Are the exotic new dangers of Pathfinder: Mummy's Mask worth the hassle?
It's been a while since I've rooted around in an actual Pathfinder Adventure Card Game box. Four and a half years, to be exact. Oh, I've played plenty since then. Obsidian's videogame version is a spot-on transliteration that's arguably better than the tabletop version for how it streamlines out all the fussing with cards, and dice, and rules exceptions, and cards, and cards, and table space, and more cards, and cards that have to be kept just so, and cards, and looking up the rules, and also a whole bunch of cards. On the PC, all that stuff purrs quietly under the hood while you flip virtual cards, and huck virtual dice, and level up your characters as smoothly as if you were playing Diablo.
I say this videogame version is arguably better. But the operative word is "arguably".
The argument in favor of the tabletop version is that Pathfinder has come a long way in the three adventures sets since Rise of the Runelords, none of which have been ported yet. Oh, sorry, did I lose you? It can be confusing, so here's the overview. In 2014, a game designer named Mike Selinker came up with a cool idea for an ongoing co-op/solitaire RPG in which characters are represented by decks of cards. These characters explore locations, also represented by decks of cards. But the players carefully build their character decks. The locations, on the other hand, are randomly generated from a larger collection of cards. This larger collection evolves over the course of successive adventures. Publisher Paizo gave it the Pathfinder license and a franchise was born. The first set was called Rise of the Runelords. A $60 box got you started. Then you needed five $20 add-ons to play through to the finale. Since then, there have been three more sets, each a $60 box with $100 of add-ons lined up behind them. Mummy's Mask, the fourth in the series, is the latest.
One of the advantages of Mummy's Mask is how neatly the wrinkles in Rise of the Runelords have been ironed out. It was easy to get tripped up on timing issues, ambiguous phrasing, or contradictory text. There was so much information piled up in tiny text on so many different cards. It had the flow and feel of a cool new idea struggling to be born.
Mummy's Mask still has the flow and feel of a cool new idea, but it also has the sheen of a game that's been iterated for five years. The rules book is a lot of dense text that could use an index and glossary, but it's written with care and clear intent. Lessons have obviously been learned. Complications are anticipated and resolved. My experience with Mummy's Mask is that any rules issues are resolved by checking the text more closely.
As far as shiny new features, the most immediately apparent is the setting. As you can infer from the title, we're in ancient Egypt by way of the usual D&D stuff. Gnoll/hyena bandits and giant scorpions prowl the hostile desert among the lightning storms, acid pools, and quicksand. Instead of a tavern and town square, there is a hookah bar and oasis. The merchant is a caravanserai. The weapons are khopeshes instead of longswords, chakrams instead of throwing axes, and something called a hunga munga. Your allies are weird ancient egyptian dogs, a mummified cat, and characters with exotic Arabic names. There are embalmers, tomb raiders, swarms of scarab beetles, and jackals. You're lost in the desert chasing a mirage. A mad djinni tries to burn down a town. You have to carefully fight a rival party of adventurers without desecrating an ancient crypt and angering the local priests. By the time you're through the base set, something is going on down in these crypts. Something undead. Something probably mummy.
Sure, a lot of it is just an exotic reskinning. The same game concepts, with new names and new artwork (so much lovely new artwork!). But for me, the mythology of the African, Arabic, and Persian deserts is always a welcome change of scenery. The Tomb Kings in Total War: Warhammer 2, the rich history and whimsical fantasy in Assassin's Creed: Origin, the lush Path of Fire add-on for Guild Wars 2, Clarus Victoria's hieroglyphic Egypt: Old Kingdom strategy game, the pyramid-delving tongue-in-cheek rogue-like Immortal Redneck, city builders with character like Pharaoh and Children of the Nile. Adventures in fantastical deserts have been exciting for me since at least the early 90s, when Dungeons & Dragons got its Dark Sun campaign. Actually, earlier than that. What is Dune if not adventures in fantastical deserts? Bring on the Denis Villeneuve movies! Bring on the exotic reskinnings!
Of course, there's new gameplay as well. If Mummy's Mask is your entry into the Pathfinder games, it won't register as new. But if you're a Pathfinder aficionado, or even just a dilettante like me, the biggest change you'll notice is triggers. An important part of Pathfinder's gameplay is examining cards in location decks without actually drawing and resolving them. By peeking before you draw, you get to set up which character deals with the card. You want your rogues to disable traps, your warriors to fight monsters, your cleric to deal with the undead, and so on. When you're drawing cards blindly, you can't guarantee threats will line up with their solutions. But when you examine a card first, you can bring to bear the specificity of different cards and characters. That bonus against fire monsters might seem awfully limited when you can never be sure if you're going to draw a fire monster. But it's great when you get to peek at a fire monster before you draw it. Now you can bring over the guy with the bonus against fire monsters.
This has been an increasingly important part of Pathfinder since Rise of the Runelords. But Mummy's Mask introduces a new card trait called trigger. When a card has the trigger trait, it fires off some special power when it's examined. This adds a new layer of danger. It gives certain monsters a latent lurking power. It makes traps feel more like traps. Now the decision to examine can be a difficult choice instead of a given. It also adds a sense of "there but for the grace of random draws go I." If you draw a card with a powerful trigger ability — as opposed to examining it first — you ignore the trigger ability. So when you bypass some insidious trigger, it's like discovering the tripwire before you walk into it. It's like sneaking up behind a monster lying in wait. Ambushing the ambushers. Triggering is one of those welcome new layers that I would miss if I went back to the earlier sets.
Curses are also new. Mummy's Mask can apply persistent disadvantages in ways other than simply knocking cards out of a character's deck, which is how damage is applied. When a character is afflicted with a curse, a card sits face-up next to the character, applying some sort of disadvantage. The possibility of these curses is always hovering overhead. They're part of the new setting. They're in the air, so to speak. They start out fairly mild. The curse of poison, for example, applies whenever you can't mitigate poison damage. Now, whenever you draw a new hand, you have to put back one random card. The poison curses can stack, too. If you get too careless, you might find yourself drawing your full hand of five cards and getting just what you want, but having to randomly put two of the cards on the bottom of your deck. No, not that one! I needed that one!
The curses hang over each scenario as you progress through the base set, and later the add-ons. You can tell from the list to roll random curses they're going to get increasingly dire. Poison is inconvenient. Daybane is a little more inconvenient. Ravenous can trip you up on longer scenarios. But what about blindness? Withering? Curse of the Mummy? What are those? Whatever they are, they can't be good.
With the new trigger and curse systems, you might think Mummy's Mask is simply harder. But that's not the case. It's important to point out that these are manageable systems and not just arbitrary beatdowns. Just as it can be gratifying to do an end run around a trigger ability, it can be gratifying to have your cleric draw Remove Curse at just the right time. You'll be glad you saved that special loot item to remove a curse instead of spending it to modify a die roll. Curse insurance. And the triggers aren't just "gotchas!" They're also a way to more quickly search through location decks. So these systems don't just make the game harder. They make it broader. For every new threat, there are ways to deal with it. And that's ultimately what Pathfinder is all about. How to I deal with this threat when I draw it? How do I work my way through this location deck, and then through these other location decks, trying to find the objective? Triggers and curses are simultaneously obstacles and opportunities. That's true of any good gameplay system.
Mummy's Mask also flexes one of the gameplay systems that felt underused in Rise of the Runelords. All cards have multiple traits. In the original game, many of the traits on a card were useless in the early part of the adventure. So what if one thing was resistant to cold and another thing was resistant to fire when you were probably just going to kill it with a sword? It would be a while before that stuff would matter. But in Mummy's Mask, these trait keyword are an integral part of how cards interact. Elements like fire and acid matter early and often. Poison is a constant threat. A new trader system lets characters buy cards between scenarios, which allows more flexibility to adapt to different situations, which are often a matter of specific traits. The Sunburst Market is especially useful for letting you just grab a particular card you might want to add to a character's deck. You can only use it for the low-level cards, but some of the scenarios and character builds are so specific that a low-level card can be more powerful than whatever elite magic item you discovered somewhere along the way. Sometimes you just want a camel to get you around, or a magnifying glass for deck management, or a remove curse spell to get rid of pesky afflictions, or a lightning touch spell to compliment your shock lizard. Come on down to the Sunburst Market!
Since I haven't kept up with the playable characters added since Rise of the Runelords, I'm not sure which are new in Mummy's Mask. I only recognize one of them and he's got a totally different set of abilities. The base game includes seven characters. A $20 character pack (that's another $20 above the $60 base set and the five $20 adventures) adds four more. Pathfinder gets a lot of its replayability from the asymmetry among these characters. They all have different kinds of decks, they all break the rules in various ways, and they all have multiple upgrade paths. Playing through an adventure with different characters changes half of the equation. The cards you encounter might be familiar. The monsters, the traps, the loot, the locations, the bosses. But the dynamics of each player character are unique.
This is another aspect of the design that's come a long way. I don't recall any counterpart to the elf alchemist with special rules for potions, the seer with her late husband's ghost as a sidekick, the orc cleric's ability to smash through traps with righteousness, or the mage with her arsenal of different staves like a duffle bag of assault rifles. They all feel very different from what I've played in Rise of the Runelords. And those are just the four I'm playing. Looking through the other characters just makes me want to try them instead. An oracle who can just sweep away curses, pretty much subverting the whole curse system? A warrior who gets to double-team monsters while the other characters are fighting them? An occultist who can invoke any ability at any time? Any ability! It's crazy. Something called a kineticist — I'm pretty sure they made up that word — who cycles her cards crazy fast to power magical attacks? Why didn't I choose these guys? I want to play these guys! Okay, maybe not the rogue who reduces electrical damage. She looks terrible. They can't all be winners.
Mummy's Mask also course corrects a few features from earlier add-ons. There was something called cohorts, which sound like persistent NPC sidekicks. They're gone and I can't say I miss them because I never even had them. But I don't mind minimizing the number of persistent cards stacking up on my character as I play. I'm happy to reserve that annoyance for curses, which are already intentionally annoying. Also gone is the d20, which added nothing but a wider expanse of wiggle room to the randomness. A lot of Pathfinder is playing your cards to add dice to a challenge to roll a target number or higher. When the target number is a meaningful challenge, it's usually in the 10 to 15 range. I figure out the dice I need by tallying up the middle number on each die. A d6, a d6, and a d8 will get me an 11. So if the target number is 11, I'll want to pile on maybe another d6 or a +2 modifier to be safe. But once you throw a d20 into the mix, estimates suddenly have 10 points of latitude either way. That's gone and I can't say I miss it, even though I've never had it. To my mind, the d20 is a pointless abomination. The closer a die gets to being a sphere, the less I want anything to do with it. The closest Mummy's Mask gets to a sphere is the d12. That I can work with.
But even with these nifty new features, I can't say the overall Pathfinder experience has changed much. It's still a game about deck management, card synergies, and die rolls. The context is almost always hunting through location decks to find the one card that will win the scenario. It's still a campaign experience that offers that delightful element of surprise as you move on to new adventures that open new boxes and add new cards to the collection. It's still the agonizing choice over which cards to take and which to put back in the box, because a character's deck size and composition is ruthlessly limited. It's still that one time you would have won if you hadn't rolled a one and you rolled a one. It's still a whole lot of shuffling, and assembling decks, and breaking down decks, and then assembling more decks, all the while shuffling, shuffling, shuffling. A clockwork collection of cards, with endless shuffling instead of gears.
I actually don't mind all the shuffling. It's a lot of trouble, but it's part of the experience. It's the procedural conjuring of your particular adventure, drawn from the cards that form this world, stored by type in that oversized — frankly, cavernous — box. The stuff of this reality will coalesce into the hookah bar, oasis, and caravanserai. Will you find a khopesh or a chakram this time? Will a weird jackal/dog called a dhabba help you, or will a genie attack you? Or both? No computer is deciding for you. You did it all. You put the cards in the box. Your hand drew them out. Your hand shuffled. The soft riffle is like an orchestra tuning up.
After playing the Obsidian videogame version, I thought I'd never want to go back to the considerable hassle of the tabletop version. But after playing through the base set of Mummy's Mask, I realize I was wrong. And not just for all the shiny new stuff. Card management can be an integral part of a game in the same way dice rolling can be an integral part of a game. Playing is only part of what you do. Collecting, shuffling, and sorting, the fundamental verbs of card play, are the overworld. It's not like other games. It's not just getting the pieces out of the box, and then putting them back into the box. It's literally worldbuilding. The taxonomy of this fantastical approximation of ancient Egypt is literally in your hands. As a tabletop game, you don't just play Pathfinder. You curate it.
If you'd like to see how Mummy's Mask plays, here's a video of me playing through one of the scenarios, Tomsplaining as I go.


