text:
Tag Archives: Net Neutrality
December 15, 2017 Public Policy and GovernanceFCC, federalism, Net Neutrality, Verizon, Washington StateSheila
Well, they did it. Trump's Verizon puppet at the FCC–after a campaign of disinformation and downright dishonesty–got his (and Verizon's) fondest wish: they voted yesterday to dispense with Obama-era rules protecting Net Neutrality.
If you are one of the many Americans who is unfamiliar with this policy, or unsure why it matters, Vox has a comprehensive explanation; if you have less time, Paul Krugman recently offered a concise analogy. Asked for his thoughts on the impending vote, and on the policy, he responded that
… for a democratic society, and also just for a society that is open to new ideas, level playing fields are really important. One of the great unifying things that we did very early on in our country's history was to establish a postal service, where the cost of sending a letter was the same no matter who was sending it, no matter how far you were sending it…
We've done very, very well with providers not allowed to discriminate among different users. This is something that's very much not broken. Why try to fix it?
This assault on Internet equality is just one of the myriad Trump Administration efforts to remake our country into a plutocracy–to make America "great" for the powerful and wealthy.
It gets harder and harder to keep track of the wholesale de-regulation that Trump insists will unleash the productivity of the market–the rollbacks of environmental regulations that keep our air breathable and our water drinkable, the withdrawal of measures to protect students from fraudulent private colleges and sexual assaults, reversal of regulations preventing fossil fuel companies from despoiling protected lands….I teach public policy, so following all of these efforts to eviscerate the rules of fair play (and not-so-incidentally, anything Obama did or favored) is part of my job–and I can't begin to keep up.
Before the election of this monumentally ignorant man, I was not a huge fan of robust federalism, or the argument that state "laboratories of democracy" would, or at least could, constrain unwise federal policies. As I've watched sensible state governments respond to Trumpism by protecting immigrants, decriminalizing marijuana, enacting stringent environmental protections and demonstrating that raising taxes actually promotes economic growth, I've warmed to the wisdom of that argument.
Washington State has followed the shameful vote against Net Neutrality with an announcement that it will fill the void and protect Internet users:
On the eve of an expected vote by the Federal Communications Commission to roll back crucial net neutrality rules, Gov. Jay Inslee joined Attorney General Bob Ferguson, legislators, and business leaders to announce state plans to preserve an open internet and protect Washington consumers from internet companies that are not transparent about costs or services.
Inslee wrote a letter to the FCC earlier this month, in which he made a strong case for the retention of current policy.
All Americans, as a matter of principle, should enjoy equal access to the educational, social and economic power of the internet. Ensuring this important technology remains free and unfettered is critical both to our personal freedoms and to our country's economy,"
Making Washington State's announcement, Inslee conceded that the FCC's vote will preempt states from ensuring full net neutrality. But he said states can take a number of steps to promote an open internet and strengthen protections for consumers–and Washington intends to take them:
Hold companies to their commitments not to block websites, throttle speeds, or impose prioritization pricing
Direct the state's Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to establish a process for ISPs to certify that they will not engage in practices inconsistent with net neutrality principles.
Limit state-conferred benefits to ISPs that have made such certifications.
Limit applicability of UTC pole attachment rules to ISPs that are net neutral.
Review other state-conferred benefits such as easements and taxes.
Leverage the state's power as a large purchaser of ISP and telecommunications services
Use the state government's role as a big customer, and our ability to establish state master contracts used by localities, to incentivize Washington companies to adhere to net neutrality principles.
Pursue regulatory and legislative action to award contracts to vendors that meet net neutral business requirements.
Lead the exploration of a multi-state purchasing cooperative to procure internet service from providers that adhere to net neutrality principles.
Hold companies accountable for warranties made to consumers
Create a state-wide internet speed test. This will allow Washingtonians to test their own broadband speed at home, and submit the test to help appropriate state agencies determine what internet speeds consumers are receiving and where companies may be blocking or throttling.
Collaborate with legislators to strengthen our consumer protection laws to include the principles of net neutrality.
Encourage new entrants into the currently concentrated ISP market
Pursue legislation authorizing public utility districts and rural and urban port districts to provide retail ISP and telecommunications services.
Prohibit government-owned ISP services, such as municipal broadband networks, from engaging in blocking, throttling, or priority pricing for Internet services.
As one Washington state legislator asserted, state governments have the right to prevent a "reckless and power-intoxicated federal government from handing over access to the free flow of information to the largest corporations on this planet."
If other states follow in Washington's path, they will do more than protect an essential platform for American democratic discourse.
They'll make a federalism fan out of this skeptic.
Meanwhile, At The FCC….
November 22, 2017 Public Policy and GovernanceAjit Pai, FCC, John Oliver, Net Neutrality, VerizonSheila
Unlike many–most?–of Trump's appointees, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai appears to know what he's doing and how to do it. And that's a big problem.
He's already rolled back what The Street calls a "pillar of U.S. media ownership restrictions.
"Owners of local television stations will be permitted to buy a local radio station or newspaper in the same market after the Federal Communications Commissions on Thursday, Nov. 16, voted to lift the ban on cross-ownership that had stood since 1975. The agency, which has been fast eliminating restrictions long opposed by TV station companies, also eliminated a ban on two TV stations in the same market from entering into joint sales agreements to sell advertising.
The restrictions being lifted were intended to prevent any one political perspective from dominating a given media market. Here in Indianapolis, where right wing Sinclair is proposing purchase that will allow it to dominate the radio market, this new permissiveness is likely to facilitate a market blanketed with Fox-like, right wing propaganda.
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican who orchestrated the changes, said the bans and other restrictions were no longer relevant given the advent of online news sources and the shrinking circulations of most local newspapers. The two Democrats on the five-person commission, echoing other critics, countered that Pai understated the importance and impact that local media sources continue to have despite the rise of Facebook Inc. and other social media platforms.
The damage this change will inflict pales, however, in comparison to Pai's most cherished goal–the elimination of net neutrality rules.
As Time Magazine and a number of other news outlets have reported,
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai on Tuesday followed through on his pledge to repeal 2015 regulations designed to ensure that internet service providers treat all online content and apps equally, setting up a showdown with consumer groups and internet companies who fear the move will stifle competition and innovation.
The current rules, known as net neutrality, impose utility-style regulation on ISPs such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon to prevent them from favoring their own digital services over those of their rivals.
Pai says he wants the FCC to stop "micromanaging" the Internet. What he calls micromanaging is what we used to call "regulating," and although it is certainly possible to point to examples of excessive regulation, there was–and is–a reason for establishing "rules of the road." The reasons for net neutrality rules are especially compelling.
As the Internet Association, a group composed of major internet companies such as Google and Amazon, put it,
"Consumers have little choice in their ISP, and service providers should not be allowed to use this gatekeeper position at the point of connection to discriminate against websites and apps."
The group is fighting the change. So are many other organizations concerned with consumer rights.
Consumers Union predicted a repeal of net neutrality would allow ISPs to raise their prices and give preferential treatment to certain sites and apps.
"Strong net neutrality rules are vital to consumers' everyday lives and essential to preserving the internet as we know it today — an open marketplace where websites large and small compete on equal terms and where information and ideas move freely," said Jonathan Schwantes, the advocacy group's senior policy counsel.
Two of the FCC's five voting commissioners signaled they will oppose Pai's plan.
Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel derided Pai's plan as "ridiculous and offensive to the millions of Americans who use the internet every day."
Commissioner Mignon L. Clyburn skewered Pai's proposals as "a giveaway to the nation's largest communications companies, at the expense of consumers and innovation."
Before being named to the FCC, Pai was an executive at Verizon. I'm sure that's an irrelevant factoid.(cough, cough).
The last time net neutrality was attacked, John Oliver delivered such an effective argument against the change that the switchboards at the FCC were overwhelmed; his diatribe was said to have prompted some 150,000 calls. Scheduling the vote for the week after Thanksgiving is a rather transparent effort to avoid that sort of public outrage, an effort to change the rule while people are otherwise occupied.
Let's not allow that strategy to work. I encourage everyone to click through, watch Oliver's explanation of what's at stake–and then call the FCC.


Its a proud time for our club and after 6 weeks of serious training our final selection has been made and the details sent. We would like to wish all of the following the best of luck on Sunday. With Our Members there are over 90 people grading on the day.


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On full moon nights, Lahe Lahe, a new rooftop cultural space, heartily opens its doors for a community potluck. The event is Kai Tuttu: Food For The Soul. It takes inspiration from the Kannadiga tradition of family members, and neighbours assembling at a porch or terrace on a full moon night, and involves partaking of food from the kitchens of each othersa�� homes. These get-togethers become a melting pot of food, stories, songs, and evenings of community bonding.
It was Nithya J Rao of Lahe Lahe who came up with the concept of Kai Tuttu (translating to morsels of food). a�?Every time, power went off in our village (in Chandragiri), my family, and our neighbours would come together on our porch. Wea��d place two big vessels of sambar and curd rice in the centre. My grandmother would then make big balls of rice with either sambar or curd and hand it to us.a�?
On Monday, she will hold the fourth edition of Kai Tuttu. While there is no set menu, the spread is vegetarian and vegan. The aim is to encourage healthy eating habits. This time, the focus is on millets. Loaded with vitamin B, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, and essential fats, this ancient grain is fast becoming a favourite of health enthusiasts, as a substitute for wheat. The health agenda of this community outing is helmed by Shiva Kumar Bharthi. With his project, Aalamaram, Bharthi offers diet-based changes. The event has also seen participation from people who want to drive the movement of healthy food, and urban sustainability in the city. In previous editions, Aditya BM of Kaulige Foods store, which sells millet-based products, treated participants to millet bisi bele bath, and cinnamon cake. Dr Gauri Rokkam of Swaastya Organics store brought along a millet dessert.
Nucchinunde, khakras, theplas, tulsi juice, jowar barfis, and homemade vanilla icecreams have been collectively savoured in previous meetups. The quantity of food you bring should be enough for you, and at least two others. People usually come together at 7.30 pm. For the next 30 minutes, they introduce each other, while setting up the floor for dining a�� complete with mats and cutlery. Then, one person takes the responsibility of serving. Star gazing, and astrology often make up post-dinner discussions.
The Tango instructor at Lahe Lahe, and one of its cofounders, Olivea Normandin, had an interesting take-away from Kai Tuttu. a�?People in the West use a lot of cutlery. Thata��s disconnecting us from the sense of touch. So when someone gives food into our hands, we can touch it first, smell it, and then swallow it. This way, we engage all our senses,a�? says Normandin, who used to run a restaurant in Australia.


