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MLIS Student Jeremy McLaughlin Named 'New Leader' by ASIS&T
Recognized as one of the "New Leaders" by the Association for Information Science and Technology (ASIS&T), graduate student Jeremy McLaughlin is excited to get more involved with the professional association and develop his leadership skills.
McLaughlin began the exclusively online Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS) degree program at the San José State University (SJSU) School of Library and Information Science in 2014, and joined the SJSU ASIS&T Student Chapter right away. He was recently elected executive chair of the SJSU ASIS&T Student Chapter for 2014-2015.
The international association established the New Leaders Award in 2010, in order to "recruit, engage, and retain new members and to identify potential for new leadership." As one of the 2014 New Leaders Award recipients, McLaughlin will receive conference registrations, up to $1,000 in travel expenses for two annual meetings, and professional mentoring in a Special Interest Group (SIG).
"I applied for the award because I thought it would be a great way to get involved with ASIS&T on a more formal note," said McLaughlin. "We're a very active student chapter, and I wanted to extend that in a focused way to a SIG and through more general involvement and networking at the conference."
McLaughlin chose Arts and Humanities as his SIG in ASIS&T, a group that "explores the applications of information science to scholarship and creative endeavors in the humanities and fine arts." McLaughlin has identified "faculty profiling, research information/data management, and research networking" as his particular research interests in the Arts and Humanities SIG.
"I am really excited about this new opportunity and look forward to working with the Arts and Humanities SIG and representing SJSU at the ASIS&T Annual Conference—along with several other members of the SJSU ASIS&T Student Chapter—later this year," said McLaughlin.
Eight awards are bestowed each year on ASIS&T members who are in their first three years of membership. According to the SJSU ASIS&T Student Chapter's news release, this year's awards were highly competitive, since the association received more applications than it has in the past.
The SJSU information school congratulates McLaughlin and the SJSU ASIS&T Student Chapter on this distinguished honor.
News: Student
This news has been archived and may contain content that is out of date.


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Home / Meadowsweet (Queen of the Meadow)
(Queen of the Meadow)
Other names: Medwort, meadwort, bridewort, meadwort, dropwort and spiraea.
Pride of the Meadow, Meadow-Wort, Meadow Queen, Lady of the Meadow, Dollof, Meadsweet and Bridewort.
Scientific name: Filipendula ulmaria, Spiraea ulmaria
Ayurvedic names:
Chinese names:
Bangladesh names:
Arabic names: المروج (al morooj)
Rain Forest names:
Family: Roseceae (Rose)
Approximate number of species known:
Common parts used: Flowers
Annual/Perennial: Perennial
Height: Up to 1.2 metres
Actions: Anti-rehumatic, anti-inflamtory, stomachic, anti-emetic, astrigent, antiulcerogenic, antacid, aromatic
Known Constituents: salicylic acid compounds called spiraeine and gaultherin, tannin, citric acid; flavanoids (3-5%) including rutin and other glycosides including quercitin; kaempferol glycosides; [henolic glycosides including spiraein (salicylaldehyde primveroside) monotropitin (methyl salicylate primveroside); essential oil (.2% in the flowers) including salicyladehyde (75%), phenylethyl alchol (3%), benzyl alcohol (2%), methylsalicylate (1.3%) and others; tannins (10-15%)
salicylic acid, flavone-glycosides, essential oils and tannins.
It is high in flavonoids, flavonol glycosides, gallo- and ellagitannins and an essential oil containing methylsalicylate and salicylaldehyde.
It has been shown that meadowsweet contains phenolic constituents such as flavonoid aglycons (e.g., quercetin, kaempferol), glycosylated flavonoids (e.g., rutin, hyperoside, quercitrin, avicularin, astragalin), and hydrolysable tannins (tellimagrandin I and II, rugosin A, B, D, and E) as well as salicylates (salicylic acid, methyl salicylate, salicylaldehyde, salicylalcohol and their glycosides) [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]. Only a limited number of non-phenolic constituents such as phytosterols, carotenoids, triterpenes, and chlorophyll derivatives have been reported – reword
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0042-101943
Constituents on 70% ethanol extract
meadowsweet in 70% ethanol yielded five substances which were flavonoids (quercetin, isoquercetin, quercetin 4′-glucoside, rutin) and phenolcarboxylic acids (gallic acid). The fraction was found to have nootropic actions, with antiamnestic, antihypoxic, antioxidant, and adaptogenic activities. Studies of the antioxidant properties of the individual compounds showed that isoquercetin, quercetin 4′-glucoside, and rutin were more active than dihydroquercetin and ascorbic acid.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11094-009-0275-2
rugosins A, B and E Polyphenols
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pca.1113
Constituents Explained:
Native through most of Europe and West Asia. Black dye is obtained from the roots.
The leaves have deep veins, and are creamy white. The leaves are dark green on top and whitish green and down underneath. The leaflets are 4-8cm long with 3-5 lobes.
Has an erect stem which is sometimes red or purple.
The small white flowers have an almond scent which is strong and sweet.
Generally the herb is considered pleasant tasting which has led to being used as flavour in alcoholic beverages.
Traditional Use:
Used to relieve stomach complaints, improve digestion, reflux, heartburn and relive an over acid stomach. It has astringent properties which often sees it employed in cases of diarrhoea. It sometimes used as an additive in beer and wine.
Its role in the advent of aspirin is now famous, with salicylic acid being isolated from the buds of the flower in 1839. Salicylic acid by itself has been known to cause gastric discomfort. In order to overcome that acetylsalicylic acid was developed and called aspirin. The name aspirin came from 'a' which stood for 'aceytl' and 'spirin' which comes from the botanical name of meadowsweet 'spirae.'
thus it is sometimes used to relieve fever, or as a treatment for stiff and sore muscles. An anti inflammatroy.
Clinical Studies:
Meadosweet as an anti coagulant
Meadowsweet flowers and seeds were found to have an equally coagulant effect
https://europepmc.org/article/med/8358277
Meadowsweet and heptaotprotective properties
Meadowsweet as a hepatotporective function <say a stence>
Meadowsweet and cognitive recovery
The effects of the extracts of the aboveground parts of Filipendula vulgaris Moench on the behavior and memory of mice after hypoxic injury and their physical performance in the open-field test were studied using the models of hypoxia in a sealed volume, conditioned passive avoidance response (CPAR), and forced swimming with a load. The extracts improved animal resistance to hypoxia, normalized orientation and exploration activities, promoted CPAR retention after hypoxic injury, and increased physical performance. <rewrod>
Meadowsweet and a reduction on tumours
In rats that received meadowsweet, the incidence of all malignant tumors and overall multiplicity of tumors were significantly decreased by 1.5 and 1.3 times, respectively. The greatest reduction of many parameters has been identified for breast tumors: the overall incidence was decreased by 1.5 (p = 0.0174) and the overall multiplicity and multiplicity of malignant tumors – by 1.6 (p = 0.0002) and 2.2 (p = 0.0383) times, respectively.
<reowrd>
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09553002.2016.1257834
From the flowers of meadowsweet and inflorescence of hawthorn the whole set of phenolic acids and flavonoids was analysed by TLC. Phenolic compounds were determined both as free ones and those liberated by hydrolysis.
Moreover, ethyl ether and ethyl acetate extracts obtained from the analysed plants before and after alkaline and enzymatic hydrolyses were evaporated under reduced pressure and residues were analysed for their antioxidative properties.
The weakest antioxidative activity was observed with the remaining residue after evaporation of ethyl ether extract obtained from enzymatically (beta-glucosidase) hydrolysed hawthorn inflorescence water extract.
The strongest antioxidative activity was noticed with the remaining residues after evaporation of ethyl ether extracts obtained from non-hydrolysed and hydrolysed in alkaline conditions of meadowsweet flower water extracts.
The residues from meadowsweet flowers exhibited stronger antioxidative properties than residues obtained from hawthorn inflorescence and can be recommended as margarine preservatives.
Sroka Z, Cisowski W, Seredynska M, Luczkiewicz M. "Phenolic Extracts From Meadowsweet And Hawthorn Flowers Have Antioxidative Properties." 2001 September-October http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724378

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Anyone who suffers from anxiety knows that it can strike out of the blue. So having quick access to advice, techniques and exercises that will help manage and overcome an attack is ideal.
Fortunately, we live in the age of the smartphone app, and clever developers, therapists and healthcare professionals have realised this need and have responded to it in spades!
Below you will find our pick of the best apps for dealing with anxiety.
SAM has been developed by psychologists at the University of West England and provides sufferers with information about anxiety and a number of effective self-help techniques to deal with attacks.
25 self-help options, including information on anxiety, thinking and anxiety, and relaxation techniques.
The ability to monitor your anxiety over time.
A Social Cloud feature where you can anonymously share your experiences with the SAM community, connecting you to people who are struggling with the same issues.
I Can Be Free is a hypnosis program that combines soothing affirmations with relaxing music to delve deep into users' subconscious and provide relief from anxiety.
The app comes with five free audio sessions so you can try it before you buy it. After you have used the free sessions, the price per audio file is $2.99.
Developed by Human Progress, the app is one of 12 within the system. The apps are designed to deal with relaxation, sleep, overcoming fears, phobias and boosting confidence.
Worry Watch is a journal app which allows you to log, track and analyse your anxiety in one convenient, portable place.
The Log feature lets you write down what is bothering you.
With the Track feature you can set a reminder to return to your anxiety journal and see whether the outcome you imagined actually happened.
The Analyse feature shows you your anxiety patterns, trends and charts.
The Realise feature allows you to look back over your data and understand that in most cases, your anxiety was unfounded.
Finally, the Reflect feature enables you to challenge your anxieties.
The App does not need an internet connection to work, and also includes daily reminders for your wellbeing.
Developed by clinical psychologist Dr Arthur Ciaramicoli, this app takes users through a series of questions about their anxiety and then, based on the answers, works out a treatment plan to help overcome them.
Daily journal allows users to write about their anxieties, and track their progress.
Video content educates users about anxiety and managing anxiety.
A workbook with instructions and exercises guides users through their customised treatment plan.
Access to research on anxiety.
Based on the principals of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, as well as mindfulness and relaxation, Pacifica is an app designed to break the cycle of anxiety over time.
Track Your Mood feature allows users to track and rate their moods throughout the day.
Track Your Health lets users track their daily wellness habits like sleep, exercise, caffeine, etc.
Thought Diary lets users identify and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns.
With the Daily Goals feature users can tackle small goals every day.
Relaxation Techniques features a number of meditations, breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation techniques to deal with anxiety attacks.
This app delivers inspirational quotes to help calm your mind. The quotes revolve around dealing with and overcoming and anxiety and stress.
Users can save their favourite quotes.
If you find a quote that you love, you can share it on Facebook or via SMS or email.
This cool app lets you record your daily accomplishments, however large or small, to help you feel a sense of achievement, and beat the negative thoughts that whisper "you can't".
The app lets you track every daily, weekly and monthly accomplishments.
You can track what your most frequent accomplishments are, what accomplishments you enjoy the most, and where you feel most competent.
You can also track where you spend most of your time and which hours or days are more productive than others.
Based on the science of positive psychology, CBT and mindfulness, this app is loaded with tools and programs to help users take control of their feelings and thoughts. The games and activities can be done anywhere and don't require a lot of time to complete. The app is about small daily steps for big changes.
Packed with brain training games, activities and advice.
Designed to foster positive traits like empathy and gratitude.
A Diploma of Counselling from Open Colleges explores the foundations of mental health, giving you the knowledge and skills to work as a counsellor.
Happify is my favourite app to deal with anxiety. I just have downloaded the latest version of this app from http://tutuhelper.co all latest paid apps are available for free on this app store.
Its a very nice page with lots of amazing stuff.


