Zildjian Super 24 Inch Cymbal Bag

Zildjian Super Cymbal Bag
The Zildjian Super cymbal bag features super heavy-duty, extra-rugged construction all around making it the ulitmate cymbal bag! This cymbal bag has reinforced, double strength stitching at all stress points. Its main compartment contains three built-in cymbal dividers, fits cymbals up to 24 inches The zippered side pocket fits cymbals up to 16 inches while another zippered side pocket easily fits large stick bags. Other features include fully padded shoulder pad and 2-inch wide adjustable strap for carrying comfort.

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"Cymbal bag"

Overall:
This is a good all purpose bag for those like me who don't travel a lot with their drum set. The bag has separate compartments for your main cymbals plus outside compartment for high hat cymbals. There is also a side zippered compartment to hold lots of extra stuff...like "a place for our stuff"! Padded carrying strap and best of all, it's got Zildjian written on the outside!

Style of Music: Played it all but now play in Church and traveling around at various venues

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 + 2*l(d). Let g be w(-2). Sort g, -1, -3.
-3, -1, g
Let b(j) = j**3 - 2*j**2 - 2*j + 2. Let u be b(3). Suppose u = -3*q - 2*q. Let c be 1/((0 - -3)/3). Sort q, 0.5, c.
q, 0.5, c
Let c(s) = s**3 + 8*s**2 + 9*s + 4. Let i be c(-7). Let d be 3/(-3) + i/2. Let g be (8/d)/((-2)/(-6)). Put g, -2, 4 in increasing order.
g, -2, 4
Let o = -5.112 + 0.112. Let a = 3 + -3. Put 1/3, o, a in descending order.
1/3, a, o
Suppose w + g - 6*g = 10, 3*g - 48 = -3*w. Let u be ((-8)/36)/(8/w). Let o = -1/12 + u. Sort 0.1, o, -1 in increasing order.
-1, o, 0.1
Let h(w) = -4*w + 9. Let n be h(2). Put -22, n, -2/9 in ascending order.
-22, -2/9, n
Let b = -13 - -7. Let m = b + 8. Let z be (4 + -7)*(-4)/(-6). Sort m, z, 2/5 in ascending order.
z, 2/5, m
Let s(l) = -5*l**2 + 1. Let k be s(-1). Sort k, -3, 2 in increasing order.
k, -3, 2
Let q be 3 + (-7)/((-35)/10). Put 1, -2, q in descending order.
q, 1, -2
Suppose -2*p + 4 = i - 10, 17 = p + 3*i. Let f(q) = -q**2 + 4*q. Let w be f(p). Let l = -16 - -12. Put -2, w, l in decreasing order.
-2, l, w
Let f = -14 - -4. Let s be (-1 - -6)*8/f. Let n = 0 - s. Sort -4, -5, n in increasing order.
-5, -4, n
Let v = 0.05 + -0.35. Suppose 5*w - 4*w = 4, -m - 2*w = -3. Let o be (-1)/m*(-2)/1. Sort o, 0, v in ascending order.
o, v, 0
Let n = 0.39 - -0.01. Let z = 0 - 0.1. Let f = 3 + -3.4. Put z, f, n in descending order.
n, z, f
Let n = 28 + -33. Sort -3, n, 28 in decreasing order.
28, -3, n
Let b = 0.09 - 14.09. Let t = -13.9 - b. Let k = -0.8 + 0.3. Put t, -1, k in decreasing order.
t, k, -1
Let m be 2/(-26*1/(-2)). Let x = -50 - -53. Put 0.2, x, m in increasing order.
m, 0.2, x
Let r = 0.5 + 0. Let h = -2 - -2.2. Let d = 6 - 9. Put d, h, r in increasing order.
d, h, r
Let q = 0.984 - -0.016. Sort -0.5, 4, q, -1/5 in decreasing order.
4, q, -1/5, -0.5
Let s be 2/3 - (5 - 4). Let z = 1.1 - 6.1. Let b be (4/(-10))/(-2 - -4). Sort s, b, z.
z, s, b
Let g be (5 - 3) + 2 + (-7)/3. Put -1, -6/7, -4, g in decreasing order.
g, -6/7, -1, -4
Suppose 5*x + 15 = 4*f, -6 = -5*f + 2*x - 0*x. Suppose -4*n - 20 = -4*c, 3*n = -n + 3*c - 17. Let h be 1 - (-3)/n*2. Sort f, -3, h in increasing order.
-3, h, f
Let f = -11 - -3. Sort f, 1, 5 in decreasing order.
5, 1, f
Let g = -4.4 + 4.9. Sort g, -0.03, -1.
-1, -0.03, g
Let k(l) = l**2 - 4*l - 7. Let g be k(5). Let w = 177 - 173. Sort w, -2/9, g.
g, -2/9, w
Let w(q) = -6*q**2 + 12*q + 1. Let h be w(2). Sort h, 5, -5, -3 in increasing order.
-5, -3, h, 5
Let q = 3.8 + -3. Let x = 0.9 - q. Put -5, -1, x in descending order.
x, -1, -5
Let n = 4 + -6. Sort n, 0, -4 in descending order.
0, n, -4
Let h = -25 - -23. Let m = -5 + 9. Let l(f) = -3*f - 3. Let d be l(-2). Sort h, m, d in increasing order.
h, d, m
Suppose -u - 5 = -6*u. Suppose -u = 3*a - 4. Put -1, 2, a in ascending order.
-1, a, 2
Let t be -21*((-48)/(-9))/(-8). Sort -3, 1, t in ascending order.
-3, 1, t
Suppose k + 8 = -d + 2, 0 = -d - 5. Let i be ((-2)/(-3))/(k/(-3)). Let g be (-4)/3 - 2/(-6). Sort -3, g, i in descending order.
i, g, -3
Let g = 3 - 3.1. Let u = 0.4 - g. Let a = -42 - -40. Put u, -2/13, a in descending order.
u, -2/13, a
Let v be (-6)/8 + (-3)/(-4). Let y be 5/((-15)/(-6)) + 0. Suppose -6*l = -y*l + 16. Put l, v, 1 in ascending order.
l, v, 1
Let g = 1/30 - 1/5. Let m = -0.118 - -0.158. Sort -2, m, g.
-2, g, m
Let i = -17 - -20. Put 4, -2, i in descending order.
4, i, -2
Let r(l) = -l**2 + 4*l + 3. Suppose 20 = 4*p - 0*p. Let i be r(p). Sort i, -3, 0.
-3, i, 0
Suppose 5*k = -2*z - 17, -4*z + 6*k - 2*k = -8. Sort 5, -3, z in ascending order.
-3, z, 5
Let r = -113 - -116. Sort -4, r, 5, -2 in ascending order.
-4, -2, r, 5
Let m = -5 + 5. Put -4, 5, m in descending order.
5, m, -4
Let z = 0 + -3. Suppose -3*y + 14 = 8. Put y, 5, z in increasing order.
z, y, 5
Let q = 14 + -6. Let s = 9 - 7. Sort s, q, -2.
-2, s, q
Let c = -50 + 103/2. Sort 2, c, 0.1.
0.1, c, 2
Let r = 87 + -88. Put 3, r, 1 in increasing order.
r, 1, 3
Let u = -376/35 + 53/5. Put -3, 2/9, u in increasing order.
-3, u, 2/9
Suppose 0 = -4*j + 6*j + 10. Let v(t) = -2*t**2 - 13*t + 3. Let h be v(-7). Sort h, j, 3 in descending order.
3, h, j
Let p = 47 - 51. Let i(x) = -x**3 - 8*x**2 - 7*x - 3. Let k be i(-7). Sort k, p, 2.
p, k, 2
Suppose 3*y = 2*y + 3. Sort 7, 1, y.
1, y, 7
Let o = -102/77 + 13/11. Let a = 0.33 - -0.07. Let s = 0.1 + 0.2. Put o, s, a in increasing order.
o, s, a
Suppose 2*k - 4*k = -4. Suppose k*d = -0*d + 8. Let m be d/10*(-10 + 0). Put 5, m, 4 in descending order.
5, 4, m
Let y = 13 - 19. Let l = y - -2. Sort l, -0.5, -2/7 in increasing order.
l, -0.5, -2/7
Let i(v) = -v - 25. Let n be i(-16). Sort -1, 2, n.
n, -1, 2
Suppose v = -v + 4. Let q be (4/3)/(v/(-6)). Let k = 11 - 8. Sort 4, k, q in decreasing order.
4, k, q
Let n be (4/(-28))/(6/(-7)). Let i = 0.9 - 0.6. Put -1, i, n in increasing order.
-1, n, i
Suppose 7 = -5*o - 3. Let c be o/28*8/2. Suppose n = -3 + 1. Sort n, c, -5 in ascending order.
-5, n, c
Let p = 43/4 + -309/28. Sort -2/5, p, -0.2.
-2/5, p, -0.2
Let y be 2/2 - 1/2. Let v = -4 + 10. Let m = -5 + v. Sort y, m, 3 in decreasing order.
3, m, y
Let s = -0.2 + -0.1. Let z = 0.06 + s. Let a = z + 0.04. Sort 4, 2, a.
a, 2, 4
Let x be (-8)/(-5)*(-10)/(-4). Suppose 8*z = x*z - 4. Sort z, 2, 3 in ascending order.
z, 2, 3
Let k = 0.22 + -0.32. Sort 0.5, 0.2, k in decreasing order.
0.5, 0.2, k
Let o be (-3)/((-255)/24 + 2). Let k = o - 102/161. Sort k, 4, -2/9 in increasing order.
k, -2/9, 4
Let p = 1 - 0.8. Let v = 10 - 8. Let l be 94/30 + (-6)/v. Sort 3, p, l in ascending order.
l, p, 3
Let g(c) = -c**2 - 6*c - 3. Let s be g(-3). Let i(a) = a**3 - 4*a**2 - 10*a - 12. Let x be i(s). Put 5, -6, x in ascending order.
-6, x, 5
Suppose -48 + 56 = -4*y. Put 2, -1, y, -4 in decreasing order.
2, -1, y, -4
Let y = -1527/11 - -139. Let v(p) = p**3 + p**2 - p + 1. Let t be v(0). Let a = t + -1/2. Sort a, 0.1, y in descending order.
a, y, 0.1
Let n be 20/6*(-15)/(-10). Let y = 12 - n. Let v be y + 0 - (-4)/(-2). Sort 2, v, -3.
-3, 2, v
Let u = -60 - -65. Sort -12, u, 2 in decreasing order.
u, 2, -12
Let f = -17 - -19. Sort 3, f, 5 in decreasing order.
5, 3, f
Let p = 0.28 + 1.42. Let n = p - 2.05. Let v = 0.05 - n. Sort 2, -5, v in increasing order.
-5, v, 2
Let y be 1/(-4) + 34/8. Suppose -9*c + y*c = -25. Suppose -3*l + c*l + 6 = 0. Sort 5, l, -4 in decreasing order.
5, l, -4
Let r = 197 - 2559/13. Put -4, 0.1, -0.01, r in ascending order.
-4, -0.01, 0.1, r
Let l(d) = -2*d + 9. Let v be l(6). Let m be ((-4)/6)/((-6)/45). Suppose 2*o + 0*f - f = 7, -o + 5 = -2*f. Sort v, o, m in decreasing order.
m, o, v
Let f = 57.7 + -58. Sort -1/4, -3, f, -0.5.
-3, -0.5, f, -1/4
Let m = 148/7 - 21. Put 0.4, 5/4, m in ascending order.
m, 0.4, 5/4
Let c(x) = x**2 + x + 6*x**3 + 8 + 8*x**2 - x**3 - 4*x**3. Let w be c(-9). Sort 1, w, 5 in decreasing order.
5, 1, w
Let b = 18 - 11. Suppose 0 = b*p - 9*p + 14. Sort -5, 5, p.
-5, 5, p
Let m(c) = c**3 + 11*c**2 + 9*c - 4. Let b be m(-10). Sort 0, 1, b in decreasing order.
b, 1, 0
Let l = 10 - 13. Sort l, -6, -5 in ascending order.
-6, -5, l
Let a = -1.13 - 0.83. Let n = 0.04 - a. Suppose 16 = -2*f - 3*s - s, f + 5*s = -17. Sort -1/4, f, n in decreasing order.
n, -1/4, f
Suppose 2*s = -q + 7, -5*s + 4 = -2*s - 5*q. Suppose -r = 4*a + 11, -r + a + 1 = -s. Sort r, -3, -5.
-5, -3, r
Suppose 11*r - 296 = 34. Sort -2, r, 4 in increasing order.
-2, 4, r
Suppose 10 + 0 = -2*t. Let n = t - -5. Suppose 3*l = 4*g + 17, 8*g - 4*l = 3*g - 21. Put g, n, 3 in increasing order.
g, n, 3
Let p = 6 - 5. Let c = 0.03 - -0.27. Sort 0.2, p, c in ascending order.
0.2, c, p
Let k(d) = -d - 10. Let u be k(-12). Suppose 0 = c - u + 4. Sort 0, c, 2 in ascending order.
c, 0, 2
Let r be (-4)/(-16)*(-15)/(-3). Put 5, -3, r in ascending order.
-3, r, 5
Suppose 2*n + 24 = -4*d, 36 = -3*n - 2*n - 4*d. Put n, -2/73, 2 in decreasing order.
2, -2/73, n
Suppose -20 = -b - 3*b. Put b, -5, 0 in descending order.
b, 0, -5
Let z(y) = y**3 - 11*y**2 + 26*y - 9. Let j be z(8). Put 0, j, -1 in decreasing order.
j, 0, -1
Let f = 8 - 12. Let g(n) = -2*n + 13. Let y be g(9). Sort y, f, 2 in decreasing order.
2, f, y
Suppose 2 = -2*z - 4. Let r = -36 - -52. Suppose 8*y - 4*y + r = 0. Sort z, -5, y in decreasing order.
z, y, -5
Let m = -539/4 + 135. Put -54, 0, m


