And it wasn't half bad. At this customer site I am at currently doing MDT 2010 deployment creation for a Windows Server 2008 R2 rollout, WSUS was breaking for the desktop deployment folks.
WSUS was enabled on a Windows 2008 R2 server. The website couldn't be accessed, giving a server 500 error. When I looked in the Application and System event logs, two things stood out at me.
The first thing that caught my eye was in the System event log. A 2025, from SRV stating that the MDT reference machine in a VM on the 2008 R2 host was doing a possible Denial of Service attack against the 2008 R2 server and the connection was closed.
Second was that in the logs for WSUS, 13042, could not self update. Strange. I started messing around with it, and long story short of it, the service that the Application Pools in IIS were running under did not have any rights to the IIS folders. Restoring rights to the IIS folders resolved the issue and WSUS happily patched the MDT Reference image.


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Тайшань — священна гора даосизму
 Тайшань — міський повіт у провінції Гуандун

Тайшань — район міста Сіньбей

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Head Office (Tokyo) | AIRI Co., Ltd.
Visiting the AIRI Tokyo head office is a 2-minute walk from the Toei Mita station exit A9.
Visiting the AiRi Tokyo headquarters is a 5-minute walk from the Tamachi station exit Mita entrance (west entrance).


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text:
Aliogin (lat. Alyogyne), biljni rod trajnica iz porodice sljezovki, smješten u potporodicu Malvoideae. Postoji pet priznatih vrsta, sve su australski endemi.

Vrste
 Alyogyne cravenii Fryxell
 Alyogyne cuneiformis (DC.) Lewton
 Alyogyne hakeifolia (Giord.) Alef.
 Alyogyne huegelii (Endl.) Fryxell
 Alyogyne pinoniana (Gaudich.) Fryxell

Izvori

Vanjske poveznice

Malvoideae


text:
Vous êtes ici: UNIL > ISSR-ORS > Chercheurs/euses > Salzbrunn Monika > page en anglais
Monika Salzbrunn
Religions, migration, diaspora
Institute for Social Sciences of Religions (ISSR)
Office : Anthropole 5013
email : monika.salzbrunn<at>unil.ch
Fields of specialisation:
Artivism - Art and Activism
Art, Music, Theatre and Visual Anthropology
Festive Events, Carnival
Transnational Social Spaces
Sufi Brotherhoods (Tijâniyya, Murids)
Undocumented Migration (harga)
West Africa (Senegal), North Africa (Tunisia), United States, Europe, Japan
http://people.unil.ch/monikasalzbrunn/
http://unil.academia.edu/MonikaSalzbrunn
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Monika_Salzbrunn
http://erc-artivism.ch
> Publications of Monika Salzbrunn
> ERC Consolidator Grant 2015 "Art and Activism - ARTIVISM"
> Introductory Film on the ARTIVISM project
> Current research projects
> List of teaching
> Collaborators
Monika Salzbrunn holds a full professorship in "Religions, Migration, Diasporas" at Lausanne University. She is the first female scientist in Switzerland to receive the prestigious ERC Consolidator Grant in Social and Human Sciences, for her project on ARTIVISM. Art and Activism. Creativity and Performance as Subversive Forms of Political Expression in Super-Diverse Cities. The ERC's mission is to encourage the highest quality research in Europe through competitive funding and to support investigator-driven frontier research across all fields, on the basis of scientific excellence.
Prof. Salzbrunn was director of the Research Institute for Social Sciences of Contemporary Religions (ISSR) from 2011 until 2015. Currently, she is the principal investigator of the projects "(In)visible islam in the city: material and immaterial expressions of muslim practices within urban spaces in Switzerland" and "Undocumented Mobility (Tunisia-Switzerland) and Digital-Cultural Resources after the 'Arab Spring'", funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation. Furthermore, her team hosts an FNS Ambizione project, two FNS doc.ch projects as well as three FNS doc.mobility fellows. Professor Salzbrunn was principal investigator of numerous research projects (Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation DFG; CNRS; Région Ile de France) and has lead the French team in the European GEMMA project on policymaking, gender and migration in the 7th framework program of the European Union at Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris. As an ERC grantee with a deep experience in international project leading, Professor Salzbrunn was nominated member of the Social and Human Sciences Support Group of Horizon 2020 - European Union, by the State Secretary for Research and Innovation. The SHS support group, composed of international top-level-researchers, discusses future project calls on a European level and defends the interest of scientific research lead in Switzerland at the European Commission.
She was principal investigator of numerous research projects (Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation DFG; CNRS; Région Ile de France) and has lead the French team in the European GEMMA project on policymaking, gender and migration in the 7th framework program of the European Union at Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales (EHESS), Paris. Professor Salzbrunn is co-chair of the urban studies section at the International Association of French-Speaking Sociologists (AISLF) and funding committee member of the Commission on: Anthropology of Music, Sound and Bodily Performative Practices at the International Union of Anthropological and Ethnological Sciences (IUAES). She is associated member of the CéSor laboratory at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales à Paris and has set up an advanced research seminar with Stefania Capone and Nathalie Luca.
Monika Salzbrunn is a former EmmyNoether Fellow of the German Research Foundation (DFG). She has published her work in international peer-reviewed sociology and anthropology journals (Social Compass, Identities, Journal of Religion in Africa, Revue Européenne des Migrations internationales, Afrique Contemporaine, Journal of Urban Anthropology, Soziologische Revue, afriche et orienti, Textos escolhidos de cultura e arte populares, COMPASO Journal of Comparative Research in Anthropology and Sociology, Sociétés Plurielles, Women's Studies etc.). Her work is published or translated in English, French, German, Italian, Portugese and Japanese.
Her latest publications include:
The Economies of Urban Diversity (published 2013 by Palgrave, co-edited with Darja Reuschke and Korinna Schönhärl, From Community to Commonality. Multiple Belonging and Street Phenomena in the Era of Reflexive Modernization (published in 2011 by Seijo University Press, Tokyo, co-authored with Yasumasa Sekine)
Faire communauté en société. Dynamiques des appartenances collectives (published in 2010 by Presses Universitaires de Rennes, co-edited)
The Making of World Society. Perspectives from Transnational Research (published by transcript/Transaction Publishers in 2008, co-edited with Remus Gabriel Anghel, Eva Gerhartz and Gilberto Rescher)
Her forthcoming books are:
Migrations, circulations, mobilités. Nouveaux enjeux péistémologiques et conceptuels à l'épreuve du terrain. Presses Universitaires de Provence (co-edited with Nathalie Ortar and Mathis Stock)
L'événement (im)prévisible. Mobilisations politiques et dynamiques religieuses. Editions Beauchesne/Collection Dédale (co-edited with Laurent Amiotte-Suchet)
L'Islam (in)visible en ville. Appartenances et engagements dans l'espace urbain. Labor et Fides

