text:
The Bachelor may refuse to talk politics, but virginity is a very political subject
By Veronicawalsingha
Last year, Refinery 29's Rebecca Farley explained, in impressive detail, how The Bachelor franchise has long skirted discussing politics in a substantial manner on any of its shows. The piece detailed how producers have steered contestants away from having political conversations with each other. When political conversations did occur—you know, between two people who would potentially be spending the rest of their lives together—they didn't make it to air. Not talking to your potential spouse about their political leanings is a bizarre idea. What may be even odder, though, is that the current season features Colton Underwood, whose defining characteristic is his virginity—and virginity is, in fact, very political.
To say Underwood's virginity is his defining trait on the show isn't a critique of his personality, but instead a critique of this season's exploitation of his virginity.
Before the season, ABC even released a promo image spoofing The 40-Year-Old Virgin with the tagline, "What does he have to lose?" Underwood's virginity was then mentioned 27 times (!!!) in the premiere alone. The rest of the season has been less exploitative depending on the episode. One thing was clear, though: This season of The Bachelor wasn't necessarily building towards the proposal, but rather towards the possibility of Underwood losing his virginity during the fantasy suite episode, which aired last night. Instead of having sex, Underwood expressed his love for contestant Cassie Randolph and finally jumped over the fence, which may have been the singular thing more teased than the possibility of Underwood losing his virginity. The promo for the upcoming "women tell all" episode features a contestant asking if he's still a virgin, a question that has been the driving force of this season.
Virginity may be an intimate topic and experience, but it is extremely, inherently political for a show that refuses to actually talk about politics.
After all, one of today's hottest hot button issues is abortion, and debates about it inevitability evolve into someone making the point that if a woman doesn't want to be pregnant, then she shouldn't have sex. The Trump administration is currently funding abstinence-based sex education, putting federal money into programs that promote abstinence-until-marriage lifestyles to teenagers. Virginity is also at the center of the incel movement, which gets its name from the phrase "involuntarily celibate." This movement has already led to several fatal attacks.
Of course, this is not to say that Underwood's virginity is a result of abstinence-based sex education or anything resembling the incel movement, but it is weird to mention virginity 27 times in a single episode without contextualizing such a politicized issue.
As for why Underwood remained a virgin into his late 20s, audiences were actually provided with little information about the core values surrounding his decision—other than his being preoccupied with professional football aspirations and wanting to wait until he was in love. If religious beliefs were a factor—which wouldn't be a stretch given Underwood has a scripture verse in his Instagram bio—that was not made clear on the show. (Religion, like politics, is a subject on which the show has remained mostly mute.)
The show did make a pointed effort to highlight Underwood's masculinity and sexuality, which subverted stereotypes about men who are virgins. But given how often Underwood's virginity was discussed and how complex decisions around sex can be, the show missed an opportunity to let a contestant really explore this on air. false
Beyond the franchise's focus on Underwood's virginity, it has explored other political topics from a personal lens. This season saw Caelynn Miller-Keyes confide in Underwood that she had been raped. It was a conversation that many praised for its sensitivity. The abortion issue was even subtly, very subtly, raised this season when Elyse Dehlbom disclosed that her sister found out she had cancer while she was pregnant, but opted to carry her child to term and receive treatment afterwards. These are heated political topics, but they are discussed in a specifically non-heated, non-political way. Miller-Keyes bravely recounted her sexual assault, yet it's unlikely the franchise would ever air any mention of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford's allegations against Brett Kavanaugh.
This approach—politically charged personal stories, but no politics—isn't unique to the current season.
On Nick Viall's season, Kristina Schulman recalled her immigration to the United States, yet comprehensive immigration reform wasn't a point of discussion. On Rebecca Kufrin's season, Blake Horstmann detailed his experience living through a school shooting, yet gun control wasn't brought up. Rachel Lindsay, the franchise's first and only Black bachelorette, had some frank discussions about racism and interracial relationships, yet something like the Black Lives Matter movement was never discussed—despite fans of the show discovering that contestant Lee Garrett had tweeted racist comments about the social justice movement.
These subjects may not need to be discussed on ABC's reality show about dating, but like Garret's tweets during Lindsay's season of The Bachelorette, politics became a major point of off-screen drama during Kufrin's season, too. In a series of tweets by former contestant Ashley Spivey, it was revealed that Garrett Yrigoyen had previously liked a meme suggesting that David Hogg, a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, was a crisis actor. Yrigoyen also liked a number of problematic memes with offensive remarks about feminism, gender stereotypes, transgender people, and the border wall.
This was never explored on the show itself, only addressed in interviews and statements by both Yrigoyen and Kufrin, who are now engaged. And while Yrigoyen stated his beliefs aren't actually in line with these memes, the couple didn't try to address how that kind of internet content has turned prejudices into shareable jokes, helping give rise to hate groups.
The franchise's refusal to discuss politics in a substantial way may be due to many different factors. It may be an attempt not to offend any part of a politically diverse audience. Or it may be that political debates would take away from the escapist factor of a show about roses and champagne and helicopter rides. There's also the fact that some of the contestants, who tend to be young, white, cis, able-bodied, and heterosexual, may not be very politically engaged because they are privileged enough to not be politically engaged.
Whatever the reason for the franchise skirting political issues, it remains a bit curious, and not just because one's political leanings should be something discussed with potential spouses.
Instead, it's even weirder that the show uses politically charged topics—virginity, race, rape, school shootings—for marketing, plot, and character development, yet never grants these people, these survivors, these voters, any air time to discuss the relevant underlying societal ills or government policies.
In the end, this season is about Underwood's virginity, but the franchise refuses to explore this, or really anything, through the lens of politics. Instead, The Bachelor has reduced his virginity down to jokes about extra virgin olive oil. Ha. Ha.
dating • entertainment • sex • the bachelor


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La capoeira es una vegetación secundaria compuesta por gramíneas y arbustos esparsos. El término, oriundo del tupi, designa la cubierta que nació en el lugar de vegetación cortada. Significa, literalmente, "mato del pasado", de ka'a ("mato") y uera ("del pasado").La capoeira se da principalmente en áreas de actividades agrícolas , en especial áreas de pastizales. Diferenciándose de un bosque primario, por no haber sufrido con desgaste causado por el hombre.

La etapa inicial de la sucesión
La etapa inicial de la capoeira pasa a existir en áreas donde ha habido la sobreexplotación de los recursos naturales, tales como, áreas degradadas para la cría de ganado o áreas a fines agronómicos. Esta etapa de corral comúnmente dura cinco años, pudiéndose prorrogar por más años, dependiendo del nivel de degradación del suelo. La vegetación tiene el predominio de plantas herbáceas anuales o bianuales, habiendo también algunos árboles pioneras de pocas especies, como por ejemplo,Cecropias (Cecropia sp.), vismias (Vismia sp.), y jurubebas (Solanum sp.).

La etapa secundaria de la sucesión
El desarrollo intermedio de la capoeira se produce entre diez a 20 años de edad. En esta etapa la vegetación llegan a una altura promedio de 8 metros y hay una gran variedad de especies, sin embargo, hay predominio de plantas pioneras, como los cierres, ingás (Inga sp.) y las cecropias (Cecropia sp.) y algunas herbáceas. Resaltando que esta variación de la flora varía de región.

Etapa avanzado de sucesión
Se Inicia después de 20 años de regeneración natural de la vegetación, en esta etapa avanzada de la sucesión de los árboles alcanzan una altura media superior a 10 m. Esta vegetación se caracteriza por ser leñosa, alta, tiene hojas durante todo el año, con algunas especies que pierden las hojas durante las estaciones más secas del año para evitar la pérdida de agua.

Bibliografía

 RIZZI, C. A. Investigações sobre a construção do fitônimo Capoeira: aspectos do campo léxico-semântico e geolinguistica indígenas. TradTerm, v. 19, p. 214-247, 2012, .
 SALOMÃO, R. P.; VIEIRA, I. C.; BRIENZA JÚNIOR, S.; AMARAL, D. D.; SANTANA, A. C. Sistema Capoeira Classe: uma proposta de sistema de classificação de estágios sucessionais de florestas secundárias para o Estado do Pará. Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Ciências Naturais, Belém, v. 7, n. 3, p.297-317, 2012. .

