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"My only chance of actually winning is the race is if the Democratic nominee drops dead, but then there's a possibility I'll still lose because there's a demographic of dead voters out there that still may vote him in," Wander joked.
Wander believes the scandal involving the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is the tip of an iceberg. He's running to send a message about "the corruption we're seeing in the city, which I think is the direct result of a century of single-party rule."
Wander wants to take on Pittsburgh's decades of population loss, saying, "People do not want to be in the city because the school system here sucks, so people move out of the city. Unfortunately, that's just the way it is."
The Republican candidate said other problems are also driving people away from Pittsburgh.
"Taxes are just absurd here. The taxes are just through the roof. Why would somebody want to live in a place like this? That charges you so much more than living anywhere else around us?" Wander said.
Wander said Pittsburgh is also scaring away businesses with things like the ban on gas drilling within the city limits.
"They never wanted to drill in the city in the first place. All that did was scare away Marcellus Shale and all that wealth that we could have brought into the city through location of offices," he said.
Wander holds dual citizenship and served in the Israeli army. He appeared in a 2012 WTAE story on the "Prepper" movement, showing how he stockpiles survival supplies in his home and raised chickens in his yard.
"Chickens we don't have anymore. That's because the city decided that we're not allowed to have chickens," said Wander.
In 2003, he got national attention for his website urging the U.S. to return the Statue of Liberty to France, because of French opposition to the war in Iraq. He now says "it was actually a joke, a practical joke that was very, very successful."
Wander's ability to draw media attention will be a talent he'll draw on as an underdog in the fall race for mayor of Pittsburgh.
Copyright 2013 byWTAE.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Forty years ago, one of the greatest boxing matches in history took place in an unlikely setting: the capital of the Philippines. Muhammad Ali's epic win over great rival Joe Frazier in 1975 became known as the "Thrilla in Manila." | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Two Entry Proofs for this Experiment make up the last Experimental Collection Release for 2015
FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Sept. 22, 2015) Buffalo Trace Distillery has returned to its roots with the latest release in their long-running experimental whiskey program, a bourbon made using an old-fashioned process of souring the mash. Distilled in May of 2002, this Old Fashioned Sour Mash experiment used Buffalo Trace’s proprietary mash. The bourbon was cooked and cooled to standard; however, the similarities stop there. The mash was allowed “to sour” before yeast was added to start the fermentation process, a method long abandoned due to its more laborious process.
This sour mash method differs from the more common process used today by nearly all bourbon manufacturers. The routine method calls for cooking and cooling the mash, and then immediately adding yeast and a small amount of previously distilled mash (or “setback”) as it cools to sour the mash. The traditional old-fashioned sour mash process fell out of favor many years ago, and it was not until a gathering of distillery “old timers” that Buffalo Trace was inspired to revive it.
After the sour mash was distilled, it was entered into barrels at two different entry proofs, 105 and 125. Aged for 13 years on the seventh floor of Warehouse I, the two different entry proofs took on unique characteristics. The 105 entry proof delivers a light body, with notes of vanilla and fruit, and a dry, nice finish, while the 125 entry proof offers a medium flavored body, with spicy flavors mingled with caramel, and a balanced pleasing finish.
These barrels are part of more than 4,000 experimental barrels of whiskey aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each of them has unique characteristics that differentiate them in distinct ways. Some examples of experiments include unique mash bills, types of wood, and different barrel toasts. In order to further increase the scope, flexibility, and range of the experimental program, an entire micro distillery, named The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “OFC” Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks, and a state-of-the-art micro still has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery. Buffalo Trace has increased its commitment to experimentation with the recent addition of its Warehouse X. Although small in size, Warehouse X is designed to explore the extent of environmental influences on the flavor profiles of whiskey.
The Experimental Collection is packaged in 375ml bottles, with two bottles from each entry proof in a case. Both entry proofs were bottled at 90 proof. Each label includes all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys retail for approximately $46.35 each and will be available in late September, 2015. Experimental Collection releases are generally quite small and have limited availability. For more information on the Experimental Collection or the other products of Buffalo Trace Distillery, please contact Elizabeth Hurst at [email protected].
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as being listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015. Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visitwww.buffalotracemediakit.com | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
* Todd McShay. ESPN: DT B.J. Raji, Boston College
Comment: The Seahawks taking an offensive tackle is a strong possibility here, especially with their recent addition of free-agent DT Colin Cole. However, Raji is the only elite defensive tackle in this class, and the Seahawks, who finished 30th in total defense this past season, must think long and hard before passing on him.
Top three: Stafford, J. Smith, Curry
* Rob Rang, NFLDraftScout.com: WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
Comment: In addressing the receiving corps, defensive line and offensive tackle positions via free agency, general manager Tim Ruskell has put the Seahawks in position to take the best available player rather than be forced to fill a need. The Seahawks can afford to give Crabtree the year or two it typically takes young receivers to acclimate to the NFL due to the immediate impact T.J. Houshmandzadeh is expected to provide.
Top three: Stafford, J. Smith, Curry
* Clark Judge, CBSSports.com: Crabtree
Comment: I don’t care that the Seahawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh. He’s not the playmaker this guy is. Plus, he turns 32 this year. It’s about time Matt Hasselbeck had some weapons.
Top three: Stafford, J. Smith, Curry
* Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: Raji
Comment: Even though they signed Colin Cole, they still need help inside. Raji can be a force against the run.
Top three: Stafford, J. Smith, Curry
* Don Banks, SI.com: Raji
Comment: This is how free agency and the draft are supposed to work in tandem. The Seahawks signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh this month, so they don’t have to take Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree any more. And they added ex-Packers defensive tackle Colin Cole to replace the departed Rocky Bernard, so Raji isn’t a must-have either. But quality defensive tackles are always prized and much tougher to find than starting receivers.
Top three: J. Smith, OT Eugene Monroe, Curry
* Pat Kirwan, NFL.com: QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia
Comment: Time for the Seahawks to start thinking about their long-range future at quarterback. They would like an offensive tackle here, but if Stafford falls to this spot, that will change their plans.
Top three: J. Smith, Monroe, LB Brian Orakpo | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Biological and environmental drivers of energy allocation in a dependent mammal, the Antarctic fur seal pup.
Little is known about how variation in the pattern and magnitude of parental effort influences allocation decisions in offspring. We determined the energy budget of Antarctic fur seal pups and examined the relative importance of timing of provisioning, pup traits (mass, condition, sex), and weather (wind chill and solar radiation) on allocation of energy obtained in milk by measuring milk energy intake, field metabolic rate (FMR), and growth rate in 48 Antarctic fur seal pups over three developmental stages (perinatal, premolt, and molt). The relative amount of milk energy used for growth was 59.1% ± 8.1% during the perinatal period but decreased to 23.4% ± 15.5% and 26.0% ± 13.9% during the premolt and molt. This decrease was associated with a greater amount of time spent fasting, along with an increase in pup activity while the mother was at sea foraging. Average daily milk intake, pup mass, and condition were all important in determining how much energy was available for growth, but the amount of energy obtained as milk was the single most important factor determining pup growth. While mean mass-specific FMR did not change with developmental stage (range = 1.74-1.77 mL O(2)/g/h), the factors that accounted for variation in FMR did. Weather (wind chill and solar radiation) and pup traits (mass and condition) influenced mass-specific FMR, but these impacts varied across development. This study provides information about the factors influencing how offspring allocate energy toward growth and maintenance and improves our predictions about how a changing environment may affect energy allocation in pups. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Get simple string from JSONObject
I'm new to Java. Geting simple answer from server
{"response":"ok"}
I can successfully output answer from above in virtual device in Android Studio 3 with:
try {
...
String finalJson = buffer.toString();
return finalJson;
}catch...
Now I want to display only ok from server response.
As I understood from How to parse JSON in Android, I need to write in try this:
JSONObject jObject = new JSONObject(finalJson);
String aJsonString = jObject.getString("response");
return aJsonString;
But getting
error: unreported exception JSONException; must be caught or declared to be thrown
I even tried this Getting String Value from Json Object Android to be sure that this is not array.
A:
Your error
error: unreported exception JSONException; must be caught or declared
to be thrown
means that you have a non catched JSON Exception. You should catch JSONException in your catch block
try {
return buffer.toString();
} catch (JSONException exception) {
Log.d("JSONException", "Json exception catched :".concat(exception.getMessage()));
} finally {
return "Json error";
}
or either throws your exception to your method :
public String methodName(Buffer buffer) throws JSONException(){
return buffer.toString();
}
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
WASHINGTON — A high school teacher who was removed from her position as adviser to the student newspaper last May, has filed suit against the Stanwood School District, the superintendent and the school principal.Val Schroeder was removed from her duties teaching journalism and yearbook and from her position as adviser to the student newspaper at the beginning of the 1996-97 school year, according to Fern Valentine of the Washington Journalism Education Association.Schroeder claims in her suit that she lost her position as adviser to the Spartan Spectrum because of how administrators treated her after one of her students wrote a story in the paper about bestiality. The suit claims that Schroeder was removed from her position and reassigned in retaliation for allowing the article to be published.The school district’s superintendent, Raymond Reid, filed a written complaint with the state superintendent of public instruction in early 1996, reporting “certain misconducts.” He claims that Schroeder allowed the publication of an article whose subject matter was “inappropriate for high school-aged students.” The letter also directed the superintendent’s attention to school guidelines defining obscene material. The letter has not yet been addressed by the state superintendent, said Valentine.Although he would not comment on the specifics of Schroeder’s suit, Stanwood principal Gary Vegar said the case had “no merit.” He would not say whether the material in question was obscene, only that it was “inappropriate for high school-aged students.” “The real issue,” he said, “is whether or not students should be given total control over issues of taste.”Valentine disagreed.”They treated her completely unfairly” she said. Valentine added that when the superintendent called the story obscene, “they only quoted the part [in the school policy] about obscenity, and this clearly wasn’t obscene. But [administrators] ignored the part of the guidelines that say no prior restraint is allowed and that a teacher can’t be liable for what students write.” | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Typical Bride:
A bride with all types of jewellery whether it includes the hair accessories, make up bangles, earrings, etcetera. These type of brides give royal look like a typical queen in ancient times.
Punjabi Brides
Sober Brides:
Most of the Indian and Punjabi girls choose this type of look because it does not include a lot of jewellery or heavy dresses. It is chosen by the girls who like simplicity.
Punjabi Girls
Bride to be:
This look is worn by the girls a day before their marriage especially on their ladies sangeet, mehndi, or other types of Indian wedding celebrations.
Indian Brides
Indian Girls
Pure Punjaban Look:
These days, this look is mostly preferred by all the brides especially during their Anand Karaj after which their wear the lehnga or other modern wedding dresses on their reception or party.
Bridal Suits
Simple look: This look is worn by the girls a day before their marriage especially on their ladies sangeet, mehndi, or other types of Indian wedding celebrations.These days, this look is mostly preferred by all the brides especially during their Anand Karaj after which their wear the lehnga or other modern wedding dresses on their reception or party.
This look is also popular these days among girls who do not like heavy jewellery and dresses.
Brides of India
Modern Brides:
This type of look also consists of simplicity without any sort of heavy jewellery and heavy dresses. Girls generally prefer to wear modern or western dresses.
Beautiful Brides
Bridal Dresses
Hair Accessories For Brides
Brides of Sabyasachi
Wedding Dresses
Reception Dresses
Bridal Buns
Bridal Makeup
Beautiful Indian Brides
Beautiful Punjabi Brides
Bridal Photoshoot
Indian Bridal Makeup
Typical Punjabi Brides
Smiling Brides
Brides Images
Beautiful Brides Images
Brahmin Brides
Hot Brides
Wedding Dresses 2020
Wedding Dresses
Lehnga Wedding Dresses
This type of look also consists of simplicity without any sort of heavy jewellery and heavy dresses. Girls generally prefer to wear modern or western dresses.
Wedding Day - Dream of every girl. Each and every girl in this world wants to look like angels on their special day - Wedding. So, here we are sharing some pictures and wallpapers related to the various types of brides. If you are going to be a bride soon, this will be very helpful for you. Go through this whole blog for your wonderful experience. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
How can I create a nonnegative integer regular expression?
I want to compile a Pattern that matches nonnegative integers. It should look for a sequence of one or more consecutive digits that is not preceded by another digit or a negative sign. I have been able to compile the following:
Pattern digit = Pattern.compile("\\d"); //looks for single digits
But suppose I declare the following:
String a = "90 210";
String b = "-90 210";
String c = "z90p210";
String d = "pz-90210";
digit would match "9", "0", "2", "1", and "0" in all four of these. I'm interested in a Pattern that would match "90" and "210" in a, "210" in b, "90" and "210" in c, and would not match anything in d.
Is there a way to disregard sequences of digits preceded by a negative sign or another digit?
A:
You can use a negative lookbehind assertion: (?<!...) (not preceded by)
Pattern digit = Pattern.compile("(?<![\\d-])\\d+");
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Associations Between Asthma and Sensitization to Pet or Pollen Allergens in Young Swedish Twins - The STOPPA Study.
An association between childhood asthma and IgE sensitization has been established, but our understanding of the genetic and environmental contribution to it is incomplete. Our aim was to estimate the associations and dose-response relationship between asthma and sensitization to airborne allergens in Swedish 9- to 14-year-old twins. Additionally, we aimed to explore the importance of familial confounding from shared genes and environment using co-twin controls. In the STOPPA cohort, 752 same-sex twin children were screened with Phadiatop® (Thermo Fisher Scientific; Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden); if positive further analysis of IgE antibodies to airborne allergens of pets (cat, horse, dog), pollens (birch, timothy, mugwort), mites, and mold were performed. The associations between asthma and airborne allergens were assessed with generalized estimating equations. The co-twin control analysis was performed by conditional logistic regression. Children with positive Phadiatop® had more than doubled odds of asthma (OR 2.53, 95% CI [1.74, 3.70]). Sensitization to pet allergens was associated with increased odds of asthma; for example, cat OR 4.15 (95% CI [2.67, 6.45]), with similar estimates for pollens; for example, birch OR 3.22 (95% CI [2.12, 4.91]). Associations persisted with sensitization as a categorical variable and for trend, indicating a dose-response relationship. Results remained in the co-twin analyses; for example, cat OR 4.75 (95% CI [1.62, 14.0]) and birch OR 5.00 (95% CI [1.45, 17.3]). The association between childhood asthma and sensitization to airborne allergens remains in co-twin analyses, indicating they are not due to confounding from shared environmental or genetic factors. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Antiriad2097 wrote:Might I suggest getting in touch with WorldofSpectrum.org and asking there who deals with the distribution issues?
They have the Spectrum version so they should have had the necessary permissions granted.
As far as I know, WOS doesn't have explicit permission to host the original Spectrum version. WOS policy is to try to contact copyright holders to obtain permission, but in the meantime to host files until permission to do so is explicitly denied.
Antiriad2097 wrote:Might I suggest getting in touch with WorldofSpectrum.org and asking there who deals with the distribution issues?
They have the Spectrum version so they should have had the necessary permissions granted.
As far as I know, WOS doesn't have explicit permission to host the original Spectrum version. WOS policy is to try to contact copyright holders to obtain permission, but in the meantime to host files until permission to do so is explicitly denied.
Sounds about right. If Chema released his Oric version without permission I doubt there would be any comeback from either the author or the copyright holder. I doubt they would even realise it existed, after all the C64 and Spectrum version can be downloaded from various sites on the net, and there is the Class of 99 Remake.
Chema wrote:Not sure guys. I may email them again asking for a somewhat definite decision (in their only email they just expressed their concerns). It's been a while now...
If they say "no", then I might consider other options, or maybe live with the fact that SD cannot be released. And surely reconsidering making any other remake...
Any advice?
No, don't ask them again. They never
going to say an explicit "yes". Actually
this is the best answer you could get
from a profit-based company. I think
their answer can be interpreted as "We
are going to tolerate you as long as
we feel you don't threaten our profits
and you don't have a profit from
this."
So I would suggest to go ahead and
publish, providing at the same time an
indirect but vociferous advertisement to
Alternative Software by presenting
them as a sponsor and by including a
link to their site. Then email them and
let them know you are grateful for their
"conditional/temporary permission"
and that you are going to shutdown
your Skool Daze page any time AS
wishes.
Perhaps we should just go ahead, make the web-page with some big copyright "them" messages, with link/adds for the iPhone game?
And emailing them (again) saying so, I guess... Maybe it is the way to go. I have taken a look at World of Spectrum, and their policy seems to be this. If they don't get a no no, they go ahead. And AS has not said anything about them having the original tape image...
If you have no problems Dbug, we can do this. Gimme some days (I am having quite a bit of stress at work).
Just an update on the situation, so this thread does not die in boredom
As you may know in their last email, AS asked me if I could somehow restrict the game to the Oric community only. I replied that we could make it available only through a website where you need to be registered for downloading, such as oric.org.
This was in the mid december, and I got no more input from them, so I think it could be safe if we do so.
Anyway I was preparing a wav file with a small custom loader for those wanting to play in their real machines (which is another way of limiting the users to the community) and we strumbled upon a problem for loading the wavs produced by tap2cd into Orics with the 1.1a roms (like mine), which prevented the game from autostarting once loaded.
Fabrice is taking a look at it, and it would be nice to see this fixed before a release.
The problem with tap2cd seems to be tougher than expected. Fabrice Frances is taking a look and changed a bit the way the encoded bits are read from within the Atmos, but I am still getting errors.
At least I think he is on the good trail, and I hope to have a new tap2cd soon with some enhancements you'd surely like. Anyway this is not for this forum, so onto Skool Daze.
As soon as those problems are solved I want to alter tap2cd a bit to generate a custom turbo loader for Skool Daze on Atmos. I've done a few tests and that shouldn't be difficult to do, but don't expect anything impressive. I want to make the title screen load first and that is all.
I planned to wait for releasing Skool Daze until I have that working. As I had no response from the people from Alternative Software, I think the option of uploading it to oric.org is OK (with a link in the skooldaze page in this site, of course).
Dbug, could it be possible to make that only people registered here could download the files? That way we could have a copy here.
As many people have asked about this, I think it would be nice to explain a bit more in depth how the AIC mode works. It is a bit pretentious on my part, as the one who invented it and who is really capable of doing really nice things is Twilighte, but anyway, just see this as an attempt to explain what I did. Twi, please correct, ammend, extend whatever you want.
Let's start with the initial b&w image such as this:
initial.png (2.28 KiB) Viewed 9745 times
In AIC mode the trick is using Alternate colors in odd/even scans. The simplest approach is using just two colors (like cyan and yellow). This attributes are placed at the first column and then you forget about attributes. We will use the inverse bit (which affects just one byte, and does not require to leave empty -protected- bytes) to produce red and blue. First just set those. The result is:
hidealt1.png (4.4 KiB) Viewed 9745 times
Not very exciting, but we can do things with this. See the dotted background on the Headmaster's office and the Staff room? Well, we can just put the dotted patterns on alternate scans, either even or odd, to have a blue-ish or a yellowish room. This is the Headmaster's room with blue-ish walls.
blueroom.png (1.81 KiB) Viewed 9745 times
But that is not all, of course. Let's use the inverse bit a bit Remember that, when set, the inverse will affect both paper and ink, so our black pixels will turn white and the ink will turn either blue or red. Let's see this in the next post (cannot attach more than three images). | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Duo Residences Facilities
At Level 2 - Upper Deck
At Level 3 - The Green Enclaves
Be surrounded by the tranquillity of themed gardens that charm with lush sensory experiences.
Garden of Lamps
Water Court
Garden of Chimes
At Level 20 - The Inner Space
Find the liberty to express your creativity and reconnect with your favorite interests and pastimes.
Teacup Terrace
Seating Terrace
Contemplation Terrace
Card/Games Terrace
Swing Terrace
Hobby Terrace
At Level 31 - The Peak
Sky Pool
Kid’s Pool
Jacuzzis
Gym Lounge
Dance Deck
Multi-Purpose Room
Lounge Deck
Landscaped Terrace
Pool Deck
Family Jacuzzi
Spa Cabana
Aqua Gym
Gymnasium
Outdoor Fitness Corner
Practice Deck
Dining Lounges
Duo Residences - Embrace exclusive living in the heart of the city
The city has a new capital and it is redefining Singapore’s striking skyline. Welcome to DUO, an extraordinary integrated development that features two landmark towers rising from the arts, cultural and educational precinct of the Bugis district. With premium residences, Grade A offices, a 5-star hotel and retail gallery, DUO is more than the sum of its parts – it will revitalise the way you live, play and work.
Rising above all in a new iconic 49-storey residential tower in the heart of Bugis and the CBD, a spectacular panorama of the dazzling Singapore city skyline, modern Marina Bay and sparkling sea beckons at DUO Residences.
Come home to a world of possibilities with a choice of studio, 1- to 4-bedroom premium residences and penthouse units—complemented by hotel services. With a host of thoughtful facilities designed to optimise contemplation and recreation, the good life awaits your everyday enjoyment. Exclusive residents’ entrance and secured lift lobbies enhance residents’ privacy.
Be here and everywhere else
Be a sassy neighbour to Bugis Junction, a vibrant retail mall. Live minutes from Orchard Road, the Central Business District and Marina Bay. Enjoy easy accessibility to Changi Airport via the East Coast Parkway. With a direct underground connection to Bugis MRT Station, served by the East-West line and the Downtown line, home is a place that is always close to everything.
When quality time is such a priceless commodity, you shouldn’t have to go far to enjoy it. At DUO Residences, you can discover meaningful spaces for your private indulgence as well as bonding moments with family and friends.
With a host of thoughtful facilities designed to optimise contemplation and recreation, the good life awaits your everyday enjoyment. At DUO Residences, be surrounded by the tranquility of themed gardens and discover meaningful spaces for your private indulgence such as our 50-meter lap pool, wellness facilities and recreational lounges
Confidently modern yet quietly elegant, DUO Residences is the quintessence of luxury living. Return home to a world of possibilities with a wide choice of studio, 1- to 4-bedroom apartment and penthouse units. With every space a discovery, you will love to make it your own.
Duo Residences Location
Diagonally across from Bugis Junction and Bugis, DUO Residences is conveniently connected to a vibrant retail hub where unique shopping experiences await. Sidewalk cafes and alfresco eateries line the nearby streets at Haji Lane and Arab Street, alongside an eclectic array of stores. For those with a passion for the arts, the Singapore Art Museum is a short walk away at Bras Basah, and two of the nation’s largest art schools - LASALLE College of the Arts and School of the Arts – can be found in the area. The Singapore Management University and The National Library round off the confluence of educational facilities in the area.
Duo Residences Floorplans
Click on each floor plan to see enlarged version (on desktop version only). | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Chromosomal assignments of three random RFLP loci defined by base-pair changes in MspI sites.
Three cloned single copy sequences isolated from a random partial plasmid library of human EcoRI-HindIII restriction fragments detect MspI site polymorphisms in human DNA. Since at least two of them have allele frequencies that make them suitable for family linkage studies, we have determined their chromosomal localizations. DNA samples extracted from a panel of 31 Chinese hamster x human somatic cell hybrids, that were derived from six different human donors, were analyzed for the presence of human EcoRI or HindIII fragments hybridizing with the three probes. The results were correlated with the human chromosome contents of the hybrids. Concordancy was observed for clone pMS 1-14 (preliminary locus designation DOSLC3) and human chromosome 15, for clone pMS 1-27 (DOSLC2) and chromosome 20, and for clone pMS 1-37 (DOSLC1) and chromosome 3. Two independent hybrids had retained only the long arm of chromosome 3 and did not hybridize with this probe. Therefore, we assign this locus (now termed D3S3) to the short arm of chromosome 3. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of repairing electrode pattern defects, and more particularly, to a method of repairing electrode pattern defects with a conductive paste and a laser beam.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As the requirements and applications of flat panel displays grow, the plasma display panel (PDP) gains more and more potential because of its small size, large display area, and wide view angle.
The plasma display panel substantially comprises a front substrate, a back substrate, a discharge gas filled between the front substrate and the back substrate for generating ultraviolet lights, and a plurality of parallel sustain electrodes positioned on the surface of the front substrate for discharging electricity. The front substrate further comprises a plurality of bus electrodes respectively connected to each sustain electrode. The back substrate further comprises a plurality of address electrodes vertical to the sustain electrodes, a plurality of ribs parallel to the address electrodes, and a fluorescent layer coated on the address electrodes and the ribs. Each two neighboring ribs and two corresponding sustain electrodes thereon form a discharge cell for generating lights.
Generally speaking, the plasma display panel includes hundred thousands of discharge cells, and each discharge cell is hundreds of micrometers in length. While an initial voltage is applied to the sustain electrodes, the discharge gas located between the front substrate and the back substrate will be discharged to generate ultraviolet lights. Then while the ultraviolet light irradiates different fluorescent layers, the discharge cells will generate red, green, or blue light for displaying different colors.
It is evident that the sustain electrodes are critical to the plasma display panel. The plasma display panel will function well only when the sustain electrodes discharge normally. However, the sustain electrode defects occur from time to time during the manufacturing process. In addition, a high initial voltage of the sustain electrode would increase the operational temperature of the plasma panel display. Therefore more and more electrode pattern designs are proposed to reduce the initial voltage of the sustain electrode. As the complexity of the electrode pattern increases, electrode pattern defects will occur more easily than before.
Take the sustain electrode for example. While forming the sustain electrode, a transparent conductive layer, such as ITO or IZO, is first formed on the surface of the front substrate by a sputtering process, then the electrode pattern is defined by a photo-etching process. Since the complexity of the electrode increases as the critical dimension decreases, the electrode pattern defects will easily occur due to particles or scratches of the photo mask.
The electrode pattern defects would affect the discharge efficiency, and further deteriorate the display quality of the plasma display panel. However, since a related solution regarding this problem does not exist, most manufacturers adopt looser standards in order to increase throughput. Even so, the throughput of plasma display panel is not high enough. Therefore, how to solve the electrode pattern defects is a major topic for study. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Ozias Bvute
Ozias Bvute is the managing director and chief executive of Zimbabwe Cricket.
He replaced Vincent Hogg as chief executive in 2005. Hogg’s departure came against the background of the player standoffs, with the senior and mostly white players taking the board to task over issues of administration.
Joining the organization at a tumultuous time, Bvute’s overriding mandate would be to integrate cricket into a truly national sport. He was Chairman of the Integration Task Force that was set up in 2001 to develop a comprehensive plan that ensures full and equitable nationwide integration of Zimbabwean cricket in the shortest possible time with the least possible reduction in individual and team performance.
Many of the measures taken by the integration committee were misunderstood to be the introduction of a quota system and culminated in 15 players resigning from the national team saying that the selection process was unfair.
Despite this disruption, under Bvute, Zimbabwe continued to field a national team and fulfill its International Cricket Council obligations as one of the 10 full members of the organization.
In 2006, together with Peter Chingoka, the Chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, Bvute lobbied for the voluntary temporary withdrawal of Zimbabwe from playing Test cricket. Until such a time as the senior players had gained enough experience in playing the longer version, the senior men's team would concentrate on fulfilling its ODI obligations under the ICC Future Tours Programme.
Today, Bvute is spearheading the implementation of franchise cricket in Zimbabwe.
External links
Iafrica Article
Cricinfo Biography: Ozias Bvute
Category:Zimbabwean cricket administrators
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people) | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
[A clinical analysis of children with invasive pulmonary fungal infections after biliary atresia surgery].
To investigate the clinical features of invasive pulmonary fungal infections (IPFIs) after biliary atresia (BA) surgery and related risk factors. A retrospective analysis was performed for the clinical data of 49 children with IPFIs after BA surgery, including clinical features, lung imaging findings, and pathogenic features. The risk factors for IPFIs after BA surgery were also analyzed. The most common pathogens of IPFIs after BA surgery was Candida albicans (17 strains, 45%), followed by Candida tropicalis (7 strains, 18%), Aspergillus (6 strains, 16%), Candida krusei (3 strains, 8%), Candida glabrata (3 strains, 8%), and Candida parapsilosis (2 strains, 5%). Major clinical manifestations included pyrexia, cough, and shortness of breath, as well as dyspnea in severe cases; the incidence rate of shortness of breath reached 78%, and 35% of all children had no obvious rale. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age at the time of surgery, time of glucocorticoid application, cumulative time of the application of broad-spectrum antibiotics, and recurrent cholangitis were major risk factors for IPFIs after BA surgery. The three most common pathogens of IPFIs after BA surgery are Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Aspergillus. It is important to perform surgery as early as possible, avoid recurrent cholangitis, and shorten the course of the treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics and glucocorticoids for decreasing the risk of IPFIs. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
First 5 Minutes and 5 Clips from Blood: The Last Vampire
The first five minutes and five clips from Chris Nahon’s live-action adaptation of the popular horror anime “Blood: The Last Vampire” for ya this Wednesday. The first five minutes and a couple of the clips are pretty bloody, especially the alley fight where Saya takes on a gang of vampires in the rain. The rest are tame, and the “Something Wrong” clip is already shown in the first five minutes clip, so feel free to skip it. One thing is very noticeable, though: the film’s dialogue is pretty clunky, and I’m not just talking about Gianna Jun’s English, either. You get this feeling the whole movie is supposed to be in another language, but someone forced the filmmakers to go the English route, and it kind of shows.
A vampire named Saya, who is part of covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in a post-WWII Japan, is inserted in a military school to discover which one of her classmates is a demon is disguise. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
How do I select max value from a table, based on unique value on joined tables?
I have three tables. All follow the CRUD-pattern for inserts and updates. I need to make a query qhich selects all latest updates in one table, based on unique values of another table, twice removed through joins: (I have left out the CRUD structure on two of the tables in the example)
table COPY_HISTORY
COPY_ID | DATA_ID | STATUS | TIME |
1 | A | open | 10:34 |
1 | A | locked | 10:37 |
2 | A | open | 10:38 |
3 | B | open | 11:29 |
4 | C | open | 10:37 |
5 | D | locked | 09:34 |
table DATA_SET
DATA_ID | LOCATION |
A | 88 |
B | 77 |
C | 88 |
D | 99 |
E | 88 |
F | 88 |
table COPY_RULES
LOCATION_FROM | LOCATION_TO
55 | 110
66 | 120
77 | 120
88 | 130
99 | 130
What I need to do, is get the status for each LOCATION_TO from the copy rules table. If a copy is executed, it will be registered in copy history, and a copy will always overwrite all data at a location (110,120,130).
In this case, location 110 has never had a copy happen, and 110 should not be included in the returned data at all. Even though it exists in the rules, that is not relevant. 120 will receive copies from data sets on 66 and 77. However, we have no data set on 66 yet, so only 77 is relevant. B is located at 77, and data set B had a copy history registration inserted at 11:29, with the status open. Since this is the only status belonging to 120, status is open for 120, and overwrite will be possible for location 120.
Location 130 however, receive copies from both 88 and 99. This means that data sets A, C, D, E and F all will copy into 130, as they are all located in 88 or 99. We have two copy history logs for A, and one each for C and D. Meaning I want the status of only the newest registration, in this case, 10:38.
Now, I have tried to select the maximum value from COPY_HISTORY, based on the LOCATION_TO, but I am at an impasse getting the LOCATION_TO to be unique
I try:
SELECT cr.LOCATION_TO, ch.STATUS, ch.TIME FROM COPY_HISTORY ch
JOIN DATA_SET ds ON ch.DATA_ID = ds.DATA_ID
JOIN COPY_RULES cr ON cr.LOCATION_FROM = ds.LOCATION
WHERE ch.TIME = (SELECT MAX(TIME) FROM COPY_HISTORY
WHERE COPY_ID = ch.COPY_ID
AND ch.DATA_ID = ds.DATA_ID
AND ds.LOCATION = cr.LOCATION_FROM)
That select max time statement is incomplete. The two AND-lines does nothing at all. The only thing I can accomplish, is getting rid of the first line in COPY_HISTORY, meaning I can get all max times for each COPY_ID, but I can not figure out how to filter them to get only the maximum for each LOCATION_TO instead.
I managed to get the max value from one single LOCATION_TO, by doing this:
SELECT cr.LOCATION_TO, ch.STATUS, ch.TIME FROM COPY_HISTORY ch
JOIN DATA_SET ds ON ch.DATA_ID = ds.DATA_ID
JOIN COPY_RULES cr ON cr.LOCATION_FROM = ds.LOCATION
WHERE ch.TIME = (SELECT MAX(TIME) FROM COPY_HISTORY ch2, DATA_SET ds2, COPY_RULES cs2
WHERE ch2.DATA_ID = ds2.DATA_ID
AND ds2.LOCATION = cr2.LOCATION_FROM
AND cr2.LOCATION_TO = 2180)
However, this does not solve my issue of getting the list of statuses for all LOCATION_TO.
DESIRED OUTPUT:
LOCATION_TO | STATUS | TIME |
120 | open | 11:29 |
130 | open | 10:38 |
Valid rows in COPY_HISTORY would be line 3 and line 4
This is an attempt at an extreme simplification of the actual database structure, so there are risks of typos in this question.
DDL
create table #COPY_HISTORY (COPY_ID int, DATA_ID char(1), [STATUS] varchar(16), [TIME] time)
create table #DATA_SET (DATA_ID char(1), [LOCATION] int)
create table #COPY_RULES (LOCATION_FROM int, LOCATION_TO int)
insert into #COPY_HISTORY
values
(1,'A','open','10:34'),
(1,'A','locked','10:37'),
(2,'A','open','10:38'),
(3,'B','open','11:29'),
(4,'C','open','10:37'),
(5,'D','locked','09:34')
insert into #DATA_SET
values
('A',88),
('B',77),
('C',88),
('D',99),
('E',88),
('F',88)
insert into #COPY_RULES
values
(55,110),
(66,120),
(77,120),
(88,130),
(99,130)
A:
I think this query will work for you. As Ryan mentioned in the comments, you can use the ROW_NUMBER analytical function to rank your location records (PARTITION BY) by the time (ORDER BY), then only return the first row for each location (RowOrder = 1).
SELECT * FROM (
SELECT cr.LOCATION_TO, ch.STATUS, ch.TIME, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY cr.LOCATION_TO ORDER BY ch.TIME desc) AS RowOrder
FROM #COPY_HISTORY ch
JOIN #DATA_SET ds ON ch.DATA_ID = ds.DATA_ID
JOIN #COPY_RULES cr ON cr.LOCATION_FROM = ds.LOCATION
) ordered_set
WHERE RowOrder = 1
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Discuss all things Stags and Football League Two, and share stuff using our BBCodes.
Forum rulesPlease read the Posting Rules before participating.Posting on the forums is subject to adhering to these.Also, see the Guidelines for Posting. Moderators may sometimes tidy posts which do not follow these customs.
Goal E just edges it over Goal A - Due to Danny Rose's perseverance. Rose had no right to score from that position when the ball was lobbed forward.Special mention also to Hayden White for the goal against Lincoln - that was an extraordinary run and a perfect cross.Two very good examples of where determination and effort brought a goal out of nothing. Take note Messrs Angol & Hemmings!
Pearce and Rose were two players Evans originally thought were not good enough, they are quite clearly our best two players and without question the first two names on my teamsheet. Happily though, whilst Evans will never say so, he has realised he was wrong, which I guess is a sign of strength.
Pearce and Rose were two players Evans originally thought were not good enough, they are quite clearly our best two players and without question the first two names on my teamsheet. Happily though, whilst Evans will never say so, he has realised he was wrong, which I guess is a sign of strength.
My ears are ringing from the shrieks of pain at you typing that Rob!
I'd agree they are currently 2 of our best players, but Mirf is as good as Pearce imo. I'll be interested to see how they will compare in a few months IF some of the new signings start to show more of their worth. That said, i'd happily put Danny & Krys on the starting sheet every time, atm | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
JSON Syntax wrong php function?
I have a problem with parsing my JSon Data in an Android application. I use a PHP script to get the Data from mysql and put it in a JSON. The problem is I can print the result and I see all the items that are in my table people.
JSON data from database
but when the data is passed to the stringbuilder everything goes wrong. Afther parsing JSON's array say's that there is only one object in my Array?
I hope you can help me or give me some advice.
try{
HttpClient httpclient = new DefaultHttpClient();
HttpPost httppost = new HttpPost("http://10.0.1.10/getAllPeople.php");
//httppost.setEntity(new UrlEncodedFormEntity(nameValuePairs));
HttpResponse response = httpclient.execute(httppost);
HttpEntity entity = response.getEntity();
is = entity.getContent();
}catch(Exception e){
Log.e("log_tag", "Error in http connection"+e.toString());
}
//convert response to string
try{
BufferedReader reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(is,"iso-8859-1"),8);
sb = new StringBuilder();
sb.append(reader.readLine() + "\n");
String line="0";
while ((line = reader.readLine()) != null) {
sb.append(line + "\n");
}
is.close();
result=sb.toString();
}catch(Exception e){
Log.e("log_tag", "Error converting result "+e.toString());
}
//paring data
int id;
double Lat;
double Long;
String hulp = "";
v3 = (TextView) findViewById(R.id.tv3);
//v3.setText("Resultaat: " + result);
try{
jArray = new JSONArray(result);
for(int i=0;i<jArray.length();i++){
JSONObject json_data = jArray.getJSONObject(i);
id = json_data.getInt("id");
Long = json_data.getDouble("long");
Lat = json_data.getDouble("lat");
hulp = hulp + "\n" + "Long: " + Long + " Lat: " + Lat;
mob.add(new MobieleFlitsers(id,Long,Lat));
}
for(int i=0;i<mob.size();i++){
hulp = " " + mob.size();
}
v3.setText(hulp);
}
catch(JSONException e1){
Toast.makeText(getBaseContext(), "Geen locatie's gevonden" ,Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
} catch (ParseException e1) {
e1.printStackTrace();
}
I have added the PHP code because it stores the wrong JSON format.
$q=mysql_query("SELECT * FROM people");
//while($e=mysql_fetch_assoc($q))
//$output[]=$e;
//print(json_encode($output));
//mysql_close();
if (!$q) {
echo "Could not successfully run query ($sql) from DB: " . mysql_error();
exit;
}
if (mysql_num_rows($q) == 0) {
echo "No rows found, nothing to print so am exiting";
exit;
}
// While a row of data exists, put that row in $row as an associative array
// Note: If you're expecting just one row, no need to use a loop
// Note: If you put extract($row); inside the following loop, you'll
// then create $userid, $fullname, and $userstatus
while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($q)) {
$output[]=$row;
print(json_encode($output));
}
mysql_close();
}
}
?>
A:
to complete jakeclarkson answer , in your PHP this
while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($q)) {
$output[]=$row;
print(json_encode($output));
}
prints the entire json so far at each row, so basically, it print [1][1,2][1,2,3]... instead of only the last one. You simply need to extract your print after $output is complete:
while ($row = mysql_fetch_row($q)) {
$output[]=$row;
}
print(json_encode($output));
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
The first corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was isolated from ovine hypothalami and identified as a 41-amino acid peptide (Vale et al., Science 213:1394-1397, 1981). Subsequently, sequences of human and rat CRF were isolated and determined to be identical but different from ovine CRF in 7 of the 41 amino acid residues (Rivier et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80:4851, 1983; Shibahara et al., EMBO J. 2:775, 1983).
CRF has been found to produce profound alterations in endocrine, nervous and immune system function. CRF is believed to be the major physiological regulator of the basal and stress-release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (“ACTH”), β-endorphin, and other pro-opiomelanocortin (“POMC”)-derived peptides from the anterior pituitary (Vale et al., Science 213:1394-1397, 1981). Briefly, CRF is believed to initiate its biological effects by binding to a plasma membrane receptor which has been found to be distributed throughout the brain (DeSouza et al., Science 224:1449-1451, 1984), pituitary (DeSouza et al., Methods Enzymol. 124:560, 1986; Wynn et al., Biochem. Biophys. Res. Comm. 110:602-608, 1983), adrenals (Udelsman et al., Nature 319:147-150, 1986) and spleen (Webster, E. L., and E. B. DeSouza, Endocrinology 122:609-617, 1988). The CRF receptor is coupled to a GTP-binding protein (Perrin et al., Endocrinology 118:1171-1179, 1986) which mediates CRF-stimulated increase in intracellular production of cAMP (Bilezikjian, L. M., and W. W. Vale, Endocrinology 113:657-662, 1983). The receptor for CRF has now been cloned from rat (Perrin et al., Endo 133(6):3058-3061, 1993), and human brain (Chen et al., PNAS 90(19):8967-8971, 1993; Vita et al., FEBS 335(1):1-5, 1993). This receptor is a 415 amino acid protein comprising seven membrane spanning domains. A comparison of identity between rat and human sequences shows a high degree of homology (97%) at the amino acid level.
In addition to its role in stimulating the production of ACTH and POMC, CRF is also believed to coordinate many of the endocrine, autonomic, and behavioral responses to stress, and may be involved in the pathophysiology of affective disorders. Moreover, CRF is believed to be a key intermediary in communication between the immune, central nervous, endocrine and cardiovascular systems (Crofford et al., J. Clin. Invest. 90:2555-2564, 1992; Sapolsky et al., Science 238:522-524, 1987; Tilders et al., Regul. Peptides 5:77-84, 1982). Overall, CRF appears to be one of the pivotal central nervous system neurotransmitters and plays a crucial role in integrating the body's overall response to stress.
Administration of CRF directly to the brain elicits behavioral, physiological, and endocrine responses identical to those observed for an animal exposed to a stressful environment. For example, intracerebroventricular injection of CRF results in behavioral activation (Sutton et al., Nature 297:331, 1982), persistent activation of the electroencephalogram (Ehlers et al., Brain Res. 278:332, 1983), stimulation of the sympathoadrenomedullary pathway (Brown et al., Endocrinology 110:928, 1982), an increase of heart rate and blood pressure (Fisher et al., Endocrinology 110:2222, 1982), an increase in oxygen consumption (Brown et al., Life Sciences 30:207, 1982), alteration of gastrointestinal activity (Williams et al., Am. J. Physiol. 253:G582, 1987), suppression of food consumption (Levine et al., Neuropharmacology 22:337, 1983), modification of sexual behavior (Sirinathsinghji et al., Nature 305:232, 1983), and immune function compromise (Irwin et al., Am. J. Physiol. 255:R744, 1988). Furthermore, clinical data suggests that CRF may be hypersecreted in the brain in depression, anxiety-related disorders, and anorexia nervosa. (DeSouza, Ann. Reports in Med. Chem. 25:215-223, 1990). Accordingly, clinical data suggests that CRF receptor antagonists may represent novel antidepressant and/or anxiolytic drugs that may be useful in the treatment of the neuropsychiatric disorders manifesting hypersecretion of CRF.
The first CRF receptor antagonists were peptides (see, e.g., Rivier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,605,642; Rivier et al., Science 224:889, 1984). While these peptides established that CRF receptor antagonists can attenuate the pharmacological responses to CRF, peptide CRF receptor antagonists suffer from the usual drawbacks of peptide therapeutics including lack of stability and limited oral activity.
Published applications WO 98/43962, which discloses fused or spiro 6,5-bicyclic acid ammonio alkyl ester compounds as prodrugs for integrin receptor antagonists, and WO 97/23480, which discloses heterocyclyl-substituted indazole derivatives as vitronectin receptor antagonists, disclose compounds having a pyrazolo[4,3-b]pyridine core.
Due to the physiological significance of CRF, the development of biologically-active small molecules having significant CRF receptor binding activity and which are capable of antagonizing the CRF receptor remains a desirable goal. Such CRF receptor antagonists may be useful in the treatment of endocrine, psychiatric and neurological conditions or illnesses, including stress-related disorders in general.
While significant strides have been made toward achieving CRF regulation through administration of CRF receptor antagonists, there remains a need in the art for effective small molecule CRF receptor antagonists. There is also a need for pharmaceutical compositions containing such CRF receptor antagonists, as well as methods relating to the use thereof to treat, for example, stress-related disorders. The present invention fulfills these needs, and provides other related advantages. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
rails console doesn't load due to libreadline
I have recently reinstalled ruby 2.1.2 like so since I wanted to install a gem (ruby-debug-ide)
sudo rvm reinstall 2.1.2 --disable-binary --with-gcc=gcc-4.2
Since then, I can't load my console using bundle exec rails c
due to the following error :
/Users/ohad/.rvm/gems/ruby-2.1.2@aaa/gems/activesupport-3.2.11/lib/active_support/dependencies.rb:251:in `require': dlopen(/Users/ohad/.rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.2/lib/ruby/2.1.0/x86_64-darwin13.0/readline.bundle, 9): Library not loaded: @@HOMEBREW_PREFIX@@/opt/readline/lib/libreadline.6.dylib (LoadError)
Referenced from: /Users/ohad/.rvm/rubies/ruby-2.1.2/lib/ruby/2.1.0/x86_64-darwin13.0/readline.bundle
Tried brew uninstall readline and brew install --build-from-source readline which worked but didn't solve my problem.
A:
Ran across this today, to solve it I did:
brew rm -f readline
brew install readline
brew link readline --force
Hope it helps.
