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Justia › US Law › Case Law › Federal Courts › District Courts › New York › Southern District of New York › 1976 › Schmieder v. Hall
Schmieder v. Hall, 421 F. Supp. 1208 (S.D.N.Y. 1976)
US District Court for the Southern District of New York - 421 F. Supp. 1208 (S.D.N.Y. 1976)
421 F. Supp. 1208 (1976)
Kurt SCHMIEDER, Plaintiff,
Louis H. HALL, Jr., as Preliminary Executor of the Estate of Helen B. Dwyer, Defendant.
No. 69 Civ. 1939.
United States District Court, S. D. New York.
*1209 *1210 Werner Galleski, New York City, Berg & Duffy, Lake Success, N. Y., for plaintiff, by James P. Duffy, III, Thomas A. Illmensee, Thomas F. Werring, Lake Success, N. Y., of counsel.
Turchin & Topper, Martin, Obermaier & Morvillo, New York City, for defendant, by John S. Martin, Jr., Morton J. Turchin, New York City, of counsel.
WHITMAN KNAPP, District Judge.
This six year old diversity action was tried without a jury on June 30 and July 1, 1976. Plaintiff Kurt Schmieder, a citizen of the Federal Republic of Germany, seeks to impress a constructive trust upon certain property of the estate of the late Helen B. Dwyer. The defendant Louis Hall, Jr., an attorney, is the executor and a principal beneficiary of the Dwyer estate.
In essence, the plaintiff claims that there was a gentlemen's agreement to return to him at some future time certain property which was transferred unconditionally and absolutely to Mrs. Dwyer in 1938. Plaintiff alleges that he was defrauded by Mrs. Dwyer who, he maintains, was acting on behalf of Louis Hall, Sr., the father of the present defendant, and the attorney who drafted all of the relevant documents relating to the transfer of the property.
The defendant, who is being sued in his capacity as executor of the Dwyer estate, vigorously denies the plaintiff's allegations. He contends that there were no such gentlemen's agreement, and that the gift to Mrs. Dwyer was, in fact, unconditional and absolute. Furthermore, the defendant claims that any interest that plaintiff may have had in the property was cut off in 1948 when his property was vested by the Alien Property Custodian pursuant to the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. App. § 1 et seq.
After carefully considering all the testimony, depositions, and documents submitted in this case, we find for the defendant on both the above grounds, and, accordingly, dismiss the plaintiff's complaint.
The crucial events in this rather unique litigation occurred almost forty years ago, in 1938, when Helen Dwyer became the recipient of an "irrevocable and unconditional" gift of property, the beneficial owner of which had been plaintiff Kurt Schmieder. Moreover, in order to fully understand these events it is necessary to discuss occurrences which date back as far as World War I. Not surprisingly, with the exception of Schmieder, the principal protagonists in this dispute Louis Hall, Sr., William Graupner, and Helen Dwyer are all deceased.[1]
*1211 During Word War I, property owned by Schmieder's father was seized by the United States Government pursuant to the Trading with the Enemy Act. 50 U.S.C. App. § 1 et seq. In 1928, as his father's sole heir, Schmieder received the return of an amount equal to eighty percent of the value of the property seized. Shortly thereafter, Schmieder devised a scheme to evade legitimate German property taxes on the money thus returned to him.[2] The evidence indicates that he divided the returned property into two funds. The larger fund was not reported to the German taxing authorities, while the smaller fund was. In the early 1930s, this unreported account was transferred into the name of Schmieder's sister-in-law, Jenny Bochmann, a resident of Switzerland.
Thus, the situation stood in 1934 when the Nazis came into power. The relevance to this lawsuit of that historical event is that the Nazi regime enacted increasingly severe penalties culminating in the possible sentence of death for those who concealed property abroad. This factor led Mrs. Bochmann (who had a son living in Germany) and Schmieder to take a series of steps in order to disassociate themselves from the unreported funds. In 1935, Schmieder met Louis Hall, Sr., who was then vacationing in Germany. The meeting took place at the house of a mutual acquaintance, William Graupner. There, Schmieder asked Hall certain general questions concerning the formation of a corporation to hold securities in the United States, and the tax consequences of establishing such a corporation. Hall, Sr. was a senior partner in the New York law firm of Putney, Twombly & Hall, the firm that had previously represented the corporation owned by plaintiff's father which had been the original source of plaintiff's American wealth.
In the fall of 1936, Graupner returned to the United States and told Hall, Sr. that his law firm should draw up the necessary papers to establish a personal holding corporation for a woman named Jenny Bochmann. Acting pursuant to these directions, Hall Sr. supervised the formation of Stoneleigh Corporation. All the shares of Stoneleigh were issued to Mrs. Bochmann in consideration for the transfer to the corporation of the assets in Mrs. Bochmann's name which had been in an account at the New York Trust Company. Herman Graupner, William Graupner's son, was named president of Stoneleigh. Louis Hall, Jr., then an associate in his father's firm, helped draft the papers creating Stoneleigh.
In April, 1937 William Graupner received a letter from Jenny Bochmann stating that she no longer wanted her name used for Stoneleigh and that she wanted to sever all connections with the corporation. Graupner discussed the matter with Hall, Sr., who indicated that there was no way that the property could be held in the United States with the names of the true owners concealed. Hall advised that since Mrs. Bochmann wished to divest herself of all interest in the property, and since Schmieder himself could not take the property back to Germany,[3] the only solution would be to give the assets of Stoneleigh away.[4]
William Graupner returned to Germany in the summer of 1937 and told Schmieder what Hall had said. Schmieder was hesitant at first, but by the fall of 1937, he decided to take Hall's advice. He notified *1212 Graupner of his decision, explaining that since they had last spoken he had been called in by the German authorities to make a report concerning his foreign holdings. According to Graupner, it was expressly stated to Schmieder that the gift must be absolute with "no strings attached." Schmieder supposedly agreed, and told Graupner that he and Hall should take care of all the necessary arrangements, including the choice of a donee. At the time of this discussion, Schmieder gave Graupner a slip of paper upon which he wrote in German: "I am in agreement with the arrangement which we have discussed for my sister-in-law."[5]
Upon Graupner's return from Europe, he and Hall began to take the necessary steps to dispose of the Stoneleigh Corporation assets. After discussing the possibility of making either of their respective sons the recipient of the gift, they decided that the property should be given to Helen Dwyer, then Hall Sr.'s personal secretary. The necessary papers were drafted by the elder Hall, forwarded to Switzerland, and finally signed and returned by Mrs. Bochmann. Among the papers pursuant to which the gift was made was a letter dated March 15, 1938, from Mrs. Bochmann to Mrs. Dwyer which stated:
"I am the owner of the outstanding stock of Stoneleigh Corporation . . .. I wish to make an absolute gift to you of both my stock in the said corporation and of my claims for advances against it . . .."
The value of the Stoneleigh stock at the time was approximately $120,000.
Helen Dwyer had been the elder Hall's secretary since 1929. Born in 1895, she was orphaned at the age of three and from 1898 to 1914 lived with her aunt and uncle. During the First World War, she married a man who was in the Navy. Tragically, however, early in the 1920s her husband was committed to a mental institution, run by the Veterans Administration, where he remained until his death. Hall, Sr. maintained that it was Mrs. Dwyer's unfortunate past that had prompted the decision to make her the beneficiary of the Stoneleigh assets.
Despite her new wealth, Mrs. Dwyer's lifestyle did not undergo any radical shift. Although she moved from Brooklyn to a larger more expensive apartment on Central Park South in Manhattan, she continued to work as Hall, Sr.'s personal secretary. She expended from the assets of the property approximately $2,000 per year for personal expenses. Shortly after the gift, she had the first of a long series of wills drafted which left the bulk of her estate to various members of Hall, Sr.'s family.
In October, 1941, with war between the United States and Germany imminent, the United States Treasury issued regulations requiring the registration of all property held by United States citizens for or on behalf of foreign nationals. After discussing the matter with Hall, Sr., Mrs. Dwyer contacted a lawyer, not involved with the Stoneleigh transaction, in order to obtain his opinion as to what action she should take. The attorney, George Z. Medalie, Esq., advised her that it would be best to report to the government the facts surrounding the gift.
On October 31, 1941, Mrs. Dwyer reported the unconditional gift on Treasury Form TFR-300. Thereafter, on June 30, 1943, her accounts containing the property she received from Stoneleigh were blocked by the government. From August 1, 1943 to October 15, 1948 Mrs. Dwyer filed nineteen applications for licenses to use some of the funds or for unblocking. She consistently maintained during this period that the gift from Bochmann was genuine and irrevocable, and that she was not holding the property on behalf of any person other than herself.
In December, 1948, the Alien Property Custodian issued Vesting Order No. 12528, whereby he seized all of the property which *1213 Mrs. Dwyer had received from Stoneleigh on the ground that it was the property of Kurt Schmieder. Mrs. Dwyer, in turn, commenced an action seeking the return of the property, claiming that it had been received by her as an absolute and unconditional gift. In 1951, a settlement was reached in the suit pursuant to which 55 percent of the seized property was returned to Mrs. Dwyer. A crucial piece of evidence which led to the settlement was a signed statement by Schmieder, obtained on June 1, 1945, which read:
"The undersigned confirms herewith that it is understood by him that the gift of Mrs. Bochmann's bank balance with the New York Trust Company and of securities deposited there to Mrs. Dwyer is a voluntary, absolute and irrevocable gift, without any obligation of Mrs. Dwyer."
The statement was witnessed by a Dr. Alfred Lindner, who was apparently a mutual friend of Schmieder and William Graupner.
The plaintiff now contends that this absolute gift was subject to a gentlemen's agreement, whereby it was intended that the money transferred to Mrs. Dwyer would sometime in the future be returned to him. He claims that the perpetrator of the fraud against him was Louis Hall, Sr., who acted as his attorney in the transaction, and whose family will now end up with the bulk of the Stoneleigh assets since Hall's children are the principal beneficiaries of the Dwyer estate. Schmieder charges that Mrs. Dwyer knew of this gentlemen's agreement, and acted as the agent for Hall, Sr. in the perpetration of the fraud.
I. Plaintiff's Standing to Sue
Before turning to the merits of the factual dispute, it is first necessary to determine whether, in light of the government's vesting order of 1948, plaintiff Schmieder still has any interest in the subject property. The defendant contends that the vesting order terminated every interest of plaintiff legal or equitable, vested or contingent in the property transferred to Dwyer. We agree.[6]
On December 15, 1948 the Office of Alien Property issued Vesting Order 12528 entitled "Stock Owned by and Debts Owing to Kurt Schmieder." The order began by stating that Schmieder was a resident of Germany and thus a national of a designated enemy country. The order went on to list various securities in Mrs. Dwyer's name which were traceable to the gift from Mrs. Bochmann and stated that such property was
"property within the United States owned or controlled by, payable or deliverable to, held on behalf of or on account of, or owing to, or which is evidence of ownership or control by, Kurt Schmieder the aforesaid national of a designated enemy country (Germany);" (emphasis added)
The order concluded:
"THERE IS HEREBY VESTED in the Attorney General of the United States the property described above, to be held, used, administered, liquidated, sold or otherwise dealt with in the interest of and for the benefit of the United States."[7]
Subsequent to the vesting of this property, Mrs. Dwyer brought suit for the return of the property to her on the ground that Schmieder did not have any interest in the property. As noted above, the lawsuit was settled pursuant to a stipulation which provided that Mrs. Dwyer would be given securities having a value of 55 percent of the total amount seized.
*1214 The statute, pursuant to which Schmieder's interest in the property held by Mrs. Dwyer was vested, provides that with respect to any seized property, the Alien Property Custodian
"shall have power to manage such property and do any act or things in respect thereof or make any disposition thereof or of any part thereof, by sale or otherwise, and exercise any rights or powers which may be or become appurtenant thereto or to the ownership thereof in like manner as though he were the absolute owner thereof."
50 U.S.C. App. § 12. The Supreme Court has held that under the Trading with the Enemy Act alien enemy owners are divested of every right beneficial as well as legal in respect of money and property seized. Cummings v. Deutsche Bank (1936) 300 U.S. 115, 120, 57 S. Ct. 359, 81 L. Ed. 2d 545; Woodson v. Deutsche, etc., Vormals (1934) 292 U.S. 449, 454, 54 S. Ct. 804, 78 L. Ed. 1357. See also, Balkan Nat. Ins. Co. v. C. I. R. (2d Cir. 1939) 101 F.2d 75, 77; United States v. Borax Consol. (N.D.Cal. 1945) 62 F. Supp. 220, 223.
It thus seems clear that if Schmieder had any interest in the property conveyed to Mrs. Dwyer, that interest was totally extinguished when the vesting order was issued. At that moment, the Alien Property Custodian had full and complete title to the property, and had the authority to deal with that property in any manner appropriate to the interests of the United States, including the settlement of a claim with a third party. Indeed, since the claim that the government settled when it reconveyed certain property back to Mrs. Dwyer was a claim that Schmieder retained some beneficial interest in the property, it seems apparent that the very interest Schmieder asserts in this action is the one which was subject to the vesting order and ultimately disposed of in its settlement with Mrs. Dwyer.
Furthermore, the cases interpreting the Trading with the Enemy Act have uniformly held that a divested alien has no right to pursue an action against a subsequent transferee from the United States for the return of vested property. In Mutzenbecher v. Ballard (S.D.N.Y.1925) 16 F.2d 173, aff'd (2d Cir.) 16 F.2d 174, cert. denied 273 U.S. 766, 47 S. Ct. 571, 71 L. Ed. 881, plaintiff, a German co-partnership, sought to collect certain commissions earned by the defendant in the United States to which the plaintiff was in part entitled. Plaintiff's interest, however, had been seized by the Alien Property Custodian. The court held that upon seizure only the Alien Property Custodian could institute suit against the defendant for the commissions. It went on to state (16 F.2d at 174):
"Where the Alien Property Custodian has made a disposition of seized property of an enemy alien, including the adjustment of an alleged claim, such settlement cannot be attacked by the enemy alien, nor has the enemy alien any standing in a suit brought against the one with whom the Alien Property Custodian has settled."
Similarly, in Munich v. First Reinsurance Co. (2d Cir. 1925) 6 F.2d 742, appeal dismissed 273 U.S. 666, 47 S. Ct. 458, 71 L. Ed. 830, the Alien Property Custodian had seized stock in the defendant corporation which was owned by the plaintiff, a German corporation. Thereafter, the Custodian sold the property, and out of those proceeds, paid the defendant, who had asserted a claim against the plaintiff, a sum of about $50,000. In affirming the dismissal of plaintiff's complaint against the defendant for a return of that money, the Court of Appeals explained (6 F.2d at 747):
"[The] complainant, at the time the Custodian seized and sold its shares of stock in the defendant company, was, in our opinion, divested of all right, title, or interest in the property, and in the proceeds realized by the subsequent sale of the property. It could not thereafter reclaim the property from the person to whom it was sold. It had no right to or interest in the proceeds of the sale, and no right to reclaim any portion thereof which the Custodian paid over to a third person in settlement of a claim which such person had against the enemy."
*1215 In the face of such established legal precedent, the plaintiff sets forth three arguments in support of his position that he has standing to bring this action.
First, Schmieder argues that the vesting order related solely to specific items of property and was carefully drafted so as not to deprive him of any equitable claims against Mrs. Dwyer. Plaintiff, however, has suggested no motive as to why the Alien Property Custodian would wish to attach an alien enemy's legal interest in specified property and not his equitable interests as well. Such a disposition would clearly contravene the purposes of the Trading with the Enemy Act,[8] and we are convinced that in this case such a result was clearly not intended.
Secondly, plaintiff claims that even if he had a beneficial interest in the property at the time of the vesting, this interest was regained when the government reconveyed certain of the properties back to Mrs. Dwyer. This argument, too, must be rejected. As noted above, once vesting occurs, the Alien Property Custodian becomes the actual owner of the seized property. He has the right to sell the property, or to settle claims involving the property. When these events occur, however, the divested owner cannot regain any previously lost rights in the property. The whole scheme of the Act militates against such a result. 50 U.S.C. App. § 7(e) provides that those who deliver money or property to the government pursuant to a vesting order are fully discharged of their obligations with respect to that property "for all purposes." Such transferors may not be held liable in any court for their compliance with a vesting order. Furthermore, as indicated above, subsequent transferees from the government cannot be sued by one whose property has been vested. Indeed, the Act explicitly states that the sole remedy available to an enemy alien is an action against the government on the ground that the vesting order was improper. See, 50 U.S.C. App. § 7(c) and § 9.[9]
Finally, the plaintiff argues that his claim for fraud did not arise until long after the vesting order was issued and the property returned to Mrs. Dwyer. He maintains that "the equitable duty to make restitution to Schmieder did not arise until the late 1960s when Schmieder learned for the first time that Dwyer, the Halls, and the Graupners had `conspired' and acted to keep the property." This argument, however, ignores the fact that whatever equitable interests Schmieder had in the property arose on the very day in 1938 when it was transferred to Mrs. Dwyer. While his failure to discover the fraud until the 1960s would affect the running of the statute of limitations, it could in no way alter the fact that his interest on the property pre-dated the vesting order. And, as noted above, whatever that interest was, it was totally extinguished by the seizure of the property by the Alien Property Custodian.
II. Merits
Although we have found that the plaintiff does not have standing to pursue this action, we deem it appropriate, in the event that ruling should be overturned, to proceed to a decision on the merits.
As we have seen, the basic factual issues in this dispute concern the arrangements made when the Stoneleigh Corporation assets were given to Mrs. Dwyer. Schmieder claims that Hall, Sr. and Graupner had *1216 agreed that the property would be returned to him at some future time. He claims that Mrs. Dwyer knew of this gentlemen's agreement when she took the property, and that acting in concert with Hall, Sr. reneged on the promise.
At first blush, there appears to be substance to the plaintiff's charges.[10] Mrs. Dwyer never to the day of her death met Schmieder or Mrs. Bochmann. She was chosen as the donee by her employer, Louis Hall, Sr., who, at the time, was acting as Schmieder's attorney in the disposal of the funds. Mrs. Dwyer had a personal and trusting relationship with Hall, and probably would have accepted the gift of property conditionally had Hall requested her to do so. Shortly after receiving the gift, she executed the first of a series of testamentary instruments all of which were drafted by or at the direction of Louis Hall, Sr., or Louis Hall, Jr., and all of which named members of the Hall family as primary beneficiaries. When, after the war, Schmieder tried to get in contact with Mrs. Dwyer, she acted in a singularly ungracious fashion, considering that Schmieder had been the ultimate source of her wealth and, whatever his motives, had rendered significant assistance in her efforts to get the property back from the government. Finally, no reasonable explanation for her conduct in this regard was even proffered.
However, having considered all these and other facts and circumstances, we conclude that singly or in combination they do not establish that in 1938 Mrs. Dwyer and Louis Hall, Sr. embarked upon and consummated a conspiracy to defraud Schmieder. In this connection we observe that while generally either a constructive trust[11] or fraud[12] must be proved by clear and convincing evidence, we do not feel that plaintiff would have established his case even if normal civil standards of proof were to prevail.[13]
Analyzing the evidence we start out with a realization that plaintiff Schmieder is a highly unsatisfactory witness. He knowingly and wilfully perpetrated a scheme in the early 1930s to evade legitimate property taxes imposed by the German government in the days of the Weimar Republic, a circumstance that can hardly be explained as his attorneys attempt to as hostility to the Nazis. Secondly, his present position in this lawsuit is directly antithetical to his sworn statement in 1948 that the gift to Mrs. Dwyer had been irrevocable and unconditional. This statement was a critical motivating factor in the government's decision to settle the Dwyer lawsuit, and we reject plaintiff's claim that he had no idea of the statement's purpose at the time it was made.
In addition to the unsatisfactory nature of Schmieder's testimony, we must also observe that every other participant in the transaction at issue Mrs. Dwyer, Hall, Sr., and William Graupner has specifically repudiated and contradicted Schmieder's testimony. Moreover, although Mrs. Dwyer and Hall, Sr. might be assumed to have had *1217 selfish motives that might have prompted false testimony,[14] no one has suggested a reason why William Graupner would also commit perjury. All that is known about him is that he was a friend of both Schmieder and Hall, and that neither he nor his son either had or hoped for any interest in the property given to Mrs. Dwyer.
Setting to one side considerations of veracity, and turning to the probabilities of the situation, they lean more in defendant's direction than in plaintiff's. Looking at the matter from Schmieder's point of view, it must be remembered that in 1938 when the gift was made the Nazi regime was at its height and no one least of all a resident of Germany would have been likely to anticipate that the regime would be lying in ruins in seven short years. Moreover, what Schmieder was seeking to avoid was the risk of being put to death upon discovery that he had been hiding foreign assets. In these circumstances, it seems more probable that he would have wished to get rid of all traces of ownership by an absolute gift rather than enter into some "gentlemen's agreement" which might conceivably have come to the attention of the Nazi authorities. Of course, many years later with Nazi power only an unpleasantly remembered nightmare Schmieder's recollections of his 1938 sentiments might have undergone a drastic change.
From Hall, Sr.'s and Mrs. Dwyer's point of view, it seems improbable that they would have undertaken the risks of playing fast and loose with their own government just to enable Schmieder (practically a stranger to Hall and a total stranger to Mrs. Dwyer) to outwit his.
With respect to Mrs. Dwyer's ultimate use of the money for the benefit of the Hall family, while it might generate suspicion, it cannot serve as a basis for a finding of fraud. It is clear that Mrs. Dwyer had a high regard for her employer and his family. There is no showing in the record that she had any close relationships with any members of her own family. She was aware of the fact that it was Mr. Hall who designated her as the recipient of the gift. It cannot therefore be thought unnatural that she should have decided to make the Hall family the recipient of her bounty upon her decease.[15]
This leaves only what we have described as Mrs. Dwyer's ungracious conduct at the time Schmieder tried to make contact with her, and the defendant's total failure to offer any rational explanation for such conduct. This troubled the court during the trial, and still does. While it would be easy to postulate an explanation for the conduct it is difficult to imagine why none was offered. As to a possible explanation, Mrs. Dwyer had after all taken an oath in a federal court that there were no strings attached to the property in her hands and that she owed Schmieder absolutely no duty to account for the same. She might very well have feared that any conduct on her part inconsistent with such a position such as even a meeting or a discussion with Schmieder could have caused the government to reopen its case or might even have landed her in jail for perjury. But if *1218 such or anything like it were the cause of Mrs. Dwyer's conduct, Hall, Jr., who was advising her in the matter, must have been aware of these considerations and could easily have testified concerning these motivations. Nevertheless, neither ungracious conduct on Mrs. Dwyer's part in 1967, nor lack of candor on Hall, Jr.'s part if such there was in 1975, are sufficient (separately or taken together) to support a finding that Mrs. Dwyer and Hall, Sr. had in 1938 embarked upon and consummated a conspiracy to defraud.
In summary, we find that plaintiff has no standing to pursue this action, and, in the alternative, that plaintiff has failed to satisfy his burden of proof. Accordingly, the complaint must be dismissed.
The foregoing shall constitute the court's findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 52(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
[1] Defendant has urged that plaintiff is precluded from testifying about conversations with Louis Hall, Sr. and William Graupner by virtue of New York State's Dead Man's Statute, Section 4519, Civil Practice Law and Rules, McKinney's Consol. Laws of N.Y. c. 7B. We find that provision inapplicable, and accordingly, we have considered all relevant testimony submitted at trial in reaching our conclusions.
[2] From 1925-1931, Germany had a property tax, and a resident of Germany was required to include property located outside Germany in his property tax return. Failure to disclose such property was a criminal offense. In 1931, the maximum sentence for this offense was increased from two years to ten years imprisonment. In addition, beginning in 1931, Germany enacted foreign exchange controls which required citizens to report their foreign holdings. By 1932, the maximum penalty for failure to report was also ten years imprisonment.
[3] To the extent such a finding is at all relevant, we find that Hall, Sr. knew by this time that Schmieder was the beneficial or real owner of the assets of Stoneleigh Corporation.
[4] We are, of course, not concerned in this litigation with whether the legal advice rendered by Hall, Sr. was correct or not. It should be noted, however, that plaintiff has not suggested any alternative course that could have been legally followed.
[5] As is obvious, this statement is highly ambiguous and sheds no light whatsoever on the discussions between Graupner and Schmieder.
[6] Although this specific issue may have been decided in plaintiff's favor either directly or indirectly by other district judges to whom this case had been previously assigned, we cannot now avoid the responsibility of considering the question de novo. Dictograph Products Company v. Sonotone Corporation (2d Cir. 1956) 230 F.2d 131, 134-6, cert. dism. 352 U.S. 883, 77 S. Ct. 104, 1 L. Ed. 2d 82 (Judge Learned hand). See, also, Rodriguez v. Olaf Pedersen's Rederi A/S (E.D.N.Y.1974) 387 F. Supp. 754.
[7] The original Vesting Order, Exhibit 12-A, was subsequently amended, but only to the extent of changing the description of the securities vested. See Plaintiff's Exhibit 12-B.
[8] In United States v. Chemical Foundation (1926) 272 U.S. 1, 9-10, 47 S. Ct. 1, 4, 71 L. Ed. 131, the Supreme Court stated:
"The purpose of the Trading with the Enemy Act was not only to weaken enemy countries by depriving their supporters of their property, . . . but also to promote production in the United States of things useful for the effective prosecution of the war." (cite omitted)
The Court indicated that the Act should be "liberally construed to give effect to the purposes it was enacted to subserve." See, also, Clark v. Uebersee Finanz-Korp. (1947) 332 U.S. 480, 68 S. Ct. 174, 92 L. Ed. 88.
[9] Plaintiff relies heavily on Craig v. Bohack (2d Dept. 1963) 19 A.D.2d 891, 244 N.Y.S.2d 737. To the extent this case supports plaintiff's position, we feel it should be disregarded as an incorrect statement of federal law.
[10] The government, when it vested the Dwyer properties in 1948, obviously thought that some agreement to return the property to Schmieder existed. Judge Holtzoff, who presided over the suit filed by Mrs. Dwyer to reclaim the vested property, in fact indicated during that proceeding that he felt Mrs. Dwyer had no title in the property, and was simply a "straw". (Plaintiff's Trial and Evidence Memorandum at 10). Obviously, since the action in that case was settled by stipulation, and never formally tried by Judge Holtzoff, his remarks are not binding.
[11] See, Lundy v. Murtagh (Sup.Ct.1955) 141 N.Y.S.2d 247, appeal dismissed 285 App.Div. 1217, 143 N.Y.S.2d 820, and cases cited therein.
[12] McDonnell v. American Leduc Petroleums (2d Cir. 1972) 456 F.2d 1170; Fein v. Starrett Television Corp. (1st Dept. 1952) 280 App.Div. 670, 116 N.Y.S.2d 571, aff'd 305 N.Y. 856, 114 N.E.2d 210.
[13] If Hall, Sr. had himself accepted the gift from his client Schmieder, the burden would have been upon him to establish the propriety of his conduct. See, In re Bartel's Will (4th Dept. 1970) 33 A.D.2d 987, 307 N.Y.S.2d 260; Howland v. Smith (3rd Dept. 1959) 9 A.D.2d 197, 193 N.Y.S.2d 140. However, that doctrine cannot be here invoked in the absence of proof that he was in a conspiracy with Mrs. Dwyer.
[14] Even so, it must be born in mind that Hall, Sr., a respected member of the New York Bar and a name partner in a leading law firm, cannot lightly be thought to have assumed the risks of committing perjury before a federal court in an action against the United States government. In this connection, we note that over plaintiff's strenuous objection we allowed two witnesses to give character testimony on behalf of Hall, Sr. This may well have been technical error. The testimony was allowed at a time when we felt we would probably find for plaintiff and were anxious to let the defendant build up the best record possible for purposes of appeal. However, if error it was, we can certify it was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt. We were well aware of the reputation of Hall, Sr. and his firm, and all the testimony accomplished was to confirm our then suspicion that Hall, Jr., was not being candid about his awareness of the events of 1938. That suspicion has since subsided in light of Schmieder's acute need for secrecy. At that time, Hall, Sr. may well have been proceeding on a "need to know" basis in making disclosures to his son.
[15] Mrs. Dwyer also loaned money to Hall, Jr. during her lifetime, but the same considerations would seem to apply to that transaction.


