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Phoenixpatriotmagazine
The Most Expensive Video Games in the World
admin Video Games
The video games industry has been an entertainment source for a long time. As time has passed the technology used to create video games has improved which has led to the games becoming more precise and intricate. In the process, games are becoming increasingly costly. This article will take an review of the top video games on the market and examine the costs of games played on video, their popularity and their effect on the business.
History and Culture of Video Games
The video games are played since the 1950s. The technology used to develop early games was not as advanced and the games were basic. As technology improved as did the games. By the end of the 1970s it was the time that the Atari console was launched and the market for home video games was established. Since the time video games have evolved into part of popular culture. These games are now available across a range of platforms that range from computers to consoles as well as mobile gadgets.
The Most Expensive Video Games
In the case of most expensive games on the market, there are a few games that are different from the rest. The most costly titles includes "Super Mario Bros. 3," which came out in 1988 on Nintendo's Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was purchased at a price of 100,000 dollars. Another high-priced game was "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time," which came out in 1998 on it's Nintendo 64. The game was sold for $150,000. Most expensive game that has ever been sold was "Stadium Events," which was released in 1987 on Nintendo's Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was sold for an astounding $41,300.
The Cost of Video Games
Cost of playing video games have grown substantially over the past few years. The reason for this is the growing price of technology and more complex nature of the games. This has meant that the cost of playing video games is now prohibitively high for a lot of people. This has resulted in an explosion in the second-hand game market, where people are looking for ways to purchase costly games without breaking the bank.
The Popularity of Expensive Video Games
Despite their price high-priced video games are very popular. They provide the best gaming experience which isn't available in less expensive games. For instance, "Stadium Events" is an extremely rare game that is available at a price that is hefty. It is now a sought-after game among collectors.
The Impact of Expensive Video Games
The impact of high-end gaming gaming industry can be both good as well as negative. On the other side they have pushed the limits of technology and created an immersive gaming experience. However the cost associated with these games have resulted in an increase in the number of players who can afford these games, which has restricted the market's reach.
The Future of Expensive Video Games
The future of costly video games is not clear. On one hand, there is always a need for games that are expensive due to their immersive gameplay and rareness. However the price of technology could become prohibitive for some which could result in a decline in need in these kinds of games.
In the end, costly video games are now a part of the gaming world. They provide an exclusive experience that's not available in other games and are highly sought-after by gamers. But, the cost of these games is prohibitively expensive for certain people that limits their appeal. It is yet to be determined how the industry will react to the rising technological costs However, for now costly video games remain very popular.
How to Connect a Laptop to a PC
admin Laptop
In today's world connecting laptops to a computer is becoming more and more common. It's a fantastic method of transferring information between two devices, and to access files and programs stored on the computer. This article will give you specific instructions on how to connect your laptop to a computer and the benefits and drawbacks of doing this. We will also go over the various types of connections that are used, methods to optimize performance, as well as troubleshooting suggestions.
What Is the Process of Connecting a Laptop to a PC?
Connecting a laptop and a PC is a straightforward process that requires connecting both devices using an Ethernet cable, and then setting the settings. Based on the kind of connection being used and the type of connection used, there could be additional steps needed. In general connecting a laptop to a computer is an easy process.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Connecting a Laptop to a PC
1. Choose the connection you'd like to use to connect your laptop and PC. This is done using the USB cable or an Ethernet cable or a wireless connection.
2. Connect the two devices by using the correct cable or connection.
3. Set the settings on the PC and laptop.
4. Make sure the connection is tested to ensure that it's functioning properly.
5. If needed you must transfer programs or files on one computer to other.
What Are the Benefits of Connecting a Laptop to a PC?
Connecting a laptop and a PC can provide a range of benefits. It allows users to transfer programs and files between the two devices and also accessing programs and files within the laptop. Furthermore, connecting both devices will enhance the performance of both devices as they use the same resources and functions as a unit.
What Are the Disadvantages of Connecting a Laptop to a PC?
There are a few disadvantages when connecting laptops to a computer. For instance, depending on the connection type the performance of both device may be affected. Furthermore, it could be difficult to solve the issues that occur when connecting two devices.
What Are the Different Types of Connections Used to Connect a Laptop to a PC?
The most commonly used connections to connect laptops to computer are USB cables, Ethernet cables, and wireless connections. USB cables can be described as the most basic and most reliable kind of connection because they are simple to set up and provide rapid speeds. Ethernet connections are much more secure than wireless connections, however, they need more setup. Wireless connections aren't as reliable, however they require the least configuration.
How Can You Maximize Performance When Connecting a Laptop to a PC?
To optimize the efficiency of the two devices while connecting laptops to a computer it is crucial to make sure the type of connection you use is suitable. It is also important to ensure each device is setup correctly and the connection is solid. In addition, it is essential to ensure that the devices aren't in competition for resources, like memory or hard drive space.
Troubleshooting Tips for Connecting a Laptop to a PC
If you're having issues connecting your laptop to your computer There are a few suggestions for troubleshooting. The first step is to ensure that the type of connection you are using is compatible with the device. In addition, ensure the devices have been setup properly and that the connection is solid. In addition, make sure both devices aren't in competition for resources, like memory and hard disk space. If none of these measures can resolve your issue, then it could be necessary to call the manufacturer to get further assistance.
Connecting a laptop and a PC is an excellent method of transferring information between the two devices, and also accessing files and programs which are saved within the laptop. Connecting both devices is simple , and involves connecting them using an extension cable, and then setting the settings. There are also many advantages and disadvantages of connecting laptops to PC. There are a variety of of connections that can be utilized and it is crucial to make sure that the connection is suitable for the devices. In addition, it is essential to ensure your devices have been set up properly and that the connection is reliable. In the event that you are experiencing issues connecting the two devices couple of troubleshooting strategies you could attempt.
How do you find an Vodafone router?
admin Vodafone
If you want to get to get a Vodafone router You'll have to join any of the broadband offers.
All bundles come with the Vodafone WiFi Hub no matter if you opt for its entry-level fibre plan as well as one of the ultra-fast fiber to premises (FTTP) agreements.
Which is the most up-to-date Vodafone router?
It's the Vodafone WiFi Hub is the latest router, and it is included in all its deals at no cost. It'll be shipped in the first 10 days after signing-up. It is easy to set up.
Furthermore, it's loaded with features and simple to manage through Vodafone's broadband application.
Specifications for the router
Vodafone WiFi Hub
Vodafone's WiFi Hub is a nicely constructed device. The specifications are as below:
Dual band, featuring 2.4Ghz as well as 5Ghz channel
Smart channel selection, ensuring that you'll always get the best possible connection
The most recent AC standard WiFi
4 gigabit Ethernet ports to connect consoles and home PCs.
Two USB ports are a fantastic option for anyone looking to build a networked hard drive
Seven antennae, plus beamforming. In addition to ensuring an excellent connection, but beamforming allows you to prioritize certain devices to get the highest signal
Guest networks. Establish an account for guests so they don't have to utilize your primary service
Vodafone broadband application. The key is that it lets you control screen time, monitor which devices are connected to your network, and prioritize which devices have the best connection at any time.
Configuring the Vodafone router
Installing the Vodafone router is straightforward and only requires the connection to the mains power source and telephone line.
If it's overwhelming, Vodafone has an excellent guide to setting up on its site.
Be aware that you are able to connect to the WiFi Hub when your connection is made available by Vodafone.
Does Vodafone offer to replace old routers no cost?
If you're having issues with a Vodafone router You can have it repaired for free.
To get a new router , you'll need to sign up for a brand new Vodafone contract. The contract is extremely competitive, and the router is far superior to its competitors.
Legacy Vodafone routers
Vodafone has a variety of old routers on the market. This includes:
Vodafone Connect
This router was available with fibre bundles, and it comes with dual band technology with four Ethernet ports and two USB ports, and support for AC standard WiFi.
Huawei HHG2500
Similar to Vodafone Connect, this router comes with AC Wi-Fi, USB ports, four Ethernet connections, and dual band technology.
Other routers
BT routers
Plusnet routers
Virgin Media routers
Sky Broadband routers
EE routers
TalkTalk routers
What is the best way to determine which router I am using?
To determine which router you're using Find the password on the back or the bottom part of your device. It will reveal the model number, which means it will tell you whether you require an upgrade.
How can change my router if I am an already existing client?
To upgrade your router if you're an old Vodafone client, you'll have to enroll for the latest deal. Find your post code on the left for the most competitive deals.
If they're only for the first time customers, call them and ask whether you're able to get on with an existing customer.
Are all new customers provided with the most recent router?
All new customers will receive an Vodafone WiFi Hub regardless of the service they select.
Can I use a different type of router Vodafone broadband?
You may choose a different router like Amazon Eero or Google Nest however, routers with branded brands from other networks might be restricted and not compatible in conjunction with Vodafone Broadband.
It's the Vodafone WiFi Hub however, is among the top free routers available.
How do you download videos to or to your iPhone and iPad from any location on the Internet
admin iPhone
If you're stuck on the train home, or on a long journey there's nothing that helps you get you through the day more than streaming videos from your iPhone. What do you do in the absence of access to the internet? There is the option of downloading videos straight to your iPhone. This article will explain the apps you'll require, and also discuss aspects to consider when saving the video.
Can you download videos to your iPhone?
It's important to keep in mind that although it's feasible to download video from sites on the internet , like YouTube or Facebook but it's not always legal or ethical.
If you upload your videos to these sites to serve as a backup the downloading of your personal videos will not be in violation of any copyright laws. If, however, you were to download another's video this is where you fall into a more gray zone. Also, if you were to offer to purchase the video of someone else, you'd be in copyright infringement the territory of copyright infringement.
Where can you download videos for iPhone as well as iPad?
In this post, Safari will be the principal app you use. It is also the default. Safari saves downloaded files for you to your Files app, either by storing these directly on the device, or in an Downloads folder on the iCloud drive.
If you're using a different cloud service connected to the Files app, such as Dropbox as well as Google Drive, you can select them as those download sites. Here's how to choose Google Drive or Dropbox as your download location:
Go to Settings app > Safari > Downloads.
Choose the location you'd like to visit from the drop-down list.
How to save videos on iPhone from all around the Internet
Although Safari and Files are the apps that you'll be using in order to download video, you'll require an alternative download site such as SaveFrom.net. Because you can't download videos directly through either the Facebook as well as YouTube applications, the website will provide a link to allow you to download videos from Safari. (The video download function was introduced to Safari within iOS 13.3). The less sophisticated and sometimes the only method to save a video on you iPhone would be to capture the smartphone's screen while playing the video.
How to download a Facebook video to your iPhone
If you've uploaded a video on Facebook and would like to download it to your iPhone the only thing you have do is:
Copy the URL to the video on Facebook.
Go to SaveFrom.Net.
Copy the URL into the Search field.
Tap the Arrow.
Click and hold Download > Download Link File.
Click on the Downloads icon located at the top.
How to save a YouTube video to your phone
The process of downloading videos on YouTube is like downloading videos from Facebook. The main difference is that you'll discover your video's URL on YouTube before you go to:
Copy the URL of the YouTube video.
Open Safari, if it's not yet open.
Paste the URL into the Search field.
Hold on Download > Download Linked File.
Then, tap the Downloads icon located at the top.
How to download videos on iPhone from Safari
If you've come across an online video that you wish to download from another site online, aside from Facebook or Youtube it is possible to download it if:
You must copy the link of the movie that you wish to download.
Hold and tap on the Download.
On the menu for quick actions, select Download Linked File.
Tap the Downloads icon located in the upper-right corner.
While the thought of trying to download a video from the internet using only your iPhone can seem daunting at first, it's actually quite simple. And it's getting simpler with each new update. Hopefully, this article helped show you just how easy it can be. That being said, please be careful and use your new-found downloading powers responsibly.
© Phoenixpatriotmagazine 2023