A Charitable Remainder Trust is an estate plan that Howard and Marge use to provide a lifelong income stream for themselves and their son Dan, who is currently served by Hope Haven (HH).
At 95, Henry Schuller is in great shape. He cares for his house, plants and nurtures a garden, and still drives his car. Henry was married to his wife Alberta for nearly 60 years.
To take advantage of the low Capital Gains taxes in property sales, Chuck and Sandy decided to sell some property they had bought years earlier that had appreciated in value.
Mark: When the youngest of our three children went away to college a few years ago, we decided it was a good time to review our estate and transfer plans.
Donors make gifts in a variety ways, but a direct cash contribution through a stock gift is a great option to consider!


Class action lawyers and Apple have reached a deal to settle claims that early versions of the pocket-sized device have an exterior that scratches too easily. Apple will offer $25 each to some users and the lawyers will cart away more than $9 million. (Ars Technica; settlement site; earlier here and here).
Absent any specific warranty or advertised claim by Apple regarding the scratch resistance of the screen, I think the devices performed exactly as they were intended; and also exactly as a reasonable customer would have expected.
Somehow the one my teen daughter bought a few years ago has managed to remain in good condition. If it can take that abuse then it must not be unreasonably defective.
The last time I paid attention to a class action suit was when a friend of mine had purchased shares of a stock that went to nothing after the people who ran the company had extracted about six hundred million dollars through sales of stock. The class action was run and settled: five million dollars for the lawyers and my friend was given the option of mailing in a form letter to collect thirty cents for his losses. As the stamp he would have had to use would have cost him thirty six cents, he followed my advice and filed the application in a waste basket.
But I spoke with a friend of mine who is a litigator: I asked him if the class action settlement granted the officers who collected more than half a billion dollars from further litigation. His opinion was that it did. I then suggested to him that they had encouraged the lawyers to go for the class action suit and settle for that amount as an insurance policy. He told me he knew nothing about the case, but it would have been a very clever strategy.
Why limit this kind of suit to iPods? Lots and lots of stuff scratches. Why not CDs? They're easily scratchable and when this happens, they clearly interfer with my enjoyment of the content which they contain.
These Ipods are so defective that even a fingernail will scratch it or a coat zipper. I bought one of these Ipods and the exterior is truely defective. I filed my claim with that site and think that this law suit is not frivilious like many others as I have witnessed this myself. It was not a matter of people not taking care of them as they are just very very very easily scratched and I mean that in the most literal sense.
Wake up people. You are going to sue a company over a scratch. I got a nano and I loved it. Yes it had some scratchies on it so what, I could hear the music that was coming out into my ears. I can not belive that apple settled on this or that some people in this world care so much about money. This is just like when the women sued McDonalds becouse the "HOT"coffee that she put between her legs burned her. People that sue over stupid things like this are in my book stupid. And it's some snake in the grass lawyer that is making the money here telling people that they have been wronged. When are we going to start thinking for ourself. I got my letter in the mail yesterday about this and I could not belive what I was reading at first. I could see if the thing was giving people cancer and apple dennied that claim yes that is a law suit. Many things break get scratched they are stuff. If my kid got a sctach on them can I sue the hospital for not giving me bubble to put them in to protect them for that. NO that would be stupid!!!!! All I have to say is quit worring about such small things that don't matter and enjoy life it's to short. And to the lawyer that have come up with this Stupid lawsuit may you hug your children more than you didn't get hugged when you where younger.


Australia's primary producers need consistent, reliable equipment when working in adverse conditions. That's why Southcott has the competitive edge in the development and design of machinery and equipment in the market today. We offer an extensive product range of hydraulic cylinders, pumps, motors, valves, hoses and fittings that are world leading brands.
To ensure the productivity and profitability of our nation's agriculturalists, it is essential that Southcott hydraulic hoses and adaptor fittings provide optimum performance. Installed with other products in our vast range of hydraulic supplies, we can deliver a total system solution.
With Australia's diverse landscape and climactic conditions, agricultural and forestry equipment often require customised systems with quality hydraulic adaptor fittings, hoses, cylinders, valves, pumps and motors to meet performance demands. The dedicated team of professionals at Southcott have extensive application experience to provide you with systems and hydraulic supplies that are tailored to your specific requirements.
In addition to a comprehensive range of hydraulic supplies, we are also a supplier and manufacturer of power transmissions products, fluid connectors, and control systems suitable for all equipment used in the agricultural market. Explore our entire product range here and learn about our trusted suppliers delivering quality products ranging from hydraulic pumps and motors, bell housing, hydraulic valves and cartridge valves to hydraulic hose, couplings and adaptor fittings and so much more.
Get in touch with us today to discuss your requirements and find the right tools and systems to get the job done efficiently and cost-effectively. Our experienced team can provide the product and services you need or design a customised solution for your unique specifications.


As a native Russian speaker, I could help you to improve your communicational skills, help you to learn special vocabulary, idioms etc. We'll mostly use communicative methods during our lessons and if needed we'll learn or review different grammar topics.
Daria delivers an exceptional lesson experience and ranks in the top 15% of our teachers nationwide.
Worked in Ukraine, Switzerland and now working in the USA.
I worked as an interpreter during the adopting process and made several documents' translations.
I taught classes for international students.
Worked with kids of 9-13 years old. With 2 other tutors, I was responsible for a group of 60 children during 2 hours per day (we had to organize their free time and help them to do their homework, prepare for tests).
I had classes for 4 months prior to obtaining my certificate.
After presenting a work for English Department at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.
On a conference as a member of Federation of Student Associations of the University of Lausanne.
On the boat, Geneva lake, Switzerland.


Be part of the planning process: Talking and spending time with the bride is one way of showing your support. Helping with wedding plans decisions can go a long way.
Be frank and honest with the Bride: Most of the planning time, the Bride will be overwhelmed and maybe confused and seeks your opinion on a decision, you are one of the people that know her best, tell her the truth and be frank about it.
Make it about her: Even in all the wedding madness, you might end up thinking about your own big day but remember this particular big day is about her and make it all about her alone.
Be-friend the other bridesmaids: A girl squad can be a mixture of childhood friends, college mates or even workplace colleagues. You don't know them, befriend them and build a relationship with anyone you haven't met before so as not to upset the bride.
Get to know the Groom men: You will be spending a lot of time and make a point to reach and build "friendship" with the guys – keyword friendship, save any dramatic relationship for after the big day.
Remember it's more than a party: You are here to help, so be responsible and coordinate with the bride and planners to assist with loose ends.
Help her loosen up: With so much planning and stress, the bride needs to be de-stress on her big day. Help her loosen up by cracking jokes, dancing or playing her favorite song and let her enjoy her day.
What are your thoughts on these perfect bridesmaid tips? Which of these tips works for you? Rate yourselves ladies and share with us in the comment box.