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
European Commission reorganises the 'Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom' into the 'Service for the EU-UK Agreements'
©European Union, 2021, Source: EC - Audiovisual Service
The conclusion of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement on 24 December 2020 means that the very successful mandate of the Task Force for Relations with the United Kingdom (UKTF) will come to an end. The UKTF will cease to exist on 1 March 2021.
To support the efficient and rigorous implementation and monitoring of the Agreements with the UK, the European Commission has decided to establish a new Service for the EU-UK Agreements (UKS). The UKS will be part of the presidential services' Secretariat-General and will be operational as of 1 March 2021. The mandate and duration of the newly created service will be reviewed on a continuous basis. The UKS will closely cooperate with the HRVP.
Michel Barnier will become Special Adviser to President von der Leyen as of 1 February 2021. He will advise the President on the implementation of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and provide expertise in view of the finalisation of the EU's ratification process of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, the Vice-President in charge of interinstitutional relations and foresight, has been appointed as the Member of the Commission to co-chair and represent the European Union in the Partnership Council, established by the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
UKTF Website
Source European Commission - Jan 19, 21


Home Career Career Planning – Your Best Guide to some Effective Future!
By Ellis JasperJan 10, 2019, 11:28 amComments Off on Career Planning – Your Best Guide to some Effective Future!
Getting a job plan's a helpful tool to watch your job progress. It can't be overemphasized the significance of getting a practical workable career plan. The operative words listed here are that you simply work the program. You monitor your job progress and also over time you are making alterations in your job plan as conditions change.
Following are a few fundamental ideas organized that you should start planning and managing your job. Focusing on a job plan means you need to spend some time understanding and organizing yourself. Your job goal would be to maximize you skills, talents and talents. Reflecting in your unique skills, strengths and limitations and just how they alter 's time never wasted. Considering this stuff results in a certain lucidity then when future possibilities are presented you are able to rapidly make healthy choices.
Rapid changes throughout the economy, within the nature of labor and organizations have complicated the job planning process. The days are gone when many career plans appeared as if steps on the staircase. Foreseeable step-by-step career plans can't certainly be trusted and also you must arrange for greater versatility with increased frequent review and analysis of the progress and situation.
Browse around, frequently individuals who're most skilled in managing their career and maximizing possibilities obtain the promotions and also the best jobs. Let us find out if we are able to help vault you into that group so that you can manage your job progress via a well considered career plan.
The building blocks of the career plan needs to be according to knowing about it of what you are, the most important thing to both you and your ideas and hopes for future years. This detailed understanding will help you begin the entire process of working on your career plan.
Answering the next a quick question can get you began. Previously have you change jobs? If that's the case why? Do you know the significant influences inside your existence? How have these influences affected your job?
Now examine your talent. What exactly are your major skills? What exactly are your principal strengths? What limitations have you got? List your successes and failures. Have you got any underdeveloped talents? What exactly are they? What exactly are your wishes and dreams? Where would you see yourself soon, long term?
Now take a look at what options is it necessary to make alterations in your job plan. What is the large gap you need to begin working on or must you make smaller sized enhancements numerous factors? Create your objectives for your career plan. Keep the items measurable both in rapid and long term. If for instance, your require a course in self-study, and intend on studying 48 books within the next 2 yrs, your job plan is always to read two books per month.
One career planning area that lots of find productive would be to improve your satisfaction for you current job. Browse around, can there be an chance to attempt a brand new project, take part in employment swap, search for new responsibilities, develop new methods to do things, walk out the right path to mentor others, or perhaps take a look at part-time or flexible employment.
Another primary area in career planning would be to change yourself by learning additional skills or updating others or resetting your expectations and perhaps reexamining present attitudes. You might take extra courses in a local college, begin a program of self-study, work on developing additional mentors or speak to a career coach. All will move you toward achieving you career goals and making your job plans a real possibility.
Finally after you have looked internally for career possibilities and located only dead ends, you might want to look elsewhere to succeed your job. Examine your present situation critically when creating intends to change employers. Develop creative methods to ensure as near a match as you possibly can between that which you have planned for the career and just what may be available. For those who have gaps inside your skills intend to have them closed, if you need to learn additional skills jump on an exercise and focus program, begin studying writing and updating your resume and start understanding the latest in interviewing and job hunting techniques.
The best job might not be offered at the best time. You might want to think beyond job possibilities that provide a campaign or rise in salary so don't overlook a sideways move or perhaps a job which provides you with experience or increase you career satisfaction.


text:
<?php
class Kwc_Articles_Category_Directory_Component extends Kwc_Directories_Category_Directory_Component
{
    public static function getSettings()
    {
        $ret = parent::getSettings();
        $ret['categoryToItemModelName'] = 'Kwc_Articles_Category_Directory_ArticlesToCategoriesModel';

        $ret['menuConfig'] = 'Kwc_Articles_Category_Directory_MenuConfig';
        return $ret;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


ANSWER: What happens when an infant dies is far from being simply an academic matter, but it is as intensely personal as anything could be. To answer this specific question properly, it is essential to get the broad picture and there are several things to consider.
First, God loves His human creation, including infants, and wants what is best for them. He wants all people to be with Him forever and to enjoy Him and to enjoy what He has provided for them. When God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, we do witness Him demonstrating a special fondness for children (Matt. 18:3-10; 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17). The Luke account specifically includes "babies" as ones being brought to Jesus. These verses show that Jesus readily accepted these little ones (laying His hands on them was a sign of that) and saw them of great value, unlike His own disciples who at that point didn't share His view. To Jesus, little children are excellent examples of the fact that simple trust is what brings a person to receive God's eternal life. A proud person who is self-sufficient will not admit their need of a savior. Jesus had a special affection for these little ones.
Second, it is important to recognize that if God does take an infant to heaven at the death of that infant, it is not because the baby is innocent. The baby may well be cute and very precious to be sure, but biblically that baby is not innocent. The Bible is clear that a child is born guilty. They are sinful before God even before they commit any specific sins (we cannot be sure how young a child can be in order to commit personal sin). The Apostle Paul is quite clear, however, that everyone on this planet stands guilty before God (Romans 1:18-3:20, especially 3:9-10, 23). Other scriptures point out that we are sinners at birth and separated from God because of it (Psa. 51:5; 58:3; 143:2; Rom. 5:12-20; Eph. 2:1-3). These and other verses clearly teach that infants too are guilty before God because of inherited sin (sin nature) passed on from their parents who are also sinful, by nature and by act.
So, if God brings the infant to heaven it is essential that the issue of sinful guilt is dealt with in a way that satisfies the absolute standard of God's holiness. They are not saved because of their own righteousness, innocence or merit. They are saved, like everyone else who is saved, based completely and only on the redemptive work of Christ on the cross. So the question is: did Christ's death on the cross take care of the guilt of infants. The evidence of Scripture is YES IT DOES.
Jesus died on the cross; His death took care of the sin problem completely. He made a full and complete payment for all the sins of all mankind. There was no aspect of sin that was not righteously, judicially, completely paid for (John 3:16; 2 Cor. 5:19-21; 1 John 2:1-2; Heb. 2:9; 9:11-14, 25-28; 10:10-14). So that guilt, possessed by all, including infants, was paid for on the cross. This settles the most critical matter of all; that of God being able to righteously bring someone to heaven. But, in order to receive eternal life and the forgiveness of sins, a person must place their trust (faith) in Jesus the God-man, the one and only savior. The work on the cross, to be applied, must be accepted by the individual. We are declared righteous on the basis of faith in Christ alone (Gal. 2:16).
What separates infants from the rest mankind is that they cannot make moral choices, since they do not have the knowledge and understanding about right and wrong. They do not have the capacity to accept or reject the gospel. They, therefore, do not fit into the category of Romans 1:18-3:20 where Paul speaks of the judgment of eternal death that is coming on everyone who does not listen to the gospel and turn to Jesus Christ for eternal life. The case is strong, therefore, that since the guilt of sin has been totally paid for, and since infants cannot choose, that God justly brings these to heaven. (I would also suggest that those people of any chronological age who mentally do not have the ability to discern right from wrong, and cannot choose to accept or reject the gospel, are also covered by Christ's work on the cross).
Third, the Scriptures do give us the account of the death of King David's infant son (found in 2 Samuel 12). When the baby boy died, David who had been seeking God intently, ceased praying and fasting, which surprised David's servants. David then explained, "But now that he has died; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me" (12:23). It is the opinion of some interpreters that all David was saying was that his son cannot come back into the realm of the living, but he (David) would go into the realm of the dead. While that point is quite true, the context would point to something more to David's statement. David says that he would go to him, not that he would go to where he was; that is, the realm of the dead. It was hardly comfort or consolation to David that he would die someday and be dead like his son. But to be with that son someday would bring very real consolation to the grieving heart of David who expected to be reunited with his baby son. Everyone would agree that at death David would be with the Lord. So the point is that David, who is headed for heaven, would again be with that son. This, of course, means that the little boy who died, being just 7 days old, would be with his father, David, when David died. This strongly points to the infant going to heaven.
We wish that there were many more scriptures which would talk about this subject, but what God has given to us gives us great comfort that these little ones that Jesus cared about and died for are with the Lord. It is, therefore, not simply wishful thinking or sentimentalism, when we state that INFANTS WHO DIE GO TO BE WITH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and will enjoy Him forever.