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Ex-Al Jazeera journalist drops case against Doha-based network
Mohamed Fahmy has abandoned a multimillion-dollar legal case against Al Jazeera relating to detention in Egypt in 2013.
Mohamed Fahmy, a Canadian citizen of Egyptian origin, along with a group of journalists, was detained in Egypt in 2013 on charges of stoking unrest and publishing false news [File: Amr Nabil/AP Photo]
Published On 5 Feb 20205 Feb 2020
A former Al Jazeera journalist has dropped a legal case against the Doha-based media network more than four years after he accused the company of negligence.
Mohamed Fahmy was suing Al Jazeera for more than 100 million Canadian dollars ($75m) for neglect and endangering the lives of journalists working in Egypt. He said the network sent him to Cairo knowing that "it was guaranteed" he would be arrested.
Fahmy, a Canadian citizen of Egyptian origin, along with a group of journalists, was detained in Egypt in 2013 on charges of stoking unrest and publishing false news.
He and his nine colleagues were accused of spreading "false news" during their coverage of the aftermath of the military overthrow of then-President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the year they were taken into custody.
Fahmy spent 437 days in jail before being released.
The Egyptian judge who sentenced the journalists said they were brought together "by the devil" to destabilise the country.
According to a report published by the New York Times, Fahmy received a substantial "loan" from the UAE's ambassador to the United States, Yousef al-Otaiba, to cover his legal campaign against Al Jazeera following his release from prison in 2015.
After his release, Fahmy filed the complaint against Al Jazeera in September 2016 from Canada.
In a statement, an Al Jazeera spokesperson said on Wednesday: "Al Jazeera is committed to reporting the news without fear or favour and will always stand up for its journalists and the rights of all journalists to operate freely anywhere in the world without fear of arbitrary arrest, assault, prosecution or other forms of harassment and intimidation.
"Al Jazeera worked extremely hard to support Mr Fahmy and his colleagues after their arrest and throughout their trial and imprisonment in Egypt and was extremely disappointed when Mr Fahmy sought to transfer blame for the oppressive and unlawful actions of the Egyptian authorities onto the Network," the statement read.
"That it is now clear that he did this in collaboration with a regime that is fundamentally opposed to free and independent journalism only heightens our sense of disappointment," the statement added.
According to the Qatar-based network, once arrangements were in hand for Fahmy to be cross-examined on the claims he had placed on the record, he chose to "abandon the claim altogether before cross-examination took place".
Al Jazeera is the focus of a dispute between Qatar and four Arab states, who severed all trade and diplomatic ties with Doha accusing it of supporting terrorism – an allegation Qatar has repeatedly and vehemently denied.
In 2016, the four states – Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain – presented Qatar a list of 13 demands, which include the closure of Al Jazeera.
Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies
Brazilian samba singer Elza Soares dies aged 91