Los Angeles Lakers forward Michael Beasley released a statement to Yahoo Sports on Tuesday that disputes the reported postgame incident he allegedly had with head coach Luke Walton after Saturday night's loss to the Golden State Warriors.
It was reported by several outlets that Beasley engaged in a verbal confrontation with Walton about playing unselfishly and that the exchange fell just short of a physical altercation.
Beasley, in addressing the situation for the first time, denies it was such a heated incident.
The Lakers are 27-26 and 1.5 games back of the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference standings.
The Indiana Pacers host the Lakers tonight.
With Thursday's trade deadline approaching, it's safe to say that multiple Lakers players are on edge.


Sportmentary Online Sports Talk: Podcast Posted - Are Professional Athletes Treated Like Garbage?
Podcast Posted - Are Professional Athletes Treated Like Garbage?
We have posted this week's Face-Off podcast. This week, Sportmentary and the Comish get into another heated debate. This week's topic explores if professional sports athletes are treated like garbage. The debate was sparked by the sudden retirement of veteran Winnipeg Blue Bomber's player Obby Khan.
The Comish believes that Khan was forced to retire and he's angry about that. While Sportmentary believes that the incident is unfortunate, he doesn't believe that players in general are treated like garbage.
View the podcast by visiting the Face-Off.


The time had arrived. Hartnell wanted to move on from the Doctor, but the ratings were great. So, the producers hatched a plan. The Doctor would continue, but renew as a completely different person. And thus began the Patrick Troughton era.
Troughton was born in 1920 in Middlesex. He attended the Embassy School of Acting and later joined the Tonbridge Repertory Co. Fun fact: in the TCF production "Escape", he starred alongside William Hartnell! Two of Troughton's most famous pre-Doctor Who roles were in Robin Hood (the first to play the title character on TV) and in Jason and the Argonauts (yes, that one, with the Ray Harryhausen monsters and everything). He left the show after four years for fear of typecasting, creating the so-called "Troughton Rule". In fact, it turned out he was right–all of his roles after Doctor Who were in sci-fi and related genres. The most famous was in The Omen.
New opening and "howlaround". This was also the first time the Doctor's face appeared in the opening.
I'm frustrated by the Troughton era. Not because I don't like it, far from it. There's just so little available. Troughton is considered the "Doctor's Doctor." He's the one all the succeeding Doctors attempt to emulate. His ability to outsmart the enemy made him fun, along with his mannerisms. I still say he's worth checking out, in spite of the amount of what you can see.
McCrimmon is a Scottish Highlander (no, not that Highlander), and stays with the Doctor the longest. His behavior is that of a gentleman, always protective of the Doctor and any allies. He is an enjoyable character, with his tendency to charge into battle, and I can see why he was so popular.
Victoria hails from the 19th century and became a companion when her father was killed by Daleks. There isn't much I can say about her because the only story I've seen her in is "Tomb of the Cybermen". She didn't seem interesting to me.
Zoe is the first in a long history of intelligent female companions. She supposedly comes from our century (or at least how the 1960's portrayed it) I love her personality and I'll admit, she looks great in that catsuit. A refreshing change from the bland or screaming women of Hartnell's era.
Instead of giving you stories to avoid, I'm going to go ahead and recommend all the Troughton stories I've seen. There's less available from the Troughton era than the Hartnell era, and I feel I can't give a fair assessment of his era.
The Doctor: Don't you see what this is going to mean to all the people who come to serve Klieg the all powerful? Why, no country, no person would dare to have a single thought that was not your own. Eric Klieg's own conception of the way of life!
Eric Klieg: Brilliant! Yes, yes, you're right. Master of the world.
The Doctor: Well now I know you're mad, I just wanted to make sure.
The Doctor and friends meet the Master. (no, not that Master), who has been given the ability to bend the Land of Fiction to his will. This is Troughton at his best, turning his enemy's flaws to his advantage.
This story is written by Terrence Dicks, one of the show's best writers. It also features the only enemies from the Classic version who haven't returned, the Ice Warriors. After seeing this episode, I'd love to see them return.
This is the grand finale, which introduces the Time Lords and Gallifrey. It's another excellent Terrence Dicks story. The story sets the stage for the Pertwee era by exiling the Doctor in the 1970's. The story does lag (it's over 4 hours long), but still very entertaining.


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Published: February 1, 2015
Stephen Hammond MP: How the next Government should deal with infrastructure
By Stephen Hammond MP
Follow @S_Hammond
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WATCH: Johnson 3) "The British public deserve the best possible technology," he says of Huawei
Stephen Hammond is a former Transport Minister and is MP for Wimbledon.
Transport and Infrastructure are largely unsung when one discusses our Government's achievements. Yet when history is written, I suggest it will be seen as a policy area of achievement and success. This is partly due to attitude, partly vision and partly commitment.
Why attitude? Well, if one is candid, the Department of Transport (DfT) is usually seen as a departmental backwater. However, it will be to George Osborne's credit that he recognises the importance of infrastructure and its maintenance, its enhancement and its expansion as key determinants of economic prosperity.
So, unlike previous governments which took the easy option of cutting spending on both infrastructure maintenance and new capital expenditure during difficult economic times, the Chancellor's rejection of this easy option will raise the GDP potential of the UK economy for many years to come. Moreover, under this Government, the DfT is rightly regarded as a key economic ministry.
Since 2010, the Government has provided two spending settlements for rail, money for road maintenance and expansion, and support for local public transport systems. New projects such as Thameslink, Crossrail, the Northern Hub, the electrification of Great Western and London Midland, the new A14, 50 other road enhancement schemes, six major new road projects, the Green Bus fund and the Local Sustainable Transport Fund have all been either finished, started, are in development or are committed to. In addition, the vision of High Speed 2 is becoming reality, the roads industry will be transformed by the Highways Agency becoming a GovCo and given a longer term funding settlement; and progress is being made on new airport capacity.
However, in three months time, this Coalition Government will indeed be history. A newly elected Conservative government will face a number of infrastructure and transport challenges. Here, I identify a few of the key ones.
1. Reject the "British disease".
The usual British response to finishing a major infrastructure project is to breathe a sigh of relief and do nothing for the next five years. Equally, the usual response to maintenance and capital spending is either a short-term funding round or a stop/go mentality. To secure all the benefits of 2010-2015 is to recognise that as soon as one major project is finished, we should move to the next. Key tests will be: can we move seamlessly from Crossrail 1 to Crossrail 2? Will the new Highways Agency GovCo be guaranteed a four year funding settlement, with all its attendant supply chain benefits? So: let's reject the "British" disease and continue to invest, plan and expand.
2. The era of the customer.
The failure to maintain our infrastructure for so much of the last 70 years has meant that much of the 2010-15 expenditure has been been driven by engineering priority. If continued spending is to be supported by the public, then the next few years must put the consumer at the forefront of the decision making process. For example, in the railways this means ensuring that Network Rail delivers more for lower unit cost will allow the cost to the consumer to be contained. Equally, there are many small projects such as station improvements, and there will be rolling stock decisions to be taken, which will drive the quality and comfort of journeys. There are other examples across other modes of transport.
3. The financing challenge
At the outset of this article, I rightly praised maintained transport spending during difficult economic times. The next five years will also require some difficult fiscal decisions to be taken. Therefore we must make use of the private sector to realise our ambitions. It is clear that there is much institutional interest in UK infrastructure projects, and it will be fairly simple to structure projects and financing structures to meet their requirements.
However, there are a number of other possibilities – for example, allowing the private sector to compete against Network Rail, or the greater use of bond financing both project and municipal. Finally, there is the thorny issue of road pricing. But, since so many of us live in the " Sky world" where we decide what we subscribe to or buy, and not a "BBC world" where we pay and someone else decides, I believe this must be tackled and a politically and financially acceptable solution found.
4. The technology challenge
Technology is continually providing solutions to problems we thought insoluble a few years ago. A digital railway will allow more capacity and greater speed in the future. Driverless technology will allow lorry trains, and ensure a better environmental performance from all motor vehicles. I could go on, but the next Government must commit to embrace technology, support research and development, and help develop practical uses of the technological advances. In the past, we have been far too reluctant to change and too slow to confront the "we have always done it this way" mentality. Now is the time to commit ourselves to be in the technology vanguard.
I believe the Conservative achievement of deficit reduction and the encouragement of investment and industry is leading to a new "we can" belief and vitality. We may have a wonderful and proud history, but it is more important to secure a wonderful and proud future. We could build HS2 to the North more quickly, we could embrace a non-fossil future for cars, we could build the London air capacity solution within seven years – and we could develop more city mass transit systems. We could; I know we can; the only thing stopping us is a lack of belief and ambition.
Crossrail Department of Transport George Osborne MP infrastructure Railways Roads Technology The Coalition Transport
43 comments for: Stephen Hammond MP: How the next Government should deal with infrastructure

