Michael Cabanatuan June 14, 2018 Updated: June 14, 2018 8:18 p.m.
BART fare inspectors patrol the escalator down to Civic Center Station during the morning commute last month.
BART directors stepped back Thursday from a plan to expand a nascent program to nab fare cheats after concerns were raised about its effectiveness and fairness.
The directors made no attempt to end the enforcement effort, but postponed a decision to hire two additional fare enforcement officers until the fall, when they plan to review data from the proof-of-payment program six months after it began.
"I don't think it makes sense to hire more people into this program until we know if it is effective," said director Rebecca Saltzman.
The program began in March, when BART unleashed a team of six fare inspectors, non-sworn and unarmed officers, to tackle an epidemic of fare evasion, which officials believe costs the agency $25 million a year or more. The inspectors possess the limited authority to ask riders inside paid areas of BART's stations or on trains to show Clipper cards or tickets proving they had legally entered the system — and to give them $75 tickets if they can't or won't.
A Chronicle report last week raised questions about the efficacy of the $800,000-a-year proof-of-payment program, which issued 1,300 tickets in its first two months but collected on only about 100. BART Police Chief Carlos Rojas has since updated statistics for the first three months to show that the fare enforcement team has issued more than 1,600 citations and received about $10,000 in fines, which amounts to about 133 paid tickets.
Rojas told directors Thursday the proof-of-payment program is not about raising revenue but about changing the culture of fare cheating by convincing scofflaws it's neither acceptable nor easy to avoid paying fares.
"Anytime you're looking at a program to change behavior, it is not a profit-making enterprise," he said, adding that over time, proof-of-payment citations should decline if enforcement is working.
But Saltzman proposed postponing the expansion of the enforcement team until the board can receive analyses of data that show whether the program is cost-effective or whether more money should be spent on other fare enforcement efforts.
The proof-of-payment strategy is part of a multifaceted approach to stop ticket scofflaws that also includes physical changes such as raising walls around paid areas, closing, controlling or placing alarms on swing gates and using technology, including cameras that can count cheats.
Director Lateefah Simon, along with several BART riders at Thursday's meeting, wondered whether poor or nonwhite people are disproportionately being hit with citations.
The fare officers wear body-worn cameras, which record inspection efforts, and the footage is randomly and occasionally reviewed by BART's independent police auditor's office, which also investigates citizen complaints.
Russell Bloom, the police auditor, said a review of 24 videos found no concerns about discriminatory enforcement. BART's policy, adopted by the board, calls for inspectors to go from person to person, neither skipping nor singling out anyone.
But Simon said an analysis of citations would be needed to show whether disparate enforcement is taking place. Several speakers said some riders are intimidated by the presence of police or enforcement officers, believe they discriminate, and opposed the expansion of the proof-of-payment efforts.
Director Debora Allen agreed, insisting that BART should step up its efforts to "harden" its stations against fare cheats. She was particularly interested in raising BART's waist-high fare gates, which many fare evaders can vault or push their way through.
Tamar Allen, BART's chief mechanical officer, said workers are focused on doing some of that at the downtown San Francisco stations and others where fare evasion is common. They're mostly raising walls and working to bring elevators inside paid areas of stations.
A crew of engineers is looking for ways to build higher fare gates, she said, but the effort is probably at least a couple of years away. Allen suggested BART speed the process by spending more money, including on fare inspections.
BART's fare inspectors examined the tickets or Clipper cards of 10,745 patrons from March to May and issued 1,633 citations. Allen said that shows that about 15 percent of riders are fare cheats, a number well in excess of $25 million.
"This is definitely a revenue impact to the system," she said.
The budget, which the board approved without the fare inspector positions, calls for $1 million to determine how fare gates can be replaced or retrofitted as well as $1.2 million for other physical improvements to stations to fight fare evasion.
General Manager Grace Crunican cautioned the board to temper its expectations of impenetrable fare gates arriving soon. Replacing BART's fare gates would be complicated, she said, and engineers aren't likely to produce more than a look at possibilities anytime soon.
Director Joel Keller urged his associates to support a balanced attack on fare evasion, including physical improvements as well as fare inspectors.
The decision to postpone hiring two additional officers came as the board approved the transit system's $2.3 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. The budget focuses on quality-of-life issues ranging from injection drug users and homeless encampments to dirty trains and stations that are believed to be driving a drop in BART ridership.
In addition to fare evasion efforts, BART devotes $1.6 million to elevator attendants in downtown San Francisco stations, a homeless services outreach team, a restroom program outside stations, and security measures to keep encampments out of stations.


text:
Allianz To Pay $251 Million To Settle Annuities Racketeering Class Actions
December 2, 2014 | Staff | Consumer Protection, Investments
Allianz Life Insurance Co. of North America has reached a $251 million settlement to end two racketeering class actions alleging it lured 230,000 seniors into buying poorly performing deferred annuities with harsh surrender policies. Plaintiffs in the suits have asked the court for final approval of the settlement, which had been preliminarily approved in August. The Plaintiffs accused Allianz of conspiring through a racketeering enterprise with a network of field marketing organizations to induce class members to buy deferred annuities through misleading statements and omissions about the annuities' value. The suits claimed the Plaintiffs suffered $489 million in damages.
Class members will receive a variety of benefits based on the status and intended use of their accounts, ranging from a five percent annual increase to the amount of funds they can withdraw without penalty to a nine percent increase in their cash surrender value. The settlement also provides up to $13.3 million for Plaintiffs with misrepresentation claims, $11.9 million for those with lack of suitability claims and $9.8 million for those who can establish financial need when they surrendered their annuity.
U.S. District Judge Christina A. Snyder denied Allianz's motion for summary judgment last March, ruling that federal racketeering claims are not barred by reverse preemption and refusing to dismiss claims under the California Elder Abuse Act. That California law allows Plaintiffs to pursue additional damages for acts that inflict physical or financial abuse against a person aged 65 or older. Judge Snyder ruled that class members in at least 16 states were not barred from bringing RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) Act claims under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which reverse-preempts federal claims that interfere with state insurance statutes.
In this case, Judge Snyder said that RICO claims actually advanced states' interest in fighting insurance fraud. The judge added that the act was not designed to preclude federal regulation merely because that regulation imposes stiffer liability than state law. The class actions were filed in 2005 by the two Plaintiffs, who said that Allianz conspired with a network of field marketing organizations to falsely market an "immediate" 10 percent bonus and claim that its annuities would pay full value even though there would be a 10 percent charge on premiums received, a reduced rate of interest and no bonus if the annuity remained in deferral for less than five years.
Source: Law360.com
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Continuing the battle with Big Pharma
The entire Beasley Allen staff had our personal interest at heart. We were part of the family of a down to earth, trustworthy, understanding law firm. Thank you, Beasley Allen, for continuing the battle with Big Pharma.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
'Operation Pelican' to seize Assange involved 15 UK government agents
Source: Declassified UK
Secret "Operation Pelican" to seize Assange came into light after being revealed in the memoirs of former UK Foreign Minister Sir Alan Duncan.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange (Le Parisien)
Fresh information revealed that at least 15 people were appointed by the UK government to the secret operation to seize WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.
Although Assange was granted political asylum by Ecuador back in 2012, he was never allowed safe passage out of Britain since he was the target of prosecution by the US.
Assange has been unlawfully charged in the US with 17 counts of "espionage" and one count of computer misuse in connection with WikiLeaks' disclosure of tens of thousands of military and diplomatic documents - whereby Assange exposed the US war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan - that whistleblower Chelsea Manning had disclosed.
Belmarsh maximum security prison has been where Assange is being kept in the UK for three and a half years so far as he awaits a potential 175-year sentence following the approval in December 2021 of his extradition to the US by the UK High Court.
The secret operation named 'Pelican' to seize Assange from asylum, which eventually took place in April 2019, came to light after being revealed in the memoirs published last year by former Foreign Minister Sir Alan Duncan.
As foreign minister for the Americas from 2016 to 2019, Duncan was the key British official in the diplomatic negotiations between the UK and Ecuador to release Assange from the Embassy.
In his memoirs, the Former Minister revealed that he watched live footage of Assange's arrest from the Operations Room of the Foreign Office alongside personnel carrying out the operation.
After the events took place and Assange was imprisoned, Duncan had drinks at his office for the operation team. "I gave them each a signed photo which we took in the Ops Room on the day, with a caption saying 'Julian Assange's Special Brexit Team 11th April 2019,'" he wrote.
See more: Julian Assange mural found in Moscow
Departments deny involvement
The Cabinet Office, whose role is to "support the Prime Minister and ensure the effective running of government" alongside national security and intelligence duties, stated it only had seven in the operation "liaised" with the Metropolitan Police.
It also remains unclear as to why the Cabinet Office would have that much personnel on a police operation such as this since the UK government constantly blocks giving out information about the Assange case.
The Home Office, which oversees MI5, told parliament it had eight officials on the operation which the head of the department has to sign off in order to extradite to most foreign countries. Serving as Home Secretary at the time, Priti Patel, was the one who ordered Assange's extradition to the US in June.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which rules over courts of England and Wales, refused to declare whether they worked on "Operation Pelican", knowing that it also oversees prisons including the Belmarsh maximum security jail. When asked, the MoJ stated, "The information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost."
On the other hand, the Foreign Office told parliament that it did not "directly assign" staff to "Pelican" and also declined to say if the staff involved were located on its premises.
Rafael Correa, former president of Ecuador from 2007 to 2017, recently disclosed to Declassified UK that the reason why he granted Assange asylum was that Assange "didn't have any possibility of a fair legal process in the United States." He further exposed the UK for trying to "deal with us like a subordinate country."
In September 2021, 30 former US officials went on the record to reveal a CIA plot to "kill or kidnap" Assange in London. In the case of Assange leaving the Embassy, the article noted, "US officials asked their British counterparts to do the shooting if gunfire was required, and the British agreed, according to a former senior administration official."
belmarsh prison
Australia not to challenge Assange extradition


jacklyn janeksela is a wolf and a raven, a cluster of stars, & a direct descent of the divine feminine. she can be found @ Thought Catalog, Luna Magazine, Talking Book, DumDum Magazine, Visceral Brooklyn, Anti-Heroin Chic, Public Pool, Reality Hands, The Feminist Wire, Word For/Word, Pank, Split Lip; Civil Coping Mechanism anthology A Shadow Map & Outpost Rooted anthology; & elsewhere. she is in a post-punk band called the velblouds. her baby @ femalefilet. she is an energy. find her @ hermetic hare for herbal astrological readings.


