text:
PCMag UK Computers & Electronics Home Entertainment TVs
How to Build the Best Home Theater System for Under $1,000
Want to upgrade your home entertainment experience? Even if you're on a budget, you can put together a capable home theater setup with a big-screen 4K TV and surround sound for less than a grand.
byWill Greenwald Mar 16, 2022
Home theater systems can easily cost many thousands of dollars even if you set up the hardware on your own. If you add a professional custom installer to the equation, you can quickly run into prices with five or six digits.
It doesn't have to be that way, though. You can build a home theater system with a big-screen 4K TV, surround sound, connectivity for streaming services, and even a Blu-ray player for less than $1,000. Here's how to do it.
Start With the TV: Hisense U7 or TCL 6 Series
Hisense 65U7G
You should aim for a big TV as the centerpiece of your home theater. Big is relative, though, considering you can now find screens as large as 75, 88, or even 120 inches. For the best balance of size and price, go with a 65-inch model. This size is one of the most common for TVs, and gives you the widest selection of choices.
Hisense and TCL are currently two of the best brands for affordable TVs. Both companies offer 65-inch screens for less than $500, but those models aren't necessarily the best choices. You shouldn't skimp on picture quality if you want your home theater to shine, so this is where you should splurge a bit within your budget, if possible.
Look for a TV in the Hisense U7 or the TCL 6 series lineup (available in Google TV and Roku TV versions). TVs in these lineups offer fantastic contrast and color that rival much more expensive models; lower-end versions such as those in the TCL 4 and 5 series don't look nearly as good. You can purchase 65-inch models of current Hisense U7 and TCL 6 series TVs for anywhere between $800 and $1,000, while 55-inch models go for between $650 and $750.
That said, if cash is tight and you really want a big TV, 65-inch models from TCL's 4 and 5 series are readily available for less than $600, like the TCL 65S435. We've even seen the 75-inch model on sale for well under $1,000, too. We haven't tested the Hisense U5G or U6G yet, but they likely offer similar performance. These less-expensive TVs don't get as bright or display colors as wide as the models we recommend above, but they're still a good value.
Add Audio: Roku or Vizio Surround Sound Systems
Vizio M-Series M51ax-J6
Most TVs have mediocre speakers, so, at the very least, you should buy a soundbar to dramatically improve your setup's audio volume and quality. The problem with a single soundbar is that it likely offers only stereo imaging. At best, it might use some acoustic tricks to increase the soundstage, but you won't get the same effect as if you have rear satellite speakers. The natural answer is to get a soundbar with rear satellites and throw a subwoofer in for good measure.
Vizio offers a wide selection of soundbar surround systems that combine all of these components. The Vizio M-Series M51ax-J6, for example, offers 5.1-channel sound with rear satellites and a subwoofer, plus support for Dolby Atmos, for $300.
You can also go with Roku; it doesn't offer a single surround system, but sells three inexpensive speakers that work very well together. You can combine the Roku Streambar Pro with Roku TV Wireless Speakers for the rear channels and a Roku Wireless Subwoofer into a single surround sound system for about $480. That grouping is easy to set up and sounds surprisingly powerful for the price.
Don't discount a soundbar without rear surrounds if you're looking to save money, though. Even a stereo soundbar sounds better than TV speakers, and, if you want to get lots of bass (which isn't directional at all), many soundbars include wireless subwoofers. The Streambar Pro sounds good on its own, as does the TCL Alto R1 for Roku TV owners.
Media Streaming Is a Given, Blu-Rays Are Less So
If you still have cable or plan to stream everything over Wi-Fi, you can probably stop reading now. The TVs we recommend, along with the Roku Streambar Pro, all feature fully functional streaming platforms that enable you to access nearly every major service.
Your TV's streaming platform might not have every feature or service you want, though. Amazon Fire TV and Google TV have excellent voice assistants, but don't support Apple AirPlay. Roku TV has AirPlay, but its voice search feature isn't as good as Alexa or Google Assistant. The various platforms also have different interfaces and don't incorporate content into their menu systems the same way, so you might want to get a separate media streamer that better suits your needs.
Fortunately, most of the top options cost less than $50. The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K, the Chromecast With Google TV, and the Roku Streaming Stick 4K are all readily available and can respectively add the Fire TV, Google TV, or Roku platforms to your TV.
The popularity of streaming has far surpassed that of watching via physical discs, and we don't review standalone Blu-ray players anymore. The good news is that you can still them from major manufacturers such as LG or Sony for under $100. If you want to enjoy 4K HDR in a disc-based format, upgrade to an Ultra HD Blu-ray player that supports that format. These players are much pricier, though, and generally cost between $200 and $300.
The Best Home Theater Setup for Your Budget
You can mix and match home theater components to your heart's content, but we've put together a couple of recommendations for what you can get for under $1,000. Just note that these recommendations are based on prices as of this writing and can fluctuate.
With this combination, you get a big screen with modest picture quality and decent stereo sound.
This package unlocks full surround sound and even Blu-ray support (but not Ultra HD Blu-ray support).
How to Make Everything You Watch Look and Sound Its Best
Once your home theater setup is up and running, you'll want to make sure that everything looks and sounds as good as possible.
Luckily, you don't need professional calibration to get the best picture from your television. Follow these steps to adjust simple settings that will make your movies, shows, and even games look better than ever.
And whether it's a single wireless speaker or a multi-channel home theater setup, the way you position your speakers can have a big impact on how they sound. Check out our tips for the best audio quality possible.
The Best TVs for 2023
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How to Turn Off Motion Smoothing on Your TV
About Will Greenwald
I've been PCMag's home entertainment expert for over 10 years, covering both TVs and everything you might want to connect to them. I've reviewed more than a thousand different consumer electronics products including headphones, speakers, TVs, and every major game system and VR headset of the last decade. I'm an ISF-certified TV calibrator and a THX-certified home theater professional, and I'm here to help you understand 4K, HDR, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and even 8K (and to reassure you that you don't need to worry about 8K at all for at least a few more years).
More From Will Greenwald
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Philips Fidelio FB1


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February 5, 1930 - January 5, 2017
Return to the Memorial Getting Started Administration Inbox
Return to the Memorial Help Extend the Memorial Order a Keepsake Book
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ATKINSON, Mary
With heavy hearts we announce the passing of Mary Atkinson on January 5, 2017 at the age of 86. She passed away peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. Raised with good old rural Saskatchewan values, Mary radiated kindness, generosity and commitment to family and friends. After years of parenting 5 children, and later a whirlwind of world travel, she had a full and rich life, accumulating close connections at home and around the world. Her dedication to family has left us all with not only warm memories, but with the experience of what it means to be truly loved by a woman of great compassion, commitment and integrity. The highlight of her life was her 66 year marriage to her loving husband Fred Atkinson, who will miss her dearly. Their love will be a lasting inspiration to us all.
Mary was predeceased by her mother, Mary Mcleary, daughter Barbara Atkinson, grandson Spencer Atkinson and granddaughter Crystal DenBeste. She leaves behind her loving husband Fred Atkinson, her four children Lynn DenBeste (Jim), Judy Atkinson, Gary Atkinson (Kathy) and Gail Poffenroth (Brian), eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mary is now in perfect peace resting in the arms of Jesus and experiencing the glory of Heaven.
The family would like to thank the caregivers from the AHS Palliative Care Team (Angel) and the Manor at Rocky Ridge for their compassionate care. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, February 10, 2017 at the Cochrane Bow Valley Baptist Church (54 West Arsby Road, Cochrane) at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, we request donations be sent to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, (heartandstroke.ca, Toll Free 1-866-353-1847 or mail donation to 200, 119 - 14 Street NW Calgary AB T2N 1Z6, make note in memory of Mary Atkinson) or to the Cochrane Alliance Church Building Fund, (403-932-6100 ext 0 for Reception, or email cac@cochraneallianec.com).
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text:
Q: How can a click Listener in a custom ListAdapter modify the lists data? I'm trying to make a relatively simple filesystem browser that displays directories and lets you select them. I have a list fragment which uses a custom adapter to display the directories as a list.  I have created a clickListener for each entry in the list. I need to get it so that when a list entry is clicked, the entire list view refreshes. As this click listener is defined within my adapter though, how can it signal up the stack somehow to the list fragment, in order to tell it to refresh the data that the adapter uses. Help much appreciated.
Here is my code:
PickerFragment.java:
package com.grid.picker;

import android.content.Intent;
import android.os.Bundle;
//import android.support.v4.app.Fragment;
import android.os.Environment;
import android.support.v4.app.ListFragment;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.ListView;

import java.io.File;
import java.io.FilenameFilter;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import static android.content.Intent.getIntent;

public class PickerFragment extends ListFragment
{
    private String currentFilesystemPath = "";  // This path does not include the root path
    private int numberOfFolders = 0;
    private List<Folder> folders = new ArrayList<Folder>();

    public PickerFragment() {
    }

    @Override
    public View onCreateView(LayoutInflater inflater, ViewGroup container,Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        View rootView = inflater.inflate(R.layout.fragment_main, container, false);
        return rootView;
    }

    private void tempPopulate()
    {
        folders.add(new Folder("TestFolder", "/test/path"));
    }

    private void populateFolders()
    {

        // Create a new File at the current path
        File currentFolder = new File(Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getPath()+currentFilesystemPath);

        Utility.debugOutput("populateFolders() currentFolder: " +currentFolder);

        // Lets get the list of folders
        String[] directories = currentFolder.list(new FilenameFilter() {
            @Override
            public boolean accept(File current, String name) {
                return new File(current, name).isDirectory();
            }
        });

        // Build up the list of folders with folder objects
        for(int i=0; i<directories.length;i++)
        {
            //Utility.debugOutput("Folder:" +directories[i].toString());
            folders.add(new Folder(directories[i].toString(), currentFolder.getPath()+directories[i].toString()));
        }

    }

    public void onActivityCreated(Bundle savedInstanceState)
    {
        super.onActivityCreated(savedInstanceState);