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GlucoMe and Merck partner in a new digital diabetes management project
diabetesAsiaDigital healthMerck
By Catherine Sturman . Aug 23, 2018, 4:59AM
Digital diabetes platform provider GlucoMe has entered into a pilot collaboration agreement with Merck KGaA to evaluate GlucoMe's digital diabetes platform across several hospitals in Vietnam.
Diabetes is impacting over 5% of the country's global population, housing one of the highest and fast-growing rates of diabetes in Southeast Asia, Saigoneer has reported.
"In Vietnam, the prevalence of diabetes is growing at alarming rates and has almost doubled within the past 10 years. Currently, it's estimated that one in every 20 Vietnamese adults has diabetes. In addition, the number of people with a pre-diabetic condition is three times higher than those with diabetes," the World Health Organisation has stated.
One of the reasons for these large numbers is the lack of resources and capacity to diagnose, monitor and treat diabetes at local community health centres. As such, patients must travel long distances to reach district, provincial or national level hospitals for treatment and follow-up appointments.
The project is scheduled to begin this month, where the companies will look at the advantages of GlucoMe's digital diabetes care against the current standard of care in the country.
The GlucoMe platform encompasses affordable wireless blood glucose and insulin pen monitors that uniquely operate with audio connectivity; a mobile app compatible with iOS and Android devices; a Digital Diabetes Clinic, which includes a cloud-based diabetes management software for healthcare professionals; a Control Tower, which prioritises urgency based on real-time patient data; and a Decision Support System, which analyses the history of data and provides medical teams with treatment recommendations.
Johnson & Johnson sells its diabetes business for $2.1bn
FDA accepts new medical device harnessing AI to detect diabetic retinopathy
Novo Nordisk to invest $65mn into diabetes care manufacturing site expansion
"The collaboration will evaluate the advantages and acceptance of GlucoMe's digital diabetes care system in a country with a vast diabetes patient population, which today faces a significant lack of resources to effectively manage their condition," explained Daniel Ruggiero, Global Head of Diabetes Strategy at Merck's biopharma business.
"We have been impressed by the connectivity and simplicity of GlucoMe's solution, allowing physicians to make data-driven decisions while providing patients with stripped down, easy-to-use devices that are automatically connected to their smartphones. GlucoMe's platform has the potential to trigger an overall paradigm shift in the treatment of diabetes in Vietnam and across emerging markets, through the help of cutting-edge technology. Innovation in the treatment of diabetes is a key pillar of our global strategy and this is a clear example of how technology can significantly improve the quality of care.
GlucoMe's solution will initially be installed at five hospitals, and patients will use GlucoMe's wireless blood glucose monitor to measure their blood sugar levels at home. The clinical data will be synced through GlucoMe's mobile app and analysed by its Digital Diabetes Clinic and its Control Tower alert system. This will enable medical professionals and their staff to continuously monitor patients and intervene more efficiently and effectively. It will also help medical teams prioritise and identify severe and urgent cases for timeliest intervention.
"Digital diabetes care has particular value for countries with high prevalence but with limited resources for monitoring and treating the condition. We are happy to be the first on the scene where a digital diabetes care solution is crucially needed," added GlucoMe CEO Yiftah Ben-Aharon.
"We intend to work our way around the world with the goal of modernizing diabetes care for the benefit of patients, medical teams and payers."
USADigital healthHealth technology
CVS Health launches a new pilot programme to combat diabetes in underserved areas
Oct 17, 2018, 6:56AM
Following on from the Department of Justice's approval of the $69bn mega merger of CVS Health with health insurance company, Aetna, CVS Health is set to undertake a pilot programme in the Tri-Cities area of Atlanta, Georgia.
"In our new
Following on from the Department of Justice's approval of the $69bn… Read more
USAFDAdiabetes
IDx gains $33mn in Series A funding
Sep 27, 2018, 10:06AM
Leading AI diagnostics company IDxis a on a mission to transform the quality, accessibility, and affordability of healthcare. Founded in 2010 by a team of world-renowned clinician scientists, the company remains focused on developing clinically-aligned autonomous algorithms that detect disease in medical images.
Leading AI diagnostics company IDxis a on a mission to transform the… Read more
OncologyDigital healthdiabetes
Four ways in which Watson is transforming the healthcare sector
Deepak Kumar .
Watson Analytics, which was initially developed as a pure question and answer (QA) computing system, has evolved dramatically with the advantage of cloud technology, improved machine learning and hardware capabilities.
Implementation of Watson Analytics in healthcare has significantly revolutionised the sector by assisting both
Watson Analytics, which was initially developed as a pure question… Read more

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Vicki Holmes, Digital Manager at Multiplex Construction is our next industry specialist to take part in our 'In conversation with…' series. Vicki told us about her enthusiasm for dissecting BIM, looking for the "whats" and the "whys" to increase productivity and achieving better outcomes.
I work on digital strategy, contracts and legal, and the development of digital skills centrally for Multiplex. This includes working with our pre-con team on tenders and process, our legal team on the development of contracts, and the learning team on creating and rolling out sustainable and effective learning plans for our employees.
My main aim within Multiplex is to simplify and standardise as a first approach, so that the more complicated processes and procedures have a solid foundation to be built upon.
To me BIM means increased precision and knowledge. Once a model becomes a trusted source of information at the centre of a project environment, information is available quickly and with accurate context. This allows a project team to make faster and more informed decisions.
We implement this on all of our new projects by educating our teams to use and to trust the models and the data available to them, and most importantly, to interrogate it. BIM and digital construction should raise more questions than it answers initially, bringing to light potential inaccuracies and problems earlier and at a stage where fixing them is less costly in terms of both time and money. Our projects are based on simple but effective data sets, which Multiplex procure, develop and continually audit throughout our projects. This then leads to longevity in our solutions, clarity in our process and training, and a steady base for innovation to be developed upon.
I barged blindly in to the world of BIM from a Document Control role about five years ago. With a background in Contract Management and Information Management, but little to zero knowledge of construction, I found the potential for change and development within the industry pretty exciting and I wanted to be a part of that journey. I asked a lot of questions, often along the lines of, "but, why?" and I learned quickly and enthusiastically because I'd finally found a job that I wanted to invest in. Coming from a non-traditional background allowed me to objectively observe and comment, and I am a strong believer that diversity leads to better outcomes which is why I am an advocate for welcoming software developers and data managers, and people with a range of other skills, in to our industry to keep the disruption happening and to constantly change and evolve the way that we think (and build).
I'm the eternal optimist when it comes to BIM and digital construction. I think that simplicity and clarity are key, and I honestly believe that if I can understand it then anyone can. I'll be telling the story of how "I can't do this" became "I can't NOT do this", and discussing the human element within this digital revolution. "BIM Bubble" is my term for our safe place; this area of the construction industry in which we all understand each other and stick together. I broke my way in, and I broke my way out. I'd like to share the story of what I've learnt with you.
The flashy stuff like VR and AI are great, but I still can't help being impressed by the huge development in the basics of modelling and simulation, allowing us to virtually build before we physically build. That's what impresses me most – when the attention to detail and the care in data management means that even before any technical add-ons we can use accessible tools such as Synchro and Navisworks to simulate the construction and intricately interrogate the design and potential operation of a building. The environmental and health and safety impacts of that alone are fantastic: less waste, more logistics planning and an overall better understanding of our construction environment for precision management.
I think offsite manufacturing and virtual mock-ups will be seen more and more from 2019 onwards. In cities such as London where space is a costly and scarce commodity, we'll be looking to produce as much as we can inside a cheaper rent space, testing the installation with activity simulation using detailed virtual mock-ups of our projects. Taking a lot of this work away from site should have a direct positive affect on health & safety, waste management and noise and air pollution around areas of dense construction, to name but a few. However, the bigger the jigsaw pieces, the bigger the problems if they don't all fit together at the crucial point, which is why I think we will rely even more on virtual testing to greater and greater detail to increase predictability and efficiency.
Vicki's seminar, 'Breaking out of the BIM Bubble' will take place at 11.00am on Thursday 28 February.


