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A gendarme patrols on the beach during a visit by the French interior minister in Toulon on Aug. 14. (Bertrand Langlois/Agence France-Presse)
The subject of women's clothing in France became a worldwide topic of discussion last month after images of a Muslim woman being forced to remove her burkini at a beach by armed police officers spread online.
The images focused attention not only on the recent bans on the full-body burkinis in some French cities, but also the nationwide ban on full-face Islamic veils in public spaces, implemented in 2011.
This week, a dispute about how women should dress has again erupted in France — but this time, the circumstances were notably different.
According to initial reports published in the French press this week, two women wearing shorts were verbally assaulted as they made their way through an eastern neighborhood in the southern city of Toulon on Sunday afternoon. Local prosecutor Bernard Marchal told reporters a group of about 10 young men began insulting the women, who were out biking and rollerblading with their families, calling them "whores" and making other vulgar insults for their choice of clothing.
When the women's spouses confronted the men, a brawl broke out. The husbands and a male friend were severely beaten. The fighting, which was witnessed by children in the group, left one man with severe facial fractures and another with a broken nose, Marchal told Agence France-Presse. Two suspects, ages 17 and 19, were apprehended Tuesday; an investigation is underway to find the others.
The idea that the women had been harassed simply because they wore shorts led some to dub it the "affaire des shorts." However, on Friday one of the women involved came out to say that was inaccurate. "We were not in shorts. We were in sportswear," the woman, named as Marie, told the Nice Matin newspaper.
Part of the reason the incident spread so quickly was that it followed a previous attack on a woman wearing shorts. In early June, an 18-year-old girl named Maude Vallet said she was insulted, threatened and spat on by a group of girls while on a bus in Toulon — all because she was wearing denim shorts. Vallet posted a picture of her outfit on Facebook afterward, arguing that men can walk around the city with their shirts off and not face the harassment she faced.
After that incident, about 100 women wearing shorts gathered in Toulon for a "short walk." The event was promoted with the hashtag #TousEnShort — or "all in shorts."
Du monde à la marche des shorts ! #tousenshort pic.twitter.com/wV40s5xwC2 — Cécile MUSCHOTTI (@CMUSCHOTTI) June 25, 2016
So far, there is little information about the motivations of the attackers in either instances — details such as their religious or ethnic backgrounds have not been publicly released. However, some in France linked the reports of attacks on shorts-wearers to the ongoing burkini controversy.
"The question of the burkini, the proliferation of full veils, assaults on women in shorts and the beating of their companions share the same logic," Céline Pina, a former regional councilor for the Paris area and the author of a book on Islamist extremism, wrote for Le Figaro on Thursday. "It's making the body of the woman a social and political issue, a litmus test for the progress of an ideology within society."
Officials of the far-right National Front shared the story widely on social media, often using the hashtag #TousEnShort. Many suggested a link between the assault and Islam. "Again, our freedoms are being severely attacked," Julien Leonardelli, the department secretary for the party in Haute-Garonne, wrote on Twitter. "Sharia is already installed."'
More on WorldViews:
France’s top administrative court overturns burkini ban
The surprising Australian origin story of the burkini
7 uncomfortable facts about France’s burkini controversy | [
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0... | A gendarme patrols on the beach during a visit by the French interior minister in Toulon on Aug. 14. (Bertrand Langlois/Agence France-Presse)
The subject of women's clothing in France became a worldwide topic of discussion last month after images of a Muslim woman being forced to remove her burkini at a beach by armed police officers spread online.
The images focused attention not only on the recent bans on the full-body burkinis in some French cities, but also the nationwide ban on full-face Islamic veils in public spaces, implemented in 2011.
This week, a dispute about how women should dress has again erupted in France — but this time, the circumstances were notably different.
According to initial reports published in the French press this week, two women wearing shorts were verbally assaulted as they made their way through an eastern neighborhood in the southern city of Toulon on Sunday afternoon. Local prosecutor Bernard Marchal told reporters a group of about 10 young men began insulting the women, who were out biking and rollerblading with their families, calling them "whores" and making other vulgar insults for their choice of clothing.
When the women's spouses confronted the men, a brawl broke out. The husbands and a male friend were severely beaten. The fighting, which was witnessed by children in the group, left one man with severe facial fractures and another with a broken nose, Marchal told Agence France-Presse. Two suspects, ages 17 and 19, were apprehended Tuesday; an investigation is underway to find the others.
The idea that the women had been harassed simply because they wore shorts led some to dub it the "affaire des shorts." However, on Friday one of the women involved came out to say that was inaccurate. "We were not in shorts. We were in sportswear," the woman, named as Marie, told the Nice Matin newspaper.
Part of the reason the incident spread so quickly was that it followed a previous attack on a woman wearing shorts. In early June, an 18-year-old girl named Maude Vallet said she was insulted, threatened and spat on by a group of girls while on a bus in Toulon — all because she was wearing denim shorts. Vallet posted a picture of her outfit on Facebook afterward, arguing that men can walk around the city with their shirts off and not face the harassment she faced.
After that incident, about 100 women wearing shorts gathered in Toulon for a "short walk." The event was promoted with the hashtag."
Du monde à la marche des shorts ! #tousenshort pic.twitter.com/wV40s5xwC2 — Cécile MUSCHOTTI (@CMUSCHOTTI) June 25, 2016
So far, there is little information about the motivations of the attackers in either instances — details such as their religious or ethnic backgrounds have not been publicly released. However, some in France linked the reports of attacks on shorts-wearers to the ongoing burkini controversy.
"The question of the burkini, the proliferation of full same logic," Céline Pina, a former regional councilor for the Paris area and the author of a book on Islamist extremism, wrote for Le Figaro on Thursday. "It's making the body of the woman a social and political issue, a litmus test for the progress of an ideology within society."
Officials of the far-right National Front shared the story widely on social media, often using the hashtag #TousEnShort. Many suggested a link between the assault and Islam. "Again, our freedoms are being severely attacked," Julien Leonardelli, the department secretary for the party in Haute-Garonne, wrote on Twitter. "Sharia is already installed."'
More on WorldViews:
France’s top administrative court overturns burkini ban
The surprising Australian origin story of the burkini
7 uncomfortable facts about France’s burkini controversy |
Loch Ness Monster sightings had been on a steady decline over the last few years, but sightings of the famous cryptid have bounced back over the past year.
According to the Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register the reported sightings of Nessie reached their highest level for more than a decade this year. The keeper of the register Gary Campbell said this was a very active and even a vintage year for Nessie sightings and reports. According to Campbell the register accepted five sightings in 2015 which is the highest total in the last 13 years. There were many more alleged sightings of the lake monster but the majority of the reports did not get added to the register because they could be explained says, Campbell.
“Recent Loch Ness Monster sightings“
The lack of sightings and reports over the last couple of years, including no reported sightings in 2013 had many people questioning the lake monster mystery and many wondering if Nessie was dead. But this years multiple bona fide sightings from Loch Ness of the lake monster have brought life back into the monster mystery. Among the sightings logged by the register was on by an American tourist named Crystal Ardito back in July. She claimed to have seen what she called a “gray thing” in the waters of the Loch for a few second and was able to get a possible Nessie photo.
Then in August of this year a couple from Yorkshire who were staying at the Loch Ness Holiday Park had a Loch Ness Monster sighting. According to the couple they saw a mass moving in an undulating fashion in the loch and was able to get a photo of it as well. There were also five other people who reported seeing this sighting, which lasted approx five minutes. The latest sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in September and reported by a local man named Conor McKenna according to the register. He claims to have seen a 15-20ft long dark colored object in the waters of the loch about 250 yards from shore about a mile south of Urquhart Castle. He says he had a clear look at it for about six seconds before it submerged leaving behind a small wave.