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Microsoft Windows' Future: 8 Revelations
Michael Endler,
Re: Is this really MS?
The smart moves are interesting. A lot of them involve the cloud, which means Nadella deserves credit at least by proxy, if not directly. But he'd been CEO for fewer than 60 days when the Build keynote started, so some of these moves clearly date back to Ballmer. Now that we're seeing things like Cortana, for example, those people who were pressuring Ballmer to dump Bing (which powers Cortana) seem a bit short-sighted.
But I think it's significant that Windows has undergone several leadership changes since Sinofsky left. Moreover, many of the people closest to Sinofsky have left too. With Myerson running the OS show, it's a completely different leadership team than the one that created Windows 8. In fact, many of the people who worked on 8.1 aren't in the same positions either. I think these changes open up the possibility for some pretty radical re-thinking. No one would be killing off their own "baby" anymore.
As for Xamarin, I think you're right-- whatever the relationship, it's unlikely Microsoft would kill off the iOS and Android support. If Microsoft can get iOS and Android devs to use Visual Studio, I think Nadella would be pretty pleased, even if a lot of them don't open their efforts up to Windows Phone.
Somedude8,
User Rank: Ninja
Is this really MS?
Wow, one smart move after another here! It almost sounds like too much of a change in their fundamental approach to... everything, to really be the Microsoft we have all come to know and tolerate over the last few years.
Very encouraged! Except that now it *really* sounds like they have a perfect place to fit in Xamarin. I am still hoping they don't buy Xamarin and absorb it. Although, it is starting to sound like maybe if they did, they wouldn't kill off the ability to develop for Android and iOS, but maybe absorb it in to Visual Studio. That might be workable.
4/4/2014 | 12:55:13 PM
Re: Windows 8 at the desktop
"Touch UI does have its place, but my opinion, the mouse and keyboard are nice."
Microsoft seems to have learned this lesson. I don't know that the Windows 8.1 Update will satisfy all desktop users-- I played with it for a few minutes at Build, and while it's an improvement, it's not transformational. But Myerson emphasized that the desktop is and will remain a core component of Windows, and I think Microsoft teased the Start menu just to give people some faith that it can restore what desktop users want while also juggling the Modern UI. The implementation nuances will determine ultimate success, but I get the feeling Microsoft knows its challenges, and is getting on the right path. With enterprises, I think as long as Windows 9 is delivers, Microsoft will retain a big chunk of its traditional audience. Consumers are trickier, though, since Microsoft is just now reaching feature parity with mobile rivals, and is still getting its interface right. Build was definitely a step in the right direction, but it didn't make all of Microsoft's problems disappear.
proberts551,
User Rank: Strategist
Windows 8 at the desktop
Windows 8 is a Desktop productivity killer. Navigating and performing what used to be easy, now is buried. I am hoping that they will make it freindly again with the new release. The bread and butter is the corporate desktop, and our fortune 500 company will be holding fast to Windows 7 until MS comes up with something better than Windows 8. Right now, no support for it at all.
If Windows 9 is desktop freindly, MS may have a chance. I am not sure what corporate will do if 9 is not friendly. People are not going to want to relearn something new, but want something familiar, and easy to use. The Touch UI is not suited to the office suite, sharpoint, and other productivity applications and tools. Touch UI does have its place, but my opinion, the mouse and keyboard are nice.
Re: MS getting its grove back?
I think they've got a chance at the lower end, definitely. Stephen Elop had a point when he compared budget Android phones (which tend to be not so great) against the new low-cost Nokia models. If the new budget Nokias run Windows Phone 8.1 as well as he suggested, they could have some winners.
The OS itself looks more aesthetically charming and functional than the current version (and it should, long as they've been working on it). I played with it a bit at Build, and it seemed solid. That said, a lot of its appeal involves the personalization features. It's hard to judge those when you're holding a display sample with no access to your personal data.
On a related note, there was a rumor floating around a while back that Cortana will eventually get released for iOS and Android. I couldn't get Microsoft reps to even hint when/if Cortana will extend over to Windows 8.1, so needless to say, there was no talk of this sort of cross-platform strategy. I can see interesting pros and cons either way. Cortana itself seemed to work pretty well, though it confused Berkeley, CA for some other Berkeley on the other side of the country. But considering how noisy the conventional hall was, Cortana did a reasonably good job understanding my questions. At least as good as Siri in that regard, I'd say, though it's hard to say something more holistic from so little exposure to it.
Thomas Claburn,
MS getting its grove back?
Microsoft finally looks like it is making some smart moves. I hope the company manages to gain some mobile market share. It will be better for customers to have a third horse in the race.
anon4349932699,
Once of the most informative MS Windows articles I've read all year. Thanks for the worthwhile read.


The figure for Legendary Pit Boss has been spotted on the Canadian Toys R Us website along with a December 2nd release date.
Today also marks the start of the release of three Legendary Creation Crystals, exclusively at Toys R Us of course. The first of them is the Legendary Magic Crystal which is paired with a Micro Comic called "Mirror, Mirror".
The other two will be released on the 6th of November and the 13th of November, also exclusive to Toys R Us.
And don't forget that the first season of Skylanders Academy was just released on Netflix on Friday, so make sure to give it a watch if you can!
The reviews for Skylanders Imaginators have begun to roll in so as usual here's a roundup of them. Most seem very positive with high praise for the customisation that the Imaginators provide but there's a few voicing a dislike towards the permanent locking of a class to the Creation Crystals (although a possible workaround has been discovered in the forums).
Skylanders Imaginators stands on its own as a pleasurable journey for kids and adults alike as the sixth entry in the Skylanders franchise and fourth from Toys For Bob. It is the quintessential AAA game for kids that adults can equally enjoy if they peel back layers of maturity built up over time and allow themselves some immature fun. Imagine that.
Skylanders: Imaginators is once again a visually impressive masterpiece with its bright colors and cinematic cutscenes. The soundtrack manages to work alongside the gameplay perfectly and elevates your mood to just the right level rather it be intense battle or intrinsic puzzle-solving.
While last year's iteration put a heavy emphasis on racing, Imaginators does an excellent job returning things to the realm of platforming. All of the levels are expertly designed and feature beautiful backgrounds and clever puzzles that feel right at home with the best in the genre.
I consider this one of the biggest games in the franchise to date, content wise. Along with custom Skylanders, and the Sensei characters, there is the game itself, and there is A LOT (caps added for emphasis) to do.
One thing that I think the game upped itself from previous versions are the boss and enemy battles. While there is always going to be a pattern to these things, mainly because it's a kid's game, so you don't want to frustrate your main audience too much, the game has definitely turned up the challenge to 11, especially during boss battles.
Skylanders Imaginators is a dream for gamers who love to customize, platform, and just blow stuff up. The customization options are both easy to use for beginners and advanced enough to make some truly fantastic creations.
The rest of the game is what returning fans would expect. The cartoonish combat feels as good as ever (it's still miles ahead of the now defunct Disney Infinity games) and makes for terrific couch co-op play.
Much like the other Skylanders games on the PlayStation 4, this one's a beauty. The bright, colorful graphics add to the cartoony wonder of the game. Lighting is actually really good at showing off the dark caves, water, and lightning strikes around the different levels and there isn't even a hint of the jaggies.
The gameplay is tight and better than it's been in previous games. I appreciate this return to the series roots, but fans of the series that have huge collections of Skylanders from previous titles might be disappointed. Many of the gimmicks from previous games have been greatly neglected.
Just when you might have expected the original Toys-to-Life franchise to be running out of steam, Activision has brought it back, revitalised and exciting. Imaginators might just be the best Skylanders yet.
Compared to last year's Superchargers, Imaginators is certainly a step in the right direction. Instead of bolting something onto the existing formula, Toys For Bob have instead gone for reinvention. Being able to construct and share your own Skylanders isn't a massive game changer, but it feels far more considered than other gimmicks.
And it all looks so lovely. Skylanders has always been a pretty franchise, but Imaginators is almost relentlessly colourful. The environments themselves are striking enough, but the special attacks light up the screen and the cutscenes are fluid and boldly drawn.
One of the things that I have to keep reminding myself about with the game is the fact that it is designed for kids. Imaginators felt a lot more linear than the previous adventures and while I felt it made things a lot easier for me, it made things a lot more accessible for my daughter.
As the first Skylanders designed for the current consoles, SuperChargers looked amazing, but Imaginators tops it with ease. It helps that the level designs lend themselves to spectacle, but the gorgeous lighting and impressive detail being the visuals pretty close to the quality of a TV CGI cartoon (and better than some).
Overall, Skylanders Imaginators is a great next step in the evolution of the franchise. Being able to create your own Skylander is a big deal and the team got it right with such a deep and rich customization option.
A bulk of the issues are technical ones - load times are abundant, graphical hitches occur often - but even the structure of the adventure seems like a step down from last year's superb SuperChargers.
To its credit, the game doesn't limit your ability to change how your character looks at any point. Imaginators doesn't quite have the same level of customisation depth as say, something like a WWE 2K17 or a Skyrim, but what is there is pretty expansive.
The game is out now in Australia and New Zealand, releases on Friday in Europe, and is available on Sunday in North America.
Skylanders Academy follows the heroic adventures of Spyro, Eruptor, Stealth Elf, Jet-Vac and Pop Fizz as they travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers. Skylanders Academy promises to keep viewers on the edge of their seats with epic action for kids of all ages.
The 13 episode first season will be released all at once on the 28th of October, with the second season following in late 2017.
And in other news, to mark today's release of Skylanders Imaginators in Australia and New Zealand the Skylanders Creator app launched on Android and iOS, there's nearly 1000 parts to unlock in there so get cracking!
Update 12/10: App now available on Google Play and iTunes.
The app (which launches on October 12th) will let you create an Imaginator from scratch or import one from the game by sound once the game is released in a couple of weeks. It is only possible to transfer to the app and not the other way around, the only way to use an Imaginator created in the app in the game is to buy the card or figure of it (or to meticulously recreate it in the game by hand). Getting more parts to use will require you to open daily chests but parts used in Imaginators transferred from the game will unlock automatically. FamilyGamerTV have an interview with Paul Reiche explaining it all.
The release date for the animated show Skylanders Academy was announced today as the 28th of October. As is usual on Netflix the entire first season of thirteen episodes will be available at that time.
And in other news another Skylanders Imaginators variant, Mystical Tae Kwon Crow, has turned up - this time via a video on the official website.
It is as yet unknown when he will be available and whether he will be an exclusive.
While we patiently await news from gamescom this week, some US retailers have spilled the beans on a certain someone's inclusion in the Crash Editions. Not only will they contain the regular Starter Pack's contents and Crash Bandicoot but they'll also have a Dr. Neo Cortex toy too!
The packaging indicates that Cortex will be part of the Tech element and will be a Sorcerer Sensei (hopefully why will become clear once we see him in action).
For those of you who are not on a Sony system it is worth noting that some European retailers have listed a product with the title "Adv Pk Crash" with an end of November release date. What that is exactly is of course not 100% clear but it could be a way for you to get your hands on Crash, and possibly also Cortex, without having to buy a Starter Pack for a console you don't own.
An update today to the Skylanders Battlecast trading card app brought in the four new Skylanders that are currently being given away in promotional packs of General Mills cereal in the US.
Along with the brand new Sonic Boom and Prism Break Skylanders there are also two new variants of existing Skylanders, High Noon Trigger Happy and Obsidian Hot Head, who not only look different but have a different Ability to their regular counterparts.
Other new stuff the game has added include some help dialogs from Buzz as you go into menus for the first time as well as explanations of what the status effects do next to your cards when playing.
Instagram user adamaboumouss has spotted that the latest issue of MEGA! magazine has got a whole load of new Skylanders and Villains for Skylanders Imaginators.
Organised by elemental alphabetical order we have for the new characters: Air Strike (Air), Starcast (Dark), Flarewolf (Fire), Boom Bloom (Life), Aurora (Light), Mysticat (Magic), and Pit Boss (Undead). Also included are the returning Villains Chompy Mage (Life) and Grave Clobber (Water).
We're getting very close to a full roster now as that brings the total seen Skylanders to 16 out of 20, and the Villains to 9 out of 11.
And thanks to forum member Newguy333 for spotting the post.
The animated Skylanders TV series Skylanders Academy will debut on Netflix in Fall 2016 as part of a two season partnership it was announced today.
The series follows the heroic adventures of the Skylanders team, a group of heroes with unique elemental skills and personalities who travel the vast Skylands universe, protecting it from evil-doers and showing the next wave of Academy cadets how to do things the "Skylander way."
Skylanders Academy will feature the voices of Justin Long as Spyro, Ashley Tisdale as Stealth Elf, Jonathan Banks as Eruptor, and Norm MacDonald as Glumshanks. There will of course be many more people providing voices for the series including The Diamond Minecart, Susan Sarandon, Daniel Wu, Parker Posey, James Hetfield, Catherine O'Hara, Bobcat Goldthwait, Chris Diamantopoulos, Jonny Rees, Harland Williams and Richard Horvitz.
The series' showrunner is Eric Rogers ("Futurama") and the animators are TeamTO. Check out a few more of the initial images of the show in our gallery and join the discussion in the forum.
Crash Bandicoot Arrives in Skylands!
Confirming the rumours, at Sony's E3 press conference it was revealed that Crash Bandicoot is indeed coming to Skylanders Imaginators.
He will be available in special PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 Starter Packs but the character will be playable on all consoles, he will not be restricted like Bowser and Donkey Kong last year.
And that's not all for the long dormant character, they'll also be remastering the first three PS1 Crash Bandicoot games for PS4.