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This Was The Week Trump Earned Being Compared To Hitler
It can happen here. It is happening.
By Lucian K. Truscott IV
Salon (6/29/19)
The presidency of Donald Trump has been one horror after another — the endless lying, the coddling and worship of dictators, the rank incompetence and corruption of the people he has chosen to run government departments, the saber-rattling and about-facing with various enemies, the repeated attacks on voting rights and free speech and a free press, the countenancing of rank racism and white supremacy in Charlottesville and elsewhere, the personal corruption and grifting at his resorts and golf clubs, the reverence for a celebration of ignorance, the disdain for science and expertise, the constant tweeting and spewing of hate and stupidity and racism and misogyny and xenophobia — the list goes on. Add your own outrages at will.
But an elemental corner was turned for me this week by a beautiful thing that happened on Tuesday evening. A friend of mine announced on Facebook that he was offering to take in a migrant family seeking asylum. …
We've crossed a line when Peter Vu's offer of shelter to a migrant family becomes just another object of right-wing Trumpish fury, something to be attacked and belittled, rather than something to celebrate and be thankful for.
Trump & Hitler: A Juxtaposition
By Christopher Brauchli
Common Dreams (6/29/19)
What one Christian does is his own responsibility. What one Jew [Muslim] does is thrown back at all Jews [Muslims].
— Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl (1944)
Being a person of neither creative nor mental ability, he mindlessly finds himself inspired by the actions of a man who, many years ago, like Trump, was driven by a fierce hatred for a group of people he considered threatening to his way of life. In Trump, this hatred manifests itself in Islamophobia.
Both before and after becoming president, Trump's anti-Muslim sentiments were well known. During the presidency of Barack Obama, Trump repeatedly insinuated in public comments, that the president was secretly a Muslim. At a campaign rally in 2015, one of the attendees said to Trump, without being contradicted by Trump, that Mr. Obama is "not even an American." The attendee went on to say: to the candidate: "We have a problem in this country; it's called Muslims." As the man spoke, Trump interjected: "we need this question." The questioner then asked the candidate: "When can we get rid of them" to which Trump responded : "We're going to be looking at that and plenty of other things."
It is a sad day for our country when comparisons between the leader of Nazi Germany and the president of the United States are apt.
At a campaign rally in New Hampshire, Trump promised he would kick all Syrian refugees out of the country because they might be a secret army. "They could be ISIS. . . .This could be one of the great tactical ploys of all time. A 200,000-man army, maybe."Mid-way during his first year as president, Trump commented on the reported rise in crime in the UK and attributed the rise to what he called the "spread of radical Islamic terror." Trump's repeated attempt to impose what was called a Muslim ban, a ban repeatedly struck down by federal courts, are well known.
As observed at the outset, Trump was following in the footsteps of a well-known would-be world leader who perceived a threat posed by a group of people who were identified by the man who would become the leader of Germany—Adolph Hitler. Hitler didn't care about Muslims, but he had plenty to say about Jews.
Hitler's hatred of Jews was every bit the match for Trump's hatred of Muslims. …
Which Corporations Are Cashing In On Customs & Border Patrol Cruelty & Concentration Camps In Your State?
By Alex Kotch
Sludge (6/27/19)
The acting head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) resigned Tuesday after harrowing reports of squalid conditions at the agency's overcrowded detention facilities near the border with Mexico. Hundreds of children have been denied showers, oral hygiene, even mattresses. Reports described one massively strained facility in Clint, Texas, where girls aged 10 to 15 were caring for a two-year-old boy who needed to be held and didn't have a diaper. At that facility, there were reportedly 300 children in a single room.
From 2010 to June 24, 2019, CBP paid $6.4 billion to 1,123 outside vendors for an array of goods and services including vehicles, food, furniture, housekeeping, video recording equipment, and leasing, according to Sludge's review of data from the Federal Procurement Data System. These payments have swiftly increased under the Trump administration. The biggest recipients are defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin and PAE Aviation and Technical Services. Other top vendors include information technology company Leidos, G4S Secure Solutions, advertising firm Ogilvy, which is owned by a British parent company, and consulting firms Deloitte and McKinsey & Company.
Several universities including Columbia University, University of Southern California, and Utah State University also received payments from CPB.
Major consumer companies have been profiting from CBP. The agency has bought software from Microsoft and photocopying equipment from Konica Minolta. It has used the services of AT&T and Comcast. Microsoft subsidiary LinkedIn got $20,700 from CBP in 2018 for information technology software.
Use the map below to view CBP vendors in your state. Hover over the marks and vendors' names will appear after a momentary delay.
Discover which companies in your state are supporting CPB abuses…
Link to Story and Interactive Map
Two Wisconsin Firms Profiting Off The Abuse And Terrorizing Of Children On The Border
By Mark L. Taylor
The Commoner Call (7/1/19)
Checking with the Sludge interactive map noted above, one finds two Wisconsin corporations are profiting off human misery and United States government manipulated child abuse along the border.
Concerned citizens should feel free to contact the two corporations. You can find contact information below.
Johnson Controls Government Systems LLC has a $3,307,382 contract. The Milwaukee corporation's web site features a faux patriotic vibe and proudly proclaims: "It's the patriotic thing to do: Keep the country safe and prosperous. We can help through building and infrastructure improvements." How providing any kind of support for the splitting up of families and the physical, emotional, sexual abuse and even deaths of innocent children contributes to keeping the country "safe and prosperous" is a mystery. You can contact Johnson Controls here.
Red Flag Cargo Security Systems LLC has a $999,992 contract. The Milwaukee corporation provides various kinds of various kinds of security locks, seals and tracking services. Participating in human rights abuses does nothing to help with national security. You can contact Red Flag Cargo security systems here.
Tuesday: Nationwide 'Close the Camps' Demonstrations Announced To Protest Horrific Conditions At Trump Detention Centers
"We need to fight for immigrant families and stop Donald Trump's racist policies, and we can only do it together."
By Jake Johnson
As appalling details of the conditions at immigrant detention centers in the U.S. continue to pour in—with one doctor recently comparing them to "torture facilities"—a coalition of rights groups on Friday announced nationwide "Close the Camps" demonstrations for next week to protest the Trump administration's treatment of migrant children.
"We've seen the images and heard the stories coming out of child detention centers," said MoveOn.org, one of the groups helping to organize the events, which are set to take place Tuesday, July 2.
Find an event near you.
"Children denied soap and toothbrushes, crowded into unsafe conditions," MoveOn wrote on its website. "Separated from their families, subject to cruel treatment that leads to lasting traumas. And some dying in custody—or dying with parents as they cross the Rio Grande."
These conditions are not an accident, MoveOn said.
"They are the byproduct," the group wrote, "of an intentional strategy by the Trump administration to terrorize immigrant communities and criminalize immigration—from imprisoning children in inhumane conditions to threatening widespread raids to break up families to covering up reports of immigrants dying in U.S. custody and abuses by ICE and CBP agents."
To call attention to these horrific conditions and mobilize opposition, MoveOn, United We Dream, and other advocacy groups planned demonstrations at local congressional offices nationwide as lawmakers return home for July 4 recess.
The organizations laid out three core demands on their website:
It's going to take all of us to close the camps.
This Tuesday, July 2, while members of Congress are home for the Fourth of July holiday, we will gather at 12 p.m. noon local time at their local offices in protest. Our demands:
Close the Camps
Not One Dollar for Family Detention
and Deportation
Bear Witness and Reunite Families
Will you join a local Close the Camps protest near you this Tuesday, July 2? Find an event or start your own, and bring everyone you know. Can't attend or host an event? Text CAMPS to 668366 to continue taking action to #CloseTheCamps.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), a 2020 Democratic presidential candidate, expressed support for the demonstrations on Twitter.
"We need to fight for immigrant families and stop Donald Trump's racist policies," Warren said, "and we can only do it together."
(Our work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License. Feel free to republish and share widely.)
Sign up: http://CloseTheCampsNow.org #CloseTheCamps @UNITEDWEDREAM @afsc_org @fams2gether
Petition: Children deserve better than this
The American Civil Liberties Union (7/28/19)
Together with our four million supporters, we've been calling Congress to make loud and clear that we refuse to give even more of our taxpayer money to DHS and its sub-agencies, CBP and ICE. We've sued the Trump administration over family separation and other inhumane policies against immigrants and asylum seekers. And we've rallied behind legislation that would protect immigrant communities and create a path to citizenship. We're winning, but there's still much work to be done.
Demand that Congress investigate child detention sites and hold CBP to account for its inhumane treatment of children.
Let's come together and demand better from our government. The children deserve it.
Thanks for making your voice heard,
Astrid Dominguez
Director of the ACLU Border Rights Center