These latest Loch Ness Monster sightings may at least to some extent revive the debate between skeptics and believers as to the existence of the most famous lake monster in the world. Any it leaves many to wonder of Loch Ness Monster sightings 2016 will be as plentiful and could it be the year we actually get proof of the creature! | [
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“Recent Loch Ness Monster sightings“
The lack of sightings and reports over the last couple of years, including no reported sightings in 2013 had many people questioning the lake monster mystery and many wondering if Nessie was dead. But this years multiple bona fide sightings from Loch Ness of the lake monster have brought life back into the monster mystery. Among the sightings logged by the register was on by an American tourist named Crystal Ardito back in July. She claimed to have seen what she called a “gray thing” in the waters of the Loch for a few second and was able to get a possible Nessie photo.
Then in August of this year a couple from Yorkshire who were staying at the Loch Ness Holiday Park had a Loch Ness Monster sighting. According to the couple they saw a loch and was able to get a photo of it as well. There were also five other people who reported seeing this sighting, which lasted approx five minutes. The latest sighting of the Loch Ness Monster was in September and reported by a local man named Conor McKenna according to the register. He claims to have seen a 15-20ft long dark colored object in the waters of the lo. He says he had a clear look at it for about six seconds before it submerged leaving behind a small wave.
These latest Loch Ness Monster sightings may at least to some extent revive the debate between skeptics and believers as to the existence of the most famous lake monster in the world. Any it leaves many to wonder of Loch Ness Monster sightings 2016 will be as plentiful and could it be the year we actually get proof of the creature! |
By Moni Basu, CNN
(CNN) - Buried on page 45 of the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, after pages on the maintenance and operation of the U.S. military, is an official apology to Native American people.
Mark Charles, a member of the Navajo Nation, stumbled onto the apology about a year ago after he heard GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney say that he would never apologize for America. That comment didn't sit well with Charles - nobody is perfect, he thought.
He wrote a blog post that cited several situations in which he believed it was prudent for America to say sorry. One of them was to native people.
In rare apology, House regrets exclusionary laws targeting Chinese
A reader responded that such an apology had already been issued. Charles went online and found the 2010 Defense Act.
The United States, acting through Congress ... recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the federal government regarding Indian tribes; apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all native peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on native peoples by citizens of the United States ...
It went on to urge the president to acknowledge the wrongs.
Charles wondered why he had never heard President Barack Obama publicly issue this apology. And if he had never heard it, then most certainly native people who lived isolated lives on reservations had not either.
He set himself on a path to rectify that.
On the anniversary of the passing of the defense bill - Wednesday, December 19 - he would go to the Capitol and he would read the apology out loud, hoping that others would join him in his cause and that it would attract enough attention so that people would hear about it.
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Charles plans to read the entire defense bill out loud.
"As a Native American, I feel offended that the apology was buried in this bill," he said. "It demonstrates our country is not ready to apologize.
"Personally, I don't think it's a very good apology," he said. "It does not mention any specific tribe or any specific incident."
It also contains a disclaimer at the end: nothing in the apology could be used in a court of law against the United States.
Charles's mother is of Dutch heritage. His father's mother is Navajo. Born in Reheboth, New Mexico, Charles went to UCLA and lived in Denver. But he'd never called called the reservation home. He realized if he were to continue a dialogue about Native Americans - the people with whom he identified - he would need to experience the way they lived.
A few years ago, he took his wife and son and spent several years at a Navajo reservation sheep camp. It was off a dirt road and isolated.
There were only two kinds of outsiders who visited there - those who came for charitable reasons and those who came to click their cameras.
There was little there in the way of infrastructure, no running water or electricity. Charles lived by candlelight and hauled his water. But that was not the hardest part of living there.
"The hardest part was how incredibly lonely and disconnected you feel from the rest of the country," he said.
That's when Charles began to comprehend why many native people felt marginalized.
"I don't believe it's an accident that our people are marginalized," he said. "Our country is so undereducated in Native American history that most people don't even know why the country is apologizing."
Charles felt angry. He knew he had to channel his pain in a way that invited conversation and reconciliation. He began to reflect on a blog, Wireless Hogan, named after the traditional dwelling of the Navajos.
This is how he explains things to people:
Being Native American and living in the United States feels like our indigenous peoples are an old grandmother who lives in a very large house. It is a beautiful house with plenty of rooms and comfortable furniture. But, years ago, some people came into our house and locked us upstairs in the bedroom. Today, our house is full of people. They are sitting on our furniture. They are eating our food. They are having a party in our house. They have since unlocked the door to our bedroom but it is much later and we are tired, old, weak and sick; so we can't or don't come out. But the part that is the most hurtful and that causes us the most pain, is that virtually no one from this party ever comes upstairs to find us in the bedroom, sits down next to us on the bed, takes our hand, and simply says, "Thank you. Thank you for letting us be in your house."
Charles hopes all of America will hear his message when he reads the apology in Washington. | [
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0... | By Moni Basu, CNN
(CNN) - Buried on page 45 of the 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, after pages on the maintenance and operation of the U.S. military, is an official apology to Native American people.
Mark Charles, a member of the Navajo Nation, stumbled onto the apology about a year ago after he heard GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney say that he would never apologize for America. That comment didn't sit well with
He wrote a blog post that cited several situations in which he believed it was prudent for America to say sorry. One of them was to native people.
In rare apology, House regrets exclusionary laws targeting Chinese
A reader responded that such an apology had already been issued. Charles went online and found the 2010 Defense Act.
The United States, acting through Congress ... recognizes that there have been years of official depredations, ill-conceived policies, and the breaking of covenants by the federal government regarding Indian tribes; apologizes on behalf of the people of the United States to all native peoples for the many instances of violence, maltreatment, and neglect inflicted on native peoples by citizens of the United States ...
It went on to urge the president to acknowledge the wrongs.
Charles wondered why he had never heard President Barack Obama publicly issue this apology. And if he had never heard it, then most certainly native people who lived isolated lives on reservations had not either.
He set himself on a path to rectify that.
On the anniversary of the passing of the defense bill - Wednesday, December 19 - he would go to the Capitol and he would read the apology out loud, hoping that others would join him in his cause and that it would attract enough attention so that people would hear about it.
At 11 a.m. Wednesday, Charles plans to read the entire defense bill out loud.
"As a Native American, I feel offended that the apology was buried in this bill," he said. "It demonstrates our country is not ready to apologize.
"Personally, I don't think it's a very good apology
It also contains a disclaimer at the end: nothing in the apology could be used in a court of law against the United States.
Charles's mother is of Dutch heritage. His father's mother is Navajo. Born in Reheboth, New Mexico, Charles went to UCLA and lived in Denver. But he'd never called called the reservation home. He realized if he were to continue a dialogue about Native Americans - the people with whom he identified - he would need to experience the way they lived.
A few years ago, he took his wife and son and spent several years at a Navajo reservation sheep camp. It was off a dirt road and isolated.
There were only two kinds of outsiders who visited there - those who came for charitable reasons and those who came to click their cameras.
There was little there in the way of infrastructure, no running water or electricity. Charles lived by candlelight and hauled his water. But that was not the hardest part of living there.
"The hardest part was how incredibly lonely and disconnected you feel from the rest of the country," he said.
That's when Charles began to comprehend why many native people felt marginalized.
"I don't believe it's an accident that our people are marginalized," he said. "Our country is so undereducated in Native American history that most people don't even know why the country is apologizing."
Charles felt angry. He knew he had to channel his pain in a way that invited conversation and reconciliation. He began to reflect on a blog, Wireless Hogan, named after the traditional dwelling of the Navajos.
This is how he explains things to people:
Being Native American and living in the United States feels like our indigenous peoples are an old grandmother who lives in a very large house. It is a beautiful house with plenty of rooms and comfortable furniture. But, years ago, some people came into our house and locked us upstairs in the bedroom. Today, our house is full of people. They are sitting on our furniture. They are eating our food. They are having a party in our house. They have since unlocked the door to our bedroom but it is much later and we are tired, old, weak and sick; so we can't or don't come out. But the part that is the most hurtful and that causes us the most pain, is that virtually no one from this party ever comes upstairs to find us in the bedroom, sits down next to us on the bed, takes our hand, and simply says, "Thank you. Thank you for letting us be in your house."