Millions of Americans found health care through the Affordable Care Act, including more than 150,000 in Alameda County — and many now fear that they will lose it once President Trump officially slashes "Obamacare." To make matters worse, the Republicans have yet to settle on a replacement plan, which has patients with pre-existing conditions on tenterhooks — including Bonnie Smith, who works as a tutor in Oakland and has no health insurance through her job.
Before the ACA passed in 2010, Smith (the Express is using a pseudonym to protect her privacy) relied on a free clinic in San Leandro for her diabetes treatment. And accessing care at that clinic was no easy feat.
With Covered California, she acquired a regular doctor, as well as care in a specialty clinic. But she's worried that, once the ACA is repealed, she and others won't be eligible for insurance, because "we've disclosed all our pre-existing conditions," she explained.
"It's not like we can sweep them back under the rug. They're in our medical records. So, if we lose the provision on pre-existing conditions, a lot of us are screwed," she said.
Smith described the uncertainty as stressful — which is amplified by the fact that the Trump administration doesn't yet have a backup plan in the wings.
"If you knew when you got into office you were going to repeal Obamacare, why didn't you have a plan ready to go?" she asked.
Specifically, more than half of the states that chose to accept federal money to expand Medicaid are now under Republican governorships, which makes it politically tricky for the GOP to pull back on Medicaid expansion.
Yet the Medicaid Expansion program, or MCE, will likely take the first hit when the ACA is gutted, according to Rebecca Gebhart, interim director the Alameda County Health Services Agency. The MCE brought medical coverage to more than 100,000 people in Alameda County alone.
"The county spent five years staffing up and building up to accommodate the increased patient load," Gebhart explained. Now, if the MCE program is cut, patients will still use clinics, emergency rooms, and hospitals — but the providers won't be reimbursed.
"It will be a complete disaster," Gebhart said.
Data from the Kaiser Family Foundation show that 26 percent of California residents are on either Medicaid or the Childrens Health Insurance Program. MediCal funds not only reimburse providers, but they also contribute significantly to the state's economy, so there would be a ripple effect via lost jobs and spending.
Chan explained that, with the proposed new block grants, "the devil's in the details." She says we need to know more on the size of the grant, and whether it's based on population, and what happens if only some states want to accept the grants.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration appears to want to have its cake (by cutting "Obamacare") and eat it, too (by permitting kids to stay on parents' employer-based insurance until age 26 and retaining the pre-existing conditions clause — both popular features of the ACA).
College students such as those at UC Berkeley will be covered regardless of changes in the ACA, according to Kim Lapean, communications manager at the University Health Center. The UC system's Student Health Insurance Plan, or SHIP, program is "better than platinum" ACA coverage, she said, and it includes vision and dental care, as well as the standard medical coverage.
Some UC students complain, however, that getting kicked off their parents' plan and paying for school coverage will be a lot more expensive — $1,306 per semester for undergraduates, and $2,073 per semester for graduate students (although many grad students get those costs covered).
That said, UC Berkeley is the only college in the area that offers a health-care plan of any sort. The Peralta Community Colleges and Cal State East Bay have a few student health services on their campuses, but no health insurance plan.
As for the pre-existing conditions clause, prior to the ACA, more than 52 million Americans had pre-existing conditions that made them uninsurable, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study.
Gebhart said that problem in keeping just the 26-year-old and pre-existing conditions aspects of "Obamacare" is that insurance is made affordable by the individual mandate (i.e., the ACA rule that all individuals must obtain health insurance). And without a mandate, the other pieces don't work. "It's the backbone of Obamacare, and the Republicans want to repeal it," she explained.
Without subsidized premiums under the ACA, low-income Californians would not be able to buy insurance on the state exchange.
Gebhart noted that "64,000 Alameda County residents are enrolled in Covered California." Their insurance coverage will be unchanged for the rest of 2017 — but, again, the future is in limbo.
If the ACA disappears, some former low-income recipients may become eligible for HealthPAC, a county program that covers some of the uninsured. But "others will simply show up in hospital emergency rooms," Gebhart said — costing the public and private sectors hundreds of millions of dollars.
Some immigrants in the Bay Area are so worried about President Trump's forthcoming immigration policy, however, that they're opting out of federally funded health-care coverage such as MediCal anyway, both Gebhart and Chan confirmed.
Gebhart told the Express that she's heard Trump's order might try to force governments to turn over patient Medicaid data to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Because of this, "some [patients] are trying to disenroll from MediCal, because other family members are undocumented," she explained.
The county has responded by putting up posters in its clinics, advising patients that they will continue to see everyone, regardless of immigration status.
Chan also confirmed that she's heard a similar rumor of an upcoming "public charge" order, which would subject any non-citizen who uses public benefits to deportation.
Amid this uncertainty, insurance companies have a deadline to submit their applications for the 2018 ACA marketplace by May 3 of this year. Some are exiting the markets. Others are hedging their bets by raising premiums even higher.
As a solution, some Republicans have suggested returning to high-risk pools as a way of insuring people with pre-existing health problems. In the past, these insurance instruments had partial public funding, but were said to be fraught with problems, including costly premiums and long waiting lists. Many could never afford the premiums, while others even died while waiting for coverage.
Republicans have also suggested health-savings accounts, which offer tax advantages to those with high incomes, but have not benefitted the rest of the population.
Chan rejected both of these solutions. "Health-savings accounts don't work; people went to the hospital and found out all this stuff wasn't covered," she explained. As to high-risk pools, she said "very few people could afford them." She dismissed the GOP's health-care solutions as unworkable for millions of people.
Alice Feller is a news and investigations intern with the Express. She's also a journalism student at Laney College and former managing editor of the award-winning Laney Tower. Feller is also a practicing physician in the East Bay.
We fought back with humor, even silliness, at the march.