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2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Wuhan, China; Quarantine is Correct Response
January 23, 2020 Number9	Leave a comment
The current state of knowledge is posted at (CDC) 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV), Wuhan, China.
The Washington Post, Wired, et al., question the quarantine of Wuhan. They cite multiple experts who say the measure cannot possibly stop the spread of the virus. That is true, yet the quarantine is still the right measure. The why is slightly subtle.
In a national disaster, emergency teams mobilize from unaffected areas. If the whole country were hit with disaster simultaneously, there would be no places to draw from. The Wuhan quarantine has a modest goal, to slow down propagation.
If 2019-nCoV, which is a virus, is a typical pathogen,
There are many more sub-clinical cases than overt diagnosed.
Those who recover will have at least temporary immunity.
When a certain fraction of the populace has acquired some immunity, herd immunity kicks in. When depends on the transmission efficiency of the virus.
When herd immunity manifests, new cases drop to a background level. This is thought to have occurred with West Nile virus. Mortality declines as well, as the most likely to die are the easiest to infect.
When this state of near-normalcy is approached, the Wuhan quarantine will be lifted. A pool of first responders with acquired immunity is now available to fan out from Wuhan to other hot spots.
For an untypical pathogen, look no further than Norwalk virus. We're lucky it doesn't kill; it breaks the mold for infectivity and acquired immunity, which does not happen. If Norwalk were less conspicuous and more lethal, transmitting via cough instead of vomit, we'd be in trouble.
This is the typical path to equilibrium. There are all kinds of worst cases. The mortality rate has been stated as 2.5%, concentrated among elderly and those with preexisting conditions. Now suppose 2019-nCoV is a really odd pathogen, always causing overt symptoms, with 100% infection rate, infecting everyone in Wuhan, or elsewhere in China with clinical cases.
It implies that 2.5% of the Wuhan population die. One doesn't like to think of such unlikely horrors, but it has to be considered by planners. It would amount to the almost simultaneous deaths of 35 million in China.
This has happened in the historical past. Before the discovery of germs and proper sanitation, cholera, typhus, and the Black Death decimated civilizations. The world outside of Africa has been spared Ebola, a zoonosis that broke out from handling bush meat. Human-to-human transmission in Africa is enhanced by social customs rare in other locales. But note, 2019-nCoV originates from the China version of bush meat.
For the Ebola response debacle, see Ebola, Rats, Lice, and History, and Hans Zinsser Part 1 and Part 2.
Part 2 critiques the phlegmatic approach of CDC/NIH to an Ebola vaccine. A handful of companies specialize in rapid vaccine development, direct from the genome. The system by which vaccines are approved is driven by safety. A vaccine that takes mere weeks to produce in small quantities engages an approval process of years. This is appropriate because most public-health vaccines are for widespread, non-emergency use.
Perhaps by tradition rooted in the 1976 swine flu fiasco, the cost of "no vaccine for 2019-nCoV " is set for typical epidemiology. Yet the 1918 Spanish flu was untypically deadly for an airborne pathogen.
The timeline for use of an 2019-nCoV vaccine has been quoted as a year or more. A lot of nursing homes could empty out in the course of another phlegmatic response. The cost/benefit analysis could have an unpleasant surprise.
It would be appropriate to:
Activate the existing national security protocols for rapid vaccine production.
Run the ferret preclinical tests, and Phase 1, ASAP.
For Phase 2 safety and immunogenic trials, accept foreign results.
Begin large scale production before completion of Phase 3 trials of effectiveness, which may be abbreviated in event of bad surprise.
If the cost/benefit ratio changes in the near future, specialist companies can produce millions of doses per week.
Create multiple strategies to deal with antigenic shift.
This applies to antiviral drugs, should any be discovered.
If quarantines are instituted here, accept it with grace for the lives to be saved.
Dear Hillary, About Bernie
Dear Hillary,
Something came out in CNN I think we should talk about. (CNN)Clinton says 'nobody likes' Sanders and won't commit to backing him if he's the Democratic nominee. Quoting you,
"Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done."
This brings me to our fateless encounter on a New Jersey Transit train. I think it was about 10 days before you announced. You were returning from a visit to the Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs and International Affairs at Princeton University. Since Amtrak does not stop at Princeton Junction, NJT ran the only trains that would get you there.
I had boarded the 2:57 super-express at Trenton, bound for NY Penn Station. The mid-afternoon "super express" was new on the timetable, so not a lot of people had adjusted their schedules, and ridership was low. The first car was empty, so I spread myself across two opposing benches. Each Arrow car had two sets of these super-sized seats, one on each side the aisle.
Thirteen minutes later, when the train stopped at Princeton Junction, the car was still empty, except for me. You got on, and immediately spread your things out on the other double opposing benches, immediately across the narrow aisle. The doors closed, and we were juxtaposed, alone if not together, for the next 21 minutes, until the next stop, New Brunswick.
Some people may marvel at the enormous miscellany of information in this blog. There are no research assistants. It all comes out of my mental attic, as messy and compendious as my house. It is not photographic, except for the cerebral section titled Menagerie of Curiosities. Referring to the Menagerie, I identified you by your handbag. I had a flashback; I was holding an old printed issue of Time or Newsweek, with a picture of you on a tarmac holding the "Silver Blimp."
The Silver Blimp is a capacious elongate ellipsoid about two feet on the major axis, made of lightweight material, covered in reflective silver mylar. It resembles a uranium nucleus that has just absorbed a neutron, and is about to fission. Your theory is that people would be so attracted to the handbag, they would ignore the owner. You were wrong. I sent this question to my memory banks:
Probability( This person =
Hilliary Clinton _given_ CARRIES: SILVER_BLIMP).
I added a few more clauses:
Wears( Denim Skirt).
Shoes(sneakers)
Intellect = Alpha.
Physical resemblance=high.
Demeanor=chilly.
Handbag( lipstick & Kleenex = NO).
We continued our fateless encounter with sidelong glances. In this activity, you are clearly superior to me. While I had to turn my head a full 15 degrees, your glance required only half the angle. Meanwhile, the answer came back:
Is_Hillary_Clinton(CONFIRMED, P=99%)
You were not at ease. While I could have checked my email on my phone, I opened up my laptop. This seemed to take the edge off. You took an appropriately pink iPhone out of the Blimp . You seemed engrossed in a pdf of earth shaking importance, the fate of the Western World, at a distance of 2 feet. To read a phone at 2 feet, one has to be very farsighted in ways that go beyond foreign policy. My astigmatism gets lost over 6 inches. I guess I would be a very short-sighted politician.
This was my big chance! Concealed within my pocket, I had magic cards advertising Intel9.us. I printed them at Walmart. If somehow, I could get you to accept a card…? We continued to exchange sidelong glances.
I could slide it onto your seat. I could proffer one held in the classic cigarette grasp. Everybody who has heard this story asks if you had a magic button that would have resulted in my being taken away in chains. Temptation and fear, in balance. I could try an ice-breaker. Yes, let's do! I summoned all the resonance I had accumulated in years of arguing about overcharges, and squeaked out, as my voice rose about 2 octaves,
"Excuse me. Do you have an interest in international relations?"
For the first and only time, you made eye contact. You replied, in a tone so close to Absolute Zero that it would liquefy helium,
"NO…O…Oo…o."
A Jainist gives a bug more love. I skittered back into my hole. The train stopped at New Brunswick. The car began to fill. The conductor looked at your items, and said, "Excuse me ma'am, you're going to have to move your things. The car is filling."
It wasn't, really. But as you compacted, methinks you doth protested too loudly, talking to yourself, but widely audible. Now we had both been squashed, me by reality, and you by ignorance. He didn't know who you were.
I've heard good things about you, and things that require rebuttal. You took care of your mother in her last years. I did too, so I know what it means. We both miss our mothers, and are unafraid to say so. But our mutual fateless encounter was a demonstration of elitism, both to the stranger and the factotum. Perhaps, when we shared an empty car, there was the possibility of danger. But when the car filled, no attempt was made to engage. This echoes the observations of some, not all, of those who have worked with you. Perhaps I saw only one side of the coin, but must there always be two?
It bears hypothetical comparison. Would:
Bernie talk my ear off?
Elizabeth treat me to a cogent, if boring, monologue?
Joe affably misquote himself?
Donald give me a hug?
Vladimir Putin invite me to Russia and award me a medal?
Barack discuss his reading list, perhaps the only two-way exchange for my empty train car?
Can the modern political world dispense with kissing babies and pressing the flesh? Is it necessary only for particular constituencies, or is it an acid test for any aspirational pol, proof of the basic human connection?
Hillary, don't be mad. You know where to find me. I emailed you the next morning.
Davos: T-18 Years and Counting; Blade Runner, Coming to a World Near You
How will Androids Remember Us?
(24×18″, Oil on panel. Click to enlarge. There may be a delay.)
Dear Friends in Spirit,
In preface, I offer for your consideration my 2017 Address to Davos; Avoiding the New Dark Ages, in five parts. It is ever more timely.
Part 1: The Downfall of Ideologies
Part 2: Attempts to Remold Man
Part 3: Rise and Fall of the Couch Potato
Part 4: Rearranging the Deck Chairs on the Titanic
Part 5: The Shape of the Singularity; Knowledge is Power
Coming to a World near you:
(CNN) Trump administration abruptly cancels 4 Iran briefings
(CNN) Trump administration abruptly cancels 4 classified Iran-related briefings. Quoting,
The sudden briefing cancellations come as some lawmakers, particularly Democrats, continue to question the administration's justification for killing Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Senators appear likely to rebuke President Donald Trump soon in the form of a vote on a war powers resolution to limit his military actions in Iran.
There is a suspicion that the claim is invented, to circumvent the War Powers Resolution. While I cannot refute this suspicion, any similar question about Hezbollah is a special circumstance.
The English translation of "Hezbollah" is "Party of God." Hezbollahs exist in three countries, as separate organizations of native Shiites, all organized by Iranian "missionaries.", of whom Qasem Soleimani was the recent chief. Lebanon's Hezbollah was the second, dating to the early 1980's. The first Hezbollah was organized in Iran itself, in 1979. Iraq's Hezbollah dates to about 2003.
Prior to 9/11, Hezbollah (Lebanon) was considered the most dangerous terror threat to U.S. soil. In contrast to other terror groups then extant, Hezbollah (Lebanon) was noteworthy for competent command/control, execution, and even counterintelligence. (CBS) Major CIA network unraveled by Hezbollah, in 2011. Hezbollah skillfully exploited an encryption error in the group's secure radios.
The similarity of characters of the three Hezbollahs is the result of Iranian leadership. Opinions vary whether the 1983 United States embassy bombing in Beirut was an Hezbollah operation, disguised by the adoption of a "brand" in the form of the Islamic Jihad Organization. But there is general agreement that the attack was ordered by Iran.
The Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979-1981, in which the revolutionary government of Iran seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, hints at a pattern. It continues with the 12/31 attack on the Baghdad embassy. Iran is unrestrained by diplomatic norms from attacks on U.S. embassies.
Iran wants to kick the U.S. out of Iraq. Even with no intelligence, the embassy and consulates are at risk as targets of opportunity.
This does not address whether the intelligence about 4 embassies is fabricated. If it is not, the fearsome capabilities of Hezbollah counterintelligence puts sources at risk from disclosure. (CNN) 3 detained on suspicion of leaking Soleimani's movements to US. If informants survive Iraq's justice, they will not survive Hezbollah's.
Sources for this kind of intelligence must be protected by the narrowest possible distribution. To reveal which embassies are known to be targeted could be fatal to some.
20 Years of Vladimir Putin; Russian Gov. Resigns, Part 1
(CNN) Russian government resigns as Putin proposes reforms that could extend his grip on power.
Inspired by Russia's adversarial attitude towards the West, media coverage is almost uniformly negative. What else could be expected towards a government that has been described as a kleptocracy, with such noteworthy achievements as lending a helping hand to Assad's use of poison gas in Syria, Novichok in Salisbury, (NY Times) Syria hospital bombings, Ukraine invasion, and nuclear cruise missiles that make mini-Chernobyls? Have I left anything out? Sure, but on the chance that Putin reads this, I won't dig deeper.
Every leader is the product of the society he or she is trying to lead. When we study history, we encounter for the most part the biographies of rulers who, by modern Western standards, were barbarous. Passers-by of London Bridge between 1300 and 1660 remarked on the endless rows of heads impaled on stakes.
This has not blinded modern historians to the subtleties of those times. That mix was the crucible of the modern English speaking world. Putin's Russia has the contrasts of a society in flux. While some elements of the state remain barbarous, Putin's inner circle seems touchingly modern — provided we exclude the Kremlin's criminal element from our view. On the occasions I have engaged Russian intellectuals, I've found modern minds. This is one portent of future greatness, not the shallow yearning to be a "great power."
Patterns of history cannot be refuted and should not be ignored. They can rarely be avoided. Russia is a PITA, but there is more going on in Russia than can be expressed in short-form journalism. Much of it can be viewed vicariously, through the eyes of a ruler. If we are open to seeing with the ruler's eyes, to experiencing the peculiar bond between the ruler and the ruled; and the fears for the role and for the nation, we get something vastly additive to the boilerplate dished out by think-tanks.
In March '17, I decided that Putin deserved an "apology", which in the original Greek means , not "I'm sorry", but something like the defense a trial lawyer provides for a client. In comparison with the unknowable facts, it could be true, false, or a mix. The only requirement of this apology is that it be favorable to Putin, and not definitively refutable.
Fiona Hill, Trump's Putin Advisor.
Fiona Hill, Putin's Apology; Analysis Part 2
Fiona Hill, Putin's Apology; Analysis Part 3.
Fiona Hill, Putin's KGB; Part 4
Fiona Hill, Putin's Apology; Analysis Part 4; KGB Culture
Putin Wins; Russian Politics & Novichok Part 1
In Alexei Navalny, Poisoned?, I wrote,
Putin's bargain with the Devil, by which it can be argued that he saved Russia from chaos, involved co-opting all the elements of Russian society, and he has never found a way to pay it off. But there is also a political reason of some legitimacy why Navalny must not be allowed to rise.
(Moscow Times) 'Not Everything Works Out': Medvedev's Career, in Photos.. Quoting,
As Medvedev resigned, Putin thanked him for what he had achieved, adding: "Not everything worked out of course — but then, nothing ever works out totally." The newly resigned prime minister will now serve as deputy head of Russia's Security Council, which Putin chairs.
Putin's remark, and dismissal of the government is incompletely explained by the desire to hold onto power. It offers the possibility that he will now try to pay down that unholy bargain. The price of failure is a system so entirely dependent on his character, it cannot survive his passing. Most autocrats don't appreciate this point. Putin may be the exception. Perhaps the wisdom of Vladimir Bukovsky holds meaning to him:
"The movers and shakers of today have little interest in digging for the truth. Who knows what one may come up with? You may start out with the communists, and end up with yourself."
But first, let's see where he has been, the visceral Russian experience of decay and stasis, the rescue of a state in collapse, while viewing the West from a remote point of view.
To be continued shortly.
Ukraine 737 Crash – Iran Shot it Down
January 9, 2020 Number9	Leave a comment
(CNN) Ukrainian Boeing plane crash in Iran, investigators hunt for clues. Former NTSB manager Peter Goelz remarks on the startling appearance of the fireball.
The estimate is that Iran shot it down by accident.
The main hypothesis that avoids a hostile act is an uncontained engine failure. This occurs when a rapidly rotating fan or turbine explodes from centrifugal force on a defective part.
The instantaneous appearance of a fireball has not been a feature of previous engine explosions. Of the 13 that have occurred since 1973, three have featured large fires:
British Airways Flight 2276 at Las Vegas on 9/8/2015.
American Airlines Flight 383 at O'Hare on 10/28/2016.
Both of the above occurred on takeoff rolls that were successfully aborted. They featured large wing fires that could have resembled the Ukraine accident if seen at altitude.
Baikal Airlines Flight 130, which has an atypical pattern, is the only instance of a large fire at altitude.
In the other 10 incidents, fire did not occur, or was minimal.
A large fire requires a lot of fuel. The 737 has a tank in each wing, and one or two belly tanks along the center. Cellphone videos of the crash may be important, since it is unlikely Iran will release the black boxes before erasing them. Photometric analysis of a video, measuring the brightness of individual pixels, may indicate a belly tank fire. Since the belly area has not in the past examples been impacted by engine explosions, it may indicate:
An engine explosion with extreme violence, enough to puncture the belly area with shrapnel.
Explosion of an antiaircraft missile with a proximity fuse.
This is ground for mere suspicion, an atypical accident on an unusual day. But there is a separate factor that allows laying odds.