Q:

Polling for long task for status update

I have a usecase where i need to the following

Call a POST endpoint which starts a process and gives a status
called "processing". Lets assume that we have  POST /accounts which
starts creating an account resource.
Call the GET endpoint ( GET /accounts/{id})  which will give the
    status of the account resource. Lets imagine that there are only two
        statuses --> "processing" and "completed". I need to keep polling
        the GET endpoint till the status of the resource changes to
        "completed"
Once the GET /accounts/{id} returns the status completed, i need to
    do return the completed resource.

My main question is how to do this in rxjava using long polling. I looked at some of the links here

https://github.com/ReactiveX/RxJava/issues/3482
https://github.com/ReactiveX/RxJava/issues/448
I wasnt able to understand in these examples was ..how to unsubscribe once a particular predicate was matched..ie. status from GET /accounts/{id} is completed, fetch and end the subscription.

Any help is highly appreciated.

A:

You can use retryWhen() something like shown below.
Considering we have
private Single<Account> createAccount() // API call to create account
private Single<Account> getAccount(int id) // API call to get account info

When getting account info, if status is "processing", we throw error, which will in turn trigger retryWhen(). And the below code will retry every 5 seconds until the status changes to "completed". Only the getAccount() stream will be retried again.
createAccount()
    .flatMap(
        createdAcc -> getAccount(accountId)
            .flatMap(
                status -> status == "procesing" ?
                          Single.error(new Throwable()) :
                          Single.just(status)
            )
            .doOnError(throwable -> Log.e("", "retrying"))
            .retryWhen(errors -> errors.flatMapSingle(error -> Single.timer(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS)))
    )
    .subscribe();


Chromatographic conditions for separation of 32P-labeled phosphates of major polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon--deoxyribonucleoside adducts.
The 3'-monophosphates of the major deoxyribonucleoside adducts of five representative polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, 5-methylchrysene and 6-methylchrysene--were prepared by reaction with DNA of the appropriate bay-region diol epoxides followed by enzymatic hydrolysis and HPLC purification. These standards were converted to 3',[32P]-5'-bisphosphates as in the Randerath 32P-postlabeling assay. TLC and HPLC systems for their separation are described. HPLC conditions for separation of the corresponding 3'- and 5'-monophosphates are also reported. These data will be useful for determining whether unknown DNA adducts detected by the 32P-postlabeling assay may have resulted from reactions of DNA with PAH diol epoxides.


COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF BEHCET’S DISEASE IN APLAR REGION.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Behcet’s Disease (BD) is classified among vasculitides, but its clinical picture is very distinctive and can be easily differentiated from the others. BD was originally seen along the Silk Road, but due to immigrations it is now seen everywhere in the world. There are many reports on clinical manifestations of BD from different parts of the world. The majority are case series except two nationwide surveys, one from Iran1, and the other from Japan2. Clinical symptoms vary in those reports and some think BD is a different disease in different parts of the world. The BD-SIG tried to analyze BD on a same protocol to see if there were differences in clinical manifestations in some of the countries of APLAR region, where BD is most seen.
Data from Hong Kong, India, Iran, and Singapore are available up to now. An analysis will be made on these data. More data will become available later.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire of 90 items was filled with the data of patients (fig 1). Computer analysis of the data was performed. Item percentages were compared according to their confidence interval (CI) calculated at 95%.
RESULTS: The sex distribution was approximately equal in both sexes in all countries except in India where the male frequency was higher, 64%. However, regarding the CI (13.3) there was no statistically significant difference between them.
First Manifestation of the Disease: Oral aphthosis as the first symptom was seen in 64% of patients in India and 80% from Iran, while it was reported in 100% from Singapore and Hong Kong. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). The same was seen with genital aphthosis (24%, 10%, 65%, 81%), uveitis (12%, 10%, 35%, 35%), Joint manifestations (18%, 5%, 57%, 54%), and skin manifestations (24%, 8%, 89%, 73%).
Clinical Manifestations: There was a statistically significant difference between oral aphthosis in Iran (96%) and Singapore and Hong Kong (100% each), while the difference with India (96%) was non significant. Genital aphthosis was less frequent in Iran (65%) than in India (82%) and Hong Kong (81%), while it was only 72% in Singapore. No significant difference was seen in the percentage of patients having skin manifestations, while the percentage of individual skin lesions was very different. Erythema nodosum was very frequent in Hong Kong (74%), India (52%), and Singapore (38%) than Iran (22%). No significant difference was seen for ocular lesions between Iran and India while the difference between Iran (56%) and Hong Kong was significant (35%). There was no difference in Joint manifestations between India (68%), Singapore (62%), and Hong Kong (54%), while it was less frequently seen in Iran (35%). Gastro-intestinal manifestations were the same in Iran, India, and Hong Kong, while they were much more frequently reported in Singapore (35%). No other major differences were seen with clinical manifestations.
Laboratory Investigations: The pathergy was positive more frequently in Iran than in the other countries. This may be due to the technical differences and to the reading process of the results. Results for ESR and urinalysis were the same in all countries. Results of HLA-B5 were available from Iran and India. There was no significant difference between them.
CONCLUSION: Although there were some differences between the results from Iran and other countries, the general pattern of the disease seemed to be the same in all of them. More data are necessary to draw a real picture of the disease in APLAR countries.