Charles hopes all of America will hear his message when he reads the apology in Washington. |
Pro-NATO Centre: 57% of Serbian youth dream of Russian military bases
One of the largest pro-NATO non-governmental organizations of Serbia, Centre on the Euro-Atlantic Researches, found out what the Serbian youth thinks of Russia and an alliance with it.
The survey results can hardly satisfy this organization: as it turned out, 57% of respondents support creation of the Russian military bases and 64% support the Russian foreign policy as a whole.
The research is called "With widely closed eyes - strengthening of the Russian soft power in Serbia".
Representatives of the Centre admitted, "the majority is sure that an alliance with Russia would improve their jobs opportunities, traveling and education, would lead to the increase of oversea investments, political stability in the country, and even democratization of the country, as well as improvement of the Serbia's image in the world."
Director of the Centre Elena Milic used to claim in February that Russian influence in Serbia continues to rise and extend, while support of the European integration and movement towards the "democratic values" dropped.
Pravda.Ru
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1... | Pro-NATO Centre: 57% of Serbian youth dream of Russian military bases
One of the largest pro-NATO non-governmental organizations of Serbia, Centre on the Euro-Atlantic Researches, found out what the Serbian youth thinks hardly satisfy this organization: as it turned out, 57% of respondents support creation of the Russian military bases and 64% support the Russian foreign policy as a whole.
The research is called "With widely closed eyes - strengthening of the Russian soft power in Serbia".
Representatives of the Centre admitted, "the majority is sure that an alliance with Russia would improve their jobs opportunities, traveling and education, would lead to the increase of oversea investments, political stability in the country, and even democratization of the country, as well as improvement of the Serbia's image in the world."
Director of the Centre Elena Milic used to claim in February that Russian influence in Serbia continues to rise and extend, while support of the European integration and movement towards the "democratic values" dropped.
Prav version of Pravda.Ru |
On the last Friday of May, Alouettes team doctors determined Michael Klassen, one of the Canadian Football League’s most-promising non-import defensive tackles, wasn’t physically fit to play.
Within days, he was signed by Calgary, passed his physical and was on the field, practising with his hometown team. And now, six weeks later, it still makes little sense to Klassen, who will get the opportunity to face the team that drafted him Friday night at Molson Stadium.
“You never know what the thoughts are in their minds. There might be other reasons than the medical. Unfortunately, I was on the wrong end of the decision process,” the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Klassen said Thursday, upon the team’s arrival. “I look at their decision as a blessing in disguise.
“Hopefully, I can make some plays and prove to (Calgary) I deserve to be on a professional football team … hopefully put some doubts in people’s minds and show (the Als) maybe this guy was a good player and we’ll miss him,” added the 26-year-old.
Selected in the fourth round (32nd overall) by Montreal in 2013, Klassen certainly had injury issues. He suffered a season-ending broken fibula last August at Edmonton. A year earlier, on the same Commonwealth Stadium field, he was removed on a stretcher with a stinger. Klassen underwent hip surgery two years ago and played through a partially torn rotator cuff last season.
In 54 career games with Montreal, Klassen produced 52 defensive tackles, eight quarterback sacks and forced two fumbles. A potential free agent last winter, he resigned with the Als.
It’s believed the Als took issue with Klassen receiving medical treatment last winter from a non-team-affiliated doctor, although general manager Kavis Reed denied this assertion.
“I was unable to convince the doctors I was healthy and ready to go,” Klassen said. “That it was a non-issue.
“Just like every off-season I had been receiving treatment on the hip and shoulder. Maybe that’s why they thought I was unable to go. In my mind I was receiving treatment so I’d be ready to go, which was truly the case. I can’t read minds. I have no idea what their thought process was.”
Related
When the Als changed their ratio, going with two import offensive tackles, management decided defensive-tackle would become a Canadian position. Reed signed Keith Shologan, Jabar Westerman and Don Oramasionwu. The latter was released before camp only to return before the regular-season opener.
“Plans change, I guess,” Klassen said. “Maybe when the decision process came down to it, they needed to get rid of a couple. We all were probably getting pretty good money. I guess I was one of those they needed to let go.
“I was very surprised and quite distraught. I was trying to convince (Reed) to give me a chance. What could I do to prove I was healthy? The decision was made there and then, Friday night.”
Klassen began the season with the Stampeders on the injured list before making his debut last Friday, against Winnipeg. He produced three defensive tackles against the Blue Bombers.
[email protected]
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0... | On the last Friday of May, Alouettes team doctors determined Michael Klassen, one of the Canadian Football League’s most-promising non-import defensive tackles, wasn’t physically fit to play.
Within days, he was signed by Calgary, passed his physical and was on the field, practising with his hometown team. And now, six weeks later, it still makes little sense to Klassen, who will get the opportunity to face the team that drafted him Friday night at Molson Stadium.
“You never know what the thoughts are in their minds. There might be other reasons than the medical. Unfortunately, I was on the wrong end of the decision process,” the 6-foot-5, 285-pound Klassen said Thursday, upon the team’s arrival. “I look at their decision as a blessing in disguise.
“Hopefully, I can make some plays and prove to (Calgary) I deserve to be on a professional football team … hopefully put some doubts in people’s minds and show (the Als) maybe this guy was a good player and we’ll miss him,” added the 26-year-old.
Selected in the fourth round (32nd overall) by Montreal in 2013, Klassen certainly had injury issues. He suffered a season-ending broken fibula last August at Edmonton. A year earlier, on the same Commonwealth Stadium field, he was removed on a stretcher with a stinger. Klassen underwent hip surgery two years ago and played through a partially torn rotator cuff last season.
In 54 career games with Montreal, Klassen produced 52 defensive tackles, eight quarterback sacks and forced two fumbles. A potential free agent last winter, he resigned with the Als.
It’s believed the Als took issue with Klassen receiving medical treatment last winter from a non-team-affiliated doctor, although general manager Kavis Reed denied this assertion.
“I was unable to convince the doctors I was healthy and ready to go,” Klassen said. “That it was a non-issue.
“Just like every off-season I had been receiving treatment on the hip and shoulder. Maybe that’s why they thought I was unable to go. In my mind I was receiving treatment so I’d be ready to go, which was truly the case. I can’t read minds. I have no idea what their thought process was.”
Related
When the Als changed their ratio, going with two import offensive tackles, management decided defensive-tackle would become a Canadian position. Reed signed Keith Shologan, Jabar Westerman and Don Oramasionwu. The latter was released before camp only to return before the regular-season opener.
“Plans change, I guess,” Klassen said. “Maybe when the decision process came down to it, they needed to get rid of a couple. We all were probably getting pretty good money. I guess I was one of distraught. I was trying to convince (Reed) to give me a chance. What could I do to prove I was healthy? The decision was made there and then, Friday night.”
Klassenampeders on the injured list before making his debut last Friday, against Winnipeg. He produced three defensive tackles against the Blue Bombers.
[email protected]
twitter.com/HerbZurkowsky1 |
Novelist Alexander Chee confessed in an interview in late December that his favorite place to write is on a train. The author of The Queen of the Night and Edinburgh mused to PenAmerica, “I wish Amtrak had residencies for writers.” He soon found he wasn’t alone.
New York City-based writer Jessica Gross seconded the idea, and tweeted at Amtrak.
How much momentum do we have to gain for this to become real, @Amtrak? @zseward — Jessica Gross (@jessicagross) December 26, 2013
Surprisingly, the tweet actually caught Amtrak’s attention. The romantic work of writing seems a perfect match for the old-world method of travel. Outside the bustling hubs of activity around New York City and Washington D.C., train travel becomes less about the daily rigors of commuting. Out under the open skies of the Midwest, the prairie and mountain states, rail travelers get a panoramic view of the American landscape. They chug passed soccer moms picking up dry cleaning in the suburbs and through sleepy mining towns untouched by time except for the decay. Later they might look up from their keyboards to find themselves surrounded by acres and acres of perfectly tended corn, or wind-swept fields dotted with cows.
Each scene, each curious nugget of someone else’s life, bubbles with narrative possibilities. Travel by car and you’re tethered to the wheel. Your mind can wander only to the extent that you can still brake for a stop sign. And flying fails to give you time, proximity, and, frankly, the elbow room, to ferment an idea or character arch. But train travel lends itself to work and to daydreams, and to the imagining of richer verbs.
