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Q: Qualifed this vs simple name in anonymous class In the following code, why does Java think that the simple name numCows might not be initialized?  Why does using a qualified-this prevent the error?
import java.util.function.Function;

public class CowFarm {

    private final int numCows;

    public CowFarm(int numCows) {
        this.numCows = numCows;
    }

    // Fails to compile
    //
    // CowFarm.java:12: error: variable numCows might not have been initialized
    public final Function<Integer, Integer> MULTIPLY_COWS = (k -> numCows * 2);

    // Works fine
    public final Function<Integer, Integer> DIVIDE_COWS = (k -> CowFarm.this.numCows * 2);
}

A: From the Java Specification:

For every access of a... blank final field x, x must be definitely assigned before the access, or a compile-time error occurs... Such an assignment is defined to occur if and only if either the simple name of the variable (or, for a field, its simple name qualified by this) occurs on the left hand side of an assignment operator.

final fields that appear on the left-hand side of the assignment operator (=) in the class declaration are instantiated before final fields in the class constructors. final fields qualified by the this keywork are instantiated after the class constructor. Consider the following example:
public class Foo{

    //Instantiated before constructor
    final Bar bar1 = new Bar();

    //Instantiated by constructor
    final Bar bar2;

    //Instantiated after constructor
    final Bar bar3 = this.bar2;

    //Compile time error
    final Bar bar3 = bar2;

    public Foo(Bar bar) {
        this.bar2 = bar;
    }
}

In your case, the problem is that numCows is not definitely assigned when you try to instantiate MULTIPLY_COWS. The this qualifier ensures that numCows is definitely assigned when MULTIPLY_COWS is instantiated.
// This works fine, as well
public final Function<Integer, Integer> DIVIDE_COWS = (k -> this.numCows * 2);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Women You Should Know – Gladys (McKelvie) Egber
Barbara Godin
Gladys (McKelvie) Egbert (1897-1968) was born December 31, 1897 in Rapid City, Manitoba. She began studying piano as a young girl and has been described as the world's best music teacher. In 1909, she was the youngest student awarded a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London, England. As well, she was the first Canadian ever to receive this award. Gladys moved to New York City to continue her studies at the Julliard School of Music. She turned down an opportunity to become a concert pianist to return to Calgary and open her own studio. She spent her life teaching piano to some of the most gifted students in Alberta. In 1936, Egbert was granted a fellowship by the Royal Academy of Music in England. She was the first North American to receive this honour. In 1965, Gladys received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Alberta. In 1967, Gladys received the Centennial Award from the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers' Association. Egbert died in 1968. This same year, the Rose Bowl was donated to the Calgary Kiwanis Music Festival in memory of Dr. Egbert's contribution as an outstanding piano teacher.
Source for additional information
Encyclopedia of Music in Canada: Egbert, Gladys – http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001104
In Conversation With . . . Rita Shelby, Part II
Wanda Waterman St. Louis
Women You Should Know
From My Perspective – A Tribute To My Piano Teacher

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: shared_ptr Assertion px != 0 failed I have a fairly complex multi threaded application (server) that from time to time will crash due to an assert:
/usr/include/boost/smart_ptr/shared_ptr.hpp:418: T* boost::shared_ptr< <template-parameter-1-1> >::operator->() const [with T = msg::Player]: Assertion `px != 0' failed.

I have been unable to pinpoint the cause and was wondering if  this is a problem with boost::shared_ptr or it is me?
I tried g++ 4.4.3-4ubuntu5 and llvm-g++ (GCC) 4.2.1 with optimization and without optimization and libboost1.40-dev (= 1.40.0-4ubuntu4).

A: There should be no problem with using boost::shared_ptr as long as you initialize your shared pointers correctly and use the same memory management context for all your shared object libraries.
In your case you are trying to use an uninitialized shared pointer.
boost::shared_ptr<Obj> obj;
obj->Something(); // assertion failed

boost::shared_ptr<Obj> obj(new Obj);
obj->Something(); // ok

I would advise to initialize them right on declaration whenever possible. Exception handling can create a lot of "invisible" paths for the code to run and it might be quite difficult to identify the non initialized shared pointers.
PS: There are other issues if you load/unload modules where shared_ptr are in use leading to chaos. This is very hard to solve but in this case you would have a non zero pointer. This is not what is happening to you right now.
PPS: The pattern used is called RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization)

A: you might want to make sure that you

always use a named smart pointer variable to hold the result of new

like it is recommended here: boost::shared_ptr - Best Practices
Regards,
Jonny

A: Here's to reviving an ancient question. I just hit this, and it was due to a timing issue. I was trying to use the shared_ptr from one thread before I'd finished initializing it in another.
So if someone hits the above message, check your timing to ensure your shared_ptr has been initialized.


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Q: Setting-up Lua in Cocos Code IDE I am starting a new Lua project so I downloaded Cocos2d-x and Cocos Code IDE. How to configure the IDE so that it uses cocos2d-x? See the picture below:

Whenever I point that to cocos2d-x folder, an error pops-out:

I am just a beginner, and I chose cocos2d over Corona because it's open-source and free.

A: Make sure you are using (at least) cocos2d-x version 3.2. I had the same problem when I tried first with version 2.2.5 but, as you will read on the wiki under the heading Basic Requirements, you must use 3.2 Final.
In a related vein, though not the cause of your problem, as a Windows user you need to have Python 2.7.x installed.


"This is my time to showcase all I have learned in my 14 years of education"
"How is it even possible to get 10 A1s?"
"Mam should just be happy I don't do drugs"
"This won't be too bad. Two weeks of hard work and dedication and then I'm free"
"This is going to be the worst two weeks of my life"
"I got this. I am going to oooooown this LC"
"I'm going to fail everything and end up homeless"
"Can I bring food into this thing?"
"Oh my God what's my exam number again?"
"Did I bring my protractor?!"
"My calculator has been working on the same battery for 2 years but SHOULD I HAVE GOTTEN A NEW ONE?"
"How does Pythagoras theorem go again?"
"How has she written so many pages?!"
"What time is it acceptable to leave because I am on a train to Failtown"
"To drop to pass...or not to drop to pass...that is the question"
"Why is it necessary to memorise Shakespeare quotes though? I don't even know what any of them mean"
"My poet better come up"
"Knew Yeats would come up, no way he couldn't"
"I can't believe Boland didn't come up"
"That was horrific but my oral should definitely pull me up..."
"God I really need to pee but there just isn't enough time"
"Michael Collins was a good man. I just wish I could remember more at this time about what he did"
"Kelsey's hair is really nice today"
"Why on earth do I need to bring colouring pencils into an exam?!"
"Did I bring enough pens? WHAT IF THEY ALL RUN OUT?"
"Mam's candle better still be shining bright right now"
"Remember when Sabrina kept saying 'mitosis is...'? Ha. I wish I knew what it was now"
"WHY IS GENETICS SO CONFUSING?"
"That paper was SO much harder than last year's...SO unfair"
"Always remember the bell curve"
"Do I really need to shower today? Probably not...4 days without a shower is fine"
"I think I'm getting alopecia"
"Who is that gremlin in the mirror staring back at me?"
"GIVE ME ALL OF THE CHOCOLATE"
"Will I try and commit to an all-nighter?"
"I'M SO TIRED I DON'T EVEN CARE ANYMORE"
"When will this ever end?"
"I can definitely learn 4 hardbacks worth of notes in 2 hours"
"Why did everyone tell me it wouldn't be as bad as I thought? Why did they lie to me?"
"I will NEVER lie to my children like that. I'll be telling them about the sh*tstorm that's about to ensue"
"I can't remember what freedom smells like"
"Speaking of odours, I stink"
"I wonder what everyone is doing for the end of exams?"
"Ugh...Should I have gotten a new outfit? I really should have"
"I don't even care that I just drew bunnies all over that exam paper"
"Barcode better not be all sold out for Friday"
"In fairness, it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be"


Sweet & Sour Red Cabbage - Now....you're cooking!
A great holiday side dish.
Place butter, cabbage, apple and sugar in a large pot.
Pour vinegar and water over. Stir in spices.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until cabbage is tender (about 45 minutes to an hour).