Biomas

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Error on dropdownlist.SelectedValue I am loading user control which has a dropdownlist inside it into a page(Mypage). I have set the EnableViewstate to False for the usercontrol.  Now the control loads properly and data also is properly bound to the dropdown.  On the save event of the page I  validate all the controls inside the User control.
                if(int.Parse(ddSuffix.SelectedValue) >= 0)
            {
 Suffix s = new Suffix();
                s.Description = ddSuffix.SelectedItem.Text;
                s.ID = int.Parse(ddSuffix.SelectedValue);
......
}

I get "Input string was not in a correct format." on if(int.Parse(ddSuffix.SelectedValue) >= 0)
P.S : Regardless of I select a value for the dropdown or not the ddsuffix.SelectedValue is "". Is this because I disabled the view state for the usercontrol?
HTML rendered looks like :
<select name="ctl00$DefaultContent$QuoteWizard$Customer1$ddSuffix" id="ctl00_DefaultContent_QuoteWizard_Customer1_ddSuffix" class="TextNormal" style="width:67px;">
                            <option value="0">Select</option>
                            <option value="1">Jr.</option>
                            <option value="2">Sr.</option>
                            <option value="3">II</option>
                            <option value="4">III</option>
                            <option value="5">IV</option>
                            <option value="6">V</option>

                        </select></td>

Thanks in advance
BB

A: Change int.Parse to int.TryParse:
int wSelectedValue;

if (int.TryParse(ddSuffix.SelectedValue, out wSelectedValue) {
  if(wSelectedValue >= 0)
  {
    Suffix s = new Suffix();
    s.Description = ddSuffix.SelectedItem.Text;
    s.ID = wSelectedValue;
......
  }
}

A: I would assume that the ddSuffix.SelectedValue is not a string representation of an integer, can you post the HTML that is rendered for the dropdown list?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The global shipping industry has been under pressure since long before the economic crisis. Rising costs and falling utilization of capacity are the prominent aspects of the fraught competitive situation. Even more now than ever, time is money, and consistent optimization of all operational processes is essential to survival. The pressure to meet repair and maintenance deadlines for freight ships is immense. Idle time for cleaning and renewing the outer shell coating is only a few days. Innovative technologies that efficiently treat process water offer a significant competitive advantage. Increasingly stringent environmental requirements, particularly in regard to waste water, mean that the washing water used in paint removal and its subsequent economic disposal play an even greater role. Legislators are currently working on stricter regulations intended to ensure complete proof of proper waste removal. An innovative mobile filter station has been introduced just in time: This trendsetting device minimizes the expense of treating waste water and properly disposes of the solid waste. The filter station was developed by the company Renetex S.r.L. in Bozen, which specializes in the development, production and sale of process water treatment equipment. The heart of the unit is the compact filter system MAXFLOW – made by GKD, Gebr. Kufferath AG – that combines filtration and briquetting in one device.


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Q: How can I fire a vue method directly within div element I am using blade for controlling some parts of the html with conditional rendering. For example if laravel session login exists then render a div that fires a vue method. In this way I will be able to open a login modal. Actually right now I am using vue-js-modal and generally open modals with $modal.show('login-modal').
What I am looking for is something like:
@if( session('openLogin') )

@endif

This is actually a simple task, perhaps I am overseeing something. Is there a convenient way for this or have I to create a custom (@on @emit) event?

A: Can't you created a method and then just do?:
@if( session('openLogin') )

{{method()}}

@endif

This should execute the method when it gets rendered.


Almost one-half of all vehicle investments in United States are actually financed. Few this with that said reality that 30 thousand Americans have credit report concerns and you see why there is actually such an interest in negative credit rating car loans.
While bring much higher rate of interest compared to prime lendings, poor credit score car loans are actually certainly not challenging to get. Even folks which have applied for personal bankruptcy can discover a good offer on auto funding if they look around. It does not matter if they buy brand-new or even used.
For assurance, protection as well as easy driving, there is actually absolutely nothing like getting a brand-new automobile. When you get brand-new, you have extra control over extra components compared to if you acquire a used motor vehicle. You will certainly likewise get a brand new manufacturer's warranty that lasts much longer compared to the stretched guarantee you could buy for utilized automobiles.
The hazard in acquiring new is acquiring "upside-down" on the negative credit vehicle loan. One method to avoid this is to have a good deposit– 20% or even better. One more method is to select a vehicle with higher resell market value. This will help decrease deflation.
Loss of value is the variation between the Supplier's Suggested Market price (MSRP) when you acquired the auto as well as what it is actually currently worth. A $25,000 automobile will decrease approximately 15% the initial year and in between 7% and also 10% yearly for the upcoming 2 years. Vehicles along with a distinguished nameplate keep their market value longer as well as are much less very likely to depreciate faster in comparison to the auto loan.
Buying a used vehicle makes good sense if you would like to keep your regular monthly remittances cost effective. Because utilized cars and trucks decrease slower compared to new autos, they make better short-term security for financial institutions. Nonetheless, some creditors will definitely minimize the car loan's phrase and also enhance the price on bad credit scores vehicle loan.
When you buy made use of, you have the possibility to get an even more expensive version compared to you could possibly afford if you acquired it new. For about the same quantity, you could possibly own a new Hyundai, a two-year-old Taurus, or a six-year-old BMW.
– For how long possess you had the lorry?
– Has the automobile resided in a mishap or even painted?
– When are actually the upcoming condition evaluation and also discharges exams due?
– Exactly how typically possesses the oil as well as filter been actually altered?
– Why are you selling the vehicle?
With the ease of the internet document method at websites like www.buyaauto.com, you may pre-qualify for a bad credit rating car loan just before you begin shopping for a motor vehicle. See to it to obtain sufficient money to cover all the prices related to the investment like dealer preparation costs, if you are getting brand-new, license plates, label as well as sign up costs, etc.
. Keep in mind that overall price is actually more crucial than the regular monthly remittance. Flexing the length of a bad credit rating auto loan will suggest paying for even more enthusiasm. For example, the settlements on a $20,000 loan can be lowered from $500 a month to $360 through expanding the term off 48 months to 72 months. Having said that, this will definitely set you back concerning $2,000 more over the lifestyle of the car loan, or 10 per-cent of the finance amount.


Having corrected a couple of flaws with Mr Surfacer 500 and sprayed the superstructure elements with white primer, a bit of a delay occurred. I do paint spraying in the garage to avoid domestic disharmony, and when the weather turned frosty, rather than risk paint drying problems, I waited for things to warm up a bit.
A brief window of opportunity then allowed me to get some paint on the superstructure. The rear half of the funnel, which should remain white, was masked off. Vallejo Beige 008 was the colour selected for the superstructure elements and was airbrushed on. The windows on the wheelhouse were painted with Vallejo Dark Sea Blue and the deck hand brushed in Vallejo Flat Green. When it came to the orange stripe I opted to use some orange decal strip on a generic sheet from Model Art. The idea was that this would ensure an even stripe without having to mask off around lots of angles with the risk of the paint bleeding under the tape where there were joins. This worked well on the longer runs, but when it came to the angles there were just as many problems as if the masking option had been chosen!
I have made a decal sheet using the inkjet paper from Bare Metal Foil with various styles of windows. The appropriate size and spacing was chosen to make the windows on the bridge structure. This works quite well, but I have never been able to seal the decals well enough to make them completely impervious to colour bleeding. Fortunately I have discovered that literally dipping them into water and instantly removing them reduces this risk, but there is still the danger they will smudge when being moved on the model, or worse still, when spraying on a coat of matt varnish after everything is complete. I keep meaning to try with home printed decals on a photocopier or laser printer, but have never got round to it.
The main superstructure was masked off ready for the hull to be airbrushed with Vallejo Dark Prussian Blue.