That’s why Gross jumped at the chance when Amtrak offered her a free test trip traveling from New York City to Chicago. She spent 44 hours on the trip there and back and later published a story about the journey in The Paris Review. In a follow-up interview with Gross published by Amtrak’s blog (part of the deal for the free trip), she suggested other writers give working by train a try.
“Don’t be too ambitious with what you plan to get done: Allow for time spent gazing out the window, letting ideas work themselves out in your mind. It’s that kind of deep thinking that the train is particularly good for, and that can be more difficult to achieve in the interstices of busy day-to-day life,” Gross said.
Thanks to her tweet, that may become possible for even more writers. Amtrak appears to be moving forward with its preliminary writer-in-residence program, offering a trip to the man who started the conversation.
I can announce my @Amtrak writer’s residency dream came true, thanks to them– am set for a trip from NYC-Portland, OR in mid-May. — Alexander Chee (@alexanderchee) February 19, 2014
While the writers involved in the budding partnership are thrilled, Amtrak is also soaking up a great deal of good will as a result.
We are thrilled by the response surrounding #AmtrakResidency. We’ll keep you posted w/details. In the meantime, we love hearing from you! — Amtrak (@Amtrak) February 22, 2014
H/T The Wire | Photo by Gene Bowker/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0) | [
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0... | Novelist Alexander Chee confessed in an interview in late December that his favorite place to write is on a train. The author of The Queen of the Night and Edinburgh mused to PenAmerica, “I wish Amtrak had residencies for writers.” He soon found he wasn’t alone.
New York City-based writer Jessica Gross seconded the idea, and tweeted at Amtrak.
How much momentum do we have to gain for this to become real, @Amtrak? @zseward — Jessica Gross (@jessicagross) December 26, 2013
Surprisingly, the tweet actually caught Amtrak’s attention. The romantic work of writing seems a perfect match for the old-world method of travel. Outside the bustling hubs of activity around New York City and Washington D.C., train travel, the prairie and mountain states, rail travelers get a panoramic view of the American landscape. They chug passed soccer moms picking up dry cleaning in the suburbs and through sleepy mining towns untouched by time except for the decay. Later they might look up from their keyboards to find themselves surrounded by acres and acres of perfectly tended corn, or wind-swept fields dotted with cows.
Each scene, each curious nugget of someone else’s life, bubbles with narrative possibilities. Travel by car and you’re tethered to the wheel. Your mind can wander only to the extent that you can still brake for a stop sign. And flying fails to give you time, proximity, and, frankly, the elbow room, to ferment an idea or character arch. But train travel lends itself to work and to daydreams, and to the imagining of richer verbs.
That’s why Gross jumped at the chance when Amtrak offered her a free test trip traveling from New York City to Chicago. She spent 44 hours on the trip there and back and later published a story about the journey in The Paris Review. In a follow-up interview with Gross published by Amtrak’s blog (part of the deal for the free trip), she suggested other writers give working by train a try.
“Don’t be too ambitious with what you plan to get done: Allow for time spent gazing out the window, letting ideas work themselves out in your mind. It’s that kind of deep thinking that the train is particularly good for, and that can be more difficult to achieve in the interstices of busy day-to-day life,” Gross said.
Thanks to her tweet, that may become possible for even more writers. Amtrak appears to be moving forward with its preliminary writer-in-residence program,
I can announce my @Amtrak writer’s residency dream came true, thanks to them– am set for a trip from NYC-Portland, OR in mid-May. — Alexander Chee (@alexanderchee) February 19, 2014
While the writers involved in the budding partnership are thrilled, Amtrak is also soaking up a great deal of good will as a result.
We are thrilled by the response surrounding #AmtrakResidency. We’ll keep you posted w/details. In the meantime, we love hearing from you! — Amtrak (@Amtrak) February 22, 2014
H/T The Wire | Photo by Gene Bowker/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0) |
The God-game genre is built around putting players in a powerful position and giving them control over a vast environment of some sort, some examples including Viva Pinata and From Dust. From a divine or supernatural perspective, players give instruction and/or exhibit influence over a simulated ecosystem that is largely autonomous. Virtual reality has the potential to change how we interact with each gaming genre and Expanses is an example of this, providing an evolving world that is shaped by our gaze.
Expanses is described as a narrative adventure where players explore 3 different environments (called expanses) as they attempt to restore them to the lush habitats they once were. Instead of just being let loose to manipulate things with no particular guide, each area is anchored by a specific element and there are missions that you’ll undertake on the path to discovering that element. There are a few ways that you’ll be able to influence your surroundingss: Moving and destroying objects, shifting between animals, and terraforming. While these direct interactions would normally move you away from a more hands-off influence of God games, the manner by which you complete these tasks makes it seem as if you, the player, are an ever-present deity. In Expanses, all player interaction is managed by vision. With absolutely no controller input, you move in a first-person perspective and your focused gaze determines how you interface with the game.
Primary – On this level things react to your gaze by trembling, showing just what can be interacted with.
Central – Whatever you’re focused on interacts back with you and moves into the Maximum focus zone.
Maximum – You directly control the object with its mass, size, form, and distance from the player changing that interaction.
Essentially, there’s a circular reticle of influence at the center of your vision when playing the game. Divide that into three layers and, the closer the subject gets to the center, the more direct the interaction. In the Maximum interaction zone, you’ll have to focus a bit longer on objects you want to move the larger they are. As far as changing how much of the world you see at once, it’d benefit you to switch to an animal with a higher point of view to change larger things and then go down closer to the ground for the finer details.
“Gamers are used to all trivial controllers: from the classic joystick to racing wheels and elaborate joypads,” says Albert Idrisov, Shuographics’ marketing and business development manager, via email. “These are not for us. We’ve decided to move away from all classic forms of game control and propose something new because VR – it’s the future. We didn’t want to use something from the past. We see ourselves as pioneers, introducing a new type of technology.”
Expanses is an intriguing concept even without the unique input style, but that input may be what makes or breaks the game. With such a focus on just using the headset, it’s an open question whether it could deter people from playing the game for very long and limit the experience. Luckily, it’s coming to Samsung Gear VR, one of the more comfortable devices on the market, and Google Daydream which has a cozy design too. The game is a means for Shuographics to bring attention to environmental issues in their own way as well, so the hope is that the combination of all these elements will inspire people to contribute to the Kickstarter, which goes live November 16th, 2016.
Tagged with: Expanses, kickstarter, VR | [
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Expanses is described as a narrative adventure where players explore 3 different environments (called expanses) as they attempt to restore them to the lush habitats they once were. Instead of just being let loose to manipulate things with no particular guide, each area is anchored by a specific element and there are missions that you’ll undertake on the path to discovering that element. There are a few ways that you’ll be able to influence your surroundingss: Moving and destroying objects, shifting between animals, and terraforming. While these direct interactions would normally move you away from a more hands-off influence of God games, the manner by which you complete these tasks makes it seem as if you, the player, are an ever-present deity. In Expanses, all player interaction is managed by vision. With absolutely no controller input, you move in a first-person perspective and your focused gaze determines how you interface with the game.
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“Gamers are used to all trivial controllers: from the classic joystick to racing wheels and says Albert Idrisov, Shuographics’ marketing and business development manager, via email. “These are not for us. We’ve decided to move away from all classic forms of game control and propose something new because VR – it’s the future. We didn’t want to use something from the past. We see ourselves as pioneers, introducing a new type of technology.”
Expanses is an intriguing concept even without the unique input style, the game. With such a focus on just using the headset, it’s an open question whether it could deter people from playing the game for very long and limit the experience. Luckily, it’s coming to Samsung Gear VR, one of the more comfortable devices on the market, and Google Daydream which has a cozy design too. The game is a means for Shuographics to bring attention to environmental issues in their own way as well, so the hope is that the combination of all these elements will inspire people to contribute to the Kickstarter, which goes live November 16th, 2016.