EDIT: I recently ran into this problem again (after downgrading Ruby) since I wrote this, and I now prefer @califrench's solution from the comments below:
ln -s /usr/local/opt/readline/lib/libreadline.dylib /usr/local/opt/readline/lib/libreadline.7.dylib
A:
Based on a comment on the accepted answer with more up-votes than the answer, this seems to be the most popular solution.
Looks like rails 4.2.6 was looking for libreadline.6 instead of libreadline. So just need to create a symlink.
ln -s /usr/local/opt/readline/lib/libreadline.dylib \
/usr/local/opt/readline/lib/libreadline.6.dylib
Hope this helps others who are still stuck!
A:
I was able to resolve the same problem by reinstalling Ruby.
On the Homebrew side reinstalling readline (even from source) didn't help.
I'm using RVM so this sorted it for me:
rvm reinstall 2.3.1
I think Homebrew may have pulled in readline v7 recently for some other package, which I suspect could well be the culprit.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
IBuildDetail.Connect Method (Int32, Int32, ISynchronizeInvoke)
Starts polling, using the specified interval, time-out and ISynchronizeInvoke object.
When the StatusChanging, StatusChanged, or PollingCompleted events are handled by a visual Windows Forms component, that component should be passed in as the synchronizingObject so that the event handlers are called on the same thread on which the component was created. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
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Breadcrumb
Eat & Drink in Ljubljana
You want to try out the best gourmet restaurant? You’re looking for a cosy café? You’re looking forward to relishing local specialities? Or you want to turn the night into day at a cool club? Let our select choices inspire you.
Gostilna Kovac
Good plain cooking
This restaurant is situated in a suburb of Ljubljana. In the 19th century the building has been a forge, today there are served regional dishes - ultra-fresh and of highest quality. The nice middle-class restaurant in the countryside is particularly well known for its fish specialities and its excellent selection of local wines. In summer guests can enjoy the varied culinary offer on the shady terrace.This restaurant is situated in a suburb of Ljubljana.
Marley & Me
Popular meeting place
Ask locals to recommend a restaurant, and they will often suggest Marley & Me. This little establishment with the cosy bistro ambience is located in the middle of the Old Town. The menu is creative and varied: pasta variations, meat dishes and fish specialities are available in generous portions at reasonable prices. The restaurant is extremely popular at lunchtime and in the evenings, so be sure to book.
Restaurant Strelec
Culinary pleasures behind castle walls
The Restaurant Strelec is situated in the historic turret of Ljubljana Castle, high above the city. It takes its guests on a journey through time. Slovenian specialities are served in a setting that is steeped in history. The menu served by master chef Igor Jagodic contains dishes that would have been served in the Middle Ages, which he skilfully integrates in the culinary world of today. Plain side dishes such as potatoes or fennel become culinary temptations.
Restaurant Güjžina
Best local cuisine
Travellers have voted the Güjžina the restaurant with the best Slovenian cuisine. Most of the dishes on the menu come from the north-east of the country and reveal influences from Austro-Hungarian cuisine. Typical regional dishes include bograč, a meat stew and gibanica, a light-and-airy puff pastry creation. It is said to be the best in the country.
JB Restaurant
A temple for gourmets
The JB Restaurant belongs to master chef Janez Bratovž. He takes his guests from all over the world on a culinary journey that will never be forgotten. His combination of Mediterranean cuisine, French finesse and Slovenian tradition is known far beyond the country's borders. Guests dine in an intimate setting. The décor is reminiscent of a stylish "parlour" of bygone days. This exquisite family restaurant is a temple for gourmets at the heart of the city.
Café Plato
At any time of day
You can begin the day here with a milky coffee and end it with a cocktail. Located in the city centre Café is the perfect starting point for a sightseeing trip or a quick lunch stop-over. The service is fast and friendly, the Wi-Fi for free and the home-made ice cream fabulous. It's lovely to relax and watch the lively going outside through the large window frontage. Café Plato is open on weekdays from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Café Zvezda
Cake dreams
Any visitor to Ljubljana should be sure to sample the country's sweet specialities at least once. And the best way to do that is to visit the Café Zvezda. It's a good place to rest from the sightseeing, put down your shopping bags and start enjoying the sweet treats served here. The range of cakes, gateaux and other baked goods is vast and varied. There are also various vegan options. As well as the café in the city centre, there is another branch at the Shoppingcenter BTC City.
Ethno-Club Zlati zob
Where culture is at home
The concept behind this club is as clear as it is simple: cultural variety is well established here. The club was opened in 2008 by lovers of folk culture. It brings traditional charms to a larger audience. The "Golden Tooth" (in English) is friendly and entertaining, with good food and drink, dancing and music. And it offers everything from oriental nights to French Variety. Be sure to check the programme before you go.
Parlament Pub
The best beer
It is said that the beer tastes better and costs less than anywhere else in the city. The audience is young and the pub always full. By day it's a coffee bar and at night a club. There are parties almost every night, which are especially popular with international guests. The perfect place to start a party night – or end it.
Pr’ Skelet Disco Bar
Bizarre but worth a visit
The Grim Reaper is in charge here. The skeleton is seen all over this city centre disco bar. It's equally popular with locals and visitors, and its cocktails, reputedly the best in the city, are often available as 2-for-1. There isn’t always a lot of room for dancing, but be sure to visit the bar for a drink. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
What is the process "python3 unattended upgrade shutdown"?
I was looking at the process list on my Ubuntu 18.04 server and saw the following two processes:
930 ? Ssl 0:00 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/networkd-dispatcher --run-startup-triggers
958 ? Ssl 0:00 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/share/unattended-upgrades/unattended-upgrade-shutdown --wait-for-signal
I am sure I did not start them. What are they? Are they harmful? How do I stop them from reappearing?
A:
These processes are likely not harmful[1].
The "unattended upgrades" mechanism is responsible for automatically installing security updates. You can find more information in official documentation, e.g. here.
The networkd-dispatcher allows triggering of scripts in response to a change of the network interface state. Again, if you are curious, check the official docs.
There are plently of processes that the OS starts without the user's explicit knowledge or consent. This is perfectly OK and for the most part you should not interfere unless you know exactly what you are doing. Such processes might be crucial to OS operation and even beneficial for your OS security (such as the unattended upgrades system).
[1] Of course, we can't truly know without having full access to your computer
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies
Description
During the course of this online Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies degree from Virginia College Online, students will work with experts from the legal field to develop the knowledge that is needed for assisting in the legal matters of any organization.
Students taking the online paralegal courses in this program will work with faculty members who have experience in real-world legal matters, and will develop the broad range of skills that are needed working within any type of organization.
This online paralegal studies program will enable students with the necessary skills that are needed for working in areas, such as:
Courtrooms
Corporations
Insurance companies
Governmental offices
Banks
Attorneys' offices
With the growing number of lawyers joining the workforce every year, many organization are beginning to realize the benefits of keeping paralegals on staff.
With this online degree in paralegal studies, individuals will gain the skills that are needed for obtaining a new career without having to sacrifice the commitments they have with their work, family, or service to their country.
Program Length
96 Credit Hours
Tuition Cost perCredit Hour / Course
$0.00
Tuition Cost persemester
$0.00
Application Fee
$25.00
Estimated totalProgram cost
Contact school for details
Please note: The above college tuition costs listed on this website are not exact. They are an approximate estimation set forth by our most recent research in order to help students compare online colleges and universities. We encourage students to contact the school for the exact cost of your online degree program. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Effect of vitreous detachment on vitreous fluorophotometry.
Twenty eyes of 17 normal subjects with or without posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) were examined to investigate the influence of various types of PVD on vitreous fluorophotometric readings. Biomicroscopic examinations of the vitreous body were performed with an El Bayadi - Kajiura preset lens, and the findings were classified according to the extent of vitreous detachment and the position of the posterior hyaloid membrane when the eye was stationary. Equivalent fluorescein concentration profiles along various directions in the vitreous cavity were obtained with vitreous fluorophotometry. The degree of PVD significantly affected the measurements. Close to the retina, fluorescein concentrations were significantly higher when the subhyaloid space was sampled than when the vitreous gel was sampled. Our findings have implications for vitreous fluorophotometric assessment of the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Khawar Qureshi QC considers the background to the proposed new corporate offence and asks whether it can be effective.
Oleg Dudko
In the first week of September 2016, Jeremy Wright QC, the attorney general, gave a speech at a conference in Cambridge in which he stated: ‘When considering the question of where the buck stops and who is responsible for economic crime, it is clear that the answer is to be found at every level, from the boardroom down. Both corporations and individuals are responsible.’
At the very same conference in 2014, in his first official engagement as the newly appointed AG, Wright signposted the need to deal with corporate offending by referring to the newly introduced Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA’s). He also revealed that the (coalition) Government was considering a new offence of a corporate failure to prevent economic crime, ‘and the rules on establishing corporate criminal liability.’
Convicting a company
A company qua separate legal person cannot ordinarily be convicted of a criminal offence unless it can be established beyond reasonable doubt that ‘the directing mind and will’ of the company (which means a decision maker at executive or board level) committed the acts which constitute the offence and, importantly, also had the criminal intent to commit those acts.
Unsurprisingly, in cases where criminality such as fraud or bribery has taken place, it is extremely difficult to impute or establish criminality. A cynic would no doubt say that some corporations actively use the ‘little men/women’ or ‘consultants’ as the conduits for illicit payments so as to insulate themselves from criminal responsibility.
It was precisely for this reason that Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010 (which came into effect on 1 July 2011) created the offence of failing to prevent bribery, which provides the commercial organisation a defence if it could establish that it ‘had in place adequate procedures designed to prevent persons associated with [it] from undertaking such conduct.’
Dropping the proposal
Somewhat bizarrely, after the 2015 election and in answer to a question in Parliament, the justice minister stated: ‘Ministers have decided not to carry out further work at this stage as there have been no prosecutions under the [Section 7 Bribery Act provision] and there is little evidence of corporate economic wrongdoing going unpunished.’
Whilst the minister was factually correct as to the first part of the statement, the latter part of his statement has the ring of Donald Rumsfeld’s ‘unknown unknowns’ about it, and, with respect is somewhat bereft of logic.
Bringing the corporate offence back from the dead
It is perhaps understandable that former PM David Cameron was concerned to establish the UK’s credentials in fighting economic crime such as fraud/money laundering/corruption/tax evasion. All the more so when he was facing serious criticism at an anti-corruption summit in May 2016 from world leaders alleging that the UK’s legal regime facilitated economic crime.
Cameron’s response was to write an article in The Guardian where he announced a consultation for a new law to widen the scope for executive responsibility. He stated: ‘In addition to prosecuting companies that fail to prevent bribery and tax evasion, we will consult on extending the criminal offence of “failure to prevent” to other economic crimes such as fraud and money laundering so that firms are properly held to account for criminal activity that takes place within them.’
As the AG stated at the September 2016 Cambridge conference, ‘the intention of the government is not only to prosecute and to fine for breaches of the law, but to promote a culture of corporate responsibility.’
Will the proposed offence be effective?
Whilst there are as yet no convictions for violations of Section 7 of the Bribery Act 2010, the conclusion by the SFO of two DPA’s in November 2015 and July 2016 has significantly boosted the argument in favour of expanding the ‘adequate procedures’ requirement to other crimes such as money laundering, fraud and tax evasion. It is suggested this might promote a change in corporate culture and provide a deterrent effect.
The critics of the proposal point to the absence (as yet) of any actual prosecution under Section 7 of the Bribery Act, and the somewhat stark facts underpinning the two DPA’s as evidence of any real ‘track record’ in this regard.
Additional arguments raised include the risk of overloading corporate entities with an even heavier compliance burden, as well as potentially having a chilling effect on corporations which are subject to the jurisdiction of the UK authorities more generally. It is also suggested that clever corporate structuring (pushing control for more ‘sensitive’ transactions elsewhere) might neutralise the potential reach of the offence.
Some have pointed powerfully to the fact that the UK seems to be attempting to emulate the US approach to economic crime, with a very major difference. Mere mention of a potential investigation by the US authorities strikes a very strong sense of fear in all but the most brazen of corporate entities. That is in large part because the US authorities have been consistently and strongly supported with resources and expertise. The SFO (despite the best efforts of its present director and committed personnel) does not (as yet) command such support or generate such a reaction.
Indeed, some cynics have suggested that creating the offence might well undermine the SFO even further - if it is swamped with ‘self –reports’ as happened when money laundering became a crime, and the UK authorities were simply unable to cope with the deluge.
Concluding observations
The re-instatement of the proposed crime (if carried through) is on balance a positive step. However, it can only really impact by way of deterrence and promotion of a change in corporate culture if the Government provides the necessary resources and expertise to enable effective investigations to take place.
Khawar Qureshi QC is a barrister at Serle Court and specialises in commercial litigation, international arbitration and regulatory matters. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Transcriptional patterns of Emiliania huxleyi in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre reveal the daily rhythms of its metabolic potential.
Emiliania huxleyi is a calcifying haptophyte, contributing to both the organic and inorganic marine carbon cycles. In marine ecosystems, light is a major driver of phytoplankton physiology and ultimately carbon flow through the ecosystem. Here, we analysed a Lagrangian time-series of metatranscriptomes collected in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG) to examine how in situ populations of E. huxleyi modulate gene expression over day-night transitions. Many E. huxleyi contigs had a diel expression pattern, with 61% of contigs clustering into modules with statistically significant diel periodicity. Contigs involved in processes that build up energy stores, like carbon fixation and lipid synthesis, peaked around dawn. In contrast, contigs involved in processes that released energy stores, like respiration and lipid degradation, peaked mid-day and towards dusk. These patterns suggest an orchestrated cycle of building, then consuming energy stores in E. huxleyi populations in the NPSG. Selected contigs related to the cell cycle also exhibited significant diel periodicity consistent with phased modulations of division observed in culture. Overall, these patterns of gene expression suggest a daily metabolic cascade that could contribute to both organic and inorganic carbon flow in this nutrient depleted ecosystem. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
1999-2004 Mustang Radiator Covers $125-$160, available in satin, black anodized or polished finish. For the Mustang owner that wants to customize their ’99-’04 Mustang we’ve got a selection of 1999-2004 […] | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Fluent NHibernate mapping class within the entity class
I'm studying Fluent NHibernate now, and have a question about mapping. It's not an issue, but a best practice question.
I know that with Fluent NHibernate there is a new fluent mapping, and it requires a new Class for mapping fields that will be used by the Entity Class. I was wondering, if the Mapping Class is directly linked to the Entity Class (It will map exacly for the entity class), do best practices dictate that they can't be joined within the same .cs file?
Please note that there will be no nesting here.
I.e.: There are Product and a ProductMap classes, both for a Product table on my database, so I'd place both classes within the same Product.cs, like the following:
namespace Business.Entity
{
public class Product
{
...
}
public class ProductMap : ClassMap<Product>
{
...
}
}
If the classes shouldn't be inside the same file, would you care to explain why, and maybe with real examples?
Thanks in advance!
A:
When creating the SessionFactory instance, you will pass a class that tells which assembly has the mapping definitions. Then, using reflection, it'll iterate through all the classes on this assembly that inherit from ClassMap<T>.
That said, for a faster initialisation, it's better to have this assembly as light as possible, and it means that it would be better to have an assembly that would hold only the mappings and not the classes definitions.
AFAIK this is the only difference. Any feedback will be appreciated.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
The Wages of Comparison
Dissatisfied much?
Matthew 20:1-16 tells the story of a generous vineyard owner and some frustrated workers. Why is it that the first workers grumble at the owner’s generosity toward the late-arriving workers? The first workers thought they would receive more than originally promised, not because their own performance exceeded expectations, but because they compared themselves to others.
When we compare ourselves with others, disappointment and dissatisfaction are inevitable , and we will begrudge other people’s blessing and success. These are the wages of comparison.
Keep your eyes on the Master and your hands on your own plow, and let others go their way and get their pay in peace. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Get all the months between dates in MM/YYYY format
I want to get all the months with year in format MM/YYYY between two given dates.
Something like this:
Start date: 08/1/2012
End date: 03/1/2013
Result:
09/2012
10/2012
11/2012
12/2012
01/2013
02/2013
03/2013
This is the code I have but it doesn't work as I want.
for (int i = StartDate.Year; i <= EndDate.Year; i++)
{
for (int j = StartDate.Month+1; j <= 12 ; j++)
{
Console.WriteLine(j.ToString("00") + "/" + i.ToString()));
}
}
Thank you in advance for your help.
A:
for
(
DateTime date = new DateTime(2012, 08, 01).AddMonths(1);
date <= new DateTime(2013, 03, 01);
date = date.AddMonths(1)
)
{
Console.WriteLine(date.ToString("MM/yyyy"));
}
This would be more readable and robust if you write a separate enumerator for the dates, like so:
public static IEnumerable<DateTime> MonthsBetween(int startMonth, int startYear, int endMonth, int endYear)
{
for
(
DateTime date = new DateTime(startYear, startMonth, 01).AddMonths(1);
date <= new DateTime(endYear, endMonth, 01);
date = date.AddMonths(1)
)
{
yield return date;
}
}
Which you could call like so:
foreach (var date in MonthsBetween(08, 2012, 03, 2013))
{
Console.WriteLine(date.ToString("MM/yyyy"));
}
Note that this range excludes the first month, which from your example it seems you want.
If you don't want to skip the first month, remove the .AddMonths(1) from the line creating the start date.
(Personally, I'd prefer to include the starting month in the output, but that is not what you asked for.)
A:
There is the possibility that the day value of your startdate is greater than the day value of the enddate. In this case it is necessary to normalize the enddate to the end of the month
List<string> result = new List<string>();
DateTime startDate = new DateTime(2012, 1, 8);
DateTime endDate = new DateTime(2013, 1, 3);
DateTime temp = startDate;
endDate = new DateTime (endDate.Year, endDate.Month, DateTime.DaysInMonth(endDate.Year,endDate.Month));
while (temp <= endDate)
{
Console.WriteLine((string.Format("{0}/{1}", temp.Month, temp.Year));
temp = temp.AddMonth(1);
}
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
This looks like such a great subscription box! I've tried Phyto's products before and my hair stylist says it's a great brand and good for detoxing the hair! Thanks for sharing and I hope you have a great week ahead, beauty!
I can't stop staring at the box. It's so cute! It looks like a draw which can be reused again around the house. :D I like how it comes with a variety of products not just makeup. Thanks for sharing this wonderful box with us Mihaela! | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
NASA Research Team Reveals Moon Has Earth-Like Core
Dwayne Brown, 202-358-1726
Headquarters, Washington
[email protected]
Janet Anderson, 256-544-6162
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Ala.
[email protected]
State-of-the-art seismological techniques applied to Apollo-era data suggest our moon has a core similar to Earth's.Uncovering details about the lunar core is critical for developing accurate models of the moon's formation. The data sheds light on the evolution of a lunar dynamo -- a natural process by which our moon may have generated and maintained its own strong magnetic field.The team's findings suggest the moon possesses a solid, iron-rich inner core with a radius of nearly 150 miles and a fluid, primarily liquid-iron outer core with a radius of roughly 205 miles. Where it differs from Earth is a partially molten boundary layer around the core estimated to have a radius of nearly 300 miles. The research indicates the core contains a small percentage of light elements such as sulfur, echoing new seismology research on Earth that suggests the presence of light elements -- such as sulfur and oxygen -- in a layer around our own core.The researchers used extensive data gathered during the Apollo-era moon missions. The Apollo Passive Seismic Experiment consisted of four seismometers deployed between 1969 and 1972, which recorded continuous lunar seismic activity until late-1977."We applied tried and true methodologies from terrestrial seismology to this legacy data set to present the first-ever direct detection of the moon's core," said Renee Weber, lead researcher and space scientist at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala.In addition to Weber, the team consisted of scientists from Marshall; Arizona State University; the University of California at Santa Cruz; and the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris in France. Their findings are published in the online edition of the journal Science.The team also analyzed Apollo lunar seismograms using array processing, techniques that identify and distinguish signal sources of moonquakes and other seismic activity. The researchers identified how and where seismic waves passed through or were reflected by elements of the moon's interior, signifying the composition and state of layer interfaces at varying depths.Although sophisticated satellite imaging missions to the moon made significant contributions to the study of its history and topography, the deep interior of Earth's sole natural satellite remained a subject of speculation and conjecture since the Apollo era. Researchers previously had inferred the existence of a core, based on indirect estimates of the moon's interior properties, but many disagreed about its radius, state and composition.A primary limitation to past lunar seismic studies was the wash of "noise" caused by overlapping signals bouncing repeatedly off structures in the moon's fractionated crust. To mitigate this challenge, Weber and the team employed an approach called seismogram stacking, or the digital partitioning of signals. Stacking improved the signal-to-noise ratio and enabled the researchers to more clearly track the path and behavior of each unique signal as it passed through the lunar interior."We hope to continue working with the Apollo seismic data to further refine our estimates of core properties and characterize lunar signals as clearly as possible to aid in the interpretation of data returned from future missions," Weber said.Future NASA missions will help gather more detailed data. The Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, is a NASA Discovery-class mission set to launch this year. The mission consists of twin spacecraft that will enter tandem orbits around the moon for several months to measure the gravity field in unprecedented detail. The mission also will answer longstanding questions about Earth's moon and provide scientists a better understanding of the satellite from crust to core, revealing subsurface structures and, indirectly, its thermal history.NASA and other space agencies have been studying concepts to establish an International Lunar Network -- a robotic set of geophysical monitoring stations on the moon -- as part of efforts to coordinate international missions during the coming decade.For more information about NASA science exploration missions, visit: | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Can I rollback a transaction I've already committed? (data loss)
I committed an incorrect UPDATE statement and have lost some data.
Is it possible to rollback now, after I've already committed?
Any help?
ROLLBACK
says NOTICE: there is no transaction in progress.
A:
No, you can't undo, rollback or reverse a commit.
STOP THE DATABASE!
(Note: if you deleted the data directory off the filesystem, do NOT stop the database. The following advice applies to an accidental commit of a DELETE or similar, not an rm -rf /data/directory scenario).
If this data was important, STOP YOUR DATABASE NOW and do not restart it. Use pg_ctl stop -m immediate so that no checkpoint is run on shutdown.
You cannot roll back a transaction once it has commited. You will need to restore the data from backups, or use point-in-time recovery, which must have been set up before the accident happened.
If you didn't have any PITR / WAL archiving set up and don't have backups, you're in real trouble.
Urgent mitigation
Once your database is stopped, you should make a file system level copy of the whole data directory - the folder that contains base, pg_clog, etc. Copy all of it to a new location. Do not do anything to the copy in the new location, it is your only hope of recovering your data if you do not have backups. Make another copy on some removable storage if you can, and then unplug that storage from the computer. Remember, you need absolutely every part of the data directory, including pg_xlog etc. No part is unimportant.
Exactly how to make the copy depends on which operating system you're running. Where the data dir is depends on which OS you're running and how you installed PostgreSQL.
Ways some data could've survived
If you stop your DB quickly enough you might have a hope of recovering some data from the tables. That's because PostgreSQL uses multi-version concurrency control (MVCC) to manage concurrent access to its storage. Sometimes it will write new versions of the rows you update to the table, leaving the old ones in place but marked as "deleted". After a while autovaccum comes along and marks the rows as free space, so they can be overwritten by a later INSERT or UPDATE. Thus, the old versions of the UPDATEd rows might still be lying around, present but inaccessible.
Additionally, Pg writes in two phases. First data is written to the write-ahead log (WAL). Only once it's been written to the WAL and hit disk, it's then copied to the "heap" (the main tables), possibly overwriting old data that was there. The WAL content is copied to the main heap by the bgwriter and by periodic checkpoints. By default checkpoints happen every 5 minutes. If you manage to stop the database before a checkpoint has happened and stopped it by hard-killing it, pulling the plug on the machine, or using pg_ctl in immediate mode you might've captured the data from before the checkpoint happened, so your old data is more likely to still be in the heap.
Now that you have made a complete file-system-level copy of the data dir you can start your database back up if you really need to; the data will still be gone, but you've done what you can to give yourself some hope of maybe recovering it. Given the choice I'd probably keep the DB shut down just to be safe.
Recovery
You may now need to hire an expert in PostgreSQL's innards to assist you in a data recovery attempt. Be prepared to pay a professional for their time, possibly quite a bit of time.
I posted about this on the Pg mailing list, and Виктор Егоров linked to depesz's post on pg_dirtyread, which looks like just what you want, though it doesn't recover TOASTed data so it's of limited utility. Give it a try, if you're lucky it might work.
See: pg_dirtyread on GitHub.
I've removed what I'd written in this section as it's obsoleted by that tool.
See also PostgreSQL row storage fundamentals
Prevention
See my blog entry Preventing PostgreSQL database corruption.
On a semi-related side-note, if you were using two phase commit you could ROLLBACK PREPARED for a transction that was prepared for commit but not fully commited. That's about the closest you get to rolling back an already-committed transaction, and does not apply to your situation.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Error importing lxml package python in Ubuntu
When I try importing lxml package in python I am receiving the following error.
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/lxml/html/__init__.py", line 42, in <module>
from lxml import etree
ImportError: /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/lxml/etree.so: undefined symbol: PyUnicodeUCS4_DecodeLatin1
(Python version ->2.7.5)
A:
Python can be compiled in two different modes; UCS2 or UCS4 – see How to find out if Python is compiled with UCS-2 or UCS-4? question at Stackoverflow. All binary packages (like lxml) must be compiled in the same mode that Python was compiled in. It looks like your lxml was compiled in UCS4 mode while Python was compiled in UCS2 mode. You have to recompile one of them so that they use the same mode.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
BDSM abduction movie starring Jaelyn Fox
Welcome to another installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls who appear in the films, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "Cemetery Heights" starring Jaelyn Fox.File size: 509.5 MBread more / Download
A fantasy abduction movie starring Tara Lynn Foxx
Welcome to the first installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. The movies are real life fantasies of the very girls in the film, played out in a safe, sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month installment is "Poor Little Rich Girl" starring Tara Lynn Foxx.File size: 586.7 MBread more / Download
Princess Donna Dolore
Year: 2011Genre: BDSM, Bondage, HardcoreStarring: Princess Donna DoloreRelease date: 08/23/2011Description: Welcome to another installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls who appear in the films, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "The Limo" starring Princess Donna Dolore. Rich powerful women dominate through sheer will, beauty and intelligence. They are used to getting what they want, when they want it. However, today Donna Dolore, CEO of an up and coming Internet company will find herself powerless, helpless and all alone. Someone has set her up. The betrayal runs deep, very deep; it plays into Donna's deepest darkest fantasies. Being powerless, being a sex toy, a slave to cock. Something that she cannot find in her private life. Something that speaks to the primal urges of the human psyche. Who paid for the abduction? Who set up the powerful CEO? The answer will surprise you, baffle you, and in the end, make perfect sense.Video Quality: HDRip
File size: 483.8 MB
Abduction Of Nyssa Nevers
Description: Nyssa Nevers abduction fantasy is fulfilled by the fiendish Sir B. as Nyssa is enjoying a day by the pool Sir B sneaks in and grabs her. Knocking her out and binding her with tape. He takes her to his secret place where he has his way with her. She is tied and her tongue is bound with chop sticks as she is made to cum with a vibrator. Soon, she is made to endure some fire punishment. Nyssa gets more then she asked for as Sir B pushes her limits. Duration: 00:51:48Bitrate: 2115 kb/sVideo: wmv3, yuv420p, 640x480, 1975 kb/s, 29.97 fps(r)Audio: wmav2, 44100 Hz, stereo, 128 kb/shttp://photosex.biz/v.php?id=e84008b8746c85fb240c21721c2defd7 File size: 783.7 MB
Charlotte Vale (Charlotte's Abduction Fantasy 25.05.11)
The name of the actress: Charlotte ValeName movie: Charlotte's Abduction FantasyYear: 2011.Genre: BDSM, Anal, DP, Gang Bang, Domination, HardcoreLength: 1:05:36Description: Charlotte Vale confesses a fantasy to her therapist of being abducted and gang banged by a group of men. As she describes her fantasy in detail, you get to see exactly what is happening in her head! Sex in bondage, gang bang, blow bang, spitting, slapping, rough sex and more!HD Video Type: 720pVideo Format: WMVVideo: Windows Media Video 1280x720 29.97fps 1500kbps SeptemberAudio: Windows Media Audio 44100Hz stereo 128kbpsFile size: 786.3 MBread more / Download
Nicole Sheridans Fetish Fantasies
Bizarre Video presents Nicole Sheridans Fetish Fantasies, where Nicole Sheridan shares some of her lusty, fetish fantasies. The blonde bombshell takes you on a voyage through a secret world of desire and intrigue, where everyones fantasies come true. Let Nicole take you to places youve never been to before! Total size 718.8 MB in 5 filesread more / Download
Princess Donna Dolore - The Limo
Welcome to another installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls who appear in the films, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "The Limo" starring Princess Donna Dolore. Rich powerful women dominate through sheer will, beauty and intelligence. They are used to getting what they want, when they want it. However, today Donna Dolore, CEO of an up and coming Internet company will find herself powerless, helpless and all alone. Someone has set her up. The betrayal runs deep, very deep; it plays into Donna's deepest darkest fantasies. Being powerless, being a sex toy, a slave to cock. Something that she cannot find in her private life. Something that speaks to the primal urges of the human psyche. Who paid for the abduction? Who set up the powerful CEO? The answer will surprise you, baffle you, and in the end, make perfect sense.Runtime: 00:20:21Category: BDSM, Bondage, HardcoreStudio: HogtiedVideo: Windows Media Video 9 1280x720 29.97fps 1500kbpsAudio: Windows Media Audio 44100Hz stereo 128kbpshttp://photosex.biz/v.php?id=e30d313000426b6ce65f927949edee49 File size: 483.7 MB
Petra Joy - Female Fantasies
Petra Joys second erotic film is a visual feast, celebrating sensual pleasures and the art of seduction. Female Fantasies is based on erotic fantasies that were sent to Petra by her female photography clients and friends. To visualize genuine chemistry these erotic fantasies were captured on film with performers who are real life lovers rather than professional porn stars. Thefantasies featured in the film vary greatly and go far beyond the clich of romance and roses. From secretly watching a man playing with himself to being totally pampered by five skilled lovers at once - all erotic scenarios in Female Fantasies focus on female pleasure rather than male satisfaction. Female Fantasies aims to inspire and excite. May you enjoy these wild erotic dreams and make your own come true!http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=bd8ebab76c96a62d64dac633717bb82c File size: 750.4 MB
The Limo - Princess Donna. A Hogtied Fantasy.
Welcome to another installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls who appear in the films, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "The Limo" starring Princess Donna Dolore. Rich powerful women dominate through sheer will, beauty and intelligence. They are used to getting what they want, when they want it. However, today Donna Dolore, CEO of an up and coming Internet company will find herself powerless, helpless and all alone. Someone has set her up. The betrayal runs deep, very deep; it plays into Donna's deepest darkest fantasies. Being powerless, being a sex toy, a slave to cock. Something that she cannot find in her private life. Something that speaks to the primal urges of the human psyche. Who paid for the abduction? Who set up the powerful CEO? The answer will surprise you, baffle you, and in the end, make perfect sense. WARNING: THIS FANTASY FEATURE MOVIE PORTRAYS VERY ROUGH SEX AND INTENSE BONDAGE, HARD ANAL AND BRUTAL FACE FUCKING. THIS CONSENSUAL FANTASY MOVIE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART.Genres: bdsm, bondage, hardcoreFile: wmvhttp://photosex.biz/v.php?id=e5c5283f9cb9d0429c913a1231190d55 File size: 483.7 MB
May 24, 2011 - A fantasy BDSM abduction movie starring Rain DeGrey
Production year: 2011Name movie: A fantasy BDSM abduction movie starring Rain DeGreyThe name of the actress: Maestro and Rain DeGreyGenre: BDSM, Bondage, HardcoreLength: 00:42:32Description: Welcome to the second installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls that appear in the film, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "The Ransom" starring Rain DeGrey.Rain's husband is rich, very rich. She enjoys a luxurious lifestyle that others can only dream about but she never thought that it would mark her as a target for anything. Heading to her car in an underground garage after a lunch meeting with associates, Rain learns first hand that there are bad people in the world. Bad people that would do almost anything for money.Hooded and dragged into a van, Rain is quickly incapacitated and chloroformed. She soon wakes, upside down, bound helpless with heavy nipple clamps and weights hanging from her huge nipples. Cock is introduced to the back of Rain's throat, a vibrator to her shaved pussy and before this pampered housewife can even understand what is going on she is cumming like a common whore.Demands are sent, replies are given, and Rain is the helpless sex toy for the ransomers. Will Rain's husband pay up? How much more will she endure before her husband saves the day with loads of cash? With all the orgasms that Rain is having, will she even want to leave?HD Video Type: 720pVideo Format: MP4Video: Windows Media Video 1280x720 29.97fps 1500kbps SeptemberAudio: Windows Media Audio 44100Hz stereo 128kbpsFile size: 1.5 GBread more / Download
Welcome to another installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls who appear in the films, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "The Limo" starring Princess Donna Dolore.Rich powerful women dominate through sheer will, beauty and intelligence. They are used to getting what they want, when they want it. However, today Donna Dolore, CEO of an up and coming Internet company will find herself powerless, helpless and all alone.Someone has set her up. The betrayal runs deep, very deep; it plays into Donna's deepest darkest fantasies. Being powerless, being a sex toy, a slave to cock. Something that she cannot find in her private life. Something that speaks to the primal urges of the human psyche.Who paid for the abduction? Who set up the powerful CEO? The answer will surprise you, baffle you, and in the end, make perfect sense.WARNING: THIS FANTASY FEATURE MOVIE PORTRAYS VERY ROUGH SEX AND INTENSE BONDAGE, HARD ANAL AND BRUTAL FACE FUCKING. THIS CONSENSUAL FANTASY MOVIE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART. File Size: 541 MBResolution: 1280 x 720Length: 00:40:21Format: WMVPics: includedStudio: Kinkhttp://photosex.biz/v.php?id=3ac55e34caa0cebe235e8bad0f97a626 File size: 541.5 MB
Princess Donna Dolore (23.08.2011)
Year: 2011 Starring: Princess Donna Dolore Genre: BDSM, Bondage, Hardcore, Anal, Hardcore Length: 00:40:21 Description: Welcome to another installment of the Hogtied feature movie series. These movies are real life fantasies of the girls who appear in the films, played out in a safe and sane environment for your viewing pleasure. This month's installment is "The Limo" starring Princess Donna Dolore. Rich powerful women dominate through sheer will, beauty and intelligence. They are used to getting what they want, when they want it. However, today Donna Dolore, CEO of an up and coming Internet company will find herself powerless, helpless and all alone. Someone has set her up. The betrayal runs deep, very deep; it plays into Donna's deepest darkest fantasies. Being powerless, being a sex toy, a slave to cock. Something that she cannot find in her private life. Something that speaks to the primal urges of the human psyche. Who paid for the abduction? Who set up the powerful CEO? The answer will surprise you, baffle you, and in the end, make perfect sense. http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=ec45188fb68707c0c745478fcb2d99da Video Quality: HDRip HD Video Type: 720p Video Format: MP4 Video codec: H.264/AVC Audio codec: AAC Video: MPEG4 Video (H264) 1280x720 29.97fps 5000Kbps [Video] Audio: AAC 44100Hz stereo 125kbps [Audio]File size: 1.4 GB
Brookes Lesbian Fantasies
LesbiansDo porn stars have fantasies too! The deepest, darkest, lesbian fantasies of our contract star, Ashlynn Brooke. Whether its in the shower, in bed, or anywhere else. Youve never seen girls entertainment, if you do not see how they do it!http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=8398e2a942e6a1847c75b7e1ab4e9af6 File size: 701.9 MB
T-Girl Fantasies 10
Before T-Girl fantasies, BobTGirls.com had hardcore video featurettes. After many member requests, this footage has been re-edited for actual film. So now you can see these scenes anytime you want! Enjoy “Retro T Girl Fantasies 10”!Genres: tranny, oral, anal sexFile: aviFile size: 1.2 GBread more / Download
EveryDaySlaves - Abduction Irony
Release Year: 2013
"I personally live in a 24/7 BDSM relationship myself. This website is my way of merging two of my passions - Documentary film making and lifestyle BDSM. This lifestyle is not so different from most relationships. My goal is to show it to you in all it's reality, while trying to stimulate your own dark sexual desires and fantasies...."
Format: avi
Duration: 8:45
Video: 1280x720, AVC (H.264), 2579kbps
Audio: 125kbps
http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=1535e2c4efbb146b1daad5cfb79f2950 http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=59063262b6b24596e84efc40ad796796 http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=e148fb28bae9c41c0a942788cecc1fa1 http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=3348121792205440d5b05fe3d73f5ee2
http://photosex.biz/v.php?id=6b9e68411c7897c5a96ad798bd192480 File size: 174.1 MB | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Liu Sola
Liu Sola (Chinese: 刘索拉 aka: Liu Suola; Beijing, China) is a Chinese composer, vocalist, music producer, and author.
Biography
After graduating from the Central Conservatory of Music with a degree in composition, she published her award-winning novella You Have no Choice. Since the 1980s, Liu Sola has scored many Chinese and international film sound tracks, as well as TV and drama productions. She has composed music for orchestra, ensemble, opera, modern theater, modern dance, and art exhibitions. Her range of musical styles includes classical music, jazz, early music, rock, traditional and contemporary music. She is frequently invited to perform at international music festivals and has recorded and collaborated with many international artists. During the 1990s, she recorded with Pól Brennan, Bill Laswell, James Blood Ulmer, Jerome Brailey, Henry Threadgill, Umar Bin Hassan, Amina Claudine Myers, Fernando Saunders and, Pheeroan akLaff. In 2003, she founded the Liu Sola & Friends Ensemble, teaming up with Chinese instrumental virtuosos such as Li Zhengui, Zhang Yangsheng, and Yang Jing, together with other young award-winning soloists. In 2012, Chinese guitar virtuoso Liu Yijun (lao wu) joined the ensemble.
She is the founder of Liu Sola (Beijing) Music Studio, located in Songzhuang art colony, an artist district. Liu Sola designed and built a music space for her ensemble to rehearse and record. Over the years, she has composed and produced film soundtracks for directors such as Zhang Nuanxin, Michael Apted, Li Shaohong, Lv Yue, Ning Ying and others. In 2013, she established the Liu Sola & Friends Ensemble Independent Film Music Work Shop.
Her music works include the chamber opera Fantasy of the Red Queen (2006), performed by Ensemble Modern and the Liu Sola & Friends Ensemble. Liu Sola is the librettist and music composer, artistic director, costume designer and leading vocalist. The chamber opera The Afterlife of Li Jiantong (2009) is a work dedicated to her mother, a Chinese political-historical writer. Liu Sola wrote both the libretto and the music. It was performed by Theatre of Voices, conducted by Paul Hillier.
Her novels include Chaos & All That (1989), the English translation of which by Richard King, was awarded First Prize for translation by the British Comparative Literature Association, Nv Zhen Tang (2000), which has been translated into French and Italian, La Grande Île des Tortues – Cochons (2006) and Lost in Fascination (2011).
Bibliography
Novellas
Ni Bie Wu Xuanze 你别无选择 You Have No Choice (1985)
Blue Sky Green Sea (1985)
In Search of the King Of Singers (1986)
Novels
Chaos And All (1989)
Da Ji Jia de Xiao Gu Shi 大继家的小故事 or Small Tales of the Great Ji Family (2000)
Nv Zhen Tang 女贞汤 Female Purity Soup （2003）
La Grande île des tortues-cochons (2006)
La Piccola Storia Della Grande Famiglia Ji
Play
Fantasy of the Red Queen（2006）
Discography
Blues in the East (1994
China Collage (1996, with Wu Man)
Haunts （1997）
June Snow （1998）
Spring Snowfall （2000）
Sola and Friends （1999)
Apparitions（2000）
References
External links
Harris, Craig (2008). [ "Liu Sola biography"], AllMusic.
BeijingScene.com: Red China Blues Woman by Pan Keyin
Category:1955 births
Category:Living people
Category:Chinese folk singers
Category:Chinese female singers
Category:Place of birth missing (living people)
Category:Singers from Beijing
Category:Chinese female composers
Category:Short story writers from Beijing
Category:Chinese composers
Category:International Writing Program alumni
Category:Chinese women short story writers
Category:20th-century Chinese short story writers
Category:20th-century women writers
Category:People's Republic of China short story writers | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Anyone knows what kind of clip mic cover this is?
I am watching "Hommes à louer " ( http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1589448/ ), a documentary about male prostitution in Canada and it's made me wonder (on the sound/technical side) about this clip microphone.
Since there is a male nipple in the image, just in case, I will not embed the image.
http://imgur.com/QPQYr
Does anyone know if this is a commercial product from any particular brand? Or maybe it is just some DIY cover for the clip mic? I have tried to google for it a bit but find myself unable to find what this type of covers can be named.
Thank you,
Marcos
edit: forgot to mention they stick it onto the skin...
A:
Its the Sanken RM-11 rubber mount. It is not adhesive itself, but we use topstick to make it adhesive.
You can get them in a few different colors, also there is an RM-11C version that has a built in clip.
I have a bunch of them and love them!
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for determining a parameter, such as the resistance, the state of charge or the capacity, of at least one accumulator of a battery, notably in order to determine the state of health of the battery; as well as to an electronic system for monitoring a battery.
2. Background
Typically a battery comprises a plurality of accumulators also called electrochemical generators, cells or elements. An accumulator is a device for producing electricity in which chemical energy is converted into electrical energy. The chemical energy is formed by electrochemically active compounds deposited on at least one face of electrodes positioned in the accumulator. Electrical energy is produced by electrochemical reactions during discharge of the accumulator. The electrodes, positioned in a container are electrically connected to current output terminals which ensure electrical continuity between the electrodes and an electricity consuming device with which the accumulator is associated.
A battery may be divided into modules, each module consisting of a plurality of accumulators connected together in series and/or in parallel. The battery is intended to provide electrical energy to an outer application. A charging circuit is generally provided to which the battery may be connected for recharging the accumulators. The battery may include one or more parallel branches of accumulators connected in series and/or one or more parallel branches of modules connected in series. A management system comprising measurement sensors and an electronic control circuit, which is more or less sophisticated depending on the applications, may be associated with the battery.
The state of charge (SOC) and the state of health (SOH) are pieces of information useful for the electronic management system of the battery in order to optimize its use and its lifetime.
Typically, the state of charge SOC is determined as the amount of energy available in the battery, relatively to the energy of a totally charged battery. The state of charge SOC may be calculated for example according to an algorithm using voltage measurements or integration of the charging/discharging current over time depending on the current conditions of the battery.
The state of health SOH of the battery allows an estimation of the ageing of the battery between a new state and an end-of-life state.
A first method for determining the SOH of a battery, a so-called static method, consists of monitoring the values of temperature, of voltage and optionally of current of the battery in order to determine an SOH value from ageing laws. These ageing laws are obtained from tests conducted in a laboratory. An SOH algorithm then gives an estimation of the ageing of the battery. However this method for determining the SOH of the battery is subject to the assumption of homogeneous ageing of the accumulators of the battery. The method for determining the SOH by a predictive model also assumes a flawless power circuit between the accumulators.
A second method for determining the SOH of a battery, a so-called dynamic method, consists of calculating the ratio of the resistance of the battery at a given instant over the resistance of the battery in the new condition under the same measurement conditions. The SOH may also be calculated from the ratio of the capacity of the battery at a given instant over the capacity of the battery in the new condition. Depending on the size of the battery and/or depending on the applications, a calculation of SOH may be provided for the battery as a whole or for each module or for each accumulator.
Typically, the resistance of a battery (or of an accumulator of the battery) is measured according to a voltage drop over only two points, while considering a relative uncertainty related to the measurement determined by a conventional uncertainty calculation method.
FIG. 1 illustrates ideal simulated current and voltage signals of a battery during a current pulse. A determination of the resistance may be carried out during such a pulse: a first voltage measurement U1 is conducted when the current is 0, the voltage then being 3.944 V; and a second voltage measurement U2 is conducted during the pulse with a current of −60 A, the voltage being 3.864 V. A resistance value R is then obtained, determined as follows:R=ΔV/ΔI=1.33 mΩ
However, in reality, whether the pulse is caused during a maintenance cycle or on an onboard application, the ideal signals illustrated in FIG. 1 do not exist but have perturbations which take into account inter alia the uncertainties of the voltage and current sensors. FIG. 2 illustrates noisy simulated current and voltage signals of a battery during a current pulse. Typically, the current sensor has a 5% ripple in the low portion of the pulse and the voltage sensor has a ripple related to the uncertainty of 20 mV. Thus, with a relative uncertainty of 5% on the current and an absolute uncertainty of 20 mV on the voltage, the relative uncertainty on the resistance measurement is calculated as follows by using a conventional method for calculating uncertainties:dR/R=dΔV/ΔV+dΔI/ΔI=dU1/ΔV+dU2/ΔV+dI1/ΔI+dI2/ΔI,
i.e. an uncertainty of 60%.
Also, if the uncertainty is calculated by using the method of quadratic sums:dR/R=√(dΔV/ΔV)2+(dΔVΔI)2,
an uncertainty value of 51% is obtained which remains far from a reliable value.
