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E-mail: joo@annexpublishers.com
Clinical Utility of Triglyceride: HDL-Cholesterol Ratio as a Surrogate Marker of Inflammation in Pediatric Obesity
Kawadry O
Department of Pediatrics, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
, Kichler J
Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
, Hoffmann RG
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
, Dasgupta M
and Alemzadeh R
University of Tennessee Health Science Center & Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
Alemzadeh R, MD., Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital FOB, Rm 116, 49 N. Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN, USA 38105, Fax: (901) 287-7450, Tel: (901) 287-7425, E-mail: ralemzad@uthsc.edu
Received Date: September 21, 2016 Accepted Date: November 28, 2016 Published Date: November 30, 2016
Copyright: © 2016 Kawadry O. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Objective: The prognostic utility of the triglyceride: HDL-cholesterol (TG:HDL-C) ratio, a marker for insulin resistance, is unknown among high-risk children and adolescents. We examined the clinical utility of TG:HDL-C ratio as a marker of insulin resistance and chronic inflammation in obese youth.
Materials and Methods: Body mass index (BMI), body composition, fasting lipids, glucose, high sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP), HbA1c, insulin and the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were evaluated in 133 obese pubertal subjects (86F/47M), aged 13.9 ± 2.3 years [55 Caucasian (C), 40 Hispanic (H), 38 African American (AA)] [body mass index z-score (BMI-z) 2.4 ± 0.3].
Results: The C and H subgroups had higher TG, TG: HDL-C and hs-CRP values and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) compared to AA subgroup (58.2% and 62.5% vs. 44.5%, p<0.05) without gender differences. There was a positive correlation between hs-CRP and fat mass (FM) within each gender. The TG: HDL-C ratio correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.20, p<0.05), and hs- CRP (r=0.46, p<0.0001) when controlling for FM, gender and ethnicity. Further, TG: HDL-C ratio of 3.0 provided a sensitivity of 89.2% and specificity of 84.8% (p<0.0001) for detection of MS. However, a HOMA-IR cut-off value for TG: HDL-C ratio could not be calculated. On the other hand, an hs-CRP cut-off point of 2.0 mg/L provided a sensitivity of 58% and specificity of 80% for a TG: HDL-C ratio of 3.0.
Conclusion: The TG: HDL-C ratio correlated with markers of insulin resistance and inflammation. Nevertheless, the TG: HDL-C ratio may be a more reliable independent marker for inflammation than HOMA-IR for the identification of atherosclerosis risk in obese children and adolescents.
Keywords: Obesity; Insulin Resistance; Inflammation; Diabetes; Dyslipidemia
List of Abbrevations: AA: African American; BMI-z: Body Mass Index z-score; C: Caucasian; CMR: Cardiometabolic Risk; FM: Fat Mass; HbA1c: Hemoglobin A1c; hs-CRP: Highly Sensitive C-Reactive Protein; H: Hispanic; HOMA- IR: Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance; MS: Metabolic Syndrome; ROC: Receiver-Operating Characteristic; TG:HDL-C: Triglyceride: HDL- Cholesterol Ratio
Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death among the adult population, and it has been documented that risk factors associated with its development may appear as early as childhood [1]. Cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors tend to precede the development of atherosclerosis in obese children and adults [2]. Indeed, diagnostic correlates of pediatric metabolic syndrome (MS) have been shown to predict adult MS, heart disease mortality and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) [2-4]. Further, implementation of increased physical activity in pediatric obesity prevention trials has demonstrated improvements in markers of insulin resistance and inflammation [5]. Therefore, clinically reliable and cost-effective tools to identify and predict CMR factors in children and adolescents are critical for prevention of MS.
The triglyceride: HDL-cholesterol (TG: HDL-C) ratio has been proposed as a simple tool to identify subjects with insulin resistance and MS, and can predict coronary artery disease [6,7]. Potential mechanisms that may explain the relationship between insulin sensitivity and TG: HDL-C ratio could be free fatty acid concentrations, adipose tissue adipokines such as leptin and adiponectin levels, physical activity energy expenditure, gene expression and diet [8]. Indeed, it has been shown that obese youth with insulin resistance and dyslipidemia have impaired suppression of lipid oxidation and elevated free fatty acid concentrations in response to insulin infusion [9].