(NY Times 6/22/2019) U.S. Carried Out Cyberattacks on Iran on 6/20. Quoting,
An additional breach, according to one person briefed on the operations, targeted other computer systems that control Iranian missile launches…Officials have not publicly outlined details of the operation. Air defense and missile systems were not targeted, the senior defense official said, calling media reports citing those targets inaccurate.
But targeting air defense was technically possible. (Times of Israel) US cyber attack on Iran exploited flaw in heavily guarded network, experts say.
Citing US official sources, American media last week reported that the Army Cyber Command had crippled the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's air defense units that shot down a sophisticated drone on June 20.
I take the denials stated to the Times at face value. Someone said, "we could have", and it morphed by human exaggeration into "we did this."
For Iran, the nut is not whether air defenses were in fact disabled. It is the fact that the U.S. can jump into air-gapped Iranian networks with ease. (An air-gapped network has no electronic connection to other networks.)
So prior to the missile attacks in the early hours of 1/8, the Iranians did what is prudent in the face of a cyber superpower: they air-gapped their air defense computer network, breaking it into local pieces, reliant on human-to-human communication.
The three notorious shoot-downs of our time, KAL007, MH17, and Iran Air 655, were mistakes. Mistakes happen because radar doesn't show all the features or paint job of a plane. Now we can work out what I think happened:
A radar blip is a featureless "blob". By itself, it's a mystery.
Every commercial airplane carries a transponder, a kind of automatic two-way radio.
When air traffic surveillance radar interrogates a plane with a transponder, the transponder replies. Now a little ID code appears on the screen next to the blip.
When, in anticipation of retaliation, Iran air-gapped their network, their surveillance radar was unable to send the ID information over to the AA batteries.
An AA missile battery, disconnected from the larger network, detected the Ukraine flight. In a confused telephone conversation, they were unable to resolve their radar blip with air-traffic control radar.
Some underling turned a key and hit the big red button.
The cost: 82 Iranian lives. At Soleimani's funeral, 65 died in a stampede. This is the cost exacted by fate, or your deity if you have one, for the privilege of killing one American contractor.
At times like these, even the most devout wonder if God is on their side.
Did Iran Aim to Miss?
(CNN) Some administration officials believe Iran intentionally missed areas with Americans.
This possibility depends upon:
Where the missiles impacted in relation to the target.
Population density of the impact area.
CEP (Circular error probable) of the missile.. This is the average of the distance of the actual impact point from the target.
These are the tells:
If a bunch of impact points cluster together, but hitting an empty area, near the target, it suggests that Iran really wanted the missiles to land there.
If the cluster is far from the target, it's bad guidance, from bias error.
If the missile impacts cluster together, but kill Iraqis, it suggests bad guidance. This can happen from bias that makes all the rockets drift in the same direction, like loaded dice.
If the impact points are spread out on the map, it suggests bad guidance.
Only the first is a good demo. Here "near" and "far" are relative to the CEP, the average error. Large CEP = bad guidance system. Small CEP = good guidance system. But how can we tell if the missile was bad, or the aim was deliberately off? From years of watching missile tests, the CEP of a missile type is known to the intelligence community.:
If the CEP is thought to be 100 yards, and it hits 200 yards from the target, it's bad guidance, because it's too risky.
If the CEP is 10 yards, and it hits 50 yards from the target, that's good guidance.
Now imagine you are Khamenei, and you want to prove to the Great Satan that you can put U.S. forces at risk, while avoiding retaliation. You want a demo:
The more convincing the demo, the riskier for Iran.
The less convincing the demo, the safer it is.
Assume the Iranians are counting cards at the blackjack table. They sure aren't playing strip poker.
Al Assad Airbase is in the Syrian Desert of western Iraq, where almost nobody lives.
If the missiles hit in tight clusters, away from barracks, yet close enough to give worry, it suggests an accurately guided missile that was intentionally set for the "wrong" impact point. It doesn't have to be accurate to save Iraqis, because the local population is close to zero.
If the missiles straddle the base, with some coming close to barracks, it suggests bad guidance, risking an accidental hit that could start a war.
Iran had to be careful with the U.S. consulate in Erbil, which is at the northern edge of the built-up area. (Google Earth, 36°14'08.21″ N 43°59'20.86″ E ). An impact south of that has high risk of civilian casualties. An impact 1500 feet north of the consulate, just north of an irrigation channel, would impact farmland, avoiding subdivided but vacant lots south of it. This is the strongest indication of a demonstration.
We can't draw this conclusion if the impact clusters are loose. For a good demonstration of strength, they have to be tight. If the clusters are loose, aim-to-hit cannot be excluded.
Why did Iran choose this, if it was a choice?
Khamenei stated that he wanted the response to come from inside Iran, and be directed against military targets. This was to satisfy the national urge to revenge. The need is shown by the 65 Iranians who died in a stampede at Soleimani's funeral. Martyrdom was on display.
The Iranians reflected on how well deniable actions have worked for them: damaging the enemy while mostly avoiding reciprocation. With the death of a U.S. contractor, they discovered a level of conflict that triggered a U.S. response. They will now try to estimate what that level is in general terms, and stay below it.
The Soleimani killing has a different meaning for us and for them. To us, it is the lawful killing of a combatant who was out to kill U.S. forces. We drew a red line. Iran has drawn a reciprocal line: an attack on Iranian notables in Iraq is an attack on Iran.
Besides expanding the idea of Iran to include Iraq, the demonstration is intended to restore immunity from U.S. attack of Iranian commanders, continuing superior leadership of Iraq/Iran militias.
The use of proxies to shield the aggressor is not new. It was used with partial success in the Vietnam War, and most recently by Russia in eastern Ukraine. International law is blind to proxies like it is to undeclared war. This is the drawback of a voluntary code that recognizes the "nation" as a basic division of humanity.
Solemani Killing Makes no Difference; Politics Muddys; Remember Pearl Harbor
This assertion is unrepresented in the polemics surrounding the strike:
The killing of Soleimani does not significantly bias the future. It does not improve or worsen the U.S. position to a measurable or predictable degree. The effect on future events is limited to detail. This includes the total number of U.S. casualties, although attempts at specific, high profile people are more likely.
This option, "no change", is typically ignored in debates, because it is no basis for approval or criticism. Yet the claims in favor of "+change" or "–change" are severely flawed:
Claim: Soleimani's killing aborts or interferes with attacks on U.S. forces. While Iran's plans in the short term may have been disrupted, Iran has a deep bench in Quds Force leadership. To be effective, a decapitation strike has to knock off most of the bench, which this strike did not do.
Claim: Killing not justified. (CNN) Skepticism mounts over Trump's claims of an imminent threat. The language of skeptics derives from:
International law: A sovereign state is entitled to defend itself from imminent threat. Skeptics claim imminence is not documented.
Presidential war powers: The killing of an individual who is not universally identified as a terrorist.
These arguments are viable only in the moment of time. It is natural for the public to focus on the moment, but we need to expand the moment into the present, and the present into histories that encompass both the past and the future.
(Reuters) Inside the plot by Iran's Soleimani to attack U.S. forces in Iraq presents imminence in the form of a good story, revealing prior intent. Reliant on unnamed sources, one might suspect it was "cooked". I don't think it was. Delving into the past substantiates it. From U.S. Debacle in Iraq? Part 1,
Missile attacks were anticipated in Iran warns U.S., Israel of revenge after parade attack; Missile Attack on U.S. Forces? Attacks did not immediately result, though supply of missiles to militia occurred around that time. (Reuters) Exclusive: Iran moves missiles to Iraq in warning to enemies.
The above implies a defensive intent, which may have been justified by John Bolton's demeanor. But Iranian Missile Movements; Open Source Versus Technical Intelligence quotes (NBC) U.S. officials: Iran official OK'd attacks on American military:
…the Iranian regime has told some of its proxy forces and surrogates that they can now go after American military personnel and assets in the region, according to three U.S. officials familiar with the intelligence.
which is good for intent. What was missing at the time was a final sign-off on the attacks, a date stamp on these operations. A documented date stamp is the focus of skepticism for some.
The past of 8 months corroborates the present. The more past is included, the more difficult it is to suspect that the story is cooked.
Nota bene: Except for occasional products of the CIA history division, "proof" provided by the intelligence community never satisfies legal rules of evidence. In law, the prosecution is required to produce the evidence, based in the main on witness testimony. With spy work, the greater obligation is to conceal the witness.
Both political parties have attempted manipulation of intelligence. Successful manipulation depends upon the character of the intelligence community. That of the senior IC component, the CIA, has changed several times since formation in 1947. It has at times been susceptible, or resistant, to political pressure. Consider:
Iran Fires the First Shot in New Tanker War
Iran Fires Second Shot in New Tanker War; Counter Strategies?
(Reuters) U.S. probe of Saudi oil attack; What is Intel Proof?
Quoting from What is Intel Proof?,
"At this time, the U.S. Intelligence Community has not identified any information from the recovered weapon systems used in the 14 September attacks on Saudi Arabia that definitively reveals an attack origin."
This is very conservative, absent bias favorable to the administration position. I said I would go further, with circumstantial evidence:
The case against Iran is supported by more physical evidence than Scott Peterson, yet we withhold the verdict of "guilty." We do this to protect us from ourselves, from intelligence manipulated by politics.
We are not done expanding back in time from the moment.On May 8, 2018, the U.S. withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, subjecting Iran to paralyzing economic sanctions. But the pot didn't really begin to boil until, on April 22, 2019, sanction waivers were allowed to lapse. (NPR) U.S. Won't Renew Sanction Exemptions For Countries Buying Iran's Oil.
This, not the killing of Soleimani, is the real driver of events. Now let's complete the picture by expanding back to a date that will live in infamy, December 7, 1941. The Imperial Navy of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor with carrier based aircraft, the missile of the day.
It was called a surprise attack. Yet going even further back reveals the ultimate cause. Japan was already an expansionist, militaristic power. Almost devoid of natural resources, petroleum was critical. No one can say that war in the Pacific could have been averted, though when F.D.R. cut off oil exports to Japan in Japan 1941, it became mechanically certain. From Attack on Pearl Harbor,
Japan's final proposal, delivered on November 20, offered to withdraw from southern Indochina and to refrain from attacks in Southeast Asia, so long as the United States, United Kingdom, and Netherlands ceased aid to China and lifted their sanctions against Japan.[37] The American counter-proposal of November 26 (November 27 in Japan), the Hull note, required Japan completely evacuate China without conditions and conclude non-aggression pacts with Pacific powers. On November 26 in Japan, the day before the note's delivery, the Japanese task force left port for Pearl Harbor.[citation needed]
So the events of the moment are anticipated by the Hull Note of 1941. History gives us the driver, which is not the killing of an Iranian notable.
George Santayana is reputed by some to have said, "Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." Maybe, maybe not. I would put it another way. If you're going to drive your adversary into an unbearable corner, if you're going to have a Rumble in the Jungle, make sure you really are Ali, and the other guy is Foreman.
And don't lead with your chin.
U.S. Debacle in Iraq? Part 2
We continue from U.S. Debacle in Iraq? Part 1.
The situation has rapidly evolved. (CNN) Trump orders killing of key Iranian commander in Baghdad airport strike, killing Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani and PMF leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
I tend agree with the implication of Peter Bergen's op/ed, The killing of Iran's General Soleimani is hugely significant; the decision to target was the consequence of Trump's temperate response to previous aggression, most notably the Aramco attacks of 9/14/2019. Sadly, a temperate response can encourage aggression. Would I have made this choice? After hearing about how U.S. forces have for years been Soleimani 's victims, I might be unable to say no.
Events are racing ahead in this situation, which has no close historical parallel. There is some resemblance to the ethnic fragmentation of Europe which occurred in periods of Europe. Before World War I, ethnic tension existed in the disintegrating Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and Bismarck's design on Alsace-Lorraine. which he obtained in the Franco-Prussian War.
To the above, add an Iranian belief of "entitlement" to Iraq. In each case, there is a weak empire or state, with segments and layers like an orange, and a power that wants to do some peeling. In the present case, Iran's deeply complex peeling strategy has been complicated by U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Nothing quite like this has come before, but it's still useful to note some of the historical strategies used by great powers:
Overthrow the dictator, and replace him with your own man. The minimal requirement for this is an incompetent army of mercenary character that you indirectly pay through your man. Multiple instances at the end of the colonial period in Africa, notably, in the former Belgian Congo.
Invade, depose the dictator, and hope for democracy. This wish fulfillment actually happened in Panama, in 1989. In Iraq, it has taken 15 years to see even the possibility.
Save a country from foreign domination by destroying it — Vietnam War, 1955-1975.
Empower a popular revolt to change a regime — Libya, in 2011. The result was chaos.
Buy loyalty and alliances, and use these as tools to assemble principalities into a whole. A resounding success, the British Raj of India, 1858-1947.
Repel the invader with military force, and till fertile ground for democracy — the Korean War, 1950 – 1953.
Empower the youth without hope for a future. This is not an historical choice.
These are patterns, so few they are worth noting. They do not apply to Iraq because the country is enmeshed in hyper-acute politics, reminiscent of the early French Revolution. Ethnic groups whose relative positions were formerly defined by Saddam now haggle it out in a feverish tribal system with trappings of democracy. Those who buy into it are participants in various "rewards programs."
The fervor of Iraq is nothing like the quiet that followed the 2003 invasion. Then, as in Japan in 1945, a fresh start was possible. In Iraq today, the structure can't be dismantled; Iran owns a good part of it. The most telling part of the U.S. Embassy attack was the aftermath. On leaving, the attackers cleaned the area. Iran's message: We have total control. You have nothing.
The disaffected Shiite young, who have been left out of the rewards program, are last on the list. The movement may have started in Basra, a town with especially miserable municipal services, and spread north. If it were possible to develop this group, it would be a counterbalance to Iran. But they are not organized. An organization can be enabled; a mob cannot.
Nothing besides the possibilities of disaffected youth is remotely suggestive of methods to improve the hospitality of Iraq towards U.S. forces. There is a parliamentary initiative, which Iran is trying to rig, to expel them. Although the embassy cannot be seized, Iran can make it useless.
As before, the opponent is Machiavellian. Iran's retaliation will involve urban sanctuary for weapon emplacement. U.S. retaliation resulting in collateral casualties would be very helpful to Iran. Attempts by the U.S. to develop domestic allies would be met with assassination.
The cause of unwanted war is the failure of one or both sides to apprise the core interests of the opponent, and the amount of pain it is willing to take. Even though Qasem Soleimani deserved the ultimate sanction, Iran's ultimate fuel is not oil; it's martyrdom. It is central to Shiism, and their religious myth: Ali ibn Abi Talib died in battle, the first martyr of this branch of Islam. The declaration of martyrdom of Soleimani gives Iran's religious establishment a powerful tool to sell war to the recently demonstrating Iranian youth. It also gags criticism.
Since in Shiism, a life is more valuable once martyred, while a sunken tanker is worthless, I might have argued for a material, deniable response. And if I seen a list of U.S. dead at Soleimani's hands, I might have changed my mind again.
We shall soon see if each side understands what the other is capable of. Iran may commit ground forces to Shiite urban areas, from which they cannot be removed except by ground assault and urban warfare, including:
Basra.
Qatif and Al-Ahsa, where the Shiite population of Saudi Arabia is concentrated.
Mortar attacks originating from within the urban sprawl of Baghdad.
Hostage abduction, car bombs, drones, and the like.
From the Vietnam War on, the chief adversarial assumption has been that the U.S. cannot accept casualties even on what might be a favorable exchange ratio. We might ask an analogous question of Iran's infrastructure.
The swarming small boat naval threat, with ship-borne missiles, and Silkworms near the Strait of Hormuz, have been long anticipated. Does Iran anticipate that their naval forces and oil infrastructure would survive retaliation?