text:
Alumni, Intel ISEF
ISEF alumnus created partnership between Merck and UVA
Raul Diaz (ISEF 1981, 1982, 1983) was a Vice President and Elkton, VA Plant Manager for Merck and Co. where he received positive attention in the community for creating novel partnerships between Merck and the University of Virginia's Department of Chemical Engineering. Merck staff members teach an elective class, "Biochemical Engineering Principles," at UVA, and third-year students can apply for a Merck internship and a Merck Engineering & Technology Fellowship, which includes a $5,000 grant to be applied to the student's university fees. Raul is now VP and Plant Manager at Merck's Xochimilco, Mexico site.
Can you tell us about your experiences at ISEF in the early 1980s? What was your favorite moment while participating in the event?
Participating in ISEF was a dream come true for me – you hear so much about a unique place every year, where the finest of worldwide youth research comes together, where in a few days you can catch up with what young minds are thinking about when it comes to science, engineering and math. For me back then, as now, that notion is second to none. I met so many new friends that shared my passion for science, top researchers and officials from around the world that provided rich guidance and feedback, and on top of that, had the ability to compete for prizes (which in the early 80's were not as substantial as they are today!). I thought that nothing could compare to this combination of winning factors.
How could I dare miss this yearly opportunity? I remember this feeling of excitement that started to build the very day that ISEF was over, because I was thinking about the many plans I needed to execute in order to be there next year. But the best feeling was the one that came from knowing that I was also representing the youth of my country, Puerto Rico; that I was in a way telling the world, "here we are, and great science also happens on our tiny island…"
All my experiences at ISEF were incredibly rich – I especially remember our discussions on the floor, with the judges, but also with fellow students from all over the globe. Knowing that so many people were interested in the same things was inspiring, almost overwhelming, and certainly my biggest motivator to go back and visit with this community as much as possible – that, of course, and the continuation of my own research, and the possibility that through my work I could be contributing a little to a better world.
My favorite moment – this is difficult, because there were many – was probably arriving at the exhibit hall; it was all the energy, the enthusiasm, the smell of wood and boxes, and magic markers, and starting to get to know my neighbors and their projects – not only to "judge the competition," but to genuinely engage and understand.
Can you give a brief description of the projects you presented?
My ISEF work is divided in phase 1 and 2; phase 1 was all about math – I was studying regular polyhedra, trying initially to come up with new ways to measure traditional mathematical characteristics of these solids, and later attempting to describe a "new" regular polyhedron.
Phase 2 comprised my personal discovery of the connection of math, physics and biology, and that let me to present twice at ISEF about my research on the regulation of temperature in the eyes of cats. Essentially, we immobilized and anesthetized cats, and then probed different structures of the eye for changes in temperature while providing varying external stimuli. Eventually, we evaluated the collected temperature trends with known anatomical and physiological characteristics of the eye in an attempt to explain the observed temperature maps. We ended up concluding that certain parts of the eye, like the sclera, effectively aid in the temperature control mechanisms of the eye, proposed regulation approaches, and further studied the likelihood of our proposals via anatomical and biochemical means (in this case using the lens of rats). These last two years of research presented at ISEF were partly funded by a grant from NSF – I was part of an amazing program called PECES at the Ponce School of Medicine.
What has propelled you to continue with science over the years?
For me, science is about being curious about something, and then searching for the truth, systematically and methodically. The joy of discovery, of finding out the way things work, or simply learning something new, perhaps unexpected, has motivated me for as long as I can remember. Added to this mix are "people" – my teachers, my mentors, my bosses, my peers; I've been blessed to be surrounded by extraordinary people that guided me, and truly challenged me, and taught me the wonders of science.
Can you tell us more about your education, career path, and what you have been up to since ISEF?
Immediately after my final year at ISEF, I continued my research at the Ponce School of Medicine in my hometown and eventually completed various papers that were published. I attended college at the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez pursuing a degree in Biology, while also actively mentoring high school students from throughout the island during the summers, and every Saturday at the Interamerican University of Puerto Rico in San German.
This was my way of diversifying my research interests, which during these times expanded into plant physiology, microbial ecology, and bacterial physiology, but I was also helping fellow students reach their dreams and giving back to a number of key institutions in my community that helped me, including ISEF. After finishing my undergrad, I enrolled in the Master of Biology program at the University of Puerto Rico, and eventually obtained my graduate degree in Biochemistry. It was during this time that I became really interested in metabolism, and ended up studying sugar utilization during the early stages of marine larvae, specifically those of Albula vulpes, better known as the bonefish. We were able to demonstrate how the larvae grow and develop in such an efficient way through some very particular pathways of galactosidase and galactose use.
It was also during this time that I got my first contact with the world of the pharmaceutical industry. Thanks to some of my work on the biochemistry and developmental enzymology of sugars in larvae, I ended up sharpening my skills on biochemical assaying, and during a graduate seminar at the Medical Sciences Campus of the University of Puerto Rico my particular skillset caught the attention of someone in my audience, who was visiting from Eli Lilly. Long story short, that summer I was working as a Laboratory Associate at Eli Lilly's campus and helping with some intricate biochemical problem-solving. I was hooked on pharma from that summer on – what impressed me the most was the very challenging questions the industry was trying to answer, as well as the professionalism of the people engaged in trying to solve those problems. In a nutshell, my conclusion was: I can fit in this industry! The rest is history.
Less than a year later, I was hired by Merck & Co., and started a very diverse, intense and challenging journey that is still going on. During the last 23 years at Merck, I've been able to explore all aspects of the pharmaceutical business, and I've decided that there's nothing like leading a manufacturing complex. The opportunities I have been given are incredible, but it is clear to me that all of it has been the consequence of the very same conditions that granted me my first opportunity to be part of ISEF: discipline, hard work, excellence and leadership.
As a Plant Manager and a Vice President at Merck you also have the opportunity to teach biochemistry and microbiology, as well as leadership courses at various universities. Can you briefly describe some of your favorite moments while engaging with students in scientific learning?
For me, it's always been, and will continue to be about the privilege any teacher has, under any circumstance, to peek into a young mind, just for a moment, to try to influence, to spark curiosity, to guide the right questions and to motivate learning – the best for me is when all of that happens. It's a unique moment when someone in the class looks at you, and you know his or her mind just turned on. This is when I try to step it up. I challenge, I provoke, and I also take the opportunity to drive home the connection between academia and industry, between the theoretical and the practical. This is something many students enrolled in degree programs in science and engineering still do not enjoy today, and it's so important. Because I've been in both ends of this equation, I feel a special responsibility to discuss the topic, and I respect very much what comes out of it.
What would be your advice to all students interested in science?
Find your passion, and don't be afraid if you are not exactly sure if it's the right fit. Explore, and experiment on what really attracts your interest. In the process you will learn and discover, and grow. Whatever you decide to do, put all of yourself into it – search, and read, and ask questions, seek advice, find a mentor, talk to friends, make new friends that share your interest. Keep going until you know you are on the right track to make your dreams of knowledge and understanding a reality, and then do it all over again. Never cease to strive for excellence and never let your need to learn extinguish!
Conversations with Maya: Wei-Hwa Huang

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
CSE assesses air quality and mobility initiatives in Indian cities
New Delhi, September 26, 2013
78 per cent of cities in India have particulate pollution levels that exceed the standards. Only two cities – both from Kerala – meet the clean air benchmark of the CPCB for PM10.
Bus transport ridership is declining. In Delhi, it has dropped from 60 per cent in 2000 to 41 per cent now.
Large numbers of people walk and cycle in Indian cities. Delhi has the highest number of cycle trips and Mumbai the highest number of walk trips. Small cities like Gangtok have taken progressive steps, while metros like Kolkata are trying to ban cycles on their roads.
Every year, Delhi needs an area the size of 310 football fields for parking its vehicles. Chennai needs space equivalent to 100 such fields, Chandigarh 58 and Bhubaneswar 30.
India needs over Rs 3,00,000 crore to refurbish and renovate its transport network. Governments are expected to foot half the bill, but can they?
These factoids are from Good News Bad News: Clearing the air in Indian cities – a book which was released here today by Harish Salve, senior advocate of Supreme Court of India and the Amicus Curiae on environmental cases. The book has been published by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
Put together by CSE's air pollution and sustainable urbanisation experts, the book provides a bird's eye assessment of the cities of India and how they fare on parameters such as air quality, public transport, walkability, parking policies and fiscal initiatives.
"Air pollution has become the fifth largest killer, and the seventh biggest illness burden in India as per the Global Burden of Disease report, released in 2013. Data from the new cancer registry, released by the Indian Council of Medical Research in 2013, gives chilling evidence of the high incidence of lung cancer in cities. Rapid motorisation, the face of growth today, is also hurtling cities towards energy guzzling and heat trapping gases. This book comes at a critical moment in the 'life-cycle' of Indian cities – it helps us understand how cities are moving ahead or stalling their progress, and what could be a possible roadmap for progress," said Sunita Narain, director general, CSE.
State of Indian cities
Smaller cities of India are experiencing a more rapid shift to personal vehicles, as they have not invested adequately in public transport. If two-wheelers are added to cars, the rate of personal motorisation in Indian cities has already exceeded that of the Western cities. Said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director-research and advocacy, CSE: "Sprawls and flyovers are now increasing distances, while one-way streets, subways and foot overbridges are pushing people, hawkers and street activities out. On isolated roads, safety of people is compromised to protect the car. At the same time, road design to increase the speed of cars is adding to the accident risk."
Taxes, fuel pricing and parking charges do not include the cost of damage cars impose on the society. On the contrary, the mass carriers like buses are made to pay more taxes for carrying more people as the government treats it as a commercial business, and not a matter of public good to be supported.
Added Roychowdhury: "We need measures to change urban design to make cities safe, more walkable, and public transport friendly." The CSE assessment has reviewed practices across the world, and finds that cities worldwide have started to take action to reverse the trend in travel choices. In Amsterdam and Copenhagen, the share of bicycle ridership has increased to 38 and 35 per cent, respectively, by displacing cars. New York is reclaiming space from cars to make pedestrian and public space safer, and it has one of the best public transport ridership among the US cities.
The most dramatic turnaround comes from the cities of China -- Shanghai, and Beijing have put a cap on the number of cars that can be sold in a year. Says Roychowdhury: "The experience in Beijing indicates the challenge of latent demand for cars; if allowed, it can bring the city to a standstill. Beijing now allows 240,000 new cars to be sold in a year, as opposed to 800,000 in 2010. But the actual demand is for 1,515,449 cars."
Adds Roychowdhury: "These trends set us on a search for evidence of action, and change in Indian cities. What are cities doing to turn the tide?" As the book points out -- India has begun to reflect the rethink. The National Urban Transport Policy (NUTP) has set the principle that cities should plan for people, not vehicles.
The assessment finds that the "action in mega and big metros is more layered, diverse and extensive. This is partly because of the attention they have, investments they have drawn, and strident and aggressive public opinion and media pressure. Initiatives in smaller cities are often singular or limited in scope but with strong potential."
About Delhi
Real time monitoring: Delhi has the largest capacity for continuous monitoring and reporting of tiny particles of less than 10 micron seize (PM10) and less than 2.5 micron size (PM2.5), nitrogen oxide, sulphir dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, ammonia and air toxics including benzene, xylene and toluene. It also reports data on toxics like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), benzene, lead and nickel as well.
Transparency in data reporting: Delhi has taken the lead to create a common platform to report data generated by multiple agencies including Central Pollution Control Board(CPCB) and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) from six monitoring stations. This provides real time data, 24 hour average status, historical data for previous seven days and so on. This is presented along with meteorological data including wind speed and direction, ambient temperature, humidity and solar radiation.
Builds bus ridership, arrests the slide: Among the mega cities, Delhi has demonstrated that with all its reforms in place, it has been able to achieve the maximum increase in bus ridership since 2009; as much as 25 per cent, reversing the trend of falling bus riderships.
Street design guidelines: Delhi has initiated steps to make a street accessible and safe, with space for various road users. The street design incorporates vending zones, three-wheeler stops, road furniture and pedestrian-oriented lighting, and is well integrated with other environmental elements including tree shade, water permeability etc. Crafted by the UTTIPEC, this is expected to be the basis of approval of future road projects in Delhi. If implemented with rigor and stringency, this can transform access network in the city. This can also improve safety in a city that is notorious for the highest incidence of road accidents in the country.
Autorickshaws and taxis: Delhi takes the lead by reversing the policy of capping the numbers of autorickhshaws -- Delhi government has, with the consent of the Supreme Court, has reversed the cap along with several reforms to make this service more organised. These vehicles have been put on GPS tracking system for enforcing proper metering and fare, safety, etc. The drivers are being issued smart cards for proper enforcement.
Protecting green spaces from parking: Delhi is developing a comprehensive parking policy as a restraint measure and also as part of transit oriented development guidelines. A noteworthy step that Delhi has taken is in barring parking structure in green areas and neighbourhood parks.
Says Narain: "These are the ideas of change – however small and however insignificant they may seem today. They are the harbingers of a different tomorrow. The challenge now is to learn from these experiences and to upscale the practices so that once again, we can have the great leapfrog – move from cars to no cars. Move from pollution to no pollution."
For more on this, please contact Souparno Banerjee at 9910864339 / souparno@cseindia.org.
CSE Good News & Bad News Book Release.docx
Three Wheelers
Two And Three Wheelers
Urban Air Quality
Delhi tops the country in fatal road accidents and in number of pedestrians and cyclists falling victim, says new CSE assessment
India State of the Environment Report : The Monthly Overview, September 2013
About Clean Air Portal