text:
Home Press Images on cigarette packs are putting Koreans off smoking
Images on cigarette packs are putting Koreans off smoking
The number of smokers turning to smoking cessation clinics in a bid to stop smoking has doubled in the last year, with 80% of the callers saying that what prompted them to call were the graphic warning images on cigarette packs.
A couple of months back, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of South Korea, put in place a regulation that forces cigarette manufacturers to put graphic images of the harmful effects of smoking on cigarette packets. There are 10 different stirring pictures showing deadly conditions such as lung cancer or laryngeal cancer, and they cover both sides of the cigarette packs.
Since this campaign started, smoking-cessation clinics all across Korea have witnessed a two-fold increase of visitors, from 26,320 smokers last year to 51,450 as of this January.
An article published earlier today on Korea Joongang Daily, said that smoking-cessation consultations are on the rise since this campaign started, and smoking-cessation clinics all across South Korea have witnessed a two-fold increase of visitors, from 26,320 smokers last year to 51,450 as of this January.
Additionally the number of calls received on smoking-cessation consultation line, 1544-9030, have also increased significantly. From 330 in December, to 587 in January, and an astounding 1,214 only in first two weeks of February. Most importantly 80 percent of those who called to seek assistance, said that the horrific images were the catalyst behind their call.
Astounding numbers
Lim Min-kyung, Professor at the National Cancer Center, who oversees the consultation line, said, "Normally in January, the number of smoking cessation consultations and clinic enrollments increases due to New Year's resolutions, but it isn't common for there to be an increase in February," adding, "Due to the graphical warnings, it appears the consultations will continue to increase."
"Normally in January, the number of smoking cessation consultations and clinic enrollments increases due to New Year's resolutions, but it isn't common for there to be an increase in February, and due to the graphical warnings, it appears the consultations will continue to increase."Lim Min-kyung, Professor at the National Cancer Center
This data will most certainly come as good news to UK health officials who are adopting a similar strategy. As from May 2017, all cigarette packs in the UK must be sold in plain packaging, with nothing to distinguish them from one another besides the brand names at the bottom of the packs and very prominent health warnings which will cover 65% of the packet surface, back and front.
Next step : A ban on covering warning images
In the meantime a member of staff from the Division of Health Promotion at the Health Ministry of Korea, Kwon Byeong-gi, added, "There are plans to legislate the banning of obscuring the graphic warnings in display stores by retail stores as soon as possible, considering those who experience revulsion from the graphic images, we will also intensify TV campaigns to raise awareness."
graphic images on cigarette packs
Kwon Byeong-gi
Lim Min-kyung
smoking cessation campaign
south Korea smoking cessation
warnings on cigarette packs
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AR-101 • Arpeggios: Why? How? Which? When?
Re: AR-101 • Arpeggios: Why? How? Which? When?
them a little boring. If you want to use them just leave off the 7th.
So with arpeggios... It doesn't matter what sequence the notes are played in but the corresponding notes of the chord are played in their entirety to be an arpeggio?
Seems that blues and jazz are highlighted to use arpeggios.
Is folk fingerstyle playing using arpeggios? Or does it again depend on entirety of the chord played?
Generally with arpeggio's proper the sequence is played in order, that is typically how you hear them used. Albeit starting on any degree and changing direction at will. Generally what is happening in jazz and blues as a part of the lead line or melodic thing, more scalar thinking.
If you hold a chord and just kind of pick out the notes of that chord in it is often called "arpeggiating" the chord. That is more chord grip shape based, more rhythm thinking, instead of strumming you pick out notes, more harmony thinking. Generally what is happening in folk finger style.
I see so arpeggios aren't holding a chord just playing the notes in the chord as a lead line. Great thanks for the clarification.
When beginning to practice arpeggios, do you generally think about the notes or the intervals? For example, when practicing an A7 arpeggio, do you believe it's more useful to be thinking A-C#-E-G or Root-MajorThird-Fifth-MinorSeventh?
I've been doing the latter, which is good for thinking about the chord in general, but I'm also finding that thinking about the notes is useful. For example, if I want to move somewhere else on the fingerboard it's natural for me to think "I need a G" when switching positions. It's not so natural for me to think "I need the minor seventh in A."
I suspect the answer may be "both," but I'm wondering if there's a "best practice" when starting.


The Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department offers public skating from September through April. Daily Admission is: Children - $4.00, Adults - $5.00 and Families - $10.00. Ice Skate Rentals are available. Skate sharpening is also available. Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JohnLWilsonArena/ or our website www.jamestownparksandrec.com for dates, times and updates on public skating.
The northeast corner of Eagle's Arena has a dryland shooting area, to improve your hockey skills, the area is open to use during business hours, when our facilities are open, no skates, please bring your own hockey stick, pucks are provided.
The Jamestown Parks and Recreation Department is sponsoring roller skating, starting May after the ice is out of Wilson Arena. Skating will be Sundays, from 6-8PM at Wilson Arena. Length of season will depend on participation. Cost is $5.00 per person. Bring your own skates; there are a limited number of skate rentals available. Come join the FUN!!
Looking for a unique advertising experience? Have you thought about putting your business information on a dasher board at Wilson or Eagle Arena or on the Zamboni? Call for prices and availability, 701-252-3939, ask for Junior or 701-252-3982, and ask for Bonnie.


One of the better known stock anarchist phrases is 'No Gods, No Masters' but despite this there have been various attempts to invent religous forms of anarchist thought. In recent years there have been various attempts to blend Islam and anarchism - we are aware of examples from South Africa, the USA and Britain. The more traditional anarchist communist approach has been to extend the hostile analysis of other state religions like Christanity and Confucianism to Islam.
Here we present a range of anarchist communist writings on Islam as well as writings by Islamic 'anarchists' and background writings by socialists and others on Islam.
Over 130 years ago the anarchist Micheal Bakunin wrote "I reverse the phrase of Voltaire, and say that, if God really existed, it would be necessary to abolish him." Writing of the Christian churches in Europe, he said "In talking to us of God they propose, they desire, to elevate us, emancipate us, ennoble us, and, on the contrary, they crush and degrade us. With the name of God they imagine that they can establish fraternity among men, and, on the contrary, they create pride, contempt; they sow discord, hatred, war; they establish slavery." These words today are applicable to Islam.
Neither secular not theocratic state dictatorship!
Kemal Atatürk (1881-1938) had founded the Republic of Turkey in 1923 upon six principles: republicanism, laicism , reformism, nationalism, populism, and statism. Under the Kemalist regime the State was set free from the dominance of religion and religion was put under the control of the State. Especially the ideas of Republicanism, Laicism, and Reformism were made good use of by the Kemalist élite to oppress people of Islamic faith. The relationship between the oppressor and the oppressed generally involves both oppression and resistance. But the relationship between Kemalists and Islamists in Turkey, as we will see, does not only consists in that: they also tend to exploit each other to achieve their ends.
Standing up to religious oppression or state racism?
Ultimately we believe that people should have the freedom to dress whatever way they like. This means freedom from state interference and freedom from religious interference in how one should dress. Anarchist reflections on the debate around the banning of the veil in French schools.
Why the Reversion to Islamic Archaism?
}We reproduce a key 1981 essay on Islamic fundamentalism by the Middle Eastern radical writer Lafif Lakhdar. This is a detailed materialist history of the development of Islamic archaism up to the Iranian revolution.
Islamic Anarchism, Pipedream or Possibility?
This web site is well worth looking at to get beyond Bush and Blairs defence of the Islamic religion rather then people who happen to be from a Muslim background. The articles opposite are a selection from the site.
Irshad Manji is the best-selling author of The Trouble with Islam Today. It has been published internationally, including in Pakistan. The Urdu as well as Arabic translations are posted on this website, and can be downloaded free of charge.
"it is the Western rendition of Islam, and not an expression which Muslims have anything to do with. Apparently, it seems to imply that there is what you may call fundamentalist Islam as distinct from non-fundamentalist Islam"
From "Muslim Saints and Mystics: Episodes from the Tadhkirat al-Auliya' (Memorial of the Saints)"
Fazl brought Harun to the door of the house of Sofyan-e Oyaina. They knocked at the door.
"Who is it?" Sofyan asked.
"The Commander of the Faithful," Fazl replied.
Hearing of what had happened, Sofyan said, "Fozail-e Iyaz is such a man as you are seeking. You must go to him." And he recited this verse: Or do those who commit evil deeds think that We shall make them as those who believe and do righteous deeds?
"If I am seeking good counsel, this is sufficient," remarked Harun.
They knocked at Fozail's door.
"Who is it?" Fozail asked.
"What business has he with me, and what have I to do with him?" Fozail demanded.
"Is it not a duty to obey those in authority?" countered Fazl.
"Do not disturb me," cried Fozail.
"Shall I enter with an authority or a command?" said Fazl.
Harun entered. As he approached Fozail, the latter blew out the lamp so as not to see his face. Harun stretched out his hand, and Fozail's hand met it.
"How smooth and soft this palm is, if only it could escape from Hell-fire!" Fozail remarked. So saying, he arose and stood in prayer. Harun was much affected and weeping overcame him. "Say something to me," he begged.
Harun wept bitterly, so that his consciousness was like to fail.
"Enough! You have slain the Commander of the Faithful," chided Fazl the vizier.
"I am speaking of debts owed to men, Fozail," said Harun.
Then Harun placed a purse of a thousand dinars before him. "This is lawful coin, of my mother's inheritance," he said.
It may not be bad to distinguish a living myth -a sort of spirit of the community- from its carcas or its recuperation called religion. And hence all religins in this sense would include such wisdoms. I can supply you with many examples from Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism & Budhism. But I like such stories in hoping that they may fire living imaginations.


text:
Driver denies phone use in 2008 accident
By Louise Cullen BBC News NI
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-44358104
Image caption The teenagers were knocked down on Croaghrim Road almost 10 years ago
The driver of a car which struck and killed two teenagers in Fermanagh 10 years ago has denied using her phone while driving at a second inquest.
Debbie Whyte, 14, died along with Nathan Gault, 15, after they were hit by a car in Florencecourt in 2008.
They had got off a school bus shortly before they were knocked down.
Yvonne Seaman broke down in Omagh Coroner's Court on Monday as she was asked about activity on her phone around the time of the accident.
She denied using her phone while driving several times.
"It happened so fast," she said.
"I just hit something. I didn't know what it was."
Before leaving the witness box, she turned to the Whyte and Gault families and said she wanted them to know how sorry she was and wished it had never happened.
Second inquest
The attorney general ordered a fresh inquest after Debbie's mother, Ann Whyte, contacted the Ombudsman in 2012 with concerns about phone use in relation to the accident on Croaghrim Road.
Mrs Whyte told the second inquest that she and her husband ran to their daughter as she lay on the road.
Image caption Flowers and notes were left at the scene in 2008
She told the court she was never asked for a statement about what she saw.
Mrs Whyte was composed on the witness stand in Omagh Coroner's Court as she recounted how, on the day the teenagers were knocked down, she and her husband had been at a shop about a mile and a half away when her mother-in-law phoned.
She told them there had been an accident and Debbie was hurt. The schoolgirl died in hospital the next day.
'Unresponsive'
Nathan Gault's body was later found in his uncle's garden.
A third teenager who was walking with the pair, Wayne Manley, was unhurt.
Mr Manley, who was 14 at the time, also gave evidence to the new inquest.
He became emotional as he told the court that he remembered feeling the car's wing mirror clip his arm.
He said he turned to ask his friends if they had seen that happen, but saw one of them rolling down the grass verge so he called for an ambulance.
Mr Manley said police interviewed him two months after the accident, but he said he was never asked about his phone.
In the period between the accident and his interview, he was asked to make notes of anything he remembered, but Mr Manley told the inquest he "wasn't great for writing things".
No streetlights
Another witness, Darren Ferris, also made a statement to police about two months after the deaths.
He was driving on Croaghrim Road on that day and said it was darker than usual and there were no streetlights on the road.
He said he had seen the three children walking, three abreast.
When asked by the coroner's representative what he found unusual about that, he said he thought it was dangerous.
A first inquest in 2010 concluded wearing "illuminating clothing" could have prevented their deaths.
Fermanagh school gets glow-in-the-dark uniforms
'Unbearable grief' at road deaths
Name of road victim is released