Moreover, the resistance measurement requires a current pulse in order to cause a voltage drop allowing the measurement of two pairs of voltage and current values. For this purpose, the resistance of the battery (or of an accumulator of the battery) is generally measured during a maintenance operation; for example upon checking the connection of the battery.
When the battery is connected to an application, it is possible to estimate the state of health by means of predictive models. For example, document FR-A-2 920 884 describes a method for estimating the state of health of a battery onboard an automobile. This method detects a stable state of the battery and generates a current at its terminals in order to estimate the value of the internal resistance from changes in current and voltage. The value of the internal resistance is then related to an estimation of the state of health of the battery by means of mapping.
Document WO-A-2007/004817 proposes determination of the internal resistance of the battery from measurements of temperature and from estimations of the state of charge; an instantaneous resistance is measured from a pair of voltage-current values and then normalized. The value of the internal resistance is then related to an estimation of the state of health of the battery by means of a table.
Document US-A-2009/0140744 proposes determination of a pseudo-impedance of the battery from discharge pulses imposed to the battery. The state of health of the battery is then determined from this pseudo-impedance.
Document US-A-2009/0085517 describes a method for managing the charging of a battery in a portable appliance which uses a statistical method for comparing the value of the remaining capacity with the initial value.
Methods known for determining the resistance of a battery (or of an accumulator of a battery) use estimations and/or direct measurements accompanied by significant uncertainty. The subsequent determination of the state of health of the battery is strongly affected by this.
Therefore, there exists a need for a method for determining the resistance of at least one accumulator of a battery which has reduced and known uncertainty in order to increase the confidence related to the resistance value and therefore to the subsequent determination of a state of health. There also exists a need for a method for determining the resistance of at least one accumulator of a battery which may be applied independently when the battery is being used or in maintenance.
Moreover, as indicated above, the state of health may be determined from the capacity of at least one accumulator of the battery.
In a way known per se, the capacity of an accumulator may be calculated from values of the state of charge at different instants, notably for accumulators of the Li-ion type which have a direct relationship between the SOC and the no-load voltage. FIG. 12 shows such a curve of the state of charge versus the no-load voltage for a Li-ion accumulator.
The capacity of an accumulator is expressed in Ah by the following relationship:
C = ∫ t initial t final I ⅆ t / 3600 SOC ( t final ) - SOC ( t initial )
The determination of the SOC values at two relevant instants (initial and final instants in the formula above) requires a measurement of current and voltage at these instants. Like for determining the resistance, the uncertainty on the measurement of current and of voltage entails uncertainty on the SOC values and therefore on the value of the capacity. Known methods for determining the capacity of a battery (or of an accumulator of a battery) use estimations and/or direct measurements accompanied by significant uncertainty. The subsequent determination of the state of health of the battery is strongly affected by this.
Therefore, there also exists a need for a method for determining the capacity of at least one accumulator of a battery which has a reduced and known uncertainty in order to increase confidence related to the capacity value and therefore to the subsequent determination of a state of health. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
Есть ли в Android функционал, аналогичный CSS calc()?
Допустим, мне нужно, чтобы сверху было поле ввода текста и кнопка (на одной строке). Кнопка должна иметь ширину N пикселей, поле ввода должно занимать всё оставшееся на строке место. В CSS это было бы:
EditText: {
width: calc(100% - Npx);
...
}
Button {
width: Npx;
...
}
А как такое сделать для нативного Android-приложения? Я понимаю, что можно задать ширину динамически (из непосредственно кода приложения), но вдруг есть возможность сделать это средствами XML.
A:
Используйте LinearLayout и вес для внутренних элементов. Если для них вес не указан, а указан конкретный размер, то он и отобразится. Элементы же с весом распределятся пропорционально.
<LinearLayout
android:layout_width="match_parent"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:orientation="horizontal">
<EditText
android:layout_width="0dip"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"
android:layout_weight="1"/>
<Button
android:layout_width="30dp"
android:layout_height="wrap_content"/>
</LinearLayout>
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Dear Millennials,
When it comes to the history of your own community, you know nothing.
But there’s no need for you to get all defensive. This isn’t a millennial shaming post. Because truth be told, your ignorance isn’t your fault. You weren’t taught the origins of the gay rights movement. And LGBT activists don’t really get much time in the media spotlight.
But it’s high time that you receive the history lesson that you never got. And getting to know the following 25 heroes of the LGBT community would be a great start.
In no particular order, here are the Batmans and Wonder Womans of the LGBT community:
1. Reverend Yap Kim Hao: Singapore’s Most Outspoken Gay-Affirming Pastor
Despite drawing harsh criticism from other Christians, Reverend Doctor Yap Kim Hao has remained a staunch ally of the LGBT community for over a decade.
A social justice warrior, the good Reverend is currently serving as the Pastoral Advisor of the Free Community Church (FCC); Singapore’s only gay-affirming Christian Church. Over the years, this remarkable man has helped numerous LGBT individuals reconcile their faith with their sexuality.
But the thing that really impresses us is that Reverend Doctor Yap Kim Hao is straight. And yet, he’s willing to fight for our community despite knowing full well that the association will have serious repercussions on his reputation. For that, we salute him.
Update: Reverend Yap Kim Hao has passed away after suffering a heart failure on the morning of 16th November at the age of 88.
2. Alex Au: A Pioneer Of The Gay Rights Movement
One of the pioneers of the gay rights movement in Singapore, Alex Au has been championing LGBT rights long before it became cool.
Not only was Alex the co-founder of People Like Us (PLU), Singapore’s first equality lobby group. He also helped organise IndigNation in 2005, Singapore’s first gay pride event. An incredibly skilled writer, Alex regularly blogs about LGBT issues on his website, Yawning Bread.
In 2002, he was awarded with the Utopia Award for his contribution to the LGBT community.
3. Eileena Lee: Singapore’s Most Outspoken Lesbian Activist
Arguably Singapore’s most vocal lesbian activist, Eileena started RedQuEEn; Singapore’s oldest mailing list for queer women. What started out as a list of only a few women has since grown to a community of over a thousand women.
But that’s not all. Eileena also helped launch Pelangi Pride Centre in 2002, Singapore’s first LGBT community centre, together with Dinesh Naidu and Charmaine Tan.
4. Nicholas Lim: The Voice Of The LGBT Community
As the founder of the largest online LGBT community in Singapore GLBT Voices, Nic has one of the loudest voices in the community. Thankfully, he has been putting that loud voice to good use.
He used his large social media presence to organise a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Orlando Massacre recently, a landmark event that hit the headlines both locally and internationally. He has also organised social gatherings for the members of GLBT Voices as a way for them to make new friends.
Not many people know this but Nic has also put up quite a couple of readers in the past when they were kicked out of their homes after being outed of the closet. You can read more about his life story here.
5. Benjamin Xue: The Man That LGBT Youths Turn To For Support
Before Nicholas Lim stepped in with GLBT Voices, Benjamin Xue was the man most troubled LGBT youths turned to for support.
At the age of 23, Benjamin founded Young Out Here (YOH) with a group of other queer youths. YOH runs a support group program catering to LGBT youths between the ages of 15 and 22 where they discuss topics such as coming out and bullying.
A low-key activist, Benjamin also used to be in the Pink Dot committee for one year.
6. Otto Fong: The Teacher Who Refused To Apologise For Coming Out
In 2007, when coming out was pretty much unfathomable in Singapore, a teacher at Raffles Institution risked his career to come out on his personal blog.
The aftermath that followed Otto’s blog post was dramatic to say the least. His coming out hit the front-page news and attracted a barrage of letters from anxious parents calling for his resignation. Throughout the entire ordeal, Otto refused to issue an apology and told the principal ‘You can fire me before I apologise, I did nothing wrong.’
Otto has since retired from teaching and is currently focusing on his dream of being a cartoonist. Read his coming out story here.
7. Paddy Chew: The First AIDs Patient To Publicly Come Out In Singapore
In 1998, Paddy Chew made history by becoming the first Singaporean to publicly come out as an AIDs patient when he acknowledged his condition at an AIDs conference.
A bisexual, Paddy helped put a face to a heavily stigmatised disease at a time when AIDs awareness was at an all-time low. He used his newfound fame to shine the spotlight on HIV and AIDs by staging a one-man play and donating all proceeds to the charity organisation AFA.
Paddy may have passed away on 21 August 1999. But his legacy lives on.
8. Jean Chong: The Founder Of A Platform To Empower Queer Women
Jean Chong was one of the 6 co-founders of Sayoni; a volunteer-run social organisation that aims to empower queer Asian women.
Since its inception, Sayoni has conducted a wide array of activities including workshops, forums, camps, talks and many other activities targetted at helping queer women. Apart from her involvement with Sayoni, Jean also played an active organisational role at the Free Community Church and IndigNation.
9. Bryan Choong: The Long-Time Director Of Singapore’s Only LGBT Counselling Centre
For 6 years, Bryan Choong led Oogachaga; Singapore’s only community based counselling centre for the LGBT community.
During his stint as its Executive Director, Bryan directed numerous outreach programs and counselled countless troubled souls. For his contribution to the LGBT Community, Bryan was one of only three Singaporean recipients of the 2014 Asia Pink Awards.
In 2015, Bryan stepped down from his position to join B-Change; a not-for-profit organisation for the LGBT community. However, he continues to serve Oogachaga by being its consultant.
You can read his life story here.
10. Gary and Kenneth: The Brave Gay Couple Who Challenged Section 377A
In 2012, long-time gay couple Gary Lim and Kenneth Chee very bravely filed a legal challenge against Section 377A; the law that criminalises sex between men.
Their constitutional challenge failed, but it sparked a much needed national conversation on Section 377A and what it stood for. The following year, Gary and Kenneth hired top lawyers to launch an appeal against Section 377A but unfortunately, their appeal was again unsuccessful.
11. Dr Khoo Hoon Eng: The Mother Of Gay Sons Who Started A Support Group For Parents Of LGBT Children
Not only did Dr Khoo Hoon Eng accept her two gay son’s homosexuality, she has also been relentlessly campaigning on their behalf for greater acceptance of the LGBT community.
Apart from sharing her heartwarming story at talks and conferences, Dr Khoo is also the co-founder of SAFE Singapore; a support group for parents and families of LGBT children. Highly eloquent, intelligent and insightful, you can check out our video interview with Dr Khoo above.
12. Leow Yangfa; The Man Who Collected Coming Out Stories
Long before Dear Straight People started publishing coming out stories, Leow Yangfa published a compilation of coming out stories in his book ‘I Will Survive’.
A social worker by training, Yangfa recently published the second edition earlier this year which comprises of 21 coming out stories. Yangfa is now the Executive Director of Oogachaga; Singapore’s only community based counselling centre for the LGBT community.
13. Iris Verghese: One Of The Pioneering Crusaders Against Aids In Singapore
Born in 1946, Mrs Iris Verghese has been an activist for AIDs/HIV in Singapore since the 1980s.
For over 3 decades, Iris has dedicated much of her time to tackling the AIDs/HIV issue. Not only has she counselled countless AIDs patents and their families, Iris has also been actively involved in raising funds for HIV prevention. In addition, she has shared her knowledge at various conferences and forums in an effort to tackle the stigma and misinformation surrounding AIDs/HIV in Singapore.
For her outstanding contributions to public health, Iris was awarded with a ‘Lifetime Achievement Award‘ at the inaugural 2008 Red Ribbon Awards.
14. June Chua: Trans Woman Who Started Singapore’s Only Shelter For The Trans Community
June may be relatively new to the activist scene but she has already made waves in the LGBT community.
A transgender woman herself, June Chua co-founder The T Project in 2014; Singapore’s only shelter for homeless transgender individuals. Dedicated to empowering the trans community, June has also given numerous talks and interviews in an effort to raise awareness on the plight of the trans community in Singapore.
The T Project is currently organising a fundraising dinner to be held on 15th August. You can support their cause by getting tickets to their dinner here.
15. Prof Roy Chan: Co-Founder And President Of Singapore’s Leading NGO Against AIDs/HIV
In 1988, Prof Roy Chan co-founded Action for AIDS (AFA); an independent NGO advocating on behalf of persons living with HIV/AIDs.
Since its inception, Roy has served as the President of AFA, spearheading the fight against HIV/AIDs in Singapore. During its early years, AFA focused on prevention measures and providing support to those living with HIV/AIDs. But gradually, AFA launched outreach programs in an effort to educate the wider public about the heavily stigmatised disease.
A former President’s Scholar, Prof Roy Chan was awarded with the prestigious Queen Elizabeth II Gold Award Medal for his contributions to public health in Asia.
Fun fact: Roy Chan used to be a national swimmer who competed in the Olympics!
16. Kelvin Wong: The Founder Of A Gay Sports Group AND A Gay Buddhist Group
Kelvin Wong didn’t just launch one gay community group, he founded two different ones!
Kelvin started ADLUS (Adventurers Like Us), a gay sports group as well as Heartland, a gay buddhist group in 1999. Both groups started out as mailing lists that aimed to connect gay people with common interests at a time when technology wasn’t so advanced yet.
Kelvin also made history by being one of the first few Asians to earn a feature in a 2001 Times article as an openly gay man. An active blogger who regularly writes about issues pertinent to the LGBT community, you can check out Kelvin’s blog here.
17. Roger Winder: The First Programme Director Of AFA Singapore
Roger Winder was the first Programme Director of AFA Singapore; a leading NGO in Singapore advocating against HIV/AIDs.
During his time at the helm of AFA, Roger has been instrumental in its advocacy efforts. One project which he helped launch and took part in was ‘Riding For Life‘, a 900km long fundraising charity bike ride that took 8 days!
Roger has since stepped down from his role and is currently working at a local University.
18. Olivia Chiong: The Woman Who Co-Founded Singapore’s only same-sex parenting support group
Together with her wife Irene, Olivia co-founded Rainbow Parents; the only same-sex parenting support group in Singapore.
A long-time activist, the idea for Rainbow Parents came about when both Olivia and her wife found that there was a dearth of resources available for same-sex parents. In order to fill that gap, Rainbow Parents was born in 2010 as a way for same-sex parents to connect and share information with one another.
In 2016, Olivia wrote a book titled ‘Baby Zoey: Our Search for Life and Family’ hoping to inspire and educate other same-sex couples. Her book can now be found in bookstores across the island including Popular!
Find out more about Olivia in our interview with her here.
19. Prashant: Prominent Long-Time Activist With Pink Dot And Indignation
When we were sourcing around for prominent activists to include on this list, one name that kept popping up was Prashant.
A long-time activist in the LGBT community, Prashant has been actively involved with Pink Dot since its inception, and is currently part of its organising committee. Prashant was also actively involved with Indignation; Singapore’s first gay pride event.
Prashant is also the owner of 2 different cafes; Artistry and Red Baron, which he regularly utilises as a venue to support social causes. The latest event that Prashant has agreed to use his cafe space to support is a fundraising dinner for a trans shelter that will be held at Artistry on 15th August.
20. Madeleine Lim: Lesbian Activist Using Film To Further LGBT Rights
An award winning filmmaker with a penchant for making LGBT related films, Madeleine’s work has earned her numerous awards in the international film circuit.
Madeleine started her activist journey at the tender age of 20, but was forced to flee Singapore 3 years later for her activism work. Since then, she has become a prolific filmmaker known for creating art that focus on the struggles faced by LGBT individuals. In fact, one of her most prominent works ‘Sambal Belacan’ remains banned in Singapore.
Currently based in America, Madeleine was also the co-founder of SAMBAL (Singaporean & Malaysian Bisexual Women and Lesbians) and the US Asian Lesbian Network.
21. Roy Tan: The Man Working Hard To Keep Singapore’s LGBT History Alive
The unofficial historian of Singapore’s LGBT community, Roy Tan has been relentlessly documenting Singapore’s LGBT history on virtual platforms such as the Singapore LGBT encyclopaedia and YouTube for over a decade.
From the birth of Singapore’s first gay disco in the early 1970s to the police entrapment and caning of gay cruisers in the early 1990s, Roy has lived through it all. And he has taken it upon himself to ensure that these salient events do not fade into obscurity.
What’s more impressive for us however, is the fact that he does all this work without expecting anything in return, be it recognition or prestige. For that, we salute him.
Find out more about Roy’s eventful life in our interview with him here.
22. Miak Siew: The Openly Gay Pastor Helping People Reconcile Their Religion With Their Sexuality
Miak Siew is the Executive Pastor of Singapore’s only LGBT affirming church – the Free Community Church (known as Safehaven back then).
Since graduating from the Pacific School of Religion in California in 2011, Miak has counselled numerous tormented souls torn between their religion and sexuality.
I have had the privilege of walking with folks in their darkest moments. It is humbling and rewarding at the same time.
Not your typical pastor, you can read about Miak’s story here.
23. Khairul Ikhwan: The Drag Queen Who Inspired So Many While Battling Cancer
At the very young age of 22, the late Khairul Ikhwan was diagnosed with Stage 4 colorectal cancer.
Despite suffering from a terminal illness, Khairul did not indulge in self-pity. Instead, he took it upon himself to make a positive impact on the world.
Khairul spoke out about his personal struggles with gender identity in an effort to inspire others in an interview with Happy TV. He also staged an art exhibition titled ‘Hope’ featuring 87 art pieces that serve to inspire hope in others.
A former drag queen with PLAY who was known for his visual artistry, Khairul Ikhwan may have passed away in August this year. But his legacy continues to live on.
24. Ng Yi-Sheng: The First Person In Singapore To Collect Coming Out Stories
Almost a decade before Dear Straight People started publishing coming out stories of Singaporeans, Yi-Sheng did it first in 2006 with SQ21: Singapore Queers In The 21st Century.
An award winning playwright who picked up the Singapore Literature Prize in 2008 for his poetry anthology Last Boy, Yi-Sheng is still best known for the stories he helped to pen and compile for SQ21. Featuring 15 different coming out stories from a diverse group of queer individuals, SQ21 continues to inspire and touch hearts almost a decade since it was first published.
25. Andrew Chan: Founder Of LGBT Social Group – MOVE Community
In 2013, Andrew founded MOVE Community – a LGBT friendly social & community club in Singapore.
Andrew was formerly a Program Coordinator with Oogachaga; Singapore’s only community based counselling centre for the LGBT community. The idea for MOVE Community was first hatched in August 2012 and after months of preparation, finally launched on the first day of 2013.
It has been 3 years since MOVE Community was founded but the group remains active, with their next event happening on 7th January 2017.
There Are Many Other Unsung Heroes Out There As Well
Before the keyboard warriors start taking issue with the above list, we would like to emphasise that this list was never meant to be an authoritative one.
Yes, the 25 heroes highlighted above have all made outstanding contributions to the LGBT community. But they aren’t the only ones. Nor are we implying them to be the most important advocates of the LGBT community.
We just want to celebrate the unsung heroes in our community. And hope that the millennials of today will know of the good work that those before them have done for the betterment of our society.
Support Dear Straight People On Patreon
Support Dear Straight People and our mission in telling stories that broaden hearts and open minds by joining us on Patreon!
From as low as $1 a month, you will receive access to patron-only content, behind the scene material, exclusive deals and discounts and many other rewards: bit.ly/PatreonDSP
You might also like to read:
Out Of The Closet: Sean Foo Shares His Story
6 Singaporean Same-Sex Couples Share The Heartwarming Stories Of How They First Met
Former Chemsex Addict Shares His Harrowing Experience Of What Drug Addiction Is Really Like
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Q:
How do I deep copy a library item to another library?
We have an outside document app (PCM) that has a nightly sync to our SharePoint server. All contracts in PCM are synced into SP then we change the PCM document to a link to SP. Recently, we have a need to copy certain files from our SP library to another library on the same site, then update the URL in PCM to point to the new location.
I am brand new to SP. I am writing this in C# using CSOM and CAML Query. My questions are:
IF I have the URL of the document I want, how do I get a ListItem from SP using that URL?
How do I deep copy that ListItem to a new library?
I've gone through several questions here that are "close" to what I am trying to do but this ListItem object is throwing me for a loop. I can't inspect it nor can I confirm that I have all the fields for the content type included.
Any (a lot?) of help is appreciated!
A:
To get the listitem from URL:
ListItem item = web.GetFileByServerRelativeUrl(fileRelativeUrl).ListItemAllFields;
And to copy item to another library follow:
http://sacarter.wordpress.com/2011/12/08/sync-files-sharepoint-files-across-web-applications-using-the-client-object-model/
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
A LARGE volume of smoke from two grass fires burning near the Bruce Highway north of Brisbane is affecting traffic, with motorists warned to use an alternative route.
Fire crews are at the scene at Dakabin and Elimbah and, while both blazes are under control, smoke is blanketing the northbound lanes of the highway.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the area and to take an alternative route.
There is no threat to property, the Department of Community Safety said.
The delay comes only hours after the Bruce Highway was re-opened following a semi-trailer accident in the southbound lanes at North Lakes at 9.15am.
SEE THE CARNAGE AT THE CRASH SCENE
A semi-trailer struck an overpass and then another truck smashed into the back of it.
The trucks and debris have since been removed and the Anzac Avenue overpass has been inspected by engineers.
SEE THE CARNAGE AT THE CRASH SCENE
One driver received a minor back injury in the crash.
Meanwhile, on the city's southside, commuters travelling along the Pacific Motorway at Eight Mile Plains are experiencing congestion before the Gateway merge.
Medium delays are expected on the highway before the Gateway merge due to a previous crash, with motorists urged to allow extra travel time.
Buses and trains are running to schedule. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
People v Monroe (2015 NY Slip Op 07223)
People v Monroe
2015 NY Slip Op 07223
Decided on October 6, 2015
Appellate Division, First Department
Published by New York State Law Reporting Bureau pursuant to Judiciary Law § 431.
This opinion is uncorrected and subject to revision before publication in the Official Reports.
Decided on October 6, 2015
Gonzalez, P.J., Mazzarelli, Sweeny, Richter, Manzanet-Daniels, JJ.
15778 1989/11
[*1] The People of the State of New York Respondent,
vDwinel Monroe, Defendant-Appellant.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Mark Zeno of counsel), for appellant
Dwinel Monroe, appellant pro se.
Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Nicole A. Coviello of counsel), for respondent.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Renee A. White, J. at initial suppression hearing; Daniel P. FitzGerald, J. at independent source hearing, jury trial and sentencing), rendered February 24, 2012, convicting defendant of attempted robbery in the second degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony offender, to a term of seven years, unanimously affirmed.
The record supports the court's determination that, notwithstanding a suppressed identification procedure, the victim had an independent source for his identification of defendant (see Neil v Biggers, 409 US 188, 199-200 [1972]; People v Williams, 222 AD2d 149 [1996], lv denied 88 NY2d 1072 [1996]). Among other things, the victim provided an unusually detailed and accurate description of defendant. Furthermore, the showup identification, which had been suppressed solely on Fourth Amendment grounds, was not unduly suggestive.
The court was not required to make a further inquiry into defendant's "interest" in representing himself, because defendant never "clearly and unequivocally" invoked his right to do so (see People v LaValle, 3 NY3d 88, 106 [2004]). To the extent defendant may have expressed such an interest, the record demonstrates that he abandoned it.
Defendant's pro se ineffective assistance of counsel claims are unreviewable on direct appeal because they involve matters not reflected in, or fully explained by, the record (see People v Rivera, 71 NY2d 705, 709 [1988]; People v Love, 57 NY2d 998 [1982]). Accordingly, since defendant has not made a CPL 440.10 motion, the merits of the ineffectiveness claims may not be addressed on appeal. In the alternative, to the extent the existing record permits review, we find that defendant received
effective assistance under the state and federal standards (see People v Benevento, 91 NY2d 708, 713-714 [1998]; Strickland v Washington, 466 US 668 [1984]).
THIS CONSTITUTES THE DECISION AND ORDER
OF THE SUPREME COURT, APPELLATE DIVISION, FIRST DEPARTMENT.
ENTERED: OCTOBER 6, 2015
CLERK
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Donald Trump’s Justice Department has filed a legal brief arguing against legal protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
The move, in court papers filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit today, confirms a U-turn from the Obama administration, which had often used amicus briefs to intervene in court cases in favour of LGBT rights protections.
The Justice Department intervened in a discrimination case, to argue that civil rights laws should not protect gay workers from discrimination.
The department, led by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, argued that the 1964 Civil Rights Act – which outlaws discrimination based on a number of characteristics – does not provide any protections for gay people, despite outlawing sex-based discrimination.
If the administration’s view is upheld by the courts, it could have a chilling effect – effectively declaring open season for discrimination across the country.
Sarah Warbelow, HRC Legal Director, told PinkNews in a statement: “Attacks against the LGBTQ community at all levels of government continue to pour in from the Trump-Pence Administration.
“In one fell swoop, Trump’s DOJ has provided a roadmap for dismantling years of federal protections and declared that lesbian, gay, and bisexual people may no longer be protected by landmark civil rights laws such as the Fair Housing Act, Title IX, or Title VII.
“For over a decade, courts have determined that discrimination on the basis of LGBTQ status is unlawful discrimination under federal law.
“Today’s filing is a shameful retrenchment of an outmoded interpretation that forfeits faithful interpretation of current law to achieve a politically-driven and legally specious result.”
The case surrounds skydiving instructor Donald Zarda, who was allegedly fired by his employer Altitude Express for being gay.
Zarda’s case had been backed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. but the Justice Department weighed in on the opposite side.
The Trump administration contends that “the essential element of sex discrimination under [civil rights law] Title VII is that employees of one sex must be treated worse than similarly situated employees of the other sex, and sexual orientation discrimination simply does not have that effect”.
It adds: “Congress has made clear through its actions and inactions in this area that Title VII’s prohibition of sex discrimination does not encompass sexual orientation discrimination”.
The administration directs: “This Court should reaffirm its precedent holding that Title VII does not prohibit discrimination because of sexual orientation.”
The decision comes the same day that Trump sparked anger by announcing a ban on transgender people serving in the US military.
In a string of Twitter posts, the President claimed that the military “cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender would entail”. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Radioimmunoimaging. Advances and prospects.
The advent of biotechnology has made it possible to overcome the undesired host antiglobulin response evidenced following the injection of rodent antibodies for radioimmunoimaging; initially through the construction of chimeric and CDR-grafted antibodies and more recently through the derivation of completely human antibodies. Available platforms for derivation of completely human antibodies include phage- and ribosome-display techniques and transgenic mice that are deleted in their own antibody genes and reconstituted with large parts of the genes encoding for human antibodies. Additionally, biotechnology has made it possible to tailor affinity, respectively through CDR-walking or chain schuffling, and avidity, respectively through manifold engineering, of antibodies and derivatives. More recent developments include the development of highly stable single domain binders based on the use of a conserved framework region and a highly variable antigen-binding site, using other proteins or molecules that are smaller in size and easier to manufacture than antibodies. Finally, novel technologies have been and are being developed optimizing the concept of pretargeting. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Fatigue, quality of life, and mood states during chemotherapy in Italian cancer patients.
In cancer patients, fatigue interferes with the individual's functioning and quality of life (QoL). We investigated the association between fatigue and the main QoL dimensions and mood states as well as the main sociodemographic and clinical variables. A total of 105 inpatients undergoing chemotherapy were administered the Revised Piper Fatigue Scale and the EORTC QLQ-C30 and POMS questionnaires, along with a form for collecting personal and clinical data. Compared with patients reporting lower fatigue levels, patients with higher levels showed worse functioning (P <0.001) in every QoL domain (i.e., physical, role, emotional, social, cognitive functioning, pain, and general health) as well as in the assessed mood states (depression-dejection, tension-anxiety, confusion-bewilderment). Moreover, both QoL and mood states in the subgroup reporting intermediate fatigue levels were worse than those of the subgroup with lower fatigue levels (P <0.02), except for emotional functioning, general health and QoL, and tension-anxiety. In addition, fatigue was significantly associated with gender, age, education, performance status, but not with marital status, survival rate of cancer type, and current chemotherapy cycle. The associations observed between fatigue, the main QoL domains, and negative mood states call for further active interventions to prevent and reduce fatigue. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
National Rally For Deaf Rights May 4
National Rally for Deaf Rights is9 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 4, at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe, hosted by Deaf Grassroots Movement-New Mexico.
At the same time at all state capitols across the United States, the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind people will gather to rally for civil rights for Deaf, Hard ofHearing and DeafBlind people. The Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind people, family, friends and allies will stand together to raise awareness of the many issues that continue to plague the Deaf community: oppression of American Sign Language as language of instruction for Deaf children, ongoing denial of employment opportunities, opportunities for advancement and discrimination in the workplace.
Deaf people are denied equal communication access or receive inadequate or inappropriate accommodation in hospitals and doctors’ offices of which equal access is mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Deaf people also do not receive equal access to public services for seniors, for children, and for those with additional disabilities.
The quality of education for Deaf children is, and has been for more than 100 years, abysmal compared to the quality of education the children are not deaf receive. These are the issues that each Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind American faces every single day.
The Deaf Grassroots Movement (DGM) sprouted following the Deaf ProtestSeptember 5th and 6th, 2015, at the White House in Washington, D.C. Similarly, this rally is to raise awareness and call to action the Deaf community and our allies to fight inequality, discrimination and oppression. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Cryptocurrencies to HODL for Passive Income
Trading cryptocurrencies is not the only way to earn from the decentralized digital revolution. With one dapp after another being rolled out on the Ethereum blockchain, and many more dapps expected to launch on other platforms, the opportunities to earn are on the rise.
But generating income from the blockchain revolution can be a lot easier than launching a dapp or day trading cryptocurrencies – in fact, it’s possible to earn passive income by simply hodling certain cryptocurrencies.
In this article, we take a look at our favorite cryptocurrencies for generating passive income.
Blockchain-Based Models for Passive Income
There are several models that allow for regular returns on your digital assets through holding cryptocurrencies.
Mining/Proof-of-Work
Mining used to be all the rage in the early days of the digital gold rush, but it has since become less and less profitable due to high competition. Especially for the larger cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, mining requires a large initial investment, and the return on this investment can take several years to yield profits.
There’s a chance to succeed if you figure out a way to get cheap electricity, but you would still need a large initial investment. Mining smaller cryptocurrencies can still turn out to be profitable, but the risk that the coins you’ve mined will decline in value is also a lot higher, as the mining space has become super-competitive.
That said, if you’re interested, this website can help you figure out what to mine.
Masternodes
Running a masternode, especially for the more popular cryptocurrencies, can still be incredibly profitable. Simply put, a masternode functions as a server, but in a decentralized network. Masternodes are used to complete unique functions that regular nodes can’t, such as instant and private transactions.
Running a masternode requires holding a large amount of native cryptocurrencies of the network you want to become a masternode of (around $1 million in Dash, for example). In return for staking such a large amount of cryptocurrencies to support the network, you’ll get rewarded handsomely in the cryptocurrency of the network.
If you’re interested in running a masternode, this website provides all the information you need.
Proof-of-Stake (PoS)
The PoS model is the alternative to the energy-intensive PoW model for mining cryptocurrencies. Instead of mining for cryptocurrencies through hardware, cryptocurrencies using PoS blockchains are created by holding cryptocurrencies in a staking wallet. In this model, the more coins you stake, the bigger the chances are that your wallet will solve the next block, consequently earning you even more coins.
This can be seen as a downside, as the chances of you earning through this model depends on the amount of coins you have invested in the first place. But an upside is that you can stop staking and sell your holdings at any time. Here’s a solid article about comparing PoW with PoS, and if you want to explore this option further, check out this list of all PoS coins.
Dividends
Some blockchains offer dividends to holders of their native cryptocurrency. These cryptocurrencies have to be kept in the wallet specifically created for that blockchain. Traditionally, companies reward their shareholders by paying them dividends – that is, a portion of the profits – based on their number of shares they hold.
It works the same with blockchain projects – the decentralized model rewards people who hold on to their cryptocurrencies. When holders are paid dividends in accordance with how many tokens they own, they are incentivized to keep their cryptocurrencies instead of trading them. This, in turn, leads to greater price stability of the cryptocurrency.
Our Favorite Passive Income Coins
As you can see, there are multiple ways to make some extra crypto by hodling. The following 5 cryptocurrencies make this possible without the need for large initial investments, which are required for mining and for running masternodes. Your passive income will depend on the size of your holdings, but you can start making a return even with a small amount of these cryptocurrencies.
NEO
The blockchain platform NEO rewards holders of their native cryptocurrency. Earning this reward is simple, as all you have to do is store your NEO in an official NEO wallet. Binance also rewards NEO coin holders, but since it’s an exchange, you don’t hold the private keys and thus don’t really own the coins yourself. It’s an industry best practice to keep your cryptocurrencies in a private wallet. Other exchanges keep the rewards for themselves, so get your NEO out of those.
NEO holders are rewarded in GAS, the token used on the platform to pay for transactions. This means that as long as there are transactions on the NEO blockchain, GAS will be in demand – and thus will have value – which makes receiving free GAS tokens a pretty sweet deal. You can calculate the GAS reward for your NEO holdings here.
KucoinShares
KucoinShares (KCS) are the native tokens of the Kucoin exchange, an increasingly popular cryptocurrency exchange. KCS has been used to attract funding to develop the exchange, and in return, Kucoin shares their daily profits with KCS holders.
50% of their earned transaction fees are rewarded to KCS holders on a daily basis, proportional to the number of KCS they’re holding. This percentage will decrease over time, but the transaction volumes are expected to increase, so the net reward will remain more or less stable. You can calculate the passive income for holding KCS here.
Ark
Ark employs a Delegated Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism. This model is best described as a representative democracy, in which Ark holders vote for delegates to represent them. Voting is done with Ark coins through the official Ark wallet. Here you can find the list of all delegates to choose from.
The delegates are responsible for verifying transactions and securing the network, for which they receive payment in transactions fees and occasionally Ark coins. If delegates perform their tasks poorly or do not live up to the demands of their voters, Ark holders will replace them by voting for other delegates. For a full explanation, see this blogpost.
Once you’ve cast your vote, the delegate you’ve voted for pays you in Ark as a reward for your support. Voting with your coins is all you have to do to generate income. To start earning a passive income through Ark, you will first need to deposit your holdings into an Ark wallet. You can find the latest version of Ark wallets here.
PIVX
PIVX is a fork of Dash, but in contrast to Dash, it has a strong focus on privacy. It uses a Proof-of-Stake mechanism for the mining of PIVX coins. Similar to NEO, PIVX rewards its coin holders for storing their digital assets in the PIVX wallet. No matter how small your holdings, everyone can stake and earn dividends by doing this.
There is one important prerequisite for earning rewards through PIVX staking, though: your wallet needs to be open and online to earn rewards. If you only run your wallet for half a day, you get half the rewards. Click here to calculate the rewards. To be able to earn through staking, you need to download the PIVX blockchain through the installed wallet, which can take several hours.
SIA
SIA allows anyone to make money by renting out their spare digital storage space through decentralized cloud storage. In this way, the platform leverages unused hard drive capacity all over the world. Instead of going through third parties, SIA’s cloud storage is based with its users, who earn by sharing their spare storage capacity. Storage providers engage in smart contracts to ensure they live up to their end of the deal and get paid for providing storage. For a full explanation, check out this video.
So, if you have plenty of space left on your hard drives, you can start monetizing it through the SIA platform. Since it’s an open market, the income earned in SIA coins for providing storage does fluctuate, and will move towards an equilibrium once the SIA cloud gets more users on board. You can find all the tools for providing storage here.
Other Passive Income Coins
Even though these are our 5 favorite passive income coins, there are many more out there, especially the coins based on the Proof-of-Stake model. These include but are not limited to:
VeChain(Thor)
Lisk
Cardano
Bitbeans
Modum
Coss
Stellar Lumens
Icon
Smartcash
Bridgecoin
Neblio
Komodo
NAV coin
Decred
Good luck sitting back and earning more of your beloved digital assets! If you’re interested specifically in PoS coins, check out our list of 12 Best Proof-of-Stake Coins For Passive Income.
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Deities & Buddhism
Buddhism is often erroneously described as atheistic, when in fact traditional Buddhist cosmology explicitly acknowledges the existence of countless gods or devas. (And yes, the devas are in fact considered to be deities, though not always in a way that monotheistic Westerners would recognize).
It would be more accurate to say that Buddhism is untheistic. It does not have deity-worship or the cultus of gods as its central focus for the most part, though there are important exceptions to this. Devotional activity does figure into Buddhism, and it actually has a larger part in Buddhist praxis than many Westerners would like to believe.
3 thoughts on “Deities & Buddhism”
Of course not. That particular flavor of theism is actually pretty rare. In most religions, the gods are powerful but fallible beings, capable of suffering and pain, even death. Just look at Norse mythology.
Yes, everyone should read a few Norse tales when they can. I often see parallels in Norse cosmology with Vedic and also Chinese cosmology. The 3 cosmic regions connected by a tree is most poignant for me. It’s the conception of a link, a road, a gateway, between worlds. Such as when Odin hangs voluntarily on the tree for (9?) nights, his flesh torn by a spear, in order to learn the wisdom of the dead. Wow. What an image! | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Description
Ohio to Erie Trail Oval Sticker – $3 each for the 2 inch by 3 inch oval sticker plus $.23 Ohio Sales Tax. Total for smaller sticker $3.23 each. Please call for quantity discounts for purchases of 10 or more stickers total in any combination of large and small size. Allow 2-3 weeks delivery. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Realism and Idealism - The cold war
It required no more than the postwar Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe,
in defiance of the Western principle of self-determination, to create
doubts regarding the Kremlin's ultimate intentions. As early as
1946, anti-Soviet officials and members of Congress predicted further
Soviet expansion into war torn Europe and elsewhere. Clark
Clifford's September 1946 report to President Truman, reflecting
the views of top U.S. officials, described a deeply threatened world. When
suspected Soviet ambitions, in early 1947, seemed to focus on Greece and
Turkey, the Truman administration framed the Truman Doctrine, with its
corresponding rhetorical predictions of falling dominoes across Europe,
Africa, or Asia, should Greece fall to the country's communist-led
guerrillas. Senator Arthur Vandenberg of Michigan accepted the
administration's dire predictions uncritically.
"Greece," he wrote on 12 March, "must be helped or
Greece sinks permanently into the communist order. Turkey inevitably
follows. Then comes the chain reaction which might sweep from the
Dardanelles to the China Seas." Never before, critics noted, had
U.S. leaders described external dangers in such limitless, imprecise
terms. Secretary of State George C. Marshall, Soviet expert George Kennan,
and columnist Walter Lippmann objected to the language. Lippmann accused
the administration of launching a crusade, not defining a policy.
Even as the West triumphed in all of its anti-Soviet policies during the
next two years, including the creation of West Germany and the formation
of NATO, U.S. fears of the Soviet Union continued to mount. The National
Security Council's study NCS 7, dated 30 March 1948, defined the
Kremlin's challenge in global terms. "The ultimate objective
of Soviet-directed world communism," the document averred,
"is the domination of the world." NCS 68, of April 1950,
comprised the final and most elaborate attempt of the Truman Cold War
elite to arrive at a definition of the burgeoning Soviet threat. It
concluded that the Soviet Union, "unlike previous aspirants to
hegemony, is animated by a new fanatic faith, antithetical to our own, and
seeks to impose its absolute authority over the rest of the world."
What underwrote such fears was not the prospect of Soviet military
expansionism; Soviet armed forces were not prepared to march anywhere.
Rather, it was the fear that the Kremlin, with its alleged control of
international communism, could expand endlessly, without force, merely by
inciting communist revolutions. Actually, by mid-century, Europe was
stabilized with a vengeance. The United States and its allies would not
risk war to change the status quo on the European continent; the Soviets
had no power to do so. Europe was divided, but incredibly stable.
Events in East Asia, where the United States faced two unwanted,
powerfully led communist revolutions in China and Indochina, seemed to
confirm the fears of Soviet expansionism. The reason is clear. Washington
officials presumed, logically, that both revolutions were under Soviet
control. The State Department's China experts, in a memorandum of
October 1948, concluded that the Soviets had established control of China
as firmly "as in the satellite countries behind the Iron
Curtain." The Soviet Union, apparently, had taken over China
without one conquering or occupying soldier. Dean Acheson claimed no less.
"The communist leaders," he declared, "have foresworn
their Chinese heritage and have publicly announced their subservience to a
foreign power, Russia." Following the Chinese communist victory in
late 1949, NSC 48/1 declared: "The USSR is now an Asiatic power of
the first magnitude with expanding influence and interests extending
throughout continental Asia and into the Pacific."
By the 1960s, much of America's predominant realism had become
soft, emphasizing less the requirements of security and defense than the
need of accommodation with the realities of coexistence. Convinced that
previous administrations had exaggerated the Soviet threat, President
Jimmy Carter set out in 1977 to establish a more relaxed, flexible,
nonideological relationship with the Soviet Union and China. With the U.S.
failure in Vietnam, the country could no longer maintain the illusion of
global power. Carter recognized that reality by lessening the strategic
importance of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Nationalism, he believed,
limited Soviet as well as American influence in the Third World. In
dismissing the Cold War commitment to global containment, the Carter
administration accepted Soviet activity in the Afro-Asian world with
profound indifference. It expected the Soviets to respond by showing
strategic restraint in exploiting opportunities for adventurism created by
the new burst of revolutionary turmoil across the Third World. By the
mid-1970s, former Democratic liberals launched, as neoconservatives, an
anticommunist crusade to reassert America's role as defender of the
free world against the renewed Soviet danger. The neoconservatives found
themselves aligned with the traditional Right, characterized by Republican
columnists William Buckley, George Will, William Safire, and Patrick
Buchanan.
Already facing open challenges to its alleged loss of will, the Carter
administration reacted to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, in late
December 1979, with bewilderment and rage. National security adviser
Zbigniew Brzezinski warned the country that the Soviet Union now
threatened American interests from the Mediterranean to the Sea of Japan.
On 4 January, the president revealed his fears to the nation. "A
Soviet-occupied Afghanistan," he declared, "threatens both
Iran and Pakistan and is a stepping stone to possible control over much of
the world's oil supplies…. If the Soviets…maintain
their dominance over Afghanistan and then extend their control to adjacent
countries, the stable, strategic and peaceful balance of the entire world
will be changed."
The widespread assumptions that the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan exposed
south and Southwest Asia to further Soviet encroachment pushed American
hawkishness to a new high. For many journalists and public officials, the
Soviet invasion sounded the inauguration of another cold war. Polls as
well as the reports of newspaper correspondents around the country
revealed the return of an assertive, Cold War mentality.
Ronald Reagan caught the country's post-Afghan alarms at full tide,
embellished them, and rode them to victory in the presidential campaign of
1980. He and the Republican Party pilloried the Carter administration for
leading the country into the posture of "weakness, inconsistency,
vacillation, and bluff" that enabled the Soviet Union to surpass
the United States in military power. Under Reagan, the Committee on the
Present Danger gained the influence that Carter had denied it; fifty-one
of its members secured positions in the Reagan administration. The Reagan
team determined to counter the global Soviet threat by aiding Nicaragua
and El Salvador, thereby preventing the rhetorical dominoes from falling
across both South America and North America.
Despite the new administration's tough rhetoric and massive
expansion of the military budget, it maintained the same defense posture
of previous administrations, much to the disgust of those who took the
Reagan rhetoric of rollback seriously. The Reagan administration made no
effort to recover the alleged losses of the Carter years in Africa and the
Middle East. It accepted the Soviet presence in Afghanistan, but held the
established containment lines. Indeed, what perpetuated the decades of
laudable superpower coexistence was the decision of successive
administrations to abjure the dictates of ideology and pursue the limited
goals of containment.
The process of Soviet disintegration culminated in the collapse of the
Soviet satellite empire in Eastern Europe in 1989 and the demise of the
Cold War during the following year. Reagan supporters attributed the
Soviet collapse to the rhetorical toughness and military buildup of the
Reagan years. For Soviet experts, the communist regime's crash
flowed naturally from its internal flaws, its political erosion, and its
ideological rejection. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
It’s no coincidence that Union Social, the newest concept from Wooden Nickel Bar Company restaurateur Reese Gardner, looks out at the nearby NoMa Metro tracks from its floor-to-ceiling windows. Every detail of the restaurant draws inspiration from the District’s transportation system: From the white and yellow subway tiles that line the walls to the train-themed cocktails on the menu.
The idea came to Gardner out of the industrial feel of the 5,600-square foot space and its location near the Union Station and NoMa Metro stops. “Being so close to the Metro, we really just incorporated a lot of things we saw there daily,” Gardner says. The finished look is designed by Maggie O’Neill, who also worked with Gardner on Irish Public House and Copperwood Tavern, and includes framed street maps, crosswalk-themed wallpaper, and even a full-sized stoplight.
The cocktail menu adds to the theme, with drinks like the Redline, a sour made with peppercorn-infused tequila. The Angel’s Seat, a citrusy cocktail with Angel’s Envy bourbon and a rosemary sprig garnish, gets its name from a slang phrase for the second level of a caboose.
While the design and drink menu nod to the “Union” (as in Station) part of the restaurant’s name, chef Randy Mosteller (formerly of Bethesda’s Redwood) says the food speaks to the “Social” side.