High-sensitivity c-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has emerged as a useful biomarker for vascular inflammation associated with atherosclerosis [10]. Increased circulating hs-CRP levels predict acute coronary events not only in patients with cardiovascular disease, but also in apparently healthy subjects [11]. Many studies in adults have shown that hs-CRP levels are associated with adverse lipid profiles, such as increases in TG levels and decreases in HDL-C levels [12,13]. There are few studies exploring the relationship between hs-CRP and certain risk of cardiovascular disease among children [14].
Data from the Third National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES III) indicate that the most frequently encountered components of the MS among adolescents are high circulating TG) (25-30% of adolescents) and low HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels (40-50% of adolescents) [15]. Using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, Hannon et al. showed that a cutoff point of TG: HDL-C ≥3.0 had a sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 82% for identifying overweight pediatric cohort in the lowest tertile for insulin sensitivity [16]. To date, the clinical utility of TG: HDL-C ratio in identifying CMR factors in pediatric obesity has not been studied. Therefore, we evaluated the relationship between TG: HDL-C ratio and indices of insulin resistance and low grade inflammation in a group of obese children and adolescents.
Subjects and Design
One hundred thirty-three pubertal children (8.8-18.4 years; Tanner stage 2-5) who met the criteria for obesity (BMI >95th percentile for age) [17] were included in the study. All subjects were evaluated at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW) (affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin) Endocrine Clinic for obesity between January 2003 and October 2008. Race/ethnicity was self-assigned: Caucasian (C; n = 55, 41.4%), Mexican American (Hispanic H; n = 40, 30.1%), and African American (AA; n = 38, 28.6%). Children with cardiac, endocrine, renal, infectious, and chronic conditions and medical therapies that could affect cardiovascular or metabolic function were excluded from the study. The CHW Institutional Review Board approved the retrospective review of patients' clinical charts; therefore, informed consent was not required.
Data was collected on patients including age, sex, self-declared ethnicity, height, weight, and body composition analysis that was performed by bioelectrical impedance (BIA) (TANITA- TBF-410; TANITA America, Arlington Heights, IL) [18]. Each patient's height was measured using a Harpenden stadiometer. Subjects and/or their guardians completed a questionnaire detailing their medical history and medications. Two measurements of right arm systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were performed 2 times 10 minutes apart and the mean values of the two measurements were recorded. Pubertal development was assessed by Tanner stage of breast development in girls and testicular volume in boys by two pediatricians. Fasting serum samples were obtained for the determination of glucose, insulin, lipid profile, hs-CRP, and HbA1c.
Laboratory studies and calculations
Serum glucose was measured by an autoanalyzer (Orthodiagnostics Fusion 5.1; Orthodiagnostics, Rochester, NY). The hs-CRP assays were carried out using a polystyrene particle-enhanced immunonephelometric method (Dade Behring BNII). The detection limit of this assay was 0.20 mg/L with measuring range of 0.18 to 1150 mg/L with intraassay and interassay coefficients of variance of 2.65 and 3.6%, respectively (Quest Diagnostics, San Jose, CA). Hs-CRP levels >10 mg/L were eliminated from the study, to avoid the influence of acute infection.
Fasting serum insulin was measured by Nichols radio-immunoassay (RIA) (Nichols Institute, San Clemente, CA) with intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation (CV) of 2.4-6.3% and 5.2-13.0%, respectively. The homeostatic model assessment estimates for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculated as previously described [19]: HOMA-IR= (blood glucose mmol/L x insulin μU/mL)/22.5).
Total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) were determined by colorimetric methods (Beckman spectrophotometer, Fullerton, CA). Low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was calculated using Friedewald's equation [20]. A cut- off point of TG (mg/dL): HDL-C (mg/dL) ratio ≥3.0 was used to define insulin resistance [16].