Cylindrocapsa

In taxonomy, Cylindrocapsa is a genus of green algae, specifically of the Chlorophyceae.

References

External links

Scientific references

Scientific databases

 AlgaeBase
 AlgaTerra database
 Index Nominum Genericorum

Category:Chlorophyceae genera


`

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Sabah request devolution power of tourism licenses from gov't

Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment hoped the request for devolution of power from the federal government to approve and issue five types of tourism licensing, which has been put on hold, will bear fruit.

Its minister Christina Liew (photo) said the request made through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) would enable Sabah to approve applications for tourism-related licensing and to issue licenses.

However, MOTAC said the devolution of power to the state has yet to be implemented, considering that matters in connection with the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) are still under negotiation.

"I had urged the federal government to empower Sabah to approve and issue five types of tourism licensing.

"These are the entry and exit license for tourism agents, licence for tourist guides, licence for tourism vehicles, ticket licensing and licence to manage tourism training schools or institutions," she said in her speech in conjunction with the 12th Sabah Tourism Awards 2019 last night.

Liew said If MOTAC granted licensing autonomy to Sabah, the move would boost tourism and enhance efficiency of the industry's service delivery system.

"In short, my request for devolution of power in this respect has been put on hold subject to the finalisation of devolution of power based on the MA63 which is still under negotiation, I keep my fingers crossed and hope it bears fruit," she said.


Background {#Sec1}
==========

Important progress in mental health service development has been made in selected countries \[[@CR1],[@CR2]\] of the world. Yet, despite increasing international focus and action, major treatment gaps remain worldwide; in low- and middle-income countries \[[@CR3],[@CR4]\], around 80% of people in need do not receive appropriate services \[[@CR5]\]. Meanwhile, mental disorders remain among the most prevalent, burdensome, and undertreated health conditions globally. Recent estimates indicate that mental disorders are responsible for 22.7% of all years lived with disability \[[@CR6]\].

A distinct but overlapping public health domain concerns mental health and psychosocial support in emergency settings. Numerous natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other major hazards occur around the world annually, many of which are followed by an influx of international aid agencies offering various types of psychosocial services and financial resources. Although the quality and effectiveness of these mental health services can be highly variable \[[@CR7]\], there is no doubt that mental health and psychosocial support is important during and after emergencies \[[@CR8]\]. This is because rates of diverse mental health problems increase as the result of emergencies \[[@CR9]\] and at the same time, those with pre-existing mental disorders are rendered more vulnerable \[[@CR10]\]. In addition, existing public health infrastructure - including that for mental health - is often weakened.

Until recently, the potential synergies between these two public health domains have been largely overlooked. This is understandable because humanitarian relief is usually short-term in nature, whereas mental health policy and service development is a process that usually involves years if not decades to reach fruition. Most actors involved in humanitarian emergencies focus on short-term mental health needs while giving little consideration of the mental health systems that will be left behind after their aid agencies depart.

These challenges notwithstanding, emergency situations are ripe opportunities to build sustainable mental health services for all people in need \[[@CR11]\]. This is due to several factors. First, the presence of aid agencies combined with a surge of financial resources into affected areas present possibilities for development that might not have been realistic previously. Second, the destruction or degradation of health services as a result of emergencies - while presenting near-term challenges - also opens opportunities to build more efficient, person-centred systems of care. Third, media attention combined with well-placed empathy from the general public frequently makes mental health a political priority after an emergency. Within this context, decision-makers often become willing to allocate resources towards mental health and to consider options beyond the status quo. This is important given that lack of political will has been identified as the principal barrier to mental health services' expansion in low- and middle-income countries \[[@CR4]\].

Examples have been published \[[@CR12]-[@CR19]\] in which countries or territories have been able to build better mental health systems following emergencies, and some have identified common threads among some of these experiences \[[@CR20],[@CR21]\]. Yet more information and analysis are needed to develop our understanding of how it is possible to build a better-quality mental health system after an emergency.

This article reinforces and extends current knowledge in the area. It is co-authored by people who were involved directly with the cases profiled and as such, who have detailed knowledge of what worked in their unique contexts. And importantly, the article reports not only major achievements, but also how challenges were overcome. Key lessons learnt emerging from these experiences are summarized.

Case description {#Sec2}
================

Ten diverse emergency-affected areas are the focus of this article. Highly-detailed descriptions of each case are beyond the scope of this article but have been published previously as part of a WHO report \[[@CR22]\]. Cases were considered if they: a) represented a low- or middle-income country or territory; b) were initiated between 2000 and 2010; c) succeeded in making sustained changes in the mental health system to improve access to basic mental health services; and d) were able to be documented by experts involved directly with the case.

The situational contexts of the cases varied. Some areas endured or are still enduring prolonged armed conflict and political instability. Others experienced lengthy civil conflicts before being struck by natural disaster. One country experienced a rapid and large influx of displaced people from a neighbouring country. Cases differed further in their pre-existing mental health systems, and in the capacity of the governments to respond to the emergency. These distinctions are described in greater detail below.

Afghanistan {#Sec3}
-----------

Because of ongoing violence, by 2001 much of the qualified workforce and technical expertise had left Afghanistan. The country had just two qualified psychiatrists (neither of them working in mental health service delivery) and around 138 other health-care staff (general doctors and nurses) providing mental health services. There was no regular budget allocation for mental health services.

Steady progress was made after the fall of the Taliban government in 2001. Initially, health service delivery -- including mental health care -- was contracted to NGOs \[[@CR12]\], while the government concentrated on regulation and policy-making. During this period, mental health was declared a priority area but funding was not allocated commensurately. This changed after 2004, when a new Minister of Public Health declared publicly that mental health issues were among his most urgent priorities. In 2005, the Ministry of Public Health re-established a department for mental health and drug demand reduction; this department benefited from the long-term secondment by the European Community of an expatriate mental health advisor. In 2008, a technical working group of the Ministry, WHO, and NGOs produced a full range of mental health training manuals for different health worker cadres (physicians, nurses, midwives, and community health workers). Furthermore, a new category of health worker was introduced: the psychosocial counsellor. These paraprofessionals participated in a 3-month classroom training followed by a 9-month supervised practice in a health facility as part of their education. In 2010, the government endorsed a new 5-year National Mental Health Strategy. Mental health has been included in the country's Basic Package of Health Services and Essential Package of Hospital Services, and headway has been made in various provinces. For example, close to 100 000 people with mental health conditions were seen within Nangarhar Province's primary health services from 2002 to 2011.

Financial sustainability of mental health services is an ongoing challenge. Afghanistan's health sector is heavily dependent on international donors and, as such, is subject to varying priorities and timelines. Future levels of international health funding are unclear. Even if funds continue at current levels, health workers are often overburdened and have limited time to address the mental health needs of their patients. However, the government remains strongly committed to the integration of mental health services into primary health care and actively encourages donors to invest in mental health service delivery by paying for the retraining of all health staff and creating new positions for psychosocial counsellors.

Burundi {#Sec4}
-------

Modern mental health services were almost non-existent prior to the past decade. In 2000, the Ministry of Public Health did not have a mental health unit or a mental health policy or plan. The entire country had just one psychiatrist, and altogether lacked psychiatric nurses and psychiatric social workers.

A pilot project started in 2000 to provide mental health services in one area of the country. The project was spearheaded by a NGO and started under fragile financial conditions: the majority of its funding came from a single international donor. In addition, the project challenged traditional ways of understanding and providing mental health care in the country. Health professionals were not generally familiar with community-based mental health care. A new cadre was introduced -- psychosocial workers -- and more specialized services were provided through monthly mental health clinics in provincial hospitals. As a result of these services, more than 27 000 people were helped from 2000 to 2008 \[[@CR13]\].

The transition of mental health services from the NGO to the government, which occurred between 2007 and 2010, presented formidable challenges. The government was faced with funding problems, and political instability hampered decision-making. Nonetheless, a national mental health strategy and policy were adopted, and the government is now supplying essential psychiatric medications through its national drug distribution centre.