How do you create a board for topics?
I'm new here and can't figure out how to create a board for topics?
Re: How do you create a board for topics?
You can setup as many boards as you want and sub boards.
Create Passwords to access a certain child board ?
Is it possible to create a closed/hidden board for my forum?
Folder Between a Board and Multiple Topics?


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Q: Environment Variables in MacOS Big Sur for Maven I have MacOS Big Sur and inside of the /Users/us-guest/ doesn't exist the

.bash_profile

and I need to add environment global PATH for maven, however, I have installed Java 11 and I don't need to set up any environment variable and without problem, if you write java -version my console respond and in fact, if you use printenv I can see the setup variables current in the system.

Why do I need to set up an environment variable for maven and not for
Java?
Can I create a file bash_profile without affecting the environment
variables established in the system?

https://i.stack.imgur.com/jfo18.png
https://i.stack.imgur.com/dfmmY.png
https://i.stack.imgur.com/cmvyI.png

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Home Geek Zone Geek Features Hollywood's history with anime adaptations
Hollywood's history with anime adaptations
Hollywood has had a spotty history when it comes to anime adaptations. We explore its history and how the genre has had an influence on western film makers
Nigel Yap
Ghost in The Shell is being adapted into a live-action flick, coming from DreamWorks.
While there have been complaints, primarily surrounding the casting of Scarlett Johansson, the question we need to ask: Shouldn't we be worried about the overall movie as well?
It's a fair and valid question. Not to say that Hollywood hasn't the best track record in adapting materials from other sources as there have been a few successes, be they from books, stage plays or TV shows. When it comes to adapting anime properties into live-action films, the track record is spotty, even when casting isn't taken into consideration.
Let's make one thing clear here, I'm looking primarily at anime adaptations and not video game properties. That rules out the likes of Mortal Kombat, Resident Evil, D.O.A.: Dead or Alive, Tekken, Street Fighter… and let's simply ignore Super Mario Bros along with the few from Uwe Boll.
EARLY ADAPTERS
The first live-action adaptation of an anime property (please feel free to correct me on this if you find anything earlier) was The Guyver in 1991. Based on the manga series, Bio-Booster Armour Guyver by Yoshiki Takaya and an anime adaptation in 1986, The Guyver had some interesting behind the scenes talent.
The directors were a pair of special effects make-up artists, Steve Wang and 'Screaming Mad' George. Wang started out with Rick Baker on Harry and The Hendersons and worked under Stan Winston on Predator and The Monster Squad. 'Screaming Mad' George, did creature effects on Predator and A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, progressing to designing effects on Bride of Re-Animator. The producer of The Guyver was Brian Yuzna, known for loads of cult schlock horror favourites such as Re-Animator, From Beyond and Society (which he directed) and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. He also produced the 1995 Canadian adaptation of Crying Freeman, starring Mark Dacascos.
While the anime was dark and bloody, The Guyver was more a creature feature effects film with loads of rubber-suit monsters bloodlessly battling it out with our hero, Sean Barker, played by Jack Armstrong. The movie followed the concept of the bio-armour finding its way to an individual who uses it to fight the creatures but did so in a more typical jokey approach to the proceedings. Unfortunately, the mediocre action was due to most of the performers struggling with the rubber suits they wore. It was a style that would be freely adopted into the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV series a couple of years later.
Still, the movie got enough recognition for the creature effects and built a small fan base resulting in a slightly superior sequel, Guyver: Dark Hero in 1994. Steve Wang returned to direct the sequel alone with his own story that stayed closer to the darker tone of the source material. He also had a new leading man in David Hayter (screenwriter for X-Men, X-Men 2, and Watchmen, voice actor in several cartoons and video games). Unfortunately, its direct to video release also meant a limited audience. Despite better action set-pieces, the continued use of actors in rubber suits for the monsters still left a lot to be desired
Things did not improve with 1995's Fist of the North Star adaptation starring then kick-boxing champion, Gary Daniels as main protagonist Kenshiro. It was an even lower-budgeted independent affair that had a cinematic premiere in Japan but went direct-to-video everywhere else.
While the fight scenes were decent enough, the hyper-violent action movie had deviated significantly from the source material. It also didn't help that tit had a post-apocalyptic setting that was in every other low-budget DTV science fiction adventure popping out at the time. Suffice to say, fans of the 1986 animated feature were severely disappointed.
As mentioned, an adaptation of Crying Freeman was released in 1995 and the movie hewed closely to its source material for the most part. Some regard it as a faithful if tamed adaptation, but as this is a Canadian /French production, we're side-stepping it here.
anime adaptations
ghost in the shell 2017
ghost in the shell live action movie
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Co-Founder of The Hyped Geek. More than a decade of covering everything in the tech and gadget world has made him quite mad. When he's not tinkering away with any gadgets, he thinks he's piloting a Gundam, fighting in the One Year War... whatever that's supposed to be. Drop him a line at nigel@thehypedgeek.com
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text:
#import <AppKit/NSFont.h>
#import <AppKit/NSFontFamily.h>
#import <AppKit/NSWindow.h>
#import <AppKit/NSGraphicsContextFunctions.h>
#import <ApplicationServices/ApplicationServices.h>
#import <Foundation/NSKeyedArchiver.h>
#import <AppKit/NSRaise.h>

FOUNDATION_EXPORT char *NSUnicodeToSymbol(const unichar *characters,unsigned length,
  BOOL lossy,unsigned *resultLength,NSZone *zone);

@implementation NSFont

static unsigned _fontCacheCapacity=0;
static unsigned _fontCacheSize=0;
static NSFont **_fontCache=NULL;

+(void)initialize {
   if(self==[NSFont class]){
    _fontCacheCapacity=4;
    _fontCacheSize=0;
    _fontCache=NSZoneMalloc([self zone],sizeof(NSFont *)*_fontCacheCapacity);
   }
}

+(unsigned)_cacheIndexOfFontWithName:(NSString *)name size:(float)size {
   unsigned i;

   for(i=0;i<_fontCacheSize;i++){
    NSFont *check=_fontCache[i];

    if(check!=nil && [[check fontName] isEqualToString:name] && [check pointSize]==size)
     return i;
   }

   return NSNotFound;
}

+(NSFont *)cachedFontWithName:(NSString *)name size:(float)size {
   unsigned i=[self _cacheIndexOfFontWithName:name size:size];

   return (i==NSNotFound)?(NSFont *)nil:_fontCache[i];
}

+(void)addFontToCache:(NSFont *)font {
   unsigned i;

   for(i=0;i<_fontCacheSize;i++){
    if(_fontCache[i]==nil){
     _fontCache[i]=font;
     return;
    }
   }

   if(_fontCacheSize>=_fontCacheCapacity){
    _fontCacheCapacity*=2;
    _fontCache=NSZoneRealloc([self zone],_fontCache,sizeof(NSFont *)*_fontCacheCapacity);
   }
   _fontCache[_fontCacheSize++]=font;
}

+(void)removeFontFromCache:(NSFont *)font {
   unsigned i=[self _cacheIndexOfFontWithName:[font fontName] size:[font pointSize]];

   if(i!=NSNotFound)
    _fontCache[i]=nil;
}

+(float)systemFontSize {
   return 12.0;
}

+(float)smallSystemFontSize {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return 0;
}

+(float)labelFontSize {
   return 12.0;
}

+(float)systemFontSizeForControlSize:(NSControlSize)size {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return 0;
}

+(NSFont *)boldSystemFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial Bold" size:(size==0)?[self systemFontSize]:size];
}

+(NSFont *)controlContentFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(NSFont *)labelFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?[self labelFontSize]:size];
}

+(NSFont *)menuFontOfSize:(float)size {
   CTFontRef ctFont=CTFontCreateUIFontForLanguage(kCTFontMenuItemFontType,size,nil);
   NSString *name=CTFontCopyFullName(ctFont);

   size=CTFontGetSize(ctFont);

   NSFont *result=[NSFont fontWithName:name size:size];

   [ctFont release];
   [name release];

   return result;
}

+(NSFont *)menuBarFontOfSize:(float)size {
   CTFontRef ctFont=CTFontCreateUIFontForLanguage(kCTFontMenuTitleFontType,size,nil);
   NSString *name=CTFontCopyFullName(ctFont);

   size=CTFontGetSize(ctFont);

   NSFont *result=[NSFont fontWithName:name size:size];

   [ctFont release];
   [name release];

   return result;
}

+(NSFont *)messageFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(NSFont *)paletteFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(NSFont *)systemFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [self messageFontOfSize:size];
}

+(NSFont *)titleBarFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(NSFont *)toolTipsFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(NSFont *)userFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Arial" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(NSFont *)userFixedPitchFontOfSize:(float)size {
   return [NSFont fontWithName:@"Courier New" size:(size==0)?12.0:size];
}

+(void)setUserFont:(NSFont *)value {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
}

+(void)setUserFixedPitchFont:(NSFont *)value {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
}

-(void)encodeWithCoder:(NSCoder *)coder {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
}

-(NSString *)_translateNibFontName:(NSString *)name {

   if([name isEqual:@"Helvetica"])
    return @"Arial";
   if([name isEqual:@"Helvetica-Bold"])
    return @"Arial Bold";
   if([name isEqual:@"Helvetica-Oblique"])
    return @"Arial Italic";
   if([name isEqual:@"Helvetica-BoldOblique"])
    return @"Arial Bold Italic";

   if([name isEqual:@"Times-Roman"])
    return @"Times New Roman";
   if([name isEqual:@"Ohlfs"])
    return @"Courier New";
   if([name isEqual:@"Courier"])
    return @"Courier New";

   if([name isEqual:@"Symbol"])
    return name;

   return name;
}

-initWithCoder:(NSCoder *)coder {
   if([coder allowsKeyedCoding]){
    NSKeyedUnarchiver *keyed=(NSKeyedUnarchiver *)coder;
    NSString          *name=[self _translateNibFontName:[keyed decodeObjectForKey:@"NSName"]];
    float              size=[keyed decodeFloatForKey:@"NSSize"];
    // int                flags=[keyed decodeIntForKey:@"NSfFlags"]; // ?

