Houston Breckinridge.

Breckinridge décède à l'hôpital St. Vincent de New York le 2 mai 1960.

Parcours électoral
Élection au Sénat de New York, 1934

 Royal S. Copeland (démocrate, titulaire) - 2 046 377 (55,34 %)
 Ernest Harold Cluett (républicain) - 1363440 (36,87%)
 Norman Thomas (socialiste) – 194 952 (5,27 %)
 Max Bedacht (communiste) - 45 396 (1,23%)
 Henry S. Breckinridge (constitutionnel) - 24241 (0,66%)
 William Sheafe Chase (Law preservation ) - 16 769 (0,45%)
 Olive M. Johnson (Parti ouvrier socialiste d'Amérique) - 6 622 (0,18 %)

Élection présidentielle américaine de 1936 (primaires démocrates)

 Franklin D. Roosevelt (titulaire) - 4 830 730 (93,19 %)
 Henry S. Breckinridge - 136 407 (2,63%)
 Upton Sinclair – 106 068 (2,05 %)
 John S. McGroarty - 61391 (1,18%)
 Joseph A. Coutremarsh - 39730 (0,77%)
 Al Smith – 2 974 (0,06 %)
 Charles Coughlin – 2 854 (0,06 %)
 John Nance Garner – 108 (0,00 %)
 William Borah - 87 (0,00%)

Références

Liens externes

Étudiant de l'université de Princeton
Personnalité du Parti démocrate dans l'État de New York
Personnalité politique américaine du XXe siècle
Étudiant de la faculté de droit de Harvard
Escrimeur aux Jeux olympiques d'été de 1928
Escrimeur aux Jeux olympiques de 1920
Avocat américain du XXe siècle
Naissance en mai 1886
Décès en mai 1960
Pages avec des traductions non relues

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


It includes a context manager, translate(), that offsets all position-related calls.
Multiple calls to color() and bkcolor() with the same values are ignored, saving time in the C FFI bridge.
Inside this context manager, all put/print calls are offset by the given amount. If you nest these, they stack.


Chip-In with a Tax-deductible Contribution to Expand Solidarity Brigades to 50 Cities!
Our network of Backbone Solidarity Brigades across the country is growing and doing more amazing actions than ever! A Backbone Solidarity Brigade is an autonomous but coordinated tactical squad, equipped with artful activism tools and props to deploy in service of local and national causes.
Backbone provides resources and support where needed and local teams run their own actions independently. Once they report back, their work is posted onto Backbone's Recent Actions blog. This page is constantly updated so it's an active stream of what's happening in the Backbone network!
This takes a LOT of coordinating and a LOT of gear. Please chip in what you can to help support these teams and expand this incredible Solidarity Brigade network! If you can't help financially but are excited by this idea contact us about joining or starting a Solidarity Brigade near you!
* Thank YOU for supporting this work. Donations are processed by the Backbone Campaign located in Vashon, WA. Backbone Campaign is registered with Washington State's Charities Program as required by law and additional information is available by calling 800-332-4483 or visiting www.sos.wa.gov/charities.