text:
Yesyestohealth
Ask Dr. Nandi: Michigan becomes 1st state to ban flavored e-cigarettes
By: Dr. Partha Nandi
Michigan has become the first state to ban flavored e-cigarettes starting today.
The CDC says the investigation into the 215 possible cases of severe pulmonary disease linked to e-cigarettes has not yet identified a substance or specific product as the cause.
And there's also no evidence that an infectious disease is to blame either. But when you vape, you're basically inhaling an aerosol made from a liquid that was heated up. And e-cigarettes contain harmful ingredients like diacetyl, a flavoring chemical that is linked to serious lung disease.
Nicotine can harm the brain development of young people. When we create new memories or learn new skills, synapses get built between brain cells.
Now synapses are basically a junction or structure between nerve cells that allow information to flow. And they're super important especially for memory.
Now kids create these synapses really quickly. But nicotine can change how they are formed. So not only learning, but mood and impulse control can also be affected. And what many people don't know, especially teens, is that a child's brain continues to develop until their about 25-years-old.
The CDC says there are over 7,000 chemicals in regular cigarettes, with 96 flagged as harmful or potentially harmful. So yes, e-cigarettes do have fewer chemicals than traditional cigarettes, but they also contain ultrafine particles, cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals like lead, tin and nickel. And the long-term health of these is still unknown which is very concerning.
Now many of you already know how highly addictive nicotine is. Studies have found that adolescents who vape are at an increased risk of smoking regular cigarettes down the road. As for e-cigarettes helping people to quit traditional cigarettes, vape devices have not been proven to do this.
I think banning kid-friendly flavored e-cigarettes is a great move, it'll certainly attract less attention from our young people. And in my opinion, avoiding these devices will lead to a much healthier life overall in the long run.


WESTWOOD, Mass., Jan. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MEDITECH's ExpansePoint of Care software, the company's latest web-based, mobile technology for nurses and therapists to provide the best and most efficient patient-facing care, has been implemented at King's Daughters Medical Center (Brookhaven, MS).
Accessible via a smartphone or a handheld mobile device, Expanse Point of Care features an optimized user interface for the company's Expanse Patient Care and Patient Safety solution. It has all the functionality needed to view charts, document, and provide safe medication administration at the patient's bedside on a small, unobtrusive device, giving the patient and provider more face-to-face time.
Expanse Point of Care allows nurses to work efficiently by using modern technology that fits into their workflow, removing burdensome desktop technology like WOWs and clunky peripheral devices that create a barrier between the patient and the nurse.
"Now, instead of a nurse carrying a barcode scanner and wheeling around a computer cart, medication administration can simply and safely be performed using Expanse Point of Care on a smartphone or a mobile device that slips in their pocket," says Cathy Turner, associate vice president, MEDITECH. "Expanse Point of Care elevates and personalizes the care experience for clinicians and patients – making the patient, not the EHR, the center of the care experience."
Joe Farr, RN, clinical applications coordinator at King's Daughters explained, "Often I would have to turn my back to document medication administration, requiring me to go back and forth between the patient and a scanner. Expanse Point of Care allows me to do all of that on one device so I can remain patient-facing."
Ideal for all types of nurses, therapists, certified nursing assistants, patient care assistants, and aides, across care areas, the simplified and intuitive design of Expanse Point of Care gives time back to nurses and helps prevent burnout, leading to increased nursing satisfaction and an improved patient experience.
"When I can effectively communicate with the patient, the patient experience is better," says Farr. "With this tool, the patients are the center of everything we do—as it should be."
MEDITECH's Expanse Point of Care is planned for general release in Q1 2019.
Going to HIMSS19? Stop by MEDITECH booth #3921 to hear directly from Farr on how Expanse Point of Care is boosting both nursing efficiency and engagement at King's Daughters.


text:
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas Recovers From Two Hurricanes
After the U.S. Virgin Islands were hammered by two hurricanes in a span of six weeks, The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas looked on the sunny side of a stormy situation.
The fire pit area with sparkling Caribbean views sits between restaurants Alloro and Bleuwater at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
What's the best way to describe the U.S. Virgin Islands? It's a U.S. territory where the temperature hovers at that sweet spot of 75 to 80 degrees year-round. You won't even have to check the forecast before you embark. It's almost always sunny, and the locals are as authentically welcoming as the weather is warm and inviting. With the USVI trifecta of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas, you really can't go wrong when choosing where to park your beach chair—but if you're looking for pure paradisiacal luxury, head to The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
The 180-room resort sustained significant damage from back-to-back storms (hurricanes Irma and Maria) in 2017. After a two-year, $100 million renovation of the entire property, it's back and more chic and accommodating than ever, which is evident the second I walk onto the property. The open-air lobby sits in a pale robin's-egg blue house, and the front porch is outfitted with cozy rocking chairs. "We wanted Adirondack chairs originally, but when they brought these they were perfect," says Ian McPhee, director of operations. I can't help but agree. The welcoming entrance is just a glimpse of what's inside the resort, which sits on 30 acres propped on a hillside overlooking the Caribbean.
A well-appointed master bedroom and balcony in one of the presidential suites
As part of the renovation, the facade underwent a face-lift from a salmon shade to a more classic cream color, and the toned-down results allow the buildings to truly pop against the vibrant tropical landscape. The resort's exterior isn't the only thing to get an upgrade. Its four restaurants were also improved, and the addition of Italian hot spot Alloro is a welcome one, with sleek interiors that are both crisp and inviting. The dinner-only menu offers a mix of true-to-Sicily favorites and local seafood, like maltagliati with scallops and frutti di mare pizza, as well as a substantial wine list and innovative cocktails—all served while overlooking the sea. For a more casual experience, the open-air Sails is open for lunch and has a lively bar area where I belly up for a tasty tuna poke bowl and the St. Thomas-signature Bushwhacker cocktail. There's also a tasty ceviche and burger, plus frozen drinks with panache. Ask for the off-menu Toasted Almond boozy milkshake made with plenty of rum and vanilla ice cream—and topped with a cherry, of course.
A pristine ocean view is just one of the perks of a presidential suite.
Sails also services the 11 private poolside cabanas, which can be reserved prior to your trip or on-site and come with a minifridge stocked with sparkling and still water, a breezy ceiling fan and two chaise lounges. Excellent service is a Ritz-Carlton trademark, but it really shines at the cabanas. A staff member notices my sunburn from the day before and, unprompted, brings chilled lemongrass towels and cucumber slices for a much-needed refresh. He also cleans my sunglasses when they get streaked with sunscreen fingerprints—and that's after delivering a fresh fruit platter and Champagne to my secluded sanctuary. Aah, pure bliss!
The brand-new Alloro showcases authentic Sicilian cuisine and innovative cocktails.
While I would certainly classify myself as a "pool person" rather than a "beach person," The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas caters to both. Nonmotorized beach activities are included, so snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding are great active ways to spend an afternoon. Also along the resort's private stretch of beach is 55-foot luxury catamaran Lady Lynsey, which accommodates daily snorkeling tours and cruises, including a delightful sunset sail with (a very generous) open bar and tranquil views.
Even at full occupancy, the resort feels spacious and uncrowded. With rooms spaced out among six buildings (all pleasantly named after local flowers), you're only a breezy golf cart ride away from the pool, beach, restaurants or spa. And trust me, the latter is one spot you'll want to stay awhile. Spend an afternoon with a tension-releasing Island Stone massage or an invigorating vitamin C facial—or both. Or if you prefer in-room relaxation, the deep soaking tub in your suite should suffice. Another extension of your stay is the club lounge, a well-appointed space with a dedicated concierge. It also serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus snacks, as well as happy hour with plenty of top-shelf spirits and wine on tap.
The newly renovated lobby at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas welcomes guests with luxe Caribbean-inspired design elements.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas feels like a world away on its island perch, but as part of the U.S., you won't have to travel far for ultimate pampering and luxuriating on island time. Suite rates from $1,149 per night, with club lounge access, ritzcarlton.com
Tags: travel
Photography by: Courtesy of The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas


The most amazing Photographers!!! Sean and Dee Mills, love love love love love!!!!!!!!
You really blessed us with your photos!!! Your talent is more than amazing !!!!!!!!
Beautiful, breathtaking, amazing! I'm speechless!
THANKS SEAN AND DEE!!! Your so amazing!!!!!
Now I am in tears!! It is the most beautiful photos and slideshow I have ever seen.
Can't say THANK YOU enough for you guys capturing our perfect day!!
Ek wens ek kan al die fotos oplaai op FB! Dis almal so spesiaal en pragtig.
so considerate always and capturing the most amazing moments at our wedding.
Absolutely loved having Sean and Dee photograph our wedding.
They caught every special moment and made it so relaxing and so much fun; it was all natural smiles.
They make one awesome team and are so passionate about what they do.
I just wish I could do it all over again! You guys are awesome!!!
A very big Thank You to both Sean & Dee for capturing our special day so beautifully through their camera lenses.
From the moment we met with both of them, I knew they were going to do a fantastic job! Their humble and yet confident approach to both our engagement & wedding photos came through beautifully in every photo.
They have such lovely ways in which to make both bride and groom feel at ease, my hubby hates photos but during our engagement shoot he felt at ease and enjoyed every moment.
As for our wedding photos they caught both of us as well as our guests in such natural beauty.
I would highly recommend this husband and wife team to capture your special moments and make your experience totally unforgettable.
Thank you Sean Mills for a great shoot. It was a pleasure working with you.
Sean and Dee did an amazing job in capturing our 'bump'!
They braved cold and crazy, windy weather to accommodate our request for sunset photos at the beach and the creative result was fabulous!
Thanks Sean an Dee; your talent and your passion for what you do as a dynamic team is clear and it really shows in your beautiful photographs.
We wanted a simple, low-key celebration with our family and friends.
We weren't too perturbed with having all of the fancy bells and whistles normally associated with a wedding – but we DID want a professional photographer to capture our memories.
We are beyond thrilled with the beautiful photographs and professional service received from Sean and Dee Mills.
No matter how tight your wedding budget is, don't skimp on your photographer. Your photos are the permanent memory of your wedding once everything else has faded.
Thank you Sean and Dee for capturing our memories.
Dee and Sean came into our home and transformed our lounge in a studio.
Their natures are warm and fun and they captured our family as we are.
I love our pictures and would highly recommend their work.
Thank you so much Sean and Dee for the beautiful photos taken of our baby daughter.
Your patience needed a medal and the photos came out beautifully.
You are both very creative and super talented in what you do , thank you so much.
What a great experience working with Sean & Dee.
They have a unique ability to engage everyone (including the kids), and making them feel at ease.
And the end result ends up being absolutely beautiful!
Sean Mills is super talented and awesome to work with… he made us feel comfortable and we loved his vibe.