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Get temperature on specific date using weather api I'm working on a project to get data from a weather API.
My JSON looks like this:
"days":[{"datetime":"2022-06-11","datetimeEpoch":1654898400,"tempmax":22.0,"tempmin":14.2,"temp":18.3,"feelslikemax":22.0,"feelslikemin":14.2,"feelslike":18.3,"dew":12.8,"humidity":71.5,"
precip":0.7,"precipprob":100.0,"precipcover":8.33,"preciptype":["rain"],"snow":0.0,"snowdepth":0.0,"windgust":36.0,"windspeed":20.2,"winddir":247.2,"pressure":1021.8,"cloudcover":63.1,"visibility":17.6,"solarradiation":292.0,"solarenergy":25.3,"uvindex":9.0,"severerisk":10.0,"sunrise":"05:15:13","sunriseEpoch":1654917313,"sunset":"21:52:36","sunsetEpoch":1654977156,"moonphase":0.44,"conditions":"Rain, Partially cloudy","description":"Partly cloudy throughout the day with morning rain.","icon":"rain","stations":["EDDL","EHVK","EDLV","EHDL","F2527"],"source":"comb"},
{"datetime":"2022-06-12","datetimeEpoch":1654984800,"tempmax":21.2,"tempmin":11.1,"temp":16.3,"feelslikemax":21.2,"feelslikemin":11.1,"feelslike":16.3,"dew":10.0,"humidity":67.6,
"precip":0.0,"precipprob":4.8,"precipcover":0.0,"preciptype":["rain"],"snow":0.0,"snowdepth":0.0,"windgust":36.4,"windspeed":20.5,"winddir":262.2,"pressure":1022.0,"cloudcover":70.8,"visibility":24.1,"solarradiation":318.5,"solarenergy":27.3,"uvindex":8.0,"severerisk":10.0,"sunrise":"05:14:56","sunriseEpoch":1655003696,"sunset":"21:53:16","sunsetEpoch":1655063596,"moonphase":0.47,"conditions":"Partially cloudy","description":"Partly cloudy throughout the day.","icon":"partly-cloudy-day","stations":null,"source":"fcst"}