Veteran actor Anupam Kher's father Pushkarnath Kher passed away this morning. He was 84.
Anupam revealed the news on his Twitter page, writing, "As I landed in Goa my brother Raju called from Mumbai that the 'Best Dad in the World' ( our father ) is No More. Traveling back."
The 56-year-old actor was reportedly on his way to director David Dhawan's son's wedding in Goa.
Soon after learning of the news, many from the film fraternity sent across their condolences.
Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar tweeted, "Please accept my deep condolences in this moment of grief, I pray to GOD to give you strength and bless the departed soul."
"I'm so sorry Anupam uncle.. Lots and lots of love and prayers," tweeted actress Sonam Kapoor.
Actor Siddharth, who played Anupam's son in 'Rang De Basanti', tweeted, "I'm so sorry for your loss sir... prayers..."


I'll try my best to achieve it!
Zaun very inspired me, so I made some research on lore about the background between this place, and its champions.
Industrial and spoiled pieces of pipes, strange machinery, steam, and this weird green substance which looks very corrosive (alchemical rage ?)..
But I don't want this to contrast too much on the Summoner's Rift map. So I imagined : what if some pieces crashed on the environment, from an airship for example? We can find some pieces everywhere, among vegetables and rocks!
My moodboard shows what is more interesting about Zaun and the Summoner's Rift for the next step!
Next time, some concepts of the creep den!
As we can find in the lore, the Baron Nashor is a facsimile from the true one who's a legendary creature. So we can imagine this fake Baron Nashor has been brought on the Summoner's Rift map someday. Why not from a Zaun's airship convoy full of dangerous and forbidden experiments?
So we can find once again this green substance proper to Zaun's champions.
I want to keep the neutral side from the Summoner's Rift, but add elements very identifiable to Zaun, so let's keep working on it!
I've been working on my highpoly, starting from rocks kit, metal pieces, trees, and the big cistern.
Now I have a global scene I can work with!
Need to do the topology, so I can start some textures!
I finished UVs and I've been working on the textures for a file on photoshop!
I'll try to work more on it later, but for now it's time to work on a turret.
I took some textures of the Summoner's Rift, but only for the ground, I wanted a look in-game!
Just finished the Creep Den, unfortunately I can't do any turret or inhibitor.. But I'm still happy to participate to such contest, and work on such cool theme, and just in the LoL style! I learnt a lot, and I appreciate even more hand painted texture now. I'll need to practice it more!!!


What Do You Know About Epson SureColor T-series printers? - Fei Yue Paper Inc.
What Do You Know About Epson SureColor T-series printers?
All Epson SureColor T-series printers use a PrecisionCore TFP print head with 720 nozzles per color. The print head is permanent for the life of the printer and incorporates variable-size droplet technology (as small as 3.5 picoliters), providing extremely accurate dot placement. Available output resolution ranges from 720 x 360 dpi up to 2880 x 1440 dpi. The T5270 can print at up to 115 sq. ft. per hour at 1440 x 720 dpi and at 740 sq. ft. per hour at 720 x 360 dpi. A typical D-size (22 x 34 in.) color CAD drawing takes just 25 seconds to print at 720x360 and less than 3 minutes at 1440 x 1440 dpi.
All printer and scanner functions can be controlled via the well-designed control panel with a 2.7-in. color LCD. The menu provides easy-to-use controls for scanning and copying, reprinting jobs stored on the optional internal hard drive, loading and adjusting the paper setting, checking ink levels, performing maintenance (such as cleaning nozzles and aligning the print head), and adjusting setup options (such as network and power settings).
The printer was ready to go to work 1.25 minutes after turning it on. When idle for 15 minutes, it goes into sleep mode and after eight hours of inactivity, it shuts itself off (both user-configurable). Once in sleep mode, it takes just over a minute to wake up and go back to work. When printing, the T5270 consumes approximately 60 watts and produces 60dB of sound pressure. This drops to 16 watts (and 37dB) in ready mode and 3 watts or less when in sleep mode, making the printer very energy efficient.
The printer drivers and utilities, available for both Windows and Mac OS X, proved to be powerful. You can print directly from most Windows or Mac applications as you would to any other printer. With an optional hard disk installed, you can view and control print jobs and reprint jobs stored on the large format printer. Windows users can print multiple documents to Epson's Layout Manager, arrange them on a virtual page, and then print that sheet. The driver also enables you to set up and manage color profiles.
The optional scanner, which can scan in color at a rate of 6 in. per second, was also incredibly easy to use. Although you can control the scanner from the printer's control panel, we found it easier to open a Web browser on a computer or tablet and control copy, scan, preview and sharing features remotely. Using Copy Center, we were able to make a color copy of a D-size document in 60 seconds and save scanned documents in JPEG or PDF format. You can scan and e-mail a file even without a PC. You can also enable automatic e-mail notifications to alert you when jobs are finished, ink runs low or an error occurs. The printer also has an error status lamp that is easy to see, even across a large room.
Previous:How Dye Sublimation Printing Works with Sublimation Materials?