text:
using namespace mesos::internal;
#ifndef __WINDOWS__
using namespace mesos::internal::log;
#endif // __WINDOWS__
using namespace mesos::internal::master;
using namespace zookeeper;

using mesos::Authorizer;
using mesos::MasterInfo;
using mesos::Parameter;
using mesos::Parameters;

#ifndef __WINDOWS__
using mesos::log::Log;
#endif // __WINDOWS__

using mesos::allocator::Allocator;

using mesos::master::contender::MasterContender;

using mesos::master::detector::MasterDetector;
using mesos::master::detector::StandaloneMasterDetector;

using mesos::modules::Anonymous;
using mesos::modules::ModuleManager;

using mesos::state::InMemoryStorage;
#ifndef __WINDOWS__
using mesos::state::LogStorage;
#endif // __WINDOWS__
using mesos::state::Storage;

using process::Owned;
using process::RateLimiter;
using process::UPID;

using process::firewall::DisabledEndpointsFirewallRule;
using process::firewall::FirewallRule;

using std::cerr;
using std::cout;
using std::endl;
using std::move;
using std::ostringstream;
using std::set;
using std::shared_ptr;
using std::string;
using std::vector;

class Flags : public virtual master::Flags
{
public:
  Flags()
  {
    add(&Flags::ip,
        "ip",
        "IP address to listen on. This cannot be used in conjunction\n"
        "with `--ip_discovery_command`.");

    add(&Flags::port, "port", "Port to listen on.", MasterInfo().port());

    add(&Flags::advertise_ip,
        "advertise_ip",
        "IP address advertised to reach this Mesos master.\n"
        "The master does not bind using this IP address.\n"
        "However, this IP address may be used to access this master.");

    add(&Flags::advertise_port,
        "advertise_port",
        "Port advertised to reach Mesos master (along with\n"
        "`advertise_ip`). The master does not bind to this port.\n"
        "However, this port (along with `advertise_ip`) may be used to\n"
        "access this master.");

    add(&Flags::zk,
        "zk",
        "ZooKeeper URL (used for leader election amongst masters)\n"
        "May be one of:\n"
        "  `zk://host1:port1,host2:port2,.../path`\n"
        "  `zk://username:password@host1:port1,host2:port2,.../path`\n"
        "  `file:///path/to/file` (where file contains one of the above)\n"
        "NOTE: Not required if master is run in standalone mode (non-HA).");

    add(&Flags::ip_discovery_command,
        "ip_discovery_command",
        "Optional IP discovery binary: if set, it is expected to emit\n"
        "the IP address which the master will try to bind to.\n"
        "Cannot be used in conjunction with `--ip`.");
    }

    // The following flags are executable specific (e.g., since we only
    // have one instance of libprocess per execution, we only want to
    // advertise the IP and port option once, here).

    Option<string> ip;
    uint16_t port;
    Option<string> advertise_ip;
    Option<string> advertise_port;
    Option<string> zk;

    // Optional IP discover script that will set the Master IP.
    // If set, its output is expected to be a valid parseable IP string.
    Option<string> ip_discovery_command;
};

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
  // The order of initialization of various master components is as follows:
  // * Validate flags.
  // * Log build information.
  // * Libprocess.
  // * Logging.
  // * Version process.
  // * Firewall rules: should be initialized before initializing HTTP endpoints.
  // * Modules: Load module libraries and manifests before they
  //   can be instantiated.
  // * Anonymous modules: Later components such as Allocators, and master
  //   contender/detector might depend upon anonymous modules.
  // * Hooks.
  // * Allocator.
  // * Registry storage.
  // * State.
  // * Master contendor.
  // * Master detector.
  // * Authorizer.
  // * Slave removal rate limiter.
  // * `Master` process.
  //
  // TODO(avinash): Add more comments discussing the rationale behind for this
  // particular component ordering.

  GOOGLE_PROTOBUF_VERIFY_VERSION;

  ::Flags flags;

  Try<flags::Warnings> load = flags.load("MESOS_", argc, argv);

  if (flags.help) {
    cout << flags.usage() << endl;
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
  }

  if (flags.version) {
    cout << "mesos" << " " << MESOS_VERSION << endl;
    return EXIT_SUCCESS;
  }

  if (load.isError()) {
    cerr << flags.usage(load.error()) << endl;
    return EXIT_FAILURE;
  }

  if (flags.ip_discovery_command.isSome() && flags.ip.isSome()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << flags.usage(
        "Only one of `--ip` or `--ip_discovery_command` should be specified");
  }

  if (flags.ip_discovery_command.isSome()) {
    Try<string> ipAddress = os::shell(flags.ip_discovery_command.get());

    if (ipAddress.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << ipAddress.error();
    }

    os::setenv("LIBPROCESS_IP", strings::trim(ipAddress.get()));
  } else if (flags.ip.isSome()) {
    os::setenv("LIBPROCESS_IP", flags.ip.get());
  }

  os::setenv("LIBPROCESS_PORT", stringify(flags.port));

  if (flags.advertise_ip.isSome()) {
    os::setenv("LIBPROCESS_ADVERTISE_IP", flags.advertise_ip.get());
  }

  if (flags.advertise_port.isSome()) {
    os::setenv("LIBPROCESS_ADVERTISE_PORT", flags.advertise_port.get());
  }

  if (flags.zk.isNone()) {
    if (flags.master_contender.isSome() ^ flags.master_detector.isSome()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << flags.usage("Both --master_contender and --master_detector should "
                       "be specified or omitted.");
    }
  } else {
    if (flags.master_contender.isSome() || flags.master_detector.isSome()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << flags.usage("Only one of --zk or the "
                       "--master_contender/--master_detector "
                       "pair should be specified.");
    }
  }

  // Log build information.
  LOG(INFO) << "Build: " << build::DATE << " by " << build::USER;
  LOG(INFO) << "Version: " << MESOS_VERSION;

  if (build::GIT_TAG.isSome()) {
    LOG(INFO) << "Git tag: " << build::GIT_TAG.get();
  }

  if (build::GIT_SHA.isSome()) {
    LOG(INFO) << "Git SHA: " << build::GIT_SHA.get();
  }

  // This should be the first invocation of `process::initialize`. If it returns
  // `false`, then it has already been called, which means that the
  // authentication realm for libprocess-level HTTP endpoints was not set to the
  // correct value for the master.
  if (!process::initialize(
          "master",
          READWRITE_HTTP_AUTHENTICATION_REALM,
          READONLY_HTTP_AUTHENTICATION_REALM)) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "The call to `process::initialize()` in the master's "
                       << "`main()` was not the function's first invocation";
  }

  logging::initialize(argv[0], flags, true); // Catch signals.

  // Log any flag warnings (after logging is initialized).
  foreach (const flags::Warning& warning, load->warnings) {
    LOG(WARNING) << warning.message;
  }

  spawn(new VersionProcess(), true);

  // Initialize firewall rules.
  if (flags.firewall_rules.isSome()) {
    vector<Owned<FirewallRule>> rules;

    const Firewall firewall = flags.firewall_rules.get();

    if (firewall.has_disabled_endpoints()) {
      hashset<string> paths;

      foreach (const string& path, firewall.disabled_endpoints().paths()) {
        paths.insert(path);
      }

      rules.emplace_back(new DisabledEndpointsFirewallRule(paths));
    }

    process::firewall::install(move(rules));
  }

  // Initialize modules.
  if (flags.modules.isSome() && flags.modulesDir.isSome()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) <<
      flags.usage("Only one of --modules or --modules_dir should be specified");
  }

  if (flags.modulesDir.isSome()) {
    Try<Nothing> result = ModuleManager::load(flags.modulesDir.get());
    if (result.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "Error loading modules: " << result.error();
    }
  }

  if (flags.modules.isSome()) {
    Try<Nothing> result = ModuleManager::load(flags.modules.get());
    if (result.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "Error loading modules: " << result.error();
    }
  }

  // Create anonymous modules.
  foreach (const string& name, ModuleManager::find<Anonymous>()) {
    Try<Anonymous*> create = ModuleManager::create<Anonymous>(name);
    if (create.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << "Failed to create anonymous module named '" << name << "'";
    }

    // We don't bother keeping around the pointer to this anonymous
    // module, when we exit that will effectively free its memory.
    //
    // TODO(benh): We might want to add explicit finalization (and
    // maybe explicit initialization too) in order to let the module
    // do any housekeeping necessary when the master is cleanly
    // terminating.
  }

  // Initialize hooks.
  if (flags.hooks.isSome()) {
    Try<Nothing> result = HookManager::initialize(flags.hooks.get());
    if (result.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "Error installing hooks: " << result.error();
    }
  }

  // Create an instance of allocator.
  const string allocatorName = flags.allocator;
  Try<Allocator*> allocator = Allocator::create(allocatorName);

  if (allocator.isError()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
      << "Failed to create '" << allocatorName
      << "' allocator: " << allocator.error();
  }