The bulk of the menu is meant for groups, with shareable plates like “social dips” and long breads baked in-house. A rotating menu of six “local meals” sourced with ingredients from farms in Maryland and Virginia provide heartier plates. On the list: a brined pork chop dish finished with maple mustard and sweet potato puree, seared branzino with clams soaked in saffron broth, and lamb meatballs served with lemon herb ricotta.
Also on the menu are oysters sourced from Rappahannock Oyster Co.; a variety of classic soups and salads (think french onion and kale caesar); and comfort foods like fried Brussels sprouts topped with bacon, truffle mac and cheese, and mashed potatoes with boursin cheese.
The menu will change seasonally based on local offerings. The restaurant, which opened its doors last week, will add a brunch menu this weekend, including dishes like French toast with orange honey butter, a short rib Benedict, and blueberry ricotta pancakes.
Meanwhile, a table-service bar toward the back of the restaurant leaves bartenders at the main bar free for more interaction with customers. Gardner says the setup is part of the restaurant’s so-called “social” emphasis, which is enhanced by several long tables meant to seat multiple parties.
“We want people to walk in and instantly create a relationship with not only the staff, but maybe it’s the person sitting beside them, or the person that they’re going to meet after dinner for drinks at the bar,” Gardner says. “I think that’s what D.C.’s about.”
Union Social, 100 Florida Ave. NE; (202) 652-1844; unionsocialdc.com
Photos by Tatiana Cirisano | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Inequity aversion
Inequity aversion (IA) is the preference for fairness and resistance to incidental inequalities. The social sciences that study inequity aversion include sociology, economics, psychology, anthropology, and ethology.
Human studies
Inequity aversion research on humans mostly occurs in the discipline of economics though it is also studied in sociology.
Research on inequity aversion began in 1978 when studies suggested that humans are sensitive to inequities in favor of as well as those against them, and that some people attempt overcompensation when they feel "guilty" or unhappy to have received an undeserved reward.
A more recent definition of inequity aversion (resistance to inequitable outcomes) was developed in 1999 by Fehr and Schmidt. They postulated that people make decisions so as to minimize inequity in outcomes. Specifically, consider a setting with individuals {1,2,...,n} who receive pecuniary outcomes xi. Then the utility to person i would be given by
where α parametrizes the distaste of person i for disadvantageous inequality in the first nonstandard term, and β parametrizes the distaste of person i for advantageous inequality in the final term.
Punishing unjust success and game theory
Fehr and Schmidt showed that disadvantageous inequity aversion manifests itself in humans as the "willingness to sacrifice potential gain to block another individual from receiving a superior reward". They argue that this apparently self-destructive response is essential in creating an environment in which bilateral bargaining can thrive. Without inequity aversion's rejection of injustice, stable cooperation would be harder to maintain (for instance, there would be more opportunities for successful free riders).
James H. Fowler and his colleagues also argue that inequity aversion is essential for cooperation in multilateral settings. In particular, they show that subjects in random income games (closely related to public goods games) are willing to spend their own money to reduce the income of wealthier group members and increase the income of poorer group members even when there is no cooperation at stake. Thus, individuals who free ride on the contributions of fellow group members are likely to be punished because they earn more, creating a decentralized incentive for the maintenance of cooperation.
Experimental economics
Inequity aversion is broadly consistent with observations of behavior in three standard economics experiments:
Dictator game – The subject chooses how a reward should be split between himself and another subject. If the dictator acted self-interestedly, the split would consist of 0 for the partner and the full amount for the dictator. While the most common choice is indeed to keep everything, many dictators choose to give, with the second most common choice being the 50:50 split.
Ultimatum game – The dictator game is played, but the recipient is allowed to veto the entire deal, so that both subjects receive nothing. The partner typically vetos the deal when low offers are made. People consistently prefer getting nothing to receiving a small share of the pie. Rejecting the offer is in effect paying to punish the dictator (called the proposer).
Trust game – The same result as found in the dictator game shows up when the dictator's initial endowment is provided by his partner, even though this requires the first player to trust that something will be returned (reciprocity). This experiment often yields a 50:50 split of the endowment, and has been used as evidence of the inequity aversion model.
In 2005, John List modified these experiments slightly to determine if something in the construction of the experiments was prompting specific behaviors. When given a choice to steal money from the other player, even a single dollar, the observed altruism all but disappeared. In another experiment, the two players were given a sum of money and the choice to give or take any amount from the other player. In this experiment, only 10% of the participants gave the other person any money at all, and fully 40% of the players opted to take all of the other player's money.
The last such experiment was identical to the former, where 40% were turned into a gang of robbers, with one catch: the two players were forced to earn the money by stuffing envelopes. In this last experiment, more than two thirds of the players neither took nor gave a cent, while just over 20% still took some of the other player's money.
In 2011, Ert, Erev and Roth ran a model prediction competition on two datasets, each of which included 120 two-player games. In each game player 1 decides whether to "opt out" and determine the payoffs for both players, or to "opt in" and let player 2 decide about the payoff allocation by choosing between actions "left" or "right". The payoffs were randomly selected, so the dataset included games like the Ultimatum, Dictator, and Trust, as well as other games. The results suggested that inequity aversion could be described as one of many strategies that people might use in such games.
Other research in experimental economics addresses risk aversion in decision making and the comparison of inequality measures to subjective judgments on perceived inequalities.
Studies of companies
Surveys of employee opinions within firms have shown modern labor economists that inequity aversion is very important to them. Employees compare not only relative salaries but also relative performance against that of co-workers. Where these comparisons lead to guilt or envy, inequity aversion may lower employee morale. According to Bewley (1999), the main reason that managers create formal pay structures is so that the inter-employee comparison is seen to be "fair", which they considered "key" for morale and job performance.
It is natural to think of inequity aversion leading to greater solidarity within the labor pool, to the benefit of the average employee. However, a 2008 paper by Pedro Rey-Biel shows that this assumption can be subverted, and that an employer can use inequity aversion to get higher performance for less pay than would be possible otherwise. This is done by moving away from formal pay structures and using off-equilibrium bonus payments as incentives for extra performance. He shows that the optimal contract for inequity aversion employees is less generous at the optimal production level than contracts for "standard agents" (who don't have inequity aversion) in an otherwise identical two-employee model.
Criticisms
In 2005 Avner Shaked distributed a "pamphlet" entitled "The Rhetoric of Inequity Aversion" that attacked the inequity aversion papers of Fehr & Schmidt. In 2010, Shaked has published an extended version of the criticism together with Ken Binmore in the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization (the same issue also contains a reply by Fehr and Schmidt and a rejoinder by Binmore and Shaked). A problem of inequity aversion models is the fact that there are free parameters; standard theory is simply a special case of the inequity aversion model. Hence, by construction inequity aversion must always be at least as good as standard theory when the inequity aversion parameters can be chosen after seeing the data. Binmore and Shaked also point out that Fehr and Schmidt (1999) pick a distribution of alpha and beta without conducting a formal estimation. The perfect correlation between the alpha and beta parameters in Fehr and Schmidt (1999) is an assumption made in the appendix of their paper that is not justified by the data that they provide.
More recently, several papers have estimated Fehr-Schmidt inequity aversion parameters using estimation techniques such as maximum likelihood. The results are mixed. Some authors have found beta larger than alpha, which contradicts a central assumption made by Fehr and Schmidt (1999). Other authors have found that inequity aversion with Fehr and Schmidt's (1999) distribution of alphas and betas explains data of contract-theoretic experiments not better than standard theory; they also estimate average values of alpha that are much smaller than suggested by Fehr and Schmidt (1999). Moreover, Levitt and List (2007) have pointed out that laboratory experiments tend to exaggerate the importance of pro-social behaviors because the subjects in the laboratory know that they are being monitored.
An alternative to the concept of a general inequity aversion is the assumption that the degree and the structure of inequality could lead either to acceptance or to aversion of inequality.
Non-human studies
An experiment on capuchin monkeys (Brosnan, S and de Waal, F) showed that the subjects would prefer receiving nothing to receiving a reward awarded inequitably in favor of a second monkey, and appeared to target their anger at the researchers responsible for the inequitable distribution of food. Anthropologists suggest that this research indicates a biological and evolutionary sense of social "fair play" in primates, though others believe that this is learned behavior or explained by other mechanisms. There is also evidence for inequity aversion in chimpanzees (though see a recent study questioning this interpretation). The latest study shows that chimpanzees play the Ultimatum Game in the same way as children, preferring equitable outcomes. The authors claim that we now are near the point of no difference between humans and apes with regard to a sense of fairness. Recent studies suggest that animals in the canidae family also recognize a basic level of fairness, stemming from living in cooperative societies. Animal cognition studies in other biological orders have not found similar importance on relative "equity" and "justice" as opposed to absolute utility.
Social inequity aversion
Fehr and Schmidt's model may partially explain the widespread opposition to economic inequality in democracies, but a distinction should be drawn between inequity aversion's "guilt" and egalitarianism's "compassion", which does not necessarily imply injustice.
Inequity aversion should not be confused with the arguments against the consequences of inequality. For example, the pro-publicly funded health care slogan "Hospitals for the poor become poor hospitals" directly objects to a predicted decline in medical care, not the health-care apartheid that is supposed to cause it. The argument that average medical outcomes improve with reduction in healthcare inequality (at the same total spending) is separate from the case for public healthcare on the grounds of inequity aversion.
See also
Altruism
Behavioral economics
Equality of outcome
Equity theory
Reciprocity (cultural anthropology)
Risk aversion
Social preferences
Social inequity aversion
References
External links
Summary of the "Monkeys like fair play" Capuchin experiment for kids, from the BBC.
"Monkeys Show Sense Of Fairness, Study Says" (National Geographic News, September 17, 2003).
Sarah Brosnan's Emory University homepage listing her inequity research publications.
Fehr & Schmidt's March 2005 response to Shaked's critique
Anger and Guilt: An Alternative to Inequity Aversion Models – Raúl López Pérez defines the Fehr and Schmidt IA model mathematically as well as proposing a different formulational of 'emotional' deviations from rationality.
Category:Game theory
Category:Cognitive biases
Category:Egalitarianism
Category:Moral psychology | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Gamma-ray bursts and cosmology.
I review the current status of the use of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) as probes of the early Universe and cosmology. I describe the promise of long GRBs as probes of the high redshift (z>4) and very high redshift (z>5) Universe, and several key scientific results that have come from observations made possible by accurate, rapid localizations of these bursts by Swift. I then estimate the fraction of long GRBs that lie at very high redshifts and discuss ways in which it may be possible to rapidly identify-and therefore study-a larger number of these bursts. Finally, I discuss the ways in which both long and short GRBs can be made 'standard candles' and used to constrain the properties of dark energy. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Bad Manners and Nomad/Outlook Limitations
"There have been several instances where individuals who have been invited to a meeting have forwarded the meeting invitation to other individuals. Even though this is an option that is available in Outlook, it is not advisable for several reasons. It is considered poor meeting etiquette to invite other people to a meeting who are not on the original guest list."
Categories:
NASA GSFC Internal Memo: Outlook Calendars\n\n\"There have been several instances where individuals who have been invited to a meeting have forwarded the meeting invitation to other individuals. Even though this is an option that is available in Outlook, it is not advisable for several reasons. It is considered poor meeting etiquette to invite other people to a meeting who are not on the original guest list.\"
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Stock Tips for Jindal Poly Films Limited
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48 F.Supp.2d 729 (1999)
Margaret BELCHER, et al., Plaintiffs,
v.
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, et al., Defendants.
No. 97CV00530.
United States District Court, S.D. Ohio, Eastern Division.
June 9, 1999.
*730 *731 *732 Christopher King, Columbus, OH, for plaintiffs.
Bonnie Linda Maxton, Jeffrey Lynn Glasgow, Anne E. Thomson, Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, Columbus, OH, for defendant.
ORDER
MARBLEY, District Judge.
This matter is before the Court on Defendant Franklin County Department of Human Services' ("Defendant") Motion for Summary Judgment.[1] Plaintiff, Margaret Belcher, individually and on behalf of Kiddies Kastle, Inc., brings this action alleging violations of her civil rights under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, and the Age Discrimination in Federally Assisted Programs Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6101, et seq. Plaintiff also alleges claims for state law discrimination pursuant to Ohio Revised Code § 4112 et seq., common law breach of contract, defamation, and infliction of emotional distress. For the following reasons, Defendant's Motion is GRANTED in part and DENIED in part.
II. FACTS
Kiddies Kastle, Inc., a day care provider for low income children in Columbus, was formed in 1969 by Margaret Belcher, the owner and operator of the center. Defendant Franklin County Department of Human Services is a recipient of Federal Block Grant funding, and contracts with licensed day care centers to provide subsidized *733 child care. The subsidy contracts that the Defendant issues are referred to as Title XX contracts. Pursuant to OHIO REV.CODE § 5104.34(a)(1), Defendant is required to establish eligibility requirements for awarding Title XX contracts. Day care centers awarded Title XX contracts are reimbursed a percentage of their expenses allocated for child day care services. To receive a Title XX contract, applicants must meet both state and federal licensing requirements.
Beginning in the late 1970's, Plaintiff began applying for Title XX contracts with Defendant. For unexplained reasons during the 1970's, 1980's, and early 1990's, Plaintiff's applications for Title XX contracts were denied. At oral argument, Defendant's counsel was unaware of the reason that Plaintiff was denied Title XX contracts. Plaintiff contends that the nearly two decades of Title XX contract denial was based on unlawful racial animus.
In 1993, however, Plaintiff was awarded the first of three Title XX contracts by Defendant, the last of which having an effective date of July 1, 1995, through June 30, 1997. After receiving her first Title XX contract in 1993, Plaintiff was excluded from a roster of available facilities that Defendant sent to a large potential client base. Plaintiff maintains that Defendant intentionally excluded her from the roster and that this exclusion caused substantial harm to her facility. In addition, Plaintiff contends that in 1996 a potential client who desired to enroll at Plaintiff's facility was discouraged from doing so by Defendant, and that the potential client was sent to Middlebrook Day Care Center, a Caucasian facility located across the street from Plaintiff's center. Plaintiff also maintains that Defendant intentionally published and circulated false rumors of child abuse, general incompetence, and other negative conditions at Plaintiff's center. The record is unclear as to where and to whom these rumors were circulated.
Finally, Plaintiff contends that the Ohio Department of Health and Human Services (ODHS) and Defendant did not apprise her of her right to bring civil rights claims in relation to the Title XX contracts, as required by 45 C.F.R. §§ 80.4(b)(2) and 80.6(d). In connection with this failure of notice, Plaintiff filed a complaint with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (USHHS). USHHS initiated an investigation and found that ODHS was in violation of the regulations. Plaintiff and ODHS entered into a resolution agreement which detailed the violations and outlined the remedies thereto. Although Defendant was named in Plaintiff's complaint to USHHS, Defendant was not actually a party to the investigation or the resolution agreement. It is clear, however, that Defendant is obligated to give notice under 45 C.F.R. §§ 80.4(b)(2) and 80.6(d).[2]
On April 29, 1997, Defendant gave notice of its intention to terminate Plaintiff's Title XX contract. The reason Defendant gave for terminating the contract was that enforcement proceedings were initiated against Plaintiff's facility by ODHS for alleged noncompliance with Revised Code *734 § 5101.[3] Defendant contends that it is its policy to terminate all contracts with day care centers, whether minority or majority owned, once Defendant learns that enforcement proceedings have been initiated against that center.[4] Plaintiff retained her license throughout and after the enforcement proceedings. Plaintiff has been unsuccessful, however, in having her Title XX contract reinstated since its termination in 1997.
III.
Under FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c), summary judgment is appropriate "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law." FED.R.CIV.P. 56(c). The movant has the burden of establishing that there are no genuine issues of material fact, which may be accomplished by demonstrating that the nonmoving party lacks evidence to support an essential element of its case. See Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, 477 U.S. 317, 322-23, 106 S.Ct. 2548, 91 L.Ed.2d 265 (1986); Barnhart v. Pickrel, Schaeffer & Ebeling Co., L.P.A., 12 F.3d 1382, 1388-89 (6th Cir.1993). The non-moving party must then present "significant probative evidence" to show that "there is [more than] some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts." Moore v. Philip Morris Cos., Inc., 8 F.3d 335, 339-40 (6th Cir.1993). "[S]ummary judgment will not lie if the dispute is about a material fact that is `genuine,' that is, if the evidence is such that a reasonable jury could return a verdict for the non-moving party." Anderson v. Liberty Lobby, Inc., 477 U.S. 242, 248, 106 S.Ct. 2505, 91 L.Ed.2d 202 (1986); see also Matsushita Elec. Indus. Co. v. Zenith Radio Corp., 475 U.S. 574, 587, 106 S.Ct. 1348, 89 L.Ed.2d 538 (1986) (summary judgment appropriate when the evidence could not lead a trier of fact to find for the non-moving party).
In evaluating a motion for summary judgment the evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the non-moving party. See Adickes v. S.H. Kress & Co., 398 U.S. 144, 157, 90 S.Ct. 1598, 26 L.Ed.2d 142 (1970). The mere existence of a scintilla of evidence in support of the non-moving party's position will be insufficient; there must be evidence on which the jury could reasonably find for the non-moving party. See Anderson, 477 U.S. at 251, 106 S.Ct. 2505; see also Copeland v. Machulis, 57 F.3d 476, 479 (6th Cir.1995).
IV.
1. Plaintiffs' § 1981 Claim
42 U.S.C. § 1981 provides that "[a]ll persons within the jurisdiction of the United States shall have the same right ... to make and enforce contracts ... as is enjoyed by white citizens[.]" The same evidentiary framework applicable to Title VII cases, the McDonnell Douglas framework, also governs § 1981 claims. See Patterson v. McLean Credit Union, 491 U.S. 164, 186, 109 S.Ct. 2363, 105 L.Ed.2d 132 (1989); Mitchell v. Toledo Hosp., 964 F.2d 577, 582 (6th Cir.1992).
Under the McDonnell Douglas burden-shifting principle, a plaintiff bears the burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence a prima facie case and creating a presumption of discrimination by demonstrating: (1) membership in the protected class; (2) that she suffered from an *735 adverse action; (3) that she was qualified for the position; and (4) that she was treated differently from similarly situated members of the unprotected class. See Mitchell, 964 F.2d at 582-83 (citing McDonnell Douglas, 411 U.S. 792, 802, 93 S.Ct. 1817, 36 L.Ed.2d 668 (1973)). Once the plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, a defendant may offer any legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the action, which the plaintiff may rebut by evidence of pretext; however, the burden of proof always remains with the plaintiff. See id. (citing St. Mary's Honor Ctr. v. Hicks, 509 U.S. 502, 113 S.Ct. 2742, 125 L.Ed.2d 407 (1993)).
Although Plaintiff's lawyer has not attempted to show a prima facie case of race discrimination under § 1981, a liberal reading of the undisputed facts discussed in the pleadings, in a light most favorable to Plaintiff's case, establishes Plaintiff's initial burden of proof. See Texas Department of Community Affairs v. Burdine, 450 U.S. 248, 253, 101 S.Ct. 1089, 67 L.Ed.2d 207 (1981) (the initial burden is not an onerous burden).
First, it is clear that Plaintiff, an African American woman, is a member of a protected class. Second, Plaintiff suffered an adverse action by not receiving the desired Title XX contracts prior to 1993, and also by having her contract terminated in 1997. Third, although disputed at various times, Plaintiff, a Meharry Medical College School of Nursing graduate and licensed day care provider, was qualified to receive the Title XX contracts. Fourth, there is evidence in the record that Plaintiff was treated differently from similarly situated members of the unprotected class. For example, it is undisputed that unprotected child care facilities operated by non-minorities were granted Title XX contracts during the 1970's, 1980's, and early 1990's, while Plaintiff was not.
If a plaintiff establishes a prima facie case, the burden shifts to the defendant to offer a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for the alleged adverse action. See Mitchell, 964 F.2d at 582-83. Here Defendant has not offered a legitimate reason for refusing to enter into contracts with Plaintiff prior to 1993. In fact, at oral argument, Defendant's counsel stated that he was unaware of the reason that Plaintiff was denied Title XX contracts prior to 1993. Defendant does, however, offer a legitimate reason for terminating Plaintiff's contract in 1997: the initiation of enforcement proceedings against Kiddie Kastle. Defendant argues that its policy has been applied consistently, to both minority and majority owned centers, since its inception in 1993, and that it is merely coincidental that Plaintiff's contract was the first to be terminated pursuant to the policy. Therefore, Defendant has satisfied its burden of offering a legitimate, nondiscriminatory reason for terminating Plaintiff's contract in 1997, but has failed to offer a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for its refusal to grant Plaintiff contracts prior to 1993.
Once Defendant offers a legitimate, non-discriminatory reason for terminating Plaintiff's contract, the burden then shifts back to Plaintiff to show that the proffered reason is a pretext for unlawful discrimination. See Mitchell, 964 F.2d at 582-83. Plaintiff argues that Defendant's policy is pretext for discrimination in light of repeated incidents of discrimination that she suffered since she obtained a Title XX contract in 1993. Plaintiff points to three incidents to support her pretext argument: (1) her exclusion from the availability roster in 1994, (2) Defendant steering clients to other non-minority facilities, and (3) Defendant's failure to give Plaintiff notice of her right to pursue civil rights actions. It is clear that individually these incidents do not suggest a pretextual discriminatory intent through Defendant's application of the policy. When considered in the aggregate, however, in a light most favorable to Plaintiff, it can be reasonably concluded that the application of the policy to Plaintiff was a pretext for discrimination. Thus, *736 Plaintiff has satisfied her burden of proof under the McDonnell Douglas analysis.
Defendant maintains that Plaintiff's federal civil rights claims are barred by the applicable statute of limitations. Section 1981 contains no express statute of limitations. Instead, § 1981 actions must be brought within the limitation period for personal injury claims of the state in which the action arises. See Goodman v. Lukens Steel Co., 482 U.S. 656, 662, 107 S.Ct. 2617, 96 L.Ed.2d 572 (1987). In this case, Ohio's two year general statute of limitations, arising from OHIO REV.CODE § 2305.10, is to be applied to civil rights claims arising in Ohio. See LRL Properties v. Portage Metro Hous. Auth., 55 F.3d 1097, 1105 (6th Cir.1995). Thus, a § 1981 claim must be filed within two years from the date of the alleged incident of discrimination. Id. Defendant contends that the alleged discrimination of which Plaintiff complains is barred by the two year statute of limitations.
Plaintiff argues, however, that his case should be analyzed under the "continuing violation" doctrine, which is applicable where a plaintiff "challenges not just one incident of [unlawful] conduct ... but an unlawful practice that continues into the limitations period." Havens Realty Corp. v. Coleman, 455 U.S. 363, 381, 102 S.Ct. 1114, 71 L.Ed.2d 214 (1982). Under this doctrine, the statute of limitations begins to accrue from the date of the most recent act of discrimination. See Dixon v. Anderson, 928 F.2d 212, 215 (6th Cir.1991). "[T]here are important reasons not to require that a discrimination suit be filed at the first instance of discrimination ... To do so, would frustrate the broad remedial purposes of civil rights laws which encourage the eradication of discrimination." Hull v. Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School Dist. Bd. Of Educ., 926 F.2d 505, 511 (6th Cir.1991).
Courts view "continuing violations" as falling into two categories of narrowly limited exceptions to the usual rule that "statutes of limitations ... are triggered at the time the alleged discriminatory act occurred." E.E.O.C. v. Penton, 851 F.2d 835, 837-38 (6th Cir.1988). The first category of continuing violation arises where there is some evidence of present discriminatory activity. See id. An example of present discriminatory activity is when an employer commits an unlawful act by giving unequal pay for equal work. See Dixon, 928 F.2d at 216. Each unequal payment constitutes a present discriminatory act which triggers the accrual of the statute of limitations. Id. Of course, this category requires a "current" as well as "continuing" violation: at least one of the forbidden discriminatory acts must have occurred within the relevant limitations period. Id. (citing Bazemore v. Friday, 478 U.S. 385, 394-95, 106 S.Ct. 3000, 92 L.Ed.2d 315 (1986)). Thus under this first category, the limitations period begins to run in response to discriminatory acts themselves, not in response to the continuing effects of past discriminatory acts. Id.
The second category of continuing violation arises where there has occurred "a longstanding and demonstrable policy of discrimination." Penton, 851 F.2d at 838. To establish such a policy, the plaintiff must clearly demonstrate some "over-arching policy of discrimination," and not merely the occurrence of isolated incidents of discrimination. See Janikowski v. Bendix Corp., 823 F.2d 945, 948 (6th Cir.1987).
In this case, Plaintiff contends that the continuing violation doctrine applies based on present discriminatory activity. Plaintiff maintains that Defendant discriminated against her by refusing to grant her a Title XX contract prior to 1993, and, after 1993, by excluding her from the availability roster, by not providing notice of her right to pursue civil rights actions, by discouraging a potential client from enrolling at Plaintiff's center, and finally by terminating her contract in 1997. Plaintiff therefore argues that statue of limitations should accrue from the date her contract *737 was terminated in 1997. The Court is persuaded by this argument. This is precisely the type of situation that the continuing violation doctrine was designed to protect against an apparent ongoing or continuous pattern of discrimination. See Hull, 926 F.2d at 511. Thus, Plaintiff's § 1981 claim is not time-barred.
Accordingly, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as to Plaintiff's § 1981 claim
2. Plaintiff's § 1983 Claim.[5]
Section 1983 provides: "Every person who under color of any statute, ordinance, regulation, custom, or usage, of any State ... subjects, or causes to be subjected, any citizen of the United States or other person within the jurisdiction thereof to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws, shall be liable to the party injured in an action at law, suit in equity, or other proper proceeding for redress...." 42 U.S.C. § 1983. By its terms, § 1983 creates no substantive rights; it merely provides remedies for deprivations of established rights. See City of Oklahoma City v. Tuttle, 471 U.S. 808, 105 S.Ct. 2427, 85 L.Ed.2d 791 (1985).
In this case, Plaintiff argues that the process afforded to her by Defendant was constitutionally inadequate, and thus, Defendant violated her property interests as secured by the Due Process Clause. Plaintiff contends that by refusing to grant her Title XX contracts and by failing to notify her of her right to pursue civil rights actions, Defendant deprived her of property interests.
To survive summary judgment on a procedural due process claim, however, Plaintiff must first demonstrate that she possessed a cognizable property interest in the Title XX contracts or in being notified of the right to pursue civil rights actions. "The existence of a property interests depends largely on state law." Bailey v. Floyd County Bd. Of Ed., 106 F.3d 135, 141 (6th Cir.1997) (citing Bd. of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth, 408 U.S. 564, 577, 92 S.Ct. 2701, 33 L.Ed.2d 548 (1972)). A property interest exists and its boundaries are defined by "rules or understandings that stem from an independent source such as state law rules or understandings that secure certain benefits and that support claims of entitlement to those benefits." Id.
It is unclear whether Plaintiff had an entitlement to a Title XX contract. As previously noted, Defendant was required to establish eligibility requirements for determining which applicants receive Title XX contracts. See OHIO REV.CODE § 5104.34(a)(1) (each county department of human services shall implement procedures for making determinations of eligibility for publicly funded child day care). Defendant was required to employ those eligibility requirements to determine the eligibility of each applicant for Title XX contracts. See id. It is unclear from the pleadings what eligibility requirements Defendant established for receiving Title XX contracts and whether Plaintiff met those requirements. As such, Plaintiff has not demonstrated an entitlement to receiving Title XX contracts.
On the other hand, Plaintiff did have an entitlement in receiving notice of her right to file a civil rights complaint with the Ohio Department of Human Services or the U.S. Department of health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. This right is clearly established pursuant to 45 C.F.R. §§ 80.6(d) and 80.4(b)(2). Thus, by federal regulation, Plaintiff had an established right to be notified of her right to pursue civil rights actions. Defendant *738 abridged this right, and therefore, Plaintiff has established a valid § 1983 claim.
Therefore, to the extent discussed above, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as to Plaintiff's § 1983 claim.
3. Plaintiff's Age Discrimination Claim
Pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 6101, et seq., "no person in the United States shall, on the basis of age, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." 42 U.S.C. § 6102. This provision is enforced through regulations set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 42 U.S.C. § 6103. Pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 42.736(a), a complainant must exhaust her administrative remedies prior to filing a civil action to enforce rights under § 6101, et seq. See 28 C.F.R. § 42.736(a). "Administrative remedies are exhausted if (1) 180 days have elapsed since the complainant filed the complaint and the Department has made no finding with regard to the complaint; or (2) the Department issues a finding pursuant to § 42.731(g)(3), in favor of the recipient." Id.
There is no evidence in the record that Plaintiff has exhausted her administrative remedies prior to filing this claim in federal court. Because Plaintiff has not exhausted her administrative remedies, pursuant to 28 C.F.R. § 42.736(a), Plaintiff is precluded from bringing an age discrimination claim under § 6101, et seq. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's § 6101 claim.
4. Plaintiff's State Law (§ 4112) Discrimination Claim
Ohio Revised Code § 4112, et seq., prohibits unlawful discrimination by employers, employment agencies, personnel placement services, labor organizations, or any person engaged in the business of public or private accommodations or real estate, to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, or ancestry without just cause. See OHIO REV.CODE § 4112.02. Pursuant to Revised Code § 4112.01, an employer includes the state or any political subdivision of the state. See OHIO REV.CODE § 4112.01(A)(2). Therefore, Defendant qualifies as an entity covered under the provisions of § 4112. See id.
Section 4112 was designed to redress discrimination by employers against employees that operate in an employment related context. The relationship that Plaintiff and Defendant maintain is a contractual relationship that is not in the employment context, and therefore, not applicable to § 4112. For example, subsection (A) prohibits discrimination in hiring, tenure, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment. In this case, the parties simply do not have an employment relationship that is contemplated by § 4112. Thus, the provisions of § 4112 do not apply to the facts in this case. Therefore, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's § 4112 claim.
5. Plaintiff's Breach Of Contract Claim
In Ohio, the essential elements of a cause of action for breach of contract are: 1) the existence of an enforceable contract; 2) the performance (or excuse from performance) of the contractual obligations by the party seeking relief; 3) breach or failure to fulfill contractual obligations by the other party; and 4) damages suffered by the party seeking relief as a result of the breach. See Garofalo v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., 104 Ohio App.3d 95, 108, 661 N.E.2d 218 (Ohio App.1995); see also Episcopal Retirement Homes, Inc. v. Ohio Dept. of Indus. Relations, 61 Ohio St.3d 366, 369, 575 N.E.2d 134 (1991).
In this case, it is undisputed that Plaintiff was granted a valid Title XX contract, that Plaintiff performed the services of a day care center with the federal financial assistance she received through the Title XX contract, and that Plaintiff suffered *739 damages as a result of the termination of the contract. The only question that remains regarding whether Plaintiff has established a breach of contract action is whether Defendant terminated Plaintiff's Title XX contract for valid, non-discriminatory reasons. This is a question of fact best left to the jury to decide. Thus, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is DENIED as to Plaintiff's breach of contract claim.
6. Plaintiff's Defamation Claim
Defamation is a false publication causing injury to a person's reputation, or exposing him to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame or disgrace, or affecting him adversely in his trade or business. See Matalka v. Lagemann, 21 Ohio App.3d 134, 136, 486 N.E.2d 1220 (1985). A defamation claim has a one year statute of limitations. See Vodila v. Clelland, 836 F.2d 231, 234 (6th Cir.1987). Plaintiff acknowledges and concedes that her defamation claim is time-barred. Therefore, the Court need not consider this claim. Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's defamation claim.
IV.
Therefore, based on the foregoing reasons, Defendant's Motion for Summary Judgment is GRANTED as to Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. § 6101, OHIO REV.CODE § 4112, and defamation claims. Defendant's Motion is DENIED as to Plaintiff's 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981 and 1983, and common law contract claims.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
NOTES
[1] Defendant U.S. Department of Human Services was voluntarily dismissed from this action on September 22, 1997. Defendant Ohio Department of Human Services was voluntarily dismissed from this action on April 9, 1999.
[2] 45 C.F.R. § 80.4(b)(2) states: "Every application by a state or a state agency to carry out a program involving continuing Federal financial assistance to which this regulation applies shall as a condition to its approval and the extension of any Federal financial assistance pursuant to the application provide for such methods of administration for the program as are found by the responsible Department official to give reasonable assurance that the applicant ... will comply with all requirements imposed by this regulation." In addition, 45 C.F.R. § 80.6 states: "Each recipient shall make available to participants ... such information regarding the provisions of this regulation and its applicability to the program for which the recipient receives Federal financial assistance, and make such information available to them in such manner, as the responsible Department official finds necessary to apprize such persons of the protections against discrimination assured them by the Act and this regulation."
[3] The record is not clear which subsection of Ohio Rev.Code § 5101 Plaintiff allegedly violated.
[4] At oral argument Defendant presented statistical evidence indicating that since Defendant initiated its policy of terminating contracts upon notice of enforcement proceedings in 1993 (Plaintiff was the first to have here contract terminated under this policy), five day care centers have had their contracts terminated as a result of the policy. Of these five day care centers, three were Caucasian owned and two were minority owned.
[5] Like claims filed pursuant to § 1981, claims filed under § 1983 are governed by a two year statute of limitations. See Hull v. Cuyahoga Valley Joint Vocational School District Bd. Of Educ., et al., 926 F.2d 505, 510 (6th Cir.1991). Therefore, the § 1981 statute of limitations discussion, including the continuing violation doctrine, applies to Plaintiff's § 1983 claim. Accordingly, Plaintiff's § 1983 claim is not time-barred.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
5 tips for our little runners
Running is a sport that’s easily accessible to all. No doubt this is one of the reasons why it’s hugely popular.
And many parents have even told me how much they are bonding with their kid(s) since they started running together as a family.
Other parents have several questions about children practicing this sport. For example: “Is it OK for children to take part in running?” or “What do we do to prevent injuries?”
The World Health Organization recommends that children should do at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day. So they can jog or run every day if they wish. You should just make sure that the children don’t overdo it with a vengeance and also ensure that there’s no pressure on them to perform: it should remain their choice.
The following points are also important…
Don’t follow a structured training plan; the idea is to run around on various surfaces for “fun“.
Make them discover other types of activities, they need variety and novelty.
Tell them they can walk if they get tired.
Avoid telling them how to run. Children will develop their own technique.
Opt for low, light and flexible shoes, in which you can almost feel the ground.
So go on, put on your shoes! Run as a family, first and foremost for FUN!!!
The following two tabs change content below.
Author
A personal trainer, Annie homes to have a positive impact on the self-esteem, empowerment, and health of women. She encourages women to discover the health benefits, physical, and psychological well-being of an active lifestyle — not to mention the fun! | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Emmanuel Quaye
Emmanuel Quaye (born 19 June 1965) is a Ghanaian boxer. He competed in the men's light middleweight event at the 1988 Summer Olympics. At the 1988 Summer Olympics, he lost to Segundo Mercado of Ecuador.
References
External links
Category:1965 births
Category:Living people
Category:Ghanaian male boxers
Category:Olympic boxers of Ghana
Category:Boxers at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Category:Place of birth missing (living people) | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
SURVEILLANCE powers designed to tackle terrorism have been used by councils in the region more than 500 times for offences as minor as dog fouling, littering and trespassing.
Darlington Borough Council alone has used the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (Ripa) 154 times to investigate alleged offences including racist abuse and benefit fraud.
The Liberal Democrats, who obtained the figures, said that they represented a fresh erosion of civil liberties and warned that Ripa was becoming a “snoopers’ charter”.
The study showed that Ripa powers have been used 527 times in the region since 2004.
Alleged offences included unauthorised use of a vehicle for private hire, anti-social behaviour and benefit fraud.
Several councils also used the powers to conduct internal investigations, including Ryedale District Council, in North Yorkshire, which used the act to conduct five operations investigating suspected dishonesty by staff.
According to the figures, seven officers at Darlington are authorised to use the powers.
In the past five years, the council has used the act 91 times to investigate allegations of noise nuisance.
A council spokesman said: “The council has a Ripa policy which is available for the public to see on the council’s website.
“Any council officer applying Ripa powers will have undertaken the appropriate training and will follow the guidance in the policy.”
Easington District Council used the powers 46 times in the past five years, for alleged offences that included benefit fraud and littering.
Keith Parkinson, the council’s environmental health manager, said: “Councils will use surveillance when the situation warrants it, often to prevent fly-tipping or serious cases of dog fouling or littering.
“It will only be part of a package of measures that include education and warning signs.”
Lib Dem local government spokeswoman Julia Goldsworthy said that when Ripa originally became law, only nine organisations – including the police and security services – were allowed to use it.
That has since been extended to 795 groups.
She said: “We are now in a situation where dog fouling is considered enough to warrant surveillance by council officials.
“Unless Ripa is reformed, it risks becoming a snoopers’ charter.
“Surveillance powers should only be used to investigate serious crimes and must require a magistrate’s warrant.” | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
DIY flux comes straight from the tree
[Tom] needed more solder flux and instead of buying it he thought he’d try making his own. The thing is, he didn’t have any rosin on hand. But knowing its source let him acquire it for free. He took a sample of tree sap and turned it into his own solder flux.
We’ve seen a few different DIY flux recipes this year. The most recent guide suggests sourcing rosin from the hardware store because of the quality, or if that fails you’ll find some at the music store. [Tom] was lucky enough to find a large dollop leaking from a pine tree in his neighborhood. He let it sit overnight in a container along with some isopropyl alcohol. In the morning the sap had fully dissolved, so he ran it through a coffee filter to get rid of any debris. He keeps it in a small jar, applying it to his projects using cotton swabs. You can see his short soldering demo after the break.
I’ve been doing this in my very “early” years (~17 years ago). I lived in a VERY small town, there was no Internet, no E-Bay, no nothing (and no PC). Everything was hard to find, and everything was DIY.
BTW, a pill of Aspirin (or whatever is called in your country) also does the trick, it smokes & smells like hell but it works (and I’m still alive to tell about it, so it’s not lethal :D)
Done it, used it, and it works. If you want it preprocessed (more pure), buy it.
Wikipedia has quite good article about rosin, check it out.
“Rosin consists mainly of abietic acid, and combines with caustic alkalis to form salts (rosinates or pinates) that are known as rosin soaps”
In Wikipedia article about fluxes, in the rosin fluxes part there are the grades of activity.
“R, WW, and RMA grades are used for joints that can not be easily cleaned or where there is too high corrosion risk. More active grades require thorough cleaning of the residues.”
“Rosin, also called colophony or Greek pitch (Pix græca), is a solid form of resin obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vaporize the volatile liquid terpene components.”
Actually, plumbing solder is primarily not good for electronics because it’s a silver (hard) solder and has a much higher melting temperature. Acid flux is definitely not good for electronics, but not just because it’s an acid. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Brian Carpentier, Koffee Kup's executive vice president of sales and marketing, was pleasantly surprised to hear about the ad, saying he was especially taken off guard to learn that the pumpkin flavor was featured, as it debuted only a few days ago.
But he's not surprised to see that others have discovered his product's romantic potential. "I guess we have a new dating thing going on, but I think doughnuts are good for everything," Carpentier says. "Anniversaries, birthdays, everything." | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
This proposal is a renewal request for 25 service units that will allow us to continue the interplay of physiological experimentation and computer simulation that we've pursued since 1989. Over the past year our efforts at modeling cerebral cortical networks engaged in somatosensory information processing have proven useful in guiding our choice of experiments. We currently are writing a series of three articles concerning the effects on cortical neurons of microiontophoretic application of inhibitory receptor agonists and antagonists, and computer simulations thereof. The first paper deals with cortical layer IV results obtained with the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, and bicuculline methiodide, a GABAa receptor subtype antagonist. The second paper deals with a comparison of bicuculline results between layer IV and the layers above and below it, and the third deals with data obtained using the GABAb receptor antagonist, baclofen. Future experiments, and simulations thereof, will include microiontophoretic studies using the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate, as well as ones proposed in our 1992 request that haven't yet been performed. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Simultaneous gas chromatographic determination of chlorpyrifos and its impurity sulfotep in liquid pesticide formulations.
An analytical method for simultaneous determination of the active substance (chlorpyrifos) and its relevant impurity (sulfotep) in commercial pesticide formulations has been developed and validated. The proposed method entails extraction of the analytes from samples by sonication with acetone and analysis by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The proposed method was characterized by satisfactory accuracy and precision. The repeatability expressed as relative standard deviation (RSD) was lower than the acceptable values calculated from the modified Horwitz equation whereas individual recoveries were in the range of 98-102% and 80-120% for chlorpyrifos and sulfotep, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) for the impurity (sulfotep) was 0.003 mg mL(-1) corresponding to the maximum permitted level according to Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) specifications for the active substance (chlorpyrifos) being 3 g kg(-1) of the chlorpyrifos content found. The main advantage of the proposed method was a considerable reduction in the analysis time since both analytes were determined based on a single injection into the GC-FID. Analysis of real samples of commercial pesticide formulations confirmed fitness-for-purpose of the proposed method. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
"He pretended to be our uncle!", growled Alvin. "He pretended to be Santa Claus!",cried Theodore. "He tried to break us up!",hissed Simon. "He tied to cheat us!", the Chipettes said in unison.
These are a few words from a story I wrote called: The Trouble with Uncle Harry! Life has finally caught up with the old rouge. Join him in his journey of regrets, reflection, and redemption.
I picked this character for a story because I wanted to write about giving a loser a second chance at life. All your favorite chipmunks, Chipettes,Grandpa Chipmunk, and Vinny are in this story. If you want to read it. Just Google- The Trouble with Uncle Harry! It will surprise some of you! You will be rooting for the old loser turned hero. As he starts off to find his big brother; and discovers a great secret!
I hated it. They made simon... not... simon. Alvin was too nice, Dave was-well-okay. Idk, there's just something about this movie that makes me want to blow chunks. I mean, it was okay... i guess.
And now, they're going to make a new movie, a sequel, that features the chipettes. I'm just not sure if i really am going to go see it or if i'll even be able to sit through the first 15 minutes! I hope they don't screw it up. I mean, i love Ross Bagdasarian and Janice Karman, but i'm not so sure about the new stuff.
May the hell begin. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Related Articles
Groutable vinyl tile is designed to give the appearance of ceramic tile, but is thinner, much lighter, easier to install and less expensive than most ceramic tiles. Additionally, groutable vinyl tile can be installed anywhere a standard vinyl floor can be installed, particularly over a plywood subfloor without the need for concrete backer board or a concrete slab that ceramic tile would require. You can install groutable vinyl tile in a few hours and apply grout right away, another advantage over ceramic tile.
1
Scrape any old adhesive or other material from the subfloor with a 3-inch putty knife to ensure a clean, flat surface for laying the vinyl floor.
2
Lay out the first row without adhering the tile to the floor, beginning in one corner of the floor. Once you're satisfied with how the tile will fit against the edge of the wall, remove the paper from the back of the first tile and stick the adhesive side of the tile to the floor.
3
Insert spacers along the edge of the tile and install a second tile adjacent to the first. Continue adding spacers and tile until you reach the end of the first row. Cut the last piece of tile to fit using a utility knife. Use a straightedge as a guide. Remove the paper backer and install the last tile in the first row.
4
Insert spacers along the edge of the first row, and install the second row of tiles adjacent to the first. Continue spacing and adding tiles until the room is fully tiled. Remove all of the spacers, then roll the entire floor with a floor roller to ensure that each tile is fully adhered to the subfloor.
5
Open a bucket of premixed vinyl flooring grout. Fill the grout lines with a grout float, pressing the grout into the grout lines to fill the spaces completely. Wipe away any excess with the edge of the grout float.
6
Fill a 5-gallon bucket with water and wipe away the excess grout from the tiles with a clean sponge as per the instructions on the vinyl grout container.
7
Wipe away any haze left on the tiles by the grout with a dry towel.
Things You Will Need
3-inch putty knife
Groutable vinyl tile
Tile spacers
Straightedge
Utility knife
Floor roller
Vinyl floor grout
Grout float
Sponge
5-gallon bucket
Towel
Tips
Floor rollers can typically be rented from a local tool rental shop.
Not all vinyl tile is conducive to grouting. If you intend to grout your vinyl tile floor, purchase tile specifically designed for grouted edges.
Groutable vinyl tile requires a flat subfloor. If you intend to grout over another type of flooring or an uneven floor, you will want to level the floor with a self-leveling compound to smooth any imperfections in the subfloor that could become visible through the vinyl tile after installation.
About the Author
Chris Baylor has been writing about various topics, focusing primarily on woodworking, since 2006. You can see his work in publications such as "Consumer's Digest," where he wrote the 2009 Best Buys for Power Tools and the 2013 Best Buys for Pressure Washers. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
This short film is too cute it will make you fall in love “in a heartbeat”
It’s rare to see an animated film about two boys starting to realize that they like each other—or simply, where homosexuality is the main theme of the story. But this short film entitled “In a Heartbeat” dares to break barriers and become a game-changer just to show the viewers that a love story is about the love being shared and not the gender of the lovers.