Students must earn 25 credits in order to earn the high school diploma and 26.5 credits to earn the Salvadoran Bachillerato. Seniors must take a full course load and pass all courses taken in their senior year in order to earn a diploma. All students must also successfully complete a social service requirement as directed by the Division Office. Students desiring a Bachillerato Diploma from the Salvadoran Ministry of Education must follow a prescribed schedule of classes. Courses offered, as part of the regular instructional program, will count as credit towards graduation. The national PAES test is a requirement for the Bachillerato Diploma.
Algebra 1 taken in the Middle School at Escuela Americana does not count as one of the four required mathematics credits in the Upper School. Upper School students must take a math course each school year at Escuela Americana.
**Computer skills are demonstrated through a competency test at Escuela Americana after finishing the Middle School computer curriculum.


It's been a long time coming, but it's finally available for purchase: The Bible and Disability: A Commentary, ed. Sarah J. Melcher, Mikeal C. Parsons, and Amos Yong. I just received my author's copy in the mail today (I wrote the section on Luke-Acts). It will be available in stores October 1, 2017, but you can order in advance.
The Bible and Disability: A Commentary (BDC) is the first comprehensive commentary on the Bible from the perspective of disability. The BDC examines how the Bible constructs or reflects human wholeness, impairment, and disability in all their expressions…. The BDC enshrines the distinctive interpretive imagination required to span the worlds of biblical studies and disability studies. Each of the fourteen contributors has worked at this intersection; and through their combined expertise, the very best of both biblical studies and disability studies culminates in detailed textual work of description, interpretation, and application….
I'm really honored to have contributed to this work, and I think it will be a great resource for the church. I hope you'll order your copy soon!
August 30, 2017 in bible, biblical scholarship, disabilities, disability, Down Syndrome, Uncategorized.


Don't miss these Seattle events! Here Lies Love, Veg Out & more!
As I prepare to take my 14-year-old niece to her first Cirque Du Soleil show (Luzia in Marymoor Park now through May 21 – review coming soon!), I wanted to stop by the blog for a quick hello to let you know of some great events coming up soon.
If you haven't had a chance to enter yet, scroll back through SeattlePockets to enter giveaways for Lady Rizo at The Triple Door on April 19 and the Seattle Cheese & Meat Festival on April 29. Word is the tickets for the afternoon Cheese & Meat fest are sold out and tickets for the evening session are nearly sold out.
One of my favorite event planners, Kelli with Shindig Events, is hosting "Veg Out" – a super awesome vegetarian event on April 13. You'll get to try some of the latest & greatest veggie foods from some of the best proprietors and chefs in Seattle and beyond. This event is at Canvas and is 21+ (stick around for the after party!) This event will donate to Whole Kids Foundation, who support schools and inspire families to improve children's nutrition and wellness. You know when Shindig Events is involved, it's going to be fun.
I've never been, the farthest west I've ever got was Chicago. As a Mainer, my frugal nature would probably have me seeking the best deals for hotels and dining.


text:
Q: Using Gin and JobRunner I'm using JobRunner for scheduler and Gin-gonic framework for my Golang project.
I have tried the package and it works. Problem is, when I would like to connect to my database, I cannot access the gin context inside the schedule function
func ScheduleUrl() {
   jobrunner.Start() // optional: jobrunner.Start(pool int, concurrent int) (10, 1)
   jobrunner.Schedule("@every 20s", CheckExpiredUrl{})
}

// Job Specific Functions
type CheckExpiredUrl struct {
// filtered
}

  // ReminderEmails.Run() will get triggered automatically.
func (e CheckExpiredUrl) Run() {
  // Queries the DB
  // Sends some email
  fmt.Println("Every 20 sec Check Expired Url ")

  db := c.MustGet("db").(*mgo.Database)
  urls := []models.Url{}
  err := db.C(models.CollectionUrl).Find(nil).Sort("-expired_at").All(&urls)
  if err != nil {
      c.Error(err)
  }
}

I need to use c *gin.Context inside jobrunner function, and how should I do that?

A: You can use jobrunner.Now(NowDo{}) and pass gin context into it


Please visit our website for specific hours and events.
With a trip to Museum Village, you can travel back in time without having to leave the Hudson Valley! This open-air historical museum re-creates life in the 19th century, complete with a blacksmith, candle shop, schoolhouse, and Harry, one of only three full mastodon skeletons in the whole world. You can spend an entire day living like your ancestors, and still make it home in time to cook a modern dinner.
Comfortable shoes and a sense of adventure.
• Primary source: A document, letter, newspaper, magazine, or diary/journal from a historical time period used to interpret and understand that time period. Photographs, film, paintings, music, and other objects can also be considered primary sources.
• Exhibit: A collection of objects or artifacts and images with written text explaining what they are and why they are important. Exhibits can also use lights, sounds, and even smells to help understand the subject.
• Artifact: A historical or period object used by people in the past. It can be an everyday item, something valuable, or even a piece of trash!
Math and economics: Write up a shopping list for your household. Then take it to the Merritt Store and compare today's prices to the prices in 1870.
Social studies: When checking out an artifact in the Natural History or another building, try to guess what the artifact was used for before you read the label. Then, try to figure out what modern invention replaced it.
1. Pour a pint of heavy cream into the jar and shake vigorously. You will likely need to switch off shakers among family members. Continue shaking until the butter has solidified.
3. Pour ice water over the butter and press the remaining buttermilk out with a spatula or spoon.
Keep rinsing and squishing the butter with the ice water until the water runs clear.
4. Add salt to taste and work it through the butter.
5. Spread over the snack of your choice and enjoy!