Welcome to Challock and Molash Gardening Society.
MARCH; Saturday 16th an illustrated talk by Richard Goodenough titled, "The Evolution of Gardens in Kent." Richard is an excellent presenter and old friend of the Society.
APRIL; Saturday 6th is our Splendid Spring Show with a short AGM.
JULY; Saturday 20th is our Scrumptious Summer Show & BBQ.
OCTOBER; Saturday 12th is our Awesome Autumn Show.
Other events/garden visits are in the planning stage by the Committee. Look out for further details.


E.  Do a performance assessment activity to demonstrate mastery.
1. Display different solids and liquids.
each group pick-up the bags for each student in the group.
3. Discuss the definition of "matter".
can see the objects?  Introduce the word "visible".
2. Together discuss the change of phase from a solid to a liquid.
liquids on the table.  Ask what other liquids they know.
5. Have the students pour the water out of the glass into the Ziplock bag.
7. Put about 50 ml water into an Erlenmeyer flask, and heat on the hot plate.
While the water is heating go on to the next activity.
2. Spray some perfume.  Let it disperse throughout the room.
come out of the flask.  Discuss what was happening.
5. Discuss the aroma in the room.  Ask how the aroma was dispersed.
Activity IV: (Optional) Teacher demonstration.
1. Have 1/2 tsp. iodine crystals in a glass stopper covered narrow-necked flask.
beaker containing 750 ml water.  We will return to this later.
the mixing had been a physical change.
burned paper cannot be returned to the original substance.
8. Cut a small piece of acetate fabric.  Ask what kind of a change this was.
change.   Repeat the process dissolving styrofoam in acetone.
the melted wax was heated enough to change into a gas which burned.
blue showing the presence of copper ions.
how the atoms are arranged in a solid, a liquid, and a gas.
Mid-East to provide drinking water from sea water.  Money is no object.
diagram and explain your procedure.