Social media continues to change the way we experience the world, especially the way we shop and interact with brands. What does the future hold for the world of social media shopping? Behold, The Internet of Things. The future of everything is directly tied to the Internet and how fast it connects to people, places, and things. What is the IoT? Well, put simply, it's the ability of anything to be connected to the Internet such as coffee makers, fridges, a FitBit or products in a store. All you have to do is use your imagination to see what possibilities lay before us. The Internet is completely unfettered now. In the past, you had to be physically wired to a screen in a fixed location to access the net. The advent of mobile technology changed all that, and you can access the internet anywhere, anytime, with an array of devices large and small.


Luxury Overnight or long term accommodation, Pet Friendly, 24/7 Check in, Walk to the Surf Beach, Boat Parking, Air con, Screens, Quality bedding, fixtures & furnishings, Screened, Linen included.
Ashanti is situated in a no through road with a 7 minute stroll to the beautiful Agnes Water Surf Beach. There is a fine dining restaurant close by and 1770 is a 5 minute drive for all activities such as fishing, snorkeling & diving on the Reef. This delightful beach house is beautifully fitted out with modern contemporary décor & quality furnishings. 1 smaller pet is allowed and conditions apply.
Check out one of our fabulous Ashanti specials on the Hot Deals page.


text:
One Direction Onesie
by Blue Ivory
It's not uncommon, in fact it's perfectly natural, for a boy band onesie to audition for the X Factor. What is unusual, though, is for 5 separate and otherwise unconnected onesies to audition as individuals for the X Factor only to have the Simon Cowell Onesie assemble them into a group, to mentor them throughout the show, and then to sign them to a contract with his own record label. But this was precisely what happened to this particular boy band onesie. And, since then, this particular boy band onesie has gone on to worldwide fame, selling, along the way, a string of hit singles, being showered with awards and accolades, and achieving the status of the global Number 1 Teen Heartthrob Onesie - even over and above the Justin Beiber Onesie. So much so, indeed, that in the 2014 Brit Awards, this boy band onesie received an astounding 93% of the votes (1.7 million votes in less than 2 hours!), and the hashtag bearing their name was top of Twitter's worldwide trending list.
And that is the reason that your infant is up all night longing to wear the One Direction Baby Onesie! Designed in multiple colors and featuring the band's name proudly and prominently on its front, the One Direction Onesie is the perfect tribute to the boy band who was the first, and so far only, group to see each of its first 3 albums debut at Number 1 on the Billboard Charts. In addition, changing and fitting the One Direction Onesie is as quick and as easy as getting into an argument about which member of the band is best. Plus, regardless of which individual member of One Direction your infant likes best – whether it's Harry the heartthrob, Niall the cute one, Liam the shy one, Louis the older brother, or Zayn the bad boy – they'll ensure that the One Direction Onesie stays snugly and chart toppingly in place.
More Musical Onesies
Get the latest and coolest onesies like the One Direction one above to your mailbox by joining our mailing list below:


In an unanticipated prime-time clash, Fox's rain-delayed Daytona 500 went directly against NBC's Winter Olympics closing ceremonies Sunday.
NASCAR eventually won the ratings checkered flag, although neither attraction could match the still enormous pulling power of AMC's The Walking Dead.
The picturesque pageantry from Sochi ran first from 7:30 to 8 p.m. with 369,268 D-FW viewers and 133,525 within the advertiser-treasured 18-to-49 age range.
Walking Dead then commanded the 8 p.m. hour with 390,572 total viewers and an extraordinary 299,616 in the 18-to-49 demographic. That's a huge percentage. In comparison, the 8 to 9 p.m. portion of the closing ceremonies had respective totals of 340,862 and 113,985 viewers.
The Daytona 500 then kicked in, outdrawing the Olympics from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Daytona had 262,748 viewers in that half-hour segment while the closeout of the Winter Games pulled in 191,735 viewers before giving way at 9:36 p.m. to a commercial-free preview episode of the new NBC sitcom Growing Up Fisher. Among 18-to-49-year-olds, Daytona won easily from 9 to 9:30 p.m. by a score of 133,525 to 61,877 viewers.
Also on Sunday night, PBS' disappointingly tepid season finale of Downton Abbey drew 170,431 total viewers. Just 19,540 were in the 18-to-49 age range.
On Saturday, NBC's prime-time Olympics coverage won despite drawing its smallest overall crowd in all 18 nights of coverage. An average of 262,748 total viewers partook. The Peacock's post-Olympics preview episode of the new sitcom About a Boy had 234,343 total viewers, losing its time slot to WFAA8's 10 p.m. newscast (255,647 viewers). About a Boy won among 18-to-49-year-olds, though, with WFAA8's news a solid second.
Friday night's Olympics package also won from start to stop with 305,356 total viewers. It ended at 10 p.m. instead of the usual 10:30 p.m., giving Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show its only on-time start of the week. Fallon and his only guest, Justin Timberlake, rolled to a total of 220,140 viewers, with 130,268 in the 18-to-49 motherlode.
Opponents David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel each drew a comparatively paltry 56,810 total viewers. Kimmel edged Letterman for a distant second among 18-to-49-year-olds by a score of 22,797 to 19,540.
Here are Friday's local news derby numbers, with just three weekdays now left in the February "sweeps" ratings period.
NBC5 had the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while tying WFAA8 for the top spot among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).
Fox4 swept both the 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. competitions while adding a 6 p.m. gold with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 had the most total viewers at 6 p.m.


The Dent: RAINN is auctioning off a Signed 2005 Tori Amos/RAINN calendar!
RAINN is auctioning off a Signed 2005 Tori Amos/RAINN calendar!
You can now bid on a Signed 2005 Tori Amos/RAINN calendar at eBay.com. The auction ends on December 1, 2005 at 7:30 PST.


I found it harder, I was about to break down when the alarm went off.
I found it just as difficult.
Is it ok to message you even if we haven't worked together professionally?
thanks Barbara, for this opportunity.


text:
#import "ZXBinaryBitmap.h"
#import "ZXBitArray.h"
#import "ZXDecodeHints.h"
#import "ZXErrors.h"
#import "ZXOneDReader.h"
#import "ZXResult.h"
#import "ZXResultPoint.h"

int const INTEGER_MATH_SHIFT = 8;
int const PATTERN_MATCH_RESULT_SCALE_FACTOR = 1 << INTEGER_MATH_SHIFT;

@implementation ZXOneDReader

- (ZXResult *)decode:(ZXBinaryBitmap *)image error:(NSError **)error {
  return [self decode:image hints:nil error:error];
}