        // Temporary folder population
        //tempPopulate();
        populateFolders();

        /*
        // Set an adapter for this list fragment to use
        setListAdapter(new ArrayAdapter<Folder>(getActivity(),
                android.R.layout.simple_list_item_activated_1, folders));
        */

        // We want to use our custom adapter. We pass in this activity, the layout to use, and an array of folders
        // We give it a new Folder object just so it knows what type of objects are in the array...??
        FolderAdapter adapter = new FolderAdapter(this.getActivity(), R.layout.listview_item_row, folders.toArray(new Folder[0]));

       // Use our custom adapter for the list
       setListAdapter(adapter);

    }

}

FolderAdapter.java:
package com.grid.picker;

import android.app.Activity;
import android.content.Context;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.view.View;
import android.view.ViewGroup;
import android.widget.ArrayAdapter;
import android.widget.ImageView;
import android.widget.TextView;
import android.widget.Toast;

public class FolderAdapter extends ArrayAdapter<Folder>
{
    Folder[] folders = null;
    Context context;
    int layoutResourceId;

    // Constructor
    // Param 1: Reference of the activity
    // Param 2: The resource id of the layout file we want to use for displaying each ListView item
    public FolderAdapter(Context context, int layoutResourceId, Folder[] data)
    {
        super(context, layoutResourceId, data);
        this.layoutResourceId = layoutResourceId;
        this.context = context;
        this.folders = data;
    }

    // This is a function that the click listener can call to start the list update process
    public void updateList(String name)
    {
        Utility.debugOutput("updateList() rx: " +name);

        this.notifyDataSetChanged();

    }

    // Presumably getView is called for every row in the list ?
    // position is the index of the list item in the list
    @Override
    public View getView(int position, View convertView, ViewGroup parent)
    {
        // Create a new view to play with
        View row = convertView;

        final int rowID = position;

        FolderHolder holder = null;

        if(row == null)
        {
            LayoutInflater inflater = ((Activity)context).getLayoutInflater();
            // Inflate (parse) the layout XML
            row = inflater.inflate(layoutResourceId, parent, false);

            //Instantiate a new static object for folder icons (static for speed (caching)
            holder = new FolderHolder();
            holder.imgIcon = (ImageView)row.findViewById(R.id.imgIcon);
            holder.txtTitle = (TextView)row.findViewById(R.id.txtTitle);

            row.setTag(holder);

            // Set clickListener
            row.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
                @Override
                public void onClick(View v)
                {
                    Utility.debugOutput("Row ID clicked: " +rowID);
                    Utility.debugOutput("Folder array:" +folders[rowID].folderName);
                    updateList(folders[rowID].folderName);
                    //Toast.makeText(context,"you clicked item: "+rowID, Toast.LENGTH_LONG.show();
                    //code you want to execute on click of list item...
                }
            });
        }
        else
        {
            holder = (FolderHolder)row.getTag();
        }

        Folder folder = folders[position];
        holder.txtTitle.setText(folder.folderName);

        holder.txtTitle.setText(folder.folderName);
        holder.imgIcon.setImageResource(folder.icon);

        /*
        // Add click listener to the view
        View.OnClickListener clickListener = new View.OnClickListener() {
            public void onClick(View v) {
                Utility.debugOutput("Something clicked???!");

                // This call requires API level 15 minimum...
                v.callOnClick();
            }
        }; */

        //row.setOnClickListener(clickListener);
        return row;
    }

    // This class will be used as a cache for the folder images
    static class FolderHolder
    {
        ImageView imgIcon;
        TextView txtTitle;
    }
}

Folder.java:
package com.grid.picker;

public class Folder
{
    // Each instance of this class will be an entry in the folder list
    public String folderName;
    public String fullPath;
    public boolean hasChildren = false; // False by default

    public static final int icon = R.drawable.folder;

    // Constructor
    public Folder(String newName, String newFullPath)
    {
        folderName = newName;
        fullPath = newFullPath;
    }

}

listview_item_row.xml:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:orientation="horizontal"
    android:layout_width="fill_parent"
    android:layout_height="fill_parent"
    android:padding="10dp">

    <ImageView android:id="@+id/imgIcon"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:gravity="center_vertical"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
        android:layout_marginRight="15dp"
        android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
        android:layout_marginBottom="5dp" />

    <TextView android:id="@+id/txtTitle"
        android:layout_width="fill_parent"
        android:layout_height="fill_parent"
        android:gravity="center_vertical"
        android:layout_alignParentTop="true"
        android:layout_alignParentBottom="true"
        android:textStyle="bold"
        android:textSize="22dp"
        android:textColor="#000000"
        android:layout_marginTop="5dp"
        android:layout_marginBottom="5dp" />

</LinearLayout>

Eventually I am going to need to put a checkbox on each folder displayed in the list, but for now I need to get it so the folders shown in the list can be clicked on to refresh the display and update the list.  Many thanks.

A: use this on your click listener
// Set clickListener
    row.setOnClickListener(new View.OnClickListener() {
        @Override
        public void onClick(View v)
        {
            Utility.debugOutput("Row ID clicked: " +rowID);
            Utility.debugOutput("Folder array:" +folders[rowID].folderName);

            notifyDataSetInvalidated();
        }
    });

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Look at this nice luxury AWD SUV.
Yes, we got another one of these! We always have a nice variety of fully serviced vehicles on our lot.
This nice 2010 Subaru Forester Premium Edition AWD Sedan just arrived, we also have a 2015 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2016 Escape Titanium Edition, 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee, and a 2009 Honda CRV. Fully serviced with a warranty.


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Emirates updates COVID-19 PCR test requirements for Dubai passengers
Monday, October 26th, 2020 8:38pm
By Sanooj Sherif
Emirates Airline has revised its COVID-19 PCR test requirements for passengers travelling to Dubai from dozens of countries.
The pre-flight PCR tests have been made optional for UAE residents travelling from as many as 56 countries, as well as for tourists from Germany and the UK.
Meanwhile, passengers from many other countries are now required to take two PCR tests: one before departing for Dubai and another on arrival in the emirate.
The following entry rules apply to passengers travelling from these countries:
Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Maldives Islands, Mauritius, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States (New York, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Seattle).
UAE residents have the option to present a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate that is valid for 96 hours from the date of the test before departure or take the PCR test on arrival in Dubai.
Tourists must present a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate that is valid for 96 hours from the date of the test before departure ‑ except for passengers coming from the UK and Germany who have the option to take a COVID‑19 PCR test on arrival in Dubai.
Transiting passengers from these countries are not required to present a COVID‑19 PCR test certificate unless it is mandated by your final destination.
Afghanistan, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Chile, Cote d'lvoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Slovakia, Somaliland, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United States (California, Florida, Texas), Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
UAE residents must take two COVID‑19 PCR tests: one before departure with a validity of 96 hours from the date of the test, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai.
Tourists must take two COVID‑19 PCR tests: one before departure with a validity of 96 hours from the date of the test, and a second test upon arrival in Dubai.
Transiting passengers from these countries must have a negative COVID‑19 PCR test certificate that is valid for 96 hours from the date of test, as well as any additional requirements for their final destination.
The airline has reiterated that the test certificates must be for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. Other certificates including antibody tests and home testing kits are not accepted in Dubai.
Passengers taking a test before departure must carry an official, printed certificate in English or Arabic to check‑in – SMS and digital certificates are not accepted.
Heavy vehicles banned in Abu Dhabi during fog as more warnings are issued
Abu Dhabi Police have banned trucks, heavy duty vehicles and buses from the roads during foggy conditions, and warned motorists to drive safely in another morning of low visibility.
UAE Minister: COVID-19 pandemic is a 'wake up call to humanity'
Speaking at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Summit (ADSW), Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar, said the pandemic has shown the dependence between health, food and resource security.
Experts Affairs Committee to speed up procedures at Dubai Courts
A new Experts Affairs Committee is being set up to ensure the accuracy of judicial decisions and speed up procedures in Dubai Courts.
Dubai Media Office responds to AP story about COVID-19 situation in emirate
In response to an Associated Press (AP) story about the COVID-19 situation in Dubai, the Government of Dubai Media Office has reiterated that the emirate continues to maintain the highest levels of protection against the pandemic and compliance with preventive measures.
COVID-19: Updates from UAE government media briefing
The UAE ranked first in the world in the distribution of daily doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during the past seven days, at a rate of 1.16 doses per 100 people.
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Paul Griffiths, says the current approach is incompatible with keeping the global economy mobile.
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One of the phrases from today's Phrasen des Tages was um es ganz offen zu sagen – "to put it bluntly." On double checking this meaning on dict.cc, I discovered that there is another quite similar phrase Um ganz offen zu sein… – "To be perfectly candid…" And to be perfectly candid, these phrases struck me funny, as much of the time it feels as though one cannot avoid being rather blunt when speaking German. For example, if you want to say something "smells," you can use the word riechen. Now, this just happens to sound quite a bit like a much stronger word in English "reeks" and indeed dict.cc offers "reek" as one of the possible meanings of riechen.
Then there is weinen "to weep" which happens to sound quite a bit like "to whine" in English, although this doesn't happen to be one of its possible meanings at least as far as I can tell.
The word stark is another example.
With it being a cognate for the English word "stark" it brings along with it some of those strong associations (pun fully intended).