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Dapagliflozin, used to treat diabetes, can also treat heart failure in patients with and without diabetes (the DAPA-HF Study, published in The Lancet)
Please note unusual embargo: 13:15H Barcelona time Thursday 19 September
Dapagliflozin, a drug that is already used to successfully treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prevent development of heart failure, can also be used to treat pre-existing heart failure, even in patients without T2D.
These are the conclusions of research presented at this year's Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) in Barcelona, Spain (16-20 September), and simultaneously published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). The study is by Professor John McMurray, Professor of Cardiology at the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK, and colleagues.
"The most important finding of all is the benefit in patients without diabetes," explains Professor McMurray. "This shows dapagliflozin is truly a treatment for heart failure and not just a drug for diabetes."
Heart failure occurs when the heart is no longer able to pump blood around the body as well as it should. In patients with heart failure, the percentage of blood pumped out by the left ventricle per heartbeat (called the ejection fraction) goes down. Certain conditions, such as coronary artery disease (narrowed arteries in the heart) or high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently. The prevalence of heart failure in people with T2D is around double than in the general population without diabetes.
Dapagliflozin is one of the relatively new class of diabetes drugs called Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Previous studies have shown that SGLT-2 inhibitors not only help control blood sugar levels, but can also improve a number of cardiovascular outcomes, including promoting weight loss, reducing blood pressure and reducing the risk of cardiovascular mortality.
Dapagliflozin has already been proved to reduce the risk of developing heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this new study, the investigators analysed whether the drug could also be used to treat patients with T2D in whom heart failure had already developed (established heart failure), and also heart failure in patients without type 2 diabetes.
The trial (the DAPA-HF study) enrolled 4,744 patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction in 20 countries, of whom 45% had T2D, and 55% did not have T2D. Patients were randomly allocated to either dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily or matching placebo. The primary endpoint was a combination of a first episode of worsening heart failure (hospitalisation for heart failure or an urgent heart failure visit requiring intravenous therapy) or death from cardiovascular causes.
The treatments in the study were given on top of standard care: 94% received an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker or angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor; 96% took a beta-blocker; and 71% took a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (all these are drugs that reduce hospital admissions and death rates in heart failure, thus this new study was adding dapagliflozin or placebo to the currently best-available therapies).
The researchers found that, over a median follow-up of 18.2 months, the primary outcome occurred in 386 of 2,373 patients (16.3%) in the dapagliflozin group and in 502 of 2,371 patients (21.2%) in the placebo group, translating to a 26% reduced risk in the dapagliflozin (hazard ratio [HR] 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.65–0.85; p<0.00001). The results were similar in the groups with T2D (HR 0.75 / 25% reduced risk) and without T2D (HR 0.73 / 27% reduced risk).
The components of the primary outcome were also analysed separately. A total of 237 patients (10.0%) receiving dapagliflozin and 326 patients (13.7%) receiving placebo experienced a first episode of worsening heart failure, thus showing a 30% reduced risk in the dapagliflozin group (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.59–0.83; p<0.00004). And 227 (9.6%) and 273 (11.5%), respectively, died from cardiovascular causes, meaning an 18% lower risk in the dapagliflozin group (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.69–0.98; p=0.03). All-cause mortality was reduced by 17% (HR 0.83, 95%CI 0.71-0.97; p=0.22). Symptoms, as assessed by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire were also improved (p<0.001).
Regarding side effects, 178 patients (7.5%) in the dapagliflozin group had an adverse event related to volume depletion (which can cause dehydration, low blood pressure and fainting) compared to 162 (6.8%) in the placebo group, with no significant difference between groups. Adverse events related to kidney dysfunction occurred in 153 patients (6.5%) in the dapagliflozin group versus 170 patients (7.2%) in the placebo group, with no significant difference between groups. Major hypoglycaemia and lower limb amputation and fracture were infrequent and occurred at similar rates in the two treatment groups.
Professor McMurray says: "Adverse events rarely required the discontinuation of treatment. There was no notable excess of any serious adverse event in the dapagliflozin group."
He concludes: "The trial shows that dapagliflozin reduces death and hospitalisation, and improves health-related quality of life, in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction, with and without diabetes. The clinical implications are potentially huge – few drugs achieve these results in heart failure and dapagliflozin does even when added to excellent standard therapy."
For access to NEJM paper, please click here
Selected media coverage
BBC News (international)
Medscape (international)
Medpage Today (international)
Nursing Times (international)
Share This Press Release
Preterm birth linked to increased rates of diabetes in children and young adults, with certain effects stronger in females
New study reveals a strong link between vitamin D deficiency and increased mortality, especially diabetes-related deaths
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text:
HomeMoviesFeature Opinions
MoviesFeature Opinions
Wenwu: Did Marvel give its Best ever Antagonist in Shang Chi?
By Kashish Chadha
The newly released Shang Chi is doing the rounds among Marvel fans, not for the protagonist, but for the antagonist- Wenwu. Why? Here is your answer.
Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is another masterwork of Marvel Studios. Other production companies involved are Fox Studios Australia and Walt Disney Pictures. Just hitting the theaters in India with a bang on 2nd September, it has already seen huge success. It is based on Marvel Comics with a big cast. The cast consists of more than 10 actors and Marvel lovers are loving the film. Shang Chi is a famous martial arts master. Simu Liu has magnificently played his character.
Shang Chi finally needs to confront his past after returning to the Ten Rings organization. Tony Leung who plays the character of Wenwu known as Xu Wenwu had discovered ten rings many years ago. These are mystical weapons with godly powers like immortality and others. In his quest to conquer more areas, he reaches a forest that is magical and meets Ying Li. These two give birth to Xialing and the master Shang Chi. He then holds the organization for family time. Then Shang Chi goes through rigorous martial arts training.
How Wenwu fits in the Marvel world?
He is both a powerful conqueror and an estranged father. Leaving his heart-loved organization to be with his family and returning to train Shang Chi can be seen as a father figure deed. Throughout the film, we explore his various faces.
From being the immortal hero who can do anything to conquer more power, to providing ruthless training to Shang Chi, and to an expression of romance and an antihero, he has been all. No matter how we may perceive him as being the father who has taught his son to be an assassin since childhood, he still receives a lot of sympathy from the audience.
The viewers are able to strike an immediate emotional attachment with the character. Tony Leung has been an eminent figure in the Hong Kong movie industry. The portrayal of pure emotions through a calm and relaxed face instantly connects the viewers. The teary eyes and powerful acting leaves a mark in every aspect. The character he plays outshines in every phase of the film.
You might also love: 11 Marvelous Action Fantasy Movies that mesmerized audience
Wenwu: The Best Sympathetic Antagonist
Marvel has done justice to this skillful actor by presenting Wenwu's story allying wonderfully with Shang Chi. We experience his different phases throughout the film, as he is first seen as the lover of power.
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Ta-lo, the village known to provide a way to the divine world is his last stop. He is then held up there. There is a realization of his wife, making the scene high in sexual intensity. Then there are the flashbacks of how they both had left the village and were happy, leaving behind the ten rings. The tragedy strikes when his wife, Ying Li is murdered by a rival group. After this Wenwu has to return to power. The incident had left a big mark on him and here he is seen as the utmost villain as he seeks revenge. Seen filling his children with the same poisons he leaves them with a scarred childhood.
They both couldn't handle it and ran away, only to reunite in adulthood and remember the past. This puts Wenwu somewhere in between a mourning husband, not a good dad, and a powerful and revengeful mystical conquer.
Similar read: 9 similar movies like 300 you would love
The eyes are performers themselves
His eyes are the best part of his acting, expressing every little detail of sadness and the feelings of loneliness. Leung's hooded eyes, which regularly reveal the seething emotions underneath his calm exterior, and his flawless jawline, which appears to have been carved by the angels, When they sat at the dinner table, his eyes could tell how much he missed them and resented them for their mother's sudden death.
In China, he's known as "The Man Who Can Speak With His Eyes," a tribute to his ability to communicate via his gaze. It's a skill Leung has now been perfecting since his debut movie. He first appeared in Hou Hsiao Hsien's Taiwanese drama "A City of Sadness," in which he portrayed a deaf and dumb man who could only connect using his face.
Eyes that quiver at the family dinner, being unable to express how really he has missed them and just how much he still loathes them for his wife's murder. As an evil power persuade Wenwu to think his dead wife is locked beyond a gateway guarded by Ta-Lo as a punishment for having a relationship with him, his eyes grow laser-focused. Simu Liu with his four facial expressions had no chance.
You might also love: 9 Wonderful movies like Knives Out you don't want to miss
The Heartfelt Self-Sacrifice
As Wenwu plans to destroy Ta-Lo, we can understand that his plan is only a manifestation of his suffering, living without his wife. Shang Chi understands that he needs to go back to the training he has escaped to stop his father from carrying out his vicious plan. Though we can see that Wenwu is not considered a good father but in his heart, he feels lonely and misses his children.
Losing his wife and then his children running away had left him in a lot of despair. Marvel has shown us many villains, strong and charismatic but absolutely evil. The evil bits and pieces have a deep-rooted emotional attachment here. Shang Chi's plan of killing his father obviously doesn't go well. Here Wenwu's self-sacrifice for his son makes him an antihero, a villain leaving with a powerful message.
Similar read: Alice in Borderland – Think twice before you get out of your house
An impressed fan
The majority of the antagonists the superheroes face are either just like the protagonist, but wicked or they have a sort of has a purpose, but love Killing. Wenwu is in the center here, but he has one foot elevated since he possesses Tony Leung's charm. I am sure all the Marvel fans who went into this movie knew nothing about Wenwu. But coming out, he becomes one of your favorite characters in the MCU big bad lineup.
Trending today: Netflix announces its Holiday Movie Lineup for 2021. Check this out!
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Kashish Chadhahttp://movque.com
A long-lost writer, catching up with her doctor's degree, Kashish Chadha is a fun-loving person. Creating content is more than just a hobby for her, while academically she is currently pursuing Dentistry.


Sunday and it's nice and around 68 degrees - very Spring-like, but it is not going to stay that way it will be nose diving back down into the 40's this week.
Just beautiful Kathy and I love how you used that sweet image, great way to build up the whole page!
So very pretty and the image is just adorable.


First Round – Each Parcel will be auctioned singularly and the high bids and bidder numbers will be recorded. We will then take a short recess to give everyone a chance to review the bids.
bidder numbers will be recorded. This is the Last time Parcels 1 Thru 6 will be offered, and the high bidders on those parcels at the end of this round will be the Buyer(s). For Parcels 7 & 8, Naturally, the higher they are singularly, the less chance of the parcels selling in combination.
*** A good point to remember! At the end of this Round, we will take a minute so that the High Bidders on Parcels 7 & 8 may decide whether they want to raise there bids or not, to keep them from selling in combination.
Combination: Auction Properties 7 & 8 will be offered in combination, and this will be done by taking the High Bids of both properties at the end of the First Round, adding the prices together, and then adding $3,000 to the total, and at that price, the bidding may open. If the bidding opens, it may continue from there and the high bid and bidder number will be the purchaser; If the bidding does not open, the High Bidders on the properties at the end of the First Round will be the purchaser(s).
Please don't be confused by the offering of the combination. It will be fully explained at the Auction, and any questions will be answered. Note: Don't Be Afraid. Sometimes the Parcels sell in singularly and sometimes in combination. No two Auctions are alike! Get in the place you want to be. Make Sure You Are Satisfied!


text:
package com.sportsboards2d;

import android.app.ListActivity;
import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.AdapterView;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.EditText;
import android.widget.ListView;
import android.widget.AdapterView.OnItemClickListener;