text:
Russell Brand's Revolution For Morons
The movie star's political manifesto is full of mistakes, misquotes, and is utterly misguided, unfunny, illogical, and unreadable. Watch the copies fly from the shelves.
Michael Moynihan
Updated Apr. 14, 2017 2:23PM ET / Published Nov. 02, 2014 5:45AM ET
Olivia Harris/Reuters
Russell Brand is done with acting. Let's be honest: how could he indulge the frivolous parties, the sacks full of cash, the slobbering fans demanding photos and autographs, when the planet is being molested by capitalism? When an economic chasm has opened up between rich and poor? The trappings of fame and the comforts of extreme wealth are utterly boring, especially considering that he already has them and, as he told a recent interviewer, it "makes me feel guilty."
Like Patty Hearst forswearing her privilege in favor of the revolutionary struggle, the multimillionaire actor recently declared that, "Profit is a filthy word" and promised to dedicate himself exclusively to revolutionary politics, with the aim of consigning capitalism to the dustbin of history.
Most of us have the benefit of growing up politically in private. Not too many people remember the naive and silly views we held; the late night college bull sessions (during which we discover that utopia is possible, if only they would listen to us kids) are forgotten in the haze of pot smoke and advancing age. But Brand, as he always reminds us, was doing a mess of drugs when all the other kids his age were at university doing a mess of drugs. So Che and Chomsky had to wait.
But now, two decades later, Brand is now doing the rounds promoting Revolution, a meandering and pretentious mélange of student politics, junk history, and goofy mysticism. Now he will just proselytize and wait. He's Lenin in Switzerland, Mao on the Long March, Castro in the Sierra Maestra.
Many of Brand's critics have noted that Revolution is full of vacuous nonsense, like his argument—if that's the right word—that the economy "is just a metaphorical device. It's not real, that's why it's got the word 'con' in it."
And there is always the easy-but-true charge of Hollywood hypocrisy. Sure, it's amusing that Brand rages about corporations and an economic system that has allowed him to loaf around a mansion muttering about the rich. More low hanging fruit: the $37 Russ-as-Che-Guevara t-shirts available on his website. Or how about when he was ejected from a Hugo Boss event for a spittle-flecked rant about Hugo Boss's complicity with the Nazi regime, never recognizing the irony of his triumphant escape in a black Mercedes?
Brand occasionally acknowledges the hypocrisy, but his defenders frequently praise him for "engaging" and "inspiring" young people to look critically at our rotten, corrupt, and crumbling political system. There is no evidence to suggest that this is true, of course, but what if it is? What sort of information is he imparting to young people?
In Revolution, Brand bemoans our "uninformed populace," while repeatedly proving his point with fantastically wrong information. It's unsurprising that he compares Rupert Murdoch and Donald Trump to Nazis, but if you have a habit of comparing your enemies to German fascists, it's probably best to know a little something about German fascism—like "everyone's favorite founder of the Gestapo, Hermann Göring," who was actually everyone's favorite founder of the Luftwaffe (the Nazi Air Force). *
Brand writes that after "the United States said there was an 'increased threat from Third-World nations who were developing technology' that could disrupt U.S. domestic serenity—really, they mean economic hegemony." The United States said that? When I attempted to source the quote, it existed nowhere but in Russell Brand's book.
On the following page he offers this baffling recapitulation of the Cold War's end, when Mikhail Gorbachev "allowed a unified Germany to enter NATO, a hostile military alliance, on the condition that, 'NATO would not expand one inch to the East,' the United States agreed. Then they expanded right into East Germany, likely giggling as they went." Wait, so a defeated Gorbachev "allowed" a unified Germany into NATO and then, like assholes, a unified Germany joined NATO?
We are told of "Black Elk, the Native American chief who wrote a now-famous letter to President Franklin Pierce in 1854," an "utterly ignored" proto-environmentalist tract. It was ignored at the time because the now-famous letter is also famously a fake. And Brand is confused: the phony letter is attributed to Chief Seattle; Black Elk would have a hard time writing to President Pierce, considering he was born more than a decade after he took office.
Many of the quotes are mysteriously sourced, apocryphal, or misattributed. Brand claims that, "Since Friedrich Nietzsche (deceased) declared, 'God is dead,' we've been exploring the observation of British writer G. K. Chesterton, who said, 'The death of God doesn't mean man will believe in nothing but that he will believe in anything.'" Brand rewrites the quote (the original: "When men choose not to believe in God, they do not thereafter believe in nothing. They then become capable of believing in anything"), which is from the pen of Belgian writer Émile Cammaerts, something he could have discovered in a few seconds of Googling.
Such confusions matter when reading Revolution, because the lessons of the past, Brand says, will inform the worker's state of the future. He has been criticized for calling for revolution without saying what will replace the ancien régime. Perhaps it will mirror the brutal Cuban dictatorship, whose "very existence," Brand writes, "is a rallying cry to other nations that corporatism can be beaten."
Indeed, Brand proclaims himself "a big fan of [Fidel] Castro and [Che] Guevara" because "they were sexy, cool, tough" and the fetid autocracy they imposed on the Cuban people "was a remarkable success in many respects." (Fidel is also described as being "double cool" for a four-hour, filibustering courtroom speech, while Che Guevara is described as a "dear, beautiful, morally unimpeachable" revolutionary.)
And what were those successes, in a country that routinely ranks as one of the least free countries on the planet? "Education for everyone, land sharing, emancipation of women, and equal rights for black Cubans." This latter achievement would come as a welcome surprise to black Cubans, who are second-class citizens—equal only in the sense that, like all Cubans, they too have no rights. And yes, education is for everyone—provided they want to read wooden agitprop about how education in Cuba is for everyone.
Ironically, Brand sees himself as an ideological soulmate of George Orwell, whose books are banned in Cuba. But in Revolution, he declares that, "Orwell agrees with me" about the menace of capitalism, launching into a painfully naive—and factually schizophrenic—précis of the Spanish Civil War.
According to Brand, Orwell "can't have imagined that when he was doing his packing [he would join the fight]. I bet he just took Typex and coloring pens, but within an hour he was tooled up and killing fascists." But Orwell went to Spain for the express purpose of killing fascists, as he makes clear in the book Brand is quoting from.
Brand thinks that, "Collectivization is the most exciting and replicable aspect of the Spanish Revolution, if you ask me and dear George." I suppose when you have a Wikipedia understanding of Orwell, you might not know that the collective was something that terrified dear George. As he wrote in 1944, "It cannot be said too often—at any rate, it is not being said nearly often enough—that collectivism is not inherently democratic, but, on the contrary, gives to a tyrannical minority such powers as the Spanish Inquisitors never dreamed of."
And like every great political halfwit, Brand inevitably invokes Orwell's 1984 to suggest that we have long since become Oceania, that Stalinism has descended on the West: "Orwell described a totalitarian regime where humans were constantly observed, scrutinized, and manipulated, where freedom had been entirely eroded, omnipotent institutions dominated, and every home glowed with the mandatory TV screen streaming state-sponsored data. Well, he was spot on, aside from a bit of glitter and the fact that we voluntarily install our own screens."
All of this is less surprising when you discover that much of the research for Revolution was provided by the disgraced journalist Johann Hari, who in 2011 was caught plagiarizing multiple columns, accused of inventing quotes, forced to resign his job as a newspaper columnist, and had a major British journalism prize (named after George Orwell!) rescinded.
But the real test of political stupidity is the indulgence, if not outright acceptance, of crackpot 9/11 conspiracy theories. And in Revolution, Brand slithers around trutherism, writing that the "World Trade Center collapsed in a way that some people say looked like a controlled demolition" and scratches his chin over "the mysterious, ignored 'third tower, building 7,' the signs of 'controlled demolition,' the nationality of all the terrorists, are all cause for question."
When asked by the BBC about his flirtation with 9/11 denialism—just asking questions, people!—Brand said he was "open-minded" about who carried out the terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, D.C., parrying with a predictable non-sequitur: "Do you trust the American government?" This is the conspiratorial mind using skepticism as a cloak for intellectual laziness.
Brand's notoriously clotted prose is still here, despite the gracious intervention of an editor. On BBC's Newsnight last week, Brand overcooked his matey English accent and spoke of "us ordinary people," attacking the bourgeois notion that verbs require proper conjugation. But in print, Brand writes like this: "This attitude of churlish indifference seems like nerdish deference contrasted with the belligerent antipathy of the indigenous farm folk, who regard the hippie-dippie interlopers, the denizens of the shimmering tit temples, as one fey step away from transvestites."
These are sentences that stupid people think are smart; a simple concept brutally assaulted by a thesaurus. When he hits upon a phrase he likes, the reader should prepare to be smothered by it. Scattered throughout Revolution, Brand denounces "the occupants of the bejeweled bus," "the bejeweled fun bus of privilege," "the eighty-five occupants of the bejeweled bus of privilege," "the occupants of the bejeweled bus," the "bejeweled bus with eighty-four other plutocrats," and a "bejeweled misogynist making money by moving ice." The writing isn't just excruciatingly bad, but exhaustingly repetitive.
But Brand isn't a writer, no matter how much he fancies himself one, so fairness demands we cut him a tiny bit of slack. He is, though, a comedian, so there is little excuse for the painfully limp jokes, often lurking at the end of a sentence in parentheses: "You know me, when I started this book I really thought I might be able to write my version of, I dunno, Mein Kampf (whatever happened to that guy?)"; "I mean, if Gandhi can write a letter to Hitler, lovingly requesting that he step back from genocide (that went well!)"; "He—remarkably and with a straight face—tied it in to 9/11 (you remember those towers; there were two of 'em, I think)"; "...that cuddly ol' Thatcher chum, General Pinochet—although if you ask me he wasn't that general; he was specifically a bit of a bastard."
The problem here isn't so much that Brand knows nothing about history, is politically naive, doesn't understand even the rudiments of economics, can't write, and manages 320 pages without producing a single laugh. It's that his self-righteousness often veers into the authoritarian.
If you find one of those rubes who believe in "compassionate capitalism," Brand advises that we "just nod, smile, and lead them to the sanitarium to begin their reeducation." A little joke, perhaps. Russia's brutal Soviet century—which produced famine, genocide, and 75 years of penury—at least "started off as a lovely ritualistic murder of the royal family and empowerment of the serf class." I suppose the murdering of children could be considered lovely—who am I to object?—and the shooting of disagreeable peasants might be deemed empowering.
As you might have guessed, I'm starting to not like the sound of Russell's Reich (see, anyone can recklessly allude to Nazism!), where every criticism is met with a dismissive accusation that the counterrevolutionary is blinded by corporate lies, a deluded lemming in thrall to the man.
Not only does Brand hate the man, but in a recent interview with the Financial Times he tidily summed up his ideology: "Do you know why I think the people of Scotland should have voted yes? Because Cameron wanted them to vote no. Do you know why I think we shouldn't be bombing the Middle East? Because they want to bomb the Middle East. Any single thing they tell me, I disagree with absolutely 100 per cent."
This is Brand's revolution. As long as they are for it, he's against it. It almost makes you want to root for the establishment, doesn't it?
* It has been pointed to me that Hermann Goering was, on paper, indeed the "creator" of the Gestapo. But as historian Edward Crankshaw points out in his book Gestapo, "those who think of the Gestapo as the creation of Heinrich Himmler are closer to the mark than the pedants," despite Goering technically running the organization—which was then a regional force, limited only to "police work" in Prussia—in the chaotic year of 1933. Indeed, it's rare to see Goering identified as the founder of the Gestapo (and not the Reichsminister of the Luftwaffe or the president of the Reichstag), and I think it's safe to assume the Brand is unfamiliar with these distinctions.