text:
Big Little Lies Season 3 Not Being Planned
Though Big Little Lies Season 2 may have been improbable, HBO doesn't want you to get your hopes up for Big Little Lies Season 3.
By Alec Bojalad | February 9, 2019 |
Very few imagined that HBO's 2017 winter hit Big Little Lies would get to see a season 2. After all, the show that stars Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, Zoë Kravitz, and Shailene Woodley had run through the entire plot of the book it was based on by the end of its first season.
Still, improbably, Big Little Lies Season 2 will arrive this summer on HBO…probably because the project still has Kidman, Dern, Witherspoon, Kravitz, and Woodley in the fold with the welcome addition of Meryl Streep to come. So if the previously doubted Big Little Lies Season 2 is now a reality, is it possible that HBO could order Big Little Lies Season 3 as well? Not likely according to the people involved.
"There's no such plan now (for a season three)," Big Little Lies executive producer and showrunner David E. Kelly said during the show's appearance at the 2019 TCA winter press tour. "We like where our closure is at the end of season 2."
Witherspoon, who also serves at an executive producer on the show jokingly said to Kelley "That's what you said last time."
Before the assembled journalists could begin tweeting and writing into oblivion, Kidman re-iterated Kelley's initial point.
"There's no plan," the star and executive producer said.
So there you have it: there are absolutely no plans whatsoever for Big Little Lies Season 3…unless suddenly there are.
further reading: Veep Season 7: Everything You Need to Know
In promotional material that HBO debuted during the press tour appearance, the five original characters are now known as the "Monterey Five" following the events of the first season. The panel intimated that Big Little Lies Season 2 will be more dramatic in tone than the comedy/drama hybrid of the show's first season and will also be foregoing the "Greek Chorus" that partially narrated the first season. Streep will be turning up as Mary Louise Wright, the mother of Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgard) who won't be appearing in season 2 for obvious, spoiler-y reasons.
Big Little Lies Season 2 will premiere this June on HBO.
Alec Bojalad is TV Editor at Den of Geek and TCA member. Read more of his stuff here. Follow him at his creatively-named Twitter handle @alecbojalad
Tags: Big Little LiesHBO
Alec Bojalad	| @alecbojalad
TV Editor at Den of Geek and Television Critics Association member. Based in Cleveland, Ohio. Very upset about various sporting events.
Read more from Alec Bojalad
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Big Little Lies Season 2: Meryl Streep Joins Cast
January 24, 2018 | By David Crow
Big Little Lies Season 2 Episode 7 Trailer, Cast, Release Date, and News
July 15, 2019 | By Kayti Burt
Sharp Objects Season 2 Not Happening
July 27, 2018 | By Kirsten Howard
Legally Blonde 3 Release Date Confirmed
June 8, 2018 | By David Crow


text:
Ronald Kray (24 ottobre 1933 - 17 marzo 1995) e Reginald Kray (24 ottobre 1933 - 1° ottobre 2000) erano due fratelli gemelli identici, gangster e assassini. Sono stati i principali responsabili della criminalità organizzata nell'East End di Londra, in Inghilterra, dalla fine degli anni Cinquanta al 1967. Con la loro banda, nota come Firm, i gemelli Kray furono coinvolti in omicidi, rapine a mano armata, incendi dolosi, racket di protezione, gioco d'azzardo e aggressioni.

Negli anni '60, in qualità di proprietari di locali notturni del West End, i gemelli Kray frequentarono politici e personaggi dello spettacolo di spicco come Diana Dors, Frank Sinatra e Judy Garland. Divennero essi stessi delle celebrità, furono fotografati da David Bailey e intervistati in televisione.

I gemelli Kray furono arrestati l'8 maggio 1968 e condannati nel 1969 grazie agli sforzi dei detective guidati dal sovrintendente Leonard "Nipper" Read. Ognuno di loro fu condannato all'ergastolo. Ronnie fu ricoverato al Broadmoor Hospital nel 1979 e vi rimase fino alla sua morte, avvenuta il 17 marzo 1995 a causa di un attacco cardiaco; Reggie fu rilasciato per motivi compassionevoli nell'agosto 2000, cinque settimane prima di morire di cancro alla vescica.

Biografia
Ronald e Reginald Kray nacquero il 24 ottobre 1933 a Haggerston, nella zona est di Londra, da Charles David Kray (1907-1983), un commerciante di armadi, e Violet Annie Lee (1909-1982). I fratelli erano gemelli identici, con Reggie nato 10 minuti prima di Ronnie. I genitori avevano già un figlio di sei anni, Charles James (1927-2000). Una sorella, Violet (nata nel 1929), morì in tenera età. Quando i gemelli avevano tre anni, contrassero la difterite. La famiglia Kray era governata dalla madre, che rimase l'influenza più importante su di loro durante l'infanzia. Il padre, Charles Kray Sr., era uno straccivendolo con la passione per l'alcool. Il lavoro di Kray Sr. lo portò a condurre uno stile di vita semi-nomade, in quanto viaggiava per tutto il sud dell'Inghilterra alla ricerca di cianfrusaglie da vendere e, anche quando era a Londra, lo si vedeva più spesso nei pub che a casa con la famiglia. I gemelli Kray frequentarono prima la Wood Close School a Brick Lane e poi la Daniel Street School. Nel 1938 la famiglia si trasferì da Stean Street a Haggerston al 178 di Vallance Road a Bethnal Green.

Violet Kray era considerata una piccola celebrità a Bethnal Green per aver dato alla luce e cresciuto una coppia di gemelli sani in un periodo in cui il tasso di mortalità infantile e giovanile era elevato nella classe operaia britannica. Nel periodo tra le due guerre, era normale che uno dei gemelli nati nelle famiglie della classe operaia morisse prima dell'età adulta, mentre era molto insolito che entrambi i gemelli sopravvivessero, rendendo Violet Kray oggetto di molta ammirazione a Bethnal Green, cosa che la portò ad avere un ego esagerato.

A Bethnal Green c'era la sensazione di una vicinanza emotiva quasi innaturale tra i due gemelli e la loro madre, che rifuggiva la compagnia degli altri.  Ronnie in seguito affermò a proposito della sua infanzia: "Avevamo nostra madre, e avevamo l'un l'altro, quindi non abbiamo mai avuto bisogno di nessun altro". Uno dei cugini dei Kray che frequentava la scuola con loro, Billy Wilshire, ha ricordato: "È difficile dire esattamente perché, ma non erano come gli altri bambini". Il biografo dei Kray, John Pearson, ha sostenuto che Violet Kray abbia piantato i semi del narcisismo che i gemelli avrebbero manifestato da adulti, incoraggiando i suoi figli a pensare a se stessi come straordinari, viziando al contempo ogni loro capriccio.

Durante la Seconda Guerra Mondiale, Kray Sr. fu un disertore dell'esercito britannico, in quanto fu arruolato nel settembre del 1939 e disertò poco dopo perché trovava la vita del soldato poco piacevole. Kray Sr. trascorse i successivi 15 anni da latitante, venendo infine arrestato nel 1956 con l'accusa di diserzione. Durante la Seconda guerra mondiale, i gemelli furono evacuati a East House presso Hadleigh, nel Suffolk, con la madre Violet e il fratello maggiore Charles. Rimasero a East House con i proprietari Dr e Mrs Style per circa un anno prima di tornare a Londra, poiché Violet sentiva la mancanza dei suoi amici e della sua famiglia. Mentre si trovavano a Hadleigh, i gemelli frequentarono la Bridge Street Boys' School. Quando i gemelli furono intervistati nel 1989 mentre si trovavano al Broadmoor Hospital, Ronnie descrisse Hadleigh come la loro prima volta in campagna. Ciò che attraeva i gemelli era "la tranquillità, la pace, l'aria fresca, un bel paesaggio, una bella campagna - diversa da Londra. Eravamo soliti andare in una grande casa chiamata Constitution Hill e andavamo a slittare lì in inverno".

L'influenza del nonno materno, Jimmy "Cannonball" Lee, fece sì che i fratelli si avvicinassero al pugilato amatoriale, allora un passatempo popolare per i ragazzi della classe operaia dell'East End. La rivalità tra fratelli li spronò ed entrambi ottennero un certo successo. Ronnie era considerato il più aggressivo dei due gemelli e da adolescente era costantemente coinvolto in risse per strada. Lo studioso britannico Jonathan Raban scrisse che Ronnie aveva un "basso quoziente intellettivo", ma che era un avido lettore a cui piacevano soprattutto i libri su T.E. Lawrence, Orde Wingate, Al Capone e la malavita di Chicago nei "ruggenti anni Venti". Raban attribuì gran parte della "selvaggia petulanza" di Ronnie da adolescente alla sua rabbia al fatto che dovesse nascondere le sue tendenze bisessuali.

Servizio militare
I Kray furono chiamati a prestare servizio nell'esercito britannico nel marzo 1952. Pur essendosi presentati al deposito dei Royal Fusiliers presso la Torre di Londra, i due tentarono di andarsene dopo pochi minuti. Quando il caporale in carica cercò di fermarli, fu gravemente ferito da Ronnie con un pugno sulla mascella. I Kray tornarono a piedi alla loro casa nell'East End. La mattina seguente furono arrestati dalla polizia e consegnati all'esercito. A settembre, mentre erano di nuovo assenti senza permesso (AWOL), i gemelli aggredirono un agente di polizia che aveva cercato di arrestarli. Furono tra gli ultimi prigionieri ad essere detenuti nella Torre di Londra prima di essere trasferiti per un mese nella prigione militare di Shepton Mallet, nel Somerset, in attesa della corte marziale. Dopo la condanna, entrambi furono inviati al carcere della Home Counties Brigade Depot dei Buffs a Canterbury, nel Kent. Tuttavia, quando fu chiaro che sarebbero stati entrambi congedati con disonore dall'esercito, il comportamento dei Kray peggiorò. Dominarono le aree di esercitazione fuori dalle loro celle individuali, fecero capricci, svuotarono un secchio della latrina su un sergente, rovesciarono una borraccia piena di tè bollente su un'altra guardia, ammanettarono una guardia alle sbarre della prigione con un paio di manette rubate e diedero fuoco alle loro lenzuola. Alla fine furono trasferiti in una cella comune dove aggredirono la guardia con un vaso e fuggirono. Dopo essere stati rapidamente ricatturati, trascorsero la loro ultima notte in custodia militare a Canterbury bevendo sidro, mangiando patatine e fumando sigari per gentile concessione dei giovani militari che fungevano da guardie.

Il giorno successivo i Kray furono trasferiti in un carcere civile per scontare la pena per i crimini commessi durante la latitanza. Raban ha scritto che gli psichiatri della prigione che esaminarono Ronnie lo trovarono: "educativamente subnormale, psicopatico, schizofrenico e pazzo".