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Zachary Shores, Reporter
This season the Montevallo Bulldogs are looking for another state run to the playoffs. Last year they made it to the third round of the playoffs and lost to Gordo. The Dogs are hoping to start the season off with a win on February 28, 2023 at home starting at 6:00 P.M.
When asked about the season, junior Braden Douglas said he is hoping for a good season. When asked about what he has done to prepare for this season he said he has "worked out and created a bond with his teammates". Braden also said that his role on the team is "to do his part and be a leader". When asked about the season, sophomore Kemp Swords said he is "hoping for a season like the last one". Kemp said that in order to prepare for the upcoming season he has "worked out and put the off-season work in at the field". When asked about his role he said "to perform to the best of his ability and to lead the team."
We are all proud of the baseball team for last season. Le'ts go Bulldogs.
Excitement Builds for Senior Night


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Student Feature: What Happens When A Lighthouse Grad Goes To WWDC?
By: Michael Steele
One year ago, Kai Aldaag applied to Lighthouse Labs' first-ever iOS bootcamp. Well, he applied to be a mentor, but since he was just turning 14 we figured he'd be a better fit taking the course.
One year later, Kai is an alumni, junior mentor at Lighthouse Labs, and has applied for something quite different: a scholarship to attend WWDC, Apple's biggest conference and the Mecca for iOS developers. Last week, he attended that conference on full scholarship. Here's how it happened:
For an applicant to be considered for the WWDC scholarship, they must code an app in Swift and submit it to the Apple team. Kai did that, and also recorded it on YouTube for easy sharing. Video below:
According to Kai, they judged the apps based on "design, functionality, and content". His goal was to show that he was passionate about development and eager to continue pursuing it. It would seem that he did that (and note especially the shoutouts to Lighthouse Labs!)
Once accepted, Kai went on a whirlwind Friday-to-Friday circus that is WWDC. Here are some of the highlights:
Meet and Greet With Tim Cook
All scholarship winners got to attend a VIP event with Tim Cook, who spoke to them a bit about Apple. According to Kai, he was immediately swarmed for pictures (the same thing happened with Jony Ive). Kai didn't get a picture with Tim, but he did get one with Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, whom you may recognize in the picture above from the WWDC Keynote.
HQ Tours
Over the course of 1 week, Kai and the other scholarship recipients got tours of the HQs of Facebook, Twitter, Apple, Twilio, and more. His personal favourite? Actually, the Intel Museum. Apparently it's one of the most open and welcoming environments down there.
Apple Labs
The coolest directly developer-related experience were the various labs held at Apple, run by top Apple engineers. Kai had the chance to pick their brains and get valuable advice. The top 2 labs? One on prototyping strategy and one on the medical-based Research Kit.
Building the Swift community
Kai met a few fellow iOS developers from Vancouver, and they bonded over lining up for the keynote speech at 1:00am. He plans on teaming up with them on future projects, as well as staying active in the larger community of scholarship winners. According to Kai, "the community I met through WWDC will last a long time." No surprise, given the group of previous winners includes engineers at all the top firms in San Francisco.
Before the conference, Kai was working on a project quite similar to Apple's newly announced Apple Music. Having seen first-hand what a game changer that is, he has now shifted his focus to working with Apple's Research Kit. He'll be creating an app for his Mom based around medical handouts, and plans to contributing to Research Kit itself since it's open source.
Kai will be going back to Walnut Grove, and mentoring at Lighthouse Labs on the side. Learning never stops!
Want to read more about our iOS grads? Check out our blog post, The Eclectic And Wonderful Careers Of Our iOS Bootcamp Graduates!
5 Shortcuts To Becoming A Keyboard Power User
Guest Post: 4 Tips For Job Hunting As A Developer


In non-contact ultrasonic level measurement, the sensor emits ultrasonic pulses in the direction of the medium, which then reflects them back.
The elapsed time from emission to reception of the signals is proportional to the level in the tank. Ultrasonic sensors are ideal for simple standard applications, both for liquids and for solids.