// Note that we don't try rotation without the try harder flag, even if rotation was supported.
- (ZXResult *)decode:(ZXBinaryBitmap *)image hints:(ZXDecodeHints *)hints error:(NSError **)error {
  NSError *decodeError = nil;
  ZXResult *result = [self doDecode:image hints:hints error:&decodeError];
  if (result) {
    return result;
  } else if (decodeError.code == ZXNotFoundError) {
    BOOL tryHarder = hints != nil && hints.tryHarder;
    if (tryHarder && [image rotateSupported]) {
      ZXBinaryBitmap *rotatedImage = [image rotateCounterClockwise];
      ZXResult *result = [self doDecode:rotatedImage hints:hints error:error];
      if (!result) {
        return nil;
      }
      // Record that we found it rotated 90 degrees CCW / 270 degrees CW
      NSMutableDictionary *metadata = [result resultMetadata];
      int orientation = 270;
      if (metadata != nil && metadata[@(kResultMetadataTypeOrientation)]) {
        // But if we found it reversed in doDecode(), add in that result here:
        orientation = (orientation + [((NSNumber *)metadata[@(kResultMetadataTypeOrientation)]) intValue]) % 360;
      }
      [result putMetadata:kResultMetadataTypeOrientation value:@(orientation)];
      // Update result points
      NSMutableArray *points = [result resultPoints];
      if (points != nil) {
        int height = [rotatedImage height];
        for (int i = 0; i < [points count]; i++) {
          points[i] = [[ZXResultPoint alloc] initWithX:height - [(ZXResultPoint *)points[i] y]
                                                     y:[(ZXResultPoint *)points[i] x]];
        }
      }
      return result;
    }
  }

  if (error) *error = decodeError;
  return nil;
}

- (void)reset {

}

/**
 * We're going to examine rows from the middle outward, searching alternately above and below the
 * middle, and farther out each time. rowStep is the number of rows between each successive
 * attempt above and below the middle. So we'd scan row middle, then middle - rowStep, then
 * middle + rowStep, then middle - (2 * rowStep), etc.
 * rowStep is bigger as the image is taller, but is always at least 1. We've somewhat arbitrarily
 * decided that moving up and down by about 1/16 of the image is pretty good; we try more of the
 * image if "trying harder".
 */
- (ZXResult *)doDecode:(ZXBinaryBitmap *)image hints:(ZXDecodeHints *)hints error:(NSError **)error {
  int width = image.width;
  int height = image.height;
  ZXBitArray *row = [[ZXBitArray alloc] initWithSize:width];
  int middle = height >> 1;
  BOOL tryHarder = hints != nil && hints.tryHarder;
  int rowStep = MAX(1, height >> (tryHarder ? 8 : 5));
  int maxLines;
  if (tryHarder) {
    maxLines = height;
  } else {
    maxLines = 15;
  }

  for (int x = 0; x < maxLines; x++) {
    int rowStepsAboveOrBelow = (x + 1) >> 1;
    BOOL isAbove = (x & 0x01) == 0;
    int rowNumber = middle + rowStep * (isAbove ? rowStepsAboveOrBelow : -rowStepsAboveOrBelow);
    if (rowNumber < 0 || rowNumber >= height) {
      break;
    }

    NSError *rowError = nil;
    row = [image blackRow:rowNumber row:row error:&rowError];
    if (!row && rowError.code == ZXNotFoundError) {
      continue;
    } else if (!row) {
      if (error) *error = rowError;
      return nil;
    }

    for (int attempt = 0; attempt < 2; attempt++) {
      if (attempt == 1) {
        [row reverse];
        if (hints != nil && hints.resultPointCallback) {
          hints = [hints copy];
          hints.resultPointCallback = nil;
        }
      }

      ZXResult *result = [self decodeRow:rowNumber row:row hints:hints error:nil];
      if (result) {
        if (attempt == 1) {
          [result putMetadata:kResultMetadataTypeOrientation value:@180];
          NSMutableArray *points = [result resultPoints];
          if (points != nil) {
            points[0] = [[ZXResultPoint alloc] initWithX:width - [(ZXResultPoint *)points[0] x]
                                                       y:[(ZXResultPoint *)points[0] y]];
            points[1] = [[ZXResultPoint alloc] initWithX:width - [(ZXResultPoint *)points[1] x]
                                                       y:[(ZXResultPoint *)points[1] y]];
          }
        }
        return result;
      }
    }
  }

  if (error) *error = NotFoundErrorInstance();
  return nil;
}

/**
 * Records the size of successive runs of white and black pixels in a row, starting at a given point.
 * The values are recorded in the given array, and the number of runs recorded is equal to the size
 * of the array. If the row starts on a white pixel at the given start point, then the first count
 * recorded is the run of white pixels starting from that point; likewise it is the count of a run
 * of black pixels if the row begin on a black pixels at that point.
 */
+ (BOOL)recordPattern:(ZXBitArray *)row start:(int)start counters:(int[])counters countersSize:(int)countersSize {
  int numCounters = countersSize;

  memset(counters, 0, numCounters * sizeof(int));

  int end = row.size;
  if (start >= end) {
    return NO;
  }
  BOOL isWhite = ![row get:start];
  int counterPosition = 0;
  int i = start;

  while (i < end) {
    if ([row get:i] ^ isWhite) {
      counters[counterPosition]++;
    } else {
      counterPosition++;
      if (counterPosition == numCounters) {
        break;
      } else {
        counters[counterPosition] = 1;
        isWhite = !isWhite;
      }
    }
    i++;
  }

  if (!(counterPosition == numCounters || (counterPosition == numCounters - 1 && i == end))) {
    return NO;
  }
  return YES;
}

+ (BOOL)recordPatternInReverse:(ZXBitArray *)row start:(int)start counters:(int[])counters countersSize:(int)countersSize {
  int numTransitionsLeft = countersSize;
  BOOL last = [row get:start];

  while (start > 0 && numTransitionsLeft >= 0) {
    if ([row get:--start] != last) {
      numTransitionsLeft--;
      last = !last;
    }
  }

  if (numTransitionsLeft >= 0 || ![self recordPattern:row start:start + 1 counters:counters countersSize:countersSize]) {
    return NO;
  }
  return YES;
}

/**
 * Determines how closely a set of observed counts of runs of black/white values matches a given
 * target pattern. This is reported as the ratio of the total variance from the expected pattern
 * proportions across all pattern elements, to the length of the pattern.
 *
 * Returns ratio of total variance between counters and pattern compared to total pattern size,
 * where the ratio has been multiplied by 256. So, 0 means no variance (perfect match); 256 means
 * the total variance between counters and patterns equals the pattern length, higher values mean
 * even more variance
 */
+ (int)patternMatchVariance:(int[])counters countersSize:(int)countersSize pattern:(int[])pattern maxIndividualVariance:(int)maxIndividualVariance {
  int numCounters = countersSize;
  int total = 0;
  int patternLength = 0;

  for (int i = 0; i < numCounters; i++) {
    total += counters[i];
    patternLength += pattern[i];
  }

  if (total < patternLength || patternLength == 0) {
    return INT_MAX;
  }
  int unitBarWidth = (total << INTEGER_MATH_SHIFT) / patternLength;
  maxIndividualVariance = (maxIndividualVariance * unitBarWidth) >> INTEGER_MATH_SHIFT;
  int totalVariance = 0;

  for (int x = 0; x < numCounters; x++) {
    int counter = counters[x] << INTEGER_MATH_SHIFT;
    int scaledPattern = pattern[x] * unitBarWidth;
    int variance = counter > scaledPattern ? counter - scaledPattern : scaledPattern - counter;
    if (variance > maxIndividualVariance) {
      return INT_MAX;
    }
    totalVariance += variance;
  }

  return totalVariance / total;
}

/**
 * Attempts to decode a one-dimensional barcode format given a single row of
 * an image.
 */
- (ZXResult *)decodeRow:(int)rowNumber row:(ZXBitArray *)row hints:(ZXDecodeHints *)hints error:(NSError **)error {
  @throw [NSException exceptionWithName:NSInternalInconsistencyException
                                 reason:[NSString stringWithFormat:@"You must override %@ in a subclass", NSStringFromSelector(_cmd)]
                               userInfo:nil];
}