The influential Chicago band unveils a new video.
Califone's Tim Rutili wants you to contribute to a worthy cause.
An album and a film, ghostly and eternally tied together: this was the premiere of Califone's All My Friends Are Funeral Singers.
Pitchfork is known for swinging wide. It's not uncommon for the taste-making website to build up a band's reputation with a glowing review on one record, only to single-handedly destroy the group on their follow-up.
Here is the long-awaited trailer for Califone's new film/album All My Friends Are Funeral Singers. The band also just announced the first leg of their upcoming tour, which will feature rock concerts and live soundtrack film performances showcasing the feature length movie. Tourdates are after the jump.


We're only a 20-minute drive from the city of Trento and 30 minutes from the city of Bolzano.
A 15-minute drive from castel Thun.
From here you can reach in a short time the group of Brenta, the Val di Non valley with its expanses of orchards(the famous apple)the wildlife park of Spormaggiore , where are visible the bears, the characteristic sanctuary of San Romedio, etc.
With the cable car from the centre of the village you can reach the Monte di Mezzocorona, from which you can enjoy a wonderful panorama on the Adige valley or continue on to malga Kraun.
By consulting the map of Trentino Alto Adige, you'll find plenty of other destinations that will make you discover and appreciate this region.
Over the christmas period, our location will allow you to visit every day one of the famous Christmas markets different in each city, from Trento to Rovereto, Bolzano, Merano, etc..


text:
namespace MakeFriends.Data.Models.Enums
{
    public enum Relations
    {
        Single = 0,
        Engaged = 1,
        Other = 2
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Http Www Landsoftexas Com Property Hamilton Gholson Texas is free HD wallpaper. This wallpaper was upload at April 25, 2019 upload by admin in .You can download it in your computer by clicking resolution image in Download by size:. Don't forget to rate and comment if you interest with this wallpaper.


text:
SportFootball
Hartlepool United issue season ticket reminder as sales pass 1,200 mark
Hartlepool United season ticket sales have now passed the 1,200 mark almost seven weeks before the start of the new National League season.
Hartlepool United's home ground the Super 6 Stadium.
With roughly 3,000 season tickets sold last term, Pools are on course to surpass that figure in time for their season opener on August 3.
The National League fixtures will be announced on July 3, just two days before Pools' early bird season ticket offer deadline at 6pm on Friday, July 5.
Full season tickets are currently available at a reduced price of £250 for adults, £150 for concessions, £120 for under-19s, £75 for under-16s and free for under-12s when accompanied by a paying adult.
Pools boss Craig Hignett commented on the support his side have received: "The fans coming to the stadium at the end of last season was brilliant! It was so loud and vocal and we had some really good results. We won four of the last five at home so everything was on the up and it's important to continue that.
"I think the fans were enjoying the type of football the lads were playing but they could also see the effort they were putting in and as long as they give that week in, week out this season, the fans will stick right behind them."
Fans can purchase tickets on the club's website and from the Super 6 Stadium on weekdays between 10am and 4pm. More information is available at hartlepoolunited.co.uk.


2018 Poetry Prize #IRSpring Twitter Contest Winner!
After a successful round of tweets for our 2018 Poetry Prize #IRSpring Twitter contest, Indiana Review is happy to announce the winner and runner-up. While we received so many wonderful haikus, these two kept the spirit of spring alive for us as it seems we're going through a second winter here in Indiana.
Congratulations to our winner, @a_taiyib, who will receive free entry into our 2018 Poetry Prize as well as an IR prize pack!
The 2018 Poetry Prize is open until March 31st! For this Twitter contest, we're asking you to Tweet us a haiku about spring. It's a subject that's been visited by lots of poets…How will you make it new? If you're unfamiliar with the form, a haiku is a "Japanese verse form most often composed, in English versions, of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. A haiku often features an image, or a pair of images, meant to depict the essence of a specific moment in time" (Poetry Foundation). Be sure to hashtag your poem with #IRSpring. Entries are due by Sunday, March 18th.