When I think about Outside lectures, the first image that comes to mind is a net. It's not quite the idea of the network though, at least not in a first instance, however important this idea is here. Before becoming a network, nets are merely an aggregation of things: a housewife's webbed grocery bag gathered in a ball, or the fisherman's fishing nets clumped in a heap on the jetty. An aggregation of things, though always retaining a particularly malleable quality, a shapeless density allowing the housewife's net to fit in her pocket, or the fisherman's in the rigging of his boat.
The props needed for Outside lectures fit in the trunk of a car. The form is light, literally. Nomadic, if you will. In any case, it's transportable and adaptable, it's meant to be performed from place to place, set-up and bumped out. These different elements are then spread out (deployés) in a display (déploiement) that changes from site to site, depending on each location's conditions and circumstances. The first act of Outside lectures consists in casting the net, distributing its various constituent elements throughout a given space. Something akin to a shape is thus drawn, loosely traced around a center point in a circular motion. Some of the crowd takes to this webbed circle, they're captured by it, caught up in it.
This description, however, is not entirely accurate. A first reason for this is that the circular form is, by definition, closed. It draws a line that folds back on itself and splits the world in two: inside and outside. As it happens, what spreads out is a never-ending movement that does not fold back on itself, for it calls forth differing scales and carries over onto discontinuous planes. And, as it happens, though a loop is made, it's hardly circular—even if you are left with the distinct impression of a stage or a playing field, even if something does indeed take place, spread out, and resonate. For, as the name of the Lectures suggests, the distribution of inside and outside plays out differently. The movement inherent in the theatre design gives way to another movement, or runs into a kind of displacement that penetrates this design, transforms it, articulates it in another dimensional register.
The net is thus an assemblage, an apparatus articulating a variety of elements linked by this journey. This system is made up of a sequence of situations that hang together, insofar as it is said that a work of art seeks an equilibrium where it "holds" according to the principles of composition, in the musical meaning of the word. There's something in installation work that gathers up a variety of elements through the interplay of their connections, whether a movement, a journey, or, indeed, a crossing. It's both stationary and in motion; stationary like a house of cards, in motion like a breath or a dance step. Add to this the fact that the appliances gathered here, and through which each moment occurs, are so utterly banal and common that they're part of our everyday lives: a television, a table and a microwave, a laptop, a cellular phone, etc., all laid out around a chunk of polystyrene placed on a sheet of plexiglass. It's a sort of modest sculpture, a ready-made taken out of its packaging, a blank and empty architecture that the sounds produced by a microphone's audio feedback come to explore, transforming it into a block of ice, an iceberg, the detached and fragile fragment of an ice shelf. As things ice over in this moment of sonic decomposition, the movement stops and turns around, form fissures, and language breaks down in a static-ridden avalanche. In the progression of sequences that make up Outside lectures', only this moment sees the sonic loop become the closed circle of the stage, reduced to the kernel of its presence, to the here and now of the scene—and, yet again, you get the sense that its on the inside that things are unravelling.
The screen weaves a temporal field before it describes a surface. Indeed, it is constituted by way of a dynamic relationship grounded in the inter-actions of thought and image. What happens in Emmanuelle Lafon's spoken performance, in the striated tension of her delivery, in her efforts to articulate words that are always already wrapped up in other words, is that a temporal vacuum is created—a difference in speed that endlessly attempts to conceal itself. In actual fact, there is no movement, no shifting synchronic mass, but rather a constant back and forth between lapse and recovery. With speech front and center, thought becomes unravelled. The gap widens between hearing and seeing, the movements of mouth and words, and holding them together requires effort, the object of the performance being this effort's very limits, beyond the rest of the "show" that is Outside lectures—if, indeed, show is the right word for this kind of piece. To my mind, this ever widening gap—repeatedly covered over, always shifted, renewed, multiplied—is what founds a general dynamic, spanned by clearly identifiable extremes (technological, political, mental) that entangle themselves in a composite experience that questions the everyday realities of the network and the place that subjects such as ourselves occupy within it. Folded back on itself, reduced to the grainy decomposition of a feedback loop, this same dynamic drifts in realtime with the sound performance Frost.
Jameson contrasts this televised continuity with the cinema, or the theater, in which movement is constrained within the limits of the spectacle or the film. Cinema is, indeed, a temporal art; it aptly develops what Deleuze patently recognizes as a flow, but a flow that ends with the ending of the film's very form, and thus its narrative construction: "Turning the television set off has little in common either with the intermission of a play or an opera or with the grand finale of a feature film, when the lights slowly come back on and memory begins its mysterious work. Indeed, if anything like critical distance is still possible in film, it is surely bound up with memory itself." Through the dual effect of this ending and editing, the temporality of cinema is not the same as the continuity of everyday life. It's an independent temporality, just like cinematic space is an autonomous space, with its own laws and rules. It's a time to which we travel, a moment up in the air, a moment apart. In truth, cinematic fiction is established through the specificity of this space-time, much more so than through a given narrative invention. Jameson deduces from this that much like we should concern ourselves with memory, and our ability to create and store memory, so too we should question the fictional abilities of video, or its particular means of producing fiction, insofar as video's temporality can no longer be distinguished for the continuity of passing time.
Television's flow, however, is the product of a concatenation of consecutive elements that vary in nature—entertainment, games, movies, current affairs, advertising, etc. Homogenenous, unilateral and levelling, it cannot be equated with the digital flow generated from the multipolar distribution of ever changing information that ebbs and flows with the distributed participation of its users. It's worth asking if Jameson's point of view isn't beholden to the "outside" that he finds himself in, beset by the flow spewing forth his television screen. Today, in any case, this "outside" has become an imaginary standpoint, an unreal space, not so much because we now live in a world without walls, rather because we now inhabit and think in networks, the objective forms of our globalized world. The same thing has happened to what we used to call cities. Town and country differed like two opposite realities and this opposition was spatially construed in the objective gap between the dense urban habitat and its ring of fields and forests. Long ago, cities lost their form and were separated into zones of varying density, thereby ramified, making up megacities that have, in turn, taken over chunks of countryside. The straightforward opposition between inside and outside or of here and elsewhere has but a relative significance in a networked world. This is why we can say that a world of networks no longer has an outside. Further still, the material city is compounded in the texture of information networks. The flow's dimension and form have changed. With the process of generalized digitalization, video's place has not been taken by one single sphere of communication, but by the spread of interconnected networks, coupled to reality through specific exchanges, multiple mechanisms that activate behaviors, modes of kinship and communication, as well as various power relations and strategies.
Often, the image that we have of a network is overly simplified: a flatted, two-dimension representation that struggles to rid itself of a center around which it could still attempt to organize itself, something halfway between a maze and a spider-web. We forget the networks call on networks and thus proliferate within diversified dimensions where relationships with time and space play out differently—which also goes for what we typically call the here and now of the present. In this multidimensional universe, it is less a matter of centers—singular or plural—than of knots which, though they act as filters, feed on the energy provided by the network itself. The flow is no longer the product of a particular point of creation and dissemination, but rather what constantly circulates, what certain extremes congeal and mingle together, what they attempt to commercialize, and, possibly, what they control.
We also have difficulty recognizing the fictional and political issues raised by the systems that activate these network dimensions. Outside lectures pertains to this context. One could say that each of the show's sequences unfolds by activating a pattern, a situation or a relationship that plays on one of these modes. I use the word "activate" because it is as much about inventing a system specific to creating a particular experience as it is using existing, everyday devices in the service of a performative situation. The show's very script makes use of devices not in and of themselves, rather in terms of what relationships to speech and to others they conjure, or even the simple fact of their presence and the diversity of their modalities—hence the loss overcome in their just "being there" and recognized as such.
All you need to do is spin the television around and it becomes a monitor showing an honest, almost intimate interview that's halfway between charade and critical account of a foreigner's administrative adventures in France. The actress turns into a lecturer and presents us with a speech emphatically drawing an analysis of a homeless man's speech act: "I have nothing to eat." Or perhaps a telephone call is made to an accomplice, describing the space she's sitting in, moving in, letting us simultaneously though remotely experience her presence elsewhere, in a similar vein to radio reportage. In each instance, it's a matter of language and words, the way in which meaning is produced and exchanged. In each instance, it's a matter of how what is said can establish a space: speaking space, listening space, communication space. And, in each instance, a relationship is made beyond the silence and the solitude, a reaching-out to the other, a possible experience of self, an encounter with what might make up a scene or begin a story.
The only thing is, each time the sequences also produce a shift, they create a gap between discourse and speech, status, weight, the reality that's involved and the manner that it crosses the present's net. Indeed these successive systems even shake the present. They reveal its complexity, how it is crossed by another moment, how it is porous and run through by an elsewhere that is barely identifiable and potentially temporary. If the "out of screen" is decisive to the narrative potential of both photography and cinema, it's no doubt this particular movement, the interim crossing of the present moment, that augments the narrative potential of networked devices.
The last sequence, Sentinel, shows us something so obvious you want to call it out, despite the slightly paradoxical, mysterious or opaque effect. It's a video on a simple loop: a mongoose shakes, turns around, stands up completely straight, in an almost feeble standstill, falls back on its feet and jumps out of frame while another, the same one, comes into frame, shakes, stands up, over and over and over again. One leaves and becomes the other, and both of them are just one animal, turning, shaking, standing, watching, reaching for an elsewhere we cannot see. A simple loop, with a match cut that, like a scratched vinyl, points to the slightly pixellized presence of the image. A figure at once direct, immediate and perfectly abstract, like the circular nature of the loop that produces it, that establishes its freedom of movement, its perpetual starting over.
Outside Lecturessuggests a communications space where memories of a recording slot into the span of what's told, read, played or fictionalized. Strands of thought unravel in a space that's made up of condensed layers, gathered up on themselves, dragged onto the folded heap of a net of which we're ever constant interested parties.


Aberdaron Farm Bunkhouse is two miles from Aberdaron village with its white-painted fishermen's houses, sandy beach and water's edge church. The Bunkhouse has underfloor central heating and 3 bunk rooms sleeping 8, 4 (en suite) and 3 (en suite) in a bunk and camp bed. There is a large social room with dining tables, chairs, beanbags, TV, Nintento Wii and board games. The small basic kitchen has a hob, microwave, George Foreman cooking machine, kettle and toaster. A self service breakfast of cereal, bread, tea and coffee is provided. Bring sleeping bags or hire duvet and pillow for £3. There is a drying room with washing machine & tumble dryer and toilet & shower blocks. Whistling Sands is only 1.5 miles away and Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) lies across The Sound two miles off the tip of the Llyn Peninsula. The Island has been a place of pilgrimage since early Christianity and a boat from Aberdaron to Bardsey is a great place to see the seals. Pets allowed (with notice). Holiday cottages and camping are also available on the farm. This accommodation is featured on our map of Snowdonia and North Wales and here is its own website.
All year. All day (arrive after 4pm and leave by 11am).
£16pp, £18 pp (en suite) inc breakfast. Enquire for sole use of room/bunkhouse/family room prices. Minimum of 3 days on bank holidays.
Deposit of 50% paid by credit or debit card, remainder to be paid 4 weeks prior to arrival. Booking held for 5 days without deposit.
Follow signs for Anelog, the first one is just after entering Aberdaron.
Arriva bus17, Pwllheli to Aberdaron, 6 times a day (not Sun).
This accommodation is by the sea, is available to individuals and is on the Hostels with Camping map and the Wales Coast Path.
Would you like to visit the Llŷn Peninsula? They why not come and stay in our Bunkhouse and do exactly that!
We are located just a half hour's drive away. The Llŷn Peninsula is a protected 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' on the strength of its exceptional coastline of coves, headlands, beaches and bays rich in wildlife which are all interlinked by the Llŷn Coastal Path.
Aberdaron Farm Bunkhouse on the coast.
With the sea just there why not pursue watersports?
Not too long ago I walked a section of the Llyn Coastal Path. It was glorious weather with heather and bilberries on this side and sandy and rocky beaches on that. I was enchanted by the lure of rounding the next headland. Out at sea countless small pleasure craft or windsurfers skipped and darted over the waves like terns. I reached Pwllheli but did not get as far as Aberdaron, home of the Aberdaron Farm Bunkhouse. If you make it further than I did then you'll find a lovely well modernised bunkhouse with underfloor heating (very welcome!) and accommodation across a big bunk room of 8 and two smaller en-suites of 4 and 3 bunks each. The bunkhouse can also provide bike hire and simple breakfast is included.
But with the sea just there why not pursue watersports? There is sailing at Pwllheli Marina, waterskiing, powerboating or windsurfing at Abersoch or wakeboarding at Glasfryn Parc. You could join those adventurous souls I saw from my coastal route.
The Lleyn Peninsula Coastal Path or Edge of Wales Walk is a total of 84 miles along the coast paths, with the occasional inland loop, around the Lleyn Peninsula. At one point, close to Bardsey Island, it follows the ancient Pilgrim's Route and you will come across many ancient small churches, this is known as the North Wales Pilgrims route. Sgbour Unos Bunkhouse also on this website provides a second good nights accommodation along the route. At Portmadoc the Lleyn Penisuala coast path links to the Meirionnydd Coast Walk and the both become part of the larger Wales coast Path.


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Football: Adidas sees record soccer sales in World Cup year 2014
http://str.sg/ZMj6
HERZOGENAURACH, GERMANY, (REUTERS) - German sportswear group Adidas expects record sales from its soccer division of 2 billion euros (S$3.3 billion) in 2014 when the World Cup is played in Brazil, the company said on Tuesday.
That figure is an increase on sales of more than 1.7 billion euros from the division in 2012, company officials said. Adidas is a sponsor of the World Cup and will supply match balls, kit for referees and volunteers in Brazil.
"The Fifa World Cup is the perfect stage to showcase our company, our brands and our products," Addias CEO Herbert Hainer told reporters at the company's headquarters in southern Germany.