Indonesia (Aceh) {#Sec5}
----------------

Aceh suffered from decades of conflict before being struck by a tsunami in 2004. Prior to this disaster, mental health care was available only through the province's sole mental hospital, located in the capital city of Banda Aceh. This mental hospital was institutional in nature, with one part-time and two full-time psychiatrists, 220 beds, and an occupancy rate usually exceeding 100%. Meanwhile, primary and secondary health centres had non-existent capacity to deliver mental health services.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, hundreds of NGOs sent teams to provide various forms of mental health and psychosocial support. Despite the chaos, the government and selected actors saw an opportunity to start building a mental health system that would serve the long-term needs of the population beyond the recovery phase \[[@CR23]\]. Indonesia's Ministry of Health and WHO provided leadership and specific recommendations on building a comprehensive mental health system. Diverse stakeholders came together and agreed to work together to develop mental health services in primary health care -- using in part the work already developed and implemented by the International Medical Corps in one district -- while improving the quality of care in the sole existing mental hospital, and later providing care in certain district general hospitals. Community mental health nurses provided basic care and were supported by medical officers, who received a refresher course on primary care psychiatry.

Today, Aceh has in most districts a public mental health infrastructure with primary health services supported by secondary care at district general hospitals. The majority of Aceh's districts have specific mental health budgets, compared with none a decade ago. Aceh is viewed as a role model for mental health for other provinces in Indonesia, and serves as a prime example of how the influx of resources following an emergency can be used to strengthen the mental health system.

Iraq {#Sec6}
----

Prior to the invasion in 2003, mental health care in Iraq was provided through mental hospitals and in university-affiliated settings. In 2004, a National Mental Health Council was formed and led efforts to rebuild the country's mental health system. One of their most important recommendations was to create a mental health system that was radically different from the country's previous one. This included transforming the institutional, biomedically-based model of mental health care into an integrated, community-based approach.

Significant progress was made to create a more comprehensive mental health system, including the establishment of community mental health centres in all governorates, integration of mental health services within primary health care, and reform of psychiatric institutions. Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"} displays advancements made during this period.Table 1**Comparison of mental health services in Iraq prior to 2003 versus 2011Mental health service levelPrior to 20032011**Long-stay facilities and specialist servicesTwo institutional-style mental hospitals in Baghdad.Baghdad mental hospitals still exist; undergoing reform.Psychiatric services in general hospitalsOutpatient services only, and limited to large hospitals in the centres of the governorates.25 new mental health units, offering mix of inpatient and outpatient services.New inpatient beds for children and adolescents in paediatric hospital.Community mental health servicesPublic outpatient services in major general and university hospitals.34 new outpatient-only units, including:Private clinics in main cities for those who could afford them.• 4 for children and adolescents;• 1 for maternal mental health;• 1 for geriatric mental health;• 8 for trauma counselling;• 1 for substance abuse rehabilitation and treatment.Primary care services for mental healthMinimal.Integration of mental services within primary health care started throughout Iraq.

Ongoing violence and lack of security in many parts of Iraq have undermined the ability to implement service reform in certain geographic areas and have challenged the continuity of mental health reform. The lack of continuous financial support for mental health reform has been another issue. Nonetheless, several donors have stepped forward to support mental health development activities and projects.

Jordan {#Sec7}
------

Waves of displaced Iraqis flowed into Jordan after 2003; this influx drew the attention and support from international donors and aid agencies. Basic health care, psychosocial support, education, and recreational activities were among the services provided. Although well-intentioned, the long-term sustainability of many of these programmes was of concern, as they created a system that was parallel to -- but not integrated within -- the Jordanian public health system.

During that time, Jordan's mental health system was highly centralized and mainly based on psychiatric hospitals. Some outpatient services were available, but predominantly restricted to large cities and overall insufficient.

A small portion of incoming donor funds was used to establish in 2008 to 2009 three multidisciplinary, community-based mental health centres for Iraqi and Jordanian people. From 2009 to 2011, 3550 people received comprehensive treatment in these centres. Word spread and the centres started receiving referrals from NGOs, primary health care centres (PHCCs), and the community. This is turn attracted the attention of the media, international donors, and government officials; momentum was built for broader change across the country. A National Steering Committee for Mental Health was formed, and a national mental health policy and plan were launched in 2011. Since that time, around 200 primary health care workers have been trained to deliver mental health services in PHCCs using the WHO Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG). Courses are now being delivered by local trainers.

One challenge to mental health reform in Jordan -- as in other countries -- was initial reluctance among a number of mental health specialists. The reform posed a challenge to the prevailing biomedical treatment approach, as it promoted comprehensive, biopsychosocial treatment and introduced and emphasized the role of multidisciplinary teams. This challenge was addressed to a large extent through several means: involving all psychiatrists in the reform process; relying on supportive "champions" to serve as change agents within their fields; harnessing the motivation and determination of other mental health professionals to support reform; and benefiting from strong support at the highest political level.

This case illustrates that mental health reform need not begin with a national policy or plan. In Jordan, a small-scale pilot project was the first step leading to broader reform.

Kosovo {#Sec8}
------

Kosovo suffered from substantial violence and instability that came to a head in 1999. Rapid political change generated an opportunity to reform Kosovo's mental health system, which until that time was biologically focused and hospital-based. While WHO clarified the kind of approach it advocated and the support it was ready to provide, Kosovar neuropsychiatrists created a Mental Health Task Force that guided efforts. Following extensive consultations, a Mental Health Strategic Plan was finalized in 2000 and approved in 2001. Numerous organizations and government donors contributed to the reform in different ways. The Mental Health Strategic Plan was the roadmap through which all actions could be coordinated.

Despite a common framework for action, resistance from others had to be overcome on several fronts. For example, some thought asylums were necessary; others were interested only in post-traumatic stress disorders or the promotion of psychosocial well-being; yet others believed that the Kosovar community was not prepared to sustain a community-based mental health system. Despite these challenges, the process moved forward and ten years later it is still vibrant, due largely to the focus on sustainability and the commitment of local professionals.

Today, each of Kosovo's seven regions offers a range of community-based mental health services (see Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}), and Kosovo's asylum has been transformed. This case underscores the importance of engaging local professionals and shows how a detailed mental health strategic plan can function as a roadmap through which diverse stakeholders and projects can be coordinated.Table 2**Summary of facility changes in Kosovo's public mental health sector, 2000 to 2010Type of facility200020052010**Community-based mental health centres for adults079Inpatient wards in general hospitals for adults666Residential facilities for adults048Community-based mental health centres for children and adolescents011Primary health care units for children and adolescents022Residential facilities for children and adolescents022Asylums100

Occupied Palestinian territory {#Sec9}
------------------------------

The Palestinian population's mental health needs are considerable and are exacerbated by continued conflict and violence; high population density with a significant proportion of the population living as refugees; unemployment, social deprivation, and poverty; and ongoing loss, traumatic events, and human rights violations.

In 2000, most mental health resources were concentrated in tertiary psychiatric hospitals, despite some community mental health clinics in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Primary health workers had little or no training in mental health care.

Since that time, significant improvements have been made. Supported by government plans, the system is moving towards community-based mental health care. Ten new centres have opened across the area, funded by a range of donors. Psychiatric hospitals are being reformed, and training has been conducted in primary care clinics and community mental health centres for 580 health workers.

Mental health services have struggled with intermittent conflict and unrest, as well as with the physical and political separation between the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Additional support is needed to consolidate progress made, in particular to continue the training and supervision of general practitioners and nurses working in primary care, to further implement the primary care approach to service delivery. Despite these challenges, flexibility with implementation has enabled the continued strengthening of community-based mental health services across the territory.

Somalia {#Sec10}
-------

This country has been in a complex emergency for more than 20 years. Most people with mental disorders do not receive any sort of modern mental health care and many experience significant human right violations.

Due to the ongoing crisis and weak governance structures, full reform of the mental health system has not been possible. Nonetheless, various projects -- including situation analyses, a mental health strategy, a chain-free initiative, and health worker training -- helped improve mental health care. More than 1700 people with mental disorders had their chains removed between 2007 and 2010; 55 health workers were trained in mental health care; and two health worker participants are now mental health coordinators/focal points for parts of the country. Participants are also managing three new mental health facilities. And importantly for the future, mental health is now included in the medical school curricula of two universities.

The lack of an effective central governance structure is among the greatest challenges to further reform; more specifically, lack of funds and infrastructure has inhibited larger-scale improvement. This case demonstrates nonetheless that important improvements in mental health services can happen in contexts where full-scale national mental health reform is not possible.

Sri Lanka {#Sec11}
---------

Most mental health services in Sri Lanka were provided through tertiary-level hospitals in major cities prior to 2004. This meant that most people with mental health needs failed to receive any sort of treatment.

Following the 2004 tsunami, Sri Lanka's head of state recognized the need to address the acute psychological distress of survivors. Fuelled by international media interest and rapid resolution of other health issues, mental health became a prominent part of the political agenda. A new national mental health policy was adopted shortly after the disaster and guided reform. It emphasized comprehensive, decentralized, and community-based mental health care, and called for several new cadres of mental health workers.

The lack of trained mental health professionals was one of the greatest challenges in implementing Sri Lanka's mental health reform. To address this issue, partners worked together to establish a one-year diploma course in psychiatry and to train Medical Officers of Mental Health, Medical Officers of Psychiatry, community mental health nurses, and community support officers.

Although mental health has lost prominence within the political agenda compared with the year following the tsunami, national and international investments in mental health have continued. This has enabled Sri Lanka to continue to build on the early momentum.