My program to get data from api looks like this:
public string GetWeatherWeek()
{
    var baseURL = "https://weather.visualcrossing.com/VisualCrossingWebServices/";

    var client = new HttpClient();
    var response = client.GetAsync(baseURL).Result;
    response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode();
    //Console.WriteLine(response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync().Result);
    return response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync().Result;
}

public double ReadWeather(string dateInput)
{
    var data = GetWeatherWeek();
    var json = JsonDocument.Parse(data);
    var weather = json.RootElement.GetProperty("days");
    var date = weather[0].GetProperty("datetime");
    var temperature = weather[0].GetProperty("temp").GetDouble();
    return temperature;
}

Now my question is: how can I retrieve the temperature from the date entered by the user?

A: try this
     using Newtonsoft.Json;

    var days = (JArray)JObject.Parse(data)["days"];

    var searchDate = "2022-06-12";
    double temp = days.Where(d => (string)d["datetime"] == searchDate)
                     .Select(d => (double)d["temp"])
                     .FirstOrDefault(); //16.3

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Childcare facility offering daycare services centered around Christian values and education. Children participate in a balance of spiritual, recreational and educational activities.
Maximum capacity is 43 children.
1, 2 or 3 day programs are available.
Mothers Day Out is a licensed daycare center.


Year 1 & 2 worked productively from gaining valuable knowledge in class and external organisations i.e. Human Relief Foundation who delivered an important lesson speaking about the effects our words and actions can have on others. Children designed superhero costumes and learnt about sharing and spreading love and treating each other fairly. Year 1 & 2 incorporated the theme throughout the week in their learning. The children delivered an outstanding assembly performance sharing the 'power of kinds words'.


Again and again at the thought of you.
'Cause those shattered pieces remind me of you.
You showed me all the wonders of the dark.
And now I am left here drowning in your memories.
To haunt me even in my sleep.
You showed me all the wonders of night.
And now I am left here in pain and tears.
Showing me that forever is a lie.
You showed me all the wonders of life in a while.
And now I am left here all alone.