  CHECK_NOTNULL(allocator.get());
  LOG(INFO) << "Using '" << allocatorName << "' allocator";

  Storage* storage = nullptr;
#ifndef __WINDOWS__
  Log* log = nullptr;
#endif // __WINDOWS__

  if (flags.registry == "in_memory") {
    storage = new InMemoryStorage();
#ifndef __WINDOWS__
  } else if (flags.registry == "replicated_log" ||
             flags.registry == "log_storage") {
    // TODO(bmahler): "log_storage" is present for backwards
    // compatibility, can be removed before 0.19.0.
    if (flags.work_dir.isNone()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << "--work_dir needed for replicated log based registry";
    }

    Try<Nothing> mkdir = os::mkdir(flags.work_dir.get());
    if (mkdir.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << "Failed to create work directory '" << flags.work_dir.get()
        << "': " << mkdir.error();
    }

    if (flags.zk.isSome()) {
      // Use replicated log with ZooKeeper.
      if (flags.quorum.isNone()) {
        EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
          << "Need to specify --quorum for replicated log based"
          << " registry when using ZooKeeper";
      }

      Try<zookeeper::URL> url = zookeeper::URL::parse(flags.zk.get());
      if (url.isError()) {
        EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "Error parsing ZooKeeper URL: " << url.error();
      }

      log = new Log(
          flags.quorum.get(),
          path::join(flags.work_dir.get(), "replicated_log"),
          url.get().servers,
          flags.zk_session_timeout,
          path::join(url.get().path, "log_replicas"),
          url.get().authentication,
          flags.log_auto_initialize,
          "registrar/");
    } else {
      // Use replicated log without ZooKeeper.
      log = new Log(
          1,
          path::join(flags.work_dir.get(), "replicated_log"),
          set<UPID>(),
          flags.log_auto_initialize,
          "registrar/");
    }
    storage = new LogStorage(log);
#endif // __WINDOWS__
  } else {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
      << "'" << flags.registry << "' is not a supported"
      << " option for registry persistence";
  }

  CHECK_NOTNULL(storage);

  mesos::state::protobuf::State* state =
    new mesos::state::protobuf::State(storage);
  Registrar* registrar =
    new Registrar(flags, state, READONLY_HTTP_AUTHENTICATION_REALM);

  MasterContender* contender;
  MasterDetector* detector;

  Try<MasterContender*> contender_ = MasterContender::create(
      flags.zk, flags.master_contender);

  if (contender_.isError()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
      << "Failed to create a master contender: " << contender_.error();
  }

  contender = contender_.get();

  Try<MasterDetector*> detector_ = MasterDetector::create(
      flags.zk, flags.master_detector);

  if (detector_.isError()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
      << "Failed to create a master detector: " << detector_.error();
  }

  detector = detector_.get();

  Option<Authorizer*> authorizer_ = None();

  auto authorizerNames = strings::split(flags.authorizers, ",");
  if (authorizerNames.empty()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "No authorizer specified";
  }
  if (authorizerNames.size() > 1) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "Multiple authorizers not supported";
  }
  string authorizerName = authorizerNames[0];

  // NOTE: The flag --authorizers overrides the flag --acls, i.e. if
  // a non default authorizer is requested, it will be used and
  // the contents of --acls will be ignored.
  // TODO(arojas): Consider adding support for multiple authorizers.
  Result<Authorizer*> authorizer((None()));
  if (authorizerName != master::DEFAULT_AUTHORIZER) {
    LOG(INFO) << "Creating '" << authorizerName << "' authorizer";

    authorizer = Authorizer::create(authorizerName);
  } else {
    // `authorizerName` is `DEFAULT_AUTHORIZER` at this point.
    if (flags.acls.isSome()) {
      LOG(INFO) << "Creating default '" << authorizerName << "' authorizer";

      authorizer = Authorizer::create(flags.acls.get());
    }
  }

  if (authorizer.isError()) {
    EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE) << "Could not create '" << authorizerName
                       << "' authorizer: " << authorizer.error();
  } else if (authorizer.isSome()) {
    authorizer_ = authorizer.get();

    // Set the authorization callbacks for libprocess HTTP endpoints.
    // Note that these callbacks capture `authorizer_.get()`, but the master
    // creates a copy of the authorizer during construction. Thus, if in the
    // future it becomes possible to dynamically set the authorizer, this would
    // break.
    process::http::authorization::setCallbacks(
        createAuthorizationCallbacks(authorizer_.get()));
  }

  Files files(READONLY_HTTP_AUTHENTICATION_REALM, authorizer_);

  Option<shared_ptr<RateLimiter>> slaveRemovalLimiter = None();
  if (flags.agent_removal_rate_limit.isSome()) {
    // Parse the flag value.
    // TODO(vinod): Move this parsing logic to flags once we have a
    // 'Rate' abstraction in stout.
    vector<string> tokens =
      strings::tokenize(flags.agent_removal_rate_limit.get(), "/");

    if (tokens.size() != 2) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << "Invalid agent_removal_rate_limit: "
        << flags.agent_removal_rate_limit.get()
        << ". Format is <Number of agents>/<Duration>";
    }

    Try<int> permits = numify<int>(tokens[0]);
    if (permits.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << "Invalid agent_removal_rate_limit: "
        << flags.agent_removal_rate_limit.get()
        << ". Format is <Number of agents>/<Duration>"
        << ": " << permits.error();
    }

    Try<Duration> duration = Duration::parse(tokens[1]);
    if (duration.isError()) {
      EXIT(EXIT_FAILURE)
        << "Invalid agent_removal_rate_limit: "
        << flags.agent_removal_rate_limit.get()
        << ". Format is <Number of agents>/<Duration>"
        << ": " << duration.error();
    }

    slaveRemovalLimiter = new RateLimiter(permits.get(), duration.get());
  }

  Master* master =
    new Master(
      allocator.get(),
      registrar,
      &files,
      contender,
      detector,
      authorizer_,
      slaveRemovalLimiter,
      flags);

  if (flags.zk.isNone() && flags.master_detector.isNone()) {
    // It means we are using the standalone detector so we need to
    // appoint this Master as the leader.
    dynamic_cast<StandaloneMasterDetector*>(detector)->appoint(master->info());
  }

  process::spawn(master);
  process::wait(master->self());

  delete master;
  delete allocator.get();

  delete registrar;
  delete state;
  delete storage;
#ifndef __WINDOWS__
  delete log;
#endif // __WINDOWS__

  delete contender;
  delete detector;