In a Heartbeat is an animated short film created by Beth David and Esteban Bravo as their thesis at the Ringling College of Art and Design. It’s a story about “a closeted boy [who] runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.”
The film shows the budding attraction of a boy towards a person of the same sex. But he is afraid to come out as gay and be scrutinized by the homophobic society we, unfortunately, still live in. “The reason so many people are afraid to come out as gay is because they are used to seeing straight relationships all around them which makes them feel like they’re weird and out of place…” said one YouTube commenter.
In a Heartbeat is an attempt to tell everyone that being in love with someone of the same sex is as “normal” as it is for two people of the opposite sex. After all, love is love.
Just a few days after its release, the film went viral with millions of views on YouTube and many people are praising it—saying it’s “the best thing that happened in 2017.”
People who are saying that this kind of film is not normal should really start defining what “normal” really is to them. Some parents are saying that the film is inappropriate for kids and it might influence them to be gay or at least explore the possibilities of being one. But what they should realize is that, more than anything, their opinion and judgment towards the gay community is what influences their kids’ perception on homosexuality.
Watching a film about being gay doesn’t make you gay. Being gay isn’t an abnormality or a disease that needs to be cured—Homophobia is. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
One Review
Dedicated servers
Va invitam in perioada 2-5 iunie 2017, sa pedalam impreuna pentru a patra oara catre mare, catre Vama Veche. A world full of magic is rising in the wilderness on the Romanian Black Sea coastline, on the virgin lands of Tuzla Beach, Constanta. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
The mission of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, a membership organization, is to protect, preserve, promote, and ensure the financial security, health, and the well being of current and future generations of maturing Americans.
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare was founded in 1982 to serve as an advocate for the landmark federal programs of Social Security and Medicare and for all Americans who seek a healthy, productive and secure retirement. With millions of members and supporters across America, we are the nation’s second-largest grassroots citizens organization devoted to the retirement future for all citizens – from our “twenty-something” generation and baby-boomers to the nation’s thirty-four million seniors.
The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM) was founded in 1982 by former Congressman James Roosevelt, son of President Franklin D. Roosevelt who signed the Social Security Act into law. Two additional leaders of prominence have also headed the organization; from 1989 – 2001, former Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Martha A. McSteen, and former Congresswoman Barbara B. Kennelly, who headed the organization from 2002 – 2011. Max Richtman, who served as Executive Vice President since 1989, was appointed as President and CEO in August 2011. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Stade Marcel-Deflandre is a sports stadium in La Rochelle, France. It was built by Emile Sourcile. It is the home ground of rugby union team Stade Rochelais of the Top 14 who have played there since it was opened in 1926. It has undergone significant redevelopment since 1995 and the present capacity is 16,000 (2,500 added during summer 2014). The stadium is named after Marcel Deflandre, a president of the club who was executed in 1944 during the Second World War.
References
External links
Stade Marcel-Deflandre attendances
Marc
Category:Rugby union stadiums in France
Category:Buildings and structures in La Rochelle
Category:Tourist attractions in La Rochelle
Category:Sports venues completed in 1926
Category:Stade Rochelais | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Old Rashko
Old Rashko or Old man Raško () was a Serbian storyteller and gusle player (guslar) known as one of the most important sources of the epic poetry recorded by Vuk Karadžić.
Biography
Rashko was born in the region of Old Herzegovina, like Tešan Podrugović, but later moved to Kolašin. According to some theories, he was probably a brother of Marko, the grandfather of Svetozar Marković. At the beginning of the First Serbian Uprising, Rashko came to the village of Sabanta in the Jagodina nahiyah. He participated in the First Serbian Uprising and distinguished himself in the Battle of Lipar (1804), in which he raised the revolutionary flag, and the Battle of Deligrad (1806).
Songs
Old Rashko was illiterate. Based on his singing, Vuk Karadžić recorded some of the best poems with motifs derived from medieval Serbian history, like The Building of Skadar or Uroš and the Sons of Marnyava. Jacob Grimm was particularly enthralled by The Building of Skadar and described it as "one of the most touching poems of all nations and all times". He was also the source of the songs Four Uskoks, The Building of Ravanica and The Maiden Margita and Duke Rajko. Vuk Karadžić stated that the song Battle of Deligrad was probably authored by Rashko himself. Vuk Karadžić also recorded another version of the song The Marriage of King Vukašin from Rashko, but it was not published as he probably considered it worse than the other versions. In a letter Vuk wrote to Miloš Obrenović he stated that he failed to record two beautiful songs from Rashko's singning: The Wedding of Ivo Senjanin and Three Prisoners. Miloš knew Raško personally, otherwise Vuk would not write about him in such manner.
Vuk classified Rashko's songs into songs from Herzegovina, and this classification caused polemics between Svetozar Matić who believed that his songs were originally from Srem, although Raško had actually never visited Srem, and some other scholars who confirmed Vuk's opinion.
In his songs Rashko paid much attention to ethics, being almost obsessed with righteousness, loyalty, and disloyalty.
Vuk Karadžić recorded and published ten songs from Rashko's singing.
The Building of Skadar (Зидање Скадра)
The Building of Ravanica (Зидање Раванице)
The Death of Dušan
The Emperor Suleyman and Savo Patriarch
Uroš and the Sons of Marnyava (Урош и Мрњавчевићи)
Four Uskoks (Четири ускока)
Battle of Deligrad - probably authored by Rashko
The Maiden Margita and Duke Rajko (Маргита девојка и Рајко Војвода)
The Wedding of Prince Lazar
The Wedding of Grujica Novaković
The Marriage of King Vukašin - recorded but not published version
See also
Dimitrije Karaman
Živana Antonijević
Filip Višnjić
Tešan Podrugović
Petar Perunović
Djuro Milutinović the Blind
Marko Utvić
Blind Jeca (Jelisaveta Marković, called "Blind Jeca," was Živana's pupil)
Stepanija
References
Category:18th-century Serbian people
Category:19th-century Serbian people
Category:Serbian guslars
Category:Serbian poets
Category:People of the First Serbian Uprising
Category:Serbs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Category:People from Kolašin | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
The present invention relates to rigid-rod heterocyclic polymers.
Rigid-rod poly(benzobisazole) (PBX) polymers are well-known for their superior mechanical properties and high-temperature capability which are better than the state-of-the-art Aramids (e.g. Kevlar). The PBZ group includes poly(benzobisthiazole) (PBZT), poly(benzobisoxazole) (PBO) and poly(benzobisimidazole) (PBI) polymers and copolymers. These polymers and copolymers have been heralded as the next-generation structural materials.
It is known that isotropic and biaxially oriented PBZT films can be rendered electrically conductive via .sup.84 Kr.sup.+ ion implantation. Conductivity as high as 100 S/cm for biaxially oriented film has been achieved. It is also known that PBZT film can be reduced electrochemically to a conductivity of about 20.+-.10 S/cm. This is in accord with the fact that PBZ is known to be a .pi.-deficient aromatic system as evidenced by both chemical and spectroscopic studies. Certain derivitized PBZT polymers have also exhibited .chi..sup.(3) non-linear optical (NLO) properties and ionic conductivity.
It is also known that PBZT polymer and copolymer films activated with iodine have exhibited increased conductivity. Tan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,277, issued May 28, 1996, disclose benzobisazole copolymers containing triarylamino moieties which can be doped with iodine to provide increased conductivity. Tan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,613, issued Jul. 9, 1996, disclose benzobisazole polymers containing triarylamino moieties which can be doped with iodine to provide increased conductivity. Tan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,633,337, issued May 27, 1997, disclose benzobisazole polymers and copolymers containing diphenylamino moieties which can be doped with iodine to provide increased conductivity.
It is an object of the present invention to provide novel rigid-rod heterocyclic polymers.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an at least semiconductive polymer film.
Other objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed disclosure of the invention. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Google’s street view could reveal more than you think
How many people in your city voted for Barack Obama? How many have college degrees? And how much money does everyone make? Collecting such data could take years—if it weren’t for Google Maps. In a new study, researchers downloaded 50 million photos of street scenes taken by the tech company’s vehicles as they mapped 200 U.S. cities. They then used a couple of machine-learning algorithms—software tools that learn from examples—to determine the make, model, and year of 22 million cars in the images. (The algorithm classified make and model with 52% accuracy.) From this, other algorithms were able to estimate local demographics by learning that certain vehicle types were more common in areas that census and election data said were, say, wealthier or more conservative. The algorithms became surprisingly accurate at determining the median household income of the area; the percentage of white, black, and Asian people there; the share of people with various levels of education; and the rate of voting for Obama versus John McCain in 2008, the researchers report this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . Comparing car data with actual demographics turned up some interesting patterns, too. For example, 88% of precincts with more sedans than pickup trucks voted for Obama, whereas 82% of those with more pickups than sedans voted for McCain. The researchers note that in the future, cameras on self-driving cars could increase the ease and frequency with which data are collected, helping policymakers gain a nearly real-time picture of people to better understand labor and housing supply, allocate resources for roads and schools, and plan for emergencies. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
[Thromboendarterectomy of the superficial femoral artery with a femoro-popliteal endoprosthesis. Technical note on a preliminary experience].
The authors report an early experience with a new endovascular approach in the treatment of occlusive superficial femoral artery disease to evaluate the efficacy and the feasibility of the new technique. Four patients with disabling claudication or leg rest pain were treated for long segment occlusion of superficial femoral artery (SFA). A remote endarterectomy (EA) of SFAs has been performed using a single groin incision and a conventional Vollmar ring stripper to remove the entire atheroma core for a length of 20, 10, 9 and 8 cm. In 3 cases following complete extraction of intimal core and a guidewire placement across from the distal endpoint, the endarterectomized segment was lined endoluminally by implanting one or more Self-Expanding Coated Stent (Meadox Passager 6-10 mm); the stent was positioned under fluoroscopic guidance to prevent dissection without any further balloon-dilation. In 1 case a 5 mm diameter thin-walled PTFE endoluminal graft was positioned using a Strecker stent for distal fixation. One patient had an immediate post-operative occlusion of distal stent which required a femoro-popliteal autologous vein bypass. In the remaining 3 cases no postoperative complications were observed and the patients are asymptomatic with normal flow through the stent and the endoluminal PTFE graft at 6 months. In this report a combined surgical and endovascular procedure has been proposed. A prospective randomized study is carrying on at our Institute to verify if EA+ endovascular grafting of SFA represents an alternative to traditional femoro-popliteal vein bypass. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Typically starting with a short flight to Lukla from Kathmandu, the Everest Base Camp Trek follows a trail that passes through many villages and small towns in the Khumbu region. Initially moving along the Cheplung Village, the presence of the mountains become known from the first sight of the Khumbila Peak in the distance. Further on, Kusum Kangraru- a name that means “the three snow-white gods” in the Sherpa language, decorates the skyline in Phakding. Namche Bazaar is a famous and important destinations in the EBC Trek. Lying within the Sagarmatha Zone, Namche Bazaar is the main trading site between Nepalese and Tibetan traders. Because of Namche’s strategic location, it has become the central hub of the Khumbu region and a very popular settlement for acclimatization during the trekking journey. Most of the Sherpa people who are into the tourism business tend to hail from Namche. It is also the most expensive place in Nepal. Because of its beautiful topographical features, Namche Bazaar offers magnificent views of the mountain peaks. Immediately west of Namche lies the Kongdi RI Himal; and to the west is the Thamserku Peak. On a hill over-looking Namche Bazaar is the Syangboche Airport- the highest located airport in the world. Although the Syangboche Airport is no longer used for commercial flights, it has garnered the appeal of tourism because of its location. Namche Bazaar is the gateway to the high Himalayas. The town has a number of lodgings and stores catering to the needs of visitors undergoing trekking in the region. There is also an Everest Photo Gallery and a Sherpa Culture Museum in Namche.
Tengboche
From Namche Bazaar, the trail continues to the Dudh Koshi Valley at Phunki Thanka and moves towards Tengboche. Situated at the Khumjung inside the Sagarmatha National Park, Tengboche houses the largest Buddhist Gompa in the region- the Tengboche Monastery. A gorgeous panoramic view of the Himalayan Mountains, including the well-known peaks of Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, and the Thamserku can be seen from here. Ancient scriptures of Tibet also refer to Tengboche as a sacred place. The Tengboche Monastery has acquired more international interest as it is on the route to the Base Camp of Everest for routes made via the Khumbu Icefall and the West Ridge. Everest expeditioners visit the monastery to light candles and seek the blessings of the gods for good health and safe mountaineering. John Hunt, the leader of the 1953 expedition, described Tengboche as one of the most beautiful place in the world that provides a grandstand beyond comparison for the finest mountain scenery ever seen, whether in the Himalaya or elsewhere. Located on a hill at the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Imja Khola rivers, Tengboche presents the sight of the snowy peak of Ama Dablam and the tip of Everest that glows from the Nuptse ridge and several other peaks during the winter. During the spring, the hill slopes around Tengboche are covered with blossoming Rhododendron flowers.
The Base Camp
From Tengboche, the trail continues forward to Dingboche- known as the Summer Valley. Graceful views of the Lhotse and the Island Peak can be seen from Dingboche, along with the placement of many Mani stone walls and carvings. The village is used for acclimatization. Nagerjun lies just above Dingboche and while spending an acclimatizing day at Dingboche, travelers can visit Nagerjun for amazing sights of the Lobuche East peak, the Lobuche West, the Kangtega Himal and the Taboche Peak. Pristine weather also allows the glimpse of Mount Makalu as well. Further on from here is the Lobuche village. While on the trail, trekkers can pass by the Trekkers Aid Post at Pheriche, run by the Western Volunteer Doctors and assisted by The Himalayan Rescue Association. The Aid Post helps in the treatment of trekkers in the mountain. Walking down to the Khumbu Glacier Moraine, views of the Khumbutse Peak, the Lingtren Himal and Mount Pumori are wonderful. The Nuptse Peak also looms ahead after passing the glacier at Lobuche. It takes about three to four hours to reach the Base Camp from Lobuche.
Kalapatthar
Trekkers usually also visit Kalapatthar while journeying to the Base Camp of Everest. A very popular vantage point in the Everest region, Kalapatthar offers the most spectacular and mesmerizing views of the Everest Mountain massif. The name “Kalapatthar” translates to “Black Rock” in Nepali. Providing the most accessible close-up view of Mount Everest, Kalapatthar’s ascent begins at Gorakshep, the original base camp for Mount Everest. Festooned with colorful prayer flags, the vantage point blesses views of Everest, Nuptse and Changtse and there are glimpses of the northern flank and summit of Lhotse as well.
Best Seasons for Trekking
Nepal experiences four seasons all year round, with varying degrees of strength. Spring and autumn seasons are considered the best trekking seasons. The months of March to May experiences spring while the months of September to December experiences autumn. While trekking in Nepal in the spring, the terrain is brimming with natural blooms and blossoming rhododendrons. Autumn season harbors quiet and melancholic vibe in the atmosphere, with the changing colors of the foliage and clear views of the mountain peaks. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
ABOUT THE AUCPB
The All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (AUCPB), inheriting Bolshevik principles of the R.S.D.W.P. -R.S.D.W.P.(b) - A.U.C.P.(b) - of Lenin's policiy in the CPSU, is the highest form of proletarian class organisation, advanced detachment of the working class, acting in unity with the peasantry and labour intelligentsia, standing on the Party's positions for: the gain of political power - overthrowing the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie and establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat, the destruction of private ownership over the instuments and means of production, the revival of the USSR, the further strenghtening of the proletarian interests for the complete victory of socialism and gradual transition to communism. The ideological and theoretical basis of the AUCPB is formed by Marx, Engels, Lenin, Stalin, is their doctrine in its creative application and development in modern conditions. The AUCPB is a component of the global communist movement with the aim of communism triumphing over the whole planet.
No 5 (122) MAY 2013
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YOUTH OF THE WORKING CLASS
From the history of the skinhead movement
Perhaps everyone has at least once heard on news that some skinheads in heavy “bovver” boots have beaten up non-whites in the streets, but mostly just those people who they do not
like in general. And any citizen in their life has certainly at least once heard the word skinhead, which most often is associated with "Swastika", Nazism, Hitler, etc.
The bourgeois media in society form a stereotype that skinheads are essentially Nazis, angry thugs, making Nazi salutes.
Initially, however, the skinheads were not racist. The skinhead was more than just a shaved head, heavy boots and braces. It was a way of life, a separate subculture, originating from the working class.
The beginning
To start with, let's see what the word “Skinhead” really means,
Early mentions of skinheads appeared in the press and in music in the late 60's, and more precisely in 1969. It was the year of the flowering onset of the skinhead subculture as such: “Remember the Spirit of '69” was the very roots of the subculture, the "golden age" of its development.
Skinheads appeared in the working class outskirts of London from the number of young workers of the British proletariat. The image
of British working-class life dictated the clothing style for the working youth. These were very varied in the form of bleached jeans, high work boots or army boots, button-up or polo shirts, sports coats, donkey jackets, braces and the "caps", etc. The short cropped hair (not bald), the reason of which was simplicity of the haircut, over time, became a kind of style of the skinhead movement. The style of music which the working youth listened to was "early reggae" "soul" and "ska". Thus, the first skinheads were closely related with the Jamaican singers of that time.
At the turn of the 70's and 80', politicization of the skinhead subculture began. The British nationalists were the first to draw their attention to the skinhead, poisoning the minds of young people by their Nazi and racist ravings. Many skinheads became angry and hostile towards Nazi propaganda, and they became actively opposed to the nationalist agitation. Since then, the skinhead movement has split and consists of many groups.
Classification
There are several trends of skinheads – the "red" skins, the anarcho-skinheads, "national socialist" skinheads and traditional skinheads or "traditionals." There are also a variety of organizations and groups, such as: RASH (Red and Anarchist Skinheads) and SHARP (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice).
"Red" skinheads are skinheads inheriting from the working class communist and socialist ideas. They stand on positions of proletarian internationalism, are involved in various
antifascist campaigns, fighting against nationalism and capitalism.
"Anarcho-Skinheads" adhere to anarchism or anarcho-communism, actively fighting against Nazism, racism, and against capitalism, working closely with the "red" skins in close proximity of their ideological positions. Also, in this environment you will quite commonly find "environmental anarchists."
"NS" skinheads (National Socialists, it is they who get the most media attention, because they formed a stereotype of skinhead culture as such.) Most often, they are uneducated young people who vehemently support Hitler's ideas, and are known for carrying out extremely brutal and numerous murders. The activities of the "NS" skinheads are usually criminal in character.
"Traditional skinheads" or the "trads" are non-political skinheads, not declaring any political views. They arose as a response to the emergence of political branches of the initial subculture. They copy the style of the skinhead culture of the late 1960’s.
“RASH” - (Red & Anarchist Skinheads) or literally, "Common struggle of red and anarchist skinheads" is an international association of
skinheads standing on the position of left radicalism, anti-fascism and anti-globalization. The organization was formed in New York City, and supported by young people from various cities in Canada, the U.S., Germany and Italy. The motivation of the association was that the anarcho-skinheads actively stood up for the "reds" during fights in bars and at concerts. Previously, there was a marked division between "red" and "anarcho-skinheads" in ideology, but nowadays, there is almost no difference as such.
“SHARP” - (Skinheads Against Racial Prejudices) are an anti-racist association, opposing "NS-skinheads" and other chauvinist organizations. The SHARP movement abandoned the leftist views of “RASH” and its
ideology is defined as "anti-fascism" and "anti-racism”.
Skinheads in the former Soviet republics
Skinheads first appeared on the territory of the ex-USSR in the early 1990-s and these were namely the national socialist far-right "NS-skinheads." The skinhead fashion for them came with the increasing nationalist sentiment among the youth, and since initially in the former Soviet Union, there were no "red" and "anarcho-skinheads ", and so ordinary people got the impression that the "NS-skinheads" were the only representatives of this subculture.
But a response had to appear, and so, in the late 90's in the environment of young workers appeared "Red" and "anarchist" skinheads, and “RASH” and “SHARP” movements were formed, members of which fight neo-Nazis, campaign
among young people, both at music concerts and on the Internet.
Our time
Nowadays among the skinheads there are almost no national socialists. The nationalists have
lost this sub-cultural fashion. At the same time, the "red" and "anarchist" skinheads are actively developing. Their popularity is growing with the development of the Internet, with the development of left-wing and anti-fascist musical trends. Skinheads are openly proud of the working class and belong to it. Russian skinheads as a target audience, are very receptive to the ideas of establishing a dictatorship of the proletariat, a socialist revolution and the class
struggle, thanks to which the number of supporters of the Bolshevik ideology in this subculture is growing.
It is impossible not to notice the fact that in this movement, sympathy for the working class is actively promoted. As the “Redskins Army Madrid” activists say about this, “Our idea of patriotism is love for the working class and this love goes beyond borders and countries. Nations and nationalism is an invention by the
bourgeoisie for their interests in general and divided the proletariat. Our homeland as said by Africa de las Heras (a Soviet agent of Spanish origin), is the Soviet Union – the motherland of workers."
We, Bolsheviks should actively campaign among supporters of the skinhead subculture, and this work should be carried out by the young fighters. This subculture consists of 90%
youth. We need to carry out antifascist actions together, to attract skinheads to Bolshevik activities and find comrades in this environment. Promote the ideas of Bolshevism among skinheads, in order to advance the cause of the Great October Socialist Revolution!
P. Serpov
APPEAL BY N.A. ANDREEVA TO THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE WPK KIM JONG UN
To First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea
First Chairman of the DPRK National Defence Commission
Supreme Commander of the Korean Peoples Army
Marshal of the DPRK
Kim Jong Un
Pyongyang, DPRK
30 March 2013
Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un!
I appeal to you, the leader of the Workers' Party of Korea and the DPRK Socialist state.
In the numerous Statements made by the DPRK Foreign Ministry, NDC, the Supreme Command of the KPA and the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea that we had received in March of this year from the Embassy of the DPRK in the Russian Federation, they have stated the heightening of tension on the Korean Peninsula in connection with the large-scale U.S. military exercises near the border with the DPRK with the demonstration of the modern means of nuclear war and regular provocations against the DPRK in order to initiate a response from the DPRK.
In the Statements of the Central Committee of the AUCPB, we have repeatedly reaffirmed our continued support to the leadership of the DPRK’s Songun policy, their conducting of their own research in nuclear and the necessity in any research study to test in practice these studies. For this reason, we have supported the DPRK underground nuclear tests. We have welcomed the launch of space satellites in the direction of space exploration. We have supported the establishment of the DPRK's nuclear shield, as the only way to protect the current conditions of peaceful labour of the DPRK citizens from any aggressor.
We understand the complexity of the conflict between the DPRK the United States at the present time and the open U.S. desire to destroy the DPRK and its socio-political system, elected by the people of the DPRK. We strongly condemn and denounce the provocative U.S. policy towards the DPRK and the brutal embargo, which has been carried on by the U.S. for more than sixty years. Today, the U.S. has become the world's policeman, trying to get all countries to think and act as pleases the U.S., and yet destroying any political leader and country daring to assert their own right to self-determination of their policies. We condemn the ongoing policy of the UN Security Council on adopting on the request of the U.S. countless so-called resolutions increasingly complicating the situation with the DPRK.
But we do not support the recent militant tendency in the DPRK in reference to a pre-emptive strike on the U.S., as the governing structures of the DPRK have repeatedly in March informed the world. Such Statements by the DPRK is exactly what the United States has long sought - to hang a label on the DPRK as the aggressor and blame the DPRK for the current volatile situation on the Korean peninsula. In other words – to blame the DPRK for the worsening situation, thus removing responsibility from itself – the U.S., and this is totally unacceptable because it does not correspond to reality. Moreover, it is the United States’ cherished dream to blame a socialist state for aggression and a way to discredit the very idea of socialism on a world scale. To succumb to the provocations of the U.S. means to help them in their fight against the world communist movement, to help the U.S. to extend the existence of the criminal capitalist (under imperialism) system, now in a deep crisis.
A pre-emptive strike launched by any of the opposing parties will mark the beginning of a local war, inevitably developing into a world war involving nuclear weapons that cannot be underestimated.
We turn to you, Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un, in calling for perseverance, and restraint and not allow unacceptable prevalence of emotions over cold reason. This perseverance, restraint and not allowing unacceptable prevalence of emotions over cold reason was always the case and dominant in the politics of the Great Kim Jong Il.
The whole world holds its breath, waiting from YOU a correct political decision to resolve a daunting situation on the Korean peninsula, caused by fault of the U.S. and the UN Security Council.
N.A.Andreeva
General Secretary of the CC AUCPB
29 March 2013.
Leningrad
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INTERVIEW GIVEN BY N.A. ANDREEVA ON THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REVIVAL OF BOLSHEVISM
Interview given by Nina Alexandrovna Andreeva, the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (CC AUCPB) to the editor of the "Politics" department of the Russian newspaper publication "Arguments and Facts"(Argumenty i Fakty) in connection with the 25th anniversary of the publication of her article "I cannot give up principles".
AiF- What is the history behind your letter? Why did you choose to send it to namely the newspaper "Sovietskya Rossiya" (Soviet Russia)? Did you try to send it to any other publications? What prompted you to write the letter? And what did you hope to achieve by this appeal?
N.A.- After my analysis of the revelations by Western media about the real purpose of Gorbachev in his ongoing "perestroika" I started to follow closely Gorbachev's speeches, his omissions, and other words that made me feel that he was strongly hiding what he was actually doing and what he was aspiring to.
Society was then raving in perestroika ecstasy and misunderstanding of WHAT was actually happening. Meetings, discussions, seminars, extensive ostentatious meetings by Gorby with the people, and hints, only hints with no clear answers to questions put to him by people at these meetings. The staging of provocative anti-Soviet plays by M.Shatrova, and overwrought reaction of the audience and the staging of plays in theatres with an openly anti-Soviet content. The anti-communist speeches made by artists and politicians in the press.
In the student environment there were constant debates and discussions taking place on various issues of life and Soviet history, military conscription for young people, and emigration to other countries for permanent residence, etc.
As curator (teacher) of a student group, as a Soviet teacher, I found it necessary and important to draw people's attention to what was really going on in the country during Gorbachev's perestroika. In the summer of 1987, I wrote an article entitled "Recollections on the future." (The newspaper came up with that name. It did not reflect the content of my article on the problems of perestroika. The title I gave was "Reflections on the future"). The article was published in the newspaper "Leningrad worker" (dated 09.10.1987, p.4). My second article in January 1988, the editor of the same newspaper was afraid to publish and he ordered the article be hidden inside a safe and away from the paper's editorial staff. Both of the articles (copies of the original), I sent to the newspapers "Pravda", "Leningradskaya Pravda", "Literary Gazette" and the "Soviet Russia." On February 23, 1988 only "Soviet Russia" responded by proposing to significantly reduce the text and prepare for the publication of the material on one column. I agreed, and after March 8 handed the material to an employee of "Soviet Russia" who came to me at work in the university. The article "I cannot give up principles" was published on March 13, 1988 with minimal revisions (the editorial proposed that a paragraph about "repressions" be inserted, without which they could not print the article, and they changed the tone of the ending of the article. I wrote: "This is what we stand for and stand for and we WILL!" However in the printed newspaper article it was published as -"This is what we stand for, and this is what we will continue to stand for").
No other revisions, corrections or edits in my article were made. The article can be found in the book "Unprecedented Principles" (L., 1992, circulation of 100 000 copies.) and online at AUCPB main website: www.vkpb.ru (section - Library). The book was translated into English, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Korean.
The purpose of my writing this article, as before, was to draw the attention of the Soviet people to WHAT was actually happening, and the desire to get everyone to think about the essence of "perestroika" itself.
AiF- Are you satisfied with the effect your appeal made on the public? If you could go back in time, would you have repeated the same thing? And in your opinion, in the late 80's was it indeed possible to prevent the collapse of the Soviet Union?
N.A.- I do not consider sending materials to different newspapers as a form of action as such. It was simply the desire to express my own opinions and concerns about the ongoing Gorbachev policy. After all, behind all of Gorbachev's demagoguery and playing at being the "peoples’ leader" who cared only about the welfare of the people, I felt this to be all false and a desire to conceal something "until the right time." Analyzing (Gorbachev's perestroika), I felt the need to express my concerns regarding the Soviet people, and that perhaps they were being deceived by the General Secretary of a leading communist party of the world and the leader of a socialist superpower. In particular, his speech at the UN in 1987, when Gorbachev proposed a new interpretation of the name USSR as the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics to replace the original Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The most important of this name interpretation – SOCIALIST, had vanished. After all, Soviets (in the modern sense are municipalities) can be both socialist and bourgeois. We recall the period of July 1917, when V.I. Lenin removed the slogan "All Power to the Soviets", since they had turned Menshevik. After some time, this slogan was again raised by Lenin on the agenda. Or another time, on the objectives of perestroika (Gorbachev's speech at the plenum of the Central Committee of the CPSU in the summer of 1987). His speech in the publication of the works of Gorbachev was "edited" and that part of his speech was removed. But it remained in print immediately after the plenum issue of "Pravda", which I read and underlined and placed (for me) a question mark. At the plenum, Gorbachev said that the task of perestroika was "... to root out an old tree, plough the land, sow seeds and reap the fruits...". Put very clearly.
I realized that Gorbachev had set the task to root out SOCIALISM. History has confirmed my fears. There were many other "reservations" from the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
Yes, I'm satisfied with the social response to the publication of my article. In fact, after this there the division of society into two camps occurring – between supporters to preserve socialism and those who decided to destroy all that was associated with the Soviet period (As they say, everything was defined: who stood on what side of the barricades). Supporters of socialism (judging from the letters that were sent to me) amounted to about 80%, the followers of Gorbachev - less than 20%. Unfortunately, in literature on the subject there is a "correction" on the number of supporters of socialism. Yegor Ligachev (I believe) lied, then pointing to the figure of 60% for Gorbachev of those who shared the position of article-interview of Egor Ligachev to the editor of newspaper "Soviet Russia" ("Sov.Rossiya», № 26 of 13 March 2008). The "tug of war" in favour of the "fifth column" is now shown on all the TV shows that discuss the history of the Soviet period and the role of Stalin in it. But the truth can not always be hidden and lied about. In an interview on the 60th anniversary of Stalin's memory of March 5, 2013 on the website of Channel 5 from St. Petersburg, in which I participated, in the introduction to the topic by the host, to my great surprise, she naively announced the following: "... The data polls are striking: the people's love for Generalissimo Stalin, according opinion polls, is growing. Now, in contrast to 2011, the one-third, and now nearly half of the respondents are ready to subscribe to the Stalinist fanatics and believe that the Generalissimo did a lot of good for the country."
And this change of attitude towards J.V. Stalin, who is slandered by enemies of the Soviet people, and had dirt poured over him by Trotskyite Khrushchev at the Twentieth Party Congress, the objective perception of greatness and tremendous importance, as a result, the role of Stalin in the history of people living on one sixth of the Earth's surface, and the whole of humanity is due to us, due to members of AUCPB. This is the result of our work in these difficult years following the accomplishment of the counter-revolution and the rabid anti-Stalinism in the country instilled by media of the ruling power. This is the result of the publication in "Soviet Russia" of my article "I can not give up principles," heralding the rebirth of Bolshevism.
If it were possible to go back in time, I would have done exactly the same as I did then. I have nothing to regret. I fully confirm the firmness of my position, stated then, 25 years ago.
In the late 80's, it WAS POSSIBLE to prevent the violent destruction of the USSR, if the leadership of the country was really communist and thought about the country and its people who entrusted the power with their lives, their future and their children’s future. But in the upper echelons of power there were very many careerists, opportunists and philistines in spirit (and who even "took offence to Soviet power"), those people who were previously expelled during the period of party cleansing under Stalin. Most of them finished up on the side of the counter-revolution fifth column. Elitist intellectuals also became a part of the "fifth column." And we, the modern Bolsheviks at that time, were not a political organization capable of carrying on wide propaganda among the people. The petty party nomenklatura we just scared and started to set themselves up under the new capitalist relations in society under the banner of communist rhetoric. I can tell you that we planned a struggle against the counter-revolution by forming the Bolshevik platform in the CPSU. First there was formed the All-Union Society "Unity - for Leninism and communist ideals" (Yedinstvo) (Moscow, May 1989), and then at a national conference in Minsk, the Bolshevik platform in the CPSU was established.
The goal of forming the Bolshevik platform in the CPSU was to return to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union an organizational and political appearance, also the ideological and moral role of the vanguard of the working people of our country in their struggle to achieve their objective of historically determined class interests, that is, for the construction of a socialist and communist society. We assumed with this to rally and unite all healthy, progressive, socialist and patriotic forces which existed at that time in society, and on this basis to respond resolutely to the bourgeois counterrevolution, which with each day was becoming more dangerous and dramatically sweeping across the Socialist Motherland of the USSR.
As stated in the Appeal adopted at the conference it was aimed at all communists and non-party Bolsheviks:
At the Extraordinary Congress the Resolution stated that the "Party must be represented by communists able to:
- reject perestroika as an anti-peoples, defeatist policy that brought the country to a national catastrophe and in the near-term, complete dismemberment of the USSR into "separates sovereignties" and the transformation of the Motherland into a semi-colony of the West;
- hold Mikhail Gorbachev and his entourage to party account for the collapse of the CPSU and the Soviet state, for the betrayal of Lenin, the October Socialist Revolution, and the international communist and workers' movement;
- to assess from the party-class position the situation in the party and the country and to develop a scientifically-based fundamentally new policy of the CPSU, which expresses the fundamental interests of the working people, aimed at saving the Motherland from the impasse of the crisis and restore the former might of our multi-national state with policies to ensure the success of socialism in peaceful competition with the capitalist system;
- To elect a new leadership to the CPSU, which will be able to implement the policies worked out at the XXIX Extraordinary Party Congress;
- to disgrace all the traitors, apostates, turncoats, in the camp of anti-communism and, especially, former Politburo cronies Yakovlev, Eduard Shevardnadze, Yevgeny Primakov, Boris Yeltsin."
Gorbachev on the phone instructed his secretary to clarify the wording of the Resolution of the Conference "On bringing Gorbachev to justice ..."
The Conference brought together more than 800 delegates. Present was also the top party leadership of Belarus (cowardly hidden on the balcony), and the party nomenklatura from other regions of the USSR.
We had planned to hold the Extraordinary Congress in autumn 1991. The situation in the country was becoming tense with each passing day. After the events of August 1991 with the State of Emergency Committee, on August 29, the Supreme Soviet of the USSR suspended the operations of the CPSU across the entire USSR. A complete ban on the activity of the CPSU and the Russian communist party was brought about by Yeltsin's decree on November 6.
The possibility of holding our Extraordinary XXIX Congress of the CPSU was becoming unreal. We were changing tactics to combat the counter-revolution.
AiF- What changed in your life after this appeal? How did your family react to this letter?
N.A.- First of all, why did my article provoke such a response in the Politburo and a reaction on the part of Gorbachev? Because, in the words of the chief (after Gorbachev), architect of "perestroika" Alexander Yakovlev (Politburo member, department head of ideology and propaganda of the CPSU Central Committee), the article "raised serious questions in such a way, that it cannot be called anything other than an ideological platform and manifesto of anti-perestroika forces... For the first time, readers in such a concentrated form have seen in this "letter to the editor" not a search, not a reflection or even an expression of bewilderment and confusion to the very complex and controversial issues happening inside the country, but instead they see an utter rejection of the idea of renovation, a very definite statement of a rigid position, a position which is essentially conservative and dogmatic. Essentially, red thread permeates right through the content of two main theses: why all this perestroika reconstruction and have we gone too far on the issue of democratization and openness (glasnost)? The article calls on us to make corrections and adjustments on the question of perestroika, or otherwise, allegedly the "powers" will have to save socialism ... "(from Ideological document of the Central Committee of the CPSU," newspaper “Pravda", April 5, 1988 article entitled "Principles of Perestroika : Revolutionary Thought and Action." Later on, this material was called an editorial document").
My article was reprinted in more than 800 newspapers across the USSR.
On 23 and 24 March, under the pressure of A. Yakovlev and Shevardnadze, the Politburo were gathered, whose agenda was on one issue – the article by Nina Andreeva. Gorbachev during the two days of meetings of the Politburo by employing the "strong-arm" tactic made everyone who was present in person dissociate themselves from the provisions of the article "I cannot give up principles." Those present more or less did this. After publication of Yakovlev’s article, that’s when the hounding of the author of "I cannot give up principles" began. The CC CPSU forced many organizations and professional creative associations, etc to write devastating responses to my article. The institute I worked at "excommunicated" me from classes with students by order of rector of the university. To my address at the institute arrived letters with the threat of physical violence. On the street any "perestroika" supporter who knew me in the face either insulted or simply cursed me. The media also organized a persecution against me.
Leningrad TV program "The Fifth Wheel", created by Bella Kurkova succeeded in this and organized it immediately after the publication of my article. Especially this program which was being hosted by someone called Pravdyuk, a lackey of "perestroika" who was writhing in ecstasy... There was persecution, not only against me, but against my husband, who had two heart attacks deliberately induced.
This orgy lasted a long enough time. In such circumstances, I refused to submit to the contest to teach for a second term at the Lensoviet Institute in February 1989 and took a leave of absence "without pay", which lasted until my retirement.
My husband was also denied employment. For over 2 years we survived without any wages, using only what available savings we had saved up in the savings bank for a "rainy day". We did inform any of our close relatives about this in order not to upset them. Thus they still did not know anything about this "epic."
As they say, in any negative aspect, there are also positive aspects. This persecution hardened me personally for the future struggle against counter-revolution - "perestroika." Active work led, as already mentioned, to the forming of the All-Union Society "Unity - for Leninism and communist ideals" (established in May 1989, in Moscow). In July, 1991 at an All-Union conference in Minsk, the Bolshevik platform of the CPSU was constituted, whose supporters declared themselves as the heirs and successors of the revolutionary proletarian, Leninist line in the CPSU. In the future, based on the All-Union Society "Unity - for Leninism and communist ideals" and the Bolshevik platform of the CPSU, the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks was formed (at the Founding Congress of November 8, 1991, Leningrad).
AiF- In your letter you talked about the need to observe principles: do You think that modern politicians have principles? Can modern-day politics have principles?
N.A.- It is hardly necessary to speak about principals of those people who place personal power, money, and personal well-being at the heart of everything. The current government and authorities in the Kremlin do not serve the people any more, but only serve the U.S. monopolies and are under U.S control. Putin's policy reminds me of the characters in Ivan Krylov's fable "The Cat and the Cook." Putin is trying to live in peace with the "thieves in law - oligarchs" and at the same time with the robbed and impoverished people. And "where it is necessary to use power," Putin engages in demagoguery. For example, his statement regarding Russia’s military reforms which are lethal for the defence of the country. Everything has been destroyed, and Serdyukov, the embezzler "stool-maker" (a furniture maker with no military education whatsoever) was put in charge of the Ministry of Defence, and more, Putin decided not to abandon the destructive military reforms, but only "to continue them, just by sharpening and polishing up the mechanisms of the war machine. The strategic logic for modernising the Armed Forces remains unchanged"! (From a speech by Vladimir Putin to colleagues in the Ministry of Defense 2/23/2013). The same situation is on the issue of "reforming" other spheres of life. Realizing the malignancy of the "reforms" being carried out, Putin is unable to abandon them, thus continuing the policy of Gorbachev of destroying the country. Putin has showed his affinity with Gorbachev, by his birthday greeting to Gorbachev himself, noting his "contribution to the development of Russia's contacts with the West," and not only in this sphere.
J.V. Stalin was principled in politics and in everything else. Lack of principle in politics is a weakness, an inability of a leader to lead, leading to chains of command in policy, to dictates on part of the enemy and betrayal of the interests of the country.
AiF- How do you feel about the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF)?
N.A.- Gennadi Zyuganov (leader of the CPRF) during Soviet times (1989-1990) was deputy head of the department for ideology and propaganda of the Central Committee of the CPSU (Head of Department was Alexander Yakovlev). The CPRF was formed after the lifting of the ban on communist activities in February 1993. But in 1991, Zyuganov agreed with Boris Yeltsin on the issue of forming a "non-extremist" party of socialist orientation", and this was approved by Yeltsin and Burbulis. The forming of such a party by Zyuganov became top on the agenda after the establishment of the AUCPB (on November 8, 1991.) along with the rapid growth of its membership. In the first few months of AUCPB party work, about 20 thousand people across the country had joined it. Prior to that, at the All-Union Conference of the Bolshevik platform of the CPSU in July 13-14, 1991, as already mentioned, a resolution was adopted "On the political lack of confidence in the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Mikhail Gorbachev." There was a point in it about "bringing Mikhail Gorbachev and his entourage to party justice and holding them to account for the collapse of the CPSU and the Soviet state, for the betrayal of Lenin, the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917, and the international communist and workers' movement." Thus, in agreeing with Yeltsin to establish the CPRF, Zyuganov was thinking about saving his own skin as well.
Zyuganov has always held a compromising and appeasing position with the Yeltsinites, and keeping to the “growth to power” line. In early 1993, with the establishment of the CPRF, Gennady Zyuganov on Gorbachev’s recommendation, membership lists of the district committees of the CPSU were used. With the forming of the CPRF, Yeltsin had achieved his goal of weakening the communist movement, by having absorbed into himself the party law-abiding "infantry" (mass).
In October 1993, Boris Yeltsin could have been removed from power. Moscow was seething with anger by people dissatisfied with Yeltsin’s policies. Yeltsin and the further development of the counter-revolution had been saved by Zyuganov.
On October 2, 1993 in Moscow, Zyuganov spoke on Central TV to address the people, calling on everyone "not to take part in any of the events or clashes taking place in Moscow," but to stay at home. But by the 3rd of October, Yeltsin gave the order to start shooting at the defenders of the Supreme Soviet in the centre of Moscow and at the Ostankino television studios, and on October 4, the shooting the building of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation (the "White House") using tanks, where there were members of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation, supporters of Soviet power, soldiers and many Soviet people. Yeltsin crushed the revolt against him, drowning it in blood. Many young people were killed. The number of victims amounting in excess of 10,000 lies on the conscience of Gennady Zyuganov. Among many of the defenders of Soviet power and the participants of the October 1993 events in Moscow, Zyuganov qualifies as a "cohort to Yeltsin who changes his views and patrons, depending on the political situation."
Zyuganov always builds himself into the system, changing one lot of slogans for complete opposite ones depending on the situation. An ardent communist before perestroika, he had transformed into a social democrat, declaring that "Russia had already exhausted the limit on revolution." He was never a supporter of J.V. Stalin, but due to the rapidly changing social attitudes towards Stalin from minus to plus, Zyuganov’s supporters nowadays are not shying away from portraits of Stalin in our AUCPB columns at demonstrations and are even declaring their loyalty to Stalin. Zyuganov is in consensus with the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC), and publishes articles in support of it. In the ranks of the CPRF there is no unity and therefore splits take place, with party organisations in the regions leaving the party. CPRF organizations in different regions differ in their political views. In many regions, we work alongside them at events.
AiF- Who did you vote for in the presidential election?
N.A.- We do not vote in the presidential elections, but raise awareness among the population about the electoral system and the candidates. Nearly all candidates for president do not differ from each other in pursuing the policy of the ruling class of the bourgeoisie. And the counting of votes is always such that the projected percentage of "in favour" is always confirmed. Stalin said that in the bourgeois electoral system, what is important it's not about who votes, it's about how the votes are counted. We shall participate in the presidential elections, if we see a fundamental difference in political positions of the candidates. For example, if one of the candidates are true pro-Americans or pro-fascist, we will vote to block their passage to the upper echelons of power.
AiF- Do you support Vladimir Putin?
N.A. – It depends on the specific issue. We support Putin on the issue of merging of former Soviet republics, leading to the unification of proletarians too. Therefore we support the efforts of the President to expand the number of members in the Customs Union. But we are totally against his policy of "de-Stalinization", insulting the feelings of the Soviet people who built socialism and defended socialism and life on Earth by the victory won by the people under the leadership of Generalissimos Stalin in the Great Patriotic War and World War II. "De-Stalinization" is even more shameful in that the current oligarchs make huge profits in factories built in the period of Stalin's five-year plans, profits from the power plants built under Stalin, and profits from the sale of our natural resources, mined during the period of Stalin in the country. We support Putin on the issue of banning U.S. trading in Russian children (the so-called U.S. "adoption" of Russian children - "adoption" by citizens abroad).
We absolutely do not support him in his education reforms designed at contempt and oblivion of the great history of Russia, the Soviet Union, at the lack of culture and the dense grey ignorance of our beautiful Russian classics in the field of art, literature ... We do not support him in the transformation of Russia from a secular state into a clerical one by the forcible imposition of biblical ideology onto society. Marxism as the only scientific theory of social society has been erased and dropped, with nothing to replace it. Now the Bible's old myths are propagated instead as the ideology of modern society. So many "churches" of all types of religion have recently been built, but no thought about the construction of affordable housing for the people. We do not support Putin in the commercialization of education and health, as it is not available for the majority of the population. We do not support the President in matters which are defective for the country, for the people. We do not support him on the issues that lower the dignity of the Russian nation over others. We are not nationalists, but we must respect the nation, which forms the name of the country - Russia.