    [self dealloc];

    return [[NSFont fontWithName:name size:size] retain];
   }
   else {
    [NSException raise:NSInvalidArgumentException format:@"%@ can not initWithCoder:%@",isa,[coder class]];
   }
   return nil;
}

-initWithName:(NSString *)name size:(float)size {
   _name=[name copy];
   _pointSize=size;
   _matrix[0]=_pointSize;
   _matrix[1]=0;
   _matrix[2]=0;
   _matrix[3]=_pointSize;
   _matrix[4]=0;
   _matrix[5]=0;

   if([_name isEqualToString:@"Symbol"])
    _encoding=NSSymbolStringEncoding;
   else
    _encoding=NSUnicodeStringEncoding;

   [isa addFontToCache:self];

   _cgFont=CGFontCreateWithFontName(_name);
   _ctFont=CTFontCreateWithGraphicsFont(_cgFont,_pointSize,NULL,NULL);

   return self;
}

-(void)dealloc {
   [isa removeFontFromCache:self];

   [_name release];
   CGFontRelease(_cgFont);
   [_ctFont release];
   [super dealloc];
}

+(NSFont *)fontWithName:(NSString *)name size:(float)size {
   NSFont *result;

   if(name==nil)
    [NSException raise:NSInvalidArgumentException format:@"-[%@ %s] name==nil",self,sel_getName(_cmd)];

   result=[self cachedFontWithName:name size:size];

   if(result==nil)
    result=[[[NSFont alloc] initWithName:name size:size] autorelease];

   return result;
}

+(NSFont *)fontWithName:(NSString *)name matrix:(const float *)matrix {
   return [self fontWithName:name size:matrix[0]];
}

+(NSFont *)fontWithDescriptor:(NSFontDescriptor *)descriptor size:(float)size {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return 0;
}

+(NSFont *)fontWithDescriptor:(NSFontDescriptor *)descriptor size:(float)size textTransform:(NSAffineTransform *)transform {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return 0;
}

-copyWithZone:(NSZone *)zone {
   return [self retain];
}

-(float)pointSize {
   return _pointSize;
}

-(NSString *)fontName {
   return _name;
}

-(const float *)matrix {
   return _matrix;
}

-(NSAffineTransform *)textTransform {
   NSAffineTransform      *result=[NSAffineTransform transform];
   NSAffineTransformStruct fields={
    _matrix[0],_matrix[1],_matrix[2],
    _matrix[3],_matrix[4],_matrix[5],
   };

   [result setTransformStruct:fields];

   return result;
}

-(NSFontRenderingMode)renderingMode {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return 0;
}

-(NSCharacterSet *)coveredCharacterSet {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return nil;
}

-(NSStringEncoding)mostCompatibleStringEncoding {
   return _encoding;
}

-(NSString *)familyName {
   NSString *familyName = [[NSFontFamily fontFamilyWithName:_name]
name];
   if (familyName == nil)
   {
      NSString *blank = @" ";
      NSMutableArray *nameComponents = [NSMutableArray
arrayWithArray:[_name componentsSeparatedByString:blank]];
      while ([nameComponents count] > 1 && familyName == nil)
      {
         [nameComponents removeLastObject];
         familyName = [[NSFontFamily fontFamilyWithName:
[nameComponents componentsJoinedByString:blank]] name];
      }
   }

   return familyName;
}

-(NSString *)displayName {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return nil;
}

-(NSFontDescriptor *)fontDescriptor {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return nil;
}

-(NSFont *)printerFont {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return nil;
}

-(NSFont *)screenFont {
   return self;
}

-(NSFont *)screenFontWithRenderingMode:(NSFontRenderingMode)mode {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return nil;
}

-(NSRect)boundingRectForFont {
   return CTFontGetBoundingBox(_ctFont);
}

-(NSRect)boundingRectForGlyph:(NSGlyph)glyph {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return NSMakeRect(0,0,0,0);
}

-(NSMultibyteGlyphPacking)glyphPacking {
   return NSNativeShortGlyphPacking;
}

-(unsigned)numberOfGlyphs {
   return CTFontGetGlyphCount(_ctFont);
}

-(NSGlyph)glyphWithName:(NSString *)name {
   NSUnimplementedMethod();
   return 0;
}

-(BOOL)glyphIsEncoded:(NSGlyph)glyph {
   return (glyph<CTFontGetGlyphCount(_ctFont))?YES:NO;
}

-(NSSize)advancementForGlyph:(NSGlyph)glyph {
   CGSize  cgSize;
   CGGlyph cgGlyphs[1]={glyph};

   CTFontGetAdvancesForGlyphs(_ctFont,0,cgGlyphs,&cgSize,1);

   return NSMakeSize(cgSize.width,cgSize.height);
}

-(NSSize)maximumAdvancement {
   CGSize  max=CGSizeZero;
   int     glyph,glyphCount=CTFontGetGlyphCount(_ctFont);
   CGGlyph glyphs[glyphCount];
   CGSize  advances[glyphCount];

   for(glyph=0;glyph<glyphCount;glyph++)
    glyphs[glyph]=glyph;

   CTFontGetAdvancesForGlyphs(_ctFont,0,glyphs,advances,glyphCount);

   for(glyph=0;glyph<glyphCount;glyph++){
    max.width=MAX(max.width,advances[glyph].width);
    max.height=MAX(max.height,advances[glyph].height);
   }

   return max;
}

-(float)underlinePosition {
   return CTFontGetUnderlinePosition(_ctFont);
}

-(float)underlineThickness {
   return CTFontGetUnderlineThickness(_ctFont);
}

-(float)ascender {
   return CTFontGetAscent(_ctFont);
}

-(float)descender {
   return CTFontGetDescent(_ctFont);
}

-(float)leading {
   return CTFontGetLeading(_ctFont);
}

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   return CTFontGetSlantAngle(_ctFont);
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-(void)setInContext:(NSGraphicsContext *)context {
   CGContextRef cgContext=[context graphicsPort];

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   CGContextSetFontSize(cgContext,_pointSize);

// FIX, should check the focusView in the context instead of NSView's
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    CGAffineTransform flip={1,0,0,-1,0,0};

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-(void)getAdvancements:(NSSize *)advancements forPackedGlyphs:(const void *)packed length:(unsigned)length {
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-(NSString *)description {
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int NSConvertGlyphsToPackedGlyphs(NSGlyph *glyphs,int length,NSMultibyteGlyphPacking packing,char *outputX) {
   int      i,result=0;
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     output[result++]=check;
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   return result*2;
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@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Why is there a Ballet Slipper in Our Collection?
The other day I was in Banting House NHSC's collection room to begin planning for our Spring 2019 exhibit. While down there I found something I never thought I would find- a pointe shoe. Now, while Banting had many artistic talents, including woodworking and painting, I have not found any sources that point to him being a ballet dancer. So why is there a pointe shoe in our collection? The answer is that Banting House NHSC has a proactive collections management policy. We don't only collect artifacts from Dr. Banting's lifetime but also artifacts from the history of our museum and that capture Banting's continued legacy. This meant that in 2017 we decided to keep a few items that represented how Canada remembered Banting during the Canada 150 celebration. You may still be wondering where ballet fits into all of this.
Pointe shoe in our collection.
The National Ballet of Canada decided to send out a pointe shoe to 175 of the most important places in the nation to celebrate the Canada 150 and the Ballet's 65th anniversary. This was part of a national social media campaign called "150 Pointes of Canada" that featured images of the shoes in these historic places. The National Ballet decided to send one of the pointe shoes to Banting House NHSC and our curator, Grant, took a photo of it with the Sir Frederick Banting statue. This image was shared widely on the National Ballet of Canada's social media pages.
Grant, our curator, standing with the pointe shoe and the Sir Frederick Banting statue.
This wasn't the only thing we collected from the Canada 150. We also have a drink can that featured Banting's face and a few other cool items. This proactive collecting will ensure that years down the line the future Research Assistants will be able to plan exciting exhibits about how Canada and Banting House NHSC have remembered Banting's legacy.


even with such a small amount of code things may get incredibly complicated. I'm not saying we all should be experts in the hardware we are coding for, but at least be informed about such issues. Don't take the first measured value as a final one. Collect profiles and check that you didn't hit some architectural performance hit.


Runway is definitely a classic with a linear patterned loop carpet. It is available in both carpet tile and broadloom. The elegant lines of this series wouldn't be out of place in many interior designs from residential projects to commercial settings. This classic collection is available in 20x20 inch tiles, 20x40 inch planks, as well as in a 6ft6 roll.


On April 16, 2016, the H-E-B Slim Down Showdown awarded $30,000 to two community and two H-E-B Partner (employee) contestants who made the greatest gains in health improvement and fan engagement over a 12 week period. Prior to the announcement, the 30 contestants strutted down the runway in a dramatic makeover reveal to show off their hard work.
Hailing from all over Texas, the 30 contestants in this year's showdown lost more than 879 pounds, logged more than 30 million steps, wrote 1,100 blogs and organized 150 community events from food demos to Zumbathons to health fairs and 5K races, and strutted down the runway to deafening cheers from supporters at Saturday's makeover reveal ceremony at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
H-E-B, in partnership with Methodist Healthcare, determined the two $10,000 grand prize winners using three metrics – overall health improvement, participation and fan engagement. In addition, H-E-B awarded a $5,000 healthy hero prize to one H-E-B Partner and one community member who demonstrated the most progress on health markers such as body mass index and cholesterol levels.
Zachary House, director of communications for Highland Park Presbyterian Church in Dallas, lost 22 pounds and 7 percent body fat, and received more than 2,872 comments and shares on his blog. He and his wife welcomed their first child, a baby boy, about halfway through the competition. Zachary's journey to health started prior to the Slim Down Showdown, when his doctor told him he was pre-diabetic and needed to lose 100 pounds. Since that time, Zachary has lost a total of 55 pounds.
going to keep doing a pound or two a week. Being a good role model doesn't end with this competition."
Jesse Cano, an H-E-B central checkout operations manager from Corpus Christi, lost 42 pounds and 8 percent body fat and received 9,534 likes, comments and shares on his blog. Prior to the competition, Jesse was giving himself daily insulin injections for Type 2 diabetes. His progress has allowed him to get off insulin almost entirely and he is now down to one pill per day. Jesse said he will use the $10,000 to take his family to DIsneyworld.
many people you can inspire and motivate, lots of people were reading my blog. Being the winner is that much more pressure, now I've really got to live it. There is no turning back."
Carlos De La Garza, a hospice caregiver from New Braunfels, won the $5,000 Community Healthy Hero prize for improving his cholesterol by 46 percent, losing 63 pounds and 8 percent body fat. Carlos said he never paid attention to the scale, he just went as hard as he could every day.
"I am hoping these habits will carry on for the rest of my life," Carlos said. "I consider this a great jump start. I have goals for myself. I want to be able to shop for clothes at any store."
Jabbar Al Tameemi, a security guard at H-E-B headquarters in San Antonio, claimed the $5,000 Partner Healthy Hero prize by losing 12 percent body fat, improving his cholesterol by 21 percent and dropping 57 pounds. Not only is Jabbar more active and healthy, his two sons are hitting the gym more often.
"You can talk about it as much as you want, but you lead by example," Jabbar said. "I feel really great. I can accomplish anything I want because I have the energy."