Okay I am dying to try those sliders and I even am tempted to attempt the buns…but I don't think I have 2 hours on a week night and I'm planning them for this week's menu; what would you suggest in place of the beet brioche buns? Thanks as always for your amazing recipes! I just searched your blog for overnight oats ideas.
Okay, I am just seeing this comment but it looked like you found a bun solution! Next time you find yourself with two hours to spare, make the buns and stick them in the freezer for a later date 🙂 Overnight oats are my GO TO all summer long!


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Q: NGINX reload is not working properly Recently i have done some config changes for access_logs directive in my nginx configuration file and then i reloaded the nginx server (./nginx -s reload), But the changes were not reflecting. Even i tried to disable the access_log (access_log off;) and reloaded server but still logs are generating.
The situation is like when i reload nginx configuration file sometimes the changes are reflecting and sometimes not. Kindly advise on this. I cant restart my nginx server as it is production env.
Note: The same changes are working properly in my preprod environment only facing issue in production environment.

A: Actually this issue is with regards to nginx reload only, I have executed the command nginx stop and start, then everything works perfectly. Thanks alot for everyone support :-)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This sweet number is made from a soft lightweight material that is perfect for a casual afternoon out with your friends. The flattering cut consists of a sweetheart neckline and slightly cinched in waistline as well. Wear it as it is or with a cardigan over if it gets a bit breezy.


Mathieu Marcantoni intervenes in his capacity as legal counsel in corporate law. He handles matters of commercial law and contract law for small and medium-sized businesses, their managers and stockholders.
He has focused on developing his expertise in the management and finance operations in restructurings, rapprochements, and transfers of companies.
He has also specialized in the areas of managing conflicts between partners as well as in drafting family agreements for industrial groups run by families.
In addition to the above, he also teaches business law at the EM school of business in Strasbourg.


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Lukodi Project, Uganda
Empowerment for child victims of war
In Lukodi we have created a sustainable and replicable long-term village of refuge and care for teenage mothers and their children.
For the last 25 years, the rebel group The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has been terrorising communities in northern Uganda in a brutal civil war. More than 65,000 children have been abducted from their homes and forced to be the mules, foot soldiers, and sex slaves of this "army".
We partner with projects working in Lukodi, near Gulu, who have created a sustainable and replicable long-term village of refuge and care for teenage mothers and their children; girls who have been abducted, brutally treated and forced to serve as soldiers and "wives" of rebel commanders.
Schools and Vocational Centre
Global Angels provided funds for building the boarding school, vocational center and refurbishment of an abandoned primary and secondary school for 750 local children. We now provide seeds, cows and other animals for the beginnings of a sustainable farm and business, the first six months food and education for the young families in the program and a van for transport.
We also match funded the refurbishment and set up costs to run a medical clinic for 12,000 patients. This is the only medical care for many miles.
Brick Making Machine
In 2010, Ambassador Bonita Norris raised funds for the children's village in Uganda through her record-breaking climb of Mt Everest. Her donation has provided a brick making machine for the project, which is now helping to build a rehabilitation village for child victims of war. The machine is producing 1,000 bricks a day!
We received this inspiring thank you video direct from Uganda, reporting back on how the funds raised by Bonita have been used. Below are also some pictures of the project and machine in action!
Income Generation Projects – Bakery
We have also funded a bakery school within the project. The girls supply the local city with bread and cakes, helping the project to become sustainable and giving them the skills needed to start their own businesses in the future.
Funds generated from the Bakery Project are helping to finance the center so that it will become self-sustainable in the long term. It will also provide practical experience for girls as well providing an opportunity for them to begin supporting themselves and their families.
What we are doing right now
What is happening in Ndalani
Give to income generation projects today in Uganda today.
TRANSFORM A COMMUNITY
BY GIVING THEM THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE
SEE MORE PROJECTS IN THIS COMMUNITY