If people want to redefine the word "racist" so that only actual slaveholders count, let them. I'm more interested in the "critical reflection" [Ta-Nehasi] Coates rightly says that the "I'm not a racist" move is designed to shut down; in asking: does race play a role in someone's thought and action that it ought not to play? rather than in asking: does that role reach whatever bar of horrificness s/he wants to say it would have to meet to qualify as "racist"?
I've tried to make this point in my own work with my distinction between "finding the evildoer" and "solving the problem" in racial discourse. When engaging in dialogue on issues of race, I am not particularly interested in figuring out whether my interlocutros are Bad People, even if I disagree with them or think their views/policy positions are part of the structure which reinforces racial hierarchy in America. I'd much rather, as Hilzoy and Coates say, critically reflect on the manner in which those views intersect with race and racial inequality in the hopes that we can come to just solutions to the issue. I am more than willing to "sacrifice" calling these people racist in exchange for having that conversation.
But the corallary to this is that a lot of people tend assume that any liberal critique of their views on race is akin to calling them a racist. Over the past few years of attempting to avoid this pitfall, I'm beginning to think its inescapable: no matter how I phrase my inquiry, there will be a class of people who will huff "are you calling me a racist?!?!?" and there ends the discussion. It is, I suspect, a psychological defense mechanism to avoid grappling with the intricacies of the subject matter. Making the question "am I a racist" (which, in this frame, is synonymous with ultimate evildoer) allows the interlocutor to deflect attention from the particular moral or policy dimensions of the object of discussion, and instead change the inquiry into "am I an awful person?" Since most people are relatively persuaded of their status as not-awful-people, they can then react with offense that "I am implying" that they are. Having established that they are not awful, it is assumed that the original critique has been "answered", and nothing more needs to be said. So long as any racial discussion that involves more than the most perfunctory critique can be derailed in this manner, there is simply no hope of discussing these questions in any substantive, meaningful fashion.
So, new rule. Unless I specifically say the words "you are a racist", I am not calling you a racist. That can be our safe phrase: unless I actually say them, you can be assured the point of my conversation is not to label you a racist.
I think it parallels my post on the need to recognize the Armenian genocide very nicely, and I think the extension to feminist (and, I think, all anti-subordination theory) is likewise quite insightful.
Phoebe Maltz takes on the right-wing critique of academia, explaining why it's demeaning to the very principles the right purports to be defending.
My favorite part was when she mentioned how the "reforms" the right plea for echo classic liberal call for diversity, "verging on demands for affirmative action." I, good liberal that I am, have been sympathetic to the idea of ideological affirmative action in academia for awhile (and not only as a tactical stance to chide conservatives for their hypocrisy). But I do seem rather alone in explicitly and consistently calling for it.
In any event, the article is very good, and I highly recommend it.
UPDATE: Phoebe responds to critiques of her article at the National Review's Phi Beta Cons blog. Who would have thought that the National Review would be terrible at this sort of thing?
Thomas Kuhn was a trained physicist, but he is most famous for his theories on the manner by which science progresses -- often known as the "paradigm shift". The standard view of science is that, as it progresses, it solves new problems in a relatively linear fashion: the more we do science, the more knowledge we accrue. Kuhn, though, says that science proceeds in terms of "paradigms" -- overarching organizing theories by which information is categorized, and through which scientists conduct their research. Inevitably, the paradigm will not be able to explain everything, and as anomalous results build up, eventually the paradigm hits a "crisis", and someone proffers a new paradigm (the revolution). Once this occurs, the paradigm "shifts," and the cycle begins anew.
But importantly, paradigm shifts entail at least some loss of knowledge. Even though the new paradigm presumably possesses greater explanatory power than the old, there will still be some types of knowledge or explanations which work under the old theory but not (or not yet) under the new. Hence, progress also entails loss -- a key element of the Kuhnian paradigm shift.
It is this observation that I want to link back to video games. As gaming technology increases, we don't just get better games, we fundamentally change the type of games we get to play. And some elements of old games are lost, not because they were not fun, but because they don't fit within the new paradigms of gaming which emphasize, for example, good graphics and 3-d environments.
Take, for example, the Final Fantasy series. Up through Final Fantasy IX, all the "speech" in the game was text based, in those stereotypical blue boxes. In Final Fantasy X, however, the developers managed to make the characters actually "talk", hiring voice actors to say their lines. This is "progress", and I agree, but it entailed loss as well: in the case of the Final Fantasy series, it meant that you couldn't name your own characters anymore (because the names had to be set for the voice actors).
Similarly, if one looks at the original Super Mario Brothers game, up through Mario Three (and even Super Mario World), it's pretty clear that they are operating within a similar paradigm (though each game tries to improve on the last). But today, even though everyone thinks those were stellar games, you would never see a game released that is of the same basic form as Super Mario World (a 2-d platformer). It doesn't make sense within the current gaming paradigm -- it is a design that is no longer available to game developers.
Again, not saying this is a bad thing, just an interesting observation.
The Obamas rock the fist bump after cinching the nomination. Some conservatives went crazy, but I think most of us found it cute. Also, I agree that while Obama has had to take pains to prove he isn't "too Black" for the ever-skittish White voters, he's also demonstrated that -- even in timid form -- he is able to push boundaries and increase what is socially acceptable for Blacks in America, and that's important.
Also, Wes Clark apparently beat him to the dap (I've never heard the term "dap", but apparently it's in use. I'm so old!). Another sign that he's right VP choice? It was in an ad featuring Clark's views on Outkast, after all.
Incidentally, today (well, yesterday now) was my last ever day of classes at Carleton. Kind of bizarre, when I think about it. I have to admit, it didn't feel that weird walking out. Maybe because it didn't really register.
But still, it feels worthy of note.
Didja ever notice? On discussions on race, White folks love to keep the focus on themselves. Liberals on how much pain they feel about the persistence of racism, conservatives on how awful and epidemic "reverse racism" is. But try and focus the discussion on what obligations racial dialogue and progress requires of Whites, and suddenly they can't turn the focus away from Whites fast enough.
Today I guest-presented in an African-American history class about Black Conservatism and how White folks can engage with it. It's not that there were no useful contributions, but I fought a persistent (and losing) battle to try and figure out what Whites had to do to engage this group. And yet, the responses kept being "Black people need to enter into coalition politics" (but Black Conservatives are skeptical about the utility of coalition work) or "Blacks need to work with and trust White people" (which begs the question and doesn't properly put the onus on Whites to earn back the trust they've lost) or "Black Conservatism antagonizes White people" (well, maybe it's Whites that should stop throwing temper tantrums, then?).
It's like pulling teeth, trying to get Whites to even think about anti-racism strategies in which they are responding to Black concerns, not dictating the terms of the debate.
Not that you needed me to tell you that. But still, I envy the folks at Pitzer.
Rev. Michael Pfleger has been asked by the Archbishop of Chicago, Cardinal Francis George, to take an (involuntary) leave of absence to reflect on his comments regarding Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The comments, which sparked Obama's resignation from the Trinity United Church of Christ, mocked Clinton's "tears" in New Hampshire and accused her of having her "White entitlement" violated when Obama ran for President.
I found Pfleger's sermon to be in very poor taste, and tinged by more than a hint of sexism. It was condemnable, and Obama was right to condemn it. That being said, Pfleger did apologize, so I'm not sure what purpose this leave of absence serves except political grandstanding by Cardinal George. Particularly since George has feuded openly with Pfleger in the past, this strikes me as quite an opportunistic move. I would think that the needs of Pfleger's congregation -- where by all accounts he has served with unusual distinction -- would take precedence over a bit of political showmanship by the Cardinal.
This is a great article documenting the experiences of other Black law students at Yale around the time that Justice Clarence Thomas attended (Thomas famously regretted attending Yale, claiming his education was worth "15 cents" and that firms would not take him seriously after graduation, assuming he got in via affirmative action).
Thanks to PG in the comments for the pointer.
Radical Review Part One: What Causes Civil Rights Progress?
If there is anything I've learned over the past few days, it's that most people have a weak grasp -- if any -- on the actual arguments being made by non-mainstream theorists and philosophers. This, of course, doesn't stop them from making bold claims about what "liberals say" (or whatever). And that, in turn, infuriates me, and I occasionally flip out. It's particularly bad when folks act as if they don't need to know a group's actual argument and analysis in order to wax lyrical about how awful it is.
Hence, the "Radical Review." It's what it sounds like: I'll review the actual arguments of relatively out of the mainstream thinkers (generally on race) on a particular question or issue that seems to stick in the craw of the mainstream. By and large I am not offering my own opinion here -- just laying out the argument in a (hopefully) accessible, unprejudiced, and informed manner.
Today's issue can be summarized as follows: If America is "structurally racist", what explains civil rights progress over the past 60 years or so?
Excellent question! Radical writers on race have several hypotheses on what might be the cause of racial reform. But before we get into them, it's important to note that few would describe America's racial history as a straight forward progression. We have advances, but we also have relapses. Many would argue that, while things are better today than in 1958, they might be worse along some axes than in 1978. The legal protection afforded to race and commitment to overthrowing racial hierarchy, for example, has been beating a steady retreat for the past several decades. Some writers, such as Kimberle Williams Crenshaw, would say that we are in a period of "retrenchment", during which racist structure rearticulates and reestablishes itself in the wake of liberal attacks. Furthermore, whatever progress has been made has come from a pretty high baseline. Insofar as momentum has stalled today, it has done so well prior to where we could say that systematic racial disadvantage has been rendered a thing of the past.
That having been said, few would deny that important strides were made in the 1960s and the civil rights movement. What caused this?
Perhaps the most important radical theory on this topic is Derrick Bell's "interest-convergence" theory. Interest-convergence holds that Whites only accede to Black civil rights demands when it is in their interest to do so. Brown v. Board, for example, was not a case of White people just "coming to their senses" finally. Rather, it was a direct response to Cold War pressures -- the U.S. was being killed in its diplomatic efforts to sway the non-aligned states by our well-publicized segregation and discrimination. The State Department was receiving a flurry of screaming memos from our foreign ambassadors to this effect, and that prompted the U.S. Federal Government to intervene on behalf of a civil rights plaintiff for the first time. In her book Cold War Civil Rights, legal historian Mary Dudziak did the historical legwork and found that Bell's hypothesis was largely accurate, in that Cold War pressures did seem to play a significant role in convincing the American government to reconsider its racist policies.
However, several authors, such as Paul Finkelman and Rachel D. Godsil have identified several cases and actions where White actors seemed to protect Black civil rights when no immediate benefit was to be had. To this, Bell would respond that these constitute "contradiction closing cases" -- one's in which the dominant order was not threatened, but White actors could seek to prove that the deck is not stacked, that the legal system and the judiciary could be trusted to be be fair and neutral. Godsil's example, for instance, are the "race nuisance" cases around the turn of the century, where Whites sued arguing that the presence of Blacks nearby (in homes or churches or businesses) constituted a "nuisance" under the law. Blacks often won these cases. Godsil argues that there is no immediate interest Whites possessed in ruling such, and hence an exception to the I-C theory appears. But Bell would presumably respond that by Godsil's own admission, "nuisance" rulings were not necessary to preserve America's segregated environment, so courts could afford to be "neutral" on them secure in the knowledge that there would be no practical effect on the Jim Crow structure they represented.
So that's interest-convergence. But it is hardly the only theory out there. In their book "Black Power", Stokely Carmichael and Charles Hamilton argue that Black progress only occurs in situations where Blacks have "closed ranks" so as to express sufficient political power to achieve their needs. Government responds to political pressure, only when Blacks are in a position to provide such pressure does true progress occur. As an example, they cite the establishment of the Tuskegee Institute (where Booker T. Washington spent most of his career). Tuskegee came into being because a local Democratic politician needed the votes of the Black community. He asked a local Black leader what it would take to deliver his community's votes. The man responded by requesting funding for a normal school. The candidate agreed, the votes were delivered, the school was built, and Tuskegee was born. Only because the politician felt he had to be responsive to the political power of Blacks, did Blacks see any material benefit. Whatever gains Blacks see in America's political arena today are directly correlated to the amount of political pressure they can bring to bear as a community. The 1960s saw a huge increase in the political mobilization and unity of the Black community, leading to positive governmental response. When their power as a group is diluted (gerrymandering, inability to elect the representatives of their choice), they lose influence.
Relatedly, James Cone argues that Black progress has historically occurred through a sort of "good cop/bad cop" mentality between various elements of the Black community. Martin Luther King was seen as a rabble-rousing radical by much of the White community -- until the Black Power movement began to arise in full force. At that point, the implicit argument made by the "mainstream" civil rights forces was "deal with us, or you'll have to deal with them." Civil rights progress only came into being because of the more radical "threat" Black Power posed in the background. Without the "bad cop", the "good cop" of idealistic liberal reform would have remained on the margins.
So, those are a few of the theories floating out there, explaining mechanisms for civil rights progress to occur while still taking account of the persistence of racism. Rather than civil rights being a case of Whites "seeing the light", the discourse is better seen as a struggle between the entrenched racial order and various responses by the Black community which managed to distress but not dislodge ingrained structural racism. If one believes Bell, racial progress stops at the moment where it ceases to be in White interests; if one believes Carmichael & Hamilton, racial progress stops where Blacks no longer possess the political power to enact reformist agendas; if one believes Cone, racial progress stops where there is no backdrop of serious radical challenge to force Whites to come to the bargaining table with "moderates."
It's in God's the SCIC's hands now. They say they won't know anything by Thursday at the earliest. Right now, it appears the hard drive may have blown out, which I presume to be a bad thing. They will see if a) that is, in fact the problem and b) try and fix whatever problem it ends up being. If they can't, step next is trying to salvage my data.
Fortunately, I backed up most of my important information on Friday, when it crashed the last time. And the fact that my computer managed to bring itself back from the dead once gives me hope that it can defy death once more.
Rich Hills proclaims himself "certainly an anti-intellectual." Undoubtedly this is in part a function of my current mood, but though deliberate obscurity can be very annoying (and quite bad things), whatever tendency (certain classes of?) intellectuals have towards that sin is far, far, far outstripped by the anti-intellectual "I don't need this 'knowledge' crap to know that someone's argument is [racist, sexist, anti-American, anti-family, stupid]" trope. The people who will make bold pronouncements about what a person says or means -- not only without a gesture towards actually reading them, but with a smug assertion that they don't need to -- represent potentially the most aggravating sin in America's public discourse.
It takes the convoluted abstractions of a Carl Schmitt or a Heidegger to offer apologetics for Hitler; a Sartre, to temporize about Stalin; a Foucault, to defend Khomeini.
Umm...no it doesn't. All three found plenty of sustenance in the more mundane "anti-intellectual" defenses and support of their cohorts.
Look at this one! He had the temerity to immigrate from Armenia to America (the article doesn't make it clear if he was legal and his visa lapsed, or originally illegal). Sixteen years later he has virtually no knowledge of his "home" country -- but did become valedictorian of his high school class.
I agree -- the only proper response is to deport him. If you don't crack down on toddler misbehavior, they'll never learn. And if there's one thing America needs less of, it's really smart people.
Articles that are stapled incorrectly. Staples in the upper right corner of an article are only appropriate if the article is in Hebrew. This article is not in Hebrew. Angering.
This is kind of neat. And apparently there are rumors it might presage the establishment of diplomatic relations between Israel and Bahrain. Which also would be kind of neat.
The Washington Post takes on a DC high school tradition: high schoolers who take to the Delaware beaches en masse after graduation to, er, celebrate for a week.
"I ask you: Is that a responsible parent?"
Perhaps not, but it sounds far more like over-policing to me.
"She started hanging out with white people, and she started smoking meth."
He complained of being persecuted by a "hate lynch mob" and finally asked, "How do I know what words I'm supposed to use in front of those people?"
Anyway, the whole article is good, and hopefully it will really stress to the high heavens the limits of the "I have good intentions" catch-all response to the idea that racism exists.