"Kisaragi" means February in Japanese. We would like to bring everyone a festive February with the beautiful products from fabulous Japanese brands!
This Saturday (16/2), we invited 4 Japanese Premium Brands to POP-UP in THE LAB for a week!
Don't miss this chance to see those beautiful items!
*Snack foods and beverages will also be provided during the event!


text:
Neurothekeoma
Erica Kao
Mikelle Kernig
Neurothekeomas are rare, benign, superficial, soft tissue tumors of unknown histogenesis, although fibrohistiocytic derivation has been suggested. On histology, the cellular variant of neurothekeoma will appear as a bland, cellular, epithelioid proliferation that demonstrates strong immunoreactivity for vimentin, MITF-1, CD10, and NKI-C3. Neurothekeomas are classically described as benign, superficial cutaneous tumors with variable histologic patterns, including myxoid, cellular, or mixed-type based primarily on the amount of myxoid matrix present. Because of overlapping clinical presentation and histology, nerve sheath myxoma has, in a past case study series, been inadvertently included within the myxoid variant of neurothekeoma. However, neurothekeoma, as described by Barnhill and Mihm in 1990, appears to be a separate and distinct entity from true nerve sheath myxoma.[1] While nerve sheath myxoma demonstrates immunoreactivity for S-100 protein, neurothekeoma fails to react with S-100 regardless of the histologic pattern (myxoid, mixed, or cellular). Rather than arising from peripheral nerve sheath, it has been postulated that neurothekeomas are of fibrohistiocytic derivation.[2],[3],[4],[5] They frequently occur in the head and neck and tend to affect females more often than males, usually in the second and early-third decades of life [6].
There has been considerable confusion in characterizing and defining the origin of neurothekeomas. In 1980, Gallager and Helwig first classified neurothekeomas as dermal tumors of neural origin with characteristic clinical features and distinctive histology. Clinical features included a flesh-colored or slightly erythematous nodule of soft consistency, located on the head, upper extremities, or trunk, and arising more commonly in young females. Histologic features included spindled cells arranged in nests and cords with a mucinous, myxoid background containing dermal collagen bundles. Because the tumor cells appear similar to Schwann cells on electron microscopy (spindle-shaped and surrounded by a basement membrane without myofilament or melanosomes), the authors proposed the name "neurothekeoma" from the Greek word for sheath.[7] In 1986, Rosati et al. reported cases of what they termed cellular neurothekeoma, believing them to be a cellular variant of the previously reported myxoid neurothekeoma.[8] In 1990, Barnhill and Mihm reported on several cases of cellular neurothekeoma, remarking on their histologic similarity to melanocytic tumors as well as commenting on their failure to react with S-100 protein immunostain, unlike the original reported myxoid variant of neurothekeoma. Barnhill and Mihm suggested that cellular neurothekeoma represented a distinct sub-category of neurothekeoma, and then in 1991, suggested that cellular neurothekeoma might present an entirely separate entity.[6],[9]. It is recognized now that at least some of the cases reported by Gallager and Helwig in 1980, as well as some subsequent reports of neurothekeoma, represented dermal nerve sheath myxoma, an entity of peripheral nerve sheath derivation that shares overlapping clinical and histologic features with neurothekeoma.[2],[7],[3],[10] In 2005, Fetsch et al. reported on a series of nerve sheath myxomas, the corresponding characteristic immunoprofile, and the tendency of nerve sheath myxoma to arise in different locations and exhibit a higher recurrence rate than neurothekeoma.[11]. In 2007, 2 large case studies of neurothekeoma were published separately by Fetsch et al. and Hornick and Fletcher, detailing the immunoprofile of neurothekeoma, further defining the entity as distinctive and separate from nerve sheath myxoma.[2],[3] Rather than displaying nerve sheath differentiation, it has been postulated that neurothekeoma is fibrohistiocytic in nature.[2],[3],[4],[5]
Epidemiologically, females outnumber males almost 2 to 1, and although a wide age range has been reported, the tumor displays a strong predilection for the second and third decades of life.[2],[3],[10],[12],[13]
Neurothekeomas were initially classified histologically as myxoid, cellular, or mixed depending on the amount of myxoid matrix [2][3][4][13][5]. The classical cellular neurothekeoma is a relatively circumscribed and lobular lesion in the dermis although the periphery of the lesion may have an infiltrative border. It is typically composed of nests of epithelioid to slightly spindled tumor cells with a subtle whorling pattern. The tumor cells have relatively abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm and round to oval nuclei with small pinpoint nucleoli [1][7][3][4][14]. By immunohistochemistry, cellular neurothekeomas are typically positive for vimentin, NKI-C3 (CD63), CD10, Mit-F and focal reactivity is noted for smooth muscle actin and CD68. They are negative for S100, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and Melan A [15][2][14]. In almost all cases, cellular neurothekeoma is positive for the combination of NKI-C3 and CD10 [2][14].
History and Physical
Clinically, neurothekeomas are usually asymptomatic and found in the skin and the superficial dermis. Mucosal involvement is rare.[16] Patients typically present with a solitary mass measuring less than 2.0 cm, appearing dome-shaped, popular, or nodular with a pink-tan to reddish-brown. The lesions tend to grow slowly and are usually superficially located, with rare, deeper involvement of skeletal muscle or subcutaneous fat. Patients tend to be young females and typically present with an asymptomatic, slow-growing solitary dermal nodule of the head and neck, shoulder, or upper extremities measuring less than 2 cm.[2],[3],[13],[8],[14]
Treatment / Management
Treatment consists of surgical excision.[17] There is no consensus on excision margin, but clear microscopic margins and a few millimeters of grossly negative margins are thought to be sufficient.[17] While the majority of these tumors are small (less than 1 cm) and have relatively bland histology, with scant to no cytologic atypia and minimal extension into surrounding fat or skeletal muscle, there have been reports of neurothekeomas displaying atypical features, increasing concern for aggressive potential.[15],[18] Reported atypical features include clinical size greater than 1 cm, cytologic atypia in the form of pleomorphism and increased mitotic activity, infiltration into skeletal muscle or subcutaneous fat, and vascular invasion. Regardless of the presence of atypical features, reported recurrence rates remain low following complete surgical excision.[2],[3],[15],[18],[13]
The differential diagnosis for an epithelioid mass in the head and neck region include granular cell tumor, cellular neurothekeoma, nerve sheath myxoma, neurofibroma, schwannoma, benign fibrous histiocytoma, melanocytic lesions, for example, Spitz or melanoma, and infection.[1],[2],[3]. Infectious etiologies can be ruled out by the absence of bacterial or fungal elements on routine and special stains. Granular cell tumors typically are positive for S-100 protein immunostain; therefore, this entity can be ruled out with a negative S-100 stain. The remaining entities on the list are neural (neurofibroma, schwannoma, nerve sheath myxoma), fibrohistiocytic (neurothekeoma, fibrous histiocytoma), or melanocytic and can all present similarly as solitary masses. Furthermore, these entities may mimic each other histologically.
Distinguishing neural and fibrohistiocytic lesions from malignancies like melanoma can be difficult given the variable presence of epithelioid cells arranged in a theque-like architecture and given the potential presence of unusual features such as nuclear atypia, mitoses, and extension into fat or skeletal muscle.[1],[2],[3] Careful inspection of morphology can help distinguish fibrohistiocytic lesions from each other. For instance, recognition of at least focal areas of a nested growth pattern characteristic of conventional cellular neurothekeoma helps distinguish this entity from superficial angiomyxomas or benign fibrous histiocytomas, which will lack nests of tumor cells.[14]. However, because of this nested growth pattern, melanocytic tumors or Spitz nevus could still be considered in the differential. In these cases, the immunoprofile is telling because unlike true melanocytic tumors, cellular neurothekeomas are negative for S100 and melanocyte-specific markers such as Melan-A and HMB-45.[14]
The most problematic delineation is between cellular neurothekeoma and nerve sheath myxoma because of overlapping clinical presentation and histology. In the past, nerve sheath myxoma has been inadvertently included within the myxoid variant of neurothekeoma.[1] Immunohistochemistry helps distinguish true nerve sheath myxoma from neurothekeoma. Nerve sheath myxomas are consistently positive for S100 and negative for NKI-C3, whereas cellular neurothekeomas show the opposite immunostaining pattern of S100 negativity and NKI-C3 positivity.[1],[2],[1] The other neural lesions on the differential, schwannoma, and neurofibroma, can be differentiated via morphology and immunostaining. Schwannomas have a biphasic growth pattern and are positive for S100, GFAP, and EMA. Neurofibromas are positive for S100.
Pearls and Other Issues
In conclusion, neurothekeomas are rare, superficial tumors most often arising in the head and neck, shoulder, or upper extremities of younger females. The tumors tend to be small, less than 2 cm, and histologically are composed of a mix of spindled and epithelioid cells set against a variably myxoid background stroma. The neoplastic cells have been shown to be generally immunoreactive with CD10, CD68, MITF-1, and NKI-C3 and negative for NSE, S-100 protein, or GFAP. The recommended treatment for neurothekeoma is complete surgical excision; recurrence rates are low even for tumors demonstrating atypical features. It is important for head and neck surgeons and pathologists to be aware of the presentation and clinical course of this uncommon lesion, as well as its similarity to other benign and malignant tumors clinically and histologically, to adequately manage patients and provide appropriate treatment options and follow-up care.
Because neurothekeomas are benign entities that are curative with surgical excision, the best patient outcomes can be achieved with an interprofessional care team of radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, primary care providers, and nurses who are cognizant of the specific clinical presentation and characteristic patient demographics. This will aid in early recognition and proper management of this lesion. Furthermore, neurothekeomas can masquerade as other more aggressive malignancies. Thus, recognizing the morphologic and biologic spectrum of neurothekeoma and its variants helps the health care professional team render the most accurate diagnosis ultimately, and most importantly, for the patient's peace of mind.
[1] Almeida TFA,Verli FD,Dos Santos CRR,Falci SGM,Almeida LY,Almeida LKY,Mesquita ATM,León JE, Multiple Desmoplastic Cellular Neurothekeomas in Child: Report of the First Oral Case and Review of the Literature. Head and neck pathology. 2018 Mar [PubMed PMID: 28597210]
[2] Fetsch JF,Laskin WB,Hallman JR,Lupton GP,Miettinen M, Neurothekeoma: an analysis of 178 tumors with detailed immunohistochemical data and long-term patient follow-up information. The American journal of surgical pathology. 2007 Jul [PubMed PMID: 17592278]
[3] Hornick JL,Fletcher CD, Cellular neurothekeoma: detailed characterization in a series of 133 cases. The American journal of surgical pathology. 2007 Mar [PubMed PMID: 17325474]
[4] Page RN,King R,Mihm MC Jr,Googe PB, Microphthalmia transcription factor and NKI/C3 expression in cellular neurothekeoma. Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc. 2004 Feb [PubMed PMID: 14685254]
[5] Yun SJ,Park HS,Lee JB,Kim SJ,Lee SC,Won YH, Myxoid Cellular Neurothekeoma: A New Entity of S100-Negative, CD68-Positive Myxoid Neurothekeoma. Annals of dermatology. 2014 Aug [PubMed PMID: 25143683]
[6] Barnhill RL,Mihm MC Jr, Cellular neurothekeoma. A distinctive variant of neurothekeoma mimicking nevomelanocytic tumors. The American journal of surgical pathology. 1990 Feb [PubMed PMID: 2154139]
[7] Gallager RL,Helwig EB, Neurothekeoma--a benign cutaneous tumor of neural origin. American journal of clinical pathology. 1980 Dec [PubMed PMID: 7446487]
[8] Rosati LA,Fratamico FC,Eusebi V, Cellular neurothekeoma. Applied pathology. 1986 [PubMed PMID: 3297114]
[9] Barnhill RL,Dickersin GR,Nickeleit V,Bhan AK,Muhlbauer JE,Phillips ME,Mihm MC Jr, Studies on the cellular origin of neurothekeoma: clinical, light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural observations. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 1991 Jul [PubMed PMID: 1880258]
[10] Li J,Shi Z,Jing J, Neurothekeomas of the thoracic and lumbar area in an adult man: A case report. Molecular and clinical oncology. 2014 Jan [PubMed PMID: 24649326]
[11] Fetsch JF,Laskin WB,Miettinen M, Nerve sheath myxoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical analysis of 57 morphologically distinctive, S-100 protein- and GFAP-positive, myxoid peripheral nerve sheath tumors with a predilection for the extremities and a high local recurrence rate. The American journal of surgical pathology. 2005 Dec [PubMed PMID: 16327434]
[12] Suarez A,High WA, Immunohistochemical analysis of KBA.62 in 18 neurothekeomas: a potential marker for differentiating neurothekeoma, but a marker that may lead to confusion with melanocytic tumors. Journal of cutaneous pathology. 2014 Jan [PubMed PMID: 24151815]
[13] Ward JL,Prieto VG,Joseph A,Chevray P,Kronowitz S,Sturgis EM, Neurothekeoma. Otolaryngology--head and neck surgery : official journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2005 Jan [PubMed PMID: 15632914]
[14] Stratton J,Billings SD, Cellular neurothekeoma: analysis of 37 cases emphasizing atypical histologic features. Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc. 2014 May [PubMed PMID: 24186141]
[15] Busam KJ,Mentzel T,Colpaert C,Barnhill RL,Fletcher CD, Atypical or worrisome features in cellular neurothekeoma: a study of 10 cases. The American journal of surgical pathology. 1998 Sep [PubMed PMID: 9737238]
[16] Emami N,Zawawi F,Ywakim R,Nahal A,Daniel SJ, Oral cellular neurothekeoma. Case reports in otolaryngology. 2013 [PubMed PMID: 23691398]
[17] Boukovalas S,Rogers H,Boroumand N,Cole EL, Cellular Neurothekeoma: A Rare Tumor with a Common Clinical Presentation. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open. 2016 Aug [PubMed PMID: 27622087]
[18] Wilson AD,Rigby H,Orlando A, Atypical cellular neurothekeoma--a diagnosis to be aware of. Journal of plastic, reconstructive [PubMed PMID: 17709307]
Take 5 Question Quiz on Neurothekeoma