  if (authorizer_.isSome()) {
    delete authorizer_.get();
  }

  return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home/47,XYY
What is XYY? Meet Steve and Find Out
AXYS shares articles about our community members to help you gain understanding of X and Y chromosome variations on a personal level. Please enjoy this article and learn about XYY. Note: The name "Steve" is a pseudonym used upon request.
You'd notice Steve. A stocky guy, 6'6'' tall, is hard to miss. But like most men with an X or Y variation, medically known as a sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA), everyone missed his condition.
As a child, Steve liked to sit quietly in the back of the class and daydream. He was a smart kid from an academically accomplished family. His teachers and family thought he was just not applying himself. "It was tough to hear the comments from 'why are you acting so immature?' to 'what's wrong with you?' over and over."
He knew he was different and that school was harder for him, but nobody could explain why. In middle school his family finally got him tested. The child development experts diagnosed him with ADD and dyslexia and put him on medication. Steve did not react well to the meds; they gave him night terrors.
Not only was school difficult, he had physical differences too. "I had low muscle tone," said Steve. "That made sports challenging. I'd rather do individual activities like hiking." His parents required him to play sports. That was not enjoyable for a boy who had a harder time keeping up physically, found it hard to focus, and who missed social cues. Steve was not timid physically—he loved extreme sports like glade skiing. He also loved solitude and quiet. "I'd go hide in a corner and read a magazine."
In spite of his challenges, Steve made it to college where he was an average student. His love of learning served him well. "I like to go to museums, travel to places and explore. Reading about places is not enough."
Despite social challenges, he married a college professor. When they had trouble getting pregnant they discovered he was not fertile because he produced no sperm. A low sperm count is not that unusual but to produce zero sperm was puzzling.
Steve wanted to know: why he did not produce any sperm? Why did he get migraines? Why was his muscle tone low? Why did his hands get shaky? Why was he so much taller than his 5' 9" father? But then came the Internet. Steve began to research his medical issues.
He came across something called Klinefelter Syndrome and took his knowledge to his primary care doctor. The doctor agreed to order some tests, but Steve, tired of waiting for answers, checked off a few more boxes on the lab sheet making sure a battery of tests was ordered, increasing the likelihood that he'd finally get the answer he sought. It was good thing he did, as he discovered his hormone levels were off.
Steve was referred to an endocrinologist who ordered a karyotype (a picture of a person's chromosomes) that finally gave him the answer. He had an extra sex chromosome. But not as he suspected–an extra X; Steve has an extra Y.
He found a doctor that had treated men with XXY but never XYY. The condition is half as common–XYY affects about 1 in 1,000 males. In some individuals, the manifestations of XYY are mild and barely noticeable, while others have more severe symptoms.
Steve read every research article on XYY he could find online. He learned that about 30% of those with XYY are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. That explained his social issues. While most males with XYY have intelligence in the normal range, many have language-based and other learning disabilities. Other possible concerns include social skill disabilities, immaturity, low self-esteem, ADHD, impulsivity, and anxiety or mood disorders. After learning all of this Steve thought, "This sounds like me."
The difficulties a person with XYY has can be alleviated with medical and educational interventions. Speech and motor skill difficulties respond to therapy. Anxiety and mood disorders or ADHD can be treated with behavioral therapy, occupational therapy, and sometimes, appropriate medication. Special education accommodations and teaching methods can help those with XYY achieve academic success despite learning disabilities. Some individuals with XYY have significant anxiety related to school, and a change to a smaller classroom environment or an alternative learning setting, including part-time home schooling, can help. If only Steve had been diagnosed sooner.
Sadly, when Steve got his diagnosis, his wife left him, citing his diagnosis. They had adopted a child who Steve raised as a single parent. Steve has a great job as the Student Center Administrator at a university; he's been there over 30 years. "I learned that I need a hands-on job," said Steve. "I would not do well sitting behind a desk." Steve described how he, like everyone, had to find his niche. He recommends that everyone "find where you fit in life."
It has not always been easy. His job was jeopardized by misunderstandings with a manager, but disclosing his diagnosis to the HR department and filing a claim with the EEOC straightened out the problem. "I knew the sudden poor performance reviews, when I had been a stellar employee, were discrimination, so I took action."
Today Steve is raising his son and works to educate healthcare providers and parents about XYY. "It is not that bad," he says. Steve hopes that someday all doctors and educators will be well versed in sex chromosome aneuploidy (SCA) so people affected get diagnosed very young and can receive the interventions that make life easier. "I also hope they will treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. It is a holistic view that aids diagnosis of an SCA and really helps children."
Steve served on the board of AXYS, the Association for X and Y Variations. He refers parents with questions to their website genetic.org and their toll free Helpline (888-999-9428) or helpline@genetic.org, where trained volunteers answer questions free of charge. He supports AXYS' efforts to develop clinics for adults with SCA. "We need to know what to expect as we age," said Steve. "A study back in the 80s reported that the average life expectancy of a man with XYY is 10 years less than average. For an XXY guy it is 5 years less. Maybe we can change that."
Rick Frith2019-11-13T21:56:33-05:00Categories: 47,XYY|
Autism Spectrum Disorder in Males with Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy: XXY/Klinefelter syndrome, XYY, and XXYY
Article Title: Autism Spectrum Disorder in Males with Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy: XXY/Klinefelter syndrome, XYY, and XXYY
Authors: Nicole R Tartaglia, MD, Rebecca Wilson, PsyD, Judith S. Miller, PhD, Jessica Rafalko, Lisa Cordeiro, MS, Shanlee Davis, MD, David Hessl, PhD, and Judith Ross, MD
Date of Publication: April 2017
"The rate of ASD in children with SCA in this study was higher than expected compared to the general population. Males with Y chromosome aneuploidy (XYY and XXYY) were 4.8 times more likely to have a diagnosis of ASD than the XXY/KS group, and 20 times more likely than males in the general population based on the 2010 Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate of 1 in 42 males. ASD is an important consideration when evaluating social difficulties for children with SCA. Studies of males with SCA and Y-chromosome genes may provide insight into idiopathic ASD and male predominance in ASD."
Rick Frith2019-02-21T11:15:50-05:00Categories: 47,XXY (Klinefelter), 47,XYY, 48,XXYY|
Characterization of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurodevelopmental Profiles in Youth with XYY Syndrome
Article Title: Characterization of autism spectrum disorder and neurodevelopmental profiles in youth with XYY syndrome
Authors: Lisa Joseph, Cristan Farmer, Colby Chlebowski, Laura Henry, Ari Fish, Catherine Makiw, Anastasia Xenophontos, Liv Clasen, Bethany Saul, Jakob Seidlitz, Jonathan Blumenthal, Erin Torres, Audrey Thurm, and Armin Raznahan
Date of Publication: October 22, 2018
"XYY syndrome is a sex chromosome aneuploidy that occurs in ~ 1/850 male births and is associated with increased risk for neurodevelopmental difficulties. However, the profile of neurodevelopmental impairments, including symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in XYY remains poorly understood. This gap in knowledge has persisted in part due to lack of access to patient cohorts with dense and homogeneous phenotypic data."
Vocal & Gestural Productions of 24-month-old Children with Sex Chromosome Trisomies
Article Title: Vocal and gestural productions of 24-month-old children with sex chromosome trisomies
Authors: Laura Zampini, Lara Draghi, Gaia Silibello, Francesca Dall'Ara, Claudia Rigamonti,Chiara Suttora, Paola Zanchi, Nicoletta Salerni, Faustina Lalatta, and Paola Vizziello
Date of Publication: January 2018
Rick Frith2018-04-25T21:20:27-04:00Categories: 47,XXX (trisomy x), 47,XXY (Klinefelter), 47,XYY|
Behavioral and Social Phenotypes in Boys With 47,XYY Syndrome or 47,XXY Klinefelter Syndrome
Article Title: Behavioral and Social Phenotypes in Boys With 47,XYY Syndrome or 47,XXY Klinefelter Syndrome
Authors: Judith L. Ross, David P. Roeltgen, Harvey Kushner, Andrew R. Zinn, Allan Reiss, Martha Zeger Bardsley, Elizabeth McCauley, and Nicole Tartaglia
Rick Frith2018-07-31T12:57:36-04:00Categories: 47,XXY (Klinefelter), 47,XYY|
47,XYY Syndrome: Clinical Phenotype and Timing of Ascertainment
Article Title: 47,XYY Syndrome: Clinical Phenotype and Timing of Ascertainment
Authors: Martha Zeger Bardsley, Karen Kowal, Carly Levy, Ania Gosek, Natalie Ayari, Nicole Tartaglia, Najiba Lahlou, Breanna Winder, Shannon Grimes, and Judith L. Ross
Date of Publication: May 2013
"The XYY phenotype commonly includes tall stature, macrocephaly, macroorchidism, hypotonia, hypertelorism, and tremor. Physical phenotypic features were similar in boys diagnosed prenatally vs postnatally. Prenatal diagnosis was associated with higher cognitive function and less likelihood of an ASD diagnosis."
Issues and Challenges in XYY Syndrome
Presentation slides from the 2017 AXYS Family Conference presentation:
Issues and Challenges in XYY Syndrome (PDF)
Presented by Erin Torres, Nurse Practitioner
Rick Frith2017-07-21T21:47:15-04:00Categories: 47,XYY|Tags: 2017 Conference|
Parents Advocate for Son's Educational Needs
A couple in the U.K. are fighting to help their son with 47,XYY get what he needs to be successful in school. From the original article:
"Holly Mayatt, of Sandown Road, said her son Harry, who attends All Saints Junior Academy, is struggling more and more at school due to him not being given specialist provision which she has asked for.
Harry has XYY syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder. Symptoms may include learning disabilities and behavioural problems such as impulsivity. He also has SPD (sensory processing disorder)."
Growing Up with XYY
Article Title: Unique – XYY
Authors: Unique – Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group
An article with general information about XYY Syndrome.
"Approximately one boy in 1000 has XYY chromosomes. In the cells of their body, instead of 46 chromosomes including one X and one Y chromosome, they have one X and two Y chromosomes, making 47 in all. The impact of the extra Y chromosome is extremely variable."
Findings from an XYY Study
Article Title: XYY Study Day Report
Author: Unique – Rare Chromosome Disorder Support Group
"Families with a son with XYY – a single extra Y chromosome – met experts and researchers at a study day in Oxford, UK in April 2008. They heard what is already known from research conducted on boys and men with XYY who were identified in the 1960s and what is starting to emerge from a follow-up study of the development of children with an extra sex chromosome, launched last summer in the UK. This study will refine and update knowledge about boys and girls aged between 4 and 16 with Triple X, XYY and XXY (Klinefelter syndrome), and in particular what is known about their behaviour and learning."


text:
Q: Как произвести склейку видео со звуком и направить в rtsp поток? Задача заключается в следующем: на входе получаем rtsp поток(с видео и звуком). Звук не трогаем, а вот над видео нужно произвести обработку, а затем объединив со звуком отправить в rtsp поток(всё это в реальном времени, задержки нужны минимальные). Обработка видео производится средствами opencv.
На данный момент есть реализация без звука с использованием rtsp-simple-server для создания rtsp потока:
import cv2 as cv
import numpy as np
import subprocess as sp
inp_url1 = ...
out_url2 = ...
cap = cv2.VideoCapture(inp_url) # backend на ffmpeg
command = ['ffmpeg',
           '-r', '30',
           '-i', '-',
           '-f', 'rtsp',
           out_url2]
process = sp.Popen(command, stdin=sp.PIPE)
while(cap.isOpened()):
    ret, frame = cap.read()
    if ret:
        ... #обработка кадра
        _, frame2 = cv2.imencode('.png', frame)
        process.stdin.write(frame2.tobytes())

Звук из rtsp научился извлекать пока только таким образом:
command = ['ffmpeg',
            '-i', url,
            '-acodec', "copy",
            '-vn',
            '-f', 'mp2',
            '-'
            ]
process = sp.Popen(command, stdout=sp.PIPE)
while True:
    frame = process.stdout.read(chunk)

И при объединении примеров выше, для захвата аудио + видео ни о какой синхронизации по временным меткам речи не идёт(знает кто нибудь как это сделать?)
Для передачи звука и видео в rtsp поток хотелось бы воспользоваться командой:
command = ['ffmpeg',
           '-i', '-', # audio frame
           '-i', '-', # video frame
           '-f', 'rtsp',
           rtsp_server]
process = sp.Popen(command, stdin=sp.PIPE)

Вот только как подать 2 объекта(звук и видео) в stdin? Да ещё и с синхронизацией звука и видео? Есть идеи?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


To keep your sanity on the road, as you sometimes drive alone for miles and miles, BMW is equipping its vehicles with an artificial intelligent (AI) Personal Assistant. It's kind of like Samantha from the movie "Her." That movie where the protagonist made his computer's AI operating system his girlfriend? Only this time, it's a car's – oh, no.
Through this AI Personal Assistant technology, you could talk to your car by simply prompting the system with "Hey, BMW." It's the same concept as with Alexa by Google and any other AI, you always need to let them know you're talking to them by uttering a programmed prompt. The great thing about this tech is that it comes with 23 different languages.
However, it seems like BMW was serious when it said "personal assistant." A plan in the future was stated, the German brand's technology will adopt the concept of having a real personal assistant (PA). It wouldn't just be in the car, you can talk to it at home via a smart speaker or through your phone when you're out in the streets or in a mall.
Behold, a PA you don't need to feed and pay monthly. It's super intelligent, too, minus the degree; efficient without having to reach exhaustion; basically, an ideal companion you can always count on when you need to know anything.
Among the things it can do is the ability to tour you around anywhere. Need a fuel refill? Hungry? Need a shot of joe? Just ask it and it will point you to the nearest spot, or whichever you prefer. It's an entertainment geek, too. Say "Hey, BMW. Play a classical music." and wait till you hear Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach in the background.
Aside from those, it could also alert the driver if there are problems inside the car. Rather than hearing blips and tings and having to look up an icon to identify which one is, the system will already tell you right away. In addition to this, it could remind the owner about scheduled maintenance appointments or other agendas.
Such a cool concept; we do hope local BMWs get it soon. Aside from that, "Hey, BMW. We want an M5; can you bring us an M5 in the office?"
Unfortunately, the BMW AI Personal Assistant will initially be available in the USA, Germany, UK, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil, Japan, and China. It will be launched in 2019 and would be featuring the new BMW iDrive 7.0 and is part of the Live Cockpit Professional.