Tagged with: Expanses, kickstarter, VR |
The Orlando Magic will not hold their annual summer league in Orlando next year and will participate instead in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, team officials told the Orlando Sentinel.
The decision is a radical departure for the Magic, who ran and managed their own summer league in Central Florida 14 times since 2002.
But the decision also doesn’t impact Magic fans who are based in Orlando because the Orlando Pro Summer League was closed to the public. The only way fans could watch the games was to tune in on TV.
NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas are held in two adjoining arenas on the UNLV campus, the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion.
“The pendulum is swinging toward teams playing in Vegas,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said.
“It’s a level of competition and a level of exposure when more or less every team in the league is there and you’re playing in front of 20,000 people as opposed to playing in a gym with a few hundred people. So it better prepares you for what NBA life is really about with the crowds, the pressure, the travel — a lot of what you’re going to have to confront. Obviously, it’s not a true test of an NBA season, but it’s a little taste.”
Twenty-four teams participated in the NBA Summer League this past summer. Each team had three preliminary games followed by a tournament with seedings based on the preliminary games’ results. Teams in Las Vegas played a minimum of five games overall.
Meanwhile, eight teams participated in the Orlando Pro Summer League this year and played five games apiece. In addition to the Magic, the other teams were the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
NBA officials prefer to have all 30 teams participate in the Las Vegas event.
“We want to do what’s right for the team, for our players,” Weltman said. “But that being said, when the large portion of the league is there [in Las Vegas], it does kind of create an environment where you want your young guys to be a part of what the league is about. So there is that added component.”
The Utah Jazz also have their own summer league, with games held prior to the NBA Summer League. But Weltman said the Magic have no plans to participate in Utah’s league.
The Magic made no money from their own league, but they will incur some added expense playing in Vegas, including air travel and hotel stays.
“We’re fortunate enough to work for an organization where what’s best for our team and what’s best for our players comes first,” Weltman said. “And so, obviously, there are expenses to put on the league here. There are expenses to fly the team to Vegas and play there. But, honestly, we’re just lucky to be working somewhere where that’s secondary to what’s best for our team and best for the development of our players.”
Special guest
The Orlando Magic Dancers had a special guest as the Magic hosted the Jazz on Saturday at Amway Center.
Maggie Scurlock, an 8-year-old who has Down syndrome, spent the day with the Magic Dancers, practiced with the dance team, attended the final rehearsal and had dinner with the group.
The nonprofit Dream On 3 links children who have life-altering conditions, chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities with their favorite athletes, sporting event or sports team.
Dream on 3 helped arrange Maggie’s visit.
[email protected]. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins. | [
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The decision is a radical departure for the Magic, who ran and managed their own summer league in Central Florida 14 times since 2002.
But the decision also doesn’t impact Magic fans who are based in Orlando because the Orlando Pro Summer League was closed to the public. The only way fans could watch the games was to tune in on TV.
NBA Summer League games in Las Vegas are held in two adjoining arenas on the UNLV campus, the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion.
“The pendulum is swinging toward teams playing in Vegas,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said.
“It’s a level of competition and a level of exposure when more or less every team in the league is there and you’re playing in front of 20,000 people as opposed to playing in a gym with a few hundred people. So it better prepares you for what NBA life is really about with the crowds, the pressure, the travel — a lot of what you’re going to have to confront. Obviously, it’s not a true test of an NBA season, but it’s a little taste.”
Twenty-four teams participated in the NBA Summer League this past summer. Each team had three preliminary games followed by a tournament with seedings based on the preliminary games’ results. Teams in Las Vegas played a minimum of five games overall.
Meanwhile, eight teams participated in the Orlando Pro Summer League this year and played five games apiece. In addition to the Magic, the other teams were the Charlotte Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder.
NBA officials prefer to have all 30 teams participate in the Las Vegas event.
“We want to do what’s right for the team, for our players,” Weltman said. “But that being said, when the large portion of the league is there [in Las Vegas an environment where you want your young guys to be a part of what the league is about. So there is that added component.”
The Utah Jazz also have their own summer league, with games held prior to the NBA Summer League. But Weltman said the Magic have no plans to participate in Utah’s league.
The Magic made no money from their own league, but they will incur some added expense playing in Vegas, including air travel and hotel stays.
“We’re fortunate enough to work for an organization where what’s best for our team and what’s best for our players comes first,” Weltman said. “And so, obviously, there are expenses to put on the league here. There are expenses to fly the team to Vegas and play there. But, honestly, we’re just lucky to be working somewhere where that’s secondary to what’s best for our team and best for the development of our players.”
Special guest
The Orlando Magic Dancers had a special guest as the Magic hosted the Jazz on Saturday at Amway Center.
Maggie Scurlock, an 8-year-old who hasancers, practiced with the dance team, attended the final rehearsal and had dinner with the group.
The nonprofit Dream On 3 links children who have life-altering conditions, chronic illnesses and developmental disabilities with their favorite athletes, sporting event or sports team.
Dream on 3 helped arrange Maggie’s visit.
[email protected]. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog and follow him on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins. |
Donald Trump's airstrike on al-Shayrat military airfield in Syria was met with a heavy dose of skepticism in MSNBC's newsroom. Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel called the strike the "least amount (Trump) could do that has a complete narrative," while Chris Matthews speculated that the strike was designed to "kill the narrative that he's in bed with Putin."
Following a period of chaos and uncertainty, Donald Trump ordered an airstrike of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on al-Shayrat military airfield in Syria, in response to the chemical weapons attack on civilians in Idlib. The Pentagon has confirmed that Russian forces in the area were warned of the strike ahead of time.
As details of the strike were still unfolding, MSNBC Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel delivered a clear-eyed and skeptical assessment of the strike, which focused on a single airbase, from which the chemical attacks were allegedly launched. Engel called the attack a “slap on the wrist” and added that concern over “narrative” colored the response:
But what [Trump] did, it seems, he picked the least amount he could do that has a complete narrative. Hit the base where the attack was launched, and leave it at that.
MSNBC anchor Brian William broached the subject of optics with Hardball host Chris Matthews, who took a far more cynical approach to the subject, speculating that the strike may have been designed to quell the domestic political problems that Russia presents to Trump as questions emerge about Trump’s possible collusion with Russia during the 2016 election:
WILLIAMS: The optics of everything vis-a-vis Russia? How soon until we read someone saying obviously we didn’t mind taking a swing at that bee’s nest, that no fix was in prior to this? MATTHEWS: That’s what I was thinking all day because I think like that, and maybe it’s cynicism. But I thought if there was a way for him to kill the narrative that he’s in bed with Putin, it would be this. Take on Putin’s fresh water port, take on his ally, his satellite, his loyal ally Assad. That would be a way of saying, “I never was in bed with these guys. I never planned any kind of coalition with this guy in Moscow.” You’re right, I was thinking of it. Who knows? We’ll find out. It certainly isn’t going to go well with Putin, unless we find out they had a phone call this afternoon and worked this thing out, and it was a set piece that was not meant to be particularly antagonistic to Moscow. Williams: A bunch of cynics in the political business, right?
Of course, given the evidence of back-channels to Russia, we might never see an official read out on a call between the United States and Russia about the planned airstrike.
Accusations of using foreign military action to solve domestic political problems are a well-worn political trope, one that was even employed against President Obama by a prominent critic in 2012:
Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2012
In 2013, Trump also issued a bit of advice to then-President Obama, who was preparing to ask Congress to authorize military action against Syria in response to chemical attacks:
The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2013
As president, Trump ignored his own advice and launched the cruise missile strike without seeking authorization from Congress. Time will tell if Republicans will stand with Democrats to demand a say in any future military action against Syria, as they demanded of President Obama — and as the Constitution says they must.
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0... | Donald Trump's airstrike on al-Shayrat military airfield in Syria was met with a heavy dose of skepticism in MSNBC's newsroom. Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel called the strike the "least amount (Trump) could do that has a complete narrative," while Chris Matthews speculated that the strike was designed to "kill the narrative that he's in bed with Putin."