text:
Suspended Dreams (Ahlam Mu'allakah)
Through the eyes of two ex-militia fighters, a critical playwright and a woman looking for her kidnapped husband, this documentary looks at a Beirut community rebuilding its life after 16 years of war.
DOAN | Filmmakers 2
Mai Masri
Mai Masri (b. 1959) is a Palestinian filmmaker largely based in Lebanon. Masri received a degree in film production from San Francisco State University. She has directed and produced several award-winning films that have been broadcast and shown internationally.
Mai Masri & Jean Chamoun -- 50', Arabic (Lebanon: 1992)
Tagged: Suspended Dreams, Mai Masri, Jean Chamoun
Staying Alive (Bidna Na'ish)
Take My Sister and Give Me Yours


Total Lubrifiants, which is headquartered in Paris, France, and Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corp. have renewed their partnership until 2020. The partnership ensures the continuation of Total's exclusive supply of Mazda genuine oils to its dealership networks spanning more than 45 countries, mainly in Europe. Total supplies about 2,300 garages, repair shops and authorised dealers.
Total said that Mazda cars have travelled more than 140 billion kilometres since the partnership was first established and development work has seen products specifically created for the brand's Skyactiv engine range.
"The technological innovations incorporated into our lubricants are a decisive factor for the continued development of new engines and new engine technologies," said Philippe Charleux, Total Lubrifiants chairman and CEO.


Being an absolute brain-geek and prone to salivate over eloquent speaking, I was thoroughly impressed with this 24 minute interview with Peter Pynta and Richard Silberstein of Neuro-Insight. If you are interested in really understanding how Neuromarketing works, this video interview would be in my top 5 recommendations.
To make things easy for you, I regularly update the Verilliance YouTube Channel with videos relevant to Neuromarketing, Behavioral Economics, etc.


Prince Harry of Wales is a 34-year-old helicopter pilot. He graduated from Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He is the son of Charles, Prince of Wales and Diana, Princess of Wales. He is living in Kensington Palace in United Kingdom. He is 73.0 inches tall.
The couple was introduced by Harry's cousin, Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson , who attended Leeds University with Bonas.
Prince Harry introduces girlfriend Meghan Markle to Queen Elizabeth.
Harry and Meghan are believed to have met up with Prince Albert, son of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, along with his wife, Princess Charlene.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Hold Hands at First Official Public Appearance Together.
The author added: "She told me she'd been on a night out with Prince Harry.
"His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle.
Meghan Markle 'quits Suits' as she plans to wed Prince Harry.
Prince Harry wears chinos for third day at Invictus Games.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have stepped out together for their very first official public appearance, with hand-holding and inside jokes aplenty!
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Took Their First Public Pictures As a Couple at Invictus Games Toronto.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first official appearance together as a couple at the Invictus Games in Toronto on Monday.
All eyes on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as they attend Caribbean wedding as an official couple.
Prince Harry is set to tie the knot with actress Meghan Markle, after dating the American Suits star for 16 months.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle hold hands at Invictus Games.
His nickname there was "Harry Potter," according to Lieutenant Kayon Mills, who trained with the prince.


Oculus has now announced its first standalone VR headset at its Connect 4 conference in San Jose. Oculus, the pioneers in the field of VR, is currently owned by Facebook; with its VR team headed by former Google and Xiaomi executive, Hugo Barra. At its annual developer conference, Mark Zuckerberg hit the stage to unveil the Oculus Go.
The Oculus Go is a mobile headset that bridges the gap between the company's two other offerings – the Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift. For the uninitiated, the Samsung Gear VR is a VR headset designed to be powered by a handful of top-tier Samsung smartphones. The Oculus Rift, on the other hand, would cost you nearly $500 and needs a powerful PC. So, the Oculus Go attends to the shortcoming of other two headsets. Zuckerberg claims that the Oculus Go has been designed primarily aimed at first time VR users. The main advantage with a standalone VR headset is its cost. You basically need to invest on the headset and you are raring to go. No need to shell out on extra stuff, like a smartphone or a PC.
Facebook co-founder further adds that the Oculus Go would offer the most accessible VR experience ever. It's incredibly light and soft to wear due to the use of a new mesh material. The straps to have built with incredible attention to detail, thereby enabling users to consume VR experience in the Oculus Go for longer durations. The standalone headset utilizes a fast switch WQHD LCD screen for delivering an impeccable viewing experience. This is clubbed with spatial audio. So you no longer need to plug in a headphone onto the headset. In short, the Oculus Go comprises of a mini computer built into the headset.
Just like the Samsung Gear VR, the Oculus Go will allow users to spin around in the VR world. That said, they won't be able to move freely; something that's possible with the higher end Rift. Then, the Rift costs just double the Go and need a number of room sensors for activating all of its spatial features. Additionally, all of Gear VR's titles would be compatible with the new Oculus Go.
Mark Zuckerberg aims to draw a large mass of first-time users to the VR platform with the Oculus Go. Naturally, the price would play a deciding factor. The virtual reality headset has been priced quite reasonably at $199, thereby landing right in between the $129 Gear VR and $499 Rift. Furthermore, Oculus will be selling Gear VR like controllers with the Oculus Go. The headset would start shipping from early next year. Facebook has however revealed that the developer kit for Oculus Go will be sent across to developers in November.
On a related note, Google is also said to working on its own standalone VR headset. It would be interesting to see how the market shapes up once both these headsets are available to the public.


Two years ago, six brave entrepreneurs pitched their game-changing ideas to our panel of esteemed judges at the first EMA IMPACT Summit. The stakes were high, as competitors were not only after the $50K grand prize but the illustrious title of being the first company to win our EMA Future Innovator of the Year Contest. After two rounds of grilling from our judges, Thread International took home the winning title. Thread showcases what IMPACT is all about: a business solution to a ubiquitous environmental problem, in this case, plastic pollution, that benefits a community struggling economically. In other words, it's a solution that works on many levels.
Thread creates clothing and accessories from recycled plastic, creating work in job-starved countries that struggle with plastic pollution such as Haiti. Since winning at our EMA IMPACT Summit, Thread has continued to grow. Here at EMA, we care about all of our IMPACT Innovators and do all we can to shine a light on their important work.
We sat down with Ian Rosenberger, CEO, and Founder of Thread, to check in on how they are doing.
You were the first winner of our IMPACT Future Innovator of the Year Contest. How did winning help your company? Where are you now compared to when you won?
EMA's Future Innovator of the Year Challenge was great visibility for Thread. We enjoyed the process and were blown away by the other companies involved. More than anything, having people in the entertainment industry that care about the same things we care about: using business to create a planet our grandchildren will be proud to inherit, makes it feel like we've got incredible high profile people who have our back.
In terms of progress since we've won, Marmot, Reebok and Aerie have all signed on as clients making tees, women's workout shoes, and leggings, respectively, and we recently launched the very first product of our own, a backpack, that we're proud to say is doing great on Kickstarter.
What motivated you to start Thread?
I went to Haiti after the earthquake there in 2010. I made a bunch of friends, and I just got sick of seeing them unemployed while also seeing how much trash was going into canals, the landfill, and the ocean.
How can recycling help job-starved countries such as Haiti?
Recycling can help all countries! When we throw stuff away, we're just throwing away GDP. If you haven't read the Nat Geo issue this summer on plastic or checked out their Plant or Plastic? effort, you should. This is a big effing deal. Anytime there is that much raw material just sitting around there is a big opportunity for industry and jobs. This is going to sound weird, but until it's banned (which it most definitely should be) we have to start thinking about plastic as a renewable resource.
You just launched a backpack made from recycled canvas. Tell us about that.
Yes! We're really proud of the backpack's progress. I can't tell you the number of times I walk off planes and see people in front of me that look great otherwise and then have this ratty/boring monstrosity of a backpack on their back. I'm in love with how it looks and more than that, we spent 8 months making it WORK for people. The result is a bag that looks good, but that can really meet you and your busy day head-on in 2018 (that's why we created the wine pocket).
Our original goal was $45,000 in 40 days. We're about to reach $400,000 and think we can hit $600,000 by the end of the campaign on Sept 19. It's been a long six weeks, but if we hit it, that means another 120,000 bottles saved from landfills and the oceans!
We have big plans for this product and what follows it. We're just so disappointed by what's being offered by the apparel industry right now. There's a lot of lip service to good materials and good supply chains, but there is still a massive need for more companies that make stuff that looks great, fits you at every moment of your day, and that you don't have to worry if it hurts the planet or the people on it.
You've partnered with major brands such as Reebok and Timberland. Do you see a shift with these big companies in how they approach sustainability?
Seeing the work that Reebok and Timberland are doing is admirable and they've been good partners. Speaking about the larger industry though, we just need 1000x more of stuff like this. We shouldn't be making one or two products out of good materials. All products should be that way. There is not one good reason not to do it. If we can make this leap, we can use an industry that traditionally has been among the most polluting on the planet (which is saying something) to clean up the mess, which would be huge!
I recently heard somebody say that "The future is here, it's just not widely distributed yet" I love this idea; it applies here. We just need more! Banning straws is nice, but it's not enough. We wouldn't have to make stuff out of plastic bottles if Pepsi and Coke stopped manufacturing them. I promise I could find other things to use to make backpacks and shoes and shirts!
Why should startups and young entrepreneurs attend the EMA IMPACT Summit?
It's a terrific atmosphere. We find ourselves in a really strange and disconcerting time. It's energizing to be in a room with people who can see over the horizon to a better world. That room is powerful and can change the whole world. I love atmospheres like that.
Relive the excitement of last year's EMA IMPACT Summit with our photos and videos. Stay tuned for exciting announcements regarding the 2019 Summit!
Speaking of the success of our Future Innovator of the Year alumni, last year's winner, WatchTower Robotics, was recently featured on BussinessInsider.com. Founder You Wu has ambitious goals to get his leak-detecting robots in the hands of field technicians in every single city around the world.
Why do we desperately need better leak detection in our water pipes? According to the article, "The American Society of Civil Engineers' 2017 "Infrastructure Report Card" estimates that there are 240,000 water-main breaks in the United States each year, equivalent to wasting more than 2 trillion gallons of treated drinking water annually. About 20% of clean water worldwide is lost daily, according to WatchTower Robotics."
It's horrifying to think that we are losing 20% of our clean water every day. Thankfully, You Wu has developed a solution that is making an impact!
Last month, EMA President and CEO, Debbie Levin joined Board Members Ed Begley Jr., Ashlan Cousteau, Philippe Cousteau, Frances Fisher, Daryl Hannah, Wendie Malick, Amber Valletta, and Shailene Woodley in signing a letter to the Portuguese Prime Minister calling for an end to all oil exploration.
800 people, including activists from 80 countries, took part in an aerial art action calling for Portugal to drop plans for off-shore oil drilling and to support a just transition to a regenerative 100% renewable energy economy.
Portugal has a history of avoiding fossil fuels, which is why it would be so disappointing to see them start drilling. According to tamera.org, "Portugal has never extracted oil or gas or built nuclear power plants and is known as a haven for green power. Currently, there are still 5 active contracts for oil and gas drilling: 3 concessions for offshore deep-sea oil drilling and underwater fracking off the Alentejo and Algarve coast held by Eni and Galp, including one off the coast of Aljezur, and 2 for gas drilling on land in the Leiria district, held by Australis." We can't let this happen! Portugal must continue to be a shining example of climate leadership.
Please Share The Video and Sign the Letter!
Each Sunday, the EMA community shares an optimistic story on social media. From a new plastic ban to a conservation win, these stories are meant to give people hope among a news cycle that's too often doom and gloom. Please share our message along with EMA and our Board Members to help us reach the most people!
Please support EMA's ongoing missions and programs with a donation.