@end


The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a free-standing campanile (bell tower) in the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles) of this former medieval city-state. It's defect, a prominent tilt to one side, is world famous.
Built in three construction phases between 1173-1372, the massive wedding cake-like tower, when completed, tilted at a 5.5 degree angle, but late 20th-early 21st century ingenuity righted the eight-story landmark to only a 3.97 degree angle.
So, why does the torre pendente, as local pisani call her, lean?
Well, the problem wasn't created up on the drawing board, but underneath, where the Tuscan sun doesn't shine, as the tower's foundation was built on very soft silty soil that had difficulty supporting the 14,500 ton, bright-white marble tower. It wasn't until the second tier was completed that the lean became noticeable, and it only worsened as the tower slowly grew.
It's unclear who the original designer was, but during the three phases of construction at least five prominent Italian architects took part in trying to straighten the 56.67 m (185.93 ft.) tall Romanesque tower as it continued to tilt with each new tier.
The "Big Lean" remained an 800-year-old mystery until John Burland, an English geotechnical engineer, renowned soil mechanics expert and professor at Imperial College London, arrived on the scene in 2003 and discovered the cause: a fluctuating underground water table that perched higher on the tower's north side, causing the tower's characteristic slant to the south.
Burland, introduced a new drainage system beneath the north side of the square allowing the water underneath to flow away from the tower's base. Problem solved.
For his efforts in preventing the Leaning Tower of Pisa, one of the jewels of this UNESCO World Heritage site, from toppling over, Prof. Burland was awarded the Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I by the Duke of Castro.
The Leaning Tower is undoubtedly Pisa's most recognizable image and one of its main attractions. Despite its prominent 17 feet off vertical tilt, it's still standing after all these years.
Feel free to climb the spiral staircase of 297 steps up to where the tower's seven bells hang.
Isn't that right, Prof. Burland?
It is certainly safe. Husband and I climbed up there in 2008. It was such a surprise to feel the way gravity took hold when climbing 'against the tilt' but also very rewarding.
Thanks for the feedback, Jette.
Thank you Tom for the stellar photographs of the Torre Pendente, it wasn't until viewing your photos in depth that was realized than other than the lean that the tower is really a masterpiece of balance of design, which is worthy of a long study. Is that Vivaldi I hear?
Interesting article…though I was surprised by the fact that even after the "fix", the lean was still 17 feet off the vertical.
What an accomplishment is was back in 1962! …and then it really leaned! Loved the view. ..an amazingly beautiful monument!
Great pictures, and a fine story. The photos show a leaning but fairly straight-looking tower. It's not really so.
The tower was built over a period of a couple hundreds of years, from AD 1173 to 1372. But the beautiful pictures don't depict a slight change in angle starting at the fourth story that was initiated in 1272 by a new architect/engineer/builder, Giovanni di Simone (one of my great-great-great-uncles-thrice removed-on my third cousin's side?).
Giovanni (my Uncle Joe, P.E. Emiritus?) added four floors to his monument-to-be, and this, plus the addition of subsequent floors plus a bell-tower caused the then slightly dog-legged tower to lean even further.
There have been lots of modern trial fixes to stabilize the worrisome leaning, including using some massive lead counterweights, cryogenic freezing of the subsoil, etc., and maybe now a control of the water-table..
I visited Pisa's magnificent Piazza Del Duomo and its incredibly-standing tower may times when living in Italy during the early 1950's. But now being a ripe 91 years of age, I hope something works OK for another thousand years or more.
Bob, thanks for the great historical footnote on your heritage and connection with the tower.
The tower could have been made to stand vertical , but then it would no longer have been the leaning tower tourist attraction . I climbed to the top many years ago , the biggest danger was slippery the green slime under foot . From these photos it looks to have been considerably cleaned up . I consider it as shame that the leaning tower is so treasured , when in fact the cathedral is architecturally more beautiful .
David, I'll save the views of the cathedral for a future ItalianNotebook post. Thanks for the feedback.
Everyone knows that it did not start to lean until the American tourists arrived and disrupted the water table by taking too many showers.
Michael, thanks for the feedback. albeit tongue-in-cheek.
Excellent story and amazing photography as always.
Joe G, Thanks so much for the sterling review.