//This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
//it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
//the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
//(at your option) any later version.
//
//This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
//but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
//MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
//GNU General Public License for more details.
//
//You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
//along with SportsBoards2D.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

public class SaveForm extends ListActivity{

	@Override
	public void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState){

		 super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
		 setContentView(R.layout.saveformation);
		 String[]list = getIntent().getStringArrayExtra("list");
		 setListAdapter(new ArrayAdapter<String>(this, android.R.layout.simple_list_item_1, list));
		 ListView lv = getListView();
		 lv.setOnItemClickListener(new OnItemClickListener(){

			@Override
			public void onItemClick(AdapterView<?> arg0, View v, int position, long id) {
				setResult(position, null);
				SaveForm.this.finish();
			}
		 });
	}

	public void saveClicked(View v){
		Intent intent = new Intent();
		EditText name = (EditText) findViewById(R.id.enter_form_name);
		intent.setType(name.getText().toString());
		setResult(1, intent);
		SaveForm.this.finish();
	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Okay, you guys don't get any more guesses as to what the arts and crafts junk is for.
This is a hand-sewn prototype of the Dina Dino Hat. Our roommate Jessica's sewing machine cord went missing, and since she felt so guilty about that putting a damper on our grand late-night hat-making plans, she put our prototype parts together the slow way. It definitely wouldn't hold together very long, but it holds together long enough to take a photo and show it off.
I'm thinking on the real one, I make the teeth a little more cutesy and less dagger-like.
Hmmmm, what can this pile of fleece and felt be for?
1) Put a hole in a box. 2) Put those prints in that box.
So check this out. I ordered them online a week or so back from a very nice place that is not Kinko's, and they arrived today. 17″x11″ artwork printed out on card stock gloss. It's amazingly nice. I am serious. It's as nice as my artwork can possibly look! They're so nice that I kinda want to frame one myself, but man that'd be kinda douchey.
If you want an unobstructed-by-afternoon-lighting look at the artwork, click on through here to my DeviantArt account. And to own it, it's available in the Shortpacked! Store! for $15 and shipping. It'll come to your mailbox nicely rolled up in a tube.
Did you know I started out ten years ago selling limited prints for $25? And now they're ten bucks less, twice as big, and a hojillion times better quality. Progress is grand!
More love for Dina, from artists and bees alike! This one's by Jason Meador, otherwise known as that guy who drew my AnimeFest 2010 badge. He's pretty awesome.
The cuteness of the hat compels you! And what it compels you to do is draw fanart, judging by this drawing of Dina by the infamous John Troutman. But just because Dina's having a good time doesn't mean her hat has to be! It's so, so put out.
Ruth owned last week's fanart, so can we get a little Dorothy in here? Yes we can, thanks to Starline! Go read her webcomic, Candi. It's about a pink-haired girl who totally also goes to college.
Want the last panel of Monday's comic, but bigger? Let's hope so, 'cuz here it is.


text:
Claudio Kirac: Surfing The Dream with SURF/BRAND
Aly Eveille
From the archives: This is from our original site, MyCityLife, posted back on 12 December 2014
Being the master of your own destiny is what Claudio Kirac lives by. The Gold Coast creative director has fused his passion for art with his love for the beach, creating a brand that embodies the Australian lifestyle. And two years since its inception, SURF/BRAND is going global.
While CK's career spans twenty years and includes a portfolio more expansive than the cosmos, his passion for art started as a kid and flourished as he left school. "I got a Diploma in Design working with computers – that's how I became a graphic designer." CK says. "Then I got into fashion and became involved with some well- known brands for about thirteen years. Right now I'm into photography and design, as well as The Art-Work Agency and SURF/BRAND."
It's taken a great deal for the artist to develop into a graphic designer and make a living as an all-around master of creativity, photographer, painter, illustrator, branding expert and public speaker. "It takes really hard work," CK points out. "I've got a strong support group of family, friends and my partner behind me, and it's special because they support me through work that isn't a normal job. I've been building my dream for a long time and I believe you have to be the master of your own destiny. You've got to live and die for your passion."
With business partner and craftsman Paul Bow by his side, CK has taken SURF/BRAND from a hobby of making hand planes for body surfing, to a quality goods and lifestyle brand that epitomises everything they represent. SURF/BRAND is about craftsmanship, hard work, travel and lifestyle, and it's wholly Australian – and made with love.
Since SURF/BRAND's launch in November 2012, its popularity exploded, extending from hand planes to soft goods, accessories and their limited edition and quality hand- crafted recycled luggage collections. However, they didn't want to initially start as a surf brand. "We were more about the art, culture and the traditional era of surfing," CK explains. "We were creating quality surf items. That ended up being the irony of SURF/BRAND so the name really just stuck. It's easy to see how the international market has latched onto SURF/BRAND hand planes, with demand outweighing supply as they export stock to Japan and Paris," CK recalls. "That's because the planes are made by surfing veterans who have done everything from sweep the factory floors to creating blanks, shaping boards and making the big decisions for some of the world's most recognised surfing brands.
"We produce everything in the planes," CK said. "We came from humble beginnings, and it was Paul's idea to polish it. But now we have purpose-built straps and deck pads made especially for the boards. The Australian Paulowina wood comes from trees from Coffs Harbour to Melbourne," CK reveals. "We're keeping the aesthetic of the brand – it really is genuinely Australian made," he affirms. "This is the Rolls Royce of hand planes."
Photo Credit: Corey Lovell
Previous articleRiverview Hotel Gets Visual
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Come on ladies, this is your chance to shine and make a final hey!!!!
Helen Robinson received a bye and will play Louise Williams or Ann Jones in the first semi final. First round to be completed by July 23rd please.
Thanks to all who entered and good luck.


Following on from the huge success of 2015's tour and recast for 2016, it's all down to Kellerman's end of season show. Revel in the moments you loved, the memories you made and music that's resonated throughout the years: She's Like the Wind, Big Girls Don't Cry, Hey Baby, Wipeout, Do You Love Me, Be My Baby, Hungry Eyes and, of course, the Oscar-winning (I've Had) The Time of My Life.
Don't be the one sitting in the corner. Immerse yourself in the timeless, theatrical treat. Take a trip back to the summer of '63, relive Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey's sizzling performance in the ultimate coming of age romance.
Please note this show is not affiliated with 'Dirty Dancing: The Classic Story on Stage' currently on tour in the UK and worldwide.


Be the EXCLUSIVE Networking Reception Sponsor for the WHOLE AUDIENCE (Consisting of BOTH the CyberHealth and Reputation Management audiences). You will have the opportunity to give a special welcome speech, have significant signage and distribute company branded materials such as cups, napkins etc. Be creative! The bar will also be set up near your booth area.


Looking for ideal Battery Forklift Rental Manufacturer & supplier ? We have a wide selection at great prices to help you get creative. All the Electric Forklift Pallet Truck are quality guaranteed. We are China Origin Factory of Electric Forklift Auction. If you have any question, please feel free to contact us.


Computaccounting, Accounting And Book-Keeping Services, listed under "Accounting And Book-Keeping Services" category, is located at Glenmore Road Minehead Somerset, TA24 5BQ, United Kingdom and can be reached by 643709900 phone number. Computaccounting has currently 0 reviews.
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FastDomain is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc.


Depression confuses the mind, strips away hope, and causes people to blame themselves for an illness they never asked for. This book presents a revolutionary new understanding of the concept of depression and offers readers skills and strategies to manage it.
No longer is this a one-size-fits-all diagnosis, and antidepressants are no longer the one-size-fits-all treatment. Mood disorders are now seen to form a spectrum of problems, from common depression on one end to full bipolar disorder on the other. In between these extremes are multitudes of people who are on the middle of the mood spectrum, and this book is for them.
The first part of the book helps readers answer the question, "Where am I on the mood spectrum?" By laying the foundation for understanding this spectrum, Aiken and Phelps highlight the key distinctions that define unipolarity, bipolarity, hypomania, mania, and depression. Readers will be able to discern which definition best fits their experience, and use this understanding to learn which treatment methods will work best.
The authors also empower readers to look beyond antidepressants. They walk readers through new medications for the mood spectrum, and offer a guide to non-medication treatments that anyone can use on their own, from diet and lifestyle changes to natural supplements. The book also discusses other innovative technologies that can aid in recovery, including dawn simulators, mood apps, and blue-light filters.
This thoughtful and beneficial book will offer readers skills and strategies, as well as hope, in the face of debilitating mental challenges.