Following a period of chaos and uncertainty, Donald Trump ordered an airstrike of 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on al-Shayrat military airfield in Syria, in response to the chemical weapons attack on civilians in Idlib. The Pentagon has confirmed that Russian forces in the area were warned of the strike ahead of time.
As details of the strike were still unfolding, MSNBC Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel delivered a clear-eyed and skeptical assessment of the strike, which focused on a single airbase, from which the chemical attacks were allegedly launched. Engel called the attack a “slap on the wrist” and added that concern over “narrative” colored the response:
picked the least amount he could do that has a complete narrative. Hit the base where the attack was launched, and leave it at that.
MSNBC anchor Brian William broached the subject of optics with Hardball host Chris Matthews, who took a far more cynical approach to the subject, speculating that the strike may have been designed to quell the domestic political problems that Russia presents to Trump as questions emerge about Trump’s possible collusion with Russia during the 2016 election:
WILLIAMS: The optics of everything vis-a-vis Russia? How soon until we read someone saying obviously we didn’t mind taking a swing at that bee’s nest, that no fix was in prior to this? MATTHEWS: That’s what I was thinking all day because I think like that, and maybe it’s cynicism. But I thought if there was a way for him to kill the narrative that he’s in bed with Putin, it would be this. Take on Putin’s fresh water port, take on his ally, his satellite, his loyal ally Assad. That would be a way of saying, “I never was in bed with these guys. I never planned any kind of coalition with this guy in Moscow.” You’re right, I was thinking of it. Who knows? We’ll find out. It certainly isn’t going to go well with Putin, unless we find out they had a phone call this afternoon and worked this thing out, and it was a set piece that was not meant to be particularly antagonistic to Moscow. Williams: A bunch of cynics in course, given the evidence of back-channels to Russia, we might never see an official read out on a call between the United States and Russia about the planned airstrike.
Accusations of using foreign military action to solve domestic political problems are a well-worn political trope, one that was even employed against President Obama by a prominent critic in 2012:
Now that Obama’s poll numbers are in tailspin – watch for him to launch a strike in Libya or Iran. He is desperate. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2012
In 2013, Trump also issued a bit of advice to then-President Obama, who was preparing to ask Congress to authorize military action against Syria in response to chemical attacks:
The President must get Congressional approval before attacking Syria-big mistake if he does not! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 30, 2013
As president, Trump ignored his own advice and launched the cruise missile strike without seeking authorization from Congress. Time will tell if Republicans will stand with Democrats to demand a say in any future military action against Syria, as they demanded of President Obama — and as the Constitution says they must.
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ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Green Bay Packers sound sold on keeping Matt Flynn around to back up Aaron Rodgers.
Coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting that the team wants to re-sign Flynn, according to Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
NFL Bracketology
Vote for the greatest QB of all time:
NFL.com asks fans for their votes, starting with 32 QBs from four different eras of NFL history. Vote now!
McCarthy said he felt "great respect and admiration" for the 28-year-old journeyman who played in five games for the Packers after being released by both the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills during a rocky sixth season in the NFL.
Flynn finished 2-2-1 in place of the injured Rodgers, exhibiting streaky play from wire to wire. The Packers are fond of Flynn because he knows McCarthy's offense well after a previous stint with the team from 2008-11.
The coach also told reporters he'd like to keep three passers on the 53-man roster come September, presumably good news for under-contract Scott Tolzien.
We had Green Bay pegged as a potential landing spot for Mark Sanchez, but cross the former Jet off the list. This is Flynn's world now.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" broke down all the latest news at the NFL Annual Meeting. | [
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Coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Tuesday at the NFL Annual Meeting that the team wants to re-sign Flynn, according to Mike
NFL Bracketology
Vote for the greatest QB of all time:
NFL.com asks fans for their votes, starting with 32 QBs from four different eras of NFL history. Vote now!
McCarthy said he felt "great respect and admiration" for the 28-year-old journeyman who played in five games for the Packers after being released by both the Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills during a rocky sixth season in the NFL.
Flynn finished 2-2-1 in place of the injured Rodgers, exhibiting streaky play from wire to wire. The Packers are fond of Flynn because he knows McCarthy's offense well after a previous stint with the team from 2008-11.
The coach also told reporters he'd like to keep three passers on the 53-man roster come September, presumably good news for under-contract Scott Tolzien.
We had Green Bay pegged as a potential landing spot for Mark Sanchez, but cross the former Jet off
The latest "Around The League Podcast" broke down all the latest news at the NFL Annual Meeting. |
Standing the Watch: Everyone Counts In Homeland Security
TheWatch Blocked Unblock Follow Following Apr 30, 2016
The Coast Guard cutter was on a law enforcement patrol in the northern part of the Mona Passage — the ocean strait separating Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic. The sea was more or less calm with swells less than a foot. A refreshing Caribbean wind blew through the pilot house keeping us bridge watch standers delightfully cool.
A floating blanket of clouds blocked out the moon making it hard to see far into the night.
A quiet voice filled with doubt and hesitation broke the silence. It was the lookout — one of the cuter’s most experienced seaman.
“Sir — there might be something off of the starboard bow. I saw it once and am having trouble finding it again.”
I acknowledged his report. I and other bridge watch standers quickly scanned the area off the starboard bow with our binoculars. Nothing…..
I checked the ship’s radar. No blips…..
I called the Combat Information Center and asked them to check their radar screens- No contacts…….
I visually scanned the area again and rechecked the radar. Again Nothing….
After gathering my thoughts, I called the Captain who was asleep in his cabin.
“Good morning Captain — it is 2 a.m. The lookout has reported a contact off the starboard bow. The bridge crew cannot visually confirm anything there. We do not have any radar contacts. I recommend we come right 15 degrees to a course of 000 to investigate.”
The captain replied “Sounds good — I will be coming up to the bridge shortly.”
“Yes sir” I replied and then gave the order “Helmsman come right 15 degree steady-up on course 000.”
Less than a minute passed and helmsman reported “Steady on course 000.”
“Roger” I replied.
We slowly sailed forward in the darkness, scouring the sea with our eyes when the lookout excitedly reported, “Sir there is something in front of us. Permission to turn on the spotlight.”
“Yes” — I replied.
Suddenly a ray of light streamed from the top of the pilot house over the bow and down to the ocean.
Instantly, a white billowing object began emerging from the darkness … about five hundred yards ahead off the starboard bow.
What is it?… I thought for a second.
“It is extremely close. Helmsman all stop!” I commanded.
All at once, we heard a multitude of voices. It was a sail boat riding extremely low in the water and filled with more people than I could count. These people had a high likelihood of dying if they continued on their voyage.
I called the captain. “Sir, I believe we have found a migrant vessel heading from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. It is full of people.”
The captain replied — “I was getting ready to call you. Get the rest of the crew up. Set the Migrant Interdiction Bill.”
We spent the rest of the morning transferring the migrants from their overloaded vessel.
It turns out they had been at sea for days and had run out of food and water. They were in trouble and some would have perished at sea if we had not found them.
We spent the rest of the day working with U.S. immigration officials determining how these migrants would be processed.
I often think about that night. The lookout to me was the night’s hero. He was one of the cutter’s lowest ranking crew members. His eyes and not the cutter’s sophisticated radars found the migrants. He decided to make his report despite not being completely sure of himself and it made all the difference. There are people still alive because of his initiative.
The lookout report speaks to a bigger challenge we face as Americans. Homeland Security is an all hands affair. We cannot truly succeed if we are not looking out for each other. If we see something, we need to say say something in order to prevent harm to our communities, friends, and family.
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0... | Standing the Watch: Everyone Counts In Homeland Security
TheWatch Blocked Unblock Follow Following Apr 30, 2016
The Coast Guard cutter was on a law enforcement patrol in the northern part of the Mona Passage — the ocean strait separating Puerto Rico from the Dominican Republic. The sea was more or less calm with swells less than a foot. A refreshing Caribbean wind blew through the pilot house keeping us bridge watch standers delightfully cool.
A floating blanket of clouds blocked out the moon making it hard to see far into the night.
A quiet voice filled with doubt and hesitation broke the silence. It was the lookout — one of the cuter’s most experienced seaman.