Nonostante una carriera militare tutt'altro che brillante, i Kray adottarono uno stile estremamente militaresco: Ronnie prese a farsi chiamare "il Colonnello" e la loro casa al 178 di Vallance Road fu soprannominata "Fort Vallance".

Carriera criminale

Proprietari di locali notturni
I precedenti penali dei Kray e il congedo con disonore dai Royal Fusiliers posero fine alla loro carriera di pugili e i fratelli si dedicarono al crimine a tempo pieno. Acquistarono un locale di biliardo in rovina a Mile End, dove avviarono diversi racket di protezione. Alla fine degli anni Cinquanta, i Kray lavoravano per Jay Murray di Liverpool ed erano coinvolti in dirottamenti, rapine a mano armata e incendi dolosi, grazie ai quali acquisirono altri club e proprietà. Nel 1960, Ronnie fu incarcerato per 18 mesi per aver gestito un racket di protezione. Mentre era in prigione, Peter Rachman, a capo di un'operazione di landlord, vendette a Reggie un nightclub chiamato Esmeralda's Barn per scongiurare le minacce di ulteriori estorsioni. Il locale si trova dove ora sorge il Berkeley Hotel.

La proprietà dell'Esmeralda's Barn aumentò l'influenza dei Kray nel West End, rendendoli delle celebrità oltre che dei criminali. I gemelli adottarono una norma secondo la quale chiunque non avesse mostrato il dovuto rispetto sarebbe stato severamente punito. Sia Ronnie che Reggie riciclavano notoriamente denaro attraverso i cinodromi e ippodromi, oltre che attraverso le imprese, il che portò diverse altre persone a essere indagate a metà degli anni Sessanta per la loro collaborazione con i crimini. Furono aiutati da un banchiere di nome Alan Cooper che voleva protezione contro i rivali dei Kray, la Richardson Gang, con sede a sud di Londra. Raban ha definito Ronnie il "più debole" dei due gemelli, scrivendo che era "... un uomo la cui presa sulla realtà era così lieve e patologicamente squilibrata che era in grado di vivere una finzione rozza e principalmente colorata, torcendo la città nella forma di un brutto thriller". Ronnie prendeva consapevolmente a modello lo stile di "The Firm" sulla base di ciò che aveva letto sulla malavita di Chicago, ad esempio facendo venire a casa il suo barbiere personale per sistemargli i capelli, perché aveva letto da qualche parte che questa era la prassi per i gangster di Chicago negli anni Venti.

Lo status di celebrità
Negli anni '60, i gemelli Kray erano visti come proprietari di nightclub ricchi e affascinanti e facevano parte della scena della Swinging London. Gran parte della loro fama era dovuta alle loro attività non criminali come figure popolari nel circuito delle celebrità, venendo fotografati da David Bailey in più di un'occasione e socializzando con signori, parlamentari, mondani e personaggi dello spettacolo, tra cui Frank Sinatra, Peter Sellers, Joan Collins, Judy Garland, Diana Dors, George Raft, Sammy Davis Jr, Shirley Bassey, Liza Minnelli, Cliff Richard, Dusty Springfield, Jayne Mansfield, Richard Harris, Danny La Rue e Barbara Windsor.

"Sono stati gli anni più belli della nostra vita. Li chiamavano gli "swinging sixties". I Beatles e i Rolling Stones erano i dominatori della musica pop, Carnaby Street dominava il mondo della moda... e io e mio fratello dominavamo Londra. Eravamo fottutamente intoccabili..."

- Ronnie Kray, nella sua autobiografia La mia storia

Parte dello status di celebrità dei Kray negli anni Sessanta era dovuto alla percezione diffusa che i gemelli fossero uomini che, grazie ai propri sforzi, erano usciti dalla povertà per raggiungere posizioni di grande ricchezza e potere. I Kray erano visti come un esempio, anche se perverso, della "meritocrazia" che avrebbe sostituito il tradizionale sistema di classi. Inoltre, gli anni Sessanta erano un periodo in cui molti valori tradizionali britannici venivano messi in discussione e i gemelli Kray erano ampiamente visti come "ribelli" contro quelli che venivano percepiti come valori tradizionali britannici bigotti e ipocriti. Gli studiosi Chris Jenks e Justin Lorentzen hanno scritto che negli anni Sessanta c'era "una sfiducia popolare nei confronti dell'establishment" e che mentre molti giovani "deridevano il Primo Ministro Macmillan e il Presidente Johnson, i loro insegnanti e docenti universitari, i preti e i moralisti", i Kray erano visti come eroi popolari. L'epoca degli "Swinging Sixties" fu un periodo di intensi dibattiti sul consumismo, la mobilità sociale, la sessualità, lo stile e la tolleranza sociale, e i Kray furono coinvolti in tutti questi dibattiti come simboli, cattivi o buoni, dei cambiamenti in atto nella società britannica.

I Kray tenevano moltissimo alla loro immagine e coltivavano i media invitando i giornalisti a fotografarli con altre celebrità nei locali notturni o mentre facevano beneficenza. I Kray si dedicavano in modo ossessivo alla gestione e alla promozione dell'immagine che desideravano, ossia quella di benefattori della società che facevano generosamente beneficenza e di uomini che erano usciti dalla povertà per diventare ricchi e potenti. Il sociologo Dick Hebdige ha scritto che i Kray avevano: "... una sofisticata consapevolezza dell'importanza delle pubbliche relazioni, eguagliata solo nel campo dell'immagine della politica americana... Come abbiamo visto, alcuni dei progetti dei Krays, se esaminati da vicino, assumono un aspetto bizzarro più adatto al teatro che alla ricerca razionale del profitto attraverso il crimine". Nel 1960, il gioco d'azzardo nei club fu legalizzato nel Regno Unito, il che per la prima volta permise di vedere apertamente persone "perbene" giocare d'azzardo al di fuori delle corse dei cavalli. I Kray erano proprietari di quattro locali notturni in cui il gioco d'azzardo era consentito, il che non solo permise loro di essere visti come uomini d'affari di successo, ma anche di socializzare con le persone "perbene" che in precedenza avrebbero evitato, almeno in pubblico, la compagnia di gangster che gestivano una "bisca".

I Kray si sono impegnati a promuovere un'immagine da "gangster chic", poiché entrambi vestivano in uno stile che innumerevoli film avevano associato ai gangster, ossia indossando "discreti abiti scuri a doppio petto con cravatte strette e cappotti imbottiti sulle spalle. Abbinati a gioielli sgargianti come grandi anelli d'oro, orologi a bracciale d'oro e gemelli di diamanti, i Kray trasmettevano un'immagine di grande prestigio". La studiosa britannica Ruth Penfold-Mounce ha descritto i Kray come un classico esempio di bandito sociale, criminali che sono diventati eroi popolari grazie alla convinzione di opporsi a un establishment corrotto e, paradossalmente, di sostenere la parte migliore dei valori della società. I Kray erano visti in certi ambienti come criminali del tipo "Robin Hood", i cui crimini erano considerati accettabili. Penfold-Mounce ha notato che combinavano un'aria di minaccia e violenza con un'immagine di "un'aria romantica di eroica gentilezza, generosità e l'apparente rafforzamento dei tradizionali parametri dell'ordine sociale di conservatorismo e moderazione". In questo contesto, i Kray sottolineavano che c'erano dei limiti ai valori che erano disposti a violare pur promuovendo l'immagine di se stessi come benefattori della società. Ad esempio, i Kray hanno insistito molto sull'immagine di rispetto nei confronti delle donne, poiché sapevano che il pubblico britannico non amava gli uomini irrispettosi nei confronti delle donne. Un ex membro del "The Firm", Tony Lambrianou, ha dichiarato che l'immagine positiva dei Kray era un "mito", sostenendo che le uniche persone di cui i fratelli si preoccupavano erano loro stessi.

Jenks e Loretzen hanno notato che l'immagine dei Kray ha poco a che fare con chi erano realmente i fratelli, descrivendo i Kray come molto più malvagi ed egoisti di quanto l'immagine popolare di "eroe popolare" non permetta. Gli ammiratori dei fratelli sottolineano le loro presunte caratteristiche di "Robin Hood", con i fratelli che avrebbero donato gran parte delle loro ricchezze illecite ai poveri meritevoli dell'East End; il loro rispetto per le donne; e come forza dell'ordine che si impegnava solo in quelli che erano considerati crimini socialmente accettabili, come il furto, mentre puniva coloro che si impegnavano in quelli che erano considerati crimini socialmente inaccettabili, come lo stupro. L'East End dell'epoca aveva le sue regole informali, come la profonda sfiducia nei confronti di Scotland Yard, esemplificata dal detto popolare "Non fare l'erba", che portava la polizia a lamentarsi di un "muro di silenzio". Nell'East End, dove la "furfanteria" era ampiamente ammirata, Jenks e Lorentzen hanno notato che "... gli eroi simbolici vengono eletti attraverso l'eccesso. I furti più audaci, la violenza più sadica e una ricerca quasi filosofica della gloria nell'infamia sono al primo posto nella mente della gente. Può emergere un'elisione tra stile e brutalità, come nel caso dei Kray".