AiF- Do you support the current protest movement? Why?
N.A.- The protest movement, is in fact quite varied. The "March of the Millions", the "Left Front," "Just Cause," "Civic Society," “Rot Front” ... and many others which somehow only slightly differ from the above, or do not have a distinct political agenda. The protest movement can be separated and attempts made to try to analyze them in relation to their attitude towards private ownership over production and the goal that they set for themselves, and for which they were created. In relationship to private ownership, we have two different camps. The "March of the Millions", "Left Front" ("left", but not at all leftist but rightist in the conventional sense, there is a substitution of names and meaning - political linguistics), "Just Cause", "Civic Society" are for private ownership, and represent the interests of the ruling bourgeois class, or, as they say - liberal values. "Rot Front" and the Russian Communist Workers’ Party (RCWP) – are parties with one leader V. Tyulkin and they advocate socialist values. All the protest movements inside are quite heterogeneous. The liberal movement differs in orientation by the various "blocks" either of the bourgeoisie or the comprador, or national. The "March of the Millions" (Boris Nemtsov, one of the leaders) is oriented to the comprador bourgeoisie, "Left Front" (Udaltsov) - also. "Just Cause" (Alexei Navalny) the same. Boris Nemtsov, declared that "protests are the only way to change the system in general." As prime minister under Yeltsin, he revealed HOW he wants to change the system. Therefore, enough of him.
We do not support this movement, since their purpose seems to be the replacement of Putin by a more pro-American-oriented leader, the collapse of the country, and surrendering on all positions of the country over to the United States. Their way of achieving their goal is by raising tension in the country, fear, horror, unrest and provocation. The events in Bolotnaya Square in Moscow in May 2012 showed the desire of the liberal protest movements to organize their own "Maidan" (orange revolution), where one can always keep carrying out provocative work on creating an explosive situation. Therefore we support Putin in curbing the activities of this "fifth column." There is a feeling that Medvedev does not stand apart from the movements of the "liberals." Putin supports the national bourgeoisie more. The liberals, like they claim, want to come to power through elections. Because of this there is a lot of noise about changing election rules. At the time of elections and the disagreements which follow over the results, the protest movement can then organise an "orange revolution", or any other "flower" revolution with all the ensuing consequences. And the West will assist, as always ... The "Party of Action" (Konstantin Babkin, M. Prokhorov), the movement "Civic Society" represent the interests of the national bourgeoisie. Mass protests have not yet been organized.
The socialist-oriented protest movement Rot Front state their aim to get into parliament through elections. They do not seem to have any other goals.
AiF- Why, in your opinion, did many leaders and policy makers after having worked in the CPSU and made up the ranks of that party in the 1980-s then remain in power after the Soviet Union collapsed, and have now completely entered the ruling "United Russia" party?
N.A.- This shows the degeneration of the CPSU from a party defending the interests of the working class, into a party that protects private property ownership interests, the interests of the philistine, careerists and opportunists. It is known that many people joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union to climb the career ladder. Party “cleansing” conducted by Joseph Stalin liberated it from careerists who had infiltrated it, but not always. Trotskyist Nikita Khrushchev was able to climb into the VKP (b) (AUCP(b)) and escape expulsion during the party purges. Indeed, the odious "United Russia" party is made up of almost 90% of former members of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Today, the "United Russia" party, created as a party to the president, is not respected in society. The careerism of its members climbs to the surface all too often, using their party affiliation in the interests of personal gain.
If we talk about members of the CPSU clambering into bourgeois power, then Boris Yeltsin himself was a secretary of the CPSU for many years, and even a candidate member of the Politburo, and his minister of state security Golushko – was KGB chief for Ukraine, the Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister Burbulis taught Marxism-Leninism in universities. The ideologue of reform and practically the head of government Yegor Gaidar, headed the department for the main theoretical journal of the CPSU, called "Communist", and after that, in the main CPSU newspaper "Pravda". The next Prime Minister Chernomyrdin was a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
Even in 1995, according to the Institute of Sociology, the Yeltsin administration by 75% and the Government of the Russian Federation by 74.3% consisted of former CPSU party nomenklatura. The only member of the Yeltsin government who was not in the Communist Party earlier, was the Minister of Foreign Economic Relations S.Yu. Glazyev - and he also became the only minister to condemn the actions of Yeltsin and came out in support of the Supreme Soviet.
It follows from this that the higher party nomenklatura was the active driving component in the preparation and accomplishment of the counterrevolution in the USSR.
AiF- If you wrote an appeal to the country today, in what publication would you put it, and what would be in your appeal?
N.A.- I would have my appeal placed in a publication where I could be sure of an undistorted appeal, without possibility of falsification of my thoughts. My current appeal would be devoted to the issue of the revival of socialism and the Soviet Union as a united multi-national family of the former Soviet republics.
YOUTH HIT THE STREETS
The world of capitalism has recently experienced yet another earthquake. Looking at the TV screens, the viewer is finding it difficult to distinguish from which country the news has appeared on the screen: either from Greece, Turkey, Italy, Spain, or Portugal - the picture is the same - loads of angry people, police cordons, tear gas attacks on protesters, batons and shields policemen, gendarmes, military police, armoured vehicles and armoured personnel carriers. This time around everyone is surprised at the ever quiet and it would seem prosperous Bulgaria. It is as if no one had expected such shocking pictures of police violence from there, and the stubborn resistance by angry people.
And most interestingly is that among the protesters there are hardly any older people who still remember their good life, even in the days of "underdeveloped" socialism, who made up the mass of all the protests, mostly insisting on raising pensions. This time is was the young people who took to the streets. Those born in the early 80's and do not remember anything from the time of socialism (that is, there is nothing for them to compare to), and do not accept the current state of affairs.
During the years of counter-revolution, due to the "shock building of capitalism", Bulgaria has become the most impoverished country in Europe. Yes, it has become an EU member by paying a huge fee and get out of it only pitiful handouts, and then each time, the "Europeans" seek a reason not to pay, especially if Bulgaria does not obey the orders of the U.S. and NATO. The years of primitive capital accumulation was accompanied by barbarous destruction of factories, cooperatives, robbery of the people who painstakingly created all this under socialism. When you go around the country, it seems that there has been a war raging more surgical than the one that crushed Yugoslavia. Abandoned buildings and looted shops of once powerful industries, broken roads, broken pavements, the skeletons of former farms and farm buildings – everywhere, the stamp of desolation, destruction and despair. Spacious cooperative fields overgrown with weeds, vineyards, apricot and peach orchards, destroyed canneries, and almost 200 deserted villages. Add to this, 40% unemployment and 1.6 million educated and skilled people of working years leaving the country. The worst thing is that namely the former Communist Party, which overnight became the Socialist Party, began the process of privatization and dragged the country into the EU and NATO, allowing Bulgaria’s skies to be used for bombing brotherly Serbia.
And a country once full of surprises with its rapid growth - in the list of exports were powerful ships (there were more than 1 million built in Bulgaria), which were bought by traditional shipbuilding states - Britain, Spain, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union. Bulgaria occupied one of the first places in the world for producing motorcycles and electric cars, the export machine tools with electronic control, producing automobiles and automobile engines, equipment for space research and supplied itself with quality refrigerators, washing machines, and even had a computer factory. Under the pretext that Bulgarian industrial production is not competitive enough with foreign companies, entire industries have been destroyed - shipbuilding, machine building, metallurgy (last powerful metallurgical plant Kremikovtzi sold under the hammer for nothing, of course, pre-stripped). So the most powerful company was sold off for a song. The latest news has been the announcement of the failure of military factories in Sopot, which have until now been producing weapons, including "Kalashnikovs", night vision devices, etc. For several months workers at this company have not been paid wages, and they were at the plant during the coldest winter days in the snow, in protest against the tyranny of the management, who continued to successfully sell weapons without having to pay those who produce them. Against the background of this protest, followed by a continuous rise in prices, which are sometimes higher in Bulgaria than in Europe, with low wages and poor pensions - 70% of pensioners have a pension of about 100 euros a month only.
The culmination of tension came in the form of February electricity bills for electricity consumed in January - the bills had increased several times that passed all bounds of peoples’ patience. In all towns and cities across the country arose spontaneous rallies and marches. They demanded the expulsion of foreign companies from the country - distributors of energy - Czech "CEZ" and Austrian "EVN". Indeed, the very electric current produced by Bulgarian thermal power plants and the nuclear power plant at Kozloduy, costs three times less than the cost of distribution and the bills themselves as the Bulgarians' joke, are like an encrypted spy's report." No one knows who, where and with whose permission such a complex formula for billing for the use of electricity has been created. It’s even harder to decipher the central heating bill. A person is billed on facts like whether your home is near a main pipe or your neighbours have heating, or heating on the stairways in an apartment block is warming you, even if all the radiators are turned off. The ingenuity of how the organizations recover peoples’ money is simply amazing.
But no one has yet invented how a person living on a miserable pension can actually pay for electricity or heating every month and yet still remain alive. And then the people took to the streets. The movement started spontaneously. To aggravate the situation and the fact that on the day of memory of Vasil Levski, the hero who fought against the Ottoman slavery - February 19 when he was hanged in 1875 by the Turks, the people of Sofia who choose traditionally to lay flowers at his monument in the centre of the city, were met by a cordon of police and gendarmerie – on Levski Square and nearby the streets were surrounded by buses, "Desert Cat" armored vehicles of the military police. For the first time in modern history, President R. Plevneliev gave his speech on Levski in front of an empty square. When he left the square, the crowd booed him from outside the police cordon. When police began allowing people onto the square near the monument, they were searched and had to pass through metal detectors. Many threw flowers directly on the asphalt. The indignation began to grow.
At the same time, near Orlov Bridge in Sofia, protesters gathered to protest against government inaction against monopolist companies. A column of protesters marched from the bridge to the monument of Levski. They chanted: "Mafia," and "Resignation!". When the police tried to keep people away from the monument, a clash broke out between them. There were injuries with people with cracked skulls and broken arms. 25 people were arrested, and 14 sought medical attention.
On the same day the opposition parties, among them the former Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) (now - the Bulgarian Socialist Party, refused to participate in a meeting of the Economic Commission, believing that they do not have to puzzle themselves over solving the problems created by the ruling party GERB - "Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria" formed in December 2006, and at the time getting the support of the majority of the population, tired of false promises, and the Democrats and former communists, equally cleverly fleecing the country. At the head of the party stood Boiko Borisov - a former firefighter, a specialist on pumps and hoses, for a time even a former bodyguard of T. Zhivkov and one of the managers of the security company of so called "fighters", specialists in fighting sports, who became one of the first Bulgarian gangsters. By unknown paths, the former security guard in a short time then became chief secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Mayor of Sofia, and finally, Prime Minister. Since then, he has not stopped appearing every morning on one or another television company, telling viewers how his grandfather was shot by the People's Court under communism as an active fascist, although it is well-known that his father was a colonel in the fire service, but a child of a fascist could not hold this rank under socialism. Although this is not the case. The ability of local politicians to change their uniforms, depending on the political situation forced the protesters to shout the slogan: "No to all parties!".
Protests in Bulgaria continued. The Cabinet resigned, despite all the boasting and promises made by B. Borisov. This resignation was really a surprise to many people, and GERD was considered unmanageable. The fact is that at the end of January there was a referendum, with the desperate resistance of the ruling party, on whether Bulgaria needs new sources of energy - everyone knew that it was about the building, or rather, the completion of the nuclear power plant in Belene, the foundation of which was laid under socialism. Borisov several times changed his mind - then announced that construction would continue then, suddenly opposed it. The fact is that the nuclear power plant was designed in Russia and had to work with Russian generators and a Russian reactor. With the explicit onset of the U.S., bourgeois politicians in Bulgaria started to repeat the thesis of the need to avoid energy dependence on Russia. But the country cannot supply enough electricity – and even heating uses mainly electricity. At the same time, new nuclear power plants in Romania and Turkey have been built, and are being built in Serbia and Bulgaria, which has so far earned enough by selling electricity, and is facing the prospect of buying electricity. And the government on the background of this problem has increased the price of electricity by 15%, and bills have suddenly increased by 2 - 3 times. At the same time, the government has flatly refused to reject the licenses of monopoly power distributors, which are exporting the profits from the production of energy, like the Germans who bought the shipyard in the Bugarian city of Ruse, paid meager salaries Bulgarian shipbuilders and had exported considerable profit.
Bulgarian society still knows little about the conditions at U.S. and NATO bases in the country. Bulgaria pays for these bases, because the U.S. envoy says on TV screen, "these bases are for general use." Incidentally, at the base airfield in Sarafovo, a bus exploded full of Israeli tourists who had arrived on holiday to Bulgaria without protection, knowing that they were flying in to "their own" that is, they were landing at a U.S. base. And over a few months, the U.S. simply squeezed from Bulgaria confirmation that the explosion was carried out by "Hezbollah." No matter how the Bulgarians tried to explain that there was no evidence of this, even after a long investigation, without any evidentiary ruling, the Bulgarian authorities have slyly recognized the attack as the work of "Hezbollah". Even stranger is the fact that a few days after this incident, the European Union refused to recognize "Hezbollah" as a terrorist organization. But someone wants to place Bulgaria in confrontation with a country such as Iran, and the Bulgarians do not like this at all.
All these external and internal conditions are kept in suspense inside Bulgarian society. As elsewhere in the former socialist countries, the communists ceased being communists, having lost the confidence of the people. And at the moment there is no force that can solve the problems of society. Grassroot spontaneous protests however show that the counter-revolution 23 years ago did not create acceptable living conditions and do not give even a glimmer of hope for an optimistic future. It was not in vain that the protesters demanded a change of the present constitution which protects the rights of capital, and change the system that has brought them to despair. Recently, two young men killed themselves by self-immolation that shocked the people.
But meanwhile the perpetrators of all this are either Stanishev - chairman of the Socialist Party, Kostov – a Democrat, or Borisov of GERB. No one has stated the main culprit is CAPITALISM. Possibly during the protests and struggle, the young people coming into the political arena, will learn to see the truth. A society in which everything is bought and sold cannot be otherwise defined. But, as Georgi Dimitrov (first communist leader of Bulgaria form 1946 - 1949) said at the Leipzig process, "But no matter what, the Earth is spinning, and it is spinning towards communism!".
Today in Bulgaria protests continue regardless of the government having resigned at the demand of the protesters. Grassroot spontaneous protests have gradually become managed by two national committees. Every day, even on weekends (and these days even more actively), thousands of people take to the central square and the streets to demand a change of the system and to check all privatization deals and agreements with foreign countries. Miners have gone on strike, followed by declared willingness of doctors and nurses to strike. Workers at a nonferrous metals plant in Kyrdzhli went on strike.
All participants in the protest to support the demands of the railway workers to stop privatization of Bulgarian railways. In Burgas each day protesters go to the port with demands to stop the procedure for privatization of the port. The start of these events began to the surprise of Bulgarians themselves – at the always so calm, holiday resort of Varna. It entrenched the country's largest enforcement group "Team-security", which controls the production of 5% of gross domestic product. And so far from it, no one can sort them out. It is engaged in racketeering, has a "window" on the sea and land borders for the passage of drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and other contraband. At its head are former naval officers. It is known that almost all power structures are associated with this group, and it controls all the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria and half the country. A young man 36 years demanded that the mayor end the domination of the mafia group, but he was denied even a conversation. Then Plamen (that was his name), doused himself with gasoline and set himself on fire. He died in a Varna hospital. His last words were: "Team Security needs to be destroyed". "Every day, people come to the spot in front of City Hall and leave according to local customs, stones and flowers in memory of the Plamen and write their demands: "Mayor and City Council – resign!" The mayor resisted the protesters demand until March 8, and then resigned. City Council is still to deliberate, but its fate is sealed. And today in several cities in Bulgaria protesters expressed their distrust of the local authorities. The fire started by Plamen is flaring up all over. Three more boys committed immolation. The President has been in consultation ready to announce the composition of a (temporary) government, which is obliged by the Constitution to prepare and hold early elections. Protesters insist on the adoption of new rules of elections, even a new constitution, not relying on the existing “democracy” in this European country. The struggle is unfolding.
by Candidate of Historical Science
Alla Gigova
Bulgaria - March 2013
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Saturday, 6 April 2013
A few days ago I mentioned the great challenges humanity is currently facing. Intelligent life emerged on our planet approximately 200,000 years ago, although new discoveries demonstrate something else.
This is not to confuse intelligent life with the existence of life which, from its elemental forms in our solar system, emerged millions of years ago.
A virtually infinite number of life forms exist. In the sophisticated work of the world’s most eminent scientists the idea has already been conceived of reproducing the sounds which followed the Big Bang, the great explosion which took place more than 13.7 billion years ago.
This introduction would be too extensive if it was not to explain the gravity of an event as unbelievable and absurd as the situation created in the Korean Peninsula, within a geographic area containing close to five billion of the seven billion persons currently inhabiting the planet.
This is about one of the most serious dangers of nuclear war since the October Crisis around Cuba in 1962, 50 years ago.
In 1950, a war was unleashed there [the Korean Peninsula] which cost millions of lives. It came barely five years after two atomic bombs were exploded over the defenseless cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki which, in a matter of seconds, killed and irradiated hundreds of thousands of people.
General Douglas MacArthur wanted to utilize atomic weapons against the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Not even Harry Truman allowed that.
It has been affirmed that the People’s Republic of China lost one million valiant soldiers in order to prevent the installation of an enemy army on that country’s border with its homeland. For its part, the Soviet army provided weapons, air support, technological and economic aid.
I had the honor of meeting Kim Il Sung, a historic figure, notably courageous and revolutionary.
If war breaks out there, the peoples of both parts of the Peninsula will be terribly sacrificed, without benefit to all or either of them. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea was always friendly with Cuba, as Cuba has always been and will continue to be with her.
Now that the country has demonstrated its technical and scientific achievements, we remind her of her duties to the countries which have been her great friends, and it would be unjust to forget that such a war would particularly affect more than 70% of the population of the planet.
If a conflict of that nature should break out there, the government of Barack Obama in his second mandate would be buried in a deluge of images which would present him as the most sinister character in the history of the United States. The duty of avoiding war is also his and that of the people of the United States.
No 4 (121) APRIL 2013
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FOR SOCIALISM IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL!
What is the position of the Bolsheviks regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict? The topic of events in this region of the Middle East is constantly in the media and therefore we need to clarify this issue.
In the very first instance we need to give a clear answer to this question: The All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks (AUCPB), in recognizing the right of peoples to self-determination, supports the Palestinian people's right to the establishment of an independent state with its capital in East Jerusalem.
After such an answer there may arise more questions. We’ll try to answer them.
The first question is: "How can you support radical Muslims and Islamic fundamentalists? After all the TV spews out that Palestinians are all evil Muslims... ".
This position is due to "Islamophobic" propaganda by the media. In fact, among the Palestinians there are Muslims, Christians and atheists.
On pro-Zionist "television", when they talk about the Palestinians, most often they show the Islamist militants of HAMAS. But the Palestinian resistance is by far not limited to HAMAS. Besides the fact that in the West
Bank, the Arab secular Fatah party
rules, we should also emphasize the activities in Palestine of leftist organisations, including socialist and communist ones.
These organizations include the Popular Front for the liberation of Palestine (PFLP), headquartered operates mainly in neighbouring Lebanon), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) and others. They favour an all-Arab socialist revolution. Their fighters are easily distinguished from the Islamists - they have red ribbons over their Palestinian scarves and the Islamists wear green ones). The founder of the above-listed organizations was George Habash, a Palestinian, who was born in an orthodox Christian family.
In the twentieth century, the Soviet Union supported the activities of the leftist Palestinian organizations, including through the structures of the KGB the supplying of arms and specialists.
Of course, we cannot ignore that among Leftist Palestinians there are nationalist and even
religious views. But if you read, for example, what the Russian Internet "communists" say, there are similar trends. Nationalism and religion is a phenomenon peculiar to the backward masses, where they will tail the Communists and wither out with the development of the revolutionary struggle and socialism.
Speaking of the Palestinian Islamists, we must pay attention to the fact that they are not North Caucasian Wahhabis. Wahhabism is a radical form of Islamic extremism and is the official religion of Saudi Arabia and backed by this same country.
In Palestine, there are Wahhabi, al-Qaeda organizations supported by the Saudis and the U.S. intelligence services, but they are scarce, and even the police of the Hamas party in the Gaza Strip have subjected them to harassment.
You may recall that in 2008, Hamas declared their support for Russia's actions for the protection of South Ossetia. In the early 2000s, Russian television showed an interview of one of the leaders of another Islamist organization - "Hezbollah" (operating in neighbouring Lebanon.) He spoke remarkable words: "We have heard about the Chechen fighters in Russia. They call themselves "warriors of Allah." But the warriors of Allah can not capture civilians and abuse them." As you can see, the North Caucasian Wahhabis benefit from support only from the Saudis and US provocateurs in the Middle East. Moreover, in the press, information has leaked that the "Chechen warlords" and their relatives keep money in Israeli financial institutions and buy luxury properties in Israeli Gush Dan region.
Thus, in summarizing – we can safely say that the Palestinians can in no way be compared to North Caucasian bandits. On the contrary, the "Chechen field commanders" have good contacts with Israel.
In conclusion, we have to add, that the ratio of
the relationship between the various Palestinian organizations is complex: sometimes they act in unity against Israel, which sometimes leads to armed clashes between the leftist Palestinians and various Isamists. Thus, one day in Gaza strip there was a skirmish between fighters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the pro-Iranian group "Islamic Jihad", where a few people suffered gunshot wounds. The exchange of fire took place due to the fact that the rebels could not share the heights from where it was convenient
for shelling Israelis.
In view of the foregoing, another question arises: what is the view of the Bolsheviks on the Jewish state of Israel and why the idea of creating a Jewish state was once supported by Stalin's USSR?
Here again we recall the right of peoples to self-
determination. Jews also have the right to establish their own state in Palestine, therefore the Soviet Union in 1947 supported the creation of the Jewish state, but immediately, categorically condemned the policy of the imperialist, Zionist, pro-American circles in Israel. The Soviet Union condemned the Israeli military aggression against the Palestinian
Arabs, and demanded that Israel return to the borders defined by the United Nations. The aggressive Israeli military used against the neighbouring peoples made the word "Israel" itself a symbol of imperialism and Zionist fascism.
Obviously, the resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lies on the path of a socialist revolution in the Middle East. When in Israel, Zionism is overthrown, and in Palestine and Israel peace-loving, socialist forces and communists come to power, then past hostility and the hatred between the Palestinian Arabs and Jews will become a thing of the past.
Only socialism will bring peace, equality and friendship for the peoples on the ancient lands of Palestine and Israel. But there is a long time to go before that – and ahead of the Palestinian and Jewish communist comrades stand many years of struggle against Zionism and all forms
capitalist inequality. The most important step in this direction should be the creation of a truly Bolshevik Leninist-Stalinist party of Jewish and Arab workers. This step still needs to be done.
By Ivan Pushkarev
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N.A. ANDREEVA, GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE ALL-UNION COMMUNIST PARTY OF BOSHEVIKS (AUCPB) INTERVIEW BY "FREE PRESS"
Nina Andreeva a quarter of a century later remains committed to principles
March 13 marks the 25th anniversary of one event, which is unlikely to be remembered by many today, but which made a splash at the time both among supporters and opponents of Perestroika in the USSR. We are talking here about the publication in the Russian newspaper "Sovietskaya Rossiya” (Soviet Russia) of an article written by an ordinary lecturer from Leningrad, Nina Andreeva, entitled "I cannot give up principles," which was the first with a harsh criticism of Gorbachev's policy from below.
Within days, the entire article was reprinted in nearly a thousand newspapers across the Soviet Union. To the editors of the newspapers and to Nina Andreeva personally arrived many letters with words of solidarity and also those with sharp condemnation.
At the same time, the article really scared the architects of perestroika. For nearly a month following its publication, the authorities did not know what to say. The ideologist of perestroika, Alexander Yakovlev even wanted to resign, but Gorbachev held him back. At his insistence, Nina Andreeva’s letter was discussed by the Politburo of the CPSU. The result of the discussion was that Yakovlev prepared an article called "Principles of Perestroika, revolutionary thinking and action", published in "Pravda" on April 5. In this article, the letter by Nina Andreeva was called the "manifesto of anti-perestroika forces."
Today, 25 years later, the issues raised by Nina Andreeva in her letter, remain relevant and controversial. For some people, she is a Cassandra who predicted the death of Soviet civilization, but for others - a symbol of the reactionary and retrograde. At the same time, the current government is trying to flirt with the population using the legacy of the Soviet era, and most ambiguously. Widely publicized, for example, is the creating of interest to Stalin in society, and the constant debate about renaming Volgograd back to Stalingrad is proof of that.
Because of all this and everything that has changed over the years, we decided to talk with the author of the acclaimed letter, Nina Andreeva herself.
"FP": - Nina Alexandrovna, please tell our readers what motivated you into writing that letter? Was it when you clearly understood where the country was going?
N.A. - The fact that the country was not going where it should have been, I realized, in analyzing the statements made by Gorbachev himself and on his behalf, those announced in the Western media.
In the 1980-s, Soviet society was in a state of both excitement and confusion. To the head of state came a young General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), Mikhail Gorbachev, from whom many expected and welcomed his "perestroika." Why? In society, changes were needed. By this time, there were a lot of unresolved issues. Among the major issues stood the deformation of socialism, the deformation of the ruling party along with the ideological degeneration of the CPSU. In fact there was a break by party from the people. And all of this on a backdrop of an open "demonstration" by the elitist intellectuals of their anti-Soviet nature. You may remember, for example, the anti-Soviet repertoire in theatres, especially in the staging of M.Shatrova, the printing of numerous articles in the press articles slandering the Soviet period, lies in the media against Stalin, disrespect to the war veterans, the overthrow of the historical significance of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War and World War II, and many others.
All these problems were being openly discussed in society. Myself as university lecturer and curator of one of the student groups, of course, discussed the "burning" issues with my students. Most people over the demagoguery and trick phrases made by Gorbachev could not understand what was happening in reality and what was really behind "perestroika." I did not agree with much of what was happening with the 180 degrees turn of history, and therefore wrote my rather lengthy reply in the summer of 1987 to one of the newspaper articles that interested me. Part of my response was published. In January 1988, I wrote another response to an article in the same newspaper - "Leningrad worker." That one remained unanswered. In February 1988, a CC CPSU Plenum was held in which Yegor Ligachev had set the same issues that I had discussed in my letters to the "Leningrad worker." I sent copies of my two letters to four newspapers, including the "Sovietskaya Rossiya", which published a generalized and shortened version of my two letters prepared by me in the form of one article.
"SP": - When writing your article, did you think about how the rest of your fate would pan out? Were there thoughts that you might pass a certain threshold beyond which you would then begin a new life – a life of a public figure and politician?
N.A. No, I did not think about it and do not seek "fame." It was simply that I, as a member of the CPSU, as a teacher, and as a Soviet woman wanted to express my own views on the real aims of "perestroika", which were revealed to me by analyzing events in the country and the response of the West to those events. For example, a new interpretation of the name of the USSR (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics) that Gorbachev declared publicly at the UN in 1987 as being the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics ...
In my publication, I wanted to draw the attention of the Soviet people of my understanding of the true meaning of "perestroika", and wanted them to think about the future of their country.
"SP": - Your article was the first to voice criticism of the policy of the party and government from a leftist point of view. How do you think the country would have developed, if the upper echelons had listened to you and your followers? Could that in principle have even happened at all?
N.A.- A subjunctive mood is not acceptable for history. But if the leadership of the country was not nearly all counter-revolutionary – because almost all of the higher ranks of the CPSU were conformist by nature nomenklatura and turned out to be conductors of the policy of "gorbastroika" - then we could have made a turn away from "perestroika", and begin to address those pressing issues, which I have already stated.
But at that time, we did not know that Gorbachev’s ambition in life was to destroy communism. We did not know that Gorbachev and Shevardnadze "sometime in their seventies (!) would conclude that the communist system should be changed from head to toe ..." (the former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, in "Diplomacy",). "To achieve this, I (Gorbachev - Ed.) decided that I must destroy the whole apparatus of the CPSU and the USSR. Also I must do this in all of the other socialist countries ... I found friends that had the same thoughts as I in Yakovlev and Shevardnadze, they all deserve to be thanked for the breakup of the USSR and the defeat of communism." (M. Gorbachev. From an interview by newspapers with Gorbachev in Ankara, Turkey where he was a guest at a seminar at the American University. "Sovietskaya Rossiya", 2000, August 19).
The top party nomenklatura was an active component in the preparation and carrying out of the counterrevolution. Yeltsin was a regional secretary for many years, a candidate member of the Politburo, and his minister of state security Golushko - Ukrainian KGB chief, as well as Secretary of State and Deputy Prime Minister Burbulis who taught Marxism-Leninism in the universities, who was one of the architects of reform and the actual head of the government. Gaidar headed the department in the main theoretical journal of the CPSU "Communist," and after that, in the main Communist Party newspaper "Pravda". The next Prime Minister Chernomyrdin was a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Even in 1995, according to the Institute of Sociology, the Yeltsin administration by 75% and the Government of the Russian Federation by 74.3% consisted of former CPSU party nomenklatura.
It would have been possible to have reversed events via the extraordinary Congress of the CPSU in the autumn of 1991 by rejecting "perestroika" there and then, by changing the entire party-state apparatus. This is what we the Bolsheviks had planned to do via the Bolshevik platform in the CPSU. The counter-revolution overtook us. Yeltsin's decree in September 1991 banned all communist activities, and a little earlier in the year in August a farce coup was organized by the GKChP (State Committee on the State of Emergency). And Yeltsin on the 3 and 4 October 1993 suppressed the revolt against him by drowning it in blood, shooting the defenders of the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation.
"SP": - For nearly a month, between the publication of the article and the publication of Yakovlev's response to it - from March 13 to April 5, 1988 - the entire perestroika propaganda machine stopped its anti-Soviet hysteria, only to resume after Yakovlev actually gave approval for the continuation of it. Why do you think the top echelons of power waited so long? Did your article really scare someone in high places?
N.A.- The party leadership became confused at that point and did not know what to do. Yakovlev immediately resigned, but Gorbachev refused to accept his resignation and instructed him to prepare a damning document against the "enemy of perestroika" – the author of the article in "Sovietskaya Rossiya", and have it printed in the newspaper "Pravda” (“Truth”). Following the publication in "Pravda" of Yakovlev’s article, the counterrevolution entered a new stage, hounding and persecuting all those who did not support "gorbastroika." And of course, above all, it affected me, the author of the article.
"SP": - In your article you pay attention to the fact that the victims of ongoing historical revision are primarily young people. Today, a new generation who knows nothing about the Soviet system, have not seen, not only the positive side to it but also its negative traits.
N.A. - Nowadays the young people, like anyone else, are finding things difficult. Young people do not know their history, and their development has now lagged 50 years or more behind. Young people do not know classical literature, music ... Many people cannot get jobs in this bourgeois sweatshop system of gaining profits, and die of heart attacks or suicide, are unable to set up a family because of the low wages (if they are lucky to find a job), and find it impossible to buy a flat and provide for his family. There is a large-scale mental debilitation of the population underway, especially among young people. But today however, we are seeing an awakened interest by them in Soviet history, as they are beginning to learn it on their own, and the veil of lies starts to drop.
INSIDE THE DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
On February 16 in the DPRK (North Korea) the birthday of Kim Jong Il (1942-2011) was celebrated, who for the last 15 years (since 8
October 1997) led the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) as General Secretary of the WPK, was Supreme Commander of the Korean People’s Army (KPA) (since 24 December 1991), Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the DPRK (since 9 April 1993), and Marshal
of the KPA. During the years of the country's leadership of Comrade Kim Jong Il, a lot was done, so much in fact, that you can not list let alone describe all his contributions to the construction of socialist Korea. Over the past 30 years, under Kim Jong Il, the DPRK made a powerful step forward in its development. For example in the tremendous advances in the development of the economic base of society, new
industries, heavy industry with factories built with modern electronic equipment, were created, increasing power output to a higher level along with the construction of large and small-scale hydropower plants in small rivers, the development of modern engineering, and the construction of several large plants in the chemical industry, etc.
Much has been done in the development of light industry under the motto - more high-quality goods for the people of the country. Much has also been done in the field of land management, with the creation of new acreage, new varieties
of food crops, together with developed livestock and fisheries.
The DPRK set up its own nuclear power and confidently stepped into space by launching its own artificial satellite.
The Armed Forces of the DPRK has become a formidable weapon against any aggressor, having brought into service various long-range missiles.
Much has been done in the social and
the educational system. The housing issue has been completely solved in cities and agricultural cooperatives. Health care has been taken to
a new level - with the help of computer techniques to diagnose the health of residents of the country who are living in the most remote towns and villages. Great achievements have been made by the DPRK in the field of sport having received many top prizes at international competitions and the Olympic Games. In Party documents it is written that man stands as centre of attention. And this has always been practiced and is now in practice throughout the Government and the Party. Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, the Korean people overcame an unprecedented and difficult path.
For the people, Kim Jong Il was a symbol of victory, a spiritual support and bright future of Korea.
The love of the Korean people to prematurely deceased Great Kim Jong Il is so great that he has been forever remained at the high post of General Secretary of the WPK by Decree of the IV conference of the WPK and the V session of the Supreme Peoples Assembly of the DPRK of the 12th convocation in legislate order designated Kim Jong Il to the post of eternal Chairman of the National Defence Commission (NDC). A decision was made to build a statue of Kim Jong-Il in Pyongyang, to celebrate his birthday as the Day of the Shining Star, and all over the country to erect portraits of Kim Jong Il and a tower called Immortality Tower (with an inscription - "Great Comrades Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are always with us ").
A year after the death of Kim Jong-Il, his embalmed body has been placed next to the body of Kim Il-Sung in Kumsusan memorial palace, renamed Kumsusan Palace of the Sun.
Earlier, in April 2012, in the centre of Pyongyang alongside a bronze statue of Kim Il Sung, a statue of Kim Jong Il was erected. As big a statue of Kim Jong Il was set up on the territory of the Ministry of Armed Forces of the DPRK (see photo in this material).
On December 24, 2012, on the day of the appointment of Kim Jong Il to the post of Supreme Commander of the KPA (1991), the Government of the DPRK instituted the International Kim Jong-Il Prize. In the rules of the award it states that it will be awarded to politicians, scientists, public officials and businessmen who made tangible contributions to the struggle for independence of the country and the nation, the realisation of global independence, and peace and the development of human culture. The prize consists of a diploma, a gold medal and a Cup. A special council will organise the work of awarding the Prize, which is made up of prominent politicians, public activists and scientists from different countries. The award council is based in New Delhi (India). Awarding of the prize took place on 16 February 2013 on the birthday of Kim Jong Il. This Day in the DPRK has been declared a national holiday the "Day of the Shining Star."
Also an Order of Kim Jong Il has been instituted along with a children’ Kim Jong Il
Award of Honor. Kim Jong Il commemorative coins have also been produced inscribed with "The great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il is always with us."
The traditions and ideas of the Great President Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il now worthily continued and performed in practice by the young DPRK leader Kim Jong-Un. 2012 was
triumphant in the program implementation of the tasks laid forth by the previous leaders. This demonstrates the continuity in policy of Great Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong-Il.
On the Day of the Shining Star - February 16, we sincerely wish the hard-working people of the DPRK to also firmly and confidently to move
forward under the banner of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il ("under the banner of the Sun"), bringing ever closer a bright tomorrow in the DPRK – entering into a thriving prosperous socialist power, which two great men dreamt about.
Congratulating Comrade Kim Jong-Un on the 71th anniversary since the birth of Great Kim Jong Il, we wish the young DPRK leader success in his difficult task - advancing the country forward and defending the cause of socialism as dignified
inexorably as his great predecessors.
In the name of Kim Jong Un on the occasion of 71th anniversary of the birth of the great leader Comrade Kim Jong Il, the General Secretary of the AUCPB, N.A.Andreeva sent a congratulatory telegram to Pyongyang.
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ON THE PROBLEMS OF THE WORKING CLASS
Lenin and Stalin were always talking about the need to unite the communist and workers' movement into a single force that is able to destroy capitalism. Only under this condition can communists and workers successfully fight for socialist revolution. This was proved very expressively autumn 1917 in Russia.
We shall tear out the "root of evil"!
J.V. Stalin wrote in 1905 in his "Briefly About Disagreements in the Party": "... What is scientific socialism without the working-class movement? — A compass which, if left unused, will only grow rusty and then will have to be thrown overboard.
What is the working-class movement without socialism?—A ship without a compass which will reach the other shore in any case, but would reach it much sooner and with less danger if it had a compass.
Combine the two and you will get a splendid vessel, which will speed straight towards the other shore and reach its haven unharmed.
Combine the working-class movement with socialism and you will get a Social-Democratic (communist – fb) movement which will speed straight towards the "promised land."
And so, it is the duty of Social-Democracy (and not only of Social-Democratic intellectuals) to combine socialism with the working-class movement, to imbue the movement with socialist consciousness and thereby lend the spontaneous working-class movement a Social-Democratic character.
That is what Lenin said ... ".
Thus it is necessary to avoid a situation where the communists are by themselves, and the workers are by themselves.
Bolsheviks and Young Bolshevik Guards should actively cooperate with those who work in the factories. We need to keep up persistent communist propaganda among the workers, often organize pickets, rallies at the entrances to factories with the distribution of our newspapers and leaflets. We need to look for supporters who could distribute our printed products within companies, workshops and provide information about the situation at the plant. It is necessary to protect people from a situation where the authorities or security know who is engaged in the distribution of Bolshevik newspapers and leaflets. Otherwise, the worker could be fired from the plant "at will" or under a different pretext, one which will always be found. In some cases, you only need to leave the Bolshevik literature in the workshops by machinery, in the locker room, in the dining halls, corridors and stairwells on a window sill - in all those places where the mass of workers gather. It makes sense to spread newspapers, leaflets, within the plant with the help of people who have been working there for a long time and know reliable comrades. Through them you can distribute our newspapers and leaflets along a "chain" of workers. Only the strengthening of Bolshevik propaganda and agitation among the working class, both outside plant and inside can ensure the growth of Bolshevik ideas among workers-proletarians.
When factory workers organize strikes, we need to provide information of support to the campaign. We need to post articles about the strike in our newspapers, on Internet sites, social networks and forums. Make it so that the largest possible number of workers find out about the strike. After all, this is an example for them as an effective solution to the problems of labour and wages.
In the event of a strike at any enterprise the Bolsheviks or Young Bolsjevik Guards can organize a rally in support by writing words of solidarity with workers on large sheets of paper that have to be put on public display during the strike. The plant workers will then know that the Bolsheviks and Young Guard support the strike, and then our credibility in the working masses will be strengthened. One of our main objectives is to strengthen the growth in influence of the Bolsheviks among working people. And this we can implement, providing real help to factory workers in their struggle for their rights.
Unfortunately, among the poorer segments of society there is still a strong hope for a "kind uncle", who in the opinion of the naive citizens, will "have mercy" and help workers improve their material existence. So far, there are still many workers who have naive hope that the powers to be can actually "regret" what they are doing and actually help working people.
This is the root of evil. This is the reason that the protests of workers rarely go beyond economic demands. People still believe in the powers to be and the bourgeoisie - the "owners" of enterprises. It is necessary to break this faith. We should explain that no "uncle", "king-father" or president, or mayor will help the workers. It is necessary to explain to the workers that never in the 20 years of capitalist slavery in the former USSR have the central authorities as well as the local ones ever really helped working people much in their struggle for their rights. At best, everything has been limited to empty talk and a few handouts - crumbs from the master's table or with the threat of "punishment" by the bourgeois, of delaying wages. Workers don’t want this. They want a secure life, confidence in the future, and a substantial income. The workers do not want to simply exist (as they do now), but to actually live! And we need to explain to them that this is not achievable under capitalism. Only socialism can provide the above social security, besides the fact that it provides free housing, medical treatment and education. Workers need to understand that socialism is not achievable through elections, but through a Socialist revolution.
Workers need to believe in themselves and to understand that they THEMSELVES with the Communists-Bolsheviks are able to improve their lives. To believe in the cause is half the battle.
Now capitalism. The "Kind Uncle" remains in socialism, therefore the workers should rely only upon themselves, and on the people of their own class, on the transition to socialism through a general strike and revolution.
When we are united - we are invincible
The problem in today's society lies in selfishness in disunity. Unfortunately, this disease has also affected workers. Some of them live by the motto of "everyone for themselves," or "it’s none of my business." There is no workers unity and mutual assistance. All too often one section of workers will strike, and the other at the same time will work. This is called strike-breaking. At the beginning of the XX century this was a disgrace for the workers. Nowadays, unfortunately, the situation is different. For example, at the Russian arms factory in Izhevsk during a strike in October 2012, younger workers were on strike, but pensioners who worked there at the time, did not support the protest and carried on working. Is this not selfishness? Such narrow-minded people (in spite of their grey hair) do not understand that being disunited, we are easy to suppress – like a piece of cake, but when we are united - we are invincible. Explaining this is another challenge for genuine communists.
The bourgeoisie after 1917 in Russia understood that the working class not only in words but also in deeds is their gravedigger. Capitalists tend to try not to increase the number of factories in their states and where possible, shift production to other countries (particularly Asian countries), where labour is cheaper. Therefore, in some European countries the number of factories does not increase, but in many countries even decrease in number, or worse still as in the former USSR the "CIS", factories are quite openly destroyed. Consequently, the number of members of the working class – who the gravedigger of the bourgeoisie is also reduced. Here is one of the reasons why capitalism is alive and continues to torment the working classes. Therefore, the task of the Bolsheviks-communists is to strengthen the fight (with rallies and other protest actions) against the destruction of factories still open since 1991. Factory workers will thank us for this.
Another problem of the working class is the large scale employee "drain" from enterprises. Many employees "protest" against the tyranny of the capitalist bosses by simply handing in their notice and leaving the factory and going to another organization, "where wages are higher." On the one hand this would seem like a way out, but on the other - the other company where the employee now works, also exists under capitalism. Hence, there is still the risk of low wages, its delays, layoffs, bankruptcy, etc.
With the large-scale employee "drain " at enterprises, the work collective is unstable, hence, less cohesive, less friendly, and we, the Bolsheviks, and Young Bolshevik Guard should make efforts to ensure that workers are not running from factory to factory, but actively fighting here and now at their own factory enterprise for their rights, for socialism, and not just simply limiting their struggle to economic demands only.
AUCPB
STATEMENT by the CC AUCPB on the situation on the Korean Peninsula
22.03.2013
We have repeatedly stated before that the AUCPB supported and will support the leadership Songun policy of the DPRK. We fully support the DPRK nuclear test and launch of an artificial satellite by their domestic carrier rocket, suggesting the establishment of a reliable DPRK nuclear shield, which is in the current circumstances, the only real way to protect the country from external aggression.
However, we do not support the statement made by the Foreign Affairs spokesman and other agencies about the possibility of the DPRK launching a pre-emptive nuclear strike against its enemies, as it puts the socialist country level with the imperialist aggressor – the United States, the instigator of a Third World thermo-nuclear war. The apparent military gains from this will inevitably turn to political defeat on either of the sides who dared to actually deliver a pre-emptive nuclear strike. On the Korean peninsula today in opposing each other, i.e. the DPRK – U.S., what is at stake is not only the life of DPRK citizens, but also those of neighbouring countries, and in the end – the whole of humanity.
AUCPB
22 March 2013.
Leningrad
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THE PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR CONTINUES
Published as a debate
After the ending of the Great Patriotic War in 1945, enemies of the Soviet Union realized that military force alone could not defeat the USSR.
Hitler's Wehrmacht was the strongest army in the capitalist world, but it could not crush the Soviet Motherland. On the contrary, since 1945, the number of socialist countries actually increased, and the Soviet Union, thanks also to the genius of Stalin's policy, was controlling
more than half the world's population.
The major bourgeoisie of U.S. and Western Europe became truly alarmed. The imperialists began feeling that the end was near for them. They began to take measures to extend their power over large parts of the planet and try to inflict a lethal blow against the Soviet Union. More than 80 institutions in capitalist countries worked only for the development and practice of implementation of a new method for the savage destruction of the USSR. The Zionist- imperialist bourgeoisie splashed out plenty of money for this.
Against the Soviet Motherland, against the ideas of communism, began a new undeclared war – a psychological war. From out of the U.S. began the "ideological attack on communism." The imperialists set their scientists, lackeys, spies and
agents of influence the task of: breaking up, and shaking the foundations of the socialist system from within, "to launder" the basic ideological principles of Soviet society and the countries
of the people's democracies, then sow disbelief in the possibility of building communism, and discredit the ideas of Marxism-Leninism.
The enemies of socialism understood that in order to undermine faith in communism, you had to know how to distort Marxism. Therefore, they sent their own agents to Soviet universities and carried out “special” work among scientists. That included breaking the principles of Marxism-Leninism and subjecting it to revision. Under Khrushchev and Brezhnev, such agents "worked" in almost every Moscow higher learning institution.