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The TRUTH About the #AerieMan Campaign
Libero Magazine
There seems to be a lot of miscommunication regarding both the campaign and the follow-up press release. Rather than share our opinion or interpretation, we thought we would simply share the facts.
Earlier this week we posted an exciting announcement about American Eagle's #AerieMan Video/Campaign (read here). On April 1st, American Eagle released a Press Release that has stirred up a lot of conversation and some backlash.
Here is a link to American Eagle's Press Release on April 1, 2016:
http://investors.ae.com/press-releases/financial-news-details/2016/American-Eagle-Outfitters-Challenges-Marketing-Norms-With-AerieMAN-Parody-Video–Campaign-Launch/default.aspx
Here are some key takeaways (though we recommend you read the full release for yourself):
NEW YORK, April 1, 2016, /PRNewswire/ — American Eagle Outfitters proves once again they're not afraid to take a risk and have a laugh in support of a good cause. Following the successes of the Skinny Skinny Jean in 2013 and American Beagle Outfitters in 2014, the brand reveals today its #AerieMAN campaign, featuring a mix of quirky characters of different sizes and personalities sharing "real life" stories in their skivvies, was all in good fun to parody the #AerieReal campaign by Aerie, a leader in body-positive marketing. This announcement marks the brand's pledge to forego retouching its male models in its underwear and swim images beginning Holiday 2016. American Eagle Outfitters maximized the brand's visibility in mid-March due to its history with April Fools hoaxes in order to raise awareness around body diversity.
The #AerieMAN campaign, which sparked immediate online chatter and debate, challenged how brands market to the male customer, and portrayed a lighthearted, creative interpretation of the #AerieReal message, a body-acceptance movement launched in 2014 where Aerie, the lingerie and apparel brand from American Eagle Outfitters, stopped retouching its models. In addition to making the pledge to eliminate retouching its male models in its underwear and swim images, American Eagle Outfitters has donated $25,000 to the National Eating Disorders Association, a non-profit that supports those affected by eating disorders and an ongoing partner with Aerie. For more information on NEDA, please visit www.nationaleatingdisorders.com.
American Eagle also sent this response to NYLON who published an article regarding this issue yesterday:
UPDATE: Aerie has informed NYLON that the campaign, while a hoax itself, was nonetheless intended to spotlight its commitment to refusing to retouch its male models. Further, one of the models in the campaign, Kelvin Davis, reached out to NYLON via Facebook to say: "I was not fooling anyone in this campaign. Everything I said and represent is 100% true. I am the main male body positive advocate!!!" He added: "I want to set the record straight. I was 100 percent real in that campaign. There is nothing fake about the men in that video! How they marketed it had nothing to do with us!"
We also found this post on Instagram from one of the models in the campaign:
I know a lot of you have questions. My stance and advocation for body positivity has and will always be a major part of my life. I know the struggle of trying to accept yourself for you and battling to know if you are good enough! I had to put myself out there to get the message across that this is no joke. As a result I'm happy and excited to announce that @americaneagle will no longer be retouching male models in underwear or swim by Holiday 2016! This is a huge step forward. I'm happy to be apart of this and keep the drive going to a more body diverse fashion industry! I love YOU all and remember the REAL YOU is SEXY! No JOKE. ?? ?? #AerieMan
A photo posted by Kelvin | Notoriously Dapper (@notoriouslydapper) on Apr 1, 2016 at 1:04pm PDT
Our final thoughts:
Mostly, we want you to read the facts for yourself and do your own research so you can decide. In our opinion, we do think American Eagle could have done a better job initially at communicating their message and intentions through this campaign (comparing it to past April Fool's campaigns–though relevant–easily leads to misinterpretation).
In addition, just as no people are perfect, no campaign is perfect (this one included). However, we believe this campaign started with good intentions (raising awareness for men's portrayal in media) and is ending with positive action (foregoing photoshop in future for men and a generous donation to NEDA). To us, this is the most important thing.
Tagsbody image body positive media + pop culture mental health
Forgiving Yourself for Staying in an Abusive Relationship
Why I Chose Body Neutrality Over Body Positivity in my Recovery
Stressed? Burnt Out? Tips For A More Peaceful Life
Aisha Tyler: "Success is persistence through failure"
Prison Break's Wentworth Miller Speaks Out About Depression and Body Image


He left behind an inconclusive war, but he made ultimate victory possible.
Moreover, Bush's achievement was not just infrastructure. It was war. The Afghan campaign overthrew the Taliban, decimated al-Qaeda, and expelled it from its haven. Yet that success is today derogated with the cheap and lazy catchphrase — "He got us into two wars" — intended to spread to Afghanistan the opprobrium associated with Iraq.
As if Afghanistan was some unilateral Bush adventure foisted on the American people. As if Obama himself did not call it a "war of necessity"; and Joe Biden, the most just war since World War II.
The dilemma in Afghanistan was what to do after the brilliant, nine-week victory? There was no good answer. Even with the benefit of seven years' grinding experience under his predecessor, Obama got it wrong. His Afghan "surge" cost hundreds of American lives without having changed the country's prospects.
Iraq was, of course, far more problematic. Critics conveniently forget that the invasion had broad support from the public and Congress, including from those who became the highest foreign-policy figures in the Obama administration — Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Chuck Hagel, and Biden.
And they forget the context — crumbling sanctions that would in short order have restored Saddam Hussein to full economic and regional power, well positioning him, post-sanctions, to again threaten his neighbors and restart his WMD program.
Was the war worth it? Inconclusive wars never yield a good answer. Was Korea worth it? It ended with a restoration of the status quo ante. Now 60 years later, we face nuclear threats from the same regime that was not defeated in a war that cost ten times as many American lives as Iraq.
The Iraq War had three parts. The initial toppling of the regime was a remarkable success — like Afghanistan, rapid and with relatively few U.S. casualties.
The occupation was a disaster, rooted in the fundamental contradiction between means and ends, between the "light footprint" chosen by General George Casey and the grand reformation attempted by Paul Bremer, who tried to change everything down to the coinage.
Finally, the surge, a courageous Bush decision taken against near-universal opposition, that produced the greatest U.S. military turnaround since the Inchon landing. And inflicted the single most significant defeat for al-Qaeda (save Afghanistan) — a humiliating rout at the hands of Iraqi Sunnis fighting side by side with the American infidel.
As with Lincoln, it took Bush years of agonizing bloody stalemate before he finally found his general and his strategy. Yet, for all the terrible cost, Bush bequeathed to Obama a strategically won war. Obama had one task: Conclude a status-of-forces agreement and thus secure Iraq as a major regional ally. He failed utterly. Iraq today is more fragile, sectarian, and Iranian-influenced than it was when Bush left office — and than it had to be.