Al contrario, i gemelli Kray erano visti in altri ambienti come simboli di decadenza morale e malvagità, con le famose fotografie dei due fratelli scattate da David Bailey che venivano viste come "gli archetipi frenologici della malvagità proletaria". Jenks e Lorentzen hanno scritto che i Kray sono diventati nella mente pubblica il simbolo della stessa criminalità organizzata britannica, in quanto associati a "storie di violenza eccessiva e gratuita e a un periodo in cui la criminalità londinese appariva non solo organizzata come mai prima, ma anche integrata nell'establishment e all'avanguardia della cultura popolare". Jenks e Lorentzen sostengono inoltre che la stretta associazione dei Kray con l'East End di Londra, un'area vista come un centro di "disorganizzazione sociale e decadenza morale", contribuisca ulteriormente all'immagine negativa dei fratelli. Almeno alcuni critici dei Kray hanno avanzato argomentazioni xenofobe secondo le quali i Kray non erano di origine inglese, ma erano invece il prodotto di un misto di discendenza ebraica ashkenazita e rom, presentato come tipico dell'East End, che in certi ambienti era visto come una "frontiera", un'area impoverita e senza legge che attirava molti immigrati. Non ci sono prove delle presunte origini ebraico-romaniche dei Kray, un'affermazione che sembra essere stata fatta solo per associare i Kray alla loro presunta patria familiare nell'Europa orientale e per allontanarli dalla società inglese. Infine, Jenks e Lorentzen hanno sostenuto che la rarità dei gemelli identici ha fatto apparire i fratelli particolarmente malvagi, dando loro l'immagine di "fenomeno da baraccone", poiché molti hanno trovato inquietante e snervante la visione di due uomini dall'aspetto e dalla voce esattamente identici.

La vicinanza dei Kray li faceva sembrare sinistri, come ha ricordato Lambrianou nel 1995: "Non eri mai, mai su un terreno solido con loro... Facevano un piccolo gioco tutto loro. C'era un linguaggio non detto; era quello che non dicevano tanto quanto quello che dicevano. C'è il mito che i Kray si prendessero cura di loro stessi, ma io non l'ho mai visto. I Kray erano loro stessi". Accanto a questa immagine da "fenomeno da baraccone" c'erano suggerimenti su quella che all'epoca era considerata una sessualità perversa. In un'epoca in cui l'omosessualità era ampiamente considerata anormale - soprattutto nella malavita dell'East End - Ronnie si faceva un punto d'onore di ostentare le sue relazioni omosessuali, cosa che negli anni Cinquanta-Sessanta era considerata piuttosto scioccante. Reggie era apparentemente eterosessuale, ma si diceva che avesse avuto dei fidanzati da adolescente. A queste voci si aggiungeva il fatto che aveva avuto una sola relazione nota con una donna, che era stato sposato per un breve periodo e che il suo matrimonio non era stato apparentemente mai consumato, il che portava alla convinzione diffusa che fosse anche gay. I Kray non erano asessuati, ma l'indeterminatezza della loro sessualità contribuì alla loro immagine popolare di essere in qualche modo vagamente perversi. Il fatto che i Kray fossero gangster di successo, pur non rientrando negli stereotipi eteronormativi standard di "uomini duri" o "amabile canaglia" associati ai gangster britannici, e rifiutando al contempo lo stereotipo popolare dell'effeminatezza degli uomini gay, ha portato a pensare che i Kray avessero qualcosa di innaturale. I "fatti sordidi" presentati durante il processo per omicidio intentato ai Krays nel 1968-1969 hanno fatto sì che la loro immagine di "eroe popolare" venisse eclissata da quella di "cattivo popolare".

Alleanza con la mafia americana
I fratelli Kray si allearono con la "Commissione" di New York, che era il consiglio direttivo della mafia americana, essendo in contatto con Meyer Lansky e Angelo Bruno, che stavano cercando di investire nelle bische e nei locali notturni di Londra. La mafia prediligeva i nightclub e i casinò per il riciclaggio del denaro sporco e preferiva i nightclub e i casinò all'estero per evitare controlli ostili da parte delle autorità americane. I nightclub e i casinò dell'Avana erano serviti a lungo a questo scopo, ma dopo che la rivoluzione comunista del 1959 ne aveva provocato la chiusura, la mafia era alla ricerca di un sostituto, con conseguente interesse per i nightclub di Londra. La convinzione che i Kray fossero in grado di ricattare figure d'élite come Boothby e di influenzare in questo modo il governo britannico, li rese interessanti partner commerciali londinesi per la mafia. Sia Lansky che Bruno erano considerati figure diplomatiche per gli standard del crimine organizzato americano e si riteneva che fossero i migliori per negoziare con i turbolenti e irascibili Kray.

Frank Mitchell
Il 12 dicembre 1966, i Kray aiutarono Frank Mitchell, "the Mad Axeman", a fuggire dalla prigione di Dartmoor. Ronnie aveva fatto amicizia con Mitchell mentre scontavano insieme la pena nel carcere di Wandsworth. Mitchell riteneva che le autorità dovessero rivedere il suo caso per ottenere la libertà condizionata, così Ronnie pensò di fargli un favore facendolo uscire da Dartmoor, dando risalto al suo caso nei media e costringendo le autorità ad agire. Una volta evaso Mitchell, i Kray lo tennero nell'appartamento di un amico a Barking Road, East Ham. Era un uomo di grossa taglia con un disturbo mentale ed era difficile da controllare. Scomparve, ma i Kray furono assolti dal suo omicidio. Freddie Foreman, un amico dei Kray, ha dichiarato nella sua autobiografia Respect di aver ucciso Mitchell per fare un favore ai gemelli e di essersi sbarazzato del suo corpo in mare.

George Cornell
Ronnie sparò e uccise George Cornell, un membro della Richardson Gang, al pub Blind Beggar di Whitechapel il 9 marzo 1966. Il giorno prima c'era stata una sparatoria al Mr Smith's, un locale notturno di Catford, che aveva coinvolto i Richardson e Richard Hart, un socio dei Kray, che era stato colpito a morte. Questa sparatoria pubblica portò all'arresto di quasi tutta la banda Richardson. Cornell, per caso, non era presente nel locale durante la sparatoria e non fu arrestato.

Ronnie stava bevendo in un altro pub quando seppe dove si trovava Cornell. Si recò al Blind Beggar con il suo autista, "Scotch Jack" John Dickson, e il suo assistente Ian Barrie. Ronnie entrò nel pub con Barrie, andò dritto verso Cornell e gli sparò alla testa in piena vista. Barrie, confuso dall'accaduto, sparò cinque colpi in aria avvertendo gli astanti di non riferire l'accaduto alla polizia. Poco prima di essere colpito, Cornell osservò: "Bene, guardate chi c'è". Morì alle 3:30 del mattino in ospedale. Ronnie soffriva già di schizofrenia paranoica al momento dell'omicidio.

Secondo alcune fonti, Ronnie uccise Cornell perché lo aveva definito un "fat poof" (un termine dispregiativo per gli uomini gay) durante uno scontro tra i Kray e i Richardson all'Astor Club il giorno di Natale del 1965. Il membro dei Richardson Frankie Fraser fu processato per l'omicidio di Hart da Mr. Smith, ma fu dichiarato non colpevole. Il membro dei Richardson Ray "il belga" Cullinane testimoniò di aver visto Cornell prendere a calci Hart. I testimoni non collaborarono con la polizia nel caso di omicidio a causa di intimidazioni e il processo si concluse in modo inconcludente senza indicare alcun sospetto in particolare. Nel suo libro di memorie del 1988, Ronnie scrisse: "Mi sentivo fottutamente bene. Non mi sono mai sentito così bene, così dannatamente vivo, né prima né dopo. A distanza di vent'anni posso ricordare ogni secondo dell'uccisione di George Cornell. L'ho ripetuto nella mia mente milioni di volte".

Gli alleati mafiosi dei Kray non erano soddisfatti dell'omicidio di Cornell, ritenendo che fosse imprudente da parte di Ronnie commettere un omicidio in pubblico, invece di assegnare il compito a qualche socio minore. Reggie riuscì, con l'aiuto di Raft, a mantenere l'alleanza, sostenendo che "lo Studio" era ancora il miglior partner commerciale della mafia a Londra. Raft e Reggie usarono il fatto che nessuno dei testimoni del Blind Beggar fosse disposto a testimoniare contro Ronnie come prova del grado di paura che i Kray ispiravano. Poco dopo, a Raft fu impedito di tornare in Gran Bretagna dopo un viaggio negli Stati Uniti da un ordine del Ministero degli Interni come "indesiderabile", costando così ai Krays il loro più forte alleato all'interno della mafia.

Jack "the Hat" McVitie
Nell'ottobre 1967, quattro mesi dopo il suicidio della moglie Frances, Reggie fu presumibilmente incoraggiato dal fratello a uccidere Jack "the Hat" McVitie, un membro minore della banda Kray che non aveva rispettato un contratto di 1.000 sterline, di cui 500 gli erano state pagate in anticipo, per uccidere il loro ex consulente finanziario, Leslie Payne. McVitie fu attirato in un appartamento seminterrato di Evering Road, Stoke Newington, con la scusa di una festa. Una volta entrato nel locale, vide Ronnie seduto nella sala d'ingresso. Ronnie si è avvicinato, scatenando una raffica di insulti verbali e tagliando McVitie sotto l'occhio con un pezzo di vetro rotto. Si ritiene che a quel punto sia scoppiata una discussione tra i gemelli e McVitie. Quando la discussione si è fatta più accesa, Reggie ha puntato una pistola alla testa di McVitie e ha premuto il grilletto due volte, ma l'arma non ha sparato.

McVitie fu quindi abbracciato dal cugino dei gemelli, Ronnie Hart, e Reggie ricevette un coltello da intaglio. A quel punto accoltellò McVitie al volto e allo stomaco, conficcandogli la lama nel collo mentre roteava il coltello, senza fermarsi nemmeno quando McVitie giaceva a terra in fin di vita. Reggie aveva commesso un omicidio molto pubblico, contro qualcuno che secondo molti membri dello Studio non meritava di morire. In un'intervista del 2000, poco dopo la morte di Reggie, Freddie Foreman rivelò che McVitie aveva la reputazione di lasciare dietro di sé una carneficina a causa del suo consumo abituale di droghe e di superalcolici, e di aver minacciato di fare del male ai gemelli e alla loro famiglia.