Foreign intelligence centres gave out tasks to spies: to penetrate circles influencing policies of the countries of socialism, to seize key positions in the USSR (i.e. Gorbachev in the CPSU and Putin in the KGB), and create underground opposition
groups. Agents of the West acted not only among scientists, but also among a mass of actors, journalists, writers, and musicians.
"Processing" their minds, these spies had a great
impact on public opinion in the USSR. Therefore it is of no surprise that namely among the scientists, actors, journalists and musicians, the Gorbachevites-Yeltsinites found themselves in the second half of the 80's with reliable support.
Their American masters gave
instructions such as these to their agents of influence: "... The Slavs like to sing over a glass of vodka. Remind them how well they brewed moonshine during the Civil War. Recklessly drunk, say Russians. Create the same thing and the drunks will wander wherever we need them to go. Russians like humour ... Well, we shall arm fans
with witty jokes, making fun of their present day and their future. A sharp anecdote spreads like wildfire, sometimes even by people loyal to Soviet power. The anecdote is a great force. Slipping past one person imperceptibly, it can leave another person with the thin coating, which
will serve as a catalyst for everything that is anti-Soviet ... ". Anti-Soviet jokes that were common in
Brezhnev era, did their dirty deed. They significantly undermined public confidence in the possibility of building communism.
Back in the early 1950's, the agents of influence were given by their masters the task of creating inside the USSR and other socialist countries, an atmosphere of popular discontent.
This, in part explains the events of 1968 in the Czechoslovakia, and in the early 1980's, in Poland, as well as the bourgeois counter-revolutions that swept through Central Europe in 1989. In this same rank can be placed the creating of the artificial shortage of food products that took place under Gorbachev.
The words of German historian Clausewitz, expressed in his book "On War" became the program for the destroyers of the USSR: "The Russian Empire is no country which can be regularly conquered, that is to say, which can be held in possession, at least not by the forces of the present States of Europe, nor by the 500,000 men with which Bonaparte invaded the country. Such a country can only be subdued by its own weakness, and by the effects of internal dissension. In order to strike these vulnerable points in its political existence, the country must be agitated to its very centre ". Such a strike was provoked by the capitalist West with the so-called “perestroika”
(reconstruction), which caused an internal explosion and the destruction of the USSR.
The main psychological blow that was struck after 1953 was against the Soviet youth. Leaders of Western intelligence centres gave such clear instructions to the agents of influence: "The hope of every nation lies with its young people. We make this so that this hope deceives the Bolsheviks. Young people are inclined towards getting easily distracted... Poison the souls of young people with scepticism about the meaning of life, awaken interest in sexual problems, lure them over by such baits as the free world, modern dancing, nice clothes (rags), special types of music, poems, songs ... Children will always find something to rebuke their parents with. Use this! Set the younger generation against the older generation (and vice versa- Fb)...". In Western Europe after 1945, guesthouses were set up, where children and adolescents were kept, kidnapped by the Nazis from the occupied territories of the USSR. In these establishments, they brought up their agents of influence who would conduct subversive ideological work among Soviet young people. Such people entered Soviet universities and then conducted anti-communist propaganda. The main aim of these ideological saboteurs was to ensure that in the Soviet Union did not continue to appear a heroic youth, and a new Alexander Matrosov and Zoe Kosmodemyansky did appear.
The enemies of socialism set themselves a goal: "We must be so inventive in ways of conducting psychological war against communism in order to keep ahead of communist propaganda."
Opportunism, spies, betrayal, philistinism.
Unfortunately, almost all of the goals of psychological warfare against the Soviet Union have been achieved. Why did it happen? After the death of J.V. Stalin, Khrushchev's leadership in fact launched a campaign to revise and distort the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism. The governing structures of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) and the KGB
became gradually clogged with U.S. and Western Europe intelligence centre representatives, as well as careerists and philistines lacking ideology. Here is an example. In 1962, the CPSU expelled Vyacheslav Molotov, a principled communist who had even worked with Lenin. And in that very same year, the party accepted…..wow….. Boris Yeltsin. No comment needed.
Almost all the key posts in the Soviet Union by 1985 had been captured by agents of influence. Many communists, unfortunately, lost
vigilance having turned into petty bourgeois and apologetic philistines with a communist party membership card in their pocket. The KGB, weakened by the activities of foreign agents and
traitors like Vladimir Putin, obviously underestimated the danger of the psychological war. Anti-Soviet anecdotes should have been equated with anti-Soviet propaganda. This was not done. So these anecdotes were free to roam around the country, undermining the foundations of Soviet power. The KGB, more or less actually governed by traitors "neutralizing" distributors of anti-Soviet literature, often escaped court, and were limited to "pet talks" only, releasing such enemies of the people in all directions, rather than sentencing them to the death penalty or imprisonment, which was demanded by the Soviet Criminal Code.
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin in the early 1920-s said that neither foreign intervention or civil war, but only communists themselves are able due to their ideological errors or betrayal, to bring about the restoration of capitalism. And this is exactly what happened, because members of the CPSU forgot these Leninist words and stopped purging the party of hangers-on elements and outright enemies. And thus violated the basic principles of Marxism-Leninism.
We Bolsheviks have to take account of this lesson of history.
Imperialists are using psychological warfare against us even now. Among the working classes, judgments are spread about such as: “All struggle is pointless," "There is no return to socialism", and
other such nonsense. Foreign owners are now finding the Russian police state regime is important so that the working class as the primary driver of a Socialist revolution do not believe in their own strength and its will is paralyzed by the problems of survival under capitalism.
Opportunism, revisionism and distortion of Marxism-Leninism are features of most modern leftist parties. This is also manifestation of psychological warfare, as opportunism, co-
appeasement with the bourgeoisie, and betrayal of the interests of the working people are imported into Russia from the West.
Vile anti-Soviet and anti-Stalinist propaganda is the third sign of the modern psychological war.
What are Bolsheviks and the Young Bolshevik Guard to do in order to counter this? Replace the "minus" sign with the "plus" sign. We must conduct counter-propaganda. We need to do everything possible to make the working class believe in itself and as our duty with the help of a general strike, and then a Socialist
revolution, to destroy capitalism in Russia. We must observe loyalty to the principles of Marxism-Leninism, to mercilessly expose the traitors- opportunists as lackeys of the capitalist regime. We must explain to the working people the truth about the Soviet government as a bright page in history and about Stalin as a great leader of the Soviet people.
By K. Stolyarov
--------------------------------------------
IN MEMORY OF HUGO CHAVEZ
From the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks
On the 5th of March 2013 after a long illness, the president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, 59 year old Hugo Chavez died.
We express our deepest condolences to the people of Venezuela and Latin America in connection with the death of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. Hugo Chavez was a passionate revolutionary and a soldier worthy of continuing the work of the legendary fighter for freedom and independence of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, Simon Bolivar.
Chavez dedicated his life to the struggle for a better life for the poor. He made a great contribution to the integration of Latin America against the dictates of U.S. imperialism and the world in general, and was able to challenge the U.S. alone. Hugo Chavez was a recognized leader in the national liberation movement and will always be remembered not only by the peoples of Latin America, but around the world. We believe that the cause of the struggle for independence and socialism will be successfully continued by his fellow comrades and successors, whom he was able to train and prepare in advance.
We wish the people of Venezuela, the courage to endure the weight of their loss, and confidently move on towards building an independent state.
CC AUCPB
6 March 2013
Leningrad
-------------------------------------------------------------
Britain
KOREAN FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION (UK KFA) PICKETS US EMBASSY IN LONDON IN PROTEST AT US-SOUTH KOREAN WAR DRILLS
The UK Korean Friendship Association together with the the Juche Idea Study Group , Association for the Study of Songun Politics UK and the New Communist Party of Britain picketed the US embassy in Grosvenor Square London at 4-30pm on the 19th of March.
The banner of the UK Korean Friendship Association was put up along with a
banner saying "No to UNSC Sanctions" and the flag of the DPRK.
KFA Official Delegate and chairman of the Juche Idea Study Group Dermot Hudson made a speech. He said that the picket had been called to protest against "Foal Eagle " and " Key Resolve" exercises and the UNSC sanctions. He said that "Foal Eagle"
and "Key Resolve " are most aggressive exercises which involve over 200,000
troops and nuclear warheads. Chairman Hudson said that as we speak nuclear
capable B52 bombers were flying over Korea. "Key Resolve " and "Foal Eagle " are
aimed at invading the DPRK , effecting "regime change" and destroying the Juche-based socialist system in Korea. "Foal Eagle and " Key Resolve " risk provoking another Korean war which could quickly turn into a third world war. It is 10 years after the start of the Iraq War but the US has not learnt its lesson.
The UNSC sanctions against the DPRK are most unjust as the DPRK has conducted less than 1% of the nuclear tests in the world but have had sanctions imposed on it. This has been done at the behest of the US and the UNSC is just a
puppet of the US.
US imperialism invaded Korea over a 100 years ago and unleashed the Korean War in 1950. It has systematically destroyed the Korean Armistice Agreement which had now nullified by the Korean People's Army. US imperialism is the sworn enemy of the Korean people . Korea will be reunified under the banner of the Juche idea.
Andy Brooks general secretary of the New Communist Party also addressed the picket.
He said that the US policy of dividing Korea. They had created a despotic fascist regime in south Korea which arrested patriotic pro reunification champions such as Ro Su Hui
Slogans were shouted such as:
US out of Korea! Yankees Go Home! Korea is One! No to Sanctions - No to War, Down with US imperialism! Victory to the KPA! Long live the Workers' Party of Korea! Long live Marshal Kim Jong Un!
Leaflets were given out and discussions were held with passers and even with an American businessman who came out of the Embassy.
Police informed told us not to take photographs of the Embassy's "security station"
The picket concluded at 6pm.
Organised by UK Korean Friendship Association, contact email: [email protected]
=====================================================
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1968 Malian coup d'état
The 1968 Malian coup d'état was a bloodless military coup in Mali staged on 19 November 1968 against the government of President Modibo Keïta. The coup was led by Lieutenant (later Major General) Moussa Traoré, who then became the head of state.
Background
President Keïta, father of Malian independence, has ruled a socialist government since 1960, supported by his party, the Sudanese Union – African Democratic Rally (US-RDA). However, his politics faced economic difficulties. In 1966, he suspended the constitution and the parliament, replaced by a Comité National de Défense de la Révolution with full powers. The population was increasingly dissatisfied by the government. A coup was plotted by Malian junior officers, in particular lieutenants Moussa Traoré, Tiécoro Bagayoko, Kissima Doukara, Youssouf Traoré and Filifing Sissoko, and non-commissioned officers such as adjudant-chef Soungalo Samaké. The Malian senior officers had little or no control on their subordonates.
Unlike many putsches in French former colonies, this one was not supported by foreign actors. The two prominent organizers of pro-Western coups in Africa, Houphouët-Boigny, President of Ivory Coast, and Jacques Foccart, adviser for African affairs of Charles de Gaulle, President of France, were surprised by the coup.
The coup
During the night of November 18–19, at midnight, the putschists gathered the Kati garrison and announced them their intentions. The telephone network was cut off at 2 am and cadres of the US-RDA were arrested before dawn. The soldiers stopped President Keïta's convoy as he was going back to Bamako from Mopti. They wanted him to be arrested at Koulikoro when landing from his riverboat, the Général Abdoulaye Soumaré, but Keïta was ahead of schedule and his Citroën DS was blocked at 10 am at Kayo, a few kilometers from Bamako. Lieutenant Bagayoko asked "Monsieur le président, voulez-vous vous mettre à la disposition de l’armée ? [Mr. President, would you like to make yourself available to the army?]" and the officers forced him into a BTR-152 armored personnel carrier. He was brought to the center of the capital by 11:30. They demand him to stop his socialist policy and to replace his collaborators but Modibo Keïta refused, arguing he was democratically elected as a socialist. However, according to Captain Abdoulaye Ouologuem, driver of the presidential car, the mutineers only demanded new elections but the president refused. The military faction then broadcast a radio message announcing "the dictatorial regime [...] has fallen".
Consequences
Due to the poor economic record of president Keïta, the coup was well received by the population. However, the immediate causes for the coup were overwhelming financial and economic problems, made worse by an especially poor harvest in 1968. Modibo Keïta and other cadres of the previous regime were imprisoned in Kidal and Taoudenni. Modibo Keïta died in captivity in Bamako in 1977. Ten lieutenants (Moussa Traoré, Baba Diarra, Youssouf Traoré, Filifing Sissoko, Tiécoro Bagayoko, Joseph Marat, Mamadou Sanogho, Cissema Toukara, Moussa Kone and Karim Dembele) and four captains (Yoro Diakité, Malik Diallo, Charles Cissoko and Mamadou Cissoko) formed the Military Committee for National Liberation. Moussa Traoré became its Chairman and promised democracy and free elections, that never came. He was proclaimed President in 1969 and ruled the country until he was deposed in the 1991 coup d'état.
References
Category:1968 in Mali
Category:Conflicts in 1968
Category:Military coups in Mali
Category:1960s coups d'état and coup attempts
Category:November 1968 events | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
455 F.Supp.2d 228 (2006)
Derrick M. ANDERSON, Plaintiff,
v.
Supt. John BEAVER, et al., Defendants.
No. 01-CV-6536L.
United States District Court, W.D. New York.
October 11, 2006.
Derrick M. Anderson, Elmira, NY, Pro se.
J. Richard Benitez, NYS Attorney General's Office, Department of Law, Rochester, NY, for Defendants.
DECISION AND ORDER
LARIMER, District Judge.
INTRODUCTION
Plaintiff Derrick Anderson, appearing pro se, commenced this action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Plaintiff, an inmate in the custody of the New York State Department of Correctional Services, alleges that defendants violated his rights under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendment by improperly confining him for 60 days in the Special Housing Unit ("SHU") at the Orleans Correctional Facility ("Orleans") without cause, and then failed to correct the error when he brought the violation to their attention. Plaintiff, who was transferred from Riverview Correctional Facility ("Riverview") to Orleans, claims that he completed concurrent SHU sentences at Riverview and had been released back to population. Plaintiff alleges that when he arrived at Orleans, however, defendants mistakenly determined that he had 60 outstanding SHU days left to serve and housed him accordingly.
*229 Defendants initially moved for judgment on the pleadings pursuant to FED. R. Civ. P. 12(c), arguing that, assuming plaintiff's allegations were true, no constitutional violation occurred. Because resolution of that issue required analysis of the two-part test set forth in Sandin v. Conner, 515 U.S. 472, 115 S.Ct. 2293, 132 L.Ed.2d 418 (1995), as well as reference to evidence outside the pleadings, I denied defendants' motion. I ruled that the issue should be addressed in the context of a motion for summary judgment. Anderson v. Beaver, No. 01-CV-6536L, 2004 WL 2026457, *2 (W.D.N.Y. Sept. 9, 2004).
Defendants have now moved for summary judgment (Dkt.# 41) pursuant to FED. R. Civ. P. 56. Plaintiff has cross-moved for summary judgment (Dkt.# 45).
DISCUSSION
I. Summary Judgment: General Principles
Rule 56(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides that a moving party is entitled to, summary judgment "if the pleadings, depositions, answers to interrogatories, and admissions on file, together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law." Rule 56(e) further provides that:
When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported as provided in this rule, an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of the adverse party's pleading, but the adverse party's response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided in this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is a genuine issue for trial. If the adverse party does not so respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against the adverse party.
II. Due Process Claim Under Sandin
Plaintiff alleges that he was improperly housed in SHU confinement for 60 days without cause or a hearing, and that his confinement occurred under conditions that were atypical and severe. It is well-settled that to claim a violation of due process rights, an inmate must establish interference with a protected liberty interest by satisfying a two-part test: (1) the confinement or restraint must create an atypical and significant hardship, and (2) the state must have granted a liberty interest by statute or regulation to be free from that confinement or restraint. Frazier v. Coughlin, 81 F.3d 313, 317 (2d Cir.1996) (citing Sandin, 515 U.S. at 484, 115 S.Ct. 2293).
The pertinent question here is whether the first element of the test is satisfied.[1] Defendants argue that they are entitled to summary judgment because prison disciplinary records showed that, when plaintiff arrived at Orleans, he had not yet completed all SHU time imposed at Riverview, as the result of disciplinary hearings held in January 2001. Defendants also argue that plaintiff makes no allegations that his due process rights were violated in connection with those disciplinary hearings. Finally, as in their previous motion, defendants argue that, as a matter of law, 60 days in SHU in a New York State correctional facility does not constitute an atypical or significant hardship *230 sufficient to create a protected liberty interest that warrants due process protection. (Dkt.# 41).
As I previously ruled, to determine whether plaintiffs due process rights have been violated, the duration of the confinement is not the only relevant factor. "The conditions of confinement are a distinct and equally important consideration in determining whether a confinement in SHU rises to the level of `atypical and severe hardship'. . . ." Ortiz v. McBride, 323 F.3d 191, 195 (2d Cir.2003); see also Colon v. Howard, 215 F.3d 227, 231 (2d Cir.2000).
Although there are no bright-line rules for this inquiry, the Second Circuit has advised district courts that SHU confinements of fewer than 101 days, like the one at issue here, "could constitute atypical and significant hardships if the conditions were more severe than the normal SHU conditions . . . or a more fully developed record showed that even relatively brief confinements under normal SHU conditions were, in fact, atypical." Palmer v. Richards, 364 F.3d 60, 66 (2d Cir.2004); Sealey v. Giltner, 197 F.3d 578, 586 (2d Cir.1999).
There is no admissible evidence before the Court that the conditions of plaintiffs confinement were more severe that the normal SHU conditions or atypical. In his opposition to defendants' motion, plaintiff failed to submit any admissible evidence regarding the nature of the conditions of his confinement. This is fatal to his claim. The record is devoid of evidence that the conditions of his confinement created an atypical and significant hardship.
Importantly, in the Court's prior decision, I warned plaintiff that "[i]f defendants chose to file a motion for summary judgment, . . . his response to that motion must be in affidavit form, sworn to under oath, and should set forth his allegations regarding the conditions of his confinement." Anderson, 2004 WL 2026457, at *2, n. 4 (emphasis added). Plaintiff again was given notice of the requirements of Rule 56, and the consequences for failing to respond properly to a motion for summary judgment, in the Court's form notice to pro se inmates (Dkt.# 44), and the Court's scheduling order (Dkt.# 43).[2]See Irby v. New York City Transit Auth., 262 F.3d 412, 413 (2d Cir.2001); Vital v. Interfaith Med. Ctr., 168 F.3d 615, 620 (2d Cir.1999); Champion v. Artuz, 76 F.3d 483, 486 (2d Cir.1996).
Plaintiff has not heeded these warnings. Plaintiffs opposition contains, verbatim, the same allegations regarding the conditions of confinement that he made in his prior unsworn opposition to defendants' first motion. Although the Court considered these unsworn allegations in opposition to defendants' first motion, the procedural landscape has changed.[3] The Court, therefore, cannot consider these allegations in opposition to summary judgment because they are not set forth in affidavit *231 form and are not sworn to under oath. See FED. R. Civ. P. 56(e).
The only evidence before the Court regarding the conditions of plaintiffs con= finement, then, are those set forth in plaintiffs complaint. These allegations, however, state nothing other than the "normal" conditions of SHU confinement. See Ortiz v. McBride, 380 F.3d 649, 654 (2d Cir.2004) ("To be sure, with respect to `normal' SHU confinement, we have held that a 101-day confinement does not meet the Sandin standard of atypicality.").
Plaintiff alleges in his complaint that during his SHU confinement at Orleans, he was denied visits by his family, his use of the telephone was restricted, he was housed in a double bunk with another inmate without any "partition for minimum privacy or standards of living decency when showering or using the toilet. . . ." He also claimed that he did not get along with his cell mate and lived in "constant fear of danger and insecurity." (Dkt. # 1, Statement of Claim, ¶ 5). Defendants correctly point out that such allegations, if proven, would not amount to a constitutional violation. See Rhodes v. Chapman, 452 U.S. 337, 347-48, 101 S.Ct. 2392, 69 L.Ed.2d 59 (1981) (housing two inmates in one cell is not prohibited by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments); Carter v. Carriero, 905 F.Supp. 99, 103-104 (W.D.N.Y.1995); see also Flemings v. Kinney, No. 02 Civ. 9989, 2004 WL 1672448 (S.D.N.Y. July 27, 2004).
Plaintiffs allegations show conditions of confinement that are normal and typical of those imposed by New York prison regulations. See 7 N.Y. COMP.CODES R. & REGS. §§ 301.1-301.7. For example, SHU inmates are entitled to only one nonlegal visit per week. 7 N.Y. COMP.CODES R. & REGS. § 302.2(i)(1)(i). Telephone calls are permitted only for an emergency or legal reason. Id. § 302.2(i)(2). Personal belongings are restricted. Id. § 302.2. One hour of outdoor exercise is permitted Id. § 304.3. SHU inmates are entitled to a minimum of two showers a week. Id. § 304.5.
Where there are disputes about the conditions of confinement, summary judgment normally is not appropriate. See Wright v. Coughlin, 132 F.3d 133, 137-38 (2d Cir. 1998). "[B]ut where the conditions are undisputed, the Sandin issue should be resolved by the court as a matter of law." Palmer, 364 F.3d at 65.
Therefore, even if plaintiffs 60-day SHU confinement at Orleans was a mistake, because the hearing officer had ordered that plaintiff be released from SHU on February 9, 2001, plaintiff's claim would still fail to meet the requirements of Sandin. Plaintiff still must show that the conditions of his confinement amounted to "an atypical and significant hardship." He has failed to do so through any competent proof. Summary judgment, therefore, is granted on plaintiffs due process claim.
For many of, the same reasons, plaintiff has failed to raise a genuine issue of fact regarding his Eighth Amendment claim. See Wilson v. Seiter, 501 U.S. 294, 304, 111 S.Ct. 2321, 115 L.Ed.2d 271 (1991) ("Some conditions of confinement may establish an Eighth Amendment violation `in combination' when each would not do so alone, but only when they have a mutually enforcing effect that produces the deprivation of a single, identifiable human need such as food, warmth or exercisefor example, a low cell temperature at night combined with a failure to issue blankets.").
CONCLUSION
Defendants' motion for summary judgment (Dkt.# 41) is GRANTED. Plaintiffs motion for summary judgment (Dkt.# 45) *232 is DENIED. Plaintiff's complaint is dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
NOTES
[1] New York state law "create[s] a liberty interest in not being confined to the SHU." Welch v. Bartlett, 196 F.3d 389, 394 n. 4 (2d Cir.1999). Defendants appear to agree that segregated confinement implicates a liberty interest where the confinement "imposes atypical and significant hardship on the inmate in relation to the ordinary incidents of prison life." (See Dkt. # 41-3, at p. 5).
[2] Although notices sent to plaintiff initially Were returned undeliverable, the docket sheet reflects that this was corrected on October 24, 2005, when notices were resent to plaintiff under a corrected inmate number. See Docket remark entered Oct. 24, 2005.
[3] Plaintiff's opposition to defendants' first motion alleged that while in SHU he was provided inadequate amounts of toilet paper, toothpaste, soap, and cleaning materials, that his mattress was filthy, that he was given only a thin blanket and his cell was inadequately heated, that his recreation time was limited to one hour a day, and that he was subjected to short, cold showers and infrequent changes of clothing. (Dkt.# 30, p. 2). Plaintiff's opposition at that time also was not presented to the Court in admissible form. In light of his pro se status, however, and the fact that defendants had not shown entitlement to judgment on the pleadings, I considered these unsworn allegations at that time.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Igor Kokoškov
Igor Stefan Kokoškov ( ; ; born 17 December 1971) is a Serbian professional basketball coach who is currently an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the head coach of the Serbia national team. He previously spent 18 years in the league as an assistant coach, with his most recent tenure there being with the Utah Jazz, before briefly being a head coach for the Phoenix Suns for a full season.
Kokoškov was the first European to be a full-time assistant coach in NCAA Division I college basketball, and the first non-American to hold such a position in the NBA. In 2004, he became the first non-American assistant coach to win an NBA championship, and the first to serve on an NBA All-Star Game coaching staff. He is also the first coach born and raised outside of North America to be hired as a head coach in the NBA.
He won EuroBasket 2017, while working as the head coach of the Slovenian men's national team.
Coaching career
Kokoškov, a graduate of the University of Belgrade, coached various club teams in Belgrade, and was on the coaching staff of the Yugoslav men's and junior national teams. At the age of 24, Kokoškov became the youngest coach in Yugoslavian basketball history, shortly after suffering serious injuries sustained during an automobile accident, which ended a promising basketball playing career.
His savvy, ambitious nature, and command of the English language were factors when he was hired by the University of Missouri's Tigers, as a part of their full-time coaching staff in 1999, making him the first European to hold such a position in NCAA Division I men's college basketball.
NBA assistant (2000–2018)
In 2000, Kokoškov became the first non-American to be hired as a full-time assistant coach in the NBA, by the Los Angeles Clippers, under head coach Alvin Gentry. In 2003, he joined the Detroit Pistons staff of head coach Larry Brown. He won an NBA championship in 2004 with the Pistons. At the 2006 NBA All-Star Game he served on the Eastern Conference coaching staff.
On 20 June 2008, Kokoškov was named an assistant coach of the Phoenix Suns. On 29 May 2013, Kokoškov was named as assistant coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. On 17 February 2015, Kokoškov was named as assistant coach for the Orlando Magic, until the end of the season.
On 1 July 2015, Kokoškov was hired by the Utah Jazz to be an assistant coach. On 5 December 2016, Kokoškov led Utah to a win over Los Angeles Lakers, 107–101. Jazz head coach Quin Snyder had fallen ill and missed their game against the Lakers. He would remain assistant coach for the Jazz until their run in the 2018 NBA Playoffs concluded, which ended on 8 May 2018 with a 112–102 loss to the Houston Rockets.
Phoenix Suns (2018–2019)
On 2 May 2018, Kokoškov was hired as the head coach of the Phoenix Suns, returning to the team he was previously with from 2008 to 2013. He became the first head coach born and raised outside of North America in NBA history, and officially took on the role on 14 May. In his official head coaching debut in the NBA on 17 October, Kokoškov led the Suns to a 121–100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. However, they finished the season with a 19–63 record, tied for the second-worst record in the league. On 22 April 2019, the Suns fired Kokoškov.
Return to assistant coaching (2019–present)
On 13 June 2019, Kokoškov was named an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings under new head coach Luke Walton's coaching staff.
National team coaching career
Serbia and Montenegro assistant (2004–2005)
Kokoškov was an assistant coach of the Serbia and Montenegro national team at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2005 EuroBasket, under renowned European head coach Željko Obradović.
Georgia (2008–2015)
On 18 April 2008, Kokoškov was named the head coach of the Georgia men's national basketball team. He coached Georgia at 2011 EuroBasket in Lithuania, 2013 EuroBasket in Slovenia and 2015 EuroBasket in Croatia/France. He left after EuroBasket 2015.
Slovenia (2016–2017)
On 18 January 2016, the Basketball Federation of Slovenia named Kokoškov the new head coach of the Slovenian men's national team, for the next two years. Former Serbian coach Božidar Maljković recommended him for this position to Slovenian Federation Secretary-General Rasho Nesterović.
His contract with Slovenia's national team ended after the EuroBasket 2017 where Slovenia won the gold medal.
Serbia (2019–present)
On 20 November 2019, the Basketball Federation of Serbia named Kokoškov the new head coach of the Serbia national team. He appointed Dejan Milojević, Vladimir Jovanović and Jovica Antonić as assistant coaches, as well as Bogdan Karaičić as scout. On 15 January 2020, the Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone was added to the coaching staff for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Personal life
In 1990, Kokoškov was part of a near-fatal car crash which shattered his knee and ended his basketball career.
Kokoškov and his wife, Patricia, were married in the summer of 2009. They have two children: a son and a daughter. On 18 June 2010, Kokoškov became an American citizen.
Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili honored Kokoškov with an Order of Honour, the Georgia’s highest civilian honor, on 18 December 2011.
Head coaching record
NBA
|-
| style="text-align:left;"|Phoenix
| style="text-align:left;"|
| 82||19||63||||align="center"|5th in Pacific||—||—||—||||style="text-align:center;"|Missed playoffs
|- class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Career
| 82||19||63|||| |||0||0||0||||
See also
List of FIBA EuroBasket winning head coaches
List of foreign NBA coaches
List of Phoenix Suns head coaches
References
External links
The Official Athletic Site of University of Missouri
Kokoškov preuzeo reprezentaciju Gruzije, MTSMondo, 18 April 2008
Phoenix Suns coach Igor Kokoskov's journey began with near-fatal auto accident, Arizona Republic, 2 July 2018
Category:1971 births
Category:Living people
Category:American people of Serbian descent
Category:Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coaches
Category:Detroit Pistons assistant coaches
Category:FIBA EuroBasket-winning coaches
Category:Los Angeles Clippers assistant coaches
Category:Missouri Tigers men's basketball coaches
Category:Orlando Magic assistant coaches
Category:OKK Beograd coaches
Category:Sportspeople from Pančevo
Category:Phoenix Suns assistant coaches
Category:Phoenix Suns head coaches
Category:Recipients of the Order of Honor (Georgia)
Category:Sacramento Kings assistant coaches
Category:Serbian men's basketball coaches
Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in the United States
Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Slovenia
Category:Serbian expatriate basketball people in Georgia (country)
Category:Serbia national basketball team coaches
Category:Slovenia national basketball team coaches
Category:University of Belgrade Faculty of Sport and Physical Education alumni
Category:Utah Jazz assistant coaches
Category:Recipients of the Presidential Order of Excellence | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Antigen common to several species, recognized by a rat monoclonal antibody raised against syngeneic rat bladder tumor.
A rat monoclonal antibody (MAb) termed RS-II (Ig M) was obtained by syngeneic immunization with rat bladder tumor cells induced by N-butyl, N-hydroxybutylnitrosamine (BBN). Immunocytochemical analysis showed that RS-II is also reactive with mouse, dog and human bladder tumor-cell lines and some other human tumor-cell lines but not myeloma or leukemia cells. Immunohistochemical examination of paraffin-embedded tissues has shown that RS-II is reactive with mouse, rat, dog and human bladder tumors (5/5, 5/5, 1/1, 31/49) and some other tumors, but not with normal human urothelium or normal rat tissues. The antigen is expressed on the majority of low-grade or well-differentiated tumors, but less on advanced, invasive tumors. The immunofluorescence staining pattern of cultured cells was cytoplasmic and filamentous. Immunoblotting revealed that the antigen is a Mr 54,000 to Mr 56,000 protein which was extracted with difficulty from the cultured cells with Triton X-100. The antigen was also detected in the culture supernatant by means of ELISA. Our results suggest that the epitope is expressed on cytoskeletons common to a wide variety of mammalian cells at a certain stage of differentiation. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
The largest subpopulations occur in south Paraná and north Santa Catarina, where the species occurs in almost pure stands. Suggestions that subpopulations exist in Argentina and Paraguay need verification. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Axially chiral BINIM and Ni(II)-catalyzed highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides and N-arylmaleimides.
Axially chiral BINIM-Ni(II) complexes are effective catalysts in the asymmetric 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of azomethine ylides and N-arylmaleimides to give the corresponding adducts in good yields and up to 95% enantiomeric excesses. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Batman: Bane
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"Bane": After his last encounter with Batman; Bane is drifting unconscious. Over the course, Bane remembers the events of his life. He wakes up when he is approaching a big ship in the sea. Bane climbs to the ship's deck and takes control of it. B
Synopsis for "Bane"
After his last encounter with Batman; Bane is drifting unconscious. Over the course, Bane remembers the events of his life. He wakes up when he is approaching a big ship in the sea. Bane climbs to the ship's deck and takes control of it. Bane commands the crew to change the course and head towards Gotham City. The ship was a mobile nuclear plant and Bane was planning to make it explode near Gotham, killing everyone from irradiation.
Bane managed to find one of the League of Assassins ships and boarded it. He found out that Ra's ship exploded and that he and Talia might have died in the explosion. Bane recruited the remaining members of the League and took them into the nuclear plant.
Bane and his men were aproaching Gotham's adjacent city of Bludhaven. The coast guard tried to approach the incoming ship but Bane bombed them down. Nightwing watched everything and decided to infiltrate the ship to stop whoever was behind it. He barely stepped into the deck when some assassins attacked him. Nightwing managed to knock them down but then Bane appeared and knocked Nightwing out.
Bane arrived to Gotham's shore and demanded two million dollars in gold and that the League of Assasssins' members that were captured were released. His ransom demands were broadcast on local news. The Gotham City Police Department decided to act immediately and well as Batman and Robin.
Commissioner Gordon sent Pettit and the Tactical Squad to break and enter Bane's ship but the assasins fired at them before they were able to reach the ship.
Batman and Robin approached the ship from a different angle; they reached the ship by swimming underwater and managed to enter the ship unnoticed. Nightwing was tied-up upside down in one of the ships cells. He received a little help from one of the ship's crew, first mate Erica Mooney. Nightwing managed to escape before Mooney could return with an axe to cut the chains. Mooney found the cell empty and some of Bane's men fired at her. She dodged the bullets and was ready to strike her attackers at any minute but she was surprised to see them falling unconscious to the ground. She thought it was Nightwing who saved her but when she came out of her hiding place she faced Batman and Robin. Batman told Robin and Mooney to search and deactivate the explosive charges around the ship while he searched for Nightwing.
Nightwing arrived at the main compartment where he faced Bane. Both of them engaged in combat once more but Bane was much stronger than Nightwing. Nightwing was hurt and just before he resumed combat, Batman arrived and told him to go help Robin. The fight was resumed with Batman instead of Nightwing. Bane and Batman caused some havoc while fighting.
Robin and Mooney deactivated one charge but then were attacked by more assassins. Robin broke an steam tube wich he used as a distraction to takedown most of the assassins. Nightwing arrived in time to help him out with their enemies. Nightwing told them about Bane's plans to overheat the core reactor making it explode. The three of them went to the reactor but it was tightly sealed.
Batman and Bane took the fight over to the main deck where Bane grabbed a bazooka to fire at the ship creating the destruction he needed to make the reactor explode. Batman tackled Bane when he fired the bazooka and the projectile hit the upper structure of the ship creating an explosion over the deck. Batman went down to tell Nightwing and Robin about the explosion but Mooney assured them that the reactor structure will stay afloat and just the upper structure of the ship will be damaged. Batman worried about Bane's whereabouts as he jumped to the sea before it exploded.
In the end Bane is seeing walking into a beach, stealing a man's car and driving it towards some big city. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Preview: York City v Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers start the new League Two season with a trip to Bootham Cresent to face Conference play-off winners York City this weekend.
It is almost 14 years since the Chairboys last traveled to York and they will not want to suffer a repeat of the 3-0 defeat under Neil Smillie's side in August 1998.
The new campaign began with an extra time defeat to Championship side Watford last weekend in a first round League Cup tie. Despite the 1-0 reverse there were plenty of positives to take from the performance at Vicarage Road.
The defensive solidity was very pleasing after a series of collapses last season and a benchmark has now been set for the new season. Summer signing Matt Spring looked very comfortable in the middle of the park and could prove to be crucial this year.
Sadly there were a couple of negatives. Stuart Beavon's exclusion due to 'illness' simply highlighted the lack of attacking threat whilst full-back Marvin McCoy suffered a dreadful injury and will now miss the next three months with a fractured left fibula and ankle ligament damage.
Beavon has now recovered and there is more good news with defender Dave Winfield fit again after a thigh problem. Winger Dennis Oli and striker Matt McClure could also be involved following knee injuries. Defender Danny Foster remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Gary Waddock is unlikely to make many changes against the Ministermen with the starting line-up likely to be: Bull; Stewart, Doherty, Johnson, Dunne; Bloomfield, Lewis, Spring; Grant, Wood; Logan.
York City will count themselves very unlucky to have lost on penalties against League One Doncaster Rovers in midweek. The first round League Cup tie at the Keepmoat Stadium finished 1-1 after extra time.
Manager Gary Mills selected the following starting eleven for that game: Ingham; Smith, Parslow, Fyfield, Doig; Bullock, Smith, McLaughlin, Walker; Chambers, Coulson. He could make a couple of changes with Matty Blair pushing for a starting role.
Mills was upbeat despite Tuesday's loss and said: "There's a lot of positives there. We've shown we shouldn't have to fear anything this season if we go and play like that. I couldn't see them scoring. It was a penalty that got them back into the game and at the end of the day penalties have cost us.
"A lot of positives for me. We'll all be disappointed but we get on and get ready for next Saturday now."
Here's a look at how the two sides fared last season.....
The Minstermen were promoted from the Conference.
Home - W:11 D:6 L:6 GF:43 GA:24 Pts:39
Away - W:12 D:8 L:3 GF:38 GA:21 Pts:44
Total - W:23 D:14 L:9 GF:81 GA:45 Pts:83
Final position 4th (Play-off winners)
The Blues were relegated from League One.
Home - W:7 D:6 L:10 GF:37 GA:38 Pts:27
Away - W:4 D:4 L:15 GF:28 GA:50 Pts:16
Total - W:11 D:10 L:25 GF:65 GA:88 Pts:43
Final position: 21st
York's summer signings
Oli Johnson (Forward) Oxford United
Michael Coulson (Forward) Grimsby Town
Lee Bullock (Midfielder) Bradford City
Jonathan Smith (Midfielder) Swindon Town
John McReady (Midfielder) Darlington
Danny Blanchett (Defender) Burton Albion
Wycombe's summer signings
Richard Logan (Forward) Exeter City
Dennis Oli (Forward) Gillingham
Lee Angol (Forward) Spurs
Matt Spring (Midfielder) Leyton Orient
Sam Wood (Midfielder) Brentford
Gary Doherty (Centre-half) Charlton Athletic
York in pre-season
Huntingdon Rovers 0 York City 8
Harrogate Railway 0 York City 3
Pickering Town 2 York City 6
York City 0 Oldham 2
Gateshead 0 York City 2
Grantham Town 1 York City 1
Leicester City 2 York City 2
York City 1 Middlesbrough 2
York City 3 Sunderland 0
Wycombe in pre-season
Farnborough 1 Wycombe 2
Forest Green 0 Wycombe 0
Luton Town 0 Wycombe 0
Wycombe 0 Fulham 3
Wycombe 0 QPR 3
Cambridge Utd 2 Wycombe 3
Wycombe 1 Brentford 4
Previous Meetings
In 11 previous meetings there have been 6 wins for York, 3 for Wycombe and 2 draws.
At Bootham Crescent the tally is 5 wins for the Minstermen. 0 for Wycombe and 1 draw.
1985/86: Fac York 2 Wycombe 0
1994/95: Lg1 York 0 Wycombe 0
1995/96: Lg1 York 2 Wycombe 1
1996/97: Lg1 York 2 Wycombe 0
1997/98: Lg1 York 2 Wycombe 0
1998.99: Lg1 York 3 Wycombe 0
The Man In The Middle
Saturday's referee is Andy Haines from Tyne & Wear who was promoted to the National List of referees in 2007. His most recent Wycombe game was last season's 2-0 FA Cup defeat at Fleetwood Town.
Prediction
Len: York 1 Wycombe 1 (with Beavon), York 1 Wycombe 0 (w'out him)
Benny: York 2 Wycombe 0 (with or without Beavon)
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Flashback Friday: Fitness Edition
Well friends, it’s that time of the week. The time when I trade my dress pants and heels in for flannel and slippers.
Not to mention, I’m at my mom’s!! That furry thing next to me is our dog Archie. After such a busy week, I am definitely looking forward to my weekend home :D
Got my day started off this morning with Levels 2 & 3 of the 30 Day Shred. It was tough! The weight part isn’t as bad, but the things like plank ups, squat thrusts and lunge jumps kill me. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again don’t underestimate a workout DVD! You get what you put in, and I was literally dripping sweat all over my mat by the time I was done.
I spent all my spare time this morning jumping around my living room, so breakfast was a speedy affair. Looks lovely, no?
1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder
cinnamon
banana
peanut butter
homemade granola
Aaalll mixed up into a big ole’ mess. Was pretty satisfying actually!!
Lunch was a delicious mix of leftovers.
Last night, I added tofu and frozen broccoli to the leftover spaghetti squash + sauteed veggies in a laughing cow/cottage cheese alfredo sauce. It was reallyreally good!
I hit the road to my mom’s house immediately after work. Exactly 90 minutes I arrived at the door to the smell of roast chicken!
Dessert was a slice of my Nana’s homemade banana bread with a swipe of butter.
Although, we all agreed it was more of an orange walnut bread. My nana puts orange in everything, even her chocolate chip cookies! Silly nanas… :P
Flashback Friday
This Flashback Friday is going to be a little different. Instead of flashing back to old pictures of myself, I want to take a look back at old workouts. Okay, this may be really boring for you, but there is a point, I swear! Here’s what I was doing in 2009:
First, I should point out that this was all done on 0% incline. I only started running in September 2008 with the Couch to 5k program. Last winter, I was just trying to tack on to the mileage and speed I built during that program. I usually averaged around 6.0 mph at 0% incline. Anything above that was considered “high intensity” for me.
I’ve been thinking about this a lot as I’ve returned to the treadmill this winter. When I was running outside in the summer, I was so focused on 5k times and getting up to 10 miles, I never noticed a huge difference in my running strength.
Imagine my surprise when I hopped back on the treadmill this winter, only to pound out 6.5 mph + speeds with relative ease. I got faster without even really trying! All it took was continuously running and sticking to it. In other words, getting the mileage under my feet.
More than that, all this summer, I felt like I was slowslowslow compared to all the other "real” runners out there. But seeing these numbers reminds me how far I’ve come in my speed, and that the only person I should be comparing myself to is…myself! For comparison’s sake, here’s a similar workout I’m doing these days:
I think it’s important to log these types of things so we can go back and see how we’ve improved. It’s easy to look at someone who’s running 7 miles every morning, or lifting twice the weight as you, and feel inadequate. But everyone starts somewhere!!
Question of the Day: Have you noticed any improvements in fitness? I have to add, I also did my first toe push ups today!!! I haven’t tried them in a while, as I thought I was just always doomed to never being strong enough. But Jillian got some legitimate toe push ups out of me today, and I was grinning ear to ear :D Who says working out can’t be fun??
Your growth is so impressive! I wish I had logged stuff like that last year to see my changes too. All I have is one 5k I ran and the time written down for that. Maybe I’ll start a fitness journal? Hmm.. sounds like a March goal for me =)
I did notice an improvement in my upper arm strength after doing yoga regularly, as well as in my flexibility. It’s all about doing it consistently and challenging yourself.
How fun to look back on such improvements and WOOOOOT on the big-girl pushup! :-)
I had improved but after one (silly) doc kiboshed my longer more intense workouts I’ve slid back. The good news: I get to build it back up and there’s no big rush! Hey a calorie burned is a calorie earned yes?
oh girl love the pics and the Dessert was a slice of my Nana’s homemade banana bread with a swipe of butter.–looks like MY nanna’s nanna bread :) but she’s been in heaven for 10+ yrs now so i need a slice of your nana’s, vegan or not, I want it anyawy!
Nice progress! The great thing about running is that as long as you keep doing it, the improvement come just from an endurance standpoint. So many times we focus on speed for races and the end result, that we don’t notice how easy the first part of the run has become. It’s always good to reflect.
I try so hard not to compare, and I really try hard not to say that a certain pace I run is “slow”, because I know how I feel when I read about someone who ran an 8.5 minute mile and was disappointed at the pace – when to me that is very fast.
And Yay for man-style pushups! There is no reason you can have a really strong upper body :D
Cottage cheese + granola + banana = my favourite combination. I always forget about cottage cheese until I see it on blogs! Need to pick some up ASAP.
I love hearing how people have transformed their fitness levels! I remember the first dance class I took- I had to keep taking breaks and was SO sore and tired for days after. Within a couple of months, I was taking 4-5 classes a week with no problem. I liked to compare it by looking at planks- initially, I could barely hold a plank for 30 seconds. At the peak of my class schedule, I was able to do it for several minutes easily. Nothing beats feeling strong/fit! Though I am pretty sure that I am just not built to be flexible… When I started breakdancing, it was like starting from scratch all over again. 2 hours of holding your whole body weight up with one arm = killer.
I can really see the increase in my strength and flexibility when I work on those two things consistently. Running….I don’t know….I was doing good about increasing my endurance, as I got up to 7 miles last fall, but those 7 miles took me over an hour and twenty minutes. Sometimes I feel like I will NEVER get faster. I would love to run 10 min miles with ease but right now it’s a struggle enough to keep up 11. I have my half mary in August and I know I’ll complete it, but it might take a long long time!
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Welcome!
My name is Susan, I'm a 20-something living in Atlantic Canada and this is my blog about... me. I used to blog about food and fitness, but that all changed in June 2011 when I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After six months of chemotherapy, I was declared cancer-free in January 2012. I now write about anything and everything as I stumble through my post-cancer world. I'm a trained journalist currently working as a writer/researcher. I also have a background in personal fitness training and nutrition. Welcome to my piece of the internet!
See my About page or Top Posts page for more.