Reforms continue to expand in coverage and now extend beyond the tsunami-affected zones to most parts of the country (see Figure [1](#Fig1){ref-type="fig"}). As of 2011, 20 out of 26 health districts (77%) had functioning acute inpatient units within general hospital settings, compared with 10 out of 26 (38%) before the tsunami. In addition, the country had 16 fully functional intermediate stay rehabilitation units, compared with five units in 2004.Figure 1**Expansion of mental health services in Sri Lanka, 2004 to 2012.**

Timor-Leste {#Sec12}
-----------

Prior to achieving independence in 2002, mental health services were wholly absent in Timor-Leste. Although this meant that Timorese people did not have access to mental health treatment, it created an opportunity to establish an evidence-based mental health service system.

A consortium of agencies from outside the country led initial efforts. Faced with a blank slate and a limited budget, they focused on the training and support of health workers to provide effective community-based mental health services. They elected to defer the establishment of inpatient facilities, and to be organizationally independent of primary care facilities, which had been severely damaged and were struggling to provide even the most rudimentary care. Priority attention was given to those with severe mental disorders.

A multidisciplinary team of mental health professionals from Australia and other countries provided extensive input into training and supervision of mental health workers from 2000 to 2005. In addition to classroom-based training, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals spent extensive time in the field working side-by-side with Timorese colleagues.

With the termination of international donor funding, it was no longer possible to maintain the systematic programme of international support. The Ministry of Health subsequently assumed these functions and made further progress in developing services.

A new National Mental Health Strategy (2010--2020) is now part of the Ministry of Health's overall long-term strategic plan. Mental health services are community-based and organized across different levels of the health system. More than 4000 people received mental health services in 2011 and more mental health workers continue to be trained.

Discussion and evaluation {#Sec13}
=========================

The 10 cases described above show that despite challenges, it is possible to make gains in building and strengthening sustainable mental health services during and following emergencies.

Although they differed in terms of their underlying socio-political contexts and hazards causing the emergency, common lessons learnt could be identified. These are detailed below. For this article, the 10 lessons learnt were assessed for their applicability by the co-author with the most direct experience in each different emergency; these results are displayed in Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}.Table 3**The applicability of 10 lessons learnt across 10 diverse emergency-affected areasAfghanistanBurundiIndonesia (Aceh)IraqJordanKosovoOccupied Palestinian territorySomaliaSri LankaTimor-Leste**1.Mental health reform was supported through planning for long-term sustainability from the outset✓-✓✓✓✓✓-✓✓2.The broad mental health needs of the emergency-affected population were addressed✓✓✓✓✓✓✓-✓✓3.The government's central role was respected✓✓✓✓✓✓^1^✓-✓✓4.National professionals played a key role✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓-5.Coordination across agencies was crucial✓-✓✓-✓✓✓✓-6.Mental health reform involved review and revision of national policies and plans✓\--✓✓✓✓✓✓✓7.The mental health system was considered and strengthened as a whole✓-✓✓✓✓\--✓✓8.Health workers were reorganized and trained✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓9.Demonstration projects offered proof of concept and attracted further support and funds for mental health reform✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓10.Advocacy helped maintain momentum for change✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓-Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"} note:^1^ Kosovo was initially a United Nations (UN) protectorate, during which all agreements were made with local professionals and the UN. Later, a consistent administrative organization was created within the Ministry of Health and the Regional Health Authorities.**Mental health reform was supported through planning for long-term sustainability from the outset.**Most cases demonstrated how early commitment to mental health reform played a role in creating long-term sustainability. Although emergency funding is often short term, some key donors were prepared to facilitate the transition to funding for longer-term mental health reform through repeated contracts. In other cases, the government assumed financial responsibility for continuing mental health care in the longer term.**The broad mental health needs of the emergency-affected population were addressed.**Reforms generally covered a wide range of mental health problems, as opposed to only one disorder (e.g. post-traumatic stress disorder). A focus on broad mental health needs was relevant, because adversity is a risk factor for most mental disorders, including psychosis, and because most affected areas had limited services for those with pre-existing mental disorders.**The government's central role was respected.**The preponderance of cases described working from within the government to enact reform. This included in some cases strengthening of governance structures through seconding professional staff and temporarily assigning specific functions to nongovernmental organizations under government oversight.**National professionals played a key role.**In most cases, local professionals were powerful champions in promoting and shaping mental health reform. Helpful international experts and agencies involved themselves in mental health reform only to the extent that they were invited to do so.**Coordination across agencies was crucial.**Coordination of actors interested in long-term mental health development was typically crucial when working towards mental health reform. Proactive efforts in several cases facilitated consensus among diverse multisectoral partners, who then worked from an agreed framework. This type of coordination increased the likelihood for partners to complement -- as opposed to duplicate -- one another by taking different areas of responsibility.**Mental health reform involved review and revision of national policies and plans.**Most cases described an overall integrated public health approach that involved mental health policy reform. And in the context of disaster, where political will for mental health care was high, the reform process was typically accelerated.**The mental health system was considered and strengthened as a whole.**Many cases described processes that reviewed and assessed the mental health system as a whole, from community- to tertiary care-levels. Doing so provided an understanding of the overall system and how it was affected by the emergency. This then formed the basis for planning system-wide strengthening of services.**Health workers were reorganized and trained.**Opportunities arose in all post-emergency contexts to reorganize, train, and provide ongoing supervision to health workers so that they were better equipped to manage mental health problems. This involved training and supervising health staff, as well as creating new health worker cadres to fill service gaps. Health workers recruited from local communities helped ensure long-term tenure and culturally appropriate, acceptable interventions.**Demonstration projects offered proof of concept and attracted further support and funds for mental health reform.**Demonstration projects provided proof of concept in all cases. They also helped ensure momentum for longer-term funding. The latter was particularly true when the demonstration projects were explicitly linked to discussions and plans on broader mental health reform.**Advocacy helped maintain momentum for change.**In almost all cases, key individuals or groups played crucial roles in advocating for broader mental health reform. They helped maintain momentum for change after the acute emergency. Advocacy was most successful when diverse groups of people were not only informed about the issues, but also asked to become part of the solution.

Although these cases occurred between 2000 and 2010, their lessons learnt are arguably just as relevant today. Major emergencies continue to occur, and affected areas face similar challenges to those encountered in the cases described above.

Nonetheless, some limitations should be noted. These cases are not the result of an exhaustive review: successful progress with mental health service development during or following emergencies has been reported in other countries \[[@CR24]-[@CR30]\]. Second, the lessons learnt were developed and validated using an informal process of consultation among co-authors. We cannot rule out the possibility that a different set of cases and/or co-authors might have emphasized somewhat divergent lessons learnt. Third, caution must be used in generalizing results. For example, the WHO regions of the Americas and the Western Pacific were not represented among the cases. Moreover, these cases were chosen in part *because* they were successful in building better mental health care. All-too-often, mental health and psychosocial assistance following emergencies is short term only, and cases of such situations were not analysed here.

Notwithstanding these limitations, the 10 cases profiled in this article show that it is possible to make long-term improvements to mental health care following emergencies. While interest in mental health tends to be particularly large after natural disasters, this collection of cases shows that substantial opportunities for mental health reform also exist after conflict.

Conclusion {#Sec14}
==========

Collectively, these 10 cases support the notion that emergency situations, despite the cascade of human suffering they create, are opportunities to catalyse mental health service development. This was demonstrated even in areas with extremely weak mental health systems and/or complex humanitarian crises.

Global progress will happen more quickly if, in every emergency, strategic efforts are made to convert short-term interest in the mental health needs of survivors into momentum for mental health reform. Information and tools \[[@CR5],[@CR8],[@CR31]-[@CR33]\] are available to help guide action.

Although reform requires relatively modest financial investment, steadfastness in long-term goal is crucial amidst the sudden surge of aid agencies into affected areas, most of which are concerned with short-term relief only. Two types of investments are needed: one-time start-up costs; and continuous service delivery costs. It is the one-time start-up costs that can be financed by short-term external funding provided in emergencies.

These are opportunities not to be missed. Taking action would benefit not only people's mental health, but likely also the functioning and stability of societies recovering from emergencies.

NGO

:   Nongovernmental organization

PCCCs

:   Primary health care centres

WHO

:   World Health Organization

**Competing interests**

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

**Authors' contributions**

Wrote the first draft of the manuscript: JEJ; Reviewed and edited the first draft of the manuscript: MvO; Wrote the underpinning cases studies, and reviewed and edited the second draft of the paper: all other authors; Revised the paper for submission: JEJ and MvO. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

**Authors' information**

During the implementation period of described activities, AMara, AMari and LU were, respectively, with WHO in Indonesia, Jordan and Kosovo; AMoha was with CBM in Indonesia; and PV was with HealthNet International in Afghanistan and with HealthNet TPO in Burundi.

The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or decisions of their employers.

Funding for this work was provided by WHO, CBM, and, for the development of the Jordan case study, the United States of America. Funders did not limit authors' ability to describe country cases or to characterize overall lessons learnt and conclusions.


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NEFTA Film Awards

NEFTA Film Award is award ceremony for Nepali movies organized by Nepal Film Technician Association. The award ceremony is a popular and significant award ceremony in Nepal.

NEFTA has successfully organized 8 award ceremonies and its 9th ceremony is set to be held in Dubai. On its ninth ceremony, NEFTA officially renamed itself as NEFTA International Film Awards.

Awards

The award is given in various categories including Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best New Actor, Best New Actress and others.