L18-21 Pass'/Goods Quadruplex 9-11 flrs.
This prestigious job not only comprises installation of 20 lifts and painting of all shafts, but, in addition the supply and fitting by us of all secondary steel work for 18 shafts, comprising; lifting beams to be tested and certified, trimmers with brackets and fixings, dividing screens and full length fascias.
We also provided site management on this project and S5500 training has been completed by our labour.


text:
My First Memory of Randy Moss
nate wek
• Published on August 3, 2018 • Last modified on December 18, 2019
Follow @Nate_WekSDPB
I don't know if he's the best receiver to ever play the game, but he is the most explosive and dangerous receiver of all-time.
When I think of Randy Moss, I think of big time plays. From his Hail Mary improve lateral to Moe Williams against the Broncos to his Thanksgiving Day performance as a rookie in Dallas. Or how about that famous moon at Lambeau Field in the playoffs? This is just the tip of the iceberg that is Randy Moss.
To most Minnesota Vikings fans, he'll always have a special place in their hearts – myself included.
When I was 7-years-old, so 1997, I was begging my dad to take me to a game. My dad laid down an ultimatum for me… I needed to prove I had a serious interest in the games. So throughout the entire '97 season I dedicated my Sunday's to watching the purple play.
It was April of 1998 when the Vikings landed Randy Moss in the NFL Draft. Somehow, a guy who realistically should have went No. 3 overall that year, slid down the board on draft night to the Vikings at No. 21 overall. While few knew it at the time, one of the greatest receivers in NFL history was about to start his legacy in the pros.
A month or so before the start of the '98 season, my dad informed me he was going to be taking me to the Vikings season opener game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
You probably know where I'm going with this… Yes, my first Vikings game was the debut performance of Randy Moss. In that game he had four receptions for a total of 95-yards and two touchdowns.
I've been to a lot of big moment Vikings games – Carter's 1000th career catch, AP's 296-yard performance, Brett Favre to Greg Lewis, and the 2009 Divisional playoff game vs Dallas… just to name a few. But no matter how many games I go to, I'll never forget the first one. That feeling walking into the Metrodome for the first time and seeing the field through the gaps in the concourse, it was like no other.
On Saturday, Randy Moss will join many legends, whose immortal legacies prevail on in the National Football League Hall of Fame. As a fan of the Vikings who is now two decades older, it's fun to look back and think of the memories of Moss in purple.
Even though I've seen Vikings players get inducted to Canton before, this one is special to me. I think it's safe to say Moss is a big reason why I'm a fan of the team today.
#SDGreatRead: John Fishback
by samantha dlugosh
Post 22 Wins American Legion 'A' State Championship
by nate wek


With Absorb there are no term times, so you can begin your learning journey at any time of year.
This means you're not constrained by the typical student calendar and studying really does fit into your life and not the other way round!
You can study from anywhere in the world or from your bedroom, in a café on your lunch break or even in the bath.
You get to set the agenda – and we provide the mobile learning platform to facilitate it.
We welcome international students from across the world; however, do bear in mind some examinations require you to come to the UK to sit them.
And we can help with that too!
Our social media pages are the perfect place to meet fellow students and enjoy the fun side of being a student.
Not only can you share hints and tips, but you can discuss what you are learning and spark some really interesting debates.
It's fascinating learning about a subject on your own but sharing with others is the best way to test your understanding of the key concepts, learn useful methods that others have found helpful, as well as meeting likeminded people who are similarly absorbed by your chosen subject.
As well as Facebook you can find Absorb on Twitter, Google+, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
Top tips for studying success!
Set aside regular time to study – Make sure you know when in your week you are going to study. It can be on the bus or at home, early in the morning or late at night, but make sure you dedicate some focused time to it. Let your friends and family know – Your family and friends love you, but constant interruptions and invitations to the pub can eat into your study time and affect your results. By making the important people in your life aware of the importance of your study time and what if means for your future, they can be there to cheer you on and support your achievements. Develop a study routine – Develop a routine to get you in the mood to study. This could be preparing your favourite drink or setting a timer on your phone. Most people find it hard to hold concentration for more than an hour, so plan in regular breaks. Build a revision plan as you go – There is no better time to pull out the important concepts from a topic than as you are studying them. Creating clear notes that highlight the main points will help to steer your revision, when you come to prepare for an exam or assessment. It can also be useful to use memory techniques like mindmaps, mnemonics and word associations.
Want to Retake Your A Levels?


text:
On Monday, Sean Hannity took things up a notch with his recommendation that Donald Trump should lock the media out of the White House.
As the Fox pundit celebrates Trump's victory, he has suggested multiple times that the President-elect should blacklist a wide variety of news outlets over their "collusion" with Hillary Clinton. During a conversation yesterday with Matt Boyle on Breitbart News Daily, Hannity opined that the election has exposed the great majority of the press as corrupt or clearly biased.
"It is the most underreported story out there. They're not going to cover the fact that they themselves colluded with Clinton, helped Clinton, in some cases, gave questions to her or sought questions for Trump or for Cruz through the DNC…," Hannity said. "They're all in this hyperventilating mode about 'fake news' now, but they are fake news. That's them. It's now on display for the world to see."
Hannity also expressed his view that the media's credibility has been crippled by their own surprise over Trump's victory. He also opined that, beyond taking credentials away from members of the White House press corps, Trump might as well consider doing away with the entire office:
"People don't need them any more. They're done. I suggested the other day that if any of these organizations were involved in collusion with the Clinton campaign, why do they get a seat in the White House press office? Why does Donald Trump need a White House press office? He doesn't. You know, you can have a pool person that's standing by if, God forbid, there's any bad news about the president that the country needs to know, but his own staff could tweet it out, for crying out loud."
Listen above, via SiriusXM.
[h/t Oliver Darcy]
[Image via screengrab]
>> Follow Ken Meyer (@KenMeyer91) on Twitter
Donald TrumpSean HannityWhite House Press Corps
CNN Interview With GOP House Oversight Chairman On Evidence For Biden vs. Trump Investigations Goes Viral: 'Things Can In Fact Get Stupider'
By Luke KaneJan 30th, 2023, 5:35 pm
Shannon Sharpe Rips Chad Ochocinco For Showing Up Late To Interview: 'That Explains Why The Bengals Didn't Win No Super Bowl'
'Beat His Ass': Republican Strategist Calls on DeSantis to Run Against Trump
MSNBC's Vaughn Hillyard Surprises Host with Blunt Report On GOP Voters Weighing 2024 Options
By Zachary LeemanJan 30th, 2023, 4:49 pm