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Gotham Independent Film Awards nominees announced
By Max Gouttebroze |
The Independent Filmmaker Project announced the nominees for its Gotham Independent Film Awards. Established in 1991, the Gotham Independent Film Awards celebrate independent filmmakers.
Ira Sachs' Love Is Strange received a nomination for Best Feature. The film stars John Lithgow and Alfred Molina as Ben and George, newlyweds who have been together for decades. George losses his teaching job when word of their marriage reaches his boss and the couple are forced to live apart while they search for a new home they can actually afford. Also nominated in that category is Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) which follows an aging actor (Michael Keaton) famous for once playing a superhero as he tries to re-launch his career with a Broadway play. Emma Stone plays his estranged lesbian daughter, who struggles to reconnect as her father tries to recover his life, career and family.
Gay director Justin Simien is nominated in the Bingham Ray Breakthrough Director Award category for Dear White People. The comedy centers on four Black students (one of whom is gay) at the fictional Winchester University in the weeks leading up to an annual frat party where students use blackface, afro wigs and more. Out writer, director and producer Justin Simien examines race, class and sexual orientation on liberal arts campuses in a generation that claims to be both "post-race" and "post Glee." Finally, Bill Hader received a Best Actor nod for his role in The Skeleton Twins. The film stars Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader as her gay twin brother, Milo, who reunite after years of separation and following near death experiences.
The Gotham Independent Film Awards will be held on Monday, December 1, 2014 in New York.
Independent Filmmaker Project,
Gotham Independent Film Awards
Photo Credit: The CW
Must-See LGBTQ TV: 'Batwoman' season 2 and 'Riverdale' season 5 premieres on the CW
Photo Credit: Hulu
The GLAAD Wrap: 'The U.S. vs. Billie Holiday' and 'The World to Come' new trailers; 'Sex and the City' reboot at HBO Max; new music videos from Trace Lysette, Shamir, Claud; and more!
Photo Credit: GLAAD
GLAAD's Where We Are on TV Report: Despite Tumultuous Year in Television, LGBTQ Representation Holds Steady


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What happened to the Oliver at the end of the story?
What is that Sir inquired poor Oliver What does that refer to?
Why was Oliver locked up in a room?
What was Oliver's plan?
How did Mr sowerberry want to use Oliver in the funeral processions?
What does Oliver Twist say?
Why does Oliver collapse in the garden of the house in Chertsey?
How did Oliver feel?
What is Nancy's last name in Oliver Twist?
How did Oliver feel when he was asked to appear before the live board?
Who planned to take away Oliver's?
WHO says more in Oliver Twist?
How do you look at Oliver's request please sir I want some more what compelled him to say this?
Answer. Answer: at the end of the story of the story of oliver with what's left of his inheritance, is legally adopted by Mr. Brownlow, and lives down the road from the Maylies.
What is that, sir? Here that' refers to the prayer. ' because he was an orphan and no one had taught him to say prayers. This is in the context of story Oliver Twist written by Charles Deckins.
Oliver falls on his knees and begs that he be locked in a room, beaten, killed, or any other punishment besides being apprenticed to Mr. The magistrate refuses to approve the apprenticeship, and the workhouse authorities again advertise Oliver's availability.
Oliver plans to dash for the stairs and warn the family. Sikes lowers him through the window. However, the residents of the house awake, and one shoots Oliver's arm.
After Oliver's been there for about a month, Mr. Sowerberry comes up with the great idea of using Oliver as a "mute" in children's funerals—in other words, they'd dress him up in black and have him go along with the funeral procession to make it all look more "interesting." After all, as Mr.
"Please, sir, I want some more." The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.
Why does Oliver collapse in the garden of the house in Chertsey? (He has realised, in horror, that he is being taken to rob the house).
Answer: Oliver was terrified when he was asked to appear before the magistrate. Oliver fell on his knees and begs that he was locked in a room, beaten besides any other apprenticeship to The magistrate refuses the approval of the apprenticeship and ordered the workhouse authorities to advertise.
Nancy is a fictional character in the 1838 novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and its several adaptations for theatre, television and films. She is a member of Fagin's gang and the lover, and eventual victim, of Bill Sikes….Nancy (Oliver Twist)
Created by Charles Dickens
Oliver was terrified when he was asked to appear before the magistrate. Oliver fell on his knees and begs that he was locked in a room, beaten besides any other apprenticeship to Mr. Garfield. The magistrate refuses the approval of the apprenticeship and ordered the workhouse authorities to advertise.
Around the time of Oliver's ninth birthday, Mr Bumble, the parish beadle, removes Oliver from the baby farm and puts him to work picking and weaving oakum at the main workhouse. Oliver, who toils with very little food, remains in the workhouse for six months.
"Please, sir, I want some more" is a famous quote from Oliver Twist as he asks the cook at the workhouse for more gruel. Oliver Twist is the second novel written by Charles Dickens. The story is of the orphan Oliver Twist, who starts his life in a workhouse and is then apprenticed with an undertaker.
Answer: Oliver and his companions suffered from extreme hunger and neglect. They used to work a lot and receive little food. Hunger and the urging of his companions made Oliver ask for more food.


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Bangabandhu had no illusions about Pakistanis
DHAKA, Aug 22, 2015 (BSS) - Even in the early days of Pakistan, Bangabandhu had understood that there was no alternative to attaining independence. Consequently all his activities were directed at attaining independence for the country.
After independence, the establishment of BKSAL was also aimed at the welfare of the nation. Many of his policies were later adopted by Zia and Ershad.
M Nazrul Islam's "Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Souvenir 3" compiles articles by educationists, journalists, judges and other intellectuals who elaborately explain Bangabandhu's times and his political philosophy.
Justice Golam Rabbani in his article says: On May 8, 1947 Sharat Bose and Abul Hashim had made a move for an independent Bengal but it could not be realized because of the hindrance of Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Soon after the creation of Pakistan in 1948, the Bengalis of East Bengal, which is now Bangladesh, opposed the Pakistan government's proposal of making Urdu the only official language of Pakistan.
Bangabandhu was part of the protests against imposing Urdu. "Soon, unknowingly he was the center of activities," Justice Rabbani writes about Bangabandhu in the early days of Pakistan.
Rabbani further writes: "During the Liberation War, Bangabandhu was imprisoned but he remained in the hearts of all Bengalis. He was the inspiration for the Freedom Fighters."
The deceased editor of the Bengali daily, Dainik Sangbad, Bazlur Rahman, in his article writes about a meeting between Bangabandhu and Communist Party leaders Moni Singh and Khoka Roy in 1962.
During the meeting, Singh and Roy raised the issues of democracy, autonomy and the rights of workers and peasants. Bangabandhu told them that the Pakistanis were not going to accept any demand, peacefully. Everything would have to be fought for.
Despite disparaging remarks about BAKSAL, both Zia and Ershad incorporated four issues from BKSAL's programme. They are: National unity, routing corruption, family planning and increasing production.
These were to form part of Zia's 19-point programme and Ershad's agenda, too.


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Soundvision: In Stereo is the debut album from Detroit hip hop duo Lawless Element, released September 20, 2005 on Babygrande Records. The album is produced by group member Magnif, with additional instrumentals and production supplied by J Dilla & Young RJ and Madlib. Guest appearances come from Dilla, Melanie Rutherford, Phat Kat, Big Tone and Diverse. The duo's earlier singles, "The Shining" and "High" are both featured here, as well as the single "Rules Pt. 2" and remixed versions of their past tracks "Represent" and "...Something".

Track listing

2005 debut albums
Midwest hip hop albums
Albums produced by J Dilla
Albums produced by Madlib
Babygrande Records albums

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


1. What are the benefits of being in a MIPS APM? Will that change in 2018 and after?
2. Are eligible clinicians in MIPS APMs eligible for the exceptional performance bonus? Are they compared to other MIPS APMs or are they compared to all MIPS eligible clinicians?


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use Mailgun\Mailgun;