text:
Abortion, Catholicism, Episcopalians, Got news?, Journalism, Kellerism, LGBTQ, People, Politics, Social Media, Terry Mattingly, Women
Mirror image: What if an evangelical politico doxed gay protesters at Family Research Council?
UPDATE: Watch PA Rep @BrianSimsPA offer up $100 for the identities & addresses of 3 TEENAGERS who are fighting for the lives of preborn children.
This is despicable. pic.twitter.com/96JC9b8jQB
— Live Action (@LiveAction) May 6, 2019
There is a reason that I held off writing about mainstream news coverage of Rep. Brian Sims and his online activism against people praying at his local Planned Parenthood facility.
To be blunt: I was waiting for some mainstream media coverage of this digital drama. The fact that this took several days is really interesting — from a media-analysis point of view.
Let's look at this through the "mirror image" device that your GetReligionistas have been using for years.
Let's say that a group of LGBTQ demonstrators decided to stage protests outside the doors of the Family Research Council — peacefully reading selections from the latest version of the Book of Common Prayer. The protesters include teens and an older person who is silently using a rainbow rosary.
Then a politician approaches, perhaps a GOP leader who backs the FRC. Using his smartphone to capture the proceedings for online use, he begins berating the gay activists, using language that focuses on age, race and religious beliefs. This evangelical politico also offers to pay viewers $100 for information on the teen-agers, thus helping evangelical activists to "visit" their homes.
All of this is posted online by this member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
How quickly would this draw major coverage at CNN? How about the New York Times? Note: We're seeking serious, original coverage, not short Associated Press stories or aggregation reports built on clips from online chatter (see this Washington Post item).
Eventually, The Philadelphia Inquirer — to its credit — followed up on the explosion of Twitter activity on this topic. The lede did use a mild version of the "Republicans pounce!" theme, but took the issue seriously. Here is a key chunk of that breakthrough mainstream-news media report:
In one video, Sims approaches a woman and three girls who appear to be in their teens outside the Planned Parenthood clinic at 12th and Locust Streets and refers to them as "pseudo-Christian protesters who've been out here shaming young girls for being here."
"I've got $100 to anyone who will identify any of these three," Sims says in the video, adding that he is raising money for Planned Parenthood.
The unidentified woman responds, "We're actually here just praying for the babies."
The video was recorded on April 18 and posted to his Facebook page. It was brought up on Twitter late Monday by the founder of an antiabortion group called Live Action, and quickly went viral. Soon after, the state GOP accused Sims, a three-term incumbent, of harassment. Other prominent conservatives also questioned his conduct.
The basic report offered by the Associated Press opens with the "Republicans pounce" angle, but then — right up top — adds some solid information about the contents of the video. This focuses on a different Sims video.
Eventually, AP editors tossed in one of the oldest rosary cliches in the book.
PHILADELPHIA — A Democratic Pennsylvania state lawmaker is drawing criticism for recording himself berating a woman demonstrator at length outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia, calling her an "old white lady" and her protest "grotesque."
State Rep. Brian Sims posted an eight-minute-plus video on social media that showed him peppering the woman with questions and criticism.
"Shame on you. What you're doing here is disgusting. This is wrong. You have no business being out here," he told the unidentified woman.
The video was apparently shot several days ago at a Planned Parenthood health center in his district.
As she studiously ignored him, Sims told viewers the woman had been confronting the people who were walking into the clinic. The woman said little in response as Sims attacked her protest as "racist" and "shameful." At one point she took a rosary from her bag and clutched it.
That's right: She "clutched" that rosary.
Interesting, to me it looked like this woman was quietly walking in circles praying, while attempting to ignore the fired-up congressman. Also, did I miss a video that showed her confronting Planned Parenthood patients or staff? But here is the big issue: This report missed the effort by Sims to "dox" the teens.
Now, it is true that many critics jumped on the fact that this online fight drew little or no coverage. Here is my friend Rod "Benedict Option" Dreher stating the obvious:
I'm old enough to remember when the entire national media was seized up with outrage over what a group of Catholic high school boys allegedly did to harass a Native American protester. (They were, of course, falsely accused.) But here we have a gay Democratic pro-choicer bullying an older woman silently praying the rosary outside an abortion clinic, and doxxing teenage girls.
Where is the national media on this story?
Meanwhile, this unimportant story has rolled on — in part because Planned Parenthood gently dissed Sims for his actions. See this item at The Hill, with the headline, "Planned Parenthood: 'We do not condone' state lawmaker approaching anti-abortion protesters."
Planned Parenthood said … it does not condone a Pennsylvania state lawmaker confronting anti-abortion protesters outside its facility.
The organization's comments come after state Rep. Brian Sims (D) faced backlash this week for posting videos of himself rebuking protesters outside of the Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania in his Philadelphia district.
Dayle Steinberg, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Southeastern Pennsylvania, said in a statement to The Hill that the organization has a "strict non-engagement policy" with protesters.
Odds are, the reactions of Planned Parenthood leaders may have helped inspire the following follow-up video from Sims.
I will fiercely protect a woman's right to make the best choices for her health & her body, unimpeded. I also know that two wrongs don't make a right, especially on the front lines of a civil rights battle. I can do better, and I will do better, for the women of Pennsylvania. pic.twitter.com/jURL1UX9qE
— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) May 7, 2019
So what's the next angle for journalists to investigate, if this story is going to be taken seriously?
Well, here's some charges from the cultural right that appear to be based on public documents. It would help, of course, if mainstream journalists could verify whether this damning information is solid or not. This is a topic worthy of coverage — period.
However, in terms of potential news value, it may be significant that this post was circulated by a major Hollywood star, actress Patricia Heaton — the honorary chairwoman of the national organization Feminists for Life.
Turns out the @PPFA where state rep @BrianSimsPA made racist/ageist/bigoted comments to a constituent, where he tried to doxx teens, continuously fails inspections without consequence. Not surprising in the state that knowingly allowed Gosnell to kill/maim women/babies for years. https://t.co/FU9K5wsgs3
— Patricia Heaton (@PatriciaHeaton) May 8, 2019
Stay tuned?
Tagged: Planned Parenthood, Brian Sims, mirror image, Rod Dreher, Patricia Heaton, Feminists for Life, The New York Times, The Washington Post, AP, Associated Press, media bias, Covington Catholic High School, Live Action, rosary, Facebook
Newer PostWashington Post goes into the classroom in front-page story on Bible classes in public schools
Older PostFor your 2020 agenda: The Democrats' Equality Act sets up a religion-news sleeper issue


text:
ivares – 'Wallet & Friends' (feat. Linus Lee)
by Chris Salce | Nov 4, 2020
Swedish producer and songwriter ivares brings forth a familiar tale that we can all relate to under the umbrella of indie/electronic with his brand new single 'Wallet & Friends' (featuring Linus Lee) which delves into getting loose on a night out with friends.
Initially we are introduced to the carefree feeling held in the playful drums that is carried through the duration of the piece, and used as building blocks for the rest of the instrumentation to add their individual flair on top of. 'Wallet & Friends' contrasts within its vocal approach, highlighting a more restrained approach in the verses but taking things up a notch in the chorus and matching the intensity held in the synths and bass which results in an explosion of colour.
'The song is really about being in a state of drunk, or high, whatever you relate to. You're going out, and lose everything…It's kind of destructive, but also with a fun and easy-going perspective.' – ivares
ivares · Wallet & Friends (feat. Linus Lee)
Stream: ivares
Artist Connect: Instagram | Soundcloud