In order to start the application process, you will have to locate the local branch of the Ministry of Justice that handles citizen's affairs. For most of Tokyo, this office is in Kudanshita. There are other offices that handle these procedures around the country, so you will not have to trek to Tokyo if you are in Osaka.
Then you must request an initial appointment. You can potentially do this by phone, however it is recommended to go in person. Once you make the appointment, you will have to show up for it anyway, and you should know where the building is beforehand to avoid being late.
Once you show up at the appointment, you will fill out a piece of paper explaining who you are, how many times you have been there (i.e. This is my 3rd appointment), who your case worker is, and your nationality - and then sit and wait. Assuming you are on time, your case worker should come out shortly and guide you into an interview room.
Actually, "Booth" is probably a more appropriate term, as the room is small and conversations can be heard between neighboring rooms. Your case worker will ask you some preliminary questions, give you a pamphlet, and then prepare a listing of all of the supporting documentation you will need for your application.
1. To determine whether you can communicate (in Japanese) and are sane.
2. To make sure you know what you are doing and understand the implications.
3. To determine what documentation you will need, and whether you will reasonably be able to obtain it.
The documentation required differs from nationality to nationality and person to person. For example, Korea has something similar to Japan's Family Register that they can request, while for Americans, they will need to instead request a number of Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates, etc. Also, they may request notes from your parents, etc. - but that's not possible if they are already deceased.
After hearing your story, your case worker will review the requirements with you and discuss what each item is and how to request it (for domestic items only, of of course). If everything is in order, you take your documents and go home. You should probably schedule your next appointment for a month or so later when you leave. If you don't, you can always schedule an appointment by phone later - but beware that sometimes the next available appointment may not be until several weeks later.


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The Eagle's Flight
82. Slow March
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Slow March
Middanhal
Konstans returned to his quarters, but before he could resume giving audience, his brother burst into his study.
"Pardons, milord," Eolf exclaimed, a few steps behind. "He would not wait."
Konstans raised a hand in a disarming gesture. "You may leave us," he told the servant and turned to his brother. "You seem agitated."
"Men are dead! There was fighting inside the Citadel! Fighting between our Hawks and Order soldiers!" The words came flooding from Valerian and were spoken with incredulity.
"Between one Order knight refusing to obey my lawful authority," Konstans corrected him pointedly. "The two men doing most of the fighting were not Order soldiers."
"That hardly makes it better! What gave you the notion this was a good idea?"
"Adalbrand was a threat. That threat has now been removed," Konstans explained.
"By inciting fighting? Was there no better way to handle this?"
"Nothing has happened that was illegal," Konstans retorted. "It is my right as dragonlord to arrest someone suspected of high treason. Adalbrand was seized before the landfrid takes effect, and the question of his guilt will be put before the Adalthing. It is the right way to handle this."
"You gave me no warning!" Valerian struck the table with his fist. "I had to hear this from some common soldier," he complained.
"I handle many affairs of the realm without informing you," his brother replied. "I sit in this room from sunrise past sunset each day, governing. Do you think you would have time to handle your precious books or see your son if not for me?"
This gave Valerian pause. "I am not saying you did wrong," the jarl muttered. "Merely that you should have told me before you started a battle inside the Citadel."
"I did not know one would erupt," Konstans argued. "I did not expect he would resist to such a degree. Which only proves his guilt."
"You are certain he is a traitor, then?"
"Without doubt. He has been proclaiming his victories to win favour with the people. Not to mention, our reeve in Plenmont informed me that a union of marriage between King Adelard and Adalbrand's sister was being planned. This would have provided Adalbrand with an army to attack us from the south while our forces are engaged to the north," Konstans explained. "A clever plan that would have succeeded if not for my quick intervention."
"I suppose," his brother granted.
"Are we done? I have plenty to see to before the Adalthing convenes."
"Fine," Valerian mumbled, leaving.
Konstans waited until his brother was gone before summoning his servant. "Have this brought to Master Guilbert, the emissary from the duke of Belvoir," he commanded Eolf, who bowed and accepted a document rolled inside a case. Inside lay the treaty signed between the Houses of Vale and Belvoir. Soon after, it was in Guilbert's possession, and he could return to his master's lands.
William knocked and awaited a reply before entering Eleanor's chambers. "They would not let me through. I was unable to ascertain anything with my own eyes."
"Were you not able to gather any news?" Eleanor asked. She sat, unveiled, pressing her hands together; anytime she stopped, they would begin to shake.
"They claim that the only dead are Hawks. Sir Adalbrand, his sister, and his men are supposedly unharmed."
"Are they still fighting?"
He shook his head. "Sir Adalbrand was taken to the dungeons, I was given to understand."
"How come they will not let you through then?"
William took a seat. "Who can say? From what I can tell, this was instigated by the dragonlord. The dungeons are guarded by his mercenaries. I will take this matter up with him," he declared.
"Do you know why he was arrested?"
"High treason, I was told."
Eleanor gasped. "That cannot be! He only arrived today. How could Sir Adalbrand ever be involved in such?"
"I am not sure he is," William spoke darkly, "and it may not matter either."
Eleanor touched the burn scars on her cheek. "Poor Arndis. She should not be left alone."
William rose up. "I will try again to demand entry and get her away. I will bring her back here."
"Always a hero," Eleanor smiled sadly.
"If only that were enough."
Theodoric sat in his parlour. Theodwyn's guests and ladies had been dismissed immediately upon his arrival, leaving him alone with his sister and two servants. "Several dead and many more wounded," the jarl exclaimed, stroking his forehead. "They attacked him in his own chambers!"
"What do you know of Arndis?" asked Theodwyn concerned.
"She seems unharmed, milady," Holwyn reassured her.
"What else do you know?"
"Only that Sir Adalbrand was taken to the dungeons. His two guards are wounded, but not severely. The charge against him is high treason, though none seems to know the evidence or any details," Holwyn rattled off.
"Perhaps we should leave," Theodoric contemplated. "Withdraw to my house."
"Leave? Show timidity before this crass act of violence?" Theodwyn sounded appalled.
"I only have half my thanes with me in Middanhal, and most of them have been left at the house because you demand several chambers to yourself," the jarl reminded her. "We are vulnerable here."
"If Valerian or Konstans lay a finger on a jarl of the realm, they will find another rebellion on their hands," Theodwyn claimed loudly. "They would not dare move against you."
"Adalbrand is dragonborn, yet that did not protect him."
"The Adalthing is in a few weeks," Theodwyn pointed out. "If you withdraw to your house, you will be far removed from all the negotiations taking place beforehand."
Theodoric's face became wrinkled in thought. "Holebert," he finally said, "go to my house and fetch four thanes." He raised a finger when Theodwyn was on the verge to protest. "No arguments."
"Yes, milord," Holebert bowed.
"As you wish," Theodwyn almost sneered. "This is very poor for my health, you know, all this commotion. I intend to move freely and unfettered as always. I will not be cowed!"
"Imagine your health when we are locked in the dungeons," her brother retorted, turning on his heel and retreating to his chamber.
Moving through Lowtown, Nicholas walked with determined steps towards a specific tavern. With his bow staff, leather jerkin, and confident stride, he gave the impression of a seasoned veteran, and none gave him trouble. His destination was packed with patrons, drinking and eating; the ravages of war seemed contained to northern Adalrik, sparing the capital from shortages. Entering the common room, Nicholas let his eyes search around until he found the tavern owner.
"Master Gilbert," he called out to no avail due to the noise of the room. He pushed his way forward, moving in and out between tables, until he could grab hold of the corpulent man's shoulder. "Master Gilbert!"
The tavern keeper turned around, and his expression of confusion was replaced by delight. "Nicholas, my boy! You're back, and in one piece, it seems!" He ran his eyes over the archer as to confirm his observation.
"Indeed, Master Gilbert." Leaning forward, Nicholas spoke into the other man's ear. "I can see you're busy, but I was wondering –"
"You're looking for Ellen?"
"If you can spare her."
Gilbert grinned. "It won't hurt these misers to wait a while longer for their ale. Come along!" he yelled, gesturing and moving towards the back of the room. Behind the bar stood a young woman, filling mugs and removing others. "Ellen!" Gilbert shouted as he approached. "I'll take over for you – there's someone here to see you!"
She looked up and beamed a smile at the sight of Nicholas, walking swiftly around the bar to embrace him. "You're here! Come, let's talk elsewhere," she said, speaking into his ear, and he nodded in agreement. Leading him by the hand, Ellen moved through a door to enter the small courtyard of the tavern. While the sounds of the common room still reached them, they were shielded from all eyes, and Ellen greeted him with a proper kiss.