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interface ClientFactoryInterface
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Justice Scalia: "The way to change the Constitution is through amendments approved by the people, not by judges altering the meaning of its words."
RICHMOND, Virginia, November 23, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia slammed the modern U.S. judiciary and the high court for using the idea of a "living constitution" to invent new rules and meanings that have led to a "right" to abortion and decriminalized homosexual conduct.
Scalia made his remarks last Friday during a University of Richmond luncheon lecture entitled "Do Words Matter?" The event was covered both by the Associated Press.
"The Constitution says what it says and it doesn't say anything more," said Scalia to an audience of 250 people, most of them legal professionals and academics.
Categories: Books & Publications, Events, Human Rights, Inspirational, Politics . Tags: "Do Words Matter?", abortion, homosexuality, judges, judicial fiat, Justice Scalia, law, Supreme Court, U.S. Constitution . Author: Doug Lawrence . Comments: Leave a comment
Writer claims present divorce system is not only unjust but fundamentally dishonest
In the decades since the inception of no-fault divorce, family law has gradually become an ethical cesspool.
Attorneys such as Hession charge that tapes and transcripts of hearings are routinely altered in family court. Hession's forensic evidence was published in 2001 in the Massachusetts News. When his client, Zed McLarnon, complained about the tampering and other irregularities, he was assessed $3,500 for attorneys he had not hired and jailed without trial by the same judges whose tapes were allegedly doctored.
"This is criminal misconduct," attorney Eugene Wrona says of similar practices in Pennsylvania, "and these people belong in jail." In May 1999, Insight magazine exposed a "slush fund" for Los Angeles family court judges into which attorneys and court-appointed "monitors" paid. These monitors are hired by the court to watch parents accused of spousal or child abuse while they are with their children.
The corrupting power of forced divorce now extends beyond the judiciary, validating the pope's observation that its consequences spread "like the plague."
In 2000, four leading Arkansas senators were convicted on federal racketeering charges connected with divorce. One scheme involved hiring attorneys to represent children during divorce, a practice generally regarded as a pretext to appoint cronies of the judge. In the April 29, 1999, edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, John Brummett wrote that "no child was served by that $3 million scam to set up a program ostensibly providing legal representatives to children in custody cases, but actually providing a gravy train to selected legislators and pals who were rushing around to set up corporations and send big checks to each other."
Categories: Books & Publications, Catholic Q & A, Events, Human Rights, Inspirational, Politics, Scandals . Tags: abuses, attorneys, courts, divorce, family, fees, judges, law, legal system, restraining orders, slush funds . Author: Doug Lawrence . Comments: 2 Comments
The western legal tradition owes its existence in large part to the Catholic Church
Catholicism's impact on Western law is considerable. It was the medieval development of canon law that retrieved, transformed, and then represented the long-forgotten Justinian Code of the Roman Empire to emerging European polities in dire need of good juridical models. Specifically, the emergence of ecclesiastical courts after Pope Gregory VII prompted civil courts to imitate and eventually supersede them.
This imitation can be seen in several areas, beginning with the very idea of the rule of law. Although this principle may be found in ancient civilization, it was reintroduced to the West thanks to the medieval Church. Catholicism's belief, for instance, in the reassuring rationality of a divine Logos was instrumental in weaning Europe's barbarian tribes off of such practices as trials by ordeal.
Catholicism is also discernible in the Anglo-American common law tradition. As John C. H. Wu observes, while "the Roman law was a deathbed convert to Christianity, the common law was a cradle Christian." It was this derivation that cultivated the notions of equity, intent, and liability in the West, just as it was the Catholic teaching on marriage that provided the foundations of modern contract law. And when the Catholic conscience confronted the evils of New World colonialism, it responded with the development of international law by 16th-century theologians like the Dominican Rev. Francisco de Vitoria.
The West has borrowed from Catholic patrimony in smaller areas as well. Take, for example, the judge's black robes: The judicial gown hearkens back to clerical garb and the days when all law students, even laymen, dressed as clergy during their matriculation. In other parts of the world, such as Canada and Great Britain, the indebtedness to medieval church custom is even more conspicuous: The wig worn by justices and barristers in Commonwealth countries is a substitute for the skull cap worn by medieval clerics, and when a British magistrate sentences a guilty person to death, he is required to put on his black hat — in imitation of the priest, who was once required to wear his biretta when hearing confession. Even the term "clerk" is an abbreviation of "cleric."
But perhaps the single most important contribution of Catholicism to Western law is the one that is so fundamental, it is the easiest of all to overlook: concern for the victim.
Categories: Books & Publications, Catholic Q & A, Events, Human Rights, Inspirational, Politics . Tags: catholic, christianity, Common Law, contracts, judges, justice, law, legal system, western . Author: Doug Lawrence . Comments: Leave a comment
"Red Mass" in Washington DC on 10/4 will draw anti-abortion protests
Red Mass and Abortion: On October 4, 2009, DC area Pro-life advocates will be present outside St. Matthew's Cathedral Before the annual "Red Mass" to plead with Judges and Politicians to protect unborn babies from murder. Randall Terry states: "This Red Mass is a beautiful prayer for Justice to reign with judges and statesmen; but in practice it is a mockery, because many of those attending help kill innocent babies by the millions."
Dateline City: Washington DC
Source: Randall Terry, Director Operation Rescue Insurrecta Nex
Contact: Catherine Veritas, 703-538-2325
Time and Location: 9:00 A.M., Sunday October 4, 1725 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington DC.
DC Area Pro-life leaders Randall Terry, Missy Smith, and Dick Retta will be joined by a large group of pro-life advocates outside of St. Matthew's Cathedral to call attention to the 50,000,000 babies who have been murdered by "surgical abortion" in America since 1973.
Moreover, these Catholics will focus on Canon 915, which specifically forbids Catholics who are in public scandal – such as Catholic politicians who support child-killing by abortion – from receiving the Holy Eucharist.
Randall Terry states: "This Red Mass is a beautiful call to pray for Justice amongst judges and statesmen; but in many ways it is a mockery, because many of those attending help kill innocent babies by the millions. While some attend with great devotion, others scoff at Christ by their actions, and commit sacrilege by receiving the Body and Blood of Christ while they hold a knife to the throat of the unborn.
"Perhaps Jesus weeps with grief for the babies, His Church, and for the souls of those men and women who dare to approach His Altar while continuing to kill His precious children."
Note: Pro-life advocates DO NOT have plans or intentions of disturbing the mass. They will speak to attendees as they enter and exit the mass, hold up signs of aborted babies, and signs specific to those attending the Mass.
Go to www.OverturnRoe.com to learn more of what we do.
Categories: Events, Human Rights, Inspirational, Politics . Tags: catholic, judges, Octiber 4, politicians, Randall Terry, Red Mass, St. Matthew's Cathedral, Washington DC . Author: Doug Lawrence . Comments: Leave a comment


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Also in TR Business Print Edition
Kingsley Wheaton (Photo: BAT)
BAT is keen to build "a better tomorrow." Chief Marketing Officer Kingsley Wheaton explains what that entails.
By George Gay
I believe that Oscar Wilde, a man of fashion, once described fashion as "a form of ugliness so absolutely unbearable that we have to alter it every six months." So I wonder whether he, as a fashionable smoker, would have supported altering the cigarette every six months, given he had known it posed an absolutely unbearable risk.
I think he would have done so. He was a risk-taker, but he was also highly intelligent, and there comes a time when intelligent people, even risk takers, have to yield to reality. Time caught up with the tobacco industry years ago, and, during the past decade or so, it has been changing in the light of what to most people is smoking's unacceptable risk. These changes have included offering consumers a burgeoning range of increasingly viable lower risk alternatives to combustible cigarettes, which, rather than appearing every six months, have been launched as a steady stream of innovative products that, yes, up to a point, are dictated by consumer-led fashion.
Appropriately, Wilde talked of altering fashion while the tobacco industry talks usually of change. But there is a new word on the block: "transformation," which seems to describe a more muscular form of change—one that is not just about the market but about the companies supplying the market and the consumers buying from the market. BAT is one company involved in transformation and, in April, Tobacco Reporter asked it what form this transformation was taking.
"BAT has a clear purpose—to build 'A Better Tomorrow'—by reducing the health impact of our business through offering a greater choice of enjoyable and less risky products,*" said Kingsley Wheaton, chief marketing officer, in an emailed reply. "We aim to generate an increasingly greater proportion of our revenues from products other than combustibles, and we are targeting £5 billion [$6.97 billion] New Category revenue by 2025. We aim to have 50 million consumers of our noncombustible products by 2030, and today, already 13.5 million consumers choose these products …
"We have the broadest New Categories portfolio in the industry, comprising vaping devices, tobacco-heating [products] and modern oral nicotine products. Our multicategory portfolio offers innovative consumer products that have been developed using cutting-edge technology and science. We are building the brands of the future.
"From launching our first vaping device in the U.K. in 2013, our vaping products are now available in 27 countries. In total, our New Category brands are available in more than 50 countries around the world.
"We have come a long way, and our transformation continues to accelerate. We are building new capabilities around the world focused on science, innovation and digital technologies. Consumer preferences and technology are evolving rapidly, and we are staying ahead of the curve with our digital hubs, the creation of innovation super centers and further development of our world-class R&D laboratories. We are also leveraging the expertise of our external partners and are looking forward to exciting results from our venturing initiative BTomorrowVentures.
"In December 2020, we also announced we had progressed our Covid-19 and seasonal flu vaccine candidates into human trials—a significant milestone that further demonstrates our commitment to innovation and science."
It would be easy to dismiss the above reply from BAT as the sort of polished promotional prose you would expect from a multinational, and I'm certain some people will do so. But if this is your reaction, it is worth reading it again because the breadth of the transformation cannot be denied, even if you don't like the direction of travel. As BAT pointed out, it started life in 1902 and, for more than 100 years, had a product portfolio comprising more or less only cigarettes, which themselves comprised mainly a processed plant. Now it is describing how it is harnessing science, digital technologies and innovation super centers to produce a range of new category products that will change the market and consumer habits significantly within a targeted time. And let's not forget the vaccine trials, which are impressive in themselves, but which hint at scientific developments that might provide important cross-fertilizations.
One interesting question that arises when considering the transformation of a company has to do with whether there comes a point at which the transformation is complete, or whether it is a continuing process without any readily identifiable endpoint.
"From the start of our portfolio transformation journey, we have always been clear that no consumer is the same," said Wheaton. "In order to meet differing needs in multiple marketplaces, a portfolio of suitable alternatives is required—that is the hallmark of a modern consumer products business. It's about understanding consumer preferences and how the marketplace is evolving.
"We are transforming from a company that defines itself by the product that we sell to the consumer needs that we meet. We are committed to driving a step change in our New Category business while also innovating new product areas that go 'beyond nicotine.'
"We recently entered a strategic R&D collaboration with Organigram, a leading Canadian cannabis licensed producer. This agreement augments our activities to expand our portfolio 'beyond nicotine' and follows the pilot launch of our first CBD vaping product, Vuse CBD Zone, in Manchester, U.K., earlier this year."
The Shifting Regulatory Landscape
Given the stated individuality of consumers and their inevitable turnover, it would seem that transformation will be a continuing business, especially since there is another significant variable in the equation: shifting regulatory landscapes. And at this point, the question arises as to how a multinational company can navigate regulations in a world where countries operate with different—sometimes vastly different—regulations in respect of tobacco and new-generation products.
"The regulatory environment around tobacco harm reduction is evolving," said Wheaton. "Science increasingly points to the reduced-risk* nature of our New Category tobacco and nicotine products as an alternative to smoking. This means we are seeing policy and regulatory shifts in several markets. Some countries have greater restrictions in place. Others, like the U.K., view tobacco harm reduction within a regulated framework, encouraging smokers to use potentially reduced-risk tobacco and nicotine products.
"We believe a stakeholder-inclusive, whole-of-society dialogue, which includes regulators, policy makers, consumers and the industry, is key to developing effective policies that can accelerate tobacco harm reduction as fast as possible.
"We also believe that accelerating progress toward more effective tobacco harm reduction policies needs an evidence-based approach; proportionate regulation; freedom to innovate; engagement, dialogue and communication; and responsible marketing freedoms.
"Underpinning all of this is our ethos: It is about being bold, fast, empowered, responsible and diverse to create a future-fit culture at BAT."
Dropping the Pods
Although change is always put forward as a positive by those bringing it in, it doesn't take more than a second's thought to realize this is not necessarily the case. And the same could be said about transformation, so Tobacco Reporter asked whether BAT was concerned the tobacco industry's transformation to some new-generation products could be viewed as having negative consequences for the environment.
As part of his reply, Wheaton said BAT's group-wide circular economy strategy for all its product categories—including its New Categories portfolio—was guided by three strategic priorities:
Simplifying the design of products to improve recyclability and reduce the use of virgin materials and resources;
Maximizing the longevity of products to improve the experience for consumers; and
Minimizing waste through increased product recovery and recycling.
"Responsible disposal of our New Category products is key to our approach," he added.
"We have implemented 'drop the pod' pilot schemes in France, Mexico and the U.K. for consumers to return their e-liquid pods. In Japan, we have a scheme that allows consumers to return tobacco-heating devices. We aim to implement takeback schemes for our New Category devices, in all markets where they are sold, by [the] end of 2021."
So it would seem that, as far as BAT is concerned, building a better tomorrow goes beyond addressing individual and societal health improvements. In answer to another question, Wheaton pointed out that the expectations of the broader society were that businesses should play a more active role in addressing and finding solutions to crucial social, economic and environmental issues. "At BAT, we welcome this shift, which is aligned to our company's purpose and our ESG [environmental, social and corporate governance] agenda," he said.
"Reducing the health impact of our business by encouraging those smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch completely to scientifically substantiated reduced-risk alternatives* is the greatest contribution we can make to society. This means growing our New Category business and increasing the proportion of our revenue coming from New Category products as fast as possible.
"Our work to reduce the environmental impact of the business will also drive growth and create shared value, delivering results that simultaneously benefit shareholders and wider society.
"In support of our 'A Better Tomorrow' purpose, in 2020, we set three ambitious ESG targets: First, to increase the consumer base of our noncombustible products to 50 million by 2030; second, to become carbon neutral for emissions resulting from our own business by 2030 and accelerating our existing environmental targets to 2025; third, to eliminate unnecessary single-use plastic and make all plastic reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025."
There is a saying that you can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink, so what, Tobacco Reporter asked, could BAT do if a hard core of smokers decided they did not share the company's vision of a better tomorrow? Would it keep manufacturing traditional cigarettes for them, or would it stop supplying such cigarettes when a country's smoking population dropped below 5 percent or some such figure?
"We are clear that cigarettes pose serious health risks," said Wheaton. "The only way to avoid these risks is not to start or to quit. We encourage those who would otherwise continue to smoke to switch completely to scientifically substantiated reduced risk alternates.* Driving value from our combustible cigarette business is how we fuel our investment in, and transition revenue to, New Categories, so it will be an important part of our business for many years to come.
"Providing smokers with factual information, about, for example, vaping, is essential to enable them to make informed choices. We are committed to providing this information and have launched www.vapeexplained.com, a digital information hub providing adult smokers and vapers with science-informed answers to the vaping questions most commonly searched for online. VapeExplained.com is built on the company's vast technical expertise of over 1,500 R&D specialists and the experiences of offering vaping products in over 26 countries around the world."
That, of course, didn't answer the question of how long BAT was willing to continue making combustible cigarettes for a diminishing consumer base, but an answer was hinted at in answers to the next questions, when Tobacco Reporter asked how the company would take with it on its transformation its commercial stakeholders, or, in the case of some stakeholders, such as tobacco growers, how it would help them transition to new, perhaps unrelated, activities.
"Also on this journey to a better tomorrow, we expect tobacco growers to remain central to our supply chain for many years to come, and farmer livelihoods is one of the priority areas of our sustainability agenda," said Wheaton. "We are committed to helping our contracted farmers and their communities to grow and flourish. Farm diversification is just one example of this.
"Over 93 percent of our contracted farmers in our supply chain grow other crops alongside or in rotation with tobacco, ensuring they don't rely on one crop. This has helped to increase their resilience as well as enhancing food security and preserving soil health. If there is a future impact on the overall demand for tobacco leaf, we have an established approach for working with impacted farmers to support a smooth transition into alternative agricultural livelihoods."
*Based on the weight of evidence and assuming a complete switch from cigarette smoking. According to BAT, these products are not risk free and are addictive. "Our products as sold in the U.S., including Vuse, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak and Camel Snus, are subject to FDA regulation, and no reduced-risk claims will be made as to these products without agency clearance," the company points out.
George Gay is Tobacco Reporter's European editor, but his territory spans the globe. Based in London, George has covered the tobacco industry since 1982, initially for a U.K.-based publication and since 2004 for Tobacco Reporter. George's understanding of industry issues, combined with his keen sense of observation and dry wit, have earned him a loyal following among Tobacco Reporter's readers.
Tags: british american tobacco