ClearWater Solutions, LLC is excited to announce that the company has been selected to provide operations, maintenance, and management services for the City of Garden City, Georgia under a 2-year, $700,000/year contract (with the option for two additional one-year renewals). CWS has worked on a temporary basis to provide such services for the City's water and wastewater facilities since July 2017 when the City's plant manager retired. "In the five months in which our firm has been on the job, we have not only successfully operated and managed the wastewater plant, but have also monitored the lift stations and the water wells. This familiarity and understanding of the City's systems will provide a significant advantage in the project start-up process, as well as an understanding of the needs of the system", said CWS President, Rick Ailiff. The project also involves the understanding of operating systems under the Coastal Georgia Water and Wastewater Permitting Plan for Managing Salt Water Intrusion, as well the Sub-region 1 Red Zone Water Management Plan. Our team's experience includes the City of Garden City, as well as the City of Port Wentworth where we currently serve as Operator of Record - both areas located in the Red Zone.
Larry Arnett, the CWS Project Manager for Garden City, was relocated during the temporary assignment and will be assigned permanently in this position. Larry holds a Georgia Class II Water / Class I Wastewater Operator certification, along with 15 years of project management experience. Larry's team will be supported by both CWS and GMC professionals.
The City of Garden City is located about 10 miles from Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia. The System currently serves an approximate 14.75 square mile area containing an estimated population of 8,770 and has 3,100 water and sewer customers.


This paper proposes an automatic and simple approach to design a neo-fuzzy neuron for identification purposes. The proposed approach uses the backfitting algorithm to learn multiple univariate additive models, where each additive model is a zero-order T-S fuzzy system which is a function of one input variable, and there is one additive model for each input variable. The multiple zero-order T-S fuzzy models constitute a neo-fuzzy neuron. The structure of the model used in this paper allows to have results with good interpretability and accuracy. To validate and demonstrate the performance and effectiveness of the proposed approach, it is applied on 10 benchmark data sets and compared with the extreme learning machine (ELM), support vector regression (SVR) algorithms, and two algorithms for design neo-fuzzy neuron systems, an adaptive learning algorithm for a neo-fuzzy neuron systems (ALNFN), and a fuzzy Kolmogorov's network (FKN). A statistical paired t test analysis is also presented to compare the proposed approach with ELM, SVR, ALNFN, and FKN with the aim to see whether the results of the proposed approach are statistically different from ELM, SVR, ALNFN, and FKN. The results indicate that the proposed approach outperforms ELM and FKN in all data sets and outperforms SVR and ALNFN in almost all data sets that they were statistically different in almost all data sets and that in most data sets the number of fuzzy rules selected by cross-validation was small obtaining a model with a small complexity and good interpretability capability.
Jérôme Mendes, Francisco Souza, and Saeid Rastegar have been supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) under grants SFRH/BPD/99708/2014, SFRH/BPD/112774/2015, and SFRH/BD/89186/2012, respectively.
We declare that no conflict of interest exits in the submission of this manuscript, and the manuscript is approved by all authors for publication.


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Mayor's Message: Dec. 13
In: Government
It's hard to believe that Tuesday marked my twelfth and final council meeting of 2018. It has been a great year for the Town and Tuesday's Council Meeting did not disappoint. We had two informative presentations as well as a proclamation.
Camden Meetze, Chapin High Student, presented her Gold Award project for the Girl Scouts. On December 15, she plans to build a butterfly garden at the Town Center Park to be located at Lexington Avenue and Chapin Road. Ms. Meetze will work with the Chapin Beautification Committee and Town Hall to make her vision a reality. We are very proud of all her hard work. Our community is filled with astounding young people such as Ms. Meetze. It is truly what makes our community one that is deserving of the reputation as a Community of Character.
Also at the Town Council meeting on Tuesday, John Thompson and J.J. Casey announced that the Chapin Historical Association received the 2018 Federal Historic Preservation Grant. This federal grant, along with a match from the Town of Chapin, will enable the Chapin Historical Association to hire a consultant that conduct the research and complete the paperwork necessary to place ten historical buildings in Chapin on the National Registry. This was the culmination of three and a half years of hard work and commitment by the Chapin Historical Association. This year less than five towns were awarded this grant and Chapin was one of them.
It was an honor to proclaim December 7, as Chapin Arbor Day. This morning, in recognition of Arbor Day, the Chapin Garden Club planted a tree on the Town Hall grounds. The beautiful Forest Pansy Redbud is native to our area and was dedicated to the Chapin Times in honor of their legacy and commitment to the Chapin community. Dee Timmons couldn't be there to accept the honor so former Mayor Stan Shealy accepted on their behalf.
Cindy Chin, Chair of the Chapin Garden Club, presented town employee, Anthony Andrade, with a certificate acknowledging his contributions and efforts planting and maintaining the trees and plants donated by the club to the community. It was a beautiful ceremony recognizing the significant contribution that trees make to the health and vitality of our community. We thank Cindy Chin and the entire Chapin Garden Club for their ongoing commitment to beautifying the Chapin community.
Mayor David Knight
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The Internal Revenue Service has announced the 2019 cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to the various dollar limits for retirement plans. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has also announced the taxable wage base for 2019.
Elective Deferral Limit means the maximum contribution that an employee can make to all 401(k) and 403(b) plans during the calendar year (IRC section 402(g)(1)).
Catch-up Contributions refers to the additional contribution amount that individuals age 50 or over can make above the Elective Deferral and Annual Contribution limits. Catch-up contributions were initiated under the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA) and made permanent by the Pension Protection Act.
Annual Contribution Limit means the maximum annual contribution amount that can be made to a participant's account (IRC section 415). This limit is expressed as the lesser of the dollar limit or 100% of the participant's compensation, and is applied to the combination of employee contributions, employer contributions and forfeitures allocated to a participant's account.
Annual Compensation Limit means the maximum compensation amount that can be considered in calculating contribution allocations and non-discrimination tests. A plan cannot consider compensation in excess of this amount (IRC Section 401(a)(17)).
Highly Compensated Employee Threshold means the minimum compensation level established to determine highly compensated employees for purposes of non-discrimination testing (IRC Section 414(q)(1)(B)).
Social Security Wage Base is the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll taxes.


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26 Mar, 2021 20:02
HomeUSA News
After calling Putin 'killer' and Xi 'autocrat,' Biden invites them to CLIMATE summit – reports
(L) © REUTERS / Leah Millis; (C) © Sputnik / Alexei Druzhinin / Kremlin via REUTERS; (R) © REUTERS / Carlos Garcia Rawlins
US President Joe Biden has invited his Russian and Chinese counterparts Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to a climate summit scheduled for April, in hopes of speeding up global efforts to cut carbon emissions, the White House said.
Putin and Xi were among the 40 leaders invited to the event, anonymous administration officials told reporters on Friday. Others on the list include some of the world's "top climate-change sufferers, do-gooders and backsliders," AP reported.
WASHINGTON (AP) - Officials: President Biden invites Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping to first big global climate talks of his administration.#US#Russia#China
— Matt Lee (@APDiploWriter) March 26, 2021
"It's a list of the key players and it's about having some of the tough conversations and the important conversations," the official said, speaking on background. "Given how important… this issue is to the entire world, we have to be willing to talk about it and we have to be willing to talk about it at the high levels."
The presumably virtual summit is scheduled to start on April 22, also known as Earth Day. It was rumored two months ago, within days of Biden taking office and announcing the US would be rejoining the Paris Agreement his predecessor Donald Trump had repudiated.
Biden hasn't personally talked to Putin and Xi about the summit but "they know they're invited," one member of the White House press corps tweeted on Friday.
Biden says he hasn't personally talked to Putin and Xi about it but "they know they're invited" to climate summit. https://t.co/uhB2VhdOxL
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 26, 2021
The Democrat has made climate change one of his priorities in both domestic and foreign policy, blocking pipeline projects and fracking with executive orders in his first week in the White House. He also appointed John Kerry, former secretary of state and one of the architects of the Paris agreement, as his special envoy for climate change, with a seat on the National Security Council.
Having Biden's first major interaction with the Russian and Chinese leaders be at a climate summit is somewhat awkward, however, considering his recent comments about both. During his first press conference on Thursday, Biden called Xi a "smart guy" who "doesn't have a democratic bone in his body," before going off on a tangent about the future being a struggle between autocracies and democracies.
China has already accused the US of being "the world's largest polluter in history and the current largest polluter," in the words of Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian from January.
Also on rt.com 'Biggest polluter in history': China hits back at US criticism of its climate policy with reminder of Washington's shortcomings
Beijing has also said that China expects the US to "make up for the four-year gap" and "submit a strong nationally determined contribution and long-term low greenhouse gas emission development strategy under the Paris Agreement as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, Russia has recalled its ambassador in Washington for consultations last week, after Biden called Putin a soulless killer in a TV interview. The Russian president responded by wishing his US counterpart good health and inviting him to a live on-air conversation, which the White House declined saying Biden was "too busy."
Also on rt.com After Biden's 'killer' comments about Putin, time to make a break in Russia-US relations; further engagement is pointless for now
The new US administration says it wants to achieve a zero-emissions energy grid by 2035 – without nuclear power – and net carbon-neutrality by 2050, but Biden has insisted this plan is not the 'Green New Deal' proposed by some progressive firebrands prior to the 2020 election.
Global warmingJoe BidenVladimir PutinWhite HouseXi Jinping
New study claims high background radiation might actually BENEFIT humans
The ideological basis of the new Cold War is clear, and this time the Western powers look set to be on the losing side