Arresto, procedimento penale e detenzione
Il sovrintendente capo Leonard "Nipper" Read di Scotland Yard fu promosso alla Squadra Omicidi e il suo primo incarico fu quello di catturare i gemelli Kray. Durante la prima metà del 1964, Read aveva indagato sulle loro attività, ma la pubblicità e le smentite ufficiali sulla relazione tra Ron e Boothby resero inutili le prove raccolte. Read si mise nuovamente sulle tracce dei gemelli nel 1967, ma si scontrò spesso con il "muro del silenzio" dell'East End, che scoraggiava chiunque dal fornire informazioni alla polizia. Le gemelle furono rappresentate in tribunale da Nemone Lethbridge.

Alla fine del 1967 Read aveva accumulato abbastanza prove contro i Kray. All'inizio del 1968, i Kray assunsero Alan Bruce Cooper, che inviò Paul Elvey a Glasgow per acquistare esplosivi per un'autobomba. Elvey era un ingegnere radiofonico che nel 1964 aveva messo in onda Radio Sutch, poi ribattezzata Radio City. Dopo essere stato trattenuto dalla polizia in Scozia, confessò di essere coinvolto in tre tentativi di omicidio. Le prove furono indebolite da Cooper, che affermò di essere un agente del Dipartimento del Tesoro degli Stati Uniti che indagava sui legami tra la mafia americana e la banda Kray. I tentativi di omicidio erano il suo tentativo di far ricadere la colpa sui Kray.

Alla fine Scotland Yard decise di arrestare i Kray sulla base delle prove già raccolte, nella speranza che altri testimoni sarebbero stati disponibili una volta che i Kray fossero stati arrestati. L'8 maggio 1968 i Kray e altri 15 membri della Firm furono arrestati. Furono usate misure eccezionali per impedire la collusione tra gli accusati. Nipper Read intervistò segretamente ciascuno degli arrestati e offrì a ciascun membro della Firm un accordo se avesse testimoniato contro gli altri. Donoghue disse direttamente alle gemelle che non era disposto a farsi convincere a dichiararsi colpevole, con grande rabbia delle gemelle. Poi informò Read, tramite la madre, che era pronto a collaborare.

La difesa dei gemelli, sotto la guida del loro avvocato John Platts-Mills, QC, consistette nel negare categoricamente tutte le accuse e nello screditare i testimoni sottolineando il loro passato criminale. Il giudice Melford Stevenson disse: "A mio parere, la società si è guadagnata una pausa dalle vostre attività". Il processo, che durò dal gennaio al marzo 1969, fu un vero e proprio scandalo mediatico. La richiesta di assistere al processo nella sezione della galleria pubblica del tribunale fu tale che si creò un mercato nero dei posti, con un prezzo di 5 sterline al giorno per un posto nella galleria pubblica. Si trattò della più lunga udienza per omicidio nella storia della giustizia penale britannica, durante la quale il giudice Melford Stevenson dichiarò che le condanne non dovevano essere inferiori a trent'anni. Nel marzo 1969, entrambi furono condannati all'ergastolo, con un periodo di 30 anni per gli omicidi di Cornell e McVitie in cui non avrebbero potuto chiedere la libertà vigilata. Il fratello Charlie fu incarcerato per dieci anni per il suo ruolo negli omicidi.

Anni successivi
Ronnie Kray era un prigioniero di categoria A, a cui erano negate quasi tutte le libertà e a cui non era permesso di mescolarsi con gli altri prigionieri. Alla fine fu dichiarato pazzo, la sua schizofrenia paranoide fu mitigata con farmaci costanti; nel 1979 fu internato e visse il resto della sua vita nel Broadmoor Hospital di Crowthorne, nel Berkshire. Reggie Kray è stato rinchiuso nella prigione di Maidstone per otto anni (categoria B). Nel 1997 fu trasferito nel carcere di categoria C di Wayland, nel Norfolk.

Morte
Ronnie morì il 17 marzo 1995 all'età di 61 anni al Wexham Park Hospital di Slough, nel Berkshire. Due giorni prima aveva avuto un infarto al Broadmoor Hospital. Reggie uscì di prigione in manette per partecipare al funerale.

Reggie è morto per un cancro terminale dopo essere stato rilasciato per motivi compassionevoli all'età di 66 anni il 1° ottobre 2000. Durante la sua detenzione, Reggie Kray è nato cristiano. Fu rilasciato da Wayland il 26 agosto 2000 per motivi compassionevoli, su indicazione del Ministro degli Interni Jack Straw. All'inizio dell'anno gli era stato diagnosticato un cancro alla vescica, la cui malattia era stata dichiarata terminale. Le ultime settimane della sua vita sono state trascorse con la moglie di tre anni, Roberta, in una suite del Townhouse Hotel di Norwich, dopo aver lasciato il Norfolk and Norwich Hospital il 22 settembre 2000. Dieci giorni dopo la sua morte fu sepolto accanto al fratello Ronnie nel cimitero di Chingford Mount. Durante il funerale, una folla di migliaia di persone si è messa in fila per applaudire.

Nel cinema
 The Krays (1990), biopic cinematografico con Gary Kemp degli Spandau Ballet nel ruolo di Ronnie e Martin Kemp in quello di Reggie.
 Legend (2015), biopic con Tom Hardy nel ruolo di Ronnie e Reggie.
 The Rise of the Krays (2015), film a basso costo con Simon Cotton nel ruolo di Ronnie e Kevin Leslie in quello di Reggie.
 The Fall of the Krays (2016), sequel a basso budget del precedente film del 2015, sempre con Simon Cotton nel ruolo di Ronnie e Kevin Leslie in quello di Reggie
 Code of Silence (2021), incentrato sull'ultimo tentativo di Leonard "Nipper" Read di far condannare i fratelli Kray, con Ronan Summers nel ruolo di Ronnie e Reggie.

Nella letteratura

 Gaines, J.H. (2012). The Krays Not Guilty Your Honour. Biography Pearson, John (1972). The Profession of Violence: The Rise and Fall of the Kray Twins. New York, Saturday Review Press. Kray, Reggie; Kray, Ronnie (1988). Our Story. Autobiography
 Kray, Reggie (1990). Born Fighter. Autobiography
 Kray, Ronnie (1994). My Story.
 Kray, Reggie (2000). A Way of Life: Over Thirty Years of Blood, Sweat and Tears. Autobiography of Reggie Kray
 Kray, Charles (2000). Me and my Brothers. Autobiography of the Kray twins

Teatro
Negli anni Settanta sono state prodotte due opere teatrali basate su versioni poco velate dei Kray:

 Alpha Alpha, di Howard Barker nel 1972.
 England England, un musical di Snoo Wilson con musiche di Kevin Coyne e regia di Dusty Hughes nel 1977, con Bob Hoskins e Brian Hall nei ruoli principali.

Libri e articoli

 Hebdige, Dick (1974). The Kray Twins: A Study of a System of Closure. Birmingham: University of Birmingham Press.
 Jenks, Chris; Lorentzen, Justin (2004). "The Kray Fascination". In Chris Jenks (ed.). Urban Culture Critical Critical Concepts in Literary and Cultural Studies Volume 4. London: Routledge. pp. 3–24.
 Pearson, John (2010). Notorious The Immortal Legend of the Kray Twins. New York: Randhom House.
 Penfold-Mounce, Ruth (2010). Celebrity Culture and Crime The Joy of Transgression. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
 Pettey, Homer (2018). "The Kray Twins and Biographical Media". In R. Barton Palmer, Homer B. Pettey (ed.). Rule, Britannia! The Biopic and British National Identity. New York: State University of New York Press. pp. 1–22.
 Raban, Jonathan (2004). "The Emporium of Styles". In Chris Jenks (ed.). Urban Culture Critical Concepts in Literary and Cultural Studies Volume 1. London: Routledge. pp. 229–248.
 Krays Not guilty Your Honour, di JH Gaines
 Born or Bred? - Storia dei gemelli Kray da timedetectives.co.uk
 Professione criminale. La Londra dei gemelli Kray, John Pearson, Milieu, 2020, Milano