When we pray together, we sometimes have the tendency to want to go our own way, so to speak. However, thriving prayer life is found when we submit together under the headship of Jesus Christ.
Good shepherds will lead the prayers to remember the majesty and the mystery of Christ. Learn more in this week's Prayer Circle.
The first time I heard the words "Jesus Christ obviously present and actively in charge," my mental lens for corporate revival focused like never before—and it has remained clear for over 30 years. I have asked many audiences to relate to me the potential of those 8 words. The response is always "unlimited." When we allow Jesus to have His full way in our church, the only limitation would be the sovereignty of God and this gives us abounding hope. With that being said, we must never let our praying be autonomous, individualistic, and separated from Jesus. All our prayer circles must be a place where all agree together, welcome Christ's presence, and let Him take charge. Our churches will be disconnected from prayer if prayer is disconnected from Jesus. Jesus alone adds life to our praying and our church. I'm stating the obvious when I say that all praying without Christ is empty ritual whether intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes we neglect shepherding the prayer meeting and prayer drifts into a self-serving place. The life of prayer then goes away, and people stop coming because of the lack of vitality.
Let's look at a strategic passage for practicing the presence of Christ in our praying.
Here we have two unspeakably grand themes about Jesus that are miraculous blessings to the church.
All that we are longing for in the gospel community: transformation of lives, glory in the church, every man perfect in Christ, flows from on living fountain—"Christ in you, the hope of glory." This is the wow factor of the local church. This miracle is available to every church no matter what size, location, or culture. A church is a glorious church because of our glorious Lord—not because of its numbers, talents, or money. Every gospel-led church has this unquenchable hope.
The majesty of Christ and the mystery of Christ must be kept together in our servant leadership. We are like Paul said, "stewards of the mysteries of God," (I Cor. 4:1). We do not serve well when we allow these two eternal dynamics to drift apart in the thinking of our praying people.
When prayer is in its proper place, we can participate in the very life of Christ with others. Hope always abounds in that place. Good shepherds are diligent to remind their sheep of these things.


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02/16/2017 12:31 EST
'Degrassi' Star A.J. Saudin Is All Grown Up And Giving Us Total Drake Vibes
A.J. Saudin played Connor when he was 16 years old.
Isabelle Khoo The Huffington Post Canada
Remember Connor DeLaurier from "Degrassi: The Next Generation"?
The geeky godson of Archie Simpson attended the Gifted Program at Degrassi and always charmed us with his wit.
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Feb 19, 2015 at 12:02pm PST
Canadian actor A.J. Saudin played Connor when he was just 16 years old. He joined the Degrassi crew in Season 8 and continued his role until the end of the series in 2015.
While the show only ended two years ago, we were still surprised to discover how much Saudin has changed. Here's what the actor looks like now:
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Apr 20, 2015 at 8:20pm PDT
Surprised? Because we sure are! The 24-year-old is totally giving us Drake vibes.
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Dec 3, 2016 at 4:22am PST
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Jan 5, 2015 at 12:58am PST
But Saudin's similarities to Drake don't stop there! Not only did they both get their start on "Degrassi," Saudin is currently pursuing a music career, too.
The Mississauga star released a song called "Sunset" on iTunes in October, and released another song called "The Road" on Sound Cloud earlier this week.
On Twitter, Saudin revealed he's officially done with acting and will be pursuing his music passion full-time.
"I don't do this for money. I don't do this for fame. I do this because it makes me genuinely happy," he wrote.
"Just FYI, I've always loved making music," he added. "I didn't just start because 'I'm a failed actor.' FYI, I quit acting after degrassi (sic)."
I don't do this for money. I don't do this for fame. I do this because it makes me genuinely happy.
— Saudin (@AJSaudin) February 13, 2017
Just FYI, I've always loved making music. I didn't just start because "I'm a failed actor". FYI, I quit acting after degrassi.
Despite his new career path, Saudin hasn't forgotten his "Degrassi" roots. The 24-year-old often shares Instagram photos from his time on the show, as well as throwbacks of himself as a teen to show how far he's come.
Switch up.
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Oct 8, 2014 at 12:13am PDT
High school throwback. I really don't know what possessed me to take this picture. I'm dead. Found it on my old blackberry and thought I'd share.
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Jan 12, 2015 at 1:13pm PST
He's also proven he's proud to rep Canada, just like Drake.
In a cheeky Instagram caption, he wrote: "Good things grow in Ontario."
Good things grow in Ontario. 📷 @lanedorsey
A post shared by Saudin (@ajsaudin) on Jul 10, 2015 at 11:18am PDT
Indeed they do!
Photo gallery Child stars who look waaaay different now See Gallery
Child stars who look waaaay different now
MORE: A.J. Saudin A.J. Saudin Degrassi A.J. Saudin grown up A.J. Saudin music Connor Deslauriers Connor Deslauriers degrassi degrassi cast degrassi cast now parents parents video video
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These marginalia in a sixteenth-century Hamlet may be Shakespeare's own
by Taylor Sperry
"I saw these faint marks, and my eyes popped out of my head," Shakespeare scholar John Casson told Alison Flood at the Guardian.
Casson was perusing the British Library's copy of Francoise de Bellefort's Histories Tragiques, which is believed to be one of the inspirations for Shakespeare's Hamlet, when he noticed faded writing in the margins of six passages that focused on the Danish prince Almeth. "It's only one section of an entire book," he said. "It's like he read the Hamlet section, moved into the next section and then stopped. And I thought, 'Oh my God.'"
Such a discovery—original notes by the Bard himself—would be "extraordinarily rare," he said. But Casson, the author of several books on Shakespeare, is used to ruffling a few feathers in academic circles.
In Sir Henry Neville Was Shakespeare: The Evidence, Casson makes the case that Sir Henry Neville, a courtier of Elizabeth I, was the author of Shakespeare's plays. "William from Stratford has the backing of the mass of academic authority," he said. "They're so used to it, and challenging it is academic death or danger to your reputation." It remains to be seen whether the community will rally behind Casson's newest theory, or if this will be taken as an instance of seeing what one wants to see.
Taylor Sperry is a former Melville House editor.
Gone fishing: the Hemingway edition
Poultry in margin: how a chicken wearing trousers stormed the internet
Back to the future: A DIY history of nerd-strife in the University of Iowa's Helevin Collection
CNN's Jake Tapper moonlights as a cartoonist for MAD
Children's books in the UK remain biased against BAME and female characters for yet another year
BBC Books drops transphobic author from Doctor Who anthology
Copy of David Copperfield from 1910 South Pole expedition on display
Climate activists Extinction Rebellion have a book coming out as the UK sort-of declares a climate change emergency
Alison FloodJohn CassonShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare
The Death of the Author Gilbert Adair
Seeing Power Nato Thompson


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Theatre Review: Posh - Duke Of York's Theatre, London ✭✭✭✭✭
Duke Of York's Theatre
Tuesday 5th June: Laura Wade's 2010 play Posh was one of the Royal Court's most successful productions of all time, selling out every night in its initial run and receiving excellent reviews across the board. If you missed the play the first time round, there's a chance to see it again now at the Duke of York's Theatre in the West End, where it has been given an update to reflect our current times whilst still retaining many of its superb original cast members. Initially written just before the last general election which resulted in the Tory-led coalition, the play's themes of power and privilege are just as relevant now, particularly after the recent rumblings in the media regarding the affluent backgrounds of many of our leading politicians.
The play depicts a meeting of the 'Riot Club', a fictional Oxford University dining society similar to the notorious Bullingdon Club, whose young, wealthy members meet once a term to eat well, drink copiously, and wreak havoc upon their surroundings. As the fine wine flows and the conversation becomes more heated, tensions build amongst the club members and the owner of the pub until they erupt in a shocking, violent finale.
The skill with which Wade turned the audience's emotions around as the play progressed was remarkable, with the hilarity and high jinks of the first act given a darker undercurrent by the show's sobering conclusion. The young men's movement from comic bluster to braying arrogance to animalistic violence to terrified, childlike weeping was breathless and shocking, and superbly conveyed by both writer and actors. Wade has also expertly captured the boyish banter and idiom of this age group – their repeated use of 'savage' for approval and 'chateaued' to mean drunk were particularly amusing, as were their hilariously childish drinking games and subsequent forfeits. The play also contains some brilliant song and dance routines, in which the actors break away from the dinner table to perform a handful of current chart hits, each with their own 'posh' twist.
The cast were, without exception, excellent, although special mention has to go to Harry Lister Smith as the floppy-haired newest member of the club, who is reprimanded by the others for using the word 'totes' – 'you sound like a parody of yourself' –and provided laughs throughout with his adorably wide-eyed, over-enthusiastic demeanour. Richard Goulding was also superb as the club president's slightly bumbling number two, particularly in his hilarious delivery of the tale of his disastrous attempt to secure the evening's drug supply; whilst Leo Bill impressed as the terrifying, rage-filled ringleader, whose 'bright future' at the end of the play is shockingly at odds with what he has done.
All in all, this was an excellent evening's entertainment and I really can't recommend it highly enough. Powerful, brutal, simultaneously hilarious and horrifying; Posh is an absolute 'savage' must-see.
LONDON LISTINGS INFORMATION – Royal Court at the Duke of York's Theatre
Dates: Friday 11 May to Saturday 4 August 2012
Performances: Monday – Saturday at 7.30pm. Saturday and Wednesday matinees at 2.30pm
Ticket prices: £15-£52.50. 20
best price seats at £10 each, available in person only, at the box office from 10am
on the day of the performance. Concessions and group discounts apply (Students £25 on Wednesday
matinees / Seniors £32.50 Monday to Thursday in advance, £29.50 on the door). See website for full details.
Access Performances: Audio-Described: Saturday 30th June 2.30pm
Captioned: Wednesday 11th July 7.30pm
Address: Duke of York's Theatre, St. Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4BG
Box Office: 0844 871 7623*
Website: www.royalcourtatdukes.com
Royal Court Theatre Box Office: 020 7565 5000*
Website: www.royalcourttheatre.com
*Booking fees apply


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