“Sir — there might be something off of the starboard bow. I saw it once and am having trouble finding it again.”
I acknowledged his report. I and other bridge watch standers quickly scanned the area off the starboard bow with our binoculars. Nothing…..
I checked the ship’s radar. No blips…..
I called the Combat Information Center and asked them to check their radar screens- No contacts…….
I visually scanned the area again and rechecked the radar. Again Nothing….
After gathering my thoughts, I called the Captain who was asleep in his cabin.
“Good morning Captain — it is 2 a.m. The lookout has reported a contact off the starboard bow. The bridge crew come right 15 degrees to a course of 000 to investigate.”
The captain replied “Sounds good — I will be coming up to the bridge shortly.”
“Yes sir” I replied and then gave the order “Helmsman come right 15 degree steady-up on course 000.”
Less than a minute passed and helmsman reported “Steady on course 000.”
“Roger” I replied.
We slowly sailed forward in the darkness, scouring the sea with our eyes when the lookout excitedly reported, “Sir there is something in front of us. Permission to turn on the spotlight.”
“Yes” — I replied.
Suddenly a ray of light streamed from the top of the pilot house over the bow and down to the ocean.
Instantly, a white billowing object began emerging from the darkness … about five hundred yards ahead off the starboard bow.
What is it?… I thought for a second.
“It is extremely close. Helmsman all stop!” I commanded.
All at once, we heard a multitude of voices. It was a sail boat riding extremely low in the water and filled with more people than I could count. These people had a high likelihood of dying if they continued on their voyage.
I called the captain. “Sir, I believe we have found a migrant vessel heading from the Dominican Republic to Puerto Rico. It is full of people.”
The captain replied — “I was getting ready to call you. Get the rest of the crew up. Set the Migrant Interdiction Bill.”
We spent the rest of the morning transferring the migrants from their overloaded vessel.
It turns out they had been at sea for days and had run out of food and water. They were in trouble and some would have perished at sea if we had not found them.
We spent the rest ofI often think about that night. The lookout to me was the night’s hero. He was one of the cutter’s lowest ranking crew members. His eyes and not the cutter’s sophisticated radars found the migrants. He decided to make his report despite not being completely sure of himself and it made all the difference. There are people still alive because of his initiative.
The lookout report speaks to a bigger challenge we face as Americans. Homeland Security is an all hands affair. We cannot truly succeed if we are not looking out for each other. If we see something, we need to say say something in order to prevent harm to our communities, friends, and family.
The Watch — Keeping an Eye on Homeland Security |
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 3 -- President Obama began his Middle East trip Wednesday here in "the place where Islam began" as the administration took extraordinary steps to make sure his speech in Cairo on Thursday is heard around the world, including offering instant text-messaging of the address in four languages, creating special links on popular social networking sites, and facilitating its live broadcast on national television networks.
As Obama arrived in this desert capital, senior U.S. officials said the president will discuss Muslim and American misperceptions and specific policies on both sides that have undermined relations.
"There has been a breach, an undeniable breach between America and the Islamic world, and that breach has been years in the making," said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Obama. "It is not going to be reversed in one speech. It is not going to be reversed perhaps in one administration. But the president is a strong believer in open, honest dialogue."
The attention surrounding Obama's address and his first visit to Saudi Arabia was underscored Wednesday by a pair of messages from Osama bin Laden and his Egyptian deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Shortly after Obama landed here, the Arab satellite network al-Jazeera aired an audiotape of bin Laden sharply criticizing U.S. policy in Pakistan and accusing Obama of planting seeds for "revenge and hatred" in the Muslim world. The message said Obama is following President George W. Bush's policy of "antagonizing Muslims," and bin Laden warned Americans of "consequences" to come. U.S. officials did not dispute the tape's authenticity even though bin Laden, once a Saudi citizen, has not been seen for years.
A day earlier, Zawahiri urged Egyptians to shun Obama during his visit, saying his trip was at the invitation of the "torturers of Egypt" and the "slaves of America." Zawahiri, a doctor by training, was imprisoned in Egypt for his radical Islamist political beliefs until 1984.
Briefing reporters here, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, "I don't think it's surprising that al-Qaeda would want to shift attention away from the president's historic efforts and continued efforts to reach out and have an open dialogue with the Muslim world."
"I think Americans have seen these types of threats before," said Gibbs, who called it "an effort to upstage and to try to become a part of a story seeking a different way."
Saudi Arabia's oil wealth and supreme importance to Muslims as the site of Mecca and Medina have long made it a major player in Middle East diplomacy, and Obama arrived as he is seeking early progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and in curbing Iran's nuclear program.
At a tarmac welcoming ceremony, Obama was met by King Abdullah, the 84-year-old Saudi leader. The leaders then headed to Abdullah's farm at Jenadriyah, not far from Riyadh, for meetings. Obama noted that he "thought it was very important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek His Majesty's counsel and to discuss with him many of the issues that we confront here in the Middle East."
In a statement, the White House said the leaders discussed Iran's nuclear program, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Obama's impending speech. In recent years, Abdullah has asserted Saudi diplomacy aggressively in Lebanon and in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was the first to propose broad Arab recognition of Israel in return for its withdrawal from all territory occupied in the 1967 Middle East War, and he has sought in the past to broker unity government agreements between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. Obama has suggested that Abdullah's peace proposal, adopted by the Arab League in 2002 and now known as the Arab Peace Initiative, might serve as a way to revive talks between Israelis, Palestinians and Arab countries, only two of which now recognize the Jewish state.
For the Thursday speech, Gibbs said the State Department is offering highlights via text message in Urdu, Farsi, Arabic and English, allowing people to receive the speech in real time and comment on it. The White House Web site will carry it live, and transcripts will be available in 13 languages. | [
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1... | RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, June 3 -- President Obama began his Middle East trip Wednesday here in "the place where Islam began" as the administration took extraordinary steps to make sure his speech in Cairo on Thursday is heard around the world, including offering instant text-messaging of the address in four languages, and facilitating its live broadcast on national television networks.
As Obama arrived in this desert capital, senior U.S. officials said the president will discuss Muslim and American misperceptions and specific policies on both sides that have undermined relations.
"There has been a breach, an undeniable breach between America and the Islamic world, and that breach has been years in the making," said David Axelrod, a senior adviser to Obama. "It is not going to be reversed in one speech. It is not going to be reversed perhaps in one administration. But the president is a strong believer in open, honest dialogue."
The attention surrounding Obama's address and his first visit to Saudi Arabia was underscored Wednesday by a pair of messages from Osama bin Laden and his Egyptian deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Shortly after Obama landed here, the Arab satellite network al-Jazeera aired an audiotape of bin Laden sharply criticizing U.S. policy in Pakistan and accusing Obama of planting seeds for "revenge and hatred" in the Muslim world. The message said Obama is following President George W. Bush's policy of "antagonizing Muslims," and bin Laden warned Americans of "consequences" to come. U.S citizen, has not been seen for years.
A day earlier, Zawahiri urged Egyptians to shun Obama during his visit, saying his trip was at the invitation of the "torturers of Egypt" and the "slaves of America." Zawahiri, a doctor by training, was imprisoned in Egypt for his radical Islamist political beliefs until 1984.
Briefing reporters here, White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said, "I don't think it's surprising that al-Qaeda would want to shift attention away from the president's historic efforts and continued efforts to reach out and have an open dialogue with the Muslim world."
"I think Americans have seen these types of threats before," said Gibbs, who called it "an effort to upstage and to try to become a part of a story seeking a different way."
Saudi Arabia's oil wealth and supreme importance to Muslims as the site of Mecca and Medina have long made it a major player in Middle East diplomacy, and Obama arrived as he is seeking early progress on Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and in curbing Iran's nuclear program.
At a tarmac welcoming ceremony, Obama was met by King Abdullah, the 84-year-old Saudi leader. The leaders then headed to Abdullah's farm at Jenadriyah, not far from Riyadh, for meetings. Obama noted that he "thought it was very important to come to the place where Islam began and to seek His Majesty's counsel and to discuss with him many of the issues that we confront here in the Middle East."