text:
The Protector Novel Levi Garrison Chapter 86 – 90
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Levi thought that Sarah believed it, and immediately said, "It must be true! The Garrison Group will be taken back tomorrow, can it take off?"
Levi stared at Sarah and said seriously: "To be honest, I can't understand everyone in the Logan family! But those are your family members after all, so I am going to give them another chance!"
"As long as they promise to stand with us tomorrow and accept the Garrison family's confession and apology. After the work is over, the Garrison Group will take them to make a fortune, and I will work hard to push the Logan family to the front line of Case York, so that the Logan family will become a real giant!"
Listening to where Levi is bragging, Sarah is really annoying.
All this is absolutely impossible.
First, the Garrison family will not apologize.
Second, Levi couldn't defeat the Garrison Family at all, let alone the Garrison Group.
But considering the last day, she didn't interrupt.
"Okay, then you give the Logan family another chance!"
Sarah smiled.
Levi dialed Doug's phone.
"Levi, what are you doing? Help? I tell you, no way!"
Doug's angry voice came from inside.
Levi smiled: "Looking at Sarah's face, I'll call you grandpa! I'm going to give you a chance! As long as you stand with me tomorrow, I promise that the Logan family will replace the Garrison family!"
"Go away, crazy! Is there a bag in the skull?"
Doug's angry roar came from the other end of the phone.
Later, Levi called Dale again.
As a result, Dale scolded Levi.
"In addition, tomorrow I will come to pick up Sarah, you want to die and die by yourself!"
"Dududu…"
Finally Dale hung up angrily.
Levi was quiet now.
The Logan family missed the best opportunity ever!
This must be the result.
Who would believe all this?
Unless he is a fool!
Sarah laughed and said: "Well, rejecting you is their biggest regret in this life! We gave him the opportunity to not want it!"
"Well, indeed, the Logan family missed it."
At night, before going to bed.
Wesley called.
"General! The commander-in-chief of the First Army of the Case York Military Region just sent a message saying that everything is ready! The 100,000 people you want are ready to go!"
Levi said: "Okay, listen to my orders!"
The next day, Levi and Sarah both got up very early.
Driving Sarah's car to Erick's grave.
On the way, Sarah saw military vehicles passing by and rows of soldiers running forward. The scale was beyond her imagination.
Let me estimate that there are tens of thousands of people who have seen it.
The military vehicles lined up in a long line, I don't know where the heads and tails are.
In addition to helicopters flying around in the air, there were also bombers flying by at low altitude, making a huge humming sound.
Sarah was surprised: "Is this going to be a military exercise?"
Levi smiled and said, "It should be."
"This scale is too big, right? I have never seen such a scene!"
Sarah was shocked.
This aircraft, artillery and everything are coming.
Soon, the two came to the grave.
The old nine had finished repairing the tomb, and Levi also erected a tombstone.
Sarah paid homage to Erick.
By now, Sarah couldn't believe that Levi could defeat the Garrison Family.
Is he alone?
I thought that Levi would find someone to help him, but now that no one can see it, Sarah is completely disappointed, no, desperate.
Sarah was also relieved.
Originally, he died with Levi.
What do you care about so much?
Soon after, a Haval galloped in.
Dale and Edith got off the car.
Levi thought that Dale had figured it out and would stand with him.
Unexpectedly, Dale grabbed Sarah and pulled into the car.
Sarah exclaimed: "What are you doing, Mom and Dad? What are you pulling me for?"
"You can't stay here to accompany this waste to death!"
Dale roared.
"Yes, you must go with us! You can't die with him!"
Edith grabbed Sarah tightly.
Sarah finally realized what his parents were doing.
They want to take themselves away.
Seeing that he was about to be dragged into the car, Sarah was anxious.
Sarah struggled, calling for help at Levi: "Levi, help me! Help me!"
"He dare? If he dares, I will die with him!"
Dale gave Levi a fierce look.
Levi looked at Sarah with a cold face and did not take any action.
Finally, Sarah, who struggled to no avail, was taken into the car, Dale controlled her, and Edith drove away.
Looking at the lonely Levi through the car window, Sarah cried with rain.
In her opinion, it is very likely that after this time, there is a separation between heaven and man.
But no matter how she cried, Dale never let go.
After bringing Sarah home, Dale and Edith watched them in person.
Bringing Sarah back is also the meaning of the Logan family.
There is no need to accompany Levi to die.
Due to the separation of relations with Levi, the Logan family will not go today.
Wait until Sarah leaves.
The five kings of the Wesley, Alton, Suzaku, Ron, and Owen appeared, and they all wore black suits.
Wesley also brought Byron and his wife.
"Miss Logan left?"
Wesley asked.
"It's okay to leave, for the time being I don't want to disclose my identity!"
Levi said.
Alton approached Levi and said, "General, the commander-in-chief of the First Army is here, everything is ready! They are stationed three kilometers away and will be there in ten minutes!"
Hearing this, Levi nodded: "Well, let them wait for my order!"
"understand!"
Alton nodded.
At this time, Lao Jiu came, but he didn't bring many people.
Those who came were all big guys like Sanye.
These people also wore suits one after another, and they stood beside them after getting a signal from Levi.
Wesley stood next to Levi and said, "The general has just received news that the Garrison family is about to leave."
At this time Yejia Manor.
Charlie and all the Garrison family members are ready to go.
Edmund couldn't wait long ago.
His son Garrison Yaoyang is still lying in the hospital. It is said that there is little hope of waking up.
He vowed to smash Levi's body into pieces!
As for Garrison Nanhui's always gentle appearance, there was a smile at the corner of his mouth, which looked very unpredictable.
Van and Colleen looked at each other and laughed: "My brother I was able to beat you to a crippled six years ago. This time, I beat you to a crippled! Do you remember this baseball bat? Yes, that's right. Abolished your root six years ago! Hahaha…"
Van smiled cruelly and put the baseball bat in the trunk of the car.
Ramond and his wife Boyd Wanruo also sneered: "Son! If we hadn't picked you up, you would have died! Now you still want to kill your father and mother? It's ridiculous!"
At this time, Guo Lingfei and the three also came here.
"Hurry up, we can't wait for Levi to make a fool of yourself!"
Charlie leaned against the car door, leaning on a leading cane and waiting.
"Father, all of us are ready! All the mercenaries invited by the third child are also in place!"
Ramond said.
Charlie nodded: "Well, the people of the Garrison family alone can kill the old nine many times, not to mention Du Yuesheng and others! This time, I will kill Levi, and let Cox Hang know that I have the Garrison family. How powerful!"
"Father, Du Yue was born."
Garrison Nanhui ran over.
Sure enough, black cars were parked at the entrance of Yejia Manor.
The second is a Lincoln extension car.
The car door opened, and an old man walked down, wearing a black Tang suit and holding two night pearls in his hand.
He seemed to be in his twilight years, giving people a dying feeling.
But the light that comes out from time to time in the eyes is hard to ignore.
Especially at the moment when he raised his head, a heavy pressure like the top of the mountain spreads, making people unable to breathe.
He is today's No. 1 boss in Case York-the king of Case York, Du Yuesheng.
As the name suggests, the king of Case York is here.
Thirteen people followed Du Yuesheng.
The Thirteen Taibao, known as the invincible hand of Case York.
Thirteen super Lords!!!
The Thirteenth Taibao was once a big boss like the old nine, but later they were all conquered by Du Yuesheng and all worked under Du Yuesheng.
Not only that, but Nan Xiaodu also came.
He is a palm killer organization!
Seeing Du Yuesheng's arrival, Charlie immediately took all the Garrison family out to greet him.
With the Garrison Family's current abilities, he didn't dare to compete with him!
"Today, please come, Mr. Du, it's a strong and strong momentum, you don't need to do it at all! When you get out of the horse, you absolutely frighten Levi to be frightened!"
Charlie smiled.
Du Yuesheng didn't care about it, so letting him come forward today is definitely an overkill.
He looked at Charlie and asked, "Where is the project you mentioned?"
Charlie immediately said: "Tomorrow! It can be done tomorrow!"
It turned out that a lucrative project from Garrison's family got Du Yuesheng's face in exchange for it.
"it is good!"
Du Yuesheng nodded.
Soon, another car came here.
A middle-aged man got off the car.
"This is the smiling Buddha who controls half of the Case York entertainment club! He is very low-key, but on the Case York Road, no one is his opponent except me!"
Du Yuesheng introduced a middle-aged fat man headed by Garrison Jia. The fat man smiled, very kind, but cruel.
"This one is the eighth Lord in the jade jewelry business. His influence is all over Case York, and the old nine has suffered a big loss in his hands!"
"This one has a lot of background. There are six casinos in Hong Kong, Macao and other places, Jiang Qingming and Jiang Lao who are involved in any business!"
With the introduction of Du Yuesheng.
The eyes of everyone in the Garrison Family were about to fly out.
This time there are all the faces and figures in the underground world of Case York!
Levi's backing is only one of the forces. There are more than a dozen of them that can compete with the old nine and five, and many are better than the old nine.
Adding these people together and combining the Garrison Family's forces, it can be said that a hundred Levi can hardly escape the sky.
Du Yuesheng glanced at his watch and sneered: "The time is up, let's go!"
"set off!"
Immediately, a long line of cars set off to Erick's cemetery.
Many people were surprised when they saw the caravan lined up in a long queue.
What's the big thing happened to the city?
When the Logan family knew about this for the first time, they all started to cry.
"Du Yuesheng, Laughing Buddha, all the eighth Lords have gone, it's too scary!" Earl trembling.
Doug took a deep breath: "Oh my God! This time Levi is in a disaster!"
"It's terrible! It is said that thousands of thugs have gone!"
"Fortunately, we cleared up the relationship in time, otherwise my Logan family will be destroyed!"
Nick took a breath.
Mike laughed: "Levi, you are really naive! What are you fighting against the Garrison Family? Garrison Family is now invincible!"
The team leader on the city Road has been known to many people, and Sarah has also received the news.
Seeing so many people driving there, Sarah's tears started to cry dry.
How could Levi deal with this alone?
"You are not allowed to go out, even if Levi is dying today, you can't go out!"
Dale and Edith stared at her tightly.
The Garrison family and Du Yuesheng's army headed to the cemetery mightily.
On the way, Du Yuesheng talked to Charlie: "This kid Cross Tianlin is not here."
Charlie said with a smile: "He is a hidden boss, I don't want to participate in this kind of trivial matter."
Du Yuesheng smiled: "That is, if it weren't for the face of the project, I would never show up."
Before Erick's grave, everyone was waiting.
Byron and his wife were a little worried, and couldn't help but persuade them: "Why don't you forget about King's Landing? The Garrison family is too strong, after all, the arms can't twist the thighs!"
Levi smiled: "Uncles and aunts don't worry, I don't care about the small Garrison family!"
Lao Jiu, San Garrison and others also smiled and said, "No matter who comes across, you have to kneel here obediently!"
Soon, there was a roar.
Everyone sees a long queue of cars appearing here. Fortunately, there are plenty of open spaces around, enough for these cars to stop.
Byron and his wife were stunned as they counted the number of vehicles. To say nothing, there must be hundreds of them!
Many cars are still vans and trucks.
The number of people inside… can't imagine the number!
The vehicles in front are all extended luxury cars.
The door opened, and Charlie and others got out of the car slowly.
Everyone in the Garrison family held their heads high and was full of spirits.
Their purpose today is not only to solve Levi and Lao Jiu, but also to show the powerful power and connections of the Garrison family to the entire Case York!
They were so arrogant that they didn't pay attention to Levi at all.
After seeing these people getting off the bus, Old Jiu, Sanye and others changed their colors.
"the city Wang Du Yuesheng… Nan Xiaodu… Laughing Buddha… Eighth Lord… Jiang Lao…"
They screamed out the names of these bigwigs.
On the Case York Road, these talents are the real bigwigs. Compared to them, the old nine-thirds and the others are just gangsters who can fight.
Anyone who jumps out here can destroy them.
"I don't know what conditions the Garrison Family made, so many big men gathered together!"
Old Jiu took a breath.
Seeing the surprised eyes of Old Nine Third Lord and others, everyone in the Garrison family laughed.
Sure enough, as they expected.
The old nine and these people saw Wang the city as if a mouse saw a cat.
Tianke can't help it!
But seeing where Levi stood, it was like a spear, standing upright, swallowing mountains and rivers with anger.
The Garrison family was angry.
"Levi, you haven't even realized the danger is coming!"
Charlie sneered.
Seeing the Garrison family look at herself, Levi nodded with a smile.
Van and Colleen chuckled, "How can you laugh later?"
"Yes! Your patron Laojiu is just an ant!"
Ramond and his wife can't stand it anymore.
And Du Yuesheng, these bigwigs, are just side-by-side.
The real trump cards are naturally those under them.
"Hi! Thirteen Taibao appeared together! This is the first time!"
When seeing the thirteen people slowly walking behind Du Yuesheng, Old Nine Third Lord and others took a breath.
The Thirteen Taibaos are well-known super Lords on the Case York Road. One or two ordinary things are enough to suppress and balance. There has never been a situation where five Thirteen Taibaos have appeared together. This time all the 13 Taibaos have appeared, which is known as the first time. what.
Behind the Thirteenth Taibao followed a large group of people with black pressure. At first glance, there were hundreds of people, all wearing black clothes and wearing a scorpion style around their waist.
Du Yuesheng took out all his hole cards, and a total of five hundred thugs gathered!
Not only that, but the smiling Buddha, Ba Garrison and Lao Jiang's men all appeared, all following the Thirteenth Taibao, and they came across together.
There are thousands of people in total!!!
Such a battle is definitely the first time!
The Garrison Family is also worth it!
They also get all the hole cards.
Including guards, bodyguards, and even they spend money to hire a lot of security.
Together, there are 500 people.
In order to be cautious, Garrison Nanhui specially hired a mercenary organization. Although there were only a few dozen people, it had all the weapons and had super combat effectiveness.
Now everyone added together, there are also two thousand children.
Old Jiu San Garrison and the others were frightened, their hearts throbbing and throbbing, and they were about to fly out of their throats.
There are too many people!
Byron and his wife were even more frightened…
After all, there are too many people.
Looking at the crowds of people behind him, Du Yuesheng sighed, "Old Garrison, I made a big fuss! One-tenth of the people can handle it!"
Charlie smiled embarrassedly: "It made King the city laugh. I'm more cautious to avoid all possible mistakes!"
"Well, today, I, Du Yuesheng, will give you great power!"
With a wave of Du Yuesheng's hand, nearly 2,000 people blocked the water surrounding the cemetery. There were three floors inside and three floors outside, and no bird could get in.
The eyes of these thugs were full of killing intent, and the weapons around their waists were gripping tightly.
As long as an order is given, they will definitely rush forward and chop these people into pieces.
Du Yuesheng took a step forward and sneered: "Old Jiu Hongsan, don't you kneel down?"
"Yes! Old Jiu Hongsan, you have eaten Zionxin Leopard courage! Your little strength also wants to compete with us!"
Eighth Lord, Smiling Buddha and others sneered.
The old nine and the third Lord were passionate, watching Du Yuesheng sneer and said: "The King of the city usually respects you three points! But today it is impossible!"
"It seems that you are going to protect Levi to the death?"
"I don't know what benefit he gave you? It made you work so hard!"
Du Yuesheng laughed.
Old Jiu sneered: "Du Yuesheng, you never understand, what kind of existence are you facing today?"
Hearing this, the whole audience burst into laughter.
"Isn't he just a trash who just got out of prison?"