Note

Collegamenti esterni
 The Kray Twins: Brothers In Arms dal sito crimelibrary.com

Coppie di fratelli o sorelle
Kra

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Jay Block Riding Trifecta of Leadership to NM Governor's Office
By Nick Wilbur on July 9, 2021 • ( Leave a comment )
Courtesy of Jay Block for Governor
In a state that's last in almost everything, there's nowhere to go but up.
But progress isn't about partisan politics. It's about policy, and policies that work for the people and not just bureaucrats require strong leadership.
Jay Block believes he's the guy to pull New Mexico out of this slump, and he's not just along for the ride.
"I don't go into things to lose," he said in a sit-down interview with The Conservative New Mexican on July 8, 2021.
A retired lieutenant colonel in the Air Force and current nuclear weapons consultant in the private industry, Block brings what he calls a "trifecta of leadership" to the race that sets him apart not only from incumbent Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, but his (now four) competitors in the Republican primary race:
he has served his country in the military,
he works in business development in the private sector, and
he has successfully run for public office — and never lost.
It was after a 21-year military career that Block transitioned to the private sector and ran for public office. His opponent for Sandoval County Commissioner was a popular Democrat incumbent in a district that had never voted Republican.
"I trashed her record," Block said of his opponent. "People said, 'You're beating up on a 70-year-old lady.' It wasn't negative, her record was just that bad for the people and the truth needed to be told."
Knowing he had a target on his back, Block went to work immediately, improving roads, supporting small businesses, addressing illegal dumping, and passing a 2nd Amendment sanctuary resolution and a Right to Work ordinance.
His efforts paid off in 2020 when he won re-election — and with union support from firefighters and sheriffs deputies.
Despite Conservatives getting a bad rap for "union busting," Block won a traditionally Democrat district with union support, and it's that kind of bipartisanship he wants to see return to New Mexico.
While the governor's comments about her critics being "lizard people" understandably steal the headlines, it is policy that changes a state, not rhetoric.
Block's priorities are four-fold — reforming education, cutting crime, creating jobs, and security at the border.
To attract jobs, a state needs low crime and qualified workers, which is why the first tier of his plan tackles education.
Rather than pouring more taxpayer dollars into a system that never seems to improve, Block wants to give the power of educating students to the parents by creating a school voucher system.
As long as students are meeting standard test requirements, Block believes a parent should be able to take their $5,000 voucher, for example, and pay tuition to whatever institution of their choosing, whether a private school, charter school, or church.
"Government schools need to compete with private and charter schools," he said.
Part of making students successful is getting them out of the classroom, which is why Block's in-school academic approach includes an out-of-school hands-on training element.
Rather than dedicating resources to partisan issues like Critical Race Theory — which he promises to ban across all state agencies with an executive order as soon as he takes office — Block wants to see the state pushing students as early as 8th or 9th grade into internships and trades.
Students interested in STEM or finance, for example, should be spending at least one day a week at a business getting hands-on experience. This would not only increase engagement by making their education more interesting, but it would put students on a career path.
As long as there are objective standards for testing, students and parents should be able to decide the direction of their education, he said.
"We can't just pass kids to pass them. We need kids who can compete."
This will come with an up-front price tag, Block acknowledged, but in crime, potentially prison, job prospects and income, it will pay off in the long run.
In November 2016, New Mexico voters approved an amendment to the state Constitution that, on the surface, allowed courts to deny bail if prosecutors provided evidence that the defendant posed a public safety threat. In reality, it made it difficult for judges to detain defendants until trial as long as they claim they couldn't afford bail.
It has proven a failed experiment.
Albuquerque is on track for a record homicide rate. Homelessness is taking over the city. And despite diligent efforts by law enforcement, there seems to be no end in sight. Repeat offenders are now so common that New Mexico is experiencing a revolving door of criminality.
"How many of you have been victims of crime or know someone who has?" Block said. A Sandoval County sheriffs deputy recently told Block he had arrested the same individual five or seven times:
"Police are tired of arresting the same guys."
"Now that we've seen what effect it's had," Block said, it's time to repeal no cash bail.
As governor, Block would immediately send New Mexico National Guard troops to the border, where they could help with security, IT, and logistics to allow Customs and Border Patrol agents to focus on stopping drugs, sex traffickers, and other criminals that are not only threatening public safety but which are "a huge cost to the country and to New Mexico."
In March 2021, Intel announced it would expand operations to Arizona with a $20 billion investment that would create 15,000 permanent local jobs. There's no reason Arizona should be attracting that kind of job development over New Mexico, Block said. With a secure border, improved education, and lower crime, New Mexico can start to attract businesses to the state.
Not only is crime and our last-in-the-nation education keeping businesses away, but workers have little incentive to stay after they retire. To attract retirees, Block wants to cut property taxes by 50 to 75% for first responders and reform the state's policy of taxing Social Security.
According to the Tax Foundation, New Mexico is one of only 13 states that treats Social Security as taxable income, which is why New Mexico ranks as one of the least desirable places to retire, according to a MoneyWise study.
"The Land of Enchantment holds no allure for retirees, condemning it to the very bottom of the list this year. Social Security, retirement account distributions and pension payouts all get taxed here, and while lower-income seniors can catch a bit of a break, sales taxes are also above average."
— MoneyWise, April 14, 2021
Reforming Gross Receipts Tax has proponents on both sides of the political aisle, but Democrats in the majority of the state legislature's House and Senate have kept the bill from reaching the governor's desk.
According to a Rio Grande Foundation analysis:
"The GRT is a jobs-killer because it increases costs for business by 7 percent or more above competing states, most of which do not have taxes on business inputs and none as high as New Mexico's in terms of the rate."
Immediately upon taking office, Block would create a small business task force to get community input about how to ease the tax burden and cut regulations, which he says not only hurt New Mexican business owners but disincentivize out-of-state investors from building here.
"This is all simple stuff," Block said: entice business, attract out of state residents, and make New Mexico a place where workers want to stay after they retire.
Block's Conservative values reflect the classic American story of a young man pulling himself up by his bootstraps. He had a difficult upbringing in a lower-middle class family. He lived in a three-story apartment, chemical dependency hit as close to home as it could, money was tight, and Block struggled in school due to a severe learning disability.
But he had a few good influences in his life: his father, who showed the value of hard work as a painter and a welder; a coach in high school; and his first military commander who was hard as hell but an empowering force for the young Block.
Block graduated in 1989 and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force Reserve. Unable to afford college in New Hampshire, he moved to North Dakota, where he served in the Air National Guard and enrolled at North Dakota State University. According to his website, Block served more than two decades as a nuclear weapons officer, "volunteered for a combat tour in Afghanistan, commanded twice on foreign soil representing our country, and finally retired in 2016 as a Lt Col."
Block pulled no punches criticizing the governor's policies and scandals. From her COVID pandemic response to paying off an alleged victim of sexual assault to the more general statistics showing New Mexico ranking last in education, 49th in unemployment, and 50th in per capita welfare, Lujan Grisham seems to have made little progress on the issues affecting New Mexicans.
"This is a governor who has put the people in chains. New Mexico has never been in a worse position than it is now. We've never had a governor like this — she's a bully, vindictive, a sexual predator — and that's why I'm going to beat her."
— Commissioner Jay C. Block (R)
Categories: 2022 Governor's Race
Tagged as: 2022 Governor's Race, Jay Block, Michelle Lujan Grisham, New Mexico, New Mexico politics
New Mexico Takes 'Broken Windows' Approach to Cut Crime


text:
Q: ActiveRecord::ConnectionTimeoutError: could not obtain a database connection within 5.000 seconds (waited 5.000 seconds) I have a rails app in production that i deployed some changes to the other day. All of a sudden now I get the error ActiveRecord::ConnectionTimeoutError: could not obtain a database connection within 5.000 seconds (waited 5.000 seconds) multiple times a day and have to restart puma to fix the issue.
I'm completely stumped as to what is causing this. I didn't change anything on my server and the changes I made were pretty simple (add to a view and add to a controller method).
I'm not seeing much of anything in the log files.
I'm using rails 4.1.4 and ruby 2.0.0p481
Any ideas as to why my connections are filling up? My connection pool is set to 10 and i'm using the default puma configuration.
Here's a stack trace:
ActiveRecord::ConnectionTimeoutError (could not obtain a database connection within 5.000 seconds (waited 5.000 seconds)):
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:190:in `block in wait_poll'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:181:in `loop'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:181:in `wait_poll'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:136:in `block in poll'
  /usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.0.0-p481/lib/ruby/2.0.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:146:in `synchronize'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:134:in `poll'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:418:in `acquire_connection'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:351:in `block in checkout'
  /usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.0.0-p481/lib/ruby/2.0.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:350:in `checkout'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:265:in `block in connection'
  /usr/local/rvm/rubies/ruby-2.0.0-p481/lib/ruby/2.0.0/monitor.rb:211:in `mon_synchronize'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:264:in `connection'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:541:in `retrieve_connection'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:113:in `retrieve_connection'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb:87:in `connection'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/query_cache.rb:51:in `restore_query_cache_settings'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/query_cache.rb:43:in `rescue in call'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/query_cache.rb:32:in `call'
  activerecord (4.1.4) lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_pool.rb:621:in `call'
  actionpack (4.1.4) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:29:in `block in call'
  activesupport (4.1.4) lib/active_support/callbacks.rb:82:in `run_callbacks'
  actionpack (4.1.4) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/callbacks.rb:27:in `call'
  actionpack (4.1.4) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/remote_ip.rb:76:in `call'
  airbrake (4.1.0) lib/airbrake/rails/middleware.rb:13:in `call'
  actionpack (4.1.4) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/debug_exceptions.rb:17:in `call'
  actionpack (4.1.4) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/show_exceptions.rb:30:in `call'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:38:in `call_app'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:20:in `block in call'
  activesupport (4.1.4) lib/active_support/tagged_logging.rb:68:in `block in tagged'
  activesupport (4.1.4) lib/active_support/tagged_logging.rb:26:in `tagged'
  activesupport (4.1.4) lib/active_support/tagged_logging.rb:68:in `tagged'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/rack/logger.rb:20:in `call'
  actionpack (4.1.4) lib/action_dispatch/middleware/request_id.rb:21:in `call'
  rack (1.5.2) lib/rack/methodoverride.rb:21:in `call'
  dragonfly (1.0.5) lib/dragonfly/cookie_monster.rb:9:in `call'
  rack (1.5.2) lib/rack/runtime.rb:17:in `call'
  activesupport (4.1.4) lib/active_support/cache/strategy/local_cache_middleware.rb:26:in `call'
  rack (1.5.2) lib/rack/sendfile.rb:112:in `call'
  airbrake (4.1.0) lib/airbrake/user_informer.rb:16:in `_call'
  airbrake (4.1.0) lib/airbrake/user_informer.rb:12:in `call'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/engine.rb:514:in `call'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/application.rb:144:in `call'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/railtie.rb:194:in `public_send'
  railties (4.1.4) lib/rails/railtie.rb:194:in `method_missing'
  puma (2.9.0) lib/puma/configuration.rb:71:in `call'
  puma (2.9.0) lib/puma/server.rb:490:in `handle_request'
  puma (2.9.0) lib/puma/server.rb:361:in `process_client'
  puma (2.9.0) lib/puma/server.rb:254:in `block in run'
  puma (2.9.0) lib/puma/thread_pool.rb:92:in `call'
  puma (2.9.0) lib/puma/thread_pool.rb:92:in `block in spawn_thread'

Puma init.d script
#!/bin/sh
# Starts and stops puma
#

case "$1" in
        start)
                su myuser -c  "source /etc/profile && cd /var/www/myapp/current && rvm gemset use myapp && puma -d -e production -b unix:///var/www/myapp/myapp_app.sock -S /var/www/myapp/myapp_app.state"
        ;;

        stop)
                su myuser -c "source /etc/profile && cd /var/www/myapp/current &&  rvm gemset use myapp && RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec pumactl -S /var/www/myapp/myapp_app.state stop"
        ;;

        restart)
                $0 stop
                $0 start
        ;;

        *)
                echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop|restart}"
                exit 1
esac