Popular Awards

Best Film
Best Director
Best Screenplay
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Best New Director
Best New Actor
Best New Actress

Musical Awards
Best Sound Mixing Award
Best Music Arrangement
Best playback singer

Technical Awards

Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Art Direction
Best Lighting
Best Music
Best Visual Effects
Best Sound
Best lyrics

Special Awards

Kala ratna Award
Appreciation Award
Ethnic film award

References

Category:Annual events in Nepal


The present invention relates to a device for changing full bobbins on textile machines and for loading empty bobbin tubes thereon. This operation is usually described as "change-over" operation.
The invention is particularly suitable for, but not limited to, false twist texturizing machines.
On such machines, as on a large number of other textile machines (twisters and the like), the receiving bobbins are lined up from position to position on several levels in the lengthwise direction of the machine. This arrangement makes it possible to produce full bobbins of suitable dimensions despite the small distance between the positions, and this considerably reduces the floor space occupied by such machines.
When a bobbin is full, or when the yarn is broken, it is necessary to remove the bobbin from the machine and then to position an empty bobbin tube in order to wind the yarn thereon to thus produce a yarn package on the tube.
Usually, the so-called "doffing" operations are carried out manually, position by position, but this procedure is not only time consuming, but also involves substantial loss of yarn because during this change-over operation, the treatment machine continues to produce yarn. This loss of yarn is the greater, the higher is the speed of the machine.
Entirely automatic doffing systems have already been made, that is, systems which carry out all of these operations without manual intervention. However, these systems, which give excellent results, have the disadvantage of being extremely expensive to manufacture so that they have not been commercially successful hitherto.


Children's Matters

Parenting and Child Arrangements

After separation or divorce most parents want to work out plans for how their child or children will live. For some this works quite well but for others we are able to assist by providing you with expert and up to date advice about parenting arrangements.

In parenting arrangements the best interests of the child is considered before those of the parents. This will guide us in our advice to you. Children are vulnerable to the effects of their parents separation and we understand this.

The majority of children’s matters are dealt with under the Family Law Act 1975. This act will apply whether the child is born to a married couple or a defacto couple. This Act will also come into affect if the party bringing the Application is a grandparent, relation or a non-relative who has a relationship with the child ie: a foster-carer.

An agreement can be formalised by Court Consent Orders. We understand that going to Court can be difficult and the process can be frustrating and bewildering. We are able to assist most of our clients to reach an agreement for parenting arrangements for their child or children in a professional, efficient and appropriate manner.

Parenting Orders can deal with a variety of matters including:

Who do the child/children live with?

What amount of time will each party spend with the child/children?

What communication should each party have with the child/children?

Who has what responsibility for making decision concerning the child/children?

More specific issues ie: what school should the child/children attend?


Questioning David Cameron

The media has all sorts of faults. At least three of them have been on evidence in Blackpool over the last few days:

There has been over-interpretation. At the weekend David Davis was portrayed as the more-than-likely victor. Today his campaign is seen to be in crisis with Cameron riding high.

The spectator sport of over-interpretation easily mutates into active agitation. The journalistic pack loves to become involved in a story and scenting blood they are now chasing every possibility for the young David to topple the Davis Goliath.

There has also been an excessive personalisation of coverage. Little policy has been discussed. Coverage has been biased towards considerations of age, looks, experience, charisma and oratorical skills.

The last 72 hours have undoubtedly been bad for David Davis but a few days should pass before an authoritative damage report can be made. He certainly needs to re-jig his campaign. This blog’s ‘Good Week, Bad Week’ has often complained about the DD campaign’s failure to inspire. Yesterday’s wooden performance followed similar delivery problems on the fringe. Just as Team Bush tried to minimise the number of presidential debates with John Kerry, I predict that the Davis camp will attempt to minimise the number of opportunities that party members will have to see Davis ‘hust’ with his final round opponent.

Blackpool’s Imperial Hotel and Wintergardens were alive with speculation about defections from the Davis camp. David Davis needs to abandon his safety-first strategy or he does risk a haemorrhage of support. He should begin by reshuffling his campaign team. Three areas for overhaul stand out:

His speech appeared to be written by a committee. He desperately needs a speechwriter who can help him to find his voice.

Clarke-ites and T-shirted Cameron supporters were leafleting the conference every day and delegates were handed a fresh newsletter every morning. Why didn’t Team Davis organise anything comparable?

His inner circle of parliamentary supporters is probably the weakest link in his set-up. Any camp MPs who break the ‘Don’t speak ill of another Conservative’ commandment – that DD blazenly decreed yesterday – should be fired.

‘Not speaking ill of another Conservative’ should not preclude Team DD launching a rigorous examination of David Cameron’s beliefs, however (assuming a DD-DC contest). DC’s Tuesday speech was well-delivered and its compassionate theme compelling. But it lacked substance. Team DD could recover its confidence if it can expose David Cameron as having the wrong views on such issues as drugs and licensing and ill-thought-out views on Europe. The questioning of DC will either prove that he is too inexperienced to become Tory leader or the testing will prove him worthy of the Tory crown.

Unfortunately James H, Maude has the undeniable look of a typical Cameronite about him so I suspect that if Came(w)ron(g) is elected leader, then Maude will be hovering around like John Prescott at a buffet.

Sorry James, are you trying to tell us that the Sun and Mail have been talking about false dichotomies? Every politician presents the obvious and unopposeable as couragous declarations - and don't make me drag out some examples of the Doctor doing just that! Cameron also talks sense and good ideas.

Sorry James, are you trying to tell us that the Sun and Mail have been talking about false dichotomies?

No, they've been talking about his speech patterns and mannerism being ripped off Blair.

Peter Oborne wrote about the false dichotomies and the statements of the obvious - the things that show Cameron is intellectually dishonest.

Every politician presents the obvious and unopposeable as couragous declarations

Not the way Cameron does. He's fully in the style of manifesto '05. Take this speech...

Cameron is quite right to think it is important that children should learn to read, write and add up properly. He is not being controversial in suggesting that it would be a good thing if they were safe in class and that they should be 'stretched'. These are views that anyone might have. The important issue is how do we get schools which actually achieve these things.

Cameron seems to think that merely saying that such things are important and that they are common sense amounts to policy. Does he really think that being in government and thinking these things is going to make a difference?

So this is a logical conclusion is it - Cameron sounds like Blair, therefore he lies like him too. Is this what we expect the public to conclude? Now that, I would suggest, is the most extraordinarily patronising view so far expressed on the blog.

So this is a logical conclusion is it - Cameron sounds like Blair, therefore he lies like him too. Is this what we expect the public to conclude? Now that, I would suggest, is the most extraordinarily patronising view so far expressed on the blog.

It's one you expressed. I wouldn't have applied such harsh descriptions to you, but...

Quite right, James. Speaking without notes merely qualifies him for an audition with the 'village players'.

Truly, I cannot believe the ballyhoo surrounding this utterly vacuous chap, bar the press wishing him on the Party. He will be as much a disaster as Hague and, whether we like it or not, his background and accent will be mocked and thus dog him.

Now that he's favourite, perhaps the "favourite's curse" will haunt him as it has Davis. I doubt it, however. Cameron will unfortunately be the leader and make the now obligatory resignation speech on the morning after an election trashing.

I'm astounded that we are inexorably sleepwalking into yet another disaster.

I quite agree with Midnight Blue. Looks like Cameron's progress has got some people seriously worried ... often the same ones who bang on about May et al "trashing the brand". Obviously, "trashing the man" - who will be an important figure in the next shadow cabinet whoever wins -doesn't count. Hyperbole about election disasters does not help anyone. Are we not all on the same side here?

Because it only serves to demonstrate that Conservatives are more interested in talking about themselves then they are in what matters to the people. The electorate do not care wht we think of ourselves. They care about what we would do on the issues that matter to them.

Obviously, "trashing the man" doesn't count

It's not trashing the man. It's trashing his style of politics that feeds on the above obsession. We need to break away from that and engage with the electorate.

James, I haven’t noticed the Sun, Mail or Telegraph articles you mention. I read Nick Cohen using the same argument in the New Statesman in July and concluded that false dichotomies are not as sinful as they sound.

As for modelling: it’s an eminently sensible for politicians to learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses, but to use the suggestion that Cameron “models” himself on Blair as an insult is a poor argument. Even if it were true, it’s not necessarily such a bad thing, but there’s no amount of evidence that can prove it true or false.

You quote one of Cameron’s speeches as examples of the obvious and un-opposable. In that very speech he identifies five vital areas for concern (that don’t seem obvious to the Labour government) and gives specific detail of what Conservatives would do differently.

James and Daniel, time and again you accuse Cameron of not delivering detail, but that doesn’t bear out in reality. James himself points you to a speech where you can see for yourself.

Of the choice of four, I think Cameron stands a best chance of delivering the power that makes the rest of the debate relevant.

I agree with Midnight Blue too. As someone who is ideologically closest to Rifkind but is minded to support Clarke I still take pleasure from the success of both Cameron & Fox at the conference and am happy that for the first time in ages Conservatives are generating favourable press.
The bile that has appeared on this thread from fellow Conservatives is distasteful to say the least.

Really, Michael? What great political successes they were. I'm sure Mr.Slime, a.k.a. DC, will be heartened by endorsments from such great titans oF modern politics. One was woefully out of his depth, the other, by his admission, was a failure and the last one is generally despised by everyone....
....apart from the privileged few who hang about in over-priced trattorias in W11.