text:
your worst 10 | Page 2 | Fab Forum
HomeFab ForumThe songsyour worst 10
your worst 10
Page: 12345
The Toppermost of the Poppermost
10 Worst? Mmmmmmmmm - I'm going to go with 10 least favorites – in no particular order.
The Long And Winding Road –Even though it is my least favorite I had to laugh the other day in my car. Radio in Maine is abysmal. While searching for something decent to listen to, I was getting frustrated. When I decided to try the light rock station (God help me) they were playing this song and I went, "YES!" I sang every word.
Mister Moonlight – John belts out an awesome opening, then…..
Birthday – Not a bad song really, I just hear it requested on the radio by every wasted boyfriend dedicating it to his equally wasted girlfriend. Have I mentioned yet that Maine radio sucks?
Honey Don't – I wish he didn't.
I Want To Tell You – I'm not a fan but I don't know why.
Good Night – Probably because, to me, it's the least Beatle sounding song.
Girl – see I Want To Tell You , above.
Revolution 9 – As George Harrison says, "Avant Garde a clue"
Sie Liebt Dich – I don't speak German.
Komm, Gib Mir Deine Hand – I don't speak German.
Yeah, the last 2 were weak - sue me.
To the fountain of perpetual mirth, let it roll for all its worth. And all the children boogie.
MrBig
Rapture, Atlantic Ocean
Zig said:
George was an oxymoron sometimes. Here especially, since he was the only other beatle to work on the song.
"The best band? The Beatles. The most overrated band? The Beatles."
Wow - that didn't take you long to respond. I've seen you list this one favorably before. What do you like most about it?
What they tried to do with it. I really admire how John tried to do something different and he nailed it. Also, it's awesome at points. You can also scare people with it. I locked my friend in a room with this on loop for 3 hours and he was sucking his thumb.
MeanMrsMustard
And you say I don't have a soul!
If I seem to act unkind, it's only me, it's not my mind that is confusing things.
...And yet (as I'm not the first to point out) George's first two "solo" albums were "Wonderwall" and "Electronic Sound ", both of them totally "out there". And obviously he was the only other Beatle to contribute to "Revolution 9 " and "What's The New Mary Jane", the two most outre efforts in the whole damn catalog.
Von Bontee said:
George The Hypocritical, eh?
MrBig said:
I know, right? Oh well, waddya gonna do?
Can't really blame him, though. Take a look at all of the "best" or "worst" threads in this Forum. I'll bet if everyone saw what they listed as their favorite Beatles album or song 3 months ago, they may be slightly different today. I'd even bet my house that if you asked me what my favorite Beatles album is every day this week, I'll give you seven different answers. People's musical likes/dislikes are usually fluid - what I liked at 13 is a lot different than what I liked at 14 or 15 or now at 46.
Beatles are no different. If George enjoyed dabbling in the Avant Garde, then woke up one day and thought - "ugh - what a load of garbage" - so be it.
So, was he hypocritical or did his feelings toward AG music/sounds/noise change? I dunno. Still an interesting discussion on how he could go from Avant Garde to Avant Garde a clue. Maybe others who know more about that situation can share.
I agree about how peoples fav song can change, my fav was Revolution #9 for a while now it's Within You Without You .
Within You Without You ? Are you out of your mind?
Just kidding – that is an awesome song. I love the instrumental version on Anthology. It gives me a chance to brush up on my George (Jawge) accent while singing along and driving.
….we wuh tawking..
uh bawt thuh spais be tueen us awll
Aw, shush. You sound like you've been to the dentist. Like Eric Clapton.
paulsbass said:
The Beatles never did anything I could bring myself to call "worst". "Least awesome" would be my term of choice.
"Revolution 9 " is not a song, nor music, nor art. It's just a mess, an ego-trip by two drugged up freaks in love, so it doesn't count for me.
1. Don't pass me by (looks as if Mr. Bigmouth and I can finally agree on SOMETHING! His other choices are… well…)
This is the weakest and most boring Beatle song in terms of melody and chord structure. Nice fiddle, but sorry Ringo, I like your other song much better.
2. I Want To Tell You - This is the one Beatles song where the harmonies are REALLY out of tune. Paul is DYING up there!
3. Dig it and
4. Maggie Mae – not real songs, but I have to come up with those to get to 10 songs.
5. You're gonna lose that girl – Not much to like about that one for me
6. You Like Me Too Much – Nice Wurlitzer, but that's it.
7. Tell Me What You See – Maybe Paul's least memorable one
8. You won't see me – Maybe the problem is it's position right before "Nowhere Man " with even more and better "Lalalas", but in this song the backing "Uuuuh-lalalas" are almost unbearable.
9. Sexy Sadie – Not much to like for me here
10. Matchbox - If covers count, this one is their weakest. Ringo's vocals are really not good.
To each his own, but let me comment on some other choices:
To name Tomorrow Never Knows or Helter Skelter or Strawberry Freaking Fields as their WORST songs is just – incredible.
No Mr. Moonlight?
I hate strawberry fields. Great poem, terrible song.
Paulsbass, you MURDERED MY SOUL! There are only three songs in that list that did not play a part in the destruction of my soul. Well, the naming of the songs, anyway. The songs themselves....
No, I never understood the hate for that song. Very soulful vocals by John and an interesting arrangement.
I don't like the slowed down vocals by John, but the arrangement is fantastic. Those trumpets and celli near the end – breathtaking.
The "Love" version may be the most uplifting musical experience of the decade for me.
The organ solo is hilariously bad. John's vocals are good though. I like the guitar too, the Organ solo just ruined it though.
Oh, the arrangement is great for it, the writing just ruins it. I like Ringo's little drum solo at the end.
emmybear
10. Octopus's Garden (ok, this one I'm still kind of debating actually )
9. Dig A Pony
8. Revolution 1
7. The 1st (and high-pitched) version of "Across The Universe "... IT DRIVES ME INSANE!!!!
6. I want you (She's So Heavy)
5. Don't Let Me Down (I'm just not a fan of them saying "Don't let me Down" 60-billion times or the whole beat of the song)
4. If I Needed Someone
3. Day Tripper (the subject matter....)
2. I feel Fine (eh, this one is one of those songs I like on certain days, but today it's NOT one of those days.)
1. The Ballad of John & Yoko. I absolutely HATE this song, mainly because it has Yoko in the title and I am not a fan of Yoko at all for various reasons (1. she can't sing at all 2. I kinda believe she ruined John and turned him into a hippie. I'm fine with people's beliefs but I think John was better Non-Hippie. Just My opinion though )
Sometimes I wish I had a big yellow submarine...
I thought they (The Beatles, BY) were hippies? But there probably is a distinction to be made between American and British hippies.
Ad hoc, ad loc, and quid pro quo! So little time! So much to know!
emmybear said:
Why If I Needed Someone ?
7. The 1st (and high-pitched) version of "Across The Universe "… IT DRIVES ME INSANE!!!!
3. Day Tripper (the subject matter….)
I just don't like the beat or the lyrics that much. And maybe because my uncle played it over and over and over again (8 times as a matter of fact) in his car when I was riding home with him and my cousin from a resturant
lol that was a fail Quote thingy
Currently Online: sigh butterfly, Richard


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text:
\section{Introduction}  In \cite{bux}, Bux and Wortman give a geometric proof that the group $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ is not finitely presented (nor is it of type $\text{FP}_2$).  They achieve this by letting the group act on a product of Bruhat--Tits trees.  In their introduction, they point out the following unsolved question:

\begin{enumerate}
\item[] Is $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})$ finitely generated?
\end{enumerate}

In this note, we prove that the answer is no.

\medskip

\noindent {\bf Theorem \ref{notfingen}}.  {\em The group $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})$ is not finitely generated}.

\medskip

We conjecture that Theorem \ref{notfingen} is true for all $i\ge 1$; that is $H_i(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})$ is not finitely generated for all $i\ge 1$.  Our method of proof suggests how one might prove this for all $i\ge 2$, but the method breaks down for $i=1$.  As a consequence, we would have that $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ is not finitely generated, an open question also mentioned in \cite{bux}.  For $n\ge 3$, however, Suslin \cite{suslin} proved that the group $SL_n({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ is finitely generated by elementary matrices.  The question of whether $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ is generated by elementary matrices is an open question.

We note also that in a recent preprint \cite{abramenko}, Abramenko has proved various interesting results about non-generation of $SL_2(R)$ by elementary matrices for a broad class of rings $R$.  The techniques he uses are similar and more general than what we use below, but do not apply to the ring $R={\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]$.

The main idea behind the proofs of this result is the following.  Let $F$ be a field.  The group $SL_2(F[t,t^{-1}])$ admits an amalgamated free product decomposition $$SL_2(F[t,t^{-1}]) \cong SL_2(F[t]) \ast_{\Gamma(F)} SL_2(F[t]),$$ where $$\Gamma(F)=\biggl\{ \left(\begin{array}{rr}
                                                                                a & b \\
                                                                                tc & d
                                                                                \end{array}\right) : a,b,c,d \in F[t]\biggr\}$$
(see e.g. \cite{knudson1}).  Consider the case $F={\mathbb Q}$.  Letting $P=SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \cap \Gamma({\mathbb Q})$, we show that the group $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ admits an amalgamated free product decomposition
$$SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])=SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \ast_{P} SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]).$$

A portion of the homology of $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])$ was calculated by the author in \cite{knudson2}.  In particular, it is not finitely generated in any positive degree.  Similarly, the homology of $SL_2(\fp[t])$ is not finitely generated in any positive degree, and a consideration of the commutative diagram
of Mayer--Vietoris sequence associated to the amalgamated free product decompositions of $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ and $SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}])$ yields Theorem \ref{notfingen}.

\medskip

\noindent {\em Acknowledgments}.  The author thanks Kai-Uwe Bux and Kevin Wortman for valuable comments about this manuscript.  Thanks are due also to Peter Abramenko for finding an error in a previous version and to Roger Alperin for pointing out \cite{krstic}.