Reporters Without Borders (RSF) urges France's legislators not to sacrifice press freedom to security concerns in the bill to "reinforce counter-terrorism and domestic security" that the National Assembly's Legal Committee will begin discussing today.
Measures appropriate to a state of emergency would become a permanent feature of French life under this proposed law, which would put national security above all other considerations and would jeopardize civil liberties, including the freedom to inform.
RSF calls on the Legal Committee's members to ensure that journalists are able to continue working and protecting the confidentiality of their sources. The Paris-based NGO sent its recommendations on this bill to the Legal Committee at the end of last week.
Every democracy has to strike a balance between freedom and security but this bill, which the Senate approved on 18 July and which begins its committee stage in the lower house today, clearly puts security before the protection of rights and freedoms. Several of its provisions would undermine the ability of journalists to work freely and protect the confidentiality of their communications and sources.
Many human rights groups have criticized the bill. They say it would institutionalize suspicion, would limit the role of judges in protecting rights, and would target "behaviour" – forms of existence and expression – rather than actual crimes. They also argue that its focus on "threats to security and public order" and on "defending and promoting the nation's fundamental interests" goes much further that what is needed to combat terrorism.
As a result of all these concerns, many organizations that defend human rights and fundamental freedom, including RSF, are pressing France's legislators to reinforce the bill's safeguards for rights and freedoms.
The bill endangers press freedom by allowing surveillance, searches and other intelligence-gathering methods that, if applied to individual journalists, could prevent them from working or could limit their ability to protect their communications and sources, and therefore to conduct thorough, confidential investigations into sensitive subjects.
Any persons "entering into regular contact" with individual terrorists or terrorist organizations could, under the bill, be the subject of a judicial order confining them to the municipality where they live, forcing them to wear an electronic bracelet and forcing them to terminate all contact with these individuals or organizations.
But journalists specializing, for example, in covering Jihadi networks have every right to contact individual terrorists or terrorist organizations for the purpose of research and information-gathering and in order to satisfy the need to get opposing views and reflect the adversary's worldview.
As the bill's wording lacks clarity, it would be hard to ensure that such "regular contact" would not be used as grounds to place a journalist under surveillance. Because of the vague and subjective nature of such terms as a person's "behaviour" and "serious grounds for suspecting" a threat, journalists could be placed under surveillance although engaged in the normal and legitimate activity of gathering information on matters of public interest.
RSF therefore urges legislators to ensure that the law makes an exception for those in regular contact with terrorists in the course of "practicing a profession whose purpose is to inform the public" – the same exception that exists in article 421-2-5-2 of the criminal code on regular visits to terrorist websites.
The bill's article 4 on searches also poses a problem. It says searches cannot be conducted and material cannot be seized in "places designated for the practice of professional journalistic activities." But this does not suffice to ensure that the homes of journalists could not be searched on the grounds of their "behaviour" or regular contact with terrorists.
Journalists could have confidential documents, including information about their sources, in their homes. If homes can be searched and computers can be seized, journalists cannot protect the confidentiality of any of their sources, whether or not these sources are suspected terrorists. The police could use a journalist's contacts with a terrorist as grounds for searching their home and taking their computer, and could thereby get access to all the information they have gathered in the course of their reporting, and to all their sources.
RSF therefore urges legislators to include specific safeguards on searches of journalists' homes. Above all, a judge must supervise such searches and ensure that the investigation respects the journalists' freedom to exercise their profession, does not violate the confidentiality of their sources, and does not constitute an unwarranted obstruction or delay to the publication of information.
Press freedom and the confidentiality of sources are also threatened by the bill's provision for monitoring wireless networks "not involving an electronic communications operator." This could include wireless intranets, private networks, a news organization's network, and the public WiFi on a train. These intelligence-gathering methods are permitted in the same way as they already are in the intelligence law adopted in July 2015, which RSF condemned at the time.
The long list of "fundamental national interests" that can justify surveillance and interception, the lack of prior control by a judge, and the complete inadequacy of the safeguards for journalists would make it very easy for the intelligence service to discover who journalists are in contact with. The confidentiality of their sources would be no more than an illusion under this bill, as it is already under the 2015 intelligence law.
These provisions could even obstruct the work of NGOs such as RSF. The grounds for surveillance include protecting "leading foreign policy interests." So, if RSF organized a demonstration in Paris during a visit by a foreign president, as it has in the past, its wireless communications could be intercepted.
Reinforcing the procedural safeguards against abusive surveillance is therefore essential. In particular, prior control by a regular court judge should be incorporated into this proposed law, as it should into the 2015 intelligence law.
This proposed law should also include solid procedural safeguards preventing or strictly regulating any surveillance of journalists in connection with their work. Similarly, no surveillance of news organization intranets or wireless networks used solely by journalists should ever be possible.


Porches is the new offering from talented singer-songwriter Robinson Treacher, highlighting the place where great music has taken place all through the ages...or at least as long as there have been porches.
A foot stomping or a hand clapping might suffice in a pinch, and Robinson demonstrates the beauty of the rawer elements while also allowing glimmers of a more refined production shine through as well. Folk and Country are close cousins to Rock and Soul and Robinson enjoys the interplay while creating a clear impression with his great songwriting and vocals.
Mark Ambrosino and I are at it again...working hard to find that magic moment where emptiness actually fills musical space. Check out some of the demos from the upcoming EP "Porches"...By the way...love to hear some feedback from the listeners!
Robinson Treacher's debut album recorded at The Madhouse studio...engineered and co produced by Mark Ambrosino. These songs...the first eight written by Robinson as a solo artist, touch on various musical styles...from soul to rock to folk to blues...exemplifying Robinson's eclectic fascination with multiple genres. Powerful and passionate, each song stands strong in its individual timelessness.


Overview: The existing experience of the Detroit Superior Bridge is widely-varied. It ranges from frightening dark corners to dull repetition to breath-taking views. Flux Space capitalizes on the areas of the bridge that are already dramatic and enhances the areas that are less engaging.
Rather than analyzing the bridge as one linear space, Flux Space breaks down the bridge segment by segment. Emotional mapping of existing conditions determines that while the overall experience of the bridge is varied across its span, a wider variation and intensity of experience is necessary to engage and entice repeat visitors. Thus, through several iterations of diagrammatic mapping, a final emotional sequence is established and the five design principle are formed. Each of the five design principles are established to illicit a particular emotional response amongst visitors. According to the final emotional sequence, each segment is assigned a design principle. The five design principles are weave, shelter, preserve existing, re-engage with context, and embrace structure.
When each segment is designed according to its design principle, and the segments vary across the bridge's span, an emotionally engaging experience is created that perpetually subverts visitors' expectations.


Lawrence Leung drops by the desk to tell us everything you need to know about the Chinese New Year. It's the Year of the Pig, so what does that mean? Also, Pete thinks he knows a thing or two about how the whole Lunar New Year works.