James, I haven’t noticed the Sun, Mail or Telegraph articles you mention.

They've all been up on the Newslinks in the last week (barring the Oborne Spectator piece).

it’s an eminently sensible for politicians to learn from each other’s strengths and weaknesses

But he's not learning from his strengths and weaknesses - he's emulating his style. There's no sign he's made any cogent analysis of Blair beyond noting his mannerisms and using them.

You quote one of Cameron’s speeches as examples of the obvious and un-opposable. In that very speech he identifies five vital areas for concern (that don’t seem obvious to the Labour government) and gives specific detail of what Conservatives would do differently.

No he doesn't! He identifies five areas of concern but is at a loss to offer any coherent answers. I admit that he does name one genuine policy - giving heads the power to expel pupils without recourse to an appeals tribunal. But while he wants children to learn to read and write, he doesn't say if he is going centrally impose the synthetic phonics he so approves of. If he did so, he would be going against the 'celebration' of school independence that he favours. So either he's offering no solution or he is internally inconistent.

Cameron has good intentions but is short of ways to realise them. In being all talk and no action, he perfectlcy captures the superficial appeal and (I think) uselessness of Blairism.

But the worst thing about his speech is that he dismisses as, at most, a subsiary idea the only realistic chance of making schools the way that he wants them. He attacks his own party saying that it has 'missed the big point' by talking about 'structures'. But on the contrary, it is only by changing the structure of schools that there is any chance of bringing about major improvement. The structures Cameron thinks are of secondary importance are 'the big point'.

Has Cameron got the charisma, ability and appeal to be a popular leader who can attract aspirational voters back? I think so. Qualities which you've either got or you haven't got.

Without these qualities in a leader, as Neil Kinnock found out, everything else is pointless.

If you can accept that Cameron has these qualities more than the other candidates, then we all should be able to say (including James) right let's get behind him and work with him and the Party to develop the consistent strategy and coherent ideas which will lead to policy development.

If you can accept that Cameron has these qualities more than the other candidates

I don't accept that - yet. Although he was leagues ahead of the erstwhile frontrunner.

I still think Cameron desperately needs to sell us what he believes. I'm not happy with the content of his voting record or speeches. They're what I have to go by. It's time he made some comments of substance on the issues that matter. Then the rumblings of discontent may cease (or get worse).

"Isn't it strange that after years of having unelectable leaders, the more enthusiastic members (ones who blog here) spit venom on the first person to emerge who might be able to turn this around." - Midnight Blue

I haven't spat venom on the first person to emerge who could turn it around. I've put my Euroscepticism to one side to support Ken Clarke.


782 A.2d 1144 (2001)
STATE of Vermont
v.
Daniel Martin GRISWOLD.
No. 00-154.
Supreme Court of Vermont.
August 24, 2001.
*1145 William H. Sorrell, Attorney General, and David Tartter, Assistant Attorney General, Montpelier, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
Allison N. Fulcher of Martin & Associates, Barre, for Defendant-Appellant.
Present: AMESTOY, C.J., DOOLEY, MORSE, JOHNSON and SKOGLUND, JJ.
MORSE, J.
Following a jury trial, defendant Daniel Griswold was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in violation of 13 V.S.A. § 3253(a)(7). On appeal, defendant claims: (1) the trial court erred by excluding evidence of the victim's past domestic disputes and limiting expert testimony, thereby depriving defendant of his constitutional right to a fair trial, and (2) the evidence presented by the State was insufficient to find him guilty of aggravated sexual assault. We affirm.
*1146 In the dark early morning hours of July 26, 1998, the victim was sexually assaulted on a riverbank off a trail in Rutland. At trial, she testified that she had been out the night before and early that morning with friends at different bars in Rutland. Her friends then left her in an intoxicated state at "Jilly's." The victim did not remember leaving the bar, but when she regained consciousness, she was restrained, face down on the ground with someone penetrating her rectum. While she screamed for him to stop, the perpetrator pushed her face into the dirt and shoved rocks, grass and gravel into her mouth, which made breathing difficult. She was not able to look at him. After he left, she ran home, tearing off her ripped underwear on the way. The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for a number of injuries including facial swelling and abrasions, a bruise from blunt force impact over her eye, contusions, bruises and abrasions on her back, a bruise on her right hip and abrasions to her abdomen.
When the police investigated the scene of the crime, they located the victim's underwear and found a set of keys. The keys were linked to defendant, whose duplicate key was already in police custody for an unrelated matter. The police went to defendant's home, and he identified the key as his own. He said that he had talked with the victim and kissed her outside Jilly's the morning of the assault, but denied any further interaction with her.
Defendant later submitted to blood sampling for purposes of DNA testing. He then retracted his earlier denial of sexual relations and stated that he had consensual vaginal intercourse with the victim. An examination of the victim identified the presence of sperm in her anus. No sperm was found in her vagina. DNA testing was performed on samples taken from five different men under investigation, including the victim's boyfriend. Defendant was the only one who could not be eliminated as the source of sperm.
Defendant was charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault under 13 V.S.A. § 3253(a)(7). At the close of the State's case, the defense moved for judgment of acquittal, which was denied. At the end of the six-day trial, the jury found defendant guilty. He filed two post-trial motions for judgment of acquittal and for a new trial, which were denied. The court sentenced him to forty years to life imprisonment. This appeal followed.

I.
As part of his defense, defendant sought to introduce evidence that the victim and her boyfriend had a history of violence, and to argue that her injuries were therefore attributable to a third party, her boyfriend, rather than defendant. The trial court excluded the evidence.
While it is true, as defendant points out, that when "motive and opportunity have been shown and ... there is also some evidence to directly connect [a] third person to the crime charged," evidence implicating a third party should be admitted. State v. Grega, 168 Vt. 363, 375, 721 A.2d 445, 454 (1998) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). The requirement that a defendant establish motive, opportunity and a direct connection prior to admission of third-party evidence is a threshold relevancy requirement. See id. Defendant points to admissions by the victim's boyfriend that, after leaving a bar in the area the same night of the assault, he had walked the path by the riverbank where the assault occurred. While this may establish opportunity, it does not necessarily establish a direct connection between the boyfriend and the assault. See State v. Fenney, 448 N.W.2d 54, 62 (Minn. 1989) (holding that third party's mere *1147 presence in same trailer park where murder occurred on same evening did not provide the necessary foundation to establish the third party's connection to the crime). There was no other evidence linking him to the crime.
Even assuming, however, that there was a sufficient connection to establish the relevance of defendant's third-party evidence, that evidence must be otherwise admissible. See State v. Gilman, 158 Vt. 210, 214, 608 A.2d 660, 663 (1992) (noting a defendant is entitled to call witnesses and present evidence on his behalf, but it must be otherwise admissible). Vermont Rule of Evidence 404(b) states that "[e]vidence of other crimes, wrongs, or acts is not admissible to prove the character of a person in order to show that he acted in conformity therewith." Therefore, the prior domestic incidents were inadmissible to show that the boyfriend "acted in conformity therewith," i.e., that he inflicted the physical injuries on the victim on the night of the sexual assault.[*] Furthermore, as the trial court noted, the fact that the victim also happened to be a victim of domestic violence was not a character trait forming an essential element of either of defendant's two asserted defenses  consent and mistaken identity  and thus the incidents of domestic abuse were not admissible under V.R.E. 405(b). Therefore, we discern no abuse of discretion on the part of the trial court in excluding evidence of incidents of the victim and her boyfriend's domestic violence.
The defense also sought to introduce expert testimony that the victim's physical condition was not caused by a physical assault but was an allergic reaction  a dermatitis  to purple nightshade found in the vicinity of the assault. The V.R.E. 104 hearing revealed that the expert, who possesses a master's degree in forest ecology, had no specialized knowledge, training, or work experience regarding the effects of absorption of purple nightshade through the skin. By the time of trial, he had consulted some professional texts and studies that he had obtained from the library. He testified, however, that most of the studies involved irritation from ingestion and not contact. The expert had never seen contact dermatitis from purple nightshade. The court permitted the expert to testify as a botanist regarding the presence of purple nightshade in the area where the sexual assault was alleged to have occurred, and that the plant is toxic or poisonous if ingested. The court precluded him from testifying, however, as to the physical symptomology of purple nightshade, including testimony that contact with purple nightshade causes chills, nausea, vomiting or inflamed mucous membranes of the lips and mouth. Defendant noted his objection to the limitation of the expert's testimony.
Defendant argues that the trial court, in limiting the testimony, was making a determination as to the witness's credibility, which is a jury question. We disagree. In considering the witness's qualifications, the trial court was not judging his veracity, but rather was considering *1148 his competency as an expert witness. The competency of an expert witness is a threshold question to be determined by the trial court and is within its sound discretion. State v. Bubar, 146 Vt. 398, 402, 505 A.2d 1197, 1200 (1985). This determination is made under V.R.E. 702, which provides that if "scientific, technical, or other specialized knowledge will assist the trier of fact to understand the evidence or to determine a fact in issue, a witness qualified as an expert by knowledge, skill, expertise, training, or education, may testify thereto in the form of an opinion or otherwise."
Here, the trial court correctly noted that absent from the expert's knowledge, experience, and training was knowledge as to the effect of contact dermatitis from purple nightshade and that the studies that he was relying upon related to ingestion and not contact. Thus, we discern no abuse of discretion. See State v. Perry, 151 Vt. 637, 643, 563 A.2d 1007, 1012 (1989) (rulings which lie within the discretion of the trial court will not be set aside on appeal, absent a showing of abuse of discretion).
Defendant also challenges the exclusion of photographs of the victim's physical condition after a prior physical assault in February which he sought to contrast with her condition after the July sexual assault in this case. The trial court excluded these photographs because their "probative value [was] outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury." V.R.E. 403. As the State has correctly observed, the photographs had little probative value. Defendant sought to introduce this evidence to demonstrate that the victim's physical condition was not the result of the sexual assault, but an allergic reaction to vegetation that was located at the scene of the assault. In the absence of detailed medical testimony regarding the specific nature of the February assault injuries, which the defense did not offer, a comparison between the two incidents had little probative value. Furthermore, given that the photographs were inadmissible as evidence of the victim's past domestic disputes under V.R.E. 404, the presentation of photographs of the victim's condition after the February assault was likely only to confuse the jury regarding the issues before it. See State v. Gilman, 158 Vt. at 214-15, 608 A.2d at 663 (evidence properly excluded under Rule 403 where it would confuse or mislead the jury). Thus, the court did not abuse its discretion by excluding the photographs.