text:
Tell HUD: Algorithms Shouldn't Be an Excuse to Discriminate
By Saira Hussain
Update 10/18: EFF has submitted its comments to HUD, which you can read here.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released a proposed rule that will have grave consequences for the enforcement of fair housing laws. Under the Fair Housing Act, individuals can bring claims on the basis of a protected characteristic (like race, sex, or disability status) when there is a facially-neutral policy or practice that results in unjustified discriminatory effect, or disparate impact. The proposed rule makes it much harder to bring a disparate impact claim under the Fair Housing Act. Moreover, HUD's rule creates three affirmative defenses for housing providers, banks, and insurance companies that use algorithmic models to make housing decisions. As we've previously explained, these algorithmic defenses demonstrate that HUD doesn't understand how machine learning actually works.
This proposed rule could significantly impact housing decisions and make discrimination more prevalent. We encourage you to submit comments to speak out against HUD's proposed rule. Here's how to do it in three easy steps:
Go to the government's comments site and click on "Comment Now."
Start with the draft language below regarding EFF's concerns with HUD's proposed rule. We encourage you to tailor the comments to reflect your specific concerns. Adapting the language increases the chances that HUD will count your comment as a "unique" submission, which is important because HUD is required to read and respond to unique comments.
Hit "Submit Comment" and feel good about doing your part to protect the civil rights of vulnerable communities and to educate the government about how technology actually works!
Comments are due by Friday, October 18, 2019 at 11:59 PM ET.
I write to oppose HUD's proposed rule, which would change the disparate impact standard for the agency's enforcement of the Fair Housing Act. The proposed rule would set up a burden-shifting framework that would make it nearly impossible for a plaintiff to allege a claim of unjustified discriminatory effect. Moreover, the proposed rule offers a safe harbor for defendants who rely on algorithmic models to make housing decisions. HUD's approach is unscientific and fails to understand how machine learning actually works.
HUD's proposed rule offers three complete algorithmic defenses if: (1) the inputs used in the algorithmic model are not themselves "substitutes or close proxies" for protected characteristics and the model is predictive of risk or other valid objective; (2) a third party creates or manages the algorithmic model; or (3) a neutral third party examines the model and determines the model's inputs are not close proxies for protected characteristics and the model is predictive of risk or other valid objective.
In the first and third defenses, HUD indicates that as long as a model's inputs are not discriminatory, the overall model cannot be discriminatory. However, the whole point of sophisticated machine-learning algorithms is that they can learn how combinations of different inputs might predict something that any individual variable might not predict on its own. These combinations of different variables could be close proxies for protected classes, even if the original input variables are not. Apart from combinations of inputs, other factors, such as how an AI has been trained, can also lead to a model having a discriminatory effect, which HUD does not account for in its proposed rule.
The second defense will shield housing providers, mortgage lenders, and insurance companies that rely on a third party's algorithmic model, which will be the case for most defendants. This defense gets rid of any incentive for defendants not to use models that result in discriminatory effect or to pressure model makers to ensure their algorithmic models avoid discriminatory outcomes. Moreover, it is unclear whether a plaintiff could actually get relief by going after a model maker, a distant and possibly unknown third party, rather than a direct defendant like a housing provider. Accordingly, this defense could allow discriminatory effects to continue without recourse. Even if a plaintiff can sue a third-party creator, trade secrets law could prevent the public from finding out about the discriminatory impact of the algorithmic model.
HUD claims that its proposed affirmative defenses are not meant to create a "special exemption for parties using algorithmic models" and thereby insulate them from disparate impact lawsuits. But that is exactly what the proposed rule will do. Today, a defendant's use of an algorithmic model in a disparate impact case is considered on a case-by-case basis, with careful attention paid to the particular facts at issue. That is exactly how it should work.
I respectfully urge HUD to rescind its proposed rule and continue to use its current disparate impact standard.
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Legislative Victories in the States: 2019 Year in Review
Thanks to your support, this year EFF was able to take a stand in state legislatures across the country to fight well-funded industry efforts to encroach on your data privacy rights, to push back against government use of face surveillance, and to support bills that improve your digital rights. Here...
Deeplinks Blog by Rebecca Jeschke | November 4, 2019
Affordances: Science Fiction About Algorithmic Bias and Technological Resistance
Future Tense Fiction, a joint project of ASU's Center for Science and the Imagination and Slate, has just published Affordances, a new science fiction story by EFF Special Advisor Cory Doctorow. It's a tale of algorithmic bias, facial recognition, and technological self-determination that touches on many of EFF's...
Deeplinks Blog by Jamie Williams, Saira Hussain, Jeremy Gillula | September 26, 2019
EFF to HUD: Algorithms Are No Excuse for Discrimination
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is considering adopting new rules that would effectively insulate landlords, banks, and insurance companies that use algorithmic models from lawsuits that claim their practices have an unjustified discriminatory effect. HUD's proposal is flawed, and suggests that the agency doesn't understand...
Deeplinks Blog by Sydney Li, Danny O'Brien | March 4, 2019
OpenAI's Recent Announcement: What Went Wrong, and How It Could Be Better
Earlier this month, OpenAI revealed an impressive language model that can generate paragraphs of believable text. It declined to fully release their research "due to concerns about malicious applications of the technology." OpenAI released a much smaller model and technical paper, but not the fully-trained model, training code, or...
Deeplinks Blog by Stephanie Lacambra, Jeremy Gillula, Jamie Williams | December 21, 2018
Recidivism Risk Assessments Won't Fix the Criminal Justice System
The First Step Act of 2018 (S. 3649) is now federal law. The criminal justice reform law has been widely hailed as long overdue, and rightly so. But as we turn to its implementation, we urge policymakers to take care with the central provision of the bill that calls...
Deeplinks Blog by Jamie Williams | December 20, 2018
EFF Urges California to Place Meaningful Restrictions on the Use of Pretrial Risk Assessment Tools
EFF has filed comments on two proposed rules in California regarding the use of pretrial risk assessment tools in courts, urging the Judicial Council to place meaningful restrictions on the use of pretrial risk assessment tools in the state. The California Judicial Council issued the draft rules in...
Press Release | November 13, 2018
EFF, Human Rights Watch y más de 70 grupos de la sociedad civil solicitan a Mark Zuckerberg que proporcione a todos los usuarios y usuarias un mecanismo para apelar ante la censura de contenidos en Facebook
English version San Francisco - The Electronic Frontier Foundation y más de 70 grupos de derechos humanos y digitales pidieron hoy a Mark Zuckerberg que añadiera transparencia y responsabilidad real al proceso de eliminación de contenidos de Facebook. Específicamente, los grupos exigen que Facebook explique – claramente - cuánto...
EFF, Human Rights Watch, and Over 70 Civil Society Groups Ask Mark Zuckerberg to Provide All Users with Mechanism to Appeal Content Censorship on Facebook
Spanish version San Francisco—The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and more than 70 human and digital rights groups called on Mark Zuckerberg today to add real transparency and accountability to Facebook's content removal process. Specifically, the groups demand that Facebook clearly explain how much content it removes, both rightly...
Deeplinks Blog by Jamie Williams, Jeremy Gillula | October 5, 2018
Victory! Dangerous Elements Removed From California's Bot-Labeling Bill
Governor Jerry Brown recently signed S.B. 1001, a new law requiring all "bots" used for purposes of influencing a commercial transaction or a vote in an election to be labeled. The bill, introduced by Senator Robert Hertzberg, originally included a provision that would have been abused as a censorship...


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Men's track and field
Today in Sports: McEnroe defeats Borg at US Open
Sept. 13 1930 — Tommy Armour beats Gene Sarazen 1 up to win the PGA Championship. 1964 — Roy Emerson beats fellow Australian Fred Stolle...
Devon Allen chases hurdles gold at worlds, then off to NFL
By Pat Graham Jul. 16, 2022 04:56 PM EDT
By The Associated Press Oct. 31, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Nov. 1 1913 — Notre Dame meets Army for the first time and comes away with a 35-13 win behind Gus Dorias' 14-of-17 passing for 243 yards. ...
Oct. 29 1950 — Detroit's Wally Triplett gains 294 yards in kickoff returns and ends up with 331 total yards as the Lions pound the Los...
Sept. 13 1930 — Tommy Armour beats Gene Sarazen 1 up to win the PGA Championship. 1964 — Roy Emerson beats fellow...
Sept. 10 1933 — Fred Perry wins his first U.S. men's singles title with a 6-3, 11-13, 4-6, 6-0, 6-1 victory over Australian Jack Crawford. ...
Aug. 30 1887 — Seven U.S. men's national tennis championships and Richard Sears captures his seventh title. Sears beats Henry Slocum, 6-1,...
The Latest: Navy coach expects fans at game with Notre Dame
By The Associated Press Jun. 24, 2020 03:45 PM EDT