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Eliminate Evil at Its Root—Dafa Disciples in China Should Focus on Sending Righteous Thoughts for the U.S. Election
Dec. 22, 2020 | By a Falun Dafa practitioner in China
(Minghui.org) I recently learned that many Dafa disciples outside of China have been sending righteous thoughts in relays around the clock for the U.S. election. Although these are all personal actions, overseas practitioners can understand the actual situation of the U.S. election more intuitively. It is indeed a very critical time. I would like to share with fellow practitioners in this article that I think Dafa disciples in China should pay more attention to sending righteous thoughts for the U.S. election.
At a hearing with the Arizona state legislators on November 30, retired Colonel Phil Waldron provided sworn testimony, testifying that hackers from China, Iran, and Belgrade broke into the Dominion voting system beginning November 3, and possibly altered the election results, and that the hackers did not leave until November 9.
It has been reported that Dominion purchased Sequoia Voting Systems in 2010. Sequoia Voting Systems' founder is Shen Nanpeng, a member of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the vice chairman of the Venture Capital Professional Committee of the China Securities Investment Fund Association, and a member of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Chief Executive's Innovation and Strategic Development Advisory Group.
According to a document from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, one month before the general election, on October 8, 2020, Staple Street Capital, the parent company of Dominion, received $400 million from UBS Securities.
For UBS Securities, its shareholding structures are the following: Beijing Guoxiang Asset Management Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission) 33%; UBS Group 24.99%; Guangdong Communications Group 14.01%; China Broadcasting Corporation 14%; COFCO (China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation) 14%. Except for the 24.99% of shares owned by UBS Group, the remaining 75% clearly has its ties with the Chinese Communist Party. So Dominion's "red CCP" background is self-evident.
There is now growing evidence that the Chinese Communist Party has infiltrated almost every aspect of American society, in addition to being directly behind the manipulation of the U.S. election. After election night, the U.S. mainstream media, tech giants, social media, Wall Street big corporations, the Washington swamp, etc., all publicly sided with election fraudster Biden. Forces in the deep state colluded with the Chinese Communist Party and are doing everything they can to prevent the real winner of the election - Trump - from being re-elected. Many people are shocked by the chaos of this election. The red scourge of communism is rapidly engulfing the entire American society.
I think that we mainland Dafa disciples should pay more attention to sending forth righteous thoughts for the U.S. election. If the U.S. is the battleground of the battle between good and evil, then the real evil factors that interfere with President Trump's re-election are from mainland China. I believe we have our own mission here in China.
There a story in the novel Journey to the West. When the Monkey King was fighting a monster, but not able to get an upper hand after several rounds, he burrowed his way into the monster's belly. A slight movement he made inside the monster's belly brought the monster to its knees. What we, Dafa disciples in China, need to do is akin to what Monkey King did, that is, to fight the evil at its root.
"After Suffering Six Years of Incarceration and Relentless Torture, Henan Woman Arrested Again for Her Faith"
"Heilongjiang Teacher, 72, Sentenced to Six Years for Her Faith"


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You are at:Home»Things to do»Discover Barcelona»Barcelona for free»Festa de Sant Medir
Festa de Sant Medir
By Kara O'Callaghan-Latham on	 24 February, 2016 Barcelona for free, Discover Barcelona, Gràcia, Kids in Barcelona, Residents Corner, Sightseeing, Things to do
The 3rd March marks a special, annual occasion in Barcelona. Less promoted than many other Catalan traditions and celebrations throughout the year, the Festa de Sant Medir in Gràcia is still a great day of grand festivities and fun for all the family.
Set in the heart of Gràcia one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in Barcelona (an area sometimes lesser known to tourists but hugely popular with locals). The Sant Medir Festival is often referred to as "la festa més dolça", which translates to "the sweetest festival" because of the thousands of sweets given out throughout the celebrations. Every March the streets of Gràcia are transformed into even more vibrant, livelier and colourful scenes, as the whole community come to enjoy this special day. With parades, horse-drawn carriages, processions (and sweets!) from dawn until dusk it is definitely worth visiting with friends and/or family.
Parade groups (Los Colles) begin the day by visiting various streets of Vila de Gràcia, the oldest part of the district, as well as Sarria-Sant Gervasi and La Bordeta, distributing their delicious treats alongside horses and carriages. At noon the celebrations congregate around the Chapel of Sant Medir in Collserola, or the Church of St John if there is bad weather, to celebrate mass. After mass los colles, the community and parades continue festivities throughout Gràcia once more before los colles re-join one another on Carrer de Sant Salvador. The evening ends with a stunning firework display, like many other regional events in the country.
History of the Festa de Sant Medir
The legend and history behind the Festa de Sant Medir dates back to the year 303 (4th Cenutry AD) when a farmer named Medir lived on the current site of the Sant Medir chapel, in the Parc Natural de la Serra de Collserola, well outside Barcelona at the time. Medir lived during a period of history when the Roman Empire controlled the region of Catalonia and brutally persecuted Christians. One day a bishop, named Sever, crossed Medir's path as the farmer was planting seeds. The bishop was trying escape from the city in case of possible persecution. Bishop Server explained his dilemma to Medir but told Medir not to lie if the Romans did come looking for him.
Not long after the Bishop left, the Romans came to Medir asking if he had seen the Bishop. Medir told the Romans the truth and immediately his beans grew into big and fully-grown plants; it was a miracle. But, the Romans didn't believe Medir and arrested him. Later they also found Bishop Server and arrested him too. Both Medir and Server were imprisoned and killed. After his death Medir became the patron saint of farmers, Saint Medir, as his beans had grown so extraordinarily.
However, it was not until 1830 that the modern festival in Gràcia began with its iconic sweet throwing. Todays' festivities relate to when a baker, Josep Vidal i Granés, living on the new street of Gran de Gràcia fell ill. After praying to God to cure him he vowed to return to his local town and make an annual pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Medir. Once he was cured the baker banged on drums and gave out sweets to announce his return to health and to begin his annual pilgrimage. This is when the current festival was born. Year after year more and more people joined the baker in his path and journey to the chapel to celebrate the Sant Medir, handing out sweets along the way. There are now 30 separate colles (groups) that parade on the 3rd March through Gràcia in memory of the baker and farmer, Sant Medir.
26 August, 2020 0


Agua Dulce ISD trustee Yvette Saenz met with other school board members from across the state April 19 to 21 to hear expert speakers and tour school facilities during the fourth session of Leadership TASB.
Participants gathered in El Paso as part of class activities in the yearlong education leadership study program sponsored by the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB).
This session's theme was "Taking a Different Step: Beyond Diversity and Into Inclusion."
Keynote speakers included Kelly McDonald, who has 20 years of marketing experience with prominent national companies and specializes in the Hispanic market.
McDonald discussed how cultural relevance and an understanding of emotional traits can create meaningful communication messages among all kinds of people. She underscored the importance and reward of "connecting with people who are not like you."
Randy Snow, the first paralympic inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame, spoke to the group about looking for better ways to influence people, manage change, and capitalize on opportunities.
Injured in a high school accident that left him without the use of his legs, Snow has since gone on to be a business owner and a Fortune 500 speaker who has been featured on CNN, ESPN, and in USA Today.
An invaluable part of the El Paso session was site visits to area schools. At Tornillo ISD, board members heard details of its bilingual immersion program and student incentives to encourage mastery of state assessments. The district, with the second lowest property wealth value per pupil in Texas, has consistently rated no lower than recognized on the state accountability measures.
The stops at El Paso ISD included a magnet dual-language middle school and the Center for Career Technology Education, which offers opportunities and training in culinary arts, fashion design, horticultural, and architectural design. Also on the tour was a magnet school at Fort Bliss, where 65 percent of the students are from military families, most having parents currently serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and a newly-built elementary school that is accommodating rapid growth in the area.
The Leadership TASB class of 2007, composed of 35 school board members, represents Texas school districts of all sizes and property wealth. Participants who complete required elements of the study program earn master trustee status, the highest designation recognized by TASB.
TASB is a nonprofit association established in 1949 to serve local Texas school districts. School board members are the largest group of publicly elected officials in the state. The districts they represent serve more than 4.5 million public school students.


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text:
Rajkowo (deutsch Gut Klein Reinkendorf) ist ein Dorf in der polnischen Woiwodschaft Westpommern. Das Dorf bildet einen Teil der Gmina Kołbaskowo (Landgemeinde Kolbitzow) im Powiat Policki (Pölitzer Kreis). Rajkowo liegt etwa 6 Kilometer südwestlich von Stettin (Szczecin) und etwa 18 Kilometer südlich von Police (Pölitz).