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Business|Black Superstars Pitch Adidas Shoes. Its Black Workers Say They're Sidelined.
An Adidas poster on a sporting goods store in New York. Black employees at the company's Portland, Ore., offices describe a corporate culture that contradicts the brand's image.CreditCreditHaruka Sakaguchi for The New York Times
Black Superstars Pitch Adidas Shoes. Its Black Workers Say They're Sidelined.
Fewer than 4.5 percent of the workers at the company's North American headquarters identify as black. Members of that small group say they feel ignored and sometimes discriminated against.
By Julie Creswell and Kevin Draper
In the United States, Adidas has built much of its name — and sales — through its association with black superstars. In the 1980s, the seminal hip-hop group Run-DMC gave the company's sneakers and apparel cultural cachet through its song "My Adidas." Popular black athletes and entertainers like James Harden, Candace Parker and Kanye West endorse its products.
In April, Adidas announced a new partnership with Beyoncé Knowles. Ms. Knowles posted a photo on Instagram that showed her reclining on a pile of Adidas sneakers and wearing a red Adidas bodysuit. The image was liked more than seven million times.
Black employees at the company's North American headquarters in Portland, Ore., however, describe a workplace culture that contradicts the brand's image. Interviews with more than 20 current or former Adidas employees show the company's predominantly white leadership struggling with issues of race and discrimination. On the campus, known as Adidas Village, the employees say, race is a constant issue, leaving the relatively few black employees often feeling marginalized and sometimes discriminated against.
Of the nearly 1,700 Adidas employees at the Portland campus, fewer than 4.5 percent identify as black, according to internal employment figures from last summer that were shared with The New York Times.
Adidas employees who spoke to The Times said that in the company cafeteria, black employees often sit together. Some said they had been told that this made some of their white colleagues nervous and could hurt their chances of getting promotions or being put on important marketing campaigns if it appeared that they were not trying to fit the Adidas mold.
Several current and former Adidas employees said they were frequently the only black person in meetings and often felt their input was not valued when decisions were being made. And an overall lack of racial diversity, they said, meant it was not uncommon for negative stereotypes to creep into work discussions or marketing pitches involving black athletes, sometimes creating backlash outside the company. Even when such ideas were scuttled before becoming part of official advertising campaigns, black employees said, the conversations left them feeling uncomfortable.
For many, the internal tensions at Adidas reflect a larger issue facing the American sports apparel industry, which has a combined annual revenue of more than $20 billion on shoe sales alone. Companies like Adidas, Nike and Under Armour have work forces that are primarily white, but their most influential customers — those who make their products desirable to others — often are not.
At Adidas, the issues involving race are not limited to business, black employees said.
Two black employees said they had been referred to with a common racist slur by white co-workers, one verbally and one in a text message seen by The Times. In both instances, the people believed the slur was intended as a joke, which they felt only highlighted the company's skewed perspective on race.
All of the current and former employees spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared hurting their careers.
Karen Parkin, the global head of human resources for Adidas, said in an interview that the company knew that it had work to do on the issue of race.
Ms. Parkin said Adidas had "zero tolerance" for inappropriate behavior. She said that she was unaware of the incidents involving the slurs and that, if they had been reported to human resources, an investigation would have occurred.
"We want to be humble," Ms. Parkin said. "We're not where we need to be in all of the locations around the world. But we're not afraid to have the conversation, either."
'A lot of lip service'
For Adidas, the ties to black stars have paid off. The company's stock, which trades in Germany, where its global headquarters are, has more than doubled in the last three years. Its revenue has been growing robustly, and its share of the North American sports-footwear market has jumped to 11 percent from 4 percent since 2015, according to the market research company NPD Group.
In the case of Mr. West, Adidas positioned his Yeezy brand as its own category inside the company. Mr. West earns 5 percent royalties on net sales of his shoes and apparel, according to a person inside the company with knowledge of the relationship. Yeezy sales are expected to top $1.3 billion this year. A spokeswoman for Mr. West declined to comment.
The benefits from the collaboration extend beyond selling $350 high-top shoes and high-end designer apparel. Almost overnight, Mr. West helped to make Adidas cool again.
Kanye West's Yeezy brand is its own category within Adidas, with sales expected to top $1.3 billion this year.CreditJonathan Leibson/Getty Images
"The association with Kanye West and how he sees himself as an artist — with design, music and culture — said this Adidas brand is not just a typical sports brand," Mark King, then the head of Adidas North America, said in an interview with the trade publication Footwear News in 2016. "It's one that looks at creativity and considers both sports and culture." (Mr. King stepped down from his role in 2018.)
After Mr. West made his Adidas deal, other hip-hop stars like Pusha T established relationships with the company. Pharrell Williams, who was already working with Adidas, signed a new deal.
"I think Adidas is trying to align itself with the fans of those artists," said Matt Powell, an analyst with NPD Group. "These artists have tremendous followings and fans. Those fans want to dress like their idols."
It is much different inside the company. Fewer than 75 of the nearly 1,700 Adidas employees in Portland identify as black, according to the internal employment figures from last summer. Nearly 78 percent of the employees are white.
An Adidas spokeswoman, Stacey Marsh, did not dispute the figures obtained by The Times, and declined to comment on the composition of the staff at the company's Portland headquarters. She said that 55 percent of the company's total employee base in the United States, which includes employees paid hourly wages in its retail stores, were people of color.
Only three people, or about 1 percent, of Adidas's roughly 340 worldwide vice presidents last year were black, according to two people with knowledge of the figures. One of the black executives, a female head of operations, has since departed.
Ms. Marsh said that Adidas could not provide information on the race or ethnicity of its employees at a global level because of country-specific laws.
Adidas's North American headquarters in Portland, Ore., which a company executive said was not "the most diverse city in the U.S." CreditChona Kasinger for The New York Times
The employee figures for other sports apparel giants are similarly stark. Last year, when Footwear News highlighted the top 40 people under 40 who it said were revolutionizing the shoe industry, the list did not include a single black person.
Nike says that at the end of 2017, about 23 percent of its American employees, including those working at its retail stores, were black. Of the company's 353 vice presidents, 29, or 8 percent, were black.
Under Armour's website lists its goals related to diversity and inclusion, but the company declined to provide data on the makeup of its work force for this article.
"Companies spend billions of dollars on marketing and advertising to attract African-American kids to their products, but they don't do much to support the African-Americans on the inside," said D'Wayne Edwards, who started designing shoes in 1989 and worked at Nike, where he designed Air Jordan shoes. He now runs Pensole Footwear Design Academy in Portland.
"What is frustrating is that none of us are empowered to change it," he added. "Some companies have said for years that they want to create a diverse workplace, but if anything, the numbers are getting worse. And they don't care. It's a lot of lip service."
Harden Uncaged and all-white shoes
The lack of diversity at Adidas has resulted in missteps that black employees argue could put the entire brand at risk.
This year, Adidas released all-white sneakers as part of a line meant to commemorate Black History Month. It removed the sneakers from stores after an outcry.
In 2012, Adidas released a pair of $350 sneakers featuring shackles. After the company faced boycott calls led by the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the sneakers were pulled and Adidas apologized for offending consumers.
At other times, it has fallen to black employees to stop insensitive marketing ideas before they were carried out.
In 2016, there was a meeting about the company's latest sneaker for Mr. Harden, the Houston Rockets star. One idea was to make the shoe part of the company's "uncaged" line. The ads for "Harden Uncaged," the thinking went, could feature Mr. Harden breaking free from a prison cell.
When someone raised the question of whether such an image would invoke a negative racial stereotype, the proposal was rejected, according to three people who were at the meeting or aware of the idea and spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The shoe was eventually marketed as Harden LS, for lifestyle.
Another idea, titled "All Rise," featured Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers as a defendant in a courtroom, according to an employee involved in the discussion. Again, it was scuttled when a black employee pointed out the racial overtones of a black man's being put on trial.
When asked about these instances, Ms. Marsh, the Adidas spokeswoman, said the company would not comment on "every anonymous rumor or allegation."
Contradictory messages from the top
At a town hall-style staff meeting at the Portland campus in spring 2018, Zion Armstrong, the current president of Adidas North America, acknowledged that the company needed to intensify its diversity efforts, according to three people who were there.
Months later, with no visible change in the company's hiring efforts, an anonymous letter addressed to Mr. Armstrong and critical of Adidas's strategies for becoming more diverse made its way around the campus. It was reported at the time by Footwear News.
A few weeks later, Mr. Armstrong attended a meeting of Progressive Soles, an employee-led organization within Adidas whose members are mostly minorities, and seemingly contradicted his earlier comments.
He declared that Adidas did not have a race problem, according to two people in attendance. Instead, he said, the company's demographics reflected those of Portland, which is 77 percent white and 6 percent black, according to 2017 Census Bureau statistics. When asked why more black employees were not being promoted, Mr. Armstrong said there simply were not any who were ready.
Adidas declined to make Mr. Armstrong available for an interview and did not respond to questions about his meeting with Progressive Soles.
Several current and former Adidas employees said that minority employees often left the company in hopes of getting better jobs or higher pay after not receiving promotions they believed they deserved.
A few years ago, when some black employees recognized that there were not many black candidates going through the company's internship program, Progressive Soles began recruiting efforts outside the Portland area to attract a more diverse pool of applicants. But few of those internships have led to job offers for the black candidates, several people at the company said.
Ms. Parkin noted that Portland "isn't the most diverse city in the U.S.," and said that Adidas "needs to be more courageous and bold" in attracting more diverse employees to the area.
"We're on that journey right now," she said.
Some artists are not simply taking the company's word.
Late last year, shortly before the internal letter to Mr. Armstrong became public, Pharrell Williams went to Portland to see Adidas Village for himself, according to two employees. He walked around the campus, visiting with various groups, including those in the basketball division, that he does not normally work with, the employees said. A spokeswoman for Mr. Williams declined to comment.
In a 2016 interview with Women's Wear Daily, Mr. Williams said that one of his apparel and sneaker lines for Adidas called Hu — short for human — was about the "recognition and celebration of different colors, spirituality and cultures." But last year, Mr. Williams and Adidas were criticized after the release of the "Hu Holi Powder Dye Collection." Some said they had appropriated aspects of the Holi Festival, an annual Hindu tradition.
During his visit to the Adidas campus, Mr. Williams met with Mr. Armstrong to discuss inclusivity and sat down with members of Progressive Soles. There, he spoke candidly about his upbringing and why he had signed with Adidas, according to a person who was at the meeting. Then he indicated his desire to use his star power to push Adidas toward greater diversity.
Do you work at Adidas, or a company like it? Do you want to discuss your experience? Contact the reporters at creswell@nytimes.com and kevin.draper@nytimes.com.
A version of this article appears in print on , Section B, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: As Black Stars Reap Riches For Adidas, Black Workers Say Company Keeps Them On Sideline. Order Reprints | Today's Paper | Subscribe
Ex-Employees Sue Nike, Alleging Gender Discrimination
OpinionAlysia Montaño, Max Cantor, Taige Jensen and Lindsay Crouse
Nike Told Me to Dream Crazy, Until I Wanted a Baby