in preparation for our next outing to Barbon Hill climb on Sat 7th July. Bring cameras and laptops if you have them. Hope to see you there.
This Thursday is an evening shoot to Liverpool Waterfront. Should be a great opportunity to get some lovely sunset shots. If you want to join us, please let Graham know, as we will wait at the Lancaster park and ride at 7pm.
We had a lovely evening at our annual dinner last week. Nice food as always by the clarendon, good company and a variety of award winners – well done to all 😊 And as always, a stunning sunset and a room full of photographers without cameras 😂 Here are a few of the pictures from the night.


text:
Home > Life Style > Environment
Your perfumes may pollute environment
null | 6 Sep 2016 5:16 PM GMT
The findings showed traces of -'scented-' molecules, including those more distant from inhabited areas, though concentrations were up to 500 times...
London: Love to wear designer perfumes? Be careful, as certain molecules produced in these man-made fragrances act as potential contaminants of the environment, and may also impact our ecosystem in the long run, said a study conducted in the canals of Venice, also known as the city without sewers.
Investigating the canals of Venice, the researchers looked for traces of molecules referred to as "perfumes" in the ingredients of products such as soaps, detergents, shampoos and many other personal hygiene products that we use daily.
The findings showed traces of "scented" molecules, including those more distant from inhabited areas, though concentrations were up to 500 times higher in the inner city canals.
Samples collected during conditions of low tide showed concentrations comparable to those of untreated waste water, the study revealed.
"The study confirms that fragrances are released continuously into the canals of Venice, both during high and low tide and in the historic centre and the lagoon," said Marco Vecchiato, post-doctoral student at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice in Italy.
One of the most frequently found compounds in the waters of the lagoon was benzyl salicylate a chemical compound used in cosmetics as a fragrance additive or UV light absorbed and also known to cause dermal irritation.
Thus, venice's existing system of treating wastewater through biological tanks which then flows directly into the canals, seems an insufficient method of lowering the concentration of these molecules, the study said.
However, according to the data, the concentrations seem to be below the threshold for acute toxicity to marine organisms.
"But, we do not know the consequences of prolonged exposure to low doses of these substances," Vecchiato said.
For the study, the scientists repeatedly collected water samples from 22 places between the inner canals in the historic centre of Venice, the island of Burano and at two points in the far-north lagoon, between April and December 2015.
They were looking for the presence of 17 fragrances among the most used and chemically stable, between the thousands available to the cosmetics industry.
The results were published in the journal "Science of the total environment".


Hello, my name is Rob. I'm a fourth-year medical student at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine and a deputy editor at Wiki Journal Club. My interests are in internal medicine, especially nephrology and cardiology.
This page was last modified on 2 March 2019, at 21:39.


Experience an authentic Edwardian Christmas dinner "Downton" style. Museum interpreters have chosen a menu for you to prepare in the Benares Historic House kitchen. The meal consists of a soup, a meat and/or fish course and a selection of traditional Christmas desserts that are inspired by the historical period drama Downton Abbey.
$46.50 per person includes your meal and a tour of Benares with special emphasis on Edwardian holiday traditions. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 905-615-4860 ext 2110.


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To improve people's lives by giving them the chance to recover images from their past. To enable our employees to flourish and prosper.
At Onlinephotofix.com, we are committed to the highest standards of responsibility, quality and teamwork.


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Home Featured USFL USFL's Big Test Comes In Week Two
USFL's Big Test Comes In Week Two
Is the league more than just a one week curiosity?
FOX Sports, the people behind the newest spring football league, the United States Football League, will find out this weekend if what really is nothing more than four reality football TV shows a weekend has legs. The USFL on various FOX and NBC platforms featured many empty seats in the four Birmingham, Alabama games. A reason that happened could have been due to the fact that two of the games were played on Easter Sunday and bad weather. The league got about three million people who were interested in watching the product on various platforms which seem to be in line with the viewership of the previous two attempts at getting professional spring football established, the 2019 Alliance of American Football and the 2020 version of the XFL. The AAF and XFL went out of business but the two leagues played games in various cities around the United States. It is not clear if the USFL survives if the league owned franchises will actually play in the cities the teams allegedly represent.
The USFL seems to be a TV show in the reality TV genre except the outcomes may be legitimate as it appears the producers of the program are not doing any scripting or creative editing of the product. In this vein, FOX Sports and the people running the USFL need better storylines than a player being cut because he wanted pizza instead of chicken salad. It is unclear how much the city of Birmingham has invested in attracting FOX Sports to set up the USFL TV production in the city but Birmingham can always claim "look at the exposure we are getting". The USFL will give players and some coaches and others a chance to show NFL people that they might have some talent to work in the National Football League.
Evan Weiner's books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191
Evan can be reached at evan_weiner@hotmail.com
FILE – Tampa Bay Bandits coach Todd Haley (AP Photo/David Richard, File)
Alliance Of American Football
Spring Football League
United States Football League
Goodbye Tampa Bay Bandits, We Hardly Knew You
World Cup Final: Messi for Argentina and Mbappe for France have the eyes of the world on them 10 AM today.
Would Cup Day 1: How to watch all of the games on Fox, FS-1, Telemundo and Peacock starting at 11 am today.
Countdown to the World Cup: Here is your viewers guide to watching the events. Plan on getting up early.
What Is Happening With The USFL And XFL?
Big Money Continues To Pour Into College Sports


A track record of success: FairWyn Development has sold more than $65 million in quality residential properties since 1993. We work effectively with all the project stakeholders, agencies, and municipalities to create win/win projects that enhance and complement the surrounding landscape and are an asset to the community.
We proudly live, work, and play in the community we serve.


The Yokosuka MXY8 Akigusa (秋草, "Autumn grass") was a training glider built in parallel with the Mitsubishi J8M rocket-powered interceptor aircraft.
The J8M was to have simply been a licence-built Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, but due to difficulties in obtaining technical materials from Germany, it eventually had to be designed almost from scratch. The MXY8 was designed in parallel with the J8M to validate the design, and then to provide pilot training during the development of the actual interceptor. The Army designation for the type was Ku-13.
A more advanced trainer, the MXY9, equipped with a primitive jet engine was planned, but was never produced.
Many sources apply the designation MXY8 to the Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka kamikaze weapon.
Airplane Picture - Yokosuka MXY8 "Akigusa" unmotorized training glider version of the Mitsubishi J8M1 "Shusui"


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The Emmy Spotlight Was Bright on 'Fleabag's' Phoebe Waller-Bridge
9/23/2019 in Actors and Actresses by Carmen Croghan
CaptionPhoebe Waller-Bridge in Season 2 of "Fleabag" (Photo: Amazon)
The 71st annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony honored a wide variety of television shows, many with British connections including Game of Thrones, Chernobyl, A Very English Scandal and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
But the undeniable belle of the ball was Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The English actress/writer/producer won three statuettes in the comedy category for her Amazon series, Fleabag – Outstanding Writing, Comedy Series and Lead Actress (which was expected to go to Veep star and perennial Emmy winner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus).
And when Waller-Bridge wasn't on the stage personally accepting her trio of awards in that stunning, blush-colored tulle number, she was being thanked by other winners. Namely Fleabag director Harry Bradbeer and actress Jodie Comer who was named Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Villanelle in Killing Eve, another series created by Waller-Bridge.
For those who haven't heard of it, Fleabag is irreverent black comedy about a grief-stricken, sex-crazed, self-loathing young woman navigating an unraveling life in London. Waller-Bridge stars as the title character, known only as Fleabag.
What began in 2013 as an award-winning one woman play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival was adapted by Waller-Bridge into a BBC TV series. It debuted in the U.K. in the summer of 2016 and was picked up by Amazon that same autumn. Waller-Bridge won three BAFTAs for Fleabag in 2017, but the show didn't really pierce the consciousness of American viewers until its second season dropped earlier this spring.
In the post awards press conference, Waller-Bridge said, "Season 2 would not have happened or exploded in the way that it did if it wasn't for Andrew Scott (whose character is known to fans as Hot Priest) who came into this, into our Fleabag world, like a whirlwind, and gave a performance of such depth and complexity that just elevated the whole thing for all of us."
In the same interview, she also confirmed that season two was the end of the line for this award winning series.
"To be honest this feels like the most beautiful way to say goodbye to it actually. It does feel like the story is complete. It is so nice to hear that so many people loved it, it's like maybe she shouldn't have waved goodbye at the end… but it feels like the right way to end it, to go out on a high."
If you've only just discovered the charming Ms. Waller-Bridge, don't worry. There's season three of Killing Eve ahead in which Phoebe plans to make an appearance. She is also one of the co-writers for the upcoming James Bond film, No Time to Die. A woman of her talents is sure to have plenty of irons in the fire and the Emmy buzz will only offer her more opportunities to make us laugh and cry.
Are you already a fan of Fleabag? If not, do you think the Emmy accolades will make you more likely to give it a watch?
Part-time reference library staffer and full-time telly enthusiast, Carmen's viewing habits range from slightly surreal British sitcoms and the occasional celebrity panel show to gritty crime mysteries and historical period dramas. Curious about what she's watching? She's on Twitter at @Brittellyaddict or Facebook at Everything I Know abut the UK.
More posts by Carmen Croghan »
Phoebe Waller-Bridge Fleabag Emmys 2019 Killing Eve
Jodie Comer and Sandra Oh Return in Dark Trailer for 'Killing Eve' Season 2
The first trailer for "Killing Eve" Season 2 is here and it is everything.
'Killing Eve' Season 2 Will Premiere in April
BBC America's fantastic Killing Eve returns to the airwaves with Season 2 this coming April.
BBC America's 'Killing Eve' Is Murderously Fun
Down the dial, BBC America debuts Killing Eve, a murderously fun cat-and-mouse game starring Sandra Oh.