EDIT
I think i've finally narrowed down the issue to be with the airbrake gem and using the devise method current_user or user_signed_in? in application_controller.rb in a before_action.
Here's my application controller:
class ApplicationController < ActionController::Base
  protect_from_forgery
  before_filter :authenticate_user!, :get_new_messages

  # Gets the unread messages for the logged in user
  def get_new_messages
    @num_new_messages = 0 # Initially set to 0 so login page, etc works
    # If the user is signed in, fetch the new messages
    if user_signed_in? # I also tried !current_user.nil?
      @num_new_messages = Message.where(:created_for => current_user.id).where(:viewed => false).count
    end
  end

...
end

If i remove the if block, i have no problems. Since i introduced that code, my app seems to run out of connections. If i leave that if block in place and remove the airbrake gem, my app seems to run just fine with only the default 5 connections set on my pool in my database.yml file.
EDIT
I finally figure out that if I comment out this line in my config/environments/production.rb file config.exceptions_app = self.routes that I don't get the error. It seems that custom routes + devise in the app controller before_action are the cause. I've created an issue and a reproducable project on github.
https://github.com/plataformatec/devise/issues/3422
https://github.com/toymachiner62/devise-connection-failure/blob/master/config/environments/production.rb#L84

A: With the help of the devise guys' I think I finally got this issue figured out. It seemed that by using custom error pages with it's own controller, I wasn't skipping the before_action get_new_messages. So the very simple fix was to add:
skip_before_filter :get_new_messages

to my custom error controller.
This issue explains in detail the reason behind this: https://github.com/plataformatec/devise/issues/3422

A: I had the same problems which were caused by too many open connections to the database. This can happen when you have database queries outside of a controller (in a model, mailer, pdf generator, ...).
I could fix it by wrapping those queries in this block which closes the connection automatically.
ActiveRecord::Base.connection_pool.with_connection do
  # your code
end

Since Puma works multi-threaded, the pool size (as eabraham mentioned) can be a limitation, too. Try to increase it (a little)...
I hope this helps!

A: Ultimately this issue still plagued me for another year or so. I finally got a good solution from working with the puma guys.
Upgrade your puma to at least 2.15.x.


Angular gives you various ways to fetch data from HTML input in the controller. So here we are going to discuss 4 different ways to do so.
(input) – triggered every time a user enters some data.
(key.enter) – triggered every time a user press enter key. So, in this case, we will get the data only when a user types something and after that presses enter key.
(dbclick) – triggered every time user double clicks on the element.
Here is the list of HTML DOM events https://www.w3schools.com/jsref/dom_obj_event.asp.
Most of them work with angular.
Now let's see how to use these events. Firstly, bind a controller function with $event as a param to the input event.
Now inside this function, we can get the value of the input from event.target.value and we can assign it to a variable. As we are assigning it to a variable serverName.
In the above snippet, we are passing myInput.value as a param to OnInput i.e. we are sending the input value to our method.
Now create the method in the controller to received to value.
Here we will receive the input value as the method argument and which we are assigning it to a variable which is serverName in our case.
Now once we have linked the dom Input to our controller myInput variable, we can use it to fetch value or change value.
2. To make it work you need to import theFormsModule from the @angular/forms package.
3. Now you can access it using variable myInput which we used in step 1 for ngModel.


text:
Ultimatecarpage.com > Cars by brand > Germany > Porsche
Cayenne S Diesel
Porsche Cayenne S Diesel
Article Image gallery (6) Specifications
Introduced at: 2012 Paris Motor Show
Internal name: 958
Source: Company press release
Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG of Stuttgart is launching its most powerful diesel model on the market as the Cayenne S Diesel. The 4.2-litre eight-cylinder engine with biturbo charging produces 382 hp (281 kW) and offers a maximum torque of 850 Newton metres. This drives the new Cayenne S Diesel to top values in both dynamic performance and efficiency: The new top diesel completes the sprint from zero to 100 km in 5.7 seconds, and its top speed is 252 km/h. In the process, it utilises energy in an exemplary way: Its NEDC fuel consumption is just 8.3 litres per 100 km (CO2: 218 g/km). One factor contributing to this excellent value is the auto start/stop function; the new model is the world's only SUV with a diesel V8 to offer this functionality.
The Cayenne S Diesel offers a driving experience that is typical of a Porsche and yet is altogether new. It is emotional like a sports car in its dynamic performance and sound. The smooth running properties and resonant sound of the eight-cylinder engine attain a level comparable to that of previous Porsche V8 engines. The Cayenne S Diesel gets its very special character from PTM active all-wheel drive. This system produces the driving qualities of a rear-wheel drive vehicle - together with all of its benefits in handling and precision. In a sporty, dynamic style of driving, front-wheel drive actions precisely adapted to the driving situation intervene to improve stability and traction. The optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV Plus) makes this excellent dynamic performance even sportier.
The Cayenne S Diesel with its superior engine power is also the ideal vehicle when towing and manoeuvring boat or horse trailers. The Cayenne S Diesel still has sufficient power reserves even when working at its maximum towing capacity of 3.5 metric tonnes. The new vehicle also takes on the role of a long-distance champion: based on its NEDC fuel consumption the Cayenne S Diesel - equipped with an optional 100-litre fuel tank - can be driven a distance of about 1,200 km without having to stop to refuel.
On its exterior, the new top diesel model is an uncompromising Cayenne S as well, and it displays the typical visual features of the eight-cylinder versions. The brake system, for example, has been sized to handle the car's power output, and it is identified by its silver brake callipers. The black fins at the front end emphasise the open air inlets. As on the Cayenne Diesel, the "diesel" badges at the front ends of the wings call attention to the operating mode of the V8 engine. The model badge at the rear identifies it as a Cayenne S.
The Cayenne S Diesel will launch on the market in January 2013 and will cost 77,684 euros in Germany - including 19 per cent VAT and country-specific features.
Add your comments on the Porsche Cayenne S Diesel


text:
Customer help-desk start-up, Gorgias bags $25 million in Series B funding led by Sapphire Ventures
Chhavideep Singh December 11, 2020
Source: YouTube
Gorgias is a customer support/help-desk/help-center for e-commerce platforms that provides their customer service team with an efficient platform to manage all of their support, customer data and service channels such as social media, live chat, emails etc.
Well, the start-up has recently raised USD 25 million in its latest Series B funding round led by Sapphire Ventures, a silicon-valley based Venture Capital firm.
The funding round also witnessed participation from existing investors including Alven, Amplify Partners, CRV, SaaStr and Greycroft, according to TechCrunch.
Customer service is all about maintaining efficiency and maximising productivity, Gorgias aims to achieve something like this with their platform. The start-up mentioned in a comment that Gorgias customer support wishes to automate responses to the most common questions asked to any e-commerce platform, while also providing tools for customer support to answer queries that customers ask with more accuracy and speed. Quick responses are always a good sign in the eyes of a customer. Certain skills and ease of use that Gorgias provides is even used by customer support to convince buyers to buy new additional products from the brand.
According to reports, in totality, the customer help-desk start-up has raised around USD 40 million from both Series A and Series B rounds.
As we are all aware of the COVID-19 pandemic situation, you must have noticed that the demand for online shopping and using e-commerce day-in and day-out has increased significantly and customer support is needed much more than ever. Gorgias has provided a very easy and useful platform to customer dealing agents where they can manage all their client's data with a single click of a button. A single app for all communications, a blessing for the customer support department.
However, when asked about the latest funding, the company mentions utilising these freshly acquired funds in expanding their team by hiring more and more people. Sources suggest that the start-up went from a team of 30 employees to 100 employees in 2020 itself, most of which were engineers and the company aims to develop more and more automation tools on their platform.
Gorgias is now operational in over 4,500 stores including Steve Madden, Ellana, Electrolux, Timbuk2, Sergio Tacchini and many more. The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for the company as with increased demand for e-commerce platforms, customer support needed to maintain the sanctity and there is no better platform than Gorgias to do that level of help-centre automation.
Gorgias was founded back in 2015 by co-founders Romain Lapeyre and Alex Plaguru.
fundingGorgias
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text:
KVC's "Home. Hope. Heroes." Event Benefits Vulnerable West Virginia Children and Families
On June 2, KVC West Virginia held its Home. Hope. Heroes. event at the Culture Center in Charleston, West Virginia. The event brought together government officials, national foundations, and community organizations to focus on helping children and families, particularly through the state's new Safe at Home West Virginia program. Learn more in this earlier announcement: Safe at Home West Virginia Program Inspires KVC's Home. Hope. Heroes. Event.
KVC extends its gratitude to event sponsors including Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC; Highland Hospital; Thrasher; WOWK-TV and Brickstreet Insurance.
KVC also thanks the following guest speakers:
Secretary Karen Bowling, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, who stated that, "We must have a trauma-informed system of care." Learn more about childhood adversity and trauma.
Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, who said, "Families are the best medicine to help children heal."
Brent Lemon, KVC West Virginia, who spoke about the nonprofit organization's role in helping children and families in several regions of the state.
Entertainment was provided by pianist Barbara Nissman and fiddlers Adam DeGraff and Morgan Weidinger.
See photos from the event on our Facebook page:
KVC West Virginia is the state's largest private provider of foster family care and also provides in-home behavioral healthcare and adoption. In 2015, the organization was selected to help children through the state's new Safe At Home West Virginia program, an initiative of the state Department of Health and Human Resources' Bureau for Children and Families.
Safe at Home's aim is to maximize the benefits of home and community-based services for children in out-of-home care such as foster care, in conjunction with providing behavioral and mental health services, in order to reduce the use of congregate and out-of-state care. The program has successfully completed the initial development stage, and KVC West Virginia is now one of six organizations selected to expand the program into new areas of the state.
Learn more about KVC's participation in Safe at Home West Virginia and how you can meaningfully help children and families affected by poverty, substance abuse, mental/behavioral health challenges, or trauma such as abuse or neglect. Together we can rally around these families and make sure that West Virginia children stay safe at home.
Posted in News and Events | Tags: adoption, behavioral healthcare, charity event, foster care, fundraiser