Also, I was super brave the other night as my job had a gettogether for all coworkers at Gröna Lund (the fun park). We competed, ate, had fun and most importantly - I tried on a new ride that I swore I would never get on. It's new for this year, called Eclipse (the worlds highest starflyer), and measures 400 feet tall. I was completely terrified the entire time, but I did it and I am insanely proud of myself!
Lots has been going on, everything from Marie visiting from Paris, to my mom's 50th birthday, Valborg, and my own birthday. I had a wonderful birthday, thanks to lots of unexpected awesomeness. Had told my parents to not come sing for me in the morning (I'm turning 21, gotta grow up some time) but still they surprised me with cake and presents and singing early in the morning, and I loved it! I can't believe how much that meant to me.
Oh have I had a wonderful weekend or what??
Thursday was just filled with school from 8am-5pm, and then headed straight over to my parents for my mom's birthday party, where tons of relatives, friends and neighbors showed up to celebrate my mom turning 50! Happy Birthday mom!
Sunday passed quickly, but suddenly I stood there and had to say goodbye to all of the wonderful kids, parents and friends I have made over the past 5 semesters. It's been a wonderful time and I really hope I can come back some day. I sure know it's taught me a lot and I hope to keep in touch with both parents and fellow instructors!


text:
Home›Destinations›Asia›India›Mumbai›Things to See›Marine Drive & Chowpatty Beach
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Mumbai› Attraction
Marine Drive & Chowpatty Beach
Marine Drive (renamed Netaji Subhash Chandra Marg) follows the sweeping curve of sea that stretches north from Nariman Point's high-rise buildings to infamous Chowpatty Beach, located at the foot of Malabar Hill. It's the ultimate seaside promenade, where Mumbaikars come to escape the claustrophobia of central Mumbai, gratefully eyeing an endless horizon while strolling or jogging along the broad windswept promenade. In the evenings, casual, single-item snack stalls are set up for brisk trade; a stroll along here also takes in the world's second-largest stretch of Art Deco buildings (in future years, there'll be heritage plaques identifying the most significant of these). Having undergone an extensive refurbishment and general neatening-up in recent years, there's another huge beautification project on the back-burner (apparently buried under a deluge of bureaucratic mismanagement) that will, among other things, include open-air galleries and improved walkways, and at Nariman Point, a breakwater promontory will extend 280m (918 1/2 ft.) into the sea, culminating in a stepped amphitheater. Even before all that happens, this is the city's ultimate sunset spot, when -- having watched the orange globe sink into the Arabian Sea -- you can witness the street lights transform Marine Drive into the aptly named Queen's Necklace, a choker-length of twinkling jewels adorning Back Bay. The scene is perhaps best enjoyed with cocktail in hand at one of the Drive's classier establishments -- the InterContinental's rooftop lounge and restaurant, Dome, is where you should be.
Once the sun has set, catch a ride (or walk) north along Marine Drive to Chowpatty, Mumbai's oldest seafront. Chowpatty is no longer the filth-ridden extravaganza its long-acquired reputation suggests (though it's still not in any state for sunbathing or swimming), and at night it assumes the demeanor of a colorful fair. Children of all ages flock to ride the ancient Ferris wheels and tacky merry-go-rounds, and fly-by-night astrologers, self-styled contortionists, snake charmers, and trained monkeys provide the flavor of the bazaar -- and bizarre -- especially on weekends. This is where locals love to consume the city's famous street snacks, especially bhelpuri: crisp puffed rice, vegetables, and fried lentil-flour noodles doused in pungent chutneys of chili, mint, and tamarind, then scooped up with a tiny, flat puri (puffy deep-fried bread). Chowpatty bhelpuri is renowned throughout India, sold here by the eponymous bhelwallas, who now ply their trade in Bhel Plaza, where other traditional treats like kulfi are on offer at dirt-cheap prices.
Note: It's inadvisable to eat here -- unfortunately, flavor, not hygiene, enjoys top priority. However, after you've watched the multitudes gorging vast quantities of assorted snack foods, cross the street and get your own chaat (as bhelpuri and similar snacks are called) at Cream Centre (25 Fulchand Niwas, Chowpatty Beach; tel. 022/2367-9222 or -9333; noon-midnight). For close to 50 years, this vegetarian snack place has been serving up delicious food -- so good, in fact, that whenever you pass Chowpatty Beach in the evening, you'll see a queue of people waiting to get in. Alternatively, make a meal of the signature channa bhatura (spiced chickpeas and a large puri), a typical Punjabi dish that is made everywhere but rarely so well as here. When you're done, step out of the restaurant, turn left, and walk down to the end of the pavement to a hole-in-the-wall (but very hygienic) juice shop called Bachelorr's (yes, with two r's) for deliciously refreshing seasonal fresh fruit ice creams and juices -- but do make sure you ask for your juice without ice, water, or masala.
To experience Mumbai at its most exuberant, head to Chowpatty Beach for the culmination of Ganesh Chaturthi, the city's biggest and most explosive celebration. Held in honor of the much-loved elephant-headed god (here called Ganpati), the 10-day festival culminates on the last day, when a jubilant procession is held and thousands of huge Ganpati idols are immersed in the sea. Ganesh Chaturthi is held in September; for exact dates contact the Government of India Tourist Office, and to whet your appetite).
Marine Drive's pedestrian promenade flanks Mumbai's western seaboard, stretching from Nariman Point in the south to Chowpatty Beach some 3km (2 miles) north.
Touching God -- There were still hundreds of people streaming onto Chowpatty Beach for the finale on Monday, when idols of Ganpati are immersed in the sea. I had expected to see the shore where it normally is, but today it extended another quarter-mile -- thousands of people were already in the water! Trucks with 6m-high (20-ft.) Ganesh idols lined up on the sand, awaiting their turn alongside families wanting to drop their small, lap-sized idols into the sea. Engulfed by teeming masses and deafened by the sound of singing devotees and driving drumbeats, Vanessa and I locked hands so that we wouldn't lose each other. As we navigated the crowds, one of the large Ganesh idols rocked forward off its flatbed, prompting a small stampede as people standing nearby tried to escape. Luckily, the men holding the ropes managed to steady and pull the giant idol upright. Hundreds of volunteers and security officials worked to maintain order, many thankfully eager to help two conspicuously foreign women -- one official even held an entire line of men at bay. As he ushered us to a less crowded space, a giant Ganesh adorned with plastic grass and flowers passed en route to the shore. The security guard watched the two of us admiring the decorations and asked, "Would you like to touch God?" "Sure!" I exclaimed. As I reached over to touch Ganesh's feet, I wondered why every Monday couldn't include an intimate moment with the divine.
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text:
Q: Construct dictionary from some elements in list in Python I have a list like this:
['db_name1', ['132K', 'user1'], ['8.0K', 'user1'], ['16K', 'user2'], 'db_name2', ['132K', 'user3'], ['292K', 'user3'], ['16K', 'user4'], ['132K', 'user4'], 'db_name3', ['132K', 'user5'], ['12K', 'user5'], ['16K', 'user6']]

For easier understanding, I'll print each entry as a row:
db_name1
['132K', 'user1']
['4.0M', 'user1']
['40K', 'user2']
.
.
db_name2
['132K', 'user3']
['3.6M', 'user4']
['48K', 'user4']
.
.

db_name3
['132K', 'user5']
['16M', 'user5']
.
.