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Filter: Do What You Love
Danny Schuman
Do What You Love, Professional Coaching
What being stuck in the NYC blackout taught me about happiness
I was mid-bite, mouth wide open, trying to make my way through a slice of New York pizza the size of home plate, when the pizza joint went dark.
"Hmmm, they'll just flip the circuit breaker," I thought, and kept eating. Nobody paid it that much attention. It was New York, after all.
I had a ticket to a great show that I'd bought very last minute so I finished my slice in the dark and headed down 45th Street to the Theatre District, where I waited for the doors to open. And waited. And waited, alongside families from Canada and Long Island and across the world who paid top dollar for their tickets and may have bought them months ago for a big Saturday night out.
As the doors continued to stay closed past the 8:00 curtain time, the sidewalks and streets around the theaters filled up and something started feeling very different. The traffic lights were out, and cars snaked through the streets. Police and fire engine sirens wailed non-stop. The mass of people outside the theaters continued to build.
Waiting for the doors to open (they didn't)
Finally, a murmur went through the crowd: All shows cancelled. People moved away from the theaters and down the street, heads down. It was as quiet as a jam packed Times Square will ever get.
I was staying in an apartment about a mile away and the sky was darkening, so as the novelty of taking pictures and videos of a mostly dark West Side wore out, I headed back to the apartment and sweated my way up 23 flours so I could be inside before it got pitch black outside.
The apartment was eerily silent and devoid of energy. No fluorescent lights on microwaves or cable boxes, no LED displays on alarm clocks, no refrigerator hum, certainly no TV to turn on or music to play. I couldn't open Spotify because I only had half a battery left on my phone and had no idea how long the power would be out. I texted my wife every once in a while to let her know I was alive but otherwise shut down my devices.
It got darker. And quieter. A quiet you could hear. More quiet than I'd heard in a long time.
It made me think of a question John Amaechi has asked. John was the first former NBA player to come out as gay, and an amazing speaker and thought leader. My sister has seen him speak and told me about one memorable speech, when he was talking about being a young man in distress over identity and relationships. The question:
What do you see when you're alone in the dark?
Think about it. What does it feel like to be in a place of complete stillness, to have your mind be totally clear, to feel the absence of distraction, and to focus on yourself.
What does it tell you about you, your world, how you interact with the world? What can you learn from this uniquely weird and special experience?
Eventually the power came on and when I looked at the blinking clock I realized I had fallen asleep an hour earlier than normal. I don't think it was because I was super tired. I think it was because I was super at peace. Without the artificial hum I only had my body to tune in to and I was filled with notions of creative possibility and what could be.
I was woken up partially by the one small light I'd left on, but mostly by a giant Whiirrrr of lights and electronics turning on at once in the general vicinity of my building. It jolted me out of my sleep.
While having power meant I'd be able to call my wife, write this post, and listen to some good music, it also bummed me out. I missed that feeling, that focus, that clearing of my head, what it felt like without the pulsing external energy, having the possibility to look inward to consider what's possible. It felt pretty great.
The challenge now is how to recapture that feeling. Well, the newscasts reporting the blackout are talking about the possibility of more. I didn't have any plans to go back to New York, but I might start checking into flights.
Tagged: NYC blackout, Broadway, Happiness


Due to the malfunctioning gear change in my Zündapp KS 750 had to deal with the preparation of a "team" for the season.
Below some photos of previous work.
show us the rest of the machine MB!
These are a little different aren't they. Great fun for taking for a spin i would say.
Seems to me like you would definitely need to dress uptop the part of riding them.
A machine can never be to blame in such ways, even if they may be seen by some as offensive.
I attach below the link to the video.
In the first film when the camera swung 90s to the right toward the flooding - I thought - Oh no he's crashed...!
Great, 'clunky' sound, esp the gearchanges and straight-cut gears - more like an armored vehicle than a sidecar bike..
Very good, thanks for the video uploads. I enjoyed watching them.
Looks very wet round yours, good excuse to get the right equipment out for the job.


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module.exports = {
    // Twilio Account SID - found on your dashboard
    accountSid: process.env.TWILIO_ACCOUNT_SID,

    // Twilio Auth Token - found on your dashboard
    authToken: process.env.TWILIO_AUTH_TOKEN,

    // A Twilio number that you have purchased through the twilio.com web
    // interface or API
    twilioNumber: process.env.TWILIO_NUMBER,

    // The port your web application will run on
    port: process.env.PORT || 3000
};


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April 17, 2019 Vape News
Take Back the Truth: Misconceptions about Vaping
By Dr. Diana Rangaves, PharmD
Diana is a pharmacology and ethics educator turned writer. She holds a Doctorate from the University of California, San Francisco and is the author of "Escape into Excellence: Building a Foundation for Honest Decision-Making."
Self-education is essential for active decision making. Alfred Korzybski (1879-1950), author, logician, and scientist wrote,
"There are two ways to slide easily through life: to believe everything or to doubt everything. Both ways save us from thinking."
The debate is on regarding the health benefits and risks of vaping. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about 2.4 million users within the ages of 18 and 24 years engaged in vaping between 2017 and 2018.
These research findings demonstrate that some people engage in vaping as a cultural bonding ritual to boost their social image. In addition, some use it as a smoking cessation gateway to quit smoking of regular cigarettes.
The Center on Addiction describes vaping as the practice of inhaling and exhaling vapor or aerosol produced by an electronic cigarette, e-cigarettes, or other vaping devices. Typically, a vaping device comprises a battery, mouthpiece, cartridge that contains the e-juice or e-liquid, and a battery-powered heating component. The warming of the heating components of the battery converts the e-liquid into a vapor.
As with any issue involving the personal choices we make, there are agendas, politics, and money behind them. Marketing and information become blurred, with hype, publicity, and misinformation.
Misconception: Vaping is more harmful than traditional cigarettes
According to the American Lung Association, regular tobacco cigarettes contain about 600 different ingredients that produce over 7,000 chemicals when burned. At least 69 of these chemicals in cigars contain toxic elements linked to cancer, heart and other respiratory diseases.
By contrast, an e-cigarette contains vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol-based liquid with flavoring, nicotine, and metals. However, not the tobacco present in a traditional cigar or cigarette.
Vaping, unlike a traditional cigarette, exposes users to fewer toxic chemicals says Michael Blaha, the director of clinical research at John Hopkins Medicine.
Misconception: No one knows exactly what is in an e-cigarette, they use anti-freeze to hide this
This is another misconception used in the war against vaping. There is no iota of truth in this statement. Vape juice contains primarily four different ingredients, which appear on the packaging. This is much lower compared to the thousands of unknown chemical present in cigarettes. The four ingredients present in vape juice include
Natural and artificial flavoring
The assertion that vape juice contains anti-freeze is misleading. This misapprehension is because of the presence of propylene glycol. However, the Food and Drug Administration considers the use of propylene glycol safe for general use in food, as direct additives, food flavoring agent and in cosmetics.
Misconception: Vaping cannot be used to quit smoking
Actually, the original personal intent of the inventor was as a smoking cessation product. The creator of the e-cigarette, Hon Lik, a Beijing pharmacist, invented the product in 2003. It did help him quit smoking after seeing his father, a heavy smoker, passed away from lung cancer.
The number of smokers among both adults and high school students in the U.S. has reduced in recent years; thanks to the positive role of vaping. The use of vaping devices allows users to control the amount of nicotine released during vaping.
Currently, the use of the e-cigarettes does not have Food and Drug Administration approval as a smoking cessation method. However, there is documentation that it is effective as an aid that can help smokers quit smoking. To implement vaping as a smoking cessation tool, start with a medium-high nicotine output vapor and gradually moved to a low, then eventually to a zero nicotine output. Smokers use vaping to avoid or minimize the symptoms of withdrawal associated with smoking cessation.
Misconception: Nicotine is responsible for cancer
This is another fallacy to spread fear, anxiety, and worry. According to the American Cancer Society, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, which is present in cigarettes. The nicotine present in the aerosol of an e-cigarette is not a carcinogen and does not cause cancer.
Research from the Society for the Study of Addiction confirms that nicotine does not cause cancer. In addition, none of the other main ingredients in vape juice are carcinogens or cancer causing.
Misconception: Smoking and vaping are both unhealthy
Yes, cigarettes disable the sense of taste and smell in users. This is due to the many toxic chemicals, apart from tobacco, present. The American Lung Association reports that smoking cigarettes exposes users to not less than 69 toxic chemicals, which include carbon monoxide, tar, acetone, arsenic, and butane.
To the contrary, vapers are not at risk for exposure to these toxic chemicals, because the vape juice does not contain tobacco. Nicotine, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and natural and artificial flavoring are the main ingredients in vape juices. Since many users turn to vaping as a cessation tool, their usage of nicotine will likely decrease with time.
Discerning information
The popularity of vaping has grown since it was introduced in 2007 to the U.S. mass market. Many people, especially among the young, adults have turned to vaping. This has raised the level of awareness among many groups. A sundry of misconceptions and misinformation about vaping abound. However, education is essential. Look at all angles, to discern information and be an informed consumer.
1. Vaporizers, E-Cigarettes, and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)| FDA
2. Why Do People Vape? Reasons Have Changed| Livescience; Sarah G.Miller; March 1st 2017
3. What is Vaping? | Center on Addiction; October
4. What is in a cigarette?| American Lung Association; February 20th 2019
5. 5 Truths You Need to Know About Vaping
6. Toxic Substance Portal- Propylene Glycol| ATSDR
7. The Truth About Vaping: 7 Common Misconception
8. Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes| CASAA
9. Nicotine per se is not a substantial cause of cancer. Any cancer-related risks during short-term nicotine therapy to aid smoking cessation are insignificant compared to the risks of smoking.
10. What We know About Electronic Cigarettes
Legal: This Article is is owned by Clouds & Coffee / VapeCloudsCoffee.com. To use this article or parts of this article in a publication, you must receive written permission from VapeCloudsCoffee.com. To inquire, use our contact us form.
Previous article Uncover the Myths of Popcorn Lung
John Renolds - April 18, 2019
Awesome article. Put some truth into people that don't know what their talking about!