In a statement, the White House said the leaders discussed Iran's nuclear program, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Obama's impending speech. In recent years, Abdullah has asserted Saudi diplomacy aggressively in Lebanon and in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was the first to propose broad Arab recognition of Israel in return for its withdrawal from all territory occupied in the 1967 Middle East War, and he has sought in the past to broker unity government agreements between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. Obama has suggested that Abdullah's peace proposal, adopted by the Arab League in 2002 and now known as the Arab Peace Initiative, might serve as a way to revive talks between Israelis, Palestinians and Arab countries, only two of which now recognize the Jewish state.
For the Thursday speech, Gibbs said the State Department is offering highlights via text message in Urdu, Farsi, Arabic and English, allowing people to receive the speech in real time and comment on it. The White House Web site will carry it live, and transcripts will be available in 13 languages. |
Finally acting on an old idea, I committed an update to ConcurrentHashMap (currently only the one in our jdk8 preview package, as jsr166e.ConcurrentHashMap8) that much more gracefully handles maps that are huge or have many keys with colliding hash codes. Internally, it uses tree-map-like structures to maintain bins containing more nodes than would be expected under ideal random key distributions over ideal numbers of bins.
Among other things, this provides graceful (O log(N)) degradation when there are more than about a billion elements (which run out of 32bit hash resolution and array bound limits). However, the map can only do so if keys are Comparable, which is true of most keys in practice -- Strings, Longs, etc. Without relying on Comparable, we can't otherwise magically find any other means to further resolve and organize keys after running out of bits, so performance for non-Comparable keys is unaffected/unimproved.
This also provides a mechanism for coping with hostile usages in which many keys (Strings in particular) are somehow constructed to have the same hashCode, which can lead to algorithmic denial of service attacks (because of linear-time bin searches) if code using the map don't screen external inputs. The overflow-tree-based strategy here is an alternative approach to adding secondary randomly-seeded hash code methods ("hash32") to class String, as has been committed recently to OpenJDK. But ConcurrentHashMap8 doesn't doesn't rely on this.
The use of overflow-bins also allowed a few other minor speedups in more typical usages. A few more small improvements are still left unfinished for now. (I'll be traveling and/or otherwise committed for most of the next few weeks.)
Links: jsr166e.jar: http://gee.cs.oswego.edu/dl/jsr166/dist/jsr166e.jar source: http://gee.cs.oswego.edu/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/jsr166/src/jsr166e/ConcurrentHashMapV8.java?view=log
Please give this a try and let me know about experiences.
-Doug | [
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1... | Finally acting on an old idea, I committed an update to ConcurrentHashMap (currently only the one in our jdk8 preview package, as jsr166e.ConcurrentHashMap8) that much more gracefully handles maps that are huge or have many keys with colliding hash containing more nodes than would be expected under ideal random key distributions over ideal numbers of bins.
Among other things, this provides graceful (O log(N)) degradation when there are more than about a billion elements (which run out of 32bit hash resolution and array bound limits). However, the Strings, Longs, etc. Without relying on Comparable, we can't otherwise magically find any other means to further resolve and organize keys after running out of bits, so performance for non-Comparable keys is unaffected/unimproved.
This also provides a mechanism for coping with hostile usages in which many keys (Strings in particular) are somehow constructed to have the same hashCode, which can lead to algorithmic denial of service attacks (because of linear-time bin searches) if code using the map don't screen external inputs. The overflow-tree-based strategy here is an alternative approach to adding secondary randomly-seeded hash code methods ("hash32") to class String, as has been committed recently to OpenJDK. But ConcurrentHashMap8 doesn't doesn't rely on this.
The use of overflow-bins also allowed a few other minor speedups in more typical usages. A few more small improvements are still left unfinished for now. (I'll be traveling and/or otherwise committed for most of the next few weeks.)
Links: jsr166e.jar: http://gee.cs.oswego.edu/dl/jsr166/dist/jsr166e.jar source: http://gee.cs.oswego.edu/cgi-bin/viewcvs.cgi/jsr166/src/jsr166e/ConcurrentHashMapV8.java?view=log
Please give this a try and let me know about experiences.
-Doug |
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Future 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was on NBC’s Meet The Press today, where he blamed the excesses of government for the budget deficit, and overpaid government workers. Specifically, Romney said, “Average government workers, are now making $30,000 a year more than the average private sector worker.”
Here is the video:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Romney said, “We can compete around the world, there’s no question about that, David. We have the capacity to do that. The American workers are the best in the world, our technology is at the leading edge. America, long term, can be the, the powerful economic engine it’s always been. But the real threat right here is something that Alan Greenspan just said, and that is that if we don’t take action to rein in the scale of government and the growth of government spending and the compensation levels of government workers–you saw government workers, average government workers, are now making $30,000 a year more than the average private sector worker.”
He continued, “These kinds of excesses and the massive deficits that, that, that government is putting in place, over a trillion dollars a year for these coming several years, this threatens our long-term viability, because it, it, it suggests that we could have runaway inflation. And, and the Fed and the federal government are going to have to rein in, pull back from what have been the excesses of these past years, Republican and Democrat. It’s not a partisan issue, it’s a growth of government issue. And it’s got to stop, or America’s future could be very much in jeopardy.”
It is clear that attacking Washington is going to be the centerpiece of Romney’s 2012 campaign. The problem for him is that every non-incumbent candidate attacks Washington with the same generic language. When he brought up government workers, he was trying to play into the stereotype that public sector workers are overpaid and lazy.
Romney’s suggestion that public sector employees’ salaries have something to do with the budget deficit is absurd. If government workers are overpaid that why can’t governments at all levels attract and keep top talent? In almost all specialized fields the public sector acts as a training program for the private sector.
The reality is that discretionary spending, which is the part of the budget that the government can cut, makes up only one third of the total budget. The other two thirds are mandatory spending. Employee salaries make up a very small portion of government spending. Romney knows this, but he keeps uttering this kind of gibberish, in the hope that Republicans will make him their 2012 nominee.
If you’re ready to read more from the unbossed and unbought Politicus team, sign up for our newsletter here! Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: | [
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Future 2012 GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney was on NBC’s Meet The Press today, where he blamed the excesses of government for the budget deficit, and overpaid government workers. Specifically, Romney said, “Average government workers, are now making $30,000 a year more than the average private sector worker.”
Here is the video:
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Romney said, “We can compete around the world, there’s no question about that, David. We have the capacity to do that. The American workers are the best in the world, our technology is at the leading edge. America, long term, can be the, the powerful economic engine it’s always been. But the real threat right here is something that Alan Greenspan just said if we don’t take action to rein in the scale of government and the growth of government spending and the compensation levels of government workers–you saw government workers, average government workers, are now making $30,000 a.”
He continued, “These kinds of excesses and the massive deficits that, that, that government is putting in place, over a trillion dollars a year for these coming several years, this threatens our long-term viability, because it, it, it suggests that we could have runaway inflation. And, and the Fed and the federal government are going to have to rein in, pull back from what have been the excesses of these past years, Republican and Democrat. It’s not a partisan issue, it’s a growth of government issue. And it’s got to stop, or America’s future could be very much in jeopardy.”
It is clear that attacking Washington is going to be the centerpiece of Romney’s 2012 campaign. The problem for him is that every non-incumbent candidate attacks Washington with the same generic language. When he brought up government workers, he was trying to play into the stereotype that public sector workers are overpaid and lazy.
Romney’s suggestion that public sector employees’ salaries have something to do with the budget deficit is absurd. If government workers are overpaid that why can’t governments at all levels attract and keep top talent? In almost all specialized fields the public sector acts as a training program for the private sector.
The reality is that discretionary spending, which is the part of the budget that the government can cut, makes up only one third of the total budget. The other two thirds are mandatory spending. Employee salaries make up a very small portion of government spending. Romney knows this, but he keeps uttering this kind of gibberish, in the hope that Republicans will make him their 2012 nominee.
If you’re ready to read more from the unbossed and unbought Politicus team, sign up for our newsletter here! Email address: Leave this field empty if you're human: |
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