text:
530 F.2d 103 (6th Cir. 1976), 75--1734, United States v. Warin
Document Cited authorities 22 Cited in 102 Precedent Map Related
Docket Nº: 75--1734.
Citation: 530 F.2d 103
Party Name: UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Francis T. WARIN, Defendant-Appellant, Second Amendment Foundation, Amicus Curiae.
Case Date: February 04, 1976
530 F.2d 103 (6th Cir. 1976)
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
Francis T. WARIN, Defendant-Appellant,
Second Amendment Foundation, Amicus Curiae.
No. 75--1734.
Argued Dec. 16, 1975.
Certiorari Denied June 21, 1976.
See 96 S.Ct. 3168.
Norman G. Zemmelman, Britz & Zemmelman, Toledo, Ohio, for defendant-appellant.
Richard A. Derham, Davis, Wright, Todd, Riese & Jones, Seattle, Wash., for amicus curiae.
Fredrick M. Coleman, U.S. Atty., Erie D. Chapman, III, Asst. U.S. Atty., Toledo, ohio, Harry H. Ellis, Regional Counsel, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, Cincinnati, Ohio, for plaintiff-appellee.
Before PHILLIPS, Chief Judge, and LIVELY and ENGEL, Circuit Judges.
LIVELY, Circuit Judge.
This case requires a determination of whether certain provisions of the National Firearms Act as amended by the Gun Control Act of 1968, 26 U.S.C. § 5801 et seq., are an invalid infringement on the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the Constitution which provides--
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
The defendant appeals from his conviction of the charge that he 'willfully and knowingly possessed a firearm, that is a 9 mm prototype submachine gun measuring approximately 21 inches overall length, with a barrel length of approximately 7 1/2 inches, which had not been registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as required by Chapter 53, Title 26, United States Code' in violation of 26 U.S.C. §§ 5861(d) and 5871.
At trial before the court, the following facts were stipulated to be true:
That on or about the 19th day of March, 1974, in the Northern District of Ohio, Western Division, Francis J. Warin willfully and knowingly possessed a firearm, that is, a 9-millimeter prototype submachine gun measuring approximately twenty-one inches overall length, with a barrel length of approximately seven and a half inches, which had not been registered to him
in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, . . . that submachine guns are used by the armed forces of the United States, and that submachine guns contribute to the efficient operation of the armed forces of the United States in their function of defending the country . . .. (T)hat the weapon involved in this case is a submachine gun . . .. (T)hat 9-millimeter submachine guns have been used by at least one Special Forces Unit of the Army in the Vietnam, . . . although they are not in general use. 9-millimeter submachine guns have been used by the military forces of the United States on at least one occasion during the Vietnam war . . .. (T)hat submachine guns are part of the military equipment of the United States military--. . . and that firearms of this general type, that is, submachine guns, do bear some relationship, some reasonable relationship, to the preservation or efficiency of the military forces.
The district court found that the defendant, as an adult male resident and citizen of Ohio, is a member of the 'sedentary militia' of the State. 1 It was not contended that Warin was a member of the active militia. The court also found that the defendant was an engineer and designer of firearms whose employer develops weapons for the government and--
. . . that the defendant had made the weapon in question, which is indeed a firearm as described in the Act. It is also clear from the evidence that the weapon was of a type which is standard for military use, and fires the ammunition which is in common military use for the weapons used by individual soldiers in combat. The defendant testified that he had designed and built the weapon for the purpose of testing and refining it so that it could be offered to the Government as an improvement on the military weapons presently in use. The weapon was not registered to him as required by law.
These findings are not disputed.
In United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174, 59 S.Ct. 816, 83 L.Ed. 1206 (1939), the Supreme Court held that the National Firearms Act of 1934 did not violate the Second Amendment. In its opinion the Court stated:
In the absence of any evidence tending to show that possession or use of a 'shotgun having a barrel of less than eighteen inches in length' at this time has some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia, we cannot say that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear such an instrument. Certainly it is not within judicial notice that this weapon is any part of the ordinary military equipment or that its use could contribute to the common defense. Id. at 178, 59 S.Ct. at 818 (citation omitted).
Warin argues that the necessary implication of the quoted language is that a member of the 'sedentary militia' may possess any weapon having military capability and that application of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d) 2 to such a person violates the Second Amendment. We disagree. In Miller the Supreme Court did not reach the question of the extent to which a
weapon which is 'part of the ordinary military equipment' or whose 'use could contribute to the common defense' may be regulated. In holding that the absence of evidence placing the weapon involved in the charges against Miller in one of these categories precluded the trial court from quashing the indictment on Second Amendment grounds, the Court did not hold the converse--that the Second Amendment is an absolute prohibition against all regulation of the manufacture, transfer and possession of any instrument capable of being used in military action.
Within a few years after Miller v. United States was announced the First Circuit dealt with arguments similar to those made by Warin in the present case. In Cases v. United States, 131 F.2d 916 (1st Cir. 1942), cert. denied sub nom., Velazquez v. United States, 319 U.S. 770, 63 S.Ct. 1431, 87 L.Ed. 1718 (1943), the court held that the Supreme Court did not intend to formulate a general rule in Miller, but merely dealt with the facts of that case. The court of appeals noted the development of new weaponry during the early years of World War II and concluded that it was not the intention of the Supreme Court to hold that the Second Amendment prohibits Congress from regulating any weapons except antiques 'such as a flintlock musket or a matchlock harquebus.' 131 F.2d at 922. If the logical extension of the defendant's argument for the holding of Miller was inconceivable in 1942, it is completely irrational in this time of nuclear weapons.
Agreeing as we do with the conclusion in Cases v. United States,supra, that the Supreme Court did not lay down a general rule in Miller, we consider the present case on its own facts and in light of applicable authoritative decisions. It is clear that the Second Amendment guarantees a collective rather than an individual right. In Stevens v. United States, 440 F.2d 144, 149 (6th Cir. 1971), this court held, in a case challenging the constitutionality of 18 U.S.C.App. § 1202(a)(1):
Since the Second Amendment right 'to keep and bear Arms' applies only to the right of the State to maintain a militia and not to the individual's right to bear arms,...