Contact
E-mail me at: [email protected]
Due to my current illness, please be patient for responses to e-mails and comments. If anything is urgent, please let me know! | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Kapila Waidyaratne
Kapila Waidyaratne PC was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defense (2017 - 2018), He was a former Senior Additional Solicitor General of Sri Lanka.
Waidyaratne was educated at S. Thomas' College, Mt Lavinia Sri Lanka.
Waidyaratne represented the school in 1st XV Rugby (scoring the match winning try against Trinity College in the Canon RS de Saram Trophy encounter in 1975), Hockey and Cricket.
Waidyaratne later graduated from the University of Colombo (Batchelor of Science Economics) and the Sri Lanka Law College. He was awarded a master's degree in International Relations University of Colombo and is a solicitor in the United Kingdom.
Waidyaratne was appointed a President's Counsel in 2014.
Waidyaratne has served in Fiji as a judge of the Court of Appeal and also served as a Trial Attorney at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from 1998 until 2003.
References
Category:Sinhalese lawyers
Category:Alumni of the University of Colombo
Category:Living people
Category:Alumni of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Category:Sri Lankan judges on the courts of Fiji
Category:Year of birth missing (living people) | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Novel immunologic classification of aspergillosis in adult cystic fibrosis.
Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) demonstrate a wide range of hypersensitivity responses to Aspergillus, beyond allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, which require classification. This study integrated 2 new methods of Aspergillus detection-sputum galactomannan (GM) and real-time PCR-alongside established serologic markers, to reclassify aspergillosis in CF. A total of 146 adult patients with CF had serologic tests (ImmunoCap total IgE, specific Aspergillus fumigatus IgE, and specific A fumigatus IgG), sputum real-time Aspergillus PCR, and sputum GM. Patients were classified by using latent class analysis. Both RT-PCR and GM were more sensitive than culture in detecting Aspergillus in sputum (culture 37%, RT-PCR 74%, and GM 46%). Intraassay and interassay reproducibility of PCR and GM was excellent. Latent class analysis of triazole-naive patients identified a nondiseased group and 3 disease classes: class 1 (n = 49, 37.7%) represented patients with or without positive RT-PCR but no immunologic response to A fumigatus and negative GM (nondiseased); class 2 (n = 23, 17.7%) represented patients with positive RT-PCR, elevated total and specific A fumigatus IgE/IgG, and positive GM (serologic allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis); class 3 (n = 19, 14.6%) represented patients with or without positive RT-PCR, elevated A fumigatus IgE (not IgG), and negative GM (Aspergillus sensitized); and class 4 (n = 39, 30%) represented patients with positive RT-PCR, elevated A fumigatus IgG (not IgE), and positive GM (Aspergillus bronchitis). Three distinct classes of aspergillosis in CF were identified by latent class analysis by using serologic, RT-PCR, and GM data. This novel classification will facilitate improved phenotyping, pathogenesis studies, and management evaluations. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
DNA Isn't All There Is To Reproducing
DNA Isn't All There Is To Reproducing
DNA Isn't All There Is To Reproducing
Twice in one day I've found myself considering the social impact of DNA on our ideas of fatherhood-earlier while reading an old essay by Richard Dawkins where he argues against a DNA database because it would inadvertently reveal how many fathers are mistaken about the genetic link to their child, and then
by reading this
New York Times Magazine
feature
on the way that paternity testing is doing just what Dawkins feared, creating social chaos. And causing people to rethink their understanding of what makes a father. Is it DNA or is it your presence in a child's life?
I'd argue that the escalating ability to process and read DNA is creating a fatal flaw in the public psyche, one where people are too quick to reduce human beings and relationships to what is programmed in your DNA. This has many ramifications beyond questions of paternity. Prioritizing DNA until you ignore the importance of environment has ramifications for health care, and can cause us to start ignoring the way that we can change outcomes for people through environment, without ever referencing their DNA. (For instance, a lot of the public falsely believes that IQ is inherent and probably genetic, but in fact it's highly malleable depending on nutrition and education.) But in terms of paternity, what's really interesting to me is not the way that DNA undermines our concepts of what makes a "father," but the subtle way it reinforces one of the greatest, longest-held social lies humanity has told itself, which is that men "create" children.
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It shouldn't have been this way. The discovery of genetics put to rest one of the greatest self-flattering lies that men have told themselves for eons, which is that men are the seed and women are the soil, that men make the babies and women just nourish them. The conjoining of the sex cells subtly remade most of the public's understanding of sex and conception, except for a few Bible-thumping anti-choicers who will never be completely convinced. But for social reasons, most of us are unwilling to take the next step in believing the biological evidence in front of our eyes. We still round up and say that a child is "half" the father, reducing that child to its genetic code.
But the truth is that a baby is made up almost completely of her mother when she is born. The only thing the father contributes is half the code. The rest-the protein, the nutrients, the very fabric of the baby's body, and all the mitochondria-comes from the mother. (This is why biologists trace human lineage through the mothers, because you can trace it through mitochondria.) Of course, after birth, you generate your own tissues through your own eating, and so you get even further away from being made from your parents. We are a lot more than our DNA, and not just in the abstract, but in the brute physical reality of it. Add to that the fact that our DNA gets so thoroughly mixed up in a few generations that you can't rightly call it "yours" in any way, and the knee-jerk belief that a male obsession with paternity goes back to biology seems weak indeed.
No, the traditional male obsession with paternity has its roots in patriarchy and controlling women's bodies. Fundamentally, it's a justification for an unfair system. And now, in our more feminist era, we've re-utilized this obsession for the purpose of determining male responsibility to children and, to a lesser degree, to women. But is it really such a great idea to do that? On one hand, this way of thinking does mean that children receive more financial support and care than they might from men under another family system. But as this article shows, defining family lines according to DNA patterns instead of through relationships and love causes a whole mess of problems, and the actors involved in these confusing situations often feel unmoored. The fathers in this story, for instance, genuinely seem rattled because they love children they don't share DNA with. And they use terms like "biologically intact family," which has the uncomfortable implication that a man who impregnates a woman lays some sort of claim to her very biology.
Of course, the current system will continue because we don't have many other competing systems. But a girl can dream, can't she? A society that loosened its obsession with "biologically intact" families might end up being one where a child benefits from more, not fewer, adults in her life to look over her. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
[Repeated renal transplantation].
From October 1987 to June 1992, 359 renal transplantations were performed, while, over the same period, 25 patients with a follow-up of more than six months underwent repeat renal transplantation: 23 for a second transplant and 2 for a third transplant. The initial disease was glomerular for 17 patients and interstitial for 6 patients. The mean age of the patients at the time of the repeat transplantation was 36.9 years (range: 20 to 53 years). The mean survival after the first transplantation was 3 years and 10 months (range: 1 week to 10 years). The reasons for loss of the first transplant can be classified as follows: acute rejection (n = 5), chronic rejection (n = 14), surgical failure (n = 5) or sepsis (n = 1). 9 patients received conventional immunosuppressant therapy, while 16 patients (64%) received four-drug therapy including cyclosporin. The actuarial one-year survival of the patients and the transplants was 100% and 92%, respectively. The mean serum creatinine was 136.4 +/- 65 mumol/l (range: 59 to 298 mumol/l). Ten patients developed rejection after a mean of 18.6 days (range: 6 to 30 days) and 2 patients suffered from 2 episodes of rejection within 4 months. These results illustrate the low postoperative surgical and immunological complication rate in this group of patients whose long-term results are at least comparable to those of first transplantations in our group. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
You can follow my progress for the Arizona Trail 750 at http://trackleaders.com/azt -I’ll be wearing a SPOT tracking device so you can see exactly where I am on the trail at all times. The forum on bikepacking.net will also have information throughout the race. My good friend Mike Szerszunowicz has been my partner in planning all of this madness and is racing the 300 mile version, so look out for him too!
It’s 2am and I’m still not packed to leave for the race tomorrow, but I’m not too tired yet and am itching to get some of my thoughts about this race on paper. Er, on the internets. There’s so much to this race that I can barely keep track of it myself, so attempting to explain it may be futile, but I’m gonna give it a go.
As I alluded to in my first post about this race, is it is self-supported. What does that mean exactly? I have to carry all of my own stuff. I can get water, food and even bike parts, if needed, along the route. I just cannot have any outside help, ie someone meeting me and handing me clif bars. Why? To level the playing the field. It’s a stark contrast to something like the BC Stage Race where you pay thousands of dollars for support along the course and food and a place to sleep when you are done with each day. Even the famous Leadville 100, which is no doubt a hard race, has support from race staff and personal crews to give you food and water and anything you might need. All you have to do is pedal your bike. In self-supported racing you have to find your own food and your own place to sleep. It’s only you! If you have a mechanical that is unfixable you have to find your way back to civilization to get it taken care of.
750 miles and almost as many concerns
The Arizona Trail Race differs from other self-supported mountain bike races in a few ways. One is it has way more single-track, which is actually mountain biking. This is more fun, no doubt, but almost always slower. And because it is a multi-use trail there is a lot of hike-a-bike, sections that are unridable. I’ve heard stories of racers bringing extra shoes for the long hiking sections…
Speaking of hiking, the 750 version includes traversing the Grand Canyon on foot. While carrying your bike on your back. 23 miles. Why? National Parks do not allow bikes to be ridden off-road. And the giant hole that is the Grand Canyon is too big to ride around reasonably. Since the official Arizona Trail goes down and up, so does the race. I just got back from Chris’ house where he sewed up a waist band contraption to hold the bike up and against my hydration pack.
GPS- I’ve never used one. I’m nervous about following a red line for a week. I’ve some maps and a general idea of where I’ll be, but the GPS is the key.
Tubeless tires- I’ve some new tubeless tires which are nearly impervious to punctures, as long as they don’t fail. Awesome, right? But if they fail, that’s it. Outside of a bike shop you have to then resort to tubes. And in Arizona that means slime tubes. So, even though I’m running light tubeless tires, I’ve got to carry a pair of slime tubes.
Water!- The most important nutrient. There are waypoints on the gps files with water sources, but I’m still nervous about having enough and getting it when I need it. Having never been out there is a huge disadvantage.
Rack-less bag system- Racks are so 00’s. Lighter and faster are bags that attach to your seatpost, handlebars and just about anywhere else on your bike you can strap some stuff down.
My set up
I’m riding a steel 29er hard tail with 2.2 tires. The biggest tires I’ve ever ridden! I’ve H-bars and a dynamo hub, and the SuperNova E3 Triple light. With the GPS mounted to the stem the front of my bike looks more like a space ship than a race bike.
Weight- Every extra thing you need to carry adds up. The winners of races like this go insanely light- all gear, tools, etc under 12 pounds or so. Bike touring folks probably have 30 pounds. I’m toward the light end, but not doing anything silly/ultra light.
Food- I’m bringing a tiny Trangia stove and hope to cook to 2 quick meals a day- oatmeal in the morning and ramen noodles with peanut butter for dinner. My cooking setup probably comes in at under a pound- but is still a luxury many racers go without. I will get food at towns on the few occasions I pass through them, but veganism definitely gives me more limitations than other racers.
And here I’m going to have to cut this post short! I’m running out of time and have a few other things to do- like file for an extension for my taxes and find my sunglasses in the explosion that is my room. But I have to address one thing, albeit inadequately: the why. Why do this? Here’s the simple answer: Being out in the world, moving forward, on your own is one of the most pure experiences one could have. Without getting too hippy or John Zarzan on you, it really shows you what being human is about. Emotionally and physically. And why race? Not just go out and ride? The pressure/eustress of a race lights a fire in me that pushes me more than I would otherwise. I love it! Which also explains only sleeping 2.5 hours two nights out. Owell!
I’ll try to post a photo of my bike set-up before I roll out. And updates to my twitter the few time I’m in cell reception, and I’ll ask my crew here who is receiving my SPOT updates to post to the Swarm! twitter, but that is not guaranteed. You can always follow the race in real-time at http://trackleaders.com/azt. And lastly, thank you to all of my GREAT friends who have come through and helped me in some way. HUGE efforts with my bike, my gear and well, me. It’s so appreciated and I’ll be thinking about each and everyone of you while I’m riding over the next 7-10 days! | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
MLB Teams Beat NHL, NBA Finals on Local RSNs
The championship series of the NHL and NBA were no match for regular season baseball in some local markets.
Regular season baseball games outdrew Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final in fifteen television markets Wednesday night, including NHL strongholds Pittsburgh and Detroit.
The Giants/Pirates game on Root Sports earned an 8.95 rating in Pittsburgh, beating Bruins/Blackhawks Game 1 (5.99) by 49% head-to-head. In Detroit, the Tigers/Royals day game earned a 7.46 on Fox Sports Detroit — beating Game 1 (5.75) by 30%.
Baseball won the battle in seven other NHL markets, including Tampa-St. Petersburg (by 46%), Dallas (by 139%), Philadelphia (by 30%), Washington D.C. (by 9%), Los Angeles (by 11%) and the Bay Area — where the Giants and Athletics beat Game 1 by 99% and 36%, respectively.
In no NHL market was the gap larger than in St. Louis, however. The Cardinals/Mets game crushed Game 1 by 206% (8.72 to 2.85).
The NHL was not alone in losing to regular season baseball. On Tuesday night, the Tigers/Royals series beat the NBA Finals in both participating markets, including NBA market Detroit.
Tigers/Royals drew a 12.9 rating on FS Detroit, 70% higher than Heat/Spurs Game 3 (7.6). The 12.9 is the second-highest of the year for the Tigers on the network.
Tuesday’s game also drew an 8.8 rating on Fox Sports Kansas City, the highest ever for a Royals game on the network — and 45% higher than the NBA’s Game 3 (6.1). The previous record for the Royals on FS Kansas City was set the night before by the same match-up (8.1).
Now if MLB could just get some decent numbers on its national telecasts.
ZabriskiePt
Great piece of an article.
And really impressive. A documented response to those who have shown an alleged “Baseball in trouble” argument off, citing how NHL was able to beat MLB week after week on national TV, a strained comparison between Playoffs and Regular Season on a national stage. But, as demonstrated by these numbers, on a local basis it’s a completely different matter, even where Hockey is particular strong (Pittsburgh), and this is an indisputable clue of MLB’s health. Even more if you put the NBA Finals in the mix and you see that RS Baseball has drawn record ratings in two big cities, beating Basketball head-to-head.
That’s why MLB is making big bucks.
…I think there are a lot of sports Leagues that would like to be at their last gasp like Baseball is…
Morgan Wick
Should the usual caveats about Detroiters watching the Cup Final on CBC apply?
BallDAQ
MLB is the king of RSNs. NBA is the King of National Cable and Social Media. NFL is the king of Network Broadcast… NHL is… quite frankly, mostly hype, if you exclude Canada of course. I mean, Game 1 included Boston v. Chicago. 2 big markets, 5hrs game, etc.. etc.. and all they could do was 4.8 overnight.
socaltj
Zabriskie, I disagree. If the Penguins were in the NHL finals, then it would have done better than the baseball game in Pittsburgh. it shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that local markets will watch their local teams first – especially if there is no competition from another local team. I believe I read that the NBA did better than the LA Kings in LA on a head to head – that is a bit surprising.
BallDAQ, all of the sports are the king of RSNs to some degree. it really depends on the market. The Lakers do better than the Angels and Dodgers. The Penguins do better than the Pirates. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
# Scenario "too_slow" - no-redo dirtied page inserted too late.
#
let $i = $n_conn;
while ($i > 0) {
connect(con$i, localhost, root,,);
dec $i;
}
--connection default
--echo #
--echo # 0. Freeze single no-redo mtr (MTR_LOG_NO_REDO) in mtr0mtr.cc, just
--echo # before it inserts the dirty page to flush list.
--echo #
BEGIN;
DELETE FROM tmp_t WHERE a < 0;
SET DEBUG = "+d,btr_ins_pause_on_mtr_noredo_before_add_dirty_blocks";
--send CALL mtr_noredo_generate_single();
connect(con_mgr, localhost, root,,);
SET DEBUG_SYNC = "now WAIT_FOR btr_ins_paused";
--source ../include/log_read_current_lsn.inc
let $init_lsn = $current_lsn;
if ($debug_test) {
--echo Current LSN: $current_lsn
}
--echo #
--echo # 1. Allow user threads to execute many redo-based mini transactions,
--echo # until current lsn is greater than init_lsn by more than capacity
--echo # of log.recent_closed.
--echo #
let $i = $n_conn;
while ($i > 0) {
--connection con$i
BEGIN;
eval DELETE FROM t$i WHERE a < 0;
dec $i;
}
let $i = $n_conn;
while ($i > 0) {
--connection con$i
eval SET @q = CONCAT("CALL mtr_redo_generate_multi(", $i, ", 1800, 120)");
PREPARE stmt FROM @q;
--send EXECUTE stmt;
dec $i;
}
--connection con_mgr
let $wait_lsn = $init_lsn + 2*1024*1024 + 10;
--source ../include/log_wait_for_current_lsn.inc
--echo #
--echo # 2. Optionally flush all dirty pages.
--echo #
if ($empty_flush_list) {
--echo Flush all dirty pages...
SET GLOBAL innodb_buf_flush_list_now = 1;
}
--echo #
--echo # 3. Resume the frozen no-redo mtr which seems to be too old.
--echo #
SET DEBUG_SYNC = "now SIGNAL btr_ins_resume";
--connection default
reap;
SET DEBUG = "-d,btr_ins_pause_on_mtr_noredo_before_add_dirty_blocks";
SET DEBUG_SYNC = "mtr_noredo_before_add_dirty_blocks CLEAR";
COMMIT;
# Just to clear the signal btr_ins_resume:
SET DEBUG_SYNC = "now WAIT_FOR btr_ins_resume";
disconnect con_mgr;
--echo #
--echo # 4. Finish pending insertions in redo-based mini transactions.
--echo #
let $i = $n_conn;
while ($i > 0) {
--connection con$i
reap;
COMMIT;
disconnect con$i;
dec $i;
}
--connection default
--echo #
--echo # 5. Execute two standard mini transactions to ensure all is fine.
--echo #
CALL mtr_redo_generate_single(1, 1000);
CALL mtr_noredo_generate_single();
CALL mtr_redo_generate_single(2, 1000);
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Q:
searching sorted items into a sorted sequence
I want to find a sequence of items in a sorted array of values.
I know that with numpy I can do:
l = np.searchsorted(values, items)
This has the complexity of O(len(items)*log(len(values))).
However, my items are also sorted, so I can do it in O(len(items)+len(values)) doing:
l = np.zeros(items.size, dtype=np.int32)
k, K = 0, len(values)
for i in range(len(items)):
while k < K and values[k] < items[i]:
k += 1
l[i] = k
The problem is that this version in pure python is way slower than searchsorted because of the python loop, even for large len(items) and len(values) (~10^6).
Any idea how to "vectorize" this loop with numpy?
A:
Some example data:
# some example data
np.random.seed(0)
n_values = 1000000
n_items = 100000
values = np.random.rand(n_values)
items = np.random.rand(n_items)
values.sort()
items.sort()
Your original code snippet as well as an implementation of @PeterE's suggestion:
def original(values, items):
l = np.empty(items.size, dtype=np.int32)
k, K = 0, len(values)
for i, item in enumerate(items):
while k < K and values[k] < item:
k += 1
l[i] = k
return l
def peter_e(values, items):
l = np.empty(items.size, dtype=np.int32)
last_idx = 0
for i, item in enumerate(items):
last_idx += values[last_idx:].searchsorted(item)
l[i] = last_idx
return l
Test for correctness against naive np.searchsorted:
ss = values.searchsorted(items)
print(all(original(values, items) == ss))
# True
print(all(peter_e(values, items) == ss))
# True
Timings:
In [1]: %timeit original(values, items)
10 loops, best of 3: 115 ms per loop
In [2]: %timeit peter_e(values, items)
10 loops, best of 3: 79.8 ms per loop
In [3]: %timeit values.searchsorted(items)
100 loops, best of 3: 4.09 ms per loop
So for inputs of this size, naive use of np.searchsorted handily beats your original code, as well as PeterE's suggestion.
Update
To avoid any caching effects that might skew the timings, we can generate a new set of random input arrays for each iteration of the benchmark:
In [1]: %%timeit values = np.random.randn(n_values); items = np.random.randn(n_items); values.sort(); items.sort();
original(values, items)
.....:
10 loops, best of 3: 115 ms per loop
In [2]: %%timeit values = np.random.randn(n_values); items = np.random.randn(n_items); values.sort(); items.sort();
peter_e(values, items)
.....:
10 loops, best of 3: 79.9 ms per loop
In [3]: %%timeit values = np.random.randn(n_values); items = np.random.randn(n_items); values.sort(); items.sort();
values.searchsorted(items)
.....:
100 loops, best of 3: 4.08 ms per loop
Update 2
It's not that hard to write a Cython function that will beat np.searchsorted for the case where both values and items are sorted.
search_doubly_sorted.pyx:
import numpy as np
cimport numpy as np
cimport cython
@cython.boundscheck(False)
@cython.wraparound(False)
def search_doubly_sorted(values, items):
cdef:
double[:] _values = values.astype(np.double)
double[:] _items = items.astype(np.double)
long n_items = items.shape[0]
long n_values = values.shape[0]
long[:] out = np.empty(n_items, dtype=np.int64)
long ii, jj, last_idx
last_idx = 0
for ii in range(n_items):
for jj in range(last_idx, n_values):
if _items[ii] <= _values[jj]:
break
last_idx = jj
out[ii] = last_idx
return out.base
Test for correctness:
In [1]: from search_doubly_sorted import search_doubly_sorted
In [2]: print(all(search_doubly_sorted(values, items) == values.searchsorted(items)))
# True
Benchmark:
In [3]: %timeit values.searchsorted(items)
100 loops, best of 3: 4.07 ms per loop
In [4]: %timeit search_doubly_sorted(values, items)
1000 loops, best of 3: 1.44 ms per loop
The performance improvement is fairly marginal, though. Unless this is a serious bottleneck in your code then you should probably stick with np.searchsorted.
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Return Code (S01) - This transaction has funded.
How it appears on reports
This return code shows as a funded transaction on the EFT activity report, bank registers, and resident ledgers.
What it means
For incoming tenant payments, this code means that the money has been added to your bank account.
For incoming Association Owner payments, this code means that the money has been added to your bank account.
For incoming rental application fees, this code means that the money has been added to your bank account.
For outgoing payments to rental owners, it means that the money has successfully been withdrawn from your bank account. The payment will be delivered to your vendor in accordance with the withdrawal hold days associated with your merchant account.
For outgoing payments to vendors, it means that the money has successfully been withdrawn from your bank account. The payment will be delivered to your vendor in accordance with the withdrawal hold days associated with your merchant account. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
<!doctype linuxdoc system>
<article>
<title>Linux Meta-FAQ
<author>Michael K. Johnson <[email protected]>
<date>v4.7, 25 October 1997
<abstract>
This is the Meta-FAQ for Linux. It is mainly a list of valuable
sources of information. Check these sources out if you want to learn
more about Linux, or have problems and need help.
</abstract>
<sect>Introduction
<p><descrip>
<tag/What is Linux?/
Linux is an independent implementation of the POSIX operating system
specification, with SYSV and BSD extensions, that has been written
entirely from scratch (this means it looks and acts just like Unix).
It has no proprietary code in it. Linux is freely
distributable under the GNU General Public License.
Linux works on IBM PC
compatibles with an ISA or EISA bus (including local bus variants VLB
and PCI) and a 386 or higher processor.
Some Amiga and Atari computers with MMU's are also supported.
This means 68020 with an external MMU, 68030, 68040, or 68060.
Support for the Digital Alpha is now stable.
Red Hat and Craftworks have Alpha distributions of Linux.
Support for Sparc is stable, and Red Hat Linux is available for Sparc.
Support for PowerPC is in development for multiple platforms,
including Nubus and PCI Macintosh, Motorola Powerstack, IBM
830 and 850, and other platforms.
Support for ARM, StrongARM, and MIPS is in various stages of
completion, but don't hold your breath.
Read comp.os.linux.announce instead.
See the Linux INFO-SHEET for more technical information on these
ports, and the Hardware Compatibility HOWTO for more exact hardware
requirements.
The Linux kernel
is written by Linus Torvalds <[email protected]>
and other volunteers. Most of the programs running under
Linux are generic Unix freeware, many of them from the GNU project.
<tag/The Linux INFO-SHEET/
More specific technical information on Linux. Includes pointers
to information on the various ports, a feature list, information
about how to get Linux, and more.
<tag/The Linux HOWTO's/
These are somewhat like FAQ's, but instead of answering common
questions, they explain how to do common tasks, like ordering
a release of Linux, setting up print services under Linux,
setting up a basic UUCP feed, etc. See
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX.html"> or
<url url="ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/">
for the definitive versions
of all the HOWTO's. Other sites with up-to-date copies of
the HOWTOs are ftp.cc.gatech.edu and tsx-11.mit.edu.
In addition, there are many short, free-form documents called
"mini-HOWTOs". These documents cover very specific subjects,
such as BogoMIPS or Color-ls. These are available at
<url url="ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/docs/HOWTO/mini/">
and at
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX.html">.
<tag/Linux newsgroups/
There are several Usenet newsgroups for Linux.
It is a good idea to follow at least comp.os.linux.announce if you
use Linux. comp.os.linux.announce is moderated by
Lars Wirzenius. To make submissions to the newsgroup, send mail to
[email protected]. You may direct questions about
comp.os.linux.announce to Lars Wirzenius <[email protected]>
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.announce is a moderated
newsgroup for announcements about Linux (new programs, bug
fixes, etc).
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.answers is a moderated newsgroup
to which the Linux FAQ, HOWTO documents, and other
documentation postings are made.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.setup is an unmoderated newsgroup
for discussion of issues and problems involved in setting up
Linux systems.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.admin is an unmoderated
newsgroup for discussion of administration of Linux systems.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development.system is an
unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of Linux
<bf/kernel/ development. The only application development
questions that should be discussed here are those that are
intimately associated with the kernel. All other
development questions are probably generic Unix development
questions and should be directed to a comp.unix group
instead, unless they are very Linux-specific applications
questions, in which case they should be directed at
comp.os.linux.development.apps.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.development.apps is an
unmoderated newsgroup specifically for discussion of
Linux-related applications development. It is not for
discussion of where to get applications for Linux, nor a
discussion forum for those who would like to see
applications for Linux.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.hardware is for Linux-specific
hardware questions.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.networking is for Linux-specific
networking development and setup questions.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.x is for Linux-specific X
Windows questions.
The newsgroup comp.os.linux.misc is an unmoderated newsgroup for any
Linux discussion that doesn't belong anywhere else.
In general, <bf/do not/ crosspost between the Linux newsgroups.
The <bf/only/ crossposting that is appropriate is an occasional
posting between one unmoderated group and comp.os.linux.announce. The
whole point of splitting the old comp.os.linux group into many groups
was to reduce
traffic in each. Those that do not follow this rule will be flamed
without mercy...
<tag/Other newsgroups/
Do not assume that all your questions are appropriate for a Linux
newsgroup just because you are running Linux. Is your question
really about shell programming under any unix or unix clone? Then
ask in comp.unix.shell. Is it about GNU Emacs? Then try asking in
gnu.emacs.help. Also, if you don't know another group to ask in, but
think there might be, politely ask in your post if there is another
group that would be more appropriate for your question. At least
the groups comp.unix.{questions,shell,programming,bsd,admin} and
comp.windows.x.i386unix should be useful for a Linux user.
<tag/The World-Wide Web/
Greg Hankins <[email protected]> maintains the home WWW page for
the Linux project. The URL is <url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/">
<tag/Linux Journal/
A magazine called <em/Linux Journal/ was launched several
years ago. It includes articles intended for almost all
skill levels, and is intended to be helpful to all Linux
users. Subscriptions are $22 in the U.S., $27
in Canada and Mexico, and $32 elsewhere around the
world, all payable in U.S. funds. Subscription inquiries can
be sent via email to [email protected] or faxed to (U.S.)
1-206-782-7191 or mailed to Linux Journal, PO Box 85867,
Seattle, WA 98145-1867 USA. SSC has a PGP public key if
you wish to send your credit card number via encrypted
email: finger [email protected]
<tag/The Linux Software Map/
Information on free software available for Linux can be found in the
Linux Software Map, which can be found at
<url url="http://www.execpc.com/~lsm/">
</descrip>
<sect>Getting Linux
<sect1>Linux FTP sites
<p>
A more complete list of Linux FTP sites is in the Linux INFO-SHEET,
which can always be found at
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/INFO-SHEET.html">
The most important sites are listed here; please
see the INFO-SHEET for a site nearer to you (there are many mirrors).
<!--
\noindent\begin{tabular}{lll}
{\bf Textual name} & {\bf Numeric address} & {\bf Linux directory}
\\\hline
tsx-11.mit.edu & 18.86.0.44 & /pub/linux \\
sunsite.unc.edu & 152.2.22.81 & /pub/Linux \\
ftp.kernel.org & 206.184.214.34 & /pub/linux \\
\end{tabular}
-->
<tscreen><verb>
textual name numeric addr Linux directory
======================= ============== ===============
tsx-11.mit.edu 18.86.0.44 /pub/linux
sunsite.unc.edu 152.2.22.81 /pub/Linux
ftp.kernel.org 206.184.214.34 /pub/linux
</verb></tscreen>
These sites are the main ``home'' sites for Linux where most uploads take
place. There are many mirror sites; please use the closest (network-wise)
site to you.
<sect1>Linux on physical media
<p>
Linux is distributed on physical media, mainly CD-ROM,
by several commercial vendors. Please read the distribution
HOWTO, posted regularily to comp.os.linux.announce, and available at
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/Distribution-HOWTO.html">
<sect1>AFS
<p>
Linux is available over AFS by mounting the
volume project.linux from sipb.mit.edu
<sect1>Commercial networks
<p>
Compu$erve has some Linux archives.
<sect1>Mailservers and such
<p>
Sunsite offers ftp-mail service --- mail <[email protected]>.
<sect>Linux distributions
<p>
Linux is distributed by its author only as a kernel. Other people have
put together ``distributions'' that pair the Linux kernel with utilities
and application software to make a complete working package.
There are several distributions of Linux, which are available at
various sites. Sunsite mirrors many of the distributions at
<url url="ftp://sunsite.unc.edu/pub/Linux/distributions/">.
The most commonly-recommended freely-available distributions are
Red Hat <url url="http://www.redhat.com"> and
Debian <url url="http://www.debian.org">. These are available for
free over the internet, and are also sold on CD-ROM.
There are other distributions of Linux as well. Most commercial
distributors of Linux advertise in <em/Linux Journal/.
<sect>Linux mailing-lists
<p>
Used mostly for discussion between developers of new features and testers
of pre-release versions. See addresses in the FAQ.
Send mail to [email protected] with the single word
<tt/help/ in the body of the message , and you will get
mail explaining how to subscribe to the many Linux mailing
lists there.
Save this mail, as it tells you how to unsubscribe from the lists,
and if you post annoying messages to the list complaining
about not being able to get off the list (because you didn't follow
instructions and save the mail telling you how to unsubscribe), you
will likely be flamed for wasting international bandwidth and money.
<sect>Documentation for various programs
<p>
Many programs come with some sort of documentation, often in a file called
README or something similar. It is a VERY good idea to read them with
care. It is boring to see (and answer) questions that are answered in
the documentation. Most programs also have ``man pages''; use the command
<tt/man programname/ to get documentation on a program named
<tt/programname/. To get help using the man program, use
<tt/man man/.
Most distributions put other documentation about programs in the
directory /usr/doc/; your distribution should include documentation
on how to access that documentation.
<sect>More Documentation
<p>
The Linux Documentation Project is working on a lot of
documentation. Already, over 3000 pages of book-style documentation
has been released to the general public, and another 2000 or so printed
pages of man pages
have also been released, with more to follow. Check
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/"> for documents written by the LDP.
<sect>Keeping track of current releases
<p>
Important new releases, programs,
and ports are usually announced in comp.os.linux.announce.
<sect>This Document
<p>
The latest version of this document should always be available from
<url url="http://sunsite.unc.edu/LDP/HOWTO/META-FAQ.html">
<sect>Legalese
<p>
Trademarks are owned by their owners. Satisfaction not guaranteed.
No warranties about this document. Void where prohibited.
The content of this document is placed in the public domain, but
if you quote it, please be polite and attribute your source.
Lars Wirzenius <[email protected]> wrote the first version
of this document; it is now maintained by
Michael K. Johnson <[email protected]>.
Mail me if you have any questions about this document.
</article>
| null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Pakistan Socialist Party
The Pakistan Socialist Party was a political party in Pakistan. It was formed out of the branches of the Indian Socialist Party in the areas ceded to the new state of Pakistan. The PSP failed to make any political breakthrough in Pakistani politics. Being a secular socialist party, which had strongly opposed the creation of the state Pakistan, the PSP found itself politically isolated and with little mass appeal. The party was labelled as traitors and kafirs by its opponents. The PSP found it difficult to compete with the Islamic socialism that Liaquat Ali Khan professed to in 1949.
As of 1956, the party claimed that have 3,000 members. A more realistic account, however, would lie somewhere around 1,250. PSP was a member of the Asian Socialist Conference. The PSP youth wing was called 'Pakistan Socialist Party Youth', which was recognised by the International Union of Socialist Youth as a 'co-operating organisation'.
Background
Initially the Indian Socialist Party, which was fiercely opposed to the Partition of India, wanted to retain its organisation in the areas that were to become parts of Pakistan. A Socialist Party convention in Ludhiana held in July 1947 decided that an autonomous party organisation would be formed in Pakistan. Prem Bhasin, a Rawalpindi Hindu member of the party National Executive, was designated to organise the party structure in Pakistan. Mobarak Sagher, another National Executive member who was imprisoned at the time, was designated to organise the party in the North-West.
Once Partition, and the communal violence it brought along, was a fact the idea of a united Indo-Pakistani party was abandoned. The majority of party members in West Pakistan, including Prem Bhasin, fled to India. The Socialist Party had few Muslim members before Partition, and when many Hindu cadres left Pakistan it effectively drained the party of much of its organizational capacity.
Sagher was released from jail in September 1947, and was sent to Lahore. In November 1947 he convened a conference in Rawalpindi, which attracted around fifty participants. The conference decided to break the links to the Indian Socialist Party and that socialists in Pakistan would work to form an independent party of their own. The conference resolved that the goal of the party was to transform Pakistan into a democratic and socialist republic. On the question of Kashmir, the conference called for a referendum to decide the future of the area. Furthermore, the Rawalpindi meeting stated that the Pakistani socialists would advocate Kashmiri integration with Pakistan ahead of such a plebiscite. The declaration on Kashmir illustrated the definitive break with the Indian Socialist Party, and the issue would remain a bone of contention between the Indian and Pakistani socialists.
The Rawalpindi meeting appointed a board which would oversee the preparations for the foundation of the new political party. Mohamed Yusuf Khan was the convener of the board. Other board members were Mobarak Sagher, Munshi Ahmad Din, Siddique Lodhi and Amir Qalam Khan. In December 1947 the board held a meeting in Lahore, at which it was decided to convene a founding conference of the party on 29–31 January 1948, in Karachi. Moreover, the board decided to publish Socialist Weekly (a continuation of Sindhi Socialist Weekly) as the party organ. The Urdu-language Socialist Weekly was published from Karachi. It had a circulation of around 2,500.
Founding
On 29 January 1948, the founding party conference was opened in Karachi. Around 150 persons attended the conference as delegates, although it wasn't clear who the delegates represented. At one point the conference was interrupted, as police entered the premises. The conference could be continued after negotiations with the police. The Karachi conference, constituted the Pakistan Socialist Party and elected a National Executive Committee. The Executive consisted of Munshi Ahmad Din (general secretary), Mohammed Yusuf Khan (secretary), Mobarak Sagher (treasurer), Siddique Lodhi and Ram Mohan Sinha.
The Executive didn't last long, though. Two months later, at Munshin Ahmad Din was elected to the Executive of the Indian Socialist Party at its national conference in Nasik. After the Nasik conference, he didn't return to Pakistan. Soon afterwards, Sinha left Pakistan for India. In a short span, the Executive suffered yet another defection, as Lodhi resigned due to ill health. This left only two members of the original Executive, Khan and Sagher. Khan became general secretary and Sagher took the combined offices of secretary, treasurer and editor of the party organ. Two additional persons, Syed Mohammad Yusuf Rizvi and Khwaja Zahoor Din, were inducted in the Executive. But the leadership of the party was virtually limited to Khan and Sagher.
West Pakistan
In West Pakistan, the party did not contest Assembly elections. It did have some impact in mass organisations, though. The Punjab Pind Committee was a front of the party. The party also managed to gain some influence in the Sindh Hari Committee, and a party member was elected secretary of the organisation. Finally, the PSP was able to capture the Pakistan Trade Union Federation from the communists in 1951. Mobarak Sagher became President of PTUF and Khan Vice-President. Once in control of PTUF, the socialists renamed the organisation as Pakistan Mazdoor Federation and disaffiliated the organisation from the World Federation of Trade Unions. The communists moved to reconstitute the PTUF again.
East Pakistan
In East Pakistan, the party membership was predominately Hindu. In March 1950, during the language riots, the party office in Dacca was attacked by a mob. The office secretary was killed. In its aftermath, around 300 party members left East Pakistan for India. Amongst those who remained in East Pakistan, several were jailed by Pakistani authorities.
Just ahead of the 1954 elections to the East Bengal Assembly, the jailed party members from East Pakistan were released. The party contested the elections as part of the United Front. Four party members were elected to the Assembly. Three of them were elected from seats reserved for religious minorities, contesting as part of the Minorities United Front. The three Hindu legislators elected were Maharaj Trailokyanath Chakravarty, Pulin De and Deben Ghosh. One Muslim party member, Moulana Altaf Hussain, was elected on an Awami League ticket.
Whilst the electoral fortunes of the party in East Pakistan was highly dependent on the reservations for minority communities, the party politically opposed communal reservation of assembly seats.
Decline
The party was able to hold a second national conference in April 1954. Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, who had just been released from jail, assisted the conference. The conference decided, along the line of the shifts in the Indian party, to open party membership for anyone who paid the membership fee. This reform was intended to increase the party membership, but in West Pakistan the few newcomers were generally communist infiltrators who were soon expelled. In East Pakistan, the open membership policy was never really implemented.
The running of an all-Pakistan party provided enormous logistical challenges. The Executive Committee could only rarely meet. Effectively a political gap between West and East Pakistani wings of the party grew. In East Pakistan, the party supported the Awami League-led coalition government formed in East Pakistan in 1954. But the West Pakistani socialists opposed an Awami League-led coalition government at the centre.
Other divisions also emerged in the party. In East Pakistan the party was divided along the Hindu-Muslim divide. In West Pakistan, Sagher and Khan clashed with each other. In the end, Mohammed Yusuf Khan was expelled from the party in February 1957. In 1958, all political parties were banned in Pakistan.
References
Category:1948 establishments in Pakistan
Category:1958 disestablishments in Pakistan
Category:Defunct political parties in Pakistan
Category:Political parties disestablished in 1958
Category:Political parties established in 1948
Category:Socialist parties in Pakistan | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
The technical field of the invention is molecular biology and, in particular, vectors producing non-infectious particles that can be used to induce viral specific immune system responses.
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus which causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a member of the retrovirus family. In particular, the HIV virus belongs to the lentivirus subfamily of retroviruses. The HIV virus contains two strands of single-stranded genomic ribonucleic acid (RNA) associated with two molecules of reverse transcriptase, an enzyme that catalyzes the process of “reverse transcription” to transcribe genomic RNA into double-stranded DNA. HIV also contains other nucleoid proteins, such as a protease enzyme and an integrase enzyme. The HIV genome, including the nucleoid proteins, is surrounded by a viral coat, known as the nucleocapsid, which consists of two layers of proteins. The HIV genome is further surrounded by an outer envelope coat, which is derived from the membrane of the host-cell.
The single-stranded RNA of the HIV genome encodes three different categories of proteins: the structural proteins encoded by the gag, pol and env genes; the regulatory proteins encoded by the tat and rev genes; and the accessory proteins encoded by the vpu, vpr, vif and nef genes. The HIV genome also has a repeated sequence, known as the long terminal repeat (LTR), at both the 5′ and the 3′ end of the genome. The 5′ LTR contains enhancer and promoter sequences that are necessary for viral transcription, while the 3′ LTR sequence is required for polyadenylating the transcripts that are created from the RNA genome. (Kuby, J., Immunology, 3rd ed. (W. H Freeman and Company (1997)).
Numerous studies have investigated the role of these different proteins, in particular, the role of the structural proteins encoded by the gag and pol genes. To date, attempts have focused on separately mutating proteins such as the reverse transcriptase (RT), integrase (In) and nucleocapsid (NC) in order to characterize and modify their function. (See e.g. Kim, et al., J. Biol. Chem., 271:4872–4878 (1996); Winters et al., J. Virol. 74:10707–10713 (2000); Lins et al., Biophys. J. 76:2999–3011 (1999); Ellison et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:3320–3326 (1995); Zheng et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 93:13659–13664 (1996); Leavitt et al., J. Virol. 70:721–728 (1996); Tanchou et al., J. Virol. 72:4442–4447 (1998); Druillennec et al., J. Biol. Chem. 274:11283–11288 (1999); and Schwartz et al., J. Virol. 71:9295–9305 (1997)).
In addition, attempts have been made to produce non-infectious virus particles, in particular by targeting the nucleocapsid protein. (See Aldovini et al., J. Virol. 64:1920–1926 (1990) and Poon et al., J. Virol. 70:6607–6616 (1996)). In U.S. Pat. No. 5,919,458, Aldovini et al., describes one approach to the construction of non-infectious HIV particles. This approach involves generating nucleotide alterations in the cis-acting RNA packaging site, also known as the Ψ site, and in the cysteine rich carboxy-terminal region of the gag gene, to create HIV mutants that were defective for RNA packaging. Another approach to constructing non-infectious HIV particles is described by Poon et al., J. Virol. 70:6607–6616, (1996). In this study, non-infectious particles were created by altering the nucleocapsid structure to preclude viral RNA incorporation. However, these studies relied on generating deletion mutants of the NC domain in which entire structural domains of the NC were removed in order to prevent recombination to wild-type HIV. As a consequence, the alteration in the protein structure of the HIV virus prevents the virion from acting as a suitable antigen to elicit an immune response. Furthermore, there still remained the concern for reversion to wild-type virus and the generation of infectious particles.
There is also an interest in the development of vaccines to HIV to protect against, or at least retard the progression of, AIDS. The potential efficacy of such vaccines has been suggested by studies in the simian AIDS model systems and in limited human trials. Challenging the patient with either an attenuated or inactivated whole virion confers some immunity. Studies have shown that vaccines composed of whole, inactivated virions of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) confer at least partial protection against challenge with live virus. (See eg., Langlois et al., Secience 255:292–293 (1992); Le Grand et al., Nature 355:684 (1992); Osterhaus et al., ibid., pp. 684–685; Cranage et al., ibid., pp. 685–686).
Production of inactivated HIV vaccines involves physical and chemical inactivation treatments necessary to render a non-infectious particle. However, such treatments can result in loss of immunogenicity due to partial destruction of the virions, thereby limiting the effectiveness of the immune response. A method that leaves virion structures intact, yet renders the virions non-infectious, would be a significant improvement in vaccine development.
One approach is the use of a DNA vaccine where the subject is inoculated with DNA molecules carrying a gene that encodes for a defective virion. DNA vaccines have a number of potential advantages over more conventional vaccine formulations. For example, multiple antigens can be expressed from a single DNA construct. In addition, because DNA vaccines express antigens in their native form, both humoral and cellular responses from the immune system are expected to be observed. Of particular importance is the generation of mucosal immunity because the major entry route for these retroviruses is typically through an orifice, which is lined with mucosa.
Accordingly, a need exists for producing a non-infectious virion which retains structural integrity in order to elicit an immune response, while preventing reversion to the wild-type virus. A need also exists for a DNA vaccine comprising a non-infectious virions capable of eliciting appropriate immune response in a subject without the risk of causing infection. A need also exists for DNA vaccines that can be specifically targeted to cells lining the passageways of the body. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
Oxygenolysis of flavonoid compounds: DFT description of the mechanism for quercetin.
Flavonoids are naturally occurring phenol derivatives present in substantial amounts in a large variety of plants, fruits and vegetables daily eaten by humans. Most of these compounds exhibit several interesting biological activities, such as antiradical and antioxidant actions. Indeed, by complexation with specific enzymes, flavonoids are notably liable to metabolize molecular dioxygen. On the basis of experimental results describing oxygenolysis of the flavonoid quercetin, activated by the enzyme quercetin 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3-QD),ur attention has focused on the role of metal center in the activation of the substrate quercetin. Thus, in the present study, by means of DFT calculations at the B3LYP/ 6-31(+)G* level on model molecular systems, we describe different mechanisms for dioxygen metabolization by quercetin. Stationary points are described, and energetic and structural analyses along the reaction paths are reported. Our calculations show that the copper cation must act as an oxidant towards the substrate and that the reaction proceeds through a 1,3-cycloaddition. | null | minipile | NaturalLanguage | mit | null |
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