\section{Amalgamated Free Products}\label{elementary}

Let $F$ be a field and consider the commutative diagram
$$\xymatrix{
\Gamma(F) \ar[r]^{j_1}\ar[d]_{j_2} & SL_2(F[t]) \ar[d]^{i_1} \\
SL_2(F[t]) \ar[r]^{i_2} & SL_2(F[t,t^{-1}])}$$
where $\Gamma(F)$ consists of those matrices in $SL_2(F[t])$ that are upper triangular modulo $t$, $j_1$ and $j_2$ are the standard inclusion maps, $i_1$ is the inclusion, and $i_2:SL_2(F[t])\to SL_2(F[t,t^{-1}])$ is defined by
$$i_2(A) = \left(\begin{array}{cc}
                   1 & 0  \\
                   0 & t
                   \end{array}\right) A \left(\begin{array}{cc}
                                                1 & 0 \\
                                                0 & t^{-1}
                                                \end{array}\right).$$
Using standard arguments for groups acting on trees (see e.g. \cite{serre}), one can prove that $SL_2(F[t,t^{-1}])$ admits an amalgamated free product decomposition
$$SL_2(F[t,t^{-1}]) \cong SL_2(F[t]) \ast_{\Gamma(F)} SL_2(F[t]).$$

Now consider the case $F={\mathbb Q}$ and let $P=SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\cap \Gamma({\mathbb Q})$.

\begin{proposition}\label{amalgam} There is an amalgamated free product decomposition
$$SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]) \cong SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \ast_P SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]).$$
\end{proposition}

\begin{proof} Let $H$ be the subgroup of $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ generated by $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])$ and $i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$.  Note that $$P=SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\cap \Gamma({\mathbb Q}) = i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\cap \Gamma({\mathbb Q}).$$ Indeed, $\Gamma({\mathbb Q})=SL_2({\mathbb Q}[t])\cap i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Q}[t]))$, so that
\begin{eqnarray*}
SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \cap \Gamma({\mathbb Q}) & = & SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\cap SL_2({\mathbb Q}[t])\cap i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Q}[t])) \\
                       & = & SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\cap i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Q}[t])) \\
                       & = & SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\cap i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])) \\
                       & = & i_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\cap \Gamma({\mathbb Q}).
\end{eqnarray*}
  By \cite{serre}, p.~6, the evident map
$$SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \ast_P SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \to H$$ is an isomorphism.  It remains to show that $H=SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$, but this follows easily from Theorem 3.4 of \cite{abramenko} by taking $R={\mathbb Z}[t]$, $\pi=t$.
\end{proof}

\noindent {\em Remark.}  Proposition \ref{amalgam} is true for any PID $R$, again by using Theorem 3.4 of \cite{abramenko}.

\section{Homology}\label{homology}
In this section, we prove the following result.

\begin{theorem}\label{notfingen} The group $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})$ is not finitely generated.
\end{theorem}

\begin{cor}\label{notfinpres} The group $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ is not finitely presented.
\end{cor}

\begin{proof} This follows from the fact that $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})$ is not finitely generated.
\end{proof}

\noindent {\em Remark.} Corollary \ref{notfinpres} was proved by Bux and Wortman \cite{bux} using group actions on trees and also by Krsti\'c and McCool \cite{krstic} by more elementary group theoretic means.  In fact, any subgroup of $GL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])$ containing the subgroup of elementary matrices is not finitely presented.

\medskip

\noindent {\em Proof of Theorem \ref{notfingen}}.  Consider the map
$$\pi:SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}])\toSL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}])$$
induced by the map ${\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]\to {\mathbb F}_2[t,t^{-1}]$ which reduces coefficients modulo $2$.  To prove the result, it suffices to show that the image of $$\rho_*:H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})\to H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})$$ is not finitely generated.

Consider the commutative diagram of Mayer--Vietoris sequences
$$\xymatrix{
H_2(P;{\mathbb Z})\ar[r]\ar[d] & H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]);{\mathbb Z})\oplus H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]);{\mathbb Z})\ar[r]\ar[d] & H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})\ar[d] \\
H_2(\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2);{\mathbb Z})\ar[r] & H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]);{\mathbb Z})\oplus H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]);{\mathbb Z})\ar[r] & H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]);{\mathbb Z})}$$
The author provided a partial calculation of the homology of $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])$ and $SL_2(\fp[t])$ in \cite{knudson2}.  We must refine those, however, to prove the result.

For a ring $R$ denote by $B(R)$ the group of invertible upper-triangular matrices over $R$.  We have an amalgamated free product decomposition
$$E_2({\mathbb Z}[t]) \cong SL_2({\mathbb Z}) \ast_{B({\mathbb Z})} B({\mathbb Z}[t])$$ which yields a short exact sequence, for all $i\ge 1$,
$$0\to H_i(B({\mathbb Z})) \to H_i(SL_2({\mathbb Z}))\oplus H_i(B({\mathbb Z}[t])) \to H_i(E_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\to 0.$$  The homology of $B({\mathbb Z})$ is easily calculated using the Lyndon--Hochschild--Serre (LHS) spectral sequence associated to the extension
$$0\to {\mathbb Z}\to B({\mathbb Z})\to {\mathbb Z}^\times \to 1;$$ the result is
$$H_i(B({\mathbb Z})) \cong \begin{cases}
                         {\mathbb Z} & i=0 \\
                         {\mathbb Z}\oplus{\mathbb Z}_2 & i=1 \\
                         {\mathbb Z}_2 & i\ge 2.
                         \end{cases}$$

The homology of $B({\mathbb Z}[t])$ is a bit more complicated.  Again, we consider the LHS spectral sequence associated to the extension
$$0\to t{\mathbb Z}[t] \to B({\mathbb Z}[t]) \stackrel{t=0}{\to} B({\mathbb Z}) \to 1.$$  This sequence has $E^2$-term equal to
$$E^2_{p,q}= H_p(B({\mathbb Z}),H_q(t{\mathbb Z}[t])) = H_p(B({\mathbb Z}))\otimes H_q(t{\mathbb Z}[t]),$$ the latter equality following from the fact that $B({\mathbb Z})$ acts trivially on $t{\mathbb Z}[t]$.  The lower-left corner of this looks as follows
$$\begin{array}{|ccc}
\bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb Z}[t] &                   &                                \\
t{\mathbb Z}[t]    & t{\mathbb Z}[t]\oplus {\mathbb Z}_2\otimes t{\mathbb Z}[t] & {\mathbb Z}_2\otimes t{\mathbb Z}[t]  \\
{\mathbb Z}       &   {\mathbb Z}\oplus{\mathbb Z}_2     &   {\mathbb Z}_2    \\ \hline
\end{array}$$
Since the group $E^2_{2,1}={\mathbb Z}_2\otimes t{\mathbb Z}[t]$ is torsion, and $E^2_{0,2} = \bigwedge^2 t{\mathbb Z}[t]$ is torsion-free, the differential $d^2:E^2_{2,1}\to E^2_{0,2}$ is the zero map, and since all differentials coming from the bottom row vanish (since the extension is split), the lower-left corner of the $E^2$-term is that of $E^\infty$.  It follows that $$H_2(B({\mathbb Z}[t])) \cong \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb Z}[t] \oplus t{\mathbb Z}[t]\oplus t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \oplus {\mathbb Z}_2.$$
Putting this into the short above exact sequence above yields
$$H_2(E_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\cong \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb Z}[t] \oplus t{\mathbb Z}[t]\oplus t{\mathbb F}_2[t].$$

Now consider the same calculation for $SL_2(\fp[t])\cong SL_2(\fp) \ast_{B({\mathbb F}_2)} B({\mathbb F}_2[t])$.  Since ${\mathbb F}_2^\times$ is the trivial group, we have $B({\mathbb F}_2)\cong {\mathbb F}_2$.  It follows that $H_i(B({\mathbb F}_2)) = H_i({\mathbb F}_2)$, $i\ge 0$.  For ease of computing the map on homology induced by the map $E_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\toSL_2(\fp[t])$, we use the LHS spectral sequence associated to the extension
$$0\to t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\to B({\mathbb F}_2[t]) \stackrel{t=0}{\to} B({\mathbb F}_2)\to 1$$ to compute homology.  We find that
$$H_2(B({\mathbb F}_2[t])) \cong \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \oplus {\mathbb F}_2\otimes t{\mathbb F}_2[t].$$  Putting this into the short exact sequence, we obtain
$$H_2(SL_2(\fp[t])) \cong \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \oplus {\mathbb F}_2\otimes t{\mathbb F}_2[t].$$

\medskip

\noindent {\em Remark.}  Note that the preceding calculations are really just spectral sequence presentations of the K\"unneth formula.  Indeed, since the extensions used are split and the actions of the quotients on the kernels are trivial, the groups $B({\mathbb Z})$ and $B({\mathbb Z}[t])$ are {\em direct} products of the factors involved. This implies the direct sum decompositions for the $H_2$-groups, which would not follow automatically otherwise.  We have presented it this way, however, because of the necessary use of spectral sequences which follows.

\medskip

The naturality of all the spectral sequences involved (or, equivalently, the naturality of the K\"unneth formula) allows us to deduce that the homology homomorphism induced by $E_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\to SL_2(\fp[t])$ is as follows:
$$\xymatrix{
H_2(E_2({\mathbb Z}[t])) & = & t{\mathbb Z}[t]\ar[d]_{\text{mod}\,2} & \oplus & \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb Z}[t]\ar[d]_{\text{mod}\,2} & \oplus & t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\ar[d]  \\
H_2(SL_2(\fp[t])) & = & t{\mathbb F}_2[t] & \oplus & \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t] & \oplus & 0}$$  Since this map factors through $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$, we conclude that $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$ is not finitely generated.
Denote by $u_i$ the image of the element $t^i\in t{\mathbb Z}[t] \subset H_2(E_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$ in $SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])$, and by $v_{jk}$ the image of the element $t^j\wedge t^k\in \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb Z}[t]$.  Then the $u_i$ and $v_{jk}$ generate an infinitely generated subgroup of $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$.