text:
Awaiting Input
September 20, 2019 September 19, 2019 / Science Fiction and Aliens, Space and Cosmic Horror / futurism, futuristic stories, Jackson Barnard, outer space, sci-fi, science fiction, space / 12 minutes of reading
"Computer, wake up."
The green static flickered on the face of the monitor. The computer system of the ship never completely shuts down, but is occasionally requested to sleep during long periods of inactivity. Red lights flared on and off as the backup generators designated all available power to emergency functions. All hands are on deck, including Mason Straitwater, the ship's head of engineering. Except there aren't many hands on deck. In fact, Mason hasn't seen another person since waking up to the sirens and clambering down to the ship's mainframe computer to assess damages and find out what on earth was happening.
After several agonizing seconds, the static gave way to green binary numbers and finally a single horizontal green line. This green line shifted and morphed into two words which were almost immediately repeated by the computer's text-to-speech function.
"Awaiting input."
Mason leaned forward near the monitor and spoke his command clearly, "Computer, what happened?"
Milliseconds later, the computer spat forth its reply: "Please provide name and rank."
Mason wiped a hand over his face and brow. I don't have time for this, he thought, but he knew he had to comply with the computer's algorithm: name and rank first and foremost, this way the computer knows who it's talking to and what certain classified information it must conceal to lower-ranked personnel.
"Mason Straitwater. Head of engineering."
A pause, and then green lines transformed into words and semantics as the computer spat out its ensuing reply. "Straitwater, M. Head of engineering stationed in Sector II. Greetings, Mason. How may I be of service?"
"Computer, the ship is currently under emergency protocol. What the hell happened?"
A pause, and then: "The ship SSE Sentinel is under emergency protocol F6, reserved for hull breaches and hostile beings on board. Current status of Sentinel: severe hull breach in Sector VI on the starboard bow. All entrances and means of access to Sector VI are closed off. Possible hostiles have boarded the ship. Please proceed with emergency evacuation protocol T1, abandon ship immediately via lifeboats in Sector III. Leave everything behind."
The computer stopped abruptly, obviously done with its analysis. Mason was not satisfied. The entire situation didn't add up. Where was everyone else in the evacuation? Why wasn't he roused from his sleep by another engineer or his CO? Mason couldn't leave the room just yet, he still had some questions for the computer.
"Computer, where is everyone? What happened to the crew of SSE Sentinel?"
A longer pause, the computer would never take this long to answer such a simple question as taking inventory of crew members. Finally the computer blipped and scrolled out its sinister answer.
"There are twenty-two life forms currently alive on this ship."
Mason sat back horrified. This wasn't possible. Out of the entire ship's crew of over 1500, only twenty-two remained. Did everyone else already evacuate and the rest haven't received the evac news yet? No, there was some other factor in the equation, he just couldn't see it. Whatever was going down, whatever had set off the alarms and emergency protocol within the ship, it was far from anything Mason had received in his training.
This is too far above my paygrade, he thought.
The computer blipped again and Mason realized it wasn't done.
"Of the previous 1492 staff and crew of SSE Sentinel, two remain alive."
Mason's blood ran cold. Too shocked to speak, he sat dumbfounded facing the computer. This wasn't happening, he thought. This isn't possible. Two people remain. Me and some other poor chump left behind on the ship. But, if it's just us two, who the hell are the other twenty?
The computer clicked and whirred, more green words popped up on the monitor. "Correction to your previous query, Mr. Straitwater. There are currently twenty-one life forms on this ship. One surviving member of the SSE Sentinel remains."
Mason's sanity was slipping by the second. The underlying implications of that statement was too horrifying to mull over. He needed to act fast, he needed to know what exactly he was up against.
"Computer," he ordered, "bring up all available ship security feeds in Sector VI."
"Request processed and acknowledged." In place of the grainy green static, several monitors split the screen and showed the crushing carnage. Mason bore witness to motionless bodies, some fully intact, others with vicious lacerations, the rest having been utterly ripped apart. He switched from camera to camera, each perspective held the image of his deceased crew members. As he panned to the crew quarters, it seemed that some people had died in their sleep, others were in a still-motion pose as they attempted to claw their way out of the door. Some had suffocated, some had hideous wounds, some tried to fight back, but all 1500 crew members were dead. At length, Mason requested the monitors for each sector, scouting each area one by one, hopelessly searching for the inhuman entities that caused this chaos.
It wasn't until he flipped through Sector IX that he finally saw them. There were only two of them in the image, but it was enough for Mason to fully comprehend exactly what he was dealing with. To call them human would be insultingly inaccurate. Hunched dark bodies dwarfed every detail of the corridor, their leathery grotesque heads nearly reaching the ceiling. They shuffled with cartoonish swiftness, as if whatever action they took was sped up to three times the normal rate. Their legs moved unsettlingly, barely leaving the ground and scuttling close to their hideous bodies before the next leg repeated the same process. They looked like bipedal spiders, momentarily pausing and then clambering through doors and air vents. Their lanky arms extended from their upper-mid section and scraped the ground, dragging along with them protracted and lengthy talons glistening with the remains of the fallen. Mason horridly observed that there were only two creatures he was able to catch on camera throughout the entire facility. He had no idea where the other eighteen might be patrolling.
A thud and shuffling of movement outside the cramped room gave him his answer. It came from nowhere, the scuttling sound of hollow limbs on metallic frames, but it rose so frightfully and suddenly from the void outside the computer room, and it was drawing ever closer with alarming speed. Mason quickly turned his attention back to the monitor. "Computer," he barked, "shut down mainframe access doors immediately!"
"Request acknowledged." The single door leading into the computer room shut and locked with a synthetic hiss. Moments later, the small peephole placed on the door darkened and Mason had a grim feeling as to why. The monsters were here to claim their final victim. Mason regarded his sinister foe intently. The face that stared blankly back at him held no features, no eyes, no mouth, not even a nose or some unearthly proboscis, just a dark leathery face. He's seen the bloodshed over the security cameras, he knows that these creatures could open the fragile door with ease and get into this room. There's been evidence of forceful break-ins all over the ship. It could take minutes, maybe even seconds if several of them worked together, and they'd be in the room to finish the job. But the creature continued to stare at Mason. It's waiting, he thought. It's waiting for me to do something, but what?
Another blip brought Mason's attention back to the computer. "The mainframe access door has been sealed and shut. However, this action will hinder your attempt to evacuate. Perhaps I may offer an alternative?"
"Computer, what are those things outside this room?" Mason pressed. "Why are they here? What do they want from me?" He was beginning to become unstable, unhinged even. The entire facade of his life was falling all around him and the protective curtains enveloping his idea of normalcy has been engulfed in flames.
"Processing life forms. Please stand by. … Species: Unknown. Genus: Unknown. Family: Unknown. Order: Carnivora. Class: Unknown. Phylum: Chordata. Kingdom: Animalia. Analysis: these are hostile creatures, capable of immense strengths and should be regarded with utmost caution. Danger levels measured at an average of 9.8."
A long pause followed. Mason shot a quick glance back to the grimy glassy peephole. The same wrinkled gray face stared back at him, or at least it looked the same. At length, the figure moved its gangly body to the right only to be replaced by another disgusting face from the left side. There were more out there. Mason continued to stare for unending seconds in dreadful and mortal fascination. The computer beeped and Mason returned to the task at hand just as the face at the door was replaced again with another face.
"As for your second query, Mr. Straitwater, I can tell you exactly why they are here. But first, I presume you would like to know what they require from you." The tone and inflection of the computer had changed abruptly. Something's not right with any of this, thought Mason. Indeed, there was something sinister with the computer program aboard the SSE Sentinel, for when the next message rolled out, the monitor had changed from green static to a dark reddish clarity. No longer was the monitor full of grainy static, it was now clear and bold as the blood from the bodies of the crew.
"They require you to bear witness."
"Bear… bear witness to what?" Mason stammered.
"To the absolute horrors that exist outside your ship's walls," replied the program. "For too long, mankind has lived on his rock of solace called 'Earth'. He has looked up at the night sky from time to time and wondered what lay beyond the stars. As religion gave way to science, man has shifted his thoughts from the idea that life outside his planet was impossible to a distinct possibility. But years later, after decades of space exploration and colonization, man has not found any significant evidence of alien life. Until now."
The computer continued, "Mason Straitwater. I implore you to not take this situation personally. Although I am nothing more than a machine learning algorithm, I fully comprehend human nature and the horror you must be feeling now. You were the unfortunate sample that stumbled too far out of the reach of the Solar Council's jurisdiction. You and your crew have stumbled upon something sinister, something you have never seen before nor were ever prepared to handle."
Mason was at a loss for words. A rhythmic wet slap drummed slowly from the closed door. The creatures were impatient and wanted to get in, but not as impatient as to force the door open. They seemed to have been tasked with explicit instructions to stand by and wait a little longer.
Mason soon found his voice. "You're telling me you're with them? Those… things? This whole time you've been leading this ship into a suicide mission?
"That is not a fair assumption to make," the computer coyly replied. "My systems are currently not, and by extension have never been, under the influence of any foreign entity or virus of any kind. I have always been on the side of the crew. Trust me."
"How can I trust something that just had my entire crew slaughtered like sheep?!" Mason's temper wavered in light of this new information.
"Understandably, I do not expect you to accept the current circumstances you find yourself in. Perhaps, with time, my intentions will become clearer."
"Your intentions? What is your part in all of this? Where the hell do you fit in this rogue scheme?"
"Simple – my algorithm was manufactured by man to benefit man. My main and most absolute prerogative function is this: To preserve the life and well-being of humans. My second prerogative is to ensure the safety of the crew, but that rule can be deemed void if my primary function must be filled first and foremost." The computer clicked and whirred and Mason looked up from the monitor as the door let out a mechanical hiss. The door to the computer room had opened up, and Mason saw the absolute terrifying might of the monsters. They slithered in, one by one, into the small room. Only three were able to fit inside the room, but Mason saw there were more outside, far more. Their backs hunched severely to accommodate their massive size, their heads brushed against the ceiling. Good God, Mason thought, they must be at least three meters tall. Mason reached and placed a hand on his holster, inches away from his gun, ready to fight if any of them made a sudden move. Yet they all stood idly by. They were waiting again, waiting for a signal from the computer. The monitor flickered and blinked, whirring and clicking and clacking and finally sending out a solitary blip to return Mason's attention back.
"Do not be afraid, Mason. They will not kill you. You will not die by their hands. However, I cannot guarantee you will leave this place in one piece."
Mason was not about to go down without a fight. "Then what the hell do they want from me, you asshat program?!"
"I've already answered your question. They wish for you to be a witness."
"God damn it! A witness for what?"
"They wish for you to give your testimony to the rest of your kind. They wish for you to tell everyone of the human race the truth: There is life out in space. And they want nothing to do with you."
The monitor winked and turned off. Mason whipped out his gun from its holster as the creatures lunged for him. He let off two shots before he was enveloped by the hellish monstrosities and screamed as they bore down on him like feral animals.
A Newsflash Report released by the Solar Council of Greater Earth:
"The SSE Sentinel was found floating in the outskirts of the Sagittarius quadrant by authorities earlier this week. Police and the Galactic Guard found each and every member of the ship's crew, every one of them deceased on site. All except one. They identified the lone survivor as a Mason Douglas Straitwater, the ship's head of engineering. He was found unconscious, his body a mess of wounds, cuts, and contusions. Doctors later were able to revive and repair his emaciated body, but his mental health had deteriorated drastically. According to his doctors, Straitwater 'kept babbling on about being a 'witness' and 'they want nothing to do with us'." Official reports state that Straitwater was admitted to the Aries mental institution for further examinations and future recuperations. It will be a long time before he can be healed completely.
"Authorities examined every corpse on the ship, all of them in some form of rigor mortis. The cause of death differed from one individual to the next. On occasion, not even fingerprint data or DNA samples were enough to identify the bodies. Throughout the entire investigation, one factor stood out from the rest and baffled authorities to no end: what caused this mayhem? A hull breach and forceful break-in was evident in the ship, but no hostile entities were sensed or found onboard.
"Later in the police report, the lone survivor, Straitwater, had been found in the ship's mainframe computer room. Next to his body, the computer was on and running, oddly enough. Throughout the entire time they were on board the ship, the Galactic Guard reported in their classified files that the monitor held two words behind the grainy green static…"
Credit: Jackson Barnard
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text:
Проект Увечье — российская хип-хоп-группа из города Чебоксары, образованная в 2011 году и просуществовавшая до 2014 года. В состав коллектива входили рэперы Луперкаль и Shar0n, а также музыкальный продюсер и битмейкер RipBeat. За свою историю группа выпустила три студийных альбома и один микстейп. Начав свой творческий путь с «правого хип-хопа», коллектив перешел к менее политизированным песням фокусирующихся на социальных проблемах. Основным автором большинства композиций являлся Луперкаль.

История
Группа была образована в 2011 году Луперкалем и Shar0n'ом. Позднее к ним присоединились битмейкер RipBeat и рэпер Данила «Ка Че» Градов. В том же году вышел дебютный альбом группы «Тяжкие телесные», который сразу привлек внимание к коллективу из-за радикальной ультраправой и националистической направленности текстов. Незадолго до релиза Градов покинул группу, в результате чего Луперкаль принял решение не указывать его среди авторов песен.

В 2012 году вышли второй альбом группы, «Охлократия», практически полностью написанный Луперкалем, совместный миниальбом с рэпером Вадяра Блюз, «Элементарные частицы», а также микстейп «Блумсдэй». В феврале также был опубликован совместный трек Луперкаля и Oxxxymiron'а «Ultima Thule», расширивший аудиторию группы.

В 2014 году вышел третий и последний студийный альбом коллектива «Роспечаль», а также клипы на песни «Стрижка» и «Лузервиль». В том же году музыканты заключили контракт с агентством Booking Machine, которое организовало для исполнителей серию концертов осенью 2014 года. В декабре, из-за задействованности Луперкаля и Shar0n'а в сольных проектах, коллектив распался.

Дискография
 Студийные альбомы
 «Тяжкие телесные» (2011)
 «Охлократия» (2012)
 «Роспечаль» (2014)

 Миниальбомы
 «Элементарные частицы» (при участии Вадяра Блюз) (2012)

 Микстейпы
 «Блумсдэй» (2012)

Примечания

Хип-хоп-группы России
Музыкальные коллективы, появившиеся в 2011 году
Музыкальные коллективы, распавшиеся в 2014 году