Each row is an element from the list and it has some rows as strings (db_name) and the next rows (until next db_name) are lists containing two elements (size and username).
Is there a way to construct a dictionary like this?
{"db_name1" : { "user1" : ["132K", "4.0M" .....]
               "user2" : ["40K", "4.0M" .....]
             }
 "db_name2" : { "user3" : ["132K", "3.6M" .....]
               "user4" : ["48K", "4.0M" .....]
             }
}

How should I take respective db_names from the list and use them as keys for the dictionary, then add as value, for each one another dictionary containing username as key and respective sizes as value?
I have a list of indexes with positions for db_names entires inside the main list.
dbs_indexes = [0, 5, 23, 1360, 1364, 4124, 4680, 5294, 13212, 13219]

Should I use this to help with this?

A: Can you try the following:
final_results = {}
db_name1 = [
    ['132K', 'user1'],
    ['4.0M', 'user1'],
    ['40K', 'user2']
]
df1 = pd.DataFrame(db_name1, columns=['values', 'username'])
final_results['db_name1'] = df1.groupby('username')['values'].apply(list).to_dict()

You can do the same for other db_name's
Edit:
Entire code based on your example:
import pandas as pd

all_data = ['db_name1', ['132K', 'user1'], ['8.0K', 'user1'], ['16K', 'user2'], 'db_name2', ['132K', 'user3'], ['292K', 'user3'], ['16K', 'user4'], ['132K', 'user4'], 'db_name3', ['132K', 'user5'], ['12K', 'user5'], ['16K', 'user6']]

fil_data = {}
for item in all_data:
  if isinstance(item, str):
    key = item
    fil_data[key] = []
  if isinstance(item, list):
    fil_data[key].append(item)

final_results = {}
for key, value in fil_data.items():
  df1 = pd.DataFrame(value, columns=['values', 'username'])
  final_results[key] = df1.groupby('username')['values'].apply(list).to_dict()

print(final_results)

Ouptut:
{'db_name1': {'user1': ['132K', '8.0K'], 'user2': ['16K']},
 'db_name2': {'user3': ['132K', '292K'], 'user4': ['16K', '132K']},
 'db_name3': {'user5': ['132K', '12K'], 'user6': ['16K']}}


text:
Nintendo shared more information about two Monster Hunter games at their September 17 Press Event.
September Nintendo Direct Mini: Partners Showcase
Jonnathan Faura
At 3:28 A.M., September 16th, Nintendo announced on Twitter that they are going to hold the 3rd ever Nintendo Partners Direct the following day, at 10 A.M. EST, for roughly a 15-minute presentation of the games coming to the Nintendo Switch. At the presentation, they announced many games. Some games were exciting to see, coming from great and beloved series, others, not so much. Here's a full list of games that were shown: Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, Fitness Boxing 2: Rhythm & Exercise, Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny, Balan Wonderworld, Rune Factory 5, The Long Dark, Hades, Empire of Sin, and Sniper Elite 4.
It is a growing sentiment that this direct was not the best, at least to "Partner Showcase" standards. This direct lacked a large game reveal (I.e. Shin Megami Tensei V in July's Partner), and many of these games were games that we already knew were coming to the Nintendo Switch, such as Hades, which was shown in the Indie World in August. Many fans of Nintendo have been continuously disappointed in Nintendo, who just refuses to ever show their catalog for the rest of 2020 and early 2021. We only know of a few games that will release in 2020, we're in September but we don't know what their holiday games are. It's been over a year since the last major Nintendo Direct, which was held on September 4th, 2019. Fans are still patiently waiting to be shown what Nintendo has in store for the rest of the year.
PlayStation Presentation
On September 16th, Sony held a presentation showcasing the new PlayStation 5, showcasing new games, and announcing new games that will come that will come to PS5 and its predecessor, the PS4. The event started on 4:00 P.M. EST and lasted around ~45 minutes. The event started off with a reveal of the new Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy XVI (16), which does not have a set release date, but had g...
Most Anticipated Games
Basing off the reception from fans, I've gathered a list of the most anticipated games coming to the PS5 in November. Here is the Top 5, 5 being the most anticipated of all. Final Fantasy XVI. Final Fantasy is huge, one of the most iconic JRPG's in gaming history, and just plain fun. Although many are disappointed that the series still hasn't returned to its turn-based roots, they are still...


text:
Elizabeth Pipko To 'Post': Jewish Democrats Are Walking Away From Party
Elizabeth Pipko To 'Post': Jewish Democrats Are Walking Away From Party https://theexodusmovement.com/wp-content/themes/corpus/images/empty/thumbnail.jpg 150 150 Exodus Movement Exodus Movement https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/8b99c451615975e0dc34d6492a72b243?s=96&d=mm&r=g August 28, 2019 September 3, 2019
Exodus Movement
American Jews are turning their backs on the Democratic Party, claims Exodus Movement founder Elizabeth Pipko.
Speaking with The Jerusalem Post, the New York-born author, former athlete and model, 24, said that she feels many life-long Democratic Party voters are questioning their loyalty to the party and joining what she calls the sweeping #WalkAway wave, an American movement to abandon liberalism.
"The biggest trigger for people is the obvious disregard that many on the left have recently shown for antisemitic statements and actions," Pipko said, alarming rhetoric that "only a few years ago would have been immediately condemned."
Take for example recent statements made by Congresswomen Ilhan Omar, Ocasio Cortez and Rashida Tlaib against Israel and in favor of boycotting the Jewish state, she said.
"The BDS movement is a blatant attempt to delegitimize Israel's right to exist," Pipko said. "There is no place for any US elected officials to support a movement that stands against one of our closest allies and one of the freest countries in the world."
At one point in the past, the Democrats were "not only incredibly supportive of Israel but also of Jewish people and their rights here in the United States," she explained. But that is no longer the case, in her estimation.
"Supporting today's Democratic party just because of its values of many years ago does not make sense," Pipko continued. "The Democrats have changed and so should our support for them."
Pipko published her first book at 16. As a model, she starred in international campaigns and was featured in household name magazines, including appearing on the "Social Media Stars As Authors" panel at Book Expo America. This year, she won the "Fearless Female Award" from the Batsheva organization.
It was her volunteering on Trump's 2016 election campaign that brought to the forefront her strong convictions and she said paved the path to a political vocation.
"Trump inspired me to think for myself and not let politicians tell me what I should or shouldn't believe in," Pipko said. "More importantly, he supported Israel in a way I had badly hoped that a candidate would."
Pipko went on to found the Exodus Movement (originally named Jexodus). Now, three years after joining Trump's campaign, first as a volunteer and later as a staff member, she is regularly interviewed by Fox News and has been quoted repeatedly by the president.
In March, she appeared on Fox & Friends where she described Trump as "the best friend Jewish Americans could ask for."
Trump responded with a tweet in which he quoted Pipko saying "Jewish people are leaving the Democratic Party. We saw a lot of anti Israel policies start under the Obama Administration, and it got worse & worse. There is anti-Semitism in the Democratic Party. They don't care about Israel or the Jewish people. Elizabeth Pipko."
Read the full story at The Jerusalem Post.
All stories by: Exodus Movement
Elizabeth Pipko on Fox News discussing the choice Jewish Americans have in 2020
Lara Trump, Elizabeth Pipko team up for Exodus event, moving Jews away from Democratic party


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text:
#JasperHero Jay Fletcher: The Artist Behind The Jasper's Branding
The Jasper's distinctive brand identity was designed by Charleston graphic designer Jay Fletcher. Jay is known well beyond Charleston for his compelling logo design and illustration. The Connecticut-native has been impacting Charleston brands since 2004, and his career has expanded internationally, working for brands like Apple, The New York Times, NFL, and Google.
Rather than submit several individual concepts for The Jasper's brand, Jay took a unique approach. Instead, he provided a "wardrobe" of graphic icons that all work together. The customized serif font and color palette of bronze and Charleston Green are key details from the logo and patterns that Jay created to represent the brand. Looking closely, each element was purposefully designed to reflect The Jasper's story, luxurious experience, and Charleston's history. The talented local artist used his design choices to intentionally embody the elegant architecture and nature of this Broad Street building.
The star motif is a tribute to the Sergeant Jasper, the preceding residential building that existed on that corner of Broad Street. A large star of lights crowned the top of the building and was lit in conjunction with the Colonial Lake tree lighting for the celebration of the holiday season. This star became Sergeant Jasper's most recognizable icon that many locals still remember the old residential building by. It was important to incorporate the star as it pays tribute to The Beach Company legacy project, which was built by the original founder of the company, J.C. Long. The star symbol can also be seen throughout other parts of the building such as the rooftop pool mosaic tiling.
The classic Charleston Green represents a historic story that is illustrated throughout the Holy City's streets on countless building shutters and doors. The color became famous after the American Civil War, when buckets of plain black paint were sent by the government to cover up the damage from the war. Charlestonians responded to the dull gift by adding yellow and blue paint to create the iconic dark green. This hue quickly grew in popularity and can now be seen throughout the city. It became the clear choice for branding because of its timeless appeal and depiction of Charleston's classic high-style and history.
The Jasper team was proud to work with Jay, his humble personality and creative energy made him an incredible partner on this project. His talent helped shape The Jasper's unique visual branding for years to come.
Sights and Sounds of Broad Street: The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Live Large in The Jasper's One Bedroom Flats


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