"That's better," Nicholas laughed, placing his arms around her waist. "I've missed you."
"Same, in case that wasn't obvious," she replied.
"It was, but a reminder wouldn't be bad."
She grinned and reminded him as requested. "Are you back for good? Your last letter didn't even mention your return."
"It was a rather sudden decision," Nicholas explained. "We're not staying, though. The lieutenant is here along with the captain, asking for support. Reinforcements and the like."
"I thought you were close to throwing all those savages out," Ellen said. "Isn't it strange that your commanders leave rather than finishing the task?"
"They have their reasons," Nicholas declared with confidence. "Besides, it's only because Lord Adalbrand went to Middanhal that I get to be here as well."
"I'm grateful to him for that," Ellen said smiling. "How long?"
"Who knows how long with these lords and noblemen? Some days, at least, maybe weeks if we're lucky."
"We should make the most of it," she told him with a glint in her eye.
By the door, Quentin cleared his throat. "Sorry to intrude."
The reunited couple turned their heads towards him, separating a bit. "Quentin? I thought you were staying at the castle."
"Something's happened," he explained with a grave voice. "Lord Adalbrand's been arrested."
"Arrested?" exclaimed Ellen.
"What for?" asked Nicholas.
"Nobody seems to know. They don't seem interested in us, but stay away from the Citadel," Quentin cautioned him. "In fact, stay here. I'll tell Geberic we should meet at this place. Sorry," he added towards Ellen. "I don't mean to cause trouble, but we'll need a friendly location to stay low."
"Perhaps we shouldn't stay here," Nicholas considered, "and bring danger to anyone who lives here."
"Nonsense," Ellen declared firmly. "If there's trouble, your friends should stay here, and so should you."
"Will your father agree?"
"I'll persuade him."
"Thanks," Quentin told her. "I'll fetch the others." He disappeared again.
Ellen turned to look back at Nicholas. "What are we going to do?"
He pulled her into an embrace. "I don't know," he admitted. "What can we common folk do when the nobleborn are at each other's throats? I don't know."
It was evening when the door to the library was pushed open forcefully and Kate stormed through. "Egil!" it burst from her as soon as she saw him with an embrace to follow.
"Good to you see too," he coughed once she let go.
She glanced at his and Quill's face. "You look serious. Is something wrong?"
"My friend, Sir Adalbrand, has been arrested," Quill told her.
"I'm sorry," she replied. "What has he done?"
"We don't know," Egil interjected. "I have travelled with him for months. I don't understand what's going on."
"The matters of high lords are rarely transparent," the old scribe remarked.
"Are you in trouble?" Kate asked Egil while biting her lip.
"Hardly," Quill assured her. "This has nothing to do with us."
"How were your travels?" she asked next. "You must have seen so much."
"I did," Egil answered, giving Quill a hesitant look.
"Go ahead. You are both excused tonight," he told them. "But do not be loud. I have work in the scriptorium." As Quill left to continue his tasks, Egil had already launched into the first of many tales.
A huge man with a great axe strapped to his back stormed through the royal wing of the Citadel. The kingthanes cast sidelong glances but did not get in the way, as it was their own captain. Berimund burst into the chambers belonging to the princes, making all of them stare at the big warrior with various expressions. Inghard had raised eyebrows, Gerhard seemed perplexed, and Hardmar appeared irritated.
"You move with the grace of a bull and make as much noise," the crown prince sneered.
Berimund came to a halt. "My apologies, my prince. I have just heard the news and desired to speak with you at once."
"What news?" asked Inghard. For once he was not holding a book, but playing chess against his brother.
"The arrest of Sir Adalbrand," Berimund explained.
"It is most excellent," Gerhard proclaimed before turning his attention back on the game. "Vale has lived up his reputation and removed a threat for us."
"You agree with Lord Konstans' actions?" Berimund exclaimed in disbelief.
"Of course," Hardmar told him curtly, leaning back into his couch. "Adalbrand desires my throne. He had to be stopped."
Berimund gave a frown. "You know this, my prince?"
"It was obvious," the young nobleman scoffed. "Gathering followers and support, making alliances."
"You consider him a traitor?" Incredulity continued to permeate the captain's voice.
"It is not consideration, it is fact," Hardmar stated. "Why do you think the Adalthing is being summoned? So we can execute the lot of them."
"He is your blood," the kingthane argued a deep furrow in his forehead.
"Only barely," Hardmar retorted.
"It does not concern you that a dragonborn may be sent to the scaffold?" Berimund clenched his fist by his sides.
"I would send my own brothers to that same place if they betrayed me," the prince declared casually, making Inghard and Gerhard stop their game.
The kingthane glanced behind him. By the door stood two of his brethren, staring pointedly ahead into empty air. "I see," the captain mumbled. "I shall not disturb you further, my prince."
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Thursday, 17 January 2019 01:24:49
Chronicler of Adal
http://annalsofadal.net
Bio: Indie writer with various projects, though The Chronicles of Adalmearc is the one dearest to me. Because of this, I have decided to make it free to reach as many readers as possible. If you enjoy it, I would ask you to consider joining my Patreon; all tiers from $5 and above will earn towards receiving the full series as hardcovers. Advance chapters are available from $2 and upwards. See also my website for more information on my work and world.
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Sauti Sol
Sauti Sol is a Kenyan afro-pop band formed in Nairobi by vocalists Bien-Aimé Baraza, Willis Chimano and Savara Mudigi in 2005. Initially an a cappella group, guitarist Polycarp Otieno joined before they named themselves Sauti.
Sauti Sol released their debut studio album Mwanzo on 1 November 2008, to critical acclaim. Their second studio album, Sol Filosofia, was released on 25 February 2011, earning the group a number of accolades and nominations in the process. On 18 June 2012, the band released a self-titled extended play in collaboration with South African rapper and record producer Spoek Mathambo. Their third studio album, titled Live and Die in Afrika, released online on the 21 November 2015, was available to Sauti Sol fans globally for free download for 48 hours as an early Christmas present. The album was released under their imprint label Sauti Sol Entertainment as a self-produced work by Sauti Sol. A total of 400,000 downloads were made during the free download period.
The band has had successful tours in Africa and Europe, topped Kenyan charts and gained international attention with shows in Europe and the US, as well as television appearances and various accolades and nominations, including their 2011 concert performance in Kenya with South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The band has also received both local and international accolades and nominations like; Kisima Music Awards, Channel O Music Video Awards, MTV Europe Music Award for Best African Act and BET Awards 2015
The band was formed in 2005 as an a cappella group by Baraza, Chimano and Savara, who had met at the Upper Hill High School and performed in Voices in the Light, a music group at the school. They then met guitarist Otieno, who attended Strathmore School, at the Alliance française in Nairobi, where they would frequent and decided to form Sauti (Swahili for "sound ") and immediately wrote their first song, "Mafunzo ya Dunia" (Literally: lessons of the world), which would later feature in their debut studio album Mwanzo. The band later added the Spanish word "Sol" (sun) to their name and formed Sauti Sol (supposed to mean "voices in the sun"). In 2006, the band participated in the Spotlight on Kenyan Music competition, hosted by the Alliance française in Nairobi. They were included in the album compilation recording and later got signed to Penya Records. The four members all completed their university education in Kenya. Baraza studied journalism at the United States International University, while Savara studied commerce and finance at Africa Nazarene University. Chimano studied journalism at the University of Nairobi, while Otieno studied actuarial science at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
Sauti Sol released their debut studio album Mwanzo on 4 August 2009, via their record label Penya Records, to critical acclaim, and followed up with their second studio album Sol Filosofia two years later. The music video for the album's second single, "Coming Home", earned them the Best Music Video award at the 2011 Kisima Music Awards, with the group itself also winning the Best Fusion Artist/Group of the Year award
The band members have named musicians such as Fadhili William, Daudi Kabaka and other established African artists such as Salif Keita, Lokua Kanza and Fally Ipupa, as well as British band Coldplay and American singer Jason Mraz as their influences.
Sauti Sol's Awards And Nominations
Abryanz Style and Fashion Awards (2)
African Entertainment Awards (1)
African Music Awards (0)
African Muzik Magazine Awards (2)
All Africa Music Awards (2)
BEFFTA Awards (0)
Soundcity MVP Awards Festival (1)
Pulse Music Video Awards (2)
OLX Social Media Awards (3)
Museke Online Africa Music Awards (1)
MTV Europe Music Awards (1)
MTV Africa Music Awards (1)
Mdundo Music Awards (1)
Bingwa Music Awards (2)
Channel O Music Video Awards (1)
Girl Nextdoor ft. Tiwa Savage
Afrikan Star ft. Burna Boy
Nairobi | Nairobi Kenya
https://media.okhype.com/storage/artist_images/6dO1DbiWeIJ3UpsebwauBHC6GdtGCX90oHl9SkTn.jpeg Penya Records Nairobi Nairobi , Kenya