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Girls Varsity Falls Short of Championship
The Smoke Signal
Cutting the Net and the Season
Aubree Pelon, Journalist
The varsity boys' basketball team concluded their season on Thursday, February 22nd, at a playoff game here at home, the final score being 55-68, Calaveras.
Despite the loss, the team had a great season. They were undefeated league champs and made it to playoffs, where the season came to an end. This season was the last for many of the boys on the team. Several boys completed their final year of playing basketball for Ripon High, including Bodie Benson, Matt Hix, Derek Wright, James Gaalswyk, and Kyle Sisk.
Varsity athlete Kyle Sisk describes his experience of playing in high school and how it is finally coming to an end.
"I feel pretty sad to be leaving senior year, it all came too fast," says Sisk.
This time playing high school sports as a senior is very emotional. It's hard to comprehend that this is your last time playing on this court, representing your school you have attended for four years.
"These last few games meant a lot to me and I really wanted to be able to take my team further in playoffs," Sisk explains, "but unfortunately, I couldn't."
Sisk plans to continue his basketball career at the collegiate level next year.
I think that's one of the reasons we found success. Our team motto is 'together', and that's what we've been all year,"
— Troy Brogan
Unlike the seniors, however, their high school basketball career has just begun, like sophomores Troy Brogan, Nico Iladri, and Danny Hernandez who played varsity this year.
"It's really exciting to play on varsity as a sophomore," Brogan explains, "the competition level is way higher so it forces me to work super hard to improve my game."
Although it's frustrating the team didn't advance farther in playoffs, Ripon is extremely proud of the team and their accomplishments. Strong bonds have been created during the 2017-2018 season that will be forever memories for everyone on the team. The boys all describe how close they grew as a team. This ultimately makes it the most difficult part about leaving and ending the season.
"Our team has a really strong bond," Brogan says, "I think that's one of the reasons we found success. Our team motto is "together", and that's what we've been all year," Brogan concludes.
Aubree Pelon, Editor
Have you owned any of these apps?
Ripon High School 21 - Center 13
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Ripon High School 42 - Escalon 21
Boys' Varsity Basketball Takes on the Cougars at Blackout
Making History!
Back at it Again, Fighting for the Win
Ripon Wins Section Championship!
Gabriella Ilardi Making it to Masters
History Made in the Waters of Ripon High
History Made At The World Series
Go Pink Or Go Home
Ripon Rivalry Against Escalon
Tuff Enuff for Powderpuff
The Student News Site of Ripon High School


We are looking for a volunteer to represent the Alexandra Residents' Association at this event. If you are interested, please e-mail us and we'll forward your name to the Safer Bromley Partnership. Thank you!
The Safer Bromley Partnership Chairman, Cllr Tim Stevens, would like to invite a representative from your Residents Association to attend the first ever Crime Summit.
The Summit will be taking place on Saturday 28th September, 2013 from 10am till 2pm in The Council Chamber, Bromley Civic Centre, Stockwell Close, BR1 3DD.
The event is being held to enable the Partnership to engage with residents from across the borough. We would like your views on crime and policing and to know what is important to you and your community.
We are fortunate to have London's Deputy Mayor for Policing; Stephen Greenhalgh confirmed as a special guest, he will be delivering a key note speech. The event will also have interactive stands and other attractions from our partners as well as workshops throughout the morning. The event will conclude with a Q&A session with a panel of key stakeholders involved in keeping Bromley safe.
Guests are requested to arrive for a 10am start. There will be tea and coffee on arrival and a light brunch later on. The event will finish at around 2pm.
The Civic Centre is well serviced by public transport, pay and display parking is also available in the St Blaise Car Park.