II.
Defendant next asserts that the evidence was insufficient to support his conviction and that his V.R.Cr.P. 29 motion for judgment of acquittal was wrongly denied. In reviewing denial of a motion for acquittal, we view the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment and, excluding any modifying evidence, determine whether that evidence sufficiently and fairly supports a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Grega, 168 Vt. at 380, 721 A.2d at 457.
Defendant was convicted of violating 13 V.S.A. § 3253(a)(7), which provides that a person commits aggravated sexual assault if the actor applies deadly force to the victim in the course of a sexual assault. Title 13, § 3251(7) defines deadly force as "physical force which a person uses with the intent of causing, or which the person knows or should have known would create a substantial risk of causing, death or serious bodily injury." Defendant argued in his motion for judgment of acquittal that there was no evidence in the record supporting a finding that deadly force was used on the victim. The trial court upheld defendant's conviction under the aggravated *1149 sexual assault statute, reasoning that choking creates a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily injury. State v. Sorrell, 152 Vt. 543, 547, 568 A.2d 376, 378 (1989).
Defendant argues on appeal that he did not choke the victim because there was no evidence that he ever put anything around the victim's neck. In Spearman v. State, the assailant was convicted of aggravated sexual assault because he pummeled the victim while sexually assaulting her, which resulted in asphyxiation. 694 S.W.2d 216, 217-18 (Tex.Ct.App.1985). On appeal, the Texas court held that it was reasonable for a jury to find that conduct that results in asphyxiation creates a substantial risk of causing serious bodily injury or death. Id. at 218. Similarly, the evidence here shows that the victim could not breathe because defendant was shoving rocks, dirt, and gravel into her mouth. Therefore, the trial court did not err in finding that the evidence sufficiently and fairly supported the jury's determination that defendant's conduct constituted deadly force.
Defendant also argues that he did not have the intent required for conviction under 13 V.S.A. § 3253(a)(7) because he did not intend to cause death or serious bodily injury to the victim when he shoved dirt, rocks and gravel into the victim's mouth, nor should he have known that he was creating a risk of such. It was reasonable, however, for a jury to find that the defendant should have known that his actions would create a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, which is all that is required under the definition of deadly force. 13 V.S.A. § 3251(7). He should have known that the same matter that was blocking the victim's mouth and preventing her from screaming could very likely prevent her from breathing. Viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the judgment, we conclude that it was sufficient to support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The trial court did not err in denying defendant's motion for judgment of acquittal.
Affirmed.
NOTES
[*]  Defendant argues in his reply brief that the history of domestic violence should have been admitted under State v. Sanders, 168 Vt. 60, 716 A.2d 11 (1998), to establish the context of his third-party theory that the boyfriend caused the victim's injuries. This was not the proffer made at the trial level, however. Rather, as defendant argued to the trial court, he sought to introduce evidence that there are "people out there who in fact are prone to getting into ... physical altercation[s] with [the victim]. And that may well have happened during that bit period of time when we just don't know what happened." (Referring to the time period between the victim being at Jilly's and her coming to consciousness during the sexual assault.)


Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation, time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based blood group genotyping--the alternative approach.
Although matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has previously been reported for high throughput blood group genotyping, those reports are limited to only a few blood group systems. This review describes the development of a large cooperative Swiss-German project, aiming to employ MALDI-TOF MS for the molecular detection of the blood groups Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNSs, a comprehensive collection of low incidence antigens, as well as the platelet and granulocyte antigens HPA and HNA, representing a total of 101 blood group antigens, encoded by 170 alleles, respectively. Recent reports describe MALDI-TOF MS as a technology with short time-to-resolution, ability for high throughput, and cost-efficiency when used in genetic analysis, including forensics, pharmacogenetics, oncology and hematology. Furthermore, Kell and RhD genotyping have been performed on fetal DNA from maternal plasma with excellent results. In summary, this article introduces a new technological approach for high throughput blood group genotyping by means of MALDI-TOF MS. Although all data presented are preliminary, the observed success rates, data quality and concordance with known blood group types are highly impressive, underlining the accuracy and reliability of this cost-efficient high throughput method.


What we watched:The Basketball Jones Tour, live, in a cavernous bar in Midtown. We invited you, remember? Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski was a guest on the show, and no, I still don't know how to pronounce his name. I also met some TrueHoop bloggers who, to my complete surprise, were actual humans with faces. That was weird, I must say, because it debunked my theory that Henry Abbott actually writes every TrueHoop blog. Who knew? TBJ's tour ends in Boston on Friday. Get to it if you can.

Elsewhere

(Sigh): "Quarterback Tim Tebow no longer prints Bible verses on his eye black, but the Broncos believe what their quarterback is preaching. On the eve of Denver's 16-13 overtime victory against San Diego, Tebow's message to teammates was Proverbs 27:17. ‘Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another,' Tebow said Sunday as he walked the stadium catacombs after yet another victory you had to see to believe. The Broncos, however, have 100 percent faith that Tebow can lead them to the playoffs after a dismal 1-4 start to this season. ‘I've never seen a human who can will himself to win like that,' Denver linebacker Von Miller said. If a quarterback who would rather run than throw can pull off an invitation to the Super Bowl tournament, then Tebow must not only be considered a legitimate Pro Bowl candidate, but also should be mentioned in the discussion for the NFL's most valuable player. Mixing football with religion is what makes Tebow a lightning rod for controversy. But from praying for the Chargers to miss a potential game-winning field goal to preaching to teammates from the Bible, Tebow seems certain heaven is on his side." [Denver Post]

This is how you convince Deron Williams to stay: "The New Jersey Nets are prepared to offer a trade package featuring Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to acquire Dwight Howard before the Orlando Magic center becomes a free agent in July 2012, according to sources close to the situation. Sources told ESPN.com this week that, to sweeten the proposal, New Jersey would likewise offer to take back the contract of Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, who has three seasons left on his contract worth just under $35 million. Absorbing Turkoglu's remaining salary would become financially feasible for the Nets after the expected release of swingman Travis Outlaw through the amnesty clause that will be included in the NBA's new collective bargaining agreement and by including another smaller contract or two in the deal." [ESPN]

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Charles Barkley will welcome you back to the NBA season: " The N.B.A. will start its lockout-delayed season with five games on Christmas Day, said a person with knowledge of the schedule who was not authorized to discuss it publicly. The first game will be on TNT, followed by two on ABC and two on ESPN. The league will announce the details of the five-game opening day on Friday. The first game will begin at noon Eastern, followed by tip-offs at 2:30 p.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m." [NYT]

Your Five-Year-Old Girl Stacking Cups Interlude:

Brian Billick is too classy for the Jaguars, apparently: "Weaver promised an extensive search, one that would include experienced coaches (read: Super Bowl pedigree) and up-and-comers. But one such coach already has taken himself out of the running. ‘They're looking for young and cheap, and I'm neither,' former Ravens coach Brian Billick, believed to be a candidate, told NFL Network on Tuesday." [NFL.com]

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Erik Walden speaks: "‘I want to apologize to the entire organization, my teammates and the fans,' Walden said, speaking to a group of reporters crowded around his locker. 'You know, it's an ongoing process, I respect that process, and it's just unfortunate that I brought something negative from so much positive that's going on with this organization.' Walden was arrested Friday on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend at their apartment near Green Bay. Brown County District Attorney John Zakowski said Monday that Walden's girlfriend originally told police they were arguing and he pushed her but she has changed her story to say she hit him first. Asked if he could say anything to reassure fans about his character, Walden had few words. ‘Again, I just want to apologize,' Walden said. ‘I feel terrible about the situation. Just ready to move on and play football.'" [SI, via AP]

Merch: Managing editor Tom Scocca and contributing editor Drew Magary have both written books. You can buy Scocca's Beijing Welcomes You: Unveiling the Capital City of the Futurehere, and Magary's The Postmortalhere. Now do it.