text:
The 1983 Heresy Hunt: 4
Submitted by martin on 9 March, 2015 - 8:32 Author: Sean Matgamna
This is article four in the four part series as originally published in 2003. For an edited version of all four articles click here
Heresy Hunted 1
Sean Matgamna here concludes his article exploring the early 80s' campaign of vilification of Socialist Organiser, forerunner of Workers' Liberty and Solidarity, by the Workers' Revolutionary Party (WRP).
The article is a response to the criticism WL has received from the SWP and other parts of the left for refusing to regard Labour MP George Galloway as a respectworthy member of the labour movement.
Brent Council's Joint Staffs Committee, representing 12,000 workers: "We condemn SO, who have abandoned all pretence of socialist principle and sided with the capitalist media and state in calling for an investigation into the WRP." They too demand that we 'retract'. This is a Stalinist world, where the question of what is true and not true does not exist in its own right. There is only 'our side' - as if an appeal to the elementary principle of working class solidarity can answer for an investigation of such issues: as if there is such a thing as 'class truth', 'class facts'.
Eddie Roberts, TGWU organiser and former convenor of Fords Halewood, found it 'inconceivable' that any socialist paper, on the basis of this BBC programme [!] can support the attack on Newsline.
26 April headline: 'Libyan Magazine slams frame up!' The London segment of the Libyan People's Bureau! "The Zionists [i.e., Jews] are allowed to work against Britain's political and economic interests free from the attention of the press". These were the people who employed the WRP - it came out in 1985 when the WRP fell apart - to provide reports on Arab political dissidents in Britain and on prominent British Jews. The politics of this statement should have given socialists pause for reflection, but no.
Now a new theme: SO is out to 'get' Ken Livingstone. There is an indignant half page about SO supporters in Brent, where Ken Livingstone was publicly asked by SO supporters to account for his part in the WRP's Conway Hall meeting.
Glasgow District Labour Party - an ex-WRP turned reformist, Chic McCafferty is in the chair - condemns SO in the pages of Newsline.
Patricia Hewitt (currently a Blairite minister) then of the National Council for Civil Liberties (questioned at a meeting) commented that the Money Programme is "a further example of how left wingers are grouped together with criminals, squatters and terrorists as being people who disrupt the running of society." [!]
Newsline on 2 May quotes Alan Stanley, the Finance Secretary of Lancaster Trades Council, one of those willing to take the WRP's word for it that Libya was another socialist fatherland far away: "The Money Programme attacks the Newsline from outside the working class movement. Socialist Organiser on the other hand, plays the insiders' role of a fifth column, using its fake socialist credentials to confuse workers and isolate Newsline before the state and media attack. I put the question to Sean Matgamna: if support for the Libyan revolution means Newsline is paid by the Libyan Government, does your support of Zionism mean that you are in receipt of funds from Zionist sources?"
The Joint Shop Stewards Committee at London Hospital condemns "fabrications and lies and innuendos" by the BBC and "calls for SO to withdraw their backing from this attack".
The Newsline articles now become incitement to violence.
On the 4 May, Newsline editor Alec Mitchell, the once and future Murdoch journalist, responded to my review of their pamphlet on the affair under the headline 'More ranting lies from Mr Matgamna'.
"Mr Sean Matgamna of the Socialist Organiser group is a political provocateur who is determined to serve the forces of the capitalist state. His ranting lies against the WRP have made him a pariah in the workers' movement."
The wish fathered the thought here.
"In his latest outburst Matgamna shows what an unprincipled scoundrel he is. Matgamna's reprehensible lie that the WRP is an anti-semitic party, and that we are 'potentially pogromists' against Jewish people."
Mitchell continues: "Matgamna's original article [in response to the world Zionist conspiracy editorial] took lock, stock and barrel the reactionary and ultra-reactionary argument of (Israeli Prime Minister) Menachim Begin that to be an anti-Zionist is to be an anti-semite."
Mitchell ends: "This group will not shut up nor will it go away. It is a sustained service that it renders to imperialism and Zionism. We have a duty to clarify the role of Matgamna's group in the working class. In turn, the labour movement has the right to keep it at bay and shun it wherever it attempts to raise its head."
To add point to this lynch-mob stuff they reprinted the picture of me outside their 18 April Conway Hall meeting.
This hysterical self-righteousness in people who had recently printed the editorial about the world-Zionist conspiracy, and who functioned to filter Arab anti-semitism into the British labour movement, probably indicated their own tensions and confusions. As SO had said it: their past must have made some of them ashamed of what they had become.
An editorial on 5 May titled 'Jewish Chronicle - Matgamna ally' dealt with a Jewish Chronicle article discussing Libyan influence in Britain: "All the slanders and lies were served up in the Money Programme. They have since been adapted and expanded by pro-Zionist [i.e., Jewish - SM] MP Reg Freeson and Mr Sean Matgamna's Socialist Organiser group... when Newsline raised the Zionist connection in the witchhunt, Mr Matgamna made the disgusting accusation that the WRP and its leadership were anti-semitic and 'potentially pogromists' [in fact I'd said that the Jewish Chronicle's interest in the WRP was hardly surprising: the WRP must seem to them to be 'potential pogromists'].
"This is the basest piece of slander ever levelled [!] against the Trotskyist [!] movement [!] since the Stalinists in the 1930s accused it of being 'agents of Hitler'. [SO] stands with the state media arm, the BBC, and with the Jewish Chronicle." The Jewish community paper is the equivalent of the 'state media arm'? The BBC has no autonomy and is only a 'state arm' for propaganda?
They call on SO supporters - in fact on the group of former WRP members around Alan Thornett, and Tony Richardson within it - to "publicly repudiate the highly reactionary ranting of Mr Matgamna, withdraw the slanderous statement that the WRP is 'anti-semitic', and join with other sections of the labour movement in condemning the Money Programme's lies."
Socialist Organiser was then divided between the former WRPer on one side and the rest of us. In fact, the Thornett group considered the two states position, still very much a minority view in Socialist Organiser, to be "Zionist". But the WRP attempts to invigorate the SO minority failed entirely. All they got was an indecisive attempt by one of the minority leaders, Tony Richardson, to publish a letter in SO rejecting the idea that the WRP was anti-semitic ("the idea is laughable", etc.).
On 6 May, Swansea branch EEPTU: "We therefore demand that Socialist Organiser withdraw its treacherous support. Will it continue to side with the BBC and the state, or does it stand with the working class?"
There are now many public meetings against the BBC and SO. In Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, etc., etc. In Glasgow, with Ron Brown MP; SO features in many resolutions now.
Wigan Trades Council, whose Secretary is another unreconstructed WRP drop-out, Mike Farley, condemns SO, "who not only support the witch hunt but actually went further in their allegations."
A resolution from Manchester no.1 branch of UCATT denounces SO: "As we expected, the most vile slander emanated from the pages of Socialist Organiser... Here there is an inner soul projection onto SO of what the writer feels about anti-semitism - when he can allow himself to see it: Sean Matgamna "accuses the WRP of being anti-semitic - the oldest and foulest manifestation of racialism... Matgamna in his frenzied anti-communist hatred has broken every tradition of working class solidarity and socialist principle."
Evidently the writer did feel strongly about anti-semitism. There is no reason to doubt the writer's hatred of anti-semitism, which he will have bracketed in his head with Nazi persecution of the Jews, with Tsarist Russian pogroms, the anti-Jewish campaign by the Mosley fascists in the 1930s, etc., etc. He evidently can't even entertain the idea that the writers of the recent editorial on the 'world Jewish conspiracy' are now a quirky variant of what he hates. He rationalises from what he wants them to be. Such people couldn't let themselves see anti-semitism where it was rampant. The term 'Zionism' here served its camouflage purposes well.
Ron Brown told "70" at the WRP Glasgow meeting: "Matgamna of Socialist Organiser is doing the dirty work for the Tories."
Now another new turn: they devote a lot of space to denouncing SO for its alleged attitude to Ken Livingstone, seeking the Labour nomination for Brent East.
"Mr Matgamna of Socialist Organiser has begun a 'stop Livingstone' intrigue - he is so pathologically opposed to the WRP that he will try to destroy anyone in the labour and trade union movement who appears on our platform. Recounting when Livingstone gave Newsline a principled statement of opposition to the Money Programme [the statement across a page from the crazy world-Zionist conspiracy editorial - SM] Matgamna went into a rage Matgamna accused the WRP of being 'anti-semitic' and 'potential pogromists'. These hateful calumnies were extended to Livingstone with the flourish of a Vyshinksi [prosecutor in the Moscow Show Trials of the 1930s] or a Senator McCarthy.
"Matgamna attacked Livingstone's statement to the Newsline, adding "He hadn't then read the anti-semitic editorial what does he think of the editorial? Does he think we should just shrug and accept anti-semitism as a feature of the far left?" (Socialist Organiser 4 April 1983) That'll teach you, Mr Matgamna, to ask awkward questions!"
A whole page is given to the still popular actor David Calder-then a cop in a popular TV show - denouncing the BBC: "Newsline not only earns the hatred of the ruling class and with them of those who declare themselves to be of the left but, in their heart of hearts, believe the working class to be defeated.
"Of all the groups the Socialist Organiser now stands exposed as the most insidious and treacherous of them all stooping to a racist attitude on the Arab struggle [!] accusing the WRP of being anti-Jewish, places them outside the workers' movement and exposes them as an instrument of the state in its desperate black propaganda campaign It is only the Newsline and the WRP that fights for the independence of the working class"!
On the 16 May one hundred were reported to have attended the Liverpool meeting.
NALGO Grampian branch: "SO breaks ranks to invite further attacks - we call on all trade unionists to repudiate such provocative behaviour and demand that a full retraction be made by SO." The internal authoritarian voice of the WRP keeps breaking through.
Aberdeen trades council passed a resolution on the lines quoted. The Newsline printed the speech evidently written up by its author that had introduced it. This gives us a rare account of a typical WRP speech on the subject then, that is, of how the Newsline's 'anti-Zionism' translated into the work of the WRP in the unions. The speech ranted, carrying the words in the Newsline editorial on the world Zionist conspiracy, about "Mr Stuart Young, a well-known Zionist" [that is, Jew] "being chair of the world's largest radio and TV company" the BBC: "It should not go unrecorded, thought it went quickly through the news." This is the sort of thing into which the Newsline's rantings had translated 'on the ground' - agitation against a Jew being appointed governor of the BBC.
On the 15 May Albert Hodge, Secretary of the London Direct Labour Co-ordinating Committee and senior steward at GLC EEPT: "By its actions SO is in favour not only of an 'enquiry', not solely by right wing Labour, but by the Tories, police and state at a time when they are in the middle of the greatest attack on living standards since the 1930s They have finally nailed their flag to the capitalist flagpole."
On the 23 May the Islington 523 branch of COHSE "calls on SO to rethink the stand it has taken and join the rest of the trade union and labour movement in condemning the attacks on the labour movement newspaper."
On the 25 May in another editorial 'Freeson's Bagman' [guess who]. This is an attack on SO because its supporters campaigned in Brent East in the upcoming general election for the re-election of the official Labour candidate, Reg Freeson! 'A Trotskyist-baiting Zionist' [read Jew].
But the General Election campaign is now starting and the WRP's campaign dies down. Over nine weeks and 54 issues, there have been more than 50 pages of testimonies and much else besides.
The statistics of it can't tell the number of individuals and trade union branches and trades councils who voted or nodded through the 'down with the BBC and SO' resolution.
In fact the campaign achieved none of its objectives: we gave as good as we got, and continued to comment as we thought fit.
The experience educated and toughened SO supporters.
Vindication of the sort that was ours when the WRP imploded two and a half years later - one of the casualties was Labour Herald, 'Livingstone's' paper which immediately collapsed when the WRP did - is rare in politics.
None of us who knew the WRP were unduly alarmed by the lynch mob atmosphere they tried to whip up. They had a reputation for small-scale thuggery but they talked a better fight than they fought. They made a few clumsy gestures-a couple of flats of SO people were broken into and nothing taken although political papers were rummaged through.
They sent a couple of 'agents' into SO. They were too obvious to get away with anything: the WRP could train its people to rant in trade union branches about the 'Zionist' chair of the BBC, but subtlety it couldn't teach them.
An unknown quantity was what their alliance with Libyan state personnel and others meant for their 'lynch SO and Sean Matgamna campaign'. Someone in the Libyan Embassy about then shot dead a police woman Yvonne Fletcher. In fact nothing happened.
One of the most disappointing things about the affair was that when, in October 1985, the truth about the WRP came gushing out from its warring factions, not one of those who had denounced SO, neither an individual nor any of the labour movement bodies which had passed resolutions denouncing us and demanding that we 'retract', felt they had anything to apologise for. Not a single one.
The experience outlined above tells us nothing about current disputes except that it is always a good policy in such affairs to follow the advice which Karl Marx, speaking in the words of the 13th-century Florentine, Dante, put at the beginning of Volume 1 of Capital. "Go your way and let the people talk." Decide what you think and stick to it until someone gives you reasonable grounds for changing your mind.
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Solidarity 035, 14 August 2003