Weblinks

Fußnoten

Ort in Pommern
Ort der Woiwodschaft Westpommern
Gmina Kołbaskowo

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
"""Principal components analysis."""

import argparse
import json

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
from resolwe_runtime_utils import send_message, warning
from sklearn.decomposition import PCA

def get_args():
    """Parse command-line arguments."""
    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="PCA")
    parser.add_argument(
        "--sample-files", "-f", nargs="+", help="Sample file names", required=True
    )
    parser.add_argument(
        "--sample-ids", "-i", nargs="+", help="Sample IDs", required=True
    )
    parser.add_argument("--gene-labels", "-g", nargs="+", help="Filter genes by label")
    parser.add_argument(
        "--components", "-c", help="Number of PCA components", type=int, default=2
    )
    parser.add_argument("--output-fn", "-o", help="Output file name")
    return parser.parse_args()

def component_top_factors(component, allgenes_array, max_size=20):
    """Return top 20 absolute factors."""
    abs_component = np.abs(component)
    size = min(component.size, max_size)
    unordered_ixs = np.argpartition(abs_component, -size)[-size:]
    ixs = unordered_ixs[np.argsort(abs_component[unordered_ixs])[::-1]]
    if ixs.size == 0:
        return []
    return list(zip(np.array(allgenes_array)[ixs].tolist(), component[ixs].tolist()))

def get_pca(expressions=pd.DataFrame(), n_components=2, gene_labels=[]):
    """Compute PCA."""
    if not gene_labels:
        gene_labels = expressions.index
    skipped_gene_labels = list(set(gene_labels).difference(expressions.index))

    if expressions.shape[0] < 2 or expressions.shape[1] < 2:
        coordinates = [[0.0, 0.0] for i in range(expressions.shape[1])]
        all_components = [[], []]
        all_explained_variance_ratios = [0.0, 0.0]
    else:
        pca = PCA(n_components=n_components, whiten=True)
        pca_expressions = pca.fit_transform(expressions.transpose())

        coordinates = [
            t[:2].tolist() if len(t) > 1 else [t[0], 0.0] for t in pca_expressions
        ]
        all_components = [
            component_top_factors(component, gene_labels)
            for component in pca.components_
        ]
        if np.isnan(pca.explained_variance_ratio_).any():
            all_explained_variance_ratios = [0.0 for _ in pca.explained_variance_ratio_]
        else:
            all_explained_variance_ratios = pca.explained_variance_ratio_.tolist()

    result = {
        "coordinates": coordinates,
        "all_components": all_components,
        "all_explained_variance_ratios": all_explained_variance_ratios,
        "skipped_gene_labels": skipped_gene_labels,
        "warning": None,
    }

    if expressions.empty:
        send_message(
            warning(
                "Gene selection and filtering resulted in no genes. Please select different samples or genes."
            )
        )

    return result

def save_pca(result={}, sample_ids=[], output_fn=None, max_size=10):
    """Save PCA."""
    data = {
        "flot": {
            "data": result["coordinates"],
            "xlabel": "PC 1",
            "ylabel": "PC 2",
            "sample_ids": sample_ids,
        },
        "zero_gene_symbols": result["skipped_gene_labels"],
        "components": result["all_components"][:max_size],
        "all_components": result["all_components"],
        "explained_variance_ratios": result["all_explained_variance_ratios"][:max_size],
        "all_explained_variance_ratios": result["all_explained_variance_ratios"],
    }

    if output_fn:
        with open(output_fn, "w") as outfile:
            json.dump(data, outfile, separators=(",", ":"), allow_nan=False)
    else:
        print(json.dumps(data, separators=(",", ":"), allow_nan=False))

def read_csv(fname):
    """Read CSV file and return Pandas DataFrame."""
    csv = pd.read_csv(
        filepath_or_buffer=fname,
        sep="\t",
        header=0,
        index_col=0,
        dtype={
            0: str,
            1: float,
        },
        keep_default_na=False,
    )
    csv.index = csv.index.map(str)
    return csv

def get_csv(fnames):
    """Read CSV files and return Pandas DataFrame."""
    expressions = [read_csv(fname) for fname in fnames]
    return pd.concat(expressions, axis=1, join="inner")

def main():
    """Read data, run PCA, and output results."""
    args = get_args()
    expressions = get_csv(args.sample_files)

    if args.gene_labels:
        gene_labels = set(args.gene_labels).intersection(expressions.index)
        expressions = expressions.loc[gene_labels]

    result = get_pca(expressions, args.components, args.gene_labels)
    save_pca(result, args.sample_ids, args.output_fn)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


COMMENT | So Pakatan Harapan prime minister-designate Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that because rural Malay constituencies are given disproportionate weightage, a Malay-based party – Bersatu – is needed because the multiracial approach of the opposition has thus far failed.
Okay, fine. What I want to know is if Harapan comes into power, will this issue be resolved, and will we no longer have to be at the mercy of rural Malay voters and hence race-based politics? People say that poor folk are ignorant or uninformed about what Umno is doing, and thus the magic bullet of enlightenment if Harapan wins will start the long, slow process of building a more equitable Malaysia. This, of course, discounts the reality that Malay-based hegemons need the same demographic (just the way they are) to remain in power, and so do their non-Malay component parties.
But hang on. I know many poor, ill-informed non-Malays, and they understand that they are being screwed by the economic and social policies of this government. They understand that their children are at a disadvantage when it comes to the system but have thrived nonetheless. I mean, how long does it take for the Malays to catch up? How long does it take Malays to achieve "parity" with the other races? The former prime minister seems to think that economic divisions between rich and poor along ethnic lines will destabilise the country. But here's the thing, the rich/poor divide in majority communities usually start with the rich demonising minorities; when this ends, the majority implodes.
Hence the Umnoputras demonise the Chinese community (maybe throw in a little Indian hate for the sake of completeness), and when the dust settles, the Malay polity implodes with the coronation of extreme Islamism to rectify the so-called inequalities of the system, which usually means a new class of theocratic potentates to replace the plutocrats of Umno. Honestly, this idea that rural voters are poor and ignorant, keeping Umno in power, is the political canard that will spell our doom. Well, okay, they may be economically disadvantaged – is that the politically correct term? – but maybe they do not give a crap about the corruption for cultural or religious reasons.
I mean, all this talk about God punishing wrongdoers while still voting for those wrongdoers should tell you something. Maybe they also vote for self-preservation, or out of spite, because they see non-Malay communities who do not have the same privileges as them, but are somehow in a better position. It does not matter who taught them to hate, what matters is that nobody wants to stop reinforcing this dogma.
They have political leaders bending over backwards, handing out short-term benefits for the long con. They have institutions telling them theirs is a superior religion, thus making them a superior people. They have agencies, institutions, universities, and myriad other publicly-funded organisations all geared to facilitate their well-being and act as a conduit into the economic sphere. Furthermore, they know – and this is the scary part – that social and economic mobility are gained by advancing in a corrupt bureaucracy which privileges their ethnicity.
Do you think that anyone would give this up? Do you think that it is the interests of Malay political hegemons to foster independence from a system that needs the disproportionate weightage of the votes these people provide? What is that old saying - there are no victims, only volunteers.
So re-reading political risk analyst Manjit Bhatia's letter again, and paying particular attention to this – "So why should Umno's Malay demographic bite the hands that feed it? Why would that demographic even hold the Umno Leninist state to account?" – perhaps I answered the question too cavalierly, too optimistically. It deserves a better response but unfortunately, I neither have the intellectual capabilities nor the spiritual acuity to craft a reply.
I wonder why non-Malays bother voting when it comes to this rigged game. Sure, we may be able to influence the urban centres, but it is not as if the political leadership of the opposition is willing to change the system. Check that. Or that they will be allowed to change the system.
The common refrain is that it takes time. No, it does not. The government is always acting unilaterally to change things. This is how the system is set up. The reality is that it benefits the community and its leadership to keep this system in place. This is why any Malay who deviates from the prepared ethno-nationalist and religious script is demonised. They are not only demonised by the Umno establishment, they are rejected by the oppositional powerbrokers, who essentially want the same game because it is the surest root to power.
So maybe it is time to forget this nonsense that this country will ever be one where its citizens are equal before the law. Maybe it is time to forget about the opposition raging against this 'ketuanan' horse manure, because the reality is that the non-Malay community has never needed the government, and in fact some have thrived in an ecosystem of systemic inequalities and religious interference.
That's the old formula, right? Expressed in such ideologically-loaded statements like "The non-Malays – Chinese – have the private sector, while the Malays have the public sector." Each of us in our little boxes, like the ones we check to inform the state which race and religion we identify with. Is there some clarity in thinking this way? Is there merit in believing this pragmatism trumps the kleptocracy of the state? Pragmatism in knowing, but not saying, that it is in nobody's interest to change the system, but instead replacing the powerbrokers in the hopes of maintaining some kind of social and political equilibrium?
Some Malaysiakini readers have emailed me and expressed simpatico with my disappointment with the opposition. I had to tell them that I got everything I wanted from the opposition. I wanted the opposition to stop waffling and name the old maverick their prime minister. I wanted the opposition to stop negotiating with PAS. I wanted the opposition to pay attention to the Indian vote. Yup, it's all there.
Anything to "win" a two-party system, which people like Kua Kia Soong, the good folks at Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), the UndiRosak kids, and numerous truly independent political outliers remind us that it means squat if there is no commitment to anything that would separate the ruling coalition from the one that replaces it.
I watched a BBC HardTalk episode where Stephen Sackur interviewed the writer Mohsin Hamid, and when pressed why he was still optimistic, he said (and I am paraphrasing here) that societies change because of the younger generation. When old men die, so do their ideas that have held sway for far too long. I sincerely hope this happens in Malaysia.
When it comes to our political system – and make no mistake, this system is 'ketuanan Melayu' – there are no victims, only volunteers.