Let us now turn our attention to the computation of the homology of $SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}])$.  To this end, we must compute the homology of the group $\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2)$ consisting of those matrices in $SL_2(\fp[t])$ which are upper-triangular modulo $t$.  We have the split extension
$$1\to K({\mathbb F}_2) \to \Gamma({\mathbb F}_2) \stackrel{t=0}\to B({\mathbb F}_2)\to 1,$$ where $K({\mathbb F}_2)$ consists of those matrices which are congruent to the identity modulo $t$.  Let $C$ be the subgroup of $K$ defined by
$$C=\Biggl\{\left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & tp(t) \\ 0 & 1 \end{array}\right): p(t)\in F[t]\Biggr\}.$$  For each $s\in{\mathbb P}^1(F)$, set
$$m(s) = \begin{cases}
            \left(\begin{array}{cc} 1 & 0 \\ s & 1 \end{array}\right) & s\ne\infty \\
            \left(\begin{array}{cc} 0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \end{array}\right) & s=\infty.
            \end{cases}$$
Then we have a free product decomposition (see, e.g. \cite{knudson2}) $$K= \ast_{s\in{\mathbb P}^1(F)} m(s)Cm(s)^{-1}.$$  In the case of $F={\mathbb F}_2$, there are only three factors, corresponding to $0,1,\infty$, and the homology of $K$ decomposes as a direct sum of three copies of that of $C$, say
$$H_k(K) = M_0^k \oplus M_1^k \oplus M_\infty^k,$$ where each $M_i^k = H_k(C)$.  The LHS spectral sequence for computing the homology of $\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2)$ has $E^2$-term
$$E^2_{jk}= H_j(B({\mathbb F}_2),H_k(K)).$$  To compute these terms, suppose $k\ge 1$ and note that we have another spectral sequence with $E^2$-term
$$E^2_{pq}=H_p({\mathbb F}_2^\times,H_q({\mathbb F}_2,H_k(K))) \Rightarrow H_{p+q}(B({\mathbb F}_2),H_k(K)).$$  If $p>0$, these terms vanish since ${\mathbb F}_2^\times$ is the trivial group.  When $p=0$ we obtain
$$H_0({\mathbb F}_2^\times,H_q({\mathbb F}_2,H_k(K))) = H_q({\mathbb F}_2,H_k(K)) = \begin{cases}
                                                           H_q({\mathbb F}_2,M_0^k) & q>0 \\
                                                           M_0^k \oplus M_\infty^k & q=0,
                                                           \end{cases}$$
the latter equality following from Shapiro's Lemma, since the action of ${\mathbb F}_2$ on ${\mathbb P}^1({\mathbb F}_2)-\{0\}$ is transitive and the stabilizer of $\infty$ is trivial, and ${\mathbb F}_2$ acts trivially on $M_0^k$ (for more details, see \cite{knudson1}).  From this we deduce that
$$H_i(B({\mathbb F}_2),H_k(K)) = \begin{cases}
                           M_0^k\oplus M_\infty^k & i=0  \\
                           H_i({\mathbb F}_2)\otimes M_0^k & i>0.
                           \end{cases}$$

Now, to calculate the low-dimensional homology of $\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2)$, we return to the spectral sequence:
$$\begin{array}{|ccc}
M_0^2 \oplus M_\infty^2 &  {\mathbb F}_2\otimes M_0^2  &                                \\
M_0^1 \oplus M_\infty^1 & {\mathbb F}_2\otimes M_0^1 &   0 \\
{\mathbb Z}       &   {\mathbb F}_2     &   0    \\ \hline
\end{array}$$
Since the differentials starting on the bottom row vanish, and no other differentials affect $E^2_{0,2}$ and $E^2_{1,1}$, we have the following
\begin{eqnarray*}
H_2(\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2)) & = & 0 \oplus {\mathbb F}_2\otimes M_0^1 \oplus M_0^2\oplus M_\infty^2  \\
                 & = & 0 \oplus t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \oplus \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\oplus \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t].
\end{eqnarray*}

It remains to calculate the map $H_2(\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2))\to H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]))\oplus H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]))$ in the Mayer--Vietoris sequence for computing $H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$.
The domain consists of elements of the form $(x,p\wedge q,r\wedge s)\in t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \oplus \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\oplus \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t]$.  The target consists of two copies of $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb F}_2))\oplus t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \oplus \bigwedge\nolimits^2 t{\mathbb F}_2[t]$.  Of course, one of these copies is twisted by the isomorphism $i_2$, and $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb F}_2))=0$.  Taking this into account the map in question is
$$(x,p\wedge q,r\wedge s)\mapsto (x,p\wedge q + r\wedge s, x, p\wedge q + tr\wedge ts).$$  It follows that $H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$ is not finitely generated (a fact proved by Stuhler \cite{stuhler}), and that the image of the map
$H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]))\oplus H_2(SL_2(\fp[t])) \to H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$ contains a copy of $$t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\oplus t{\mathbb F}_2[t]/\{(x,x):x\in t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\},$$ which is not finitely generated.

Finally, consider the commutative diagram
$$\xymatrix{
H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\oplus H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\ar[r]\ar[d] & H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))\ar[d]^{\rho_*} \\
H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]))\oplus H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]))\ar[r] & H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))}$$
We have the elements $u_i\in H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$ which map to $t^i\in t{\mathbb F}_2[t]\subset H_2(SL_2(\fp[t]))$.    Let $\alpha_i$ be the image of $u_i$ in $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))$ under the map induced by the inclusion $i_1:SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t])\to H$.  Then the $\alpha_i$  map to a non-finitely generated subgroup of $H_2(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$.  It follows that the group $H_2(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))$ is not finitely generated. \hfill $\qed$

\section{Remarks}\label{remarks}

The proof of Theorem \ref{notfingen} suggests the following conjecture.

\begin{conj} For all $i\ge 1$, $H_i(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))$ is not finitely generated.
\end{conj}

Note that, with careful bookkeeping, it should be possible to compute $H_i(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$ for all $i\ge 1$.  The spectral sequences for computing $H_i(SL_2(\fp[t]))$ are rather complicated, though, and one suspects it would be a tedious calculation.  The same is true for $E_2({\mathbb Z}[t])$. Still, it is evident that all the pieces are not finitely generated and so one suspects the same is true for $H_i(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))$ and $H_i(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$.

The argument breaks down for $i=1$, however.  We have a commutative diagram
$$\xymatrix{
H_1(P)\ar[r]\ar[d] & H_1(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\oplus H_1(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))\ar[r]\ar[d] & H_1(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))\ar[r]\ar[d] & 0 \\
H_1(\Gamma({\mathbb F}_2))\ar[r] & H_1(SL_2(\fp[t]))\oplus H_1(SL_2(\fp[t]))\ar[r] & H_1(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))\ar[r] & 0}$$
The bottom row is
$$0\to {\mathbb F}_2[t]\oplus t{\mathbb F}_2[t] \to H_1(SL_2({\mathbb F}_2))\oplus {\mathbb F}_2[t]\oplus H_1(SL_2({\mathbb F}_2))\oplus {\mathbb F}_2[t] \to H_1(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))\to 0$$ and we see that $H_1(SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}]))$ is finitely generated (indeed, the group $SL_2(\fp[t,t^{-1}])$ is finitely generated).  In \cite{knudson2}, the author showed that $H_1(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$ contains an infinite rank free abelian group orthogonal to the image of $H_1(E_2({\mathbb Z}[t]))$ (which is also not finitely generated).  Also, the group $P$ fits into a sequence $$1\to U\to P\stackrel{t=0}{\to} B({\mathbb Z})\to 1$$ with $U\subset K=\ast_{s\in{\mathbb P}^1({\mathbb Q})} m(s)Cm(s)^{-1}$.  The Kuro\v{s} Subgroup Theorem \cite{kuros} implies that $U$ is also a free product of subgroups of the $m(s)Cm(s)^{-1}$ and a free group.  This calculation seems hopelessly complicated, however, and so we leave the question of the finite generation of $H_1(SL_2({\mathbb Z}[t,t^{-1}]))$ unanswered.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


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Sobol leads Devils into state play
Old Forge quarterback James Sobol accounted for 192 yards and 4 touchdowns in the first half Friday night as the Blue Devils, ranked first in the state in Class A, stormed into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament by pounding visiting Belmont Charter, 55-14, in the District 1-2-12 Subregional championship game.
PennLive.com has Old Forge ranked first in the state. The Blue Devils (10-0) advance to host Williams Valley, which defeated Tri-Valley, 28-13, in the District 11 championship game.
Sobol did all his passing and running in the first half when the Blue Devils took a 41-6 lead, setting up the entire second half to be played under the Mercy Rule. He was 6-for-10 for 104 yards and 3 touchdowns passing while carrying 8 times for 88 yards and a touchdown.
Old Forge led 20-0 with 4:25 still remaining in the first quarter and 55-6 going into the fourth quarter.
John Greenfield opened the scoring on a 1-yard run that was set up by Casey Holzman's 42-yard run.
Holzman later scored on a pass and run along with intercepting a pass in the end zone on the game's final play.
Ethan Tallo returned a punt 24 yards to the Belmont Charter 8 and Hezekiah Deitz scored from there on the next play. Sobol threw the first of his three touchdown passes, covering 24 yards to Andrew Bartnikowski for the 20-0 lead.
Sobol went 13 yards for his rushing touchdown and a 28-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Belmont Charter finished the first half 2-for-13 passing with 2 interceptions, but it did connect with a 75-yard touchdown pass after Sobol's touchdown run.
Old Forge came right back with Sobol hitting Mario Samony for a 44-yard touchdown. He added a 4-yard pass to Holzman for the 35-point halftime lead.
On a night when seven different Old Forge players had touchdowns, Holzman became the only Blue Devil to score twice when he ran 48 yards for a touchdown less than three minutes into the second half.
Keory Berrien's 5-yard run made it 55-6 heading to the fourth quarter.
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Delaware Valley-Hazleton Area: https://nepasportsnation.com/machado-kizis-team-for-clincher-as-delaware-valley-continues-surge/.
Valley View-Berwick: https://nepasportsnation.com/valley-view-shuts-out-berwick/.
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