Based on La dame aux Camélias (1852), a play adapted from the novel by Alexandre Dumas, the opera was originally entitled Violetta, after the main character and was first performed in 1853 at the La Fenice opera house in Venice.
La Traviata tells the story of Violetta Valéry, a beautiful French "Courtesan" mistress of a wealthy baron, who hosts a lavish party to celebrate her improved health after a bout with tuberculosis. There she meets Alfredo (Domingo) and becomes smitten with him." Violetta leaves the baron, and she and Alfredo move into a secluded country villa together, where they live happily for a while. But unknown to Alfredo, his father (baritone Cornell MacNeil) convinces Violetta that continuing her relationship with Alfredo will prevent Alfredo's sister from making a good marriage. With great sadness, Violetta decides that she must not only break permanently with Alfredo, she must keep him at a distance by returning to the baron. Misunderstanding her motives, Alfredo goes into a jealous rage that leads to tragic consequences.


Is the 2nd American Revolution on its way?
While impressive, Celente's predictions have not been perfect. In the '90s, he failed to predict the explosion of the Internet Revolution. This year, his prediction of a total collapse in world markets and in commercial real estate failed to materialize. While markets collapsed to record lows in early March, they have experienced a robust rebound to modest historical levels. Commercial real estate is suffering severe distress, but not a total meltdown. Celente admitted that the wild cards of unprecedented money printing by the Federal Reserve and Wall St bailouts by the US Treasury falsified his predictions of the "Collapse of '09".
As 2010 arrives, he is making three new dire predictions. First, he is predicting the bursting of the "Bailout Bubble". Second, he is predicting a Currency Crisis by the end of the first quarter, with the US Dollar being especially hit hard. Third, he is predicting "Terror 2010", in which a high probability of a major terrorist attack on US soil or NATO countries exists due to the intense escalation of our overseas wars. The latter prediction, though downright frightening, should not be casually dismissed, considering the recent, attempted attack on Christmas Day, as well as Celente's eerie predictions in the December 14, 2000 issue of USA Today, and in the Trends Journal's "Top Trends 2001" issue where he stated that Americans would not be safe at home or abroad. Nine months later, 9/11 hit.
Despite the gloom and doom predictions for the next few years, Celente is making a much more optimistic, but equally provocative, prediction for 2012 that should particularly interest independent-minded voters. By 2012, Celente is predicting the rise of a highly competitive 3rd Party to launch the Second American Revolution. It may sound a bit far-fetched for most, considering the two-party stranglehold on DC, but keep in mind that Celente predicted the rise of Ross Perot before the 1992 election. At this time, Celente has not identified a specific individual whom he believes will lead the charge, but he is labeling the party as "Progressive Libertarian", progressive in the sense of a much greater emphasis on food safety, health, education, the environment, and anti-war issues, and libertarian in the sense of a return to a stricter adherence to the Constitution, balanced budgets, states' rights, a strong Dollar, and a much more limited, cost-effective national defense. While the union of progressive and libertarian philosophies would initially appear to contradict one another in a number of ways, the Wall St hijacking of Washington DC, the lack of accountability at the Federal Reserve, the monstrous national debt, and the incessant, open-ended wars abroad could unite these disparate camps.
Celente posits that the development of a robust third party will serve as the culmination of the next great American Revolution, a largely intellectual revolution that will revive the spirit and mind of the American people. 2012 will commence the American Renaissance, as the nation exits the era of corporatism, perpetual war, government secrecy, and gargantuan debt, and returns to its 1776 roots of constitutional government, individual liberties, limited war, innovation, states' rights, and fiscal responsibility.
As a self-proclaimed "political atheist", it should be noted that Celente is highly critical of mainstream Republicans and Democrats; therefore, his bold forecasts are deemed to be quite objective by most critics. Celente states that the motto at the Trends Research Institute is to "think for yourself", a motto that should also define independent-minded voters.
Over the next few years, independent-minded voters will be able to put Celente's predictions to the test. If most of his predictions are fulfilled, America will face a very difficult time before turning the corner in 2012. And if most of his predictions come true, independent-minded voters from all across the political spectrum will play a pivotal role in restoring America to its previous greatness, a prospect that is both daunting and thrilling at the same time.


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Hampton Plantation State Historic Site (Charleston County, SC)
~Hampton Plantation~
1950 Rutledge Road, McClellanville, SC 29458
I was relieved when I heard that the Windy Fire of March 2011 didn't damage Hampton Plantation State Historic Site — a two-and-a-half frame Georgian plantation house, that, according to the site's National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form , became property of the State of South Carolina upon the death of South Carolina's Poet Laureate, Archibald Rutledge. You can read more about Archibald Rutledge over at Kirk H. Neely's blog. I'll try and post some of his poetry soon.
But back to Hampton Plantation – it's a lovely place, located on Wambaw Creek near the Santee River. It's one of the South Carolina state sites involved in the Discover Carolina program, and as part of this program, Grade 3 and 5 students visit the historic site to learn about the early history of the state. From the South Carolina Department of Archives and History website:
Hampton, erected in 1735, greatly enlarged after 1757, and with final additions made in 1790-91, is an excellent example of a modest sized frame structure that evolved through organic growth into a large, unified Georgian frame country house. The structure includes one of the earliest examples of the use of the giant portico in American domestic architecture, and Hampton is South Carolina's finest example of a large two-and-one-half story frame Georgian plantation house. The original house was a four-room center hall structure, with two more rooms on the second floor, built by Noe Serre, a Huguenot settler. The one-and-one-half story frame building on raised brick foundations was 40 feet long and 34 feet deep, and had two interior chimneys. In 1757, the plantation came into the possession of Daniel Horry through marriage, and shortly thereafter he more than doubled the size of the original house. A second full story was added and extensions made to both ends, bringing the structure to its present size. Thepresent hipped roof, with two dormers in front and rear, was built over the entire house, and each new wing had an interior chimney. In 1790-91, the south façade assumed its present unified appearance, when a six column wide giant portico and pediment were added across the center portion of the original house. Rosettes, panels, and flutings adorn the frieze of the portico, and the pediment contains a circular window with four keystones. Listed in the National Register April 15, 1970; Designated a National Historic Landmark April 15, 1970.
Historical, transcribed documents


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Head of the International Ski Federation Denies Evidence of Climate Change
Thursday February 7, 2019
Dylan Heyden
FIS President Gian Franco Kasper said there was no proof of climate change, and that it's easier to host events where there are dictatorships in a sweeping interview this week. Photo: FIS
To mark the start of the Alpine World Ski Championships this week, Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger caught up with the president of the International Ski Federation (Fédération Internationale de Ski, FIS), Gian Franco Kasper, for a sweeping interview in which Kasper argued climate change does not exist and that it's easier to run high profile events in countries run by dictators.
In the interview, the 75-year-old, who's presided over FIS since 1998, criticized claims that artificial snow has an environmental cost.
"All discussions about how artificial snow is wasting water, that just does not stop," he said. "Although, not a single drop is lost. The energy needed for it is different. But, in terms of wasting water, when you spray your garden the water is not gone once and for all."
Kasper then made a passing reference to "so-called" climate change. When the reporter asked Kasper to clarify what he meant by "so-called," he dug in.
"There is no proof," he said. "We have snow, sometimes very much."
Kasper went on to explain that during the Olympics in Pyeongchang, temperatures were especially frigid.
"At the beginning, it was minus 35 degrees [Celsius]. To anyone shivering around me, I said: 'Welcome to global warming.'"
When asked if Switzerland would ever host another Olympics, Kasper explained that he thought it unlikely that any European country would host the Games again. He also said that it's much easier to run events like the Olympics in countries ruled by dictators. "Dictatorships can perform such events," he said. "They do not have to ask the people."
Kasper's comments have been met with serious backlash, and he has since apologized for his remarks.
Still, it's not the first time the septuagenarian head of competitive skiing has found himself in hot water after troubling comments. Back in 2005, Kasper told NPR that women shouldn't compete in ski jump events. "Don't forget, it's like jumping down from, let's say, about two meters to the ground about a thousand times a year, which seems not to be appropriate for ladies from a medical point of view," he said.
In the wake of Kasper's most recent remarks, Protect Our Winters, the Colorado-based climate change advocacy group, is calling for his resignation.
"The snowsports community should be demanding climate action, and not tolerate those who dismiss science to remain in positions of leadership," explained POW in an email. "That's why we are asking the newly formed Outdoor Business Climate Partnership and the outdoor and snowsports community at large, all of whom rely on a stable climate to power our $887 billion industry, to join us in calling for Mr. Franco Kasper's resignation."


Katie (Follett) Mackey earns spot on U.S. team by finishing second in 3,000 meters at national championships.
Former Fort Collins High School standout Katie (Follett) Mackey qualified for the world indoor championships in the women's 3,000 meters on Saturday.
Mackey, 30, held off the former University of Colorado star and reigning 3,000-meter steeplechase world champion, Emma Coburn, in a sprint to the finish to place second at the USA Track and Field Indoor Championships in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The top two finishers qualified for the IAAF World Championships on March 1-4 in Birmingham, England.
Mackey's time of 9 minutes, 1.68 seconds was 0.17 better than Coburn's. Shelby Houlihan won the race in 9:00.08.
After finishing one spot out of qualifying for the world championships three times previously, Mackey finally made it. The difference this time around, she said in a post-race interview with FloTrack, was a positive attitude during her training leading up to the race and during that sprint to the finish.
She had also qualified for the 1,500 meters on Sunday but chose not to compete in that event.
Mackey competed collegiately for the University of Washington and lives and trains in Seattle with a Brooks Beast running team coached by her husband, Danny Mackey.