Since waist circumference was not obtained in this cohort, the international diabetes federation (IDF) criteria for diagnosis of MS was not used [21]. Therefore, modified National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) criteria [22] for diagnosis of MS were defined as the presence of 3 or more of the following: age-adjusted BMI >95th percentile, systolic or diastolic BP >90th percentile, TG >90th percentile, HDL cholesterol <5th percentile, and impaired fasting glucose >5.6 mmol/L.
Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS (version 14.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL). Data are expressed as mean ± SD unless otherwise specified. Spearman rank correlation was used to study the relationship between variables; partial correlations were used to control for potential covariates (eg, FM, gender, Tanner stage and ethnicity). ANOVA was used for normally distributed variables. Chi-square analysis was used to compare prevalence of MS. The Kruskal- Wallis Test was used for variables with skewed distributions for the overall comparisons. Fisher Z transformation was used to compare two correlations. Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney non-parametric test were used to compare means and mean ranks, respectively. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed using logistic regression to identify cut-off points for the TG: HDL-C ratio, which optimized the sensitivity and specificity of these biomarkers to identify youth with inflammation. The ROC curves were constructed by plotting the true-positive rate (sensitivity) against the false-positive rate (1- specificity) over a range of cut-off values. The cut-off points used in this analysis were determined by choosing the coordinates of the curve that provided the highest sensitivity, without compromising specificity.
Table 1 summarizes the clinical and biochemical characteristics of the entire participant cohort stratified according to ethnicity. Table 2 applies the Kruskal-Wallis test for ethnicity. Overall comparison results across the ethnic groups were reported. There were no differences in FM, BMI-z, serum glucose, HOMA-IR, cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C. The serum TG levels, TG: HDL-C ratios and hs-CRP values were significantly higher in H and C than AA (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). This corresponded to higher prevalence of MS among C and H subgroups compared to AA subgroup (58.2% and 62.5% vs. 44.5%, p<0.05): [(AA vs. H: x2=6.52, p=-.0015, RR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.08-1.95), (AA vs. C: x2=3.90, p=0.047, RR=1.33, 95% CI=1.01-1.77) and (C vs. H: x2=0.32, p=0.56, RR=0.92, 95% CI= 0.69-1.2)]. Conversely, HbA1c was significantly higher in AA and H than C (p<0.05). However, there were no gender differences in TG: HDL-C ratio, hs-CRP, and HbA1c levels. While hs-CRP was positively correlated with FM without gender differences (r=0.40; p<0.01), the correlation between TG: HDL-C and FM was not significant.
Table 3 summarizes the bivariate correlations while controlling for FM, gender, and ethnicity using Spearman rank partial correlations. The TG: HDL-C ratio was correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.20, p<0.05) and hs-CRP (r=0.46, p<0.0001). While HOMA-IR was correlated with HbA1c (r= 0.24, p<0.01), there was no correlation between HOMA-IR and hs-CRP, or between hs-CRP and HbA1c.
TG:HDL-C Receiver-operating characteristic curves for different hs-CRP cutoffs
Figure 1 and Table 4 show the TG: HDL-C ratio ROC curves at different hs-CRP cut-off points. An hs-CRP cutoff = 2.0 gives the highest predictability (highest sensitivity and specificity combination) for TG: HDL-C ratio. An hs-CRP cut-off point of 2.0 gives a sensitivity of 58% and a specificity of 80% for a TG: HDL-C ratio of 3.0. A HOMA-IR cut-off point for TG: HDL- C ratio with an acceptable sensitivity and specificity could not be determined. Finally, TG: HDL-C ratio of 3.0 provided a sensitivity of 89.2% and specificity of 84.8% for detection of MS (AUC= 0.94, standard error=0.0196, 95% CI=0.8995-0.994, p<0.0001).
In this study, we observed that measures of inflammation (hs-CRP) and dyslipedemia (TG: HDL-C ratio) were significantly higher in H and C than AA without gender differences. The prevalence of MS was higher among H and C subgroups compared to AA subgroup. Conversely, HbA1c was significantly higher in AA than H and C. Also, there was a correlation between FM and hs-CRP within each gender without gender differences. Furthermore, TG: HDL-C ratio correlated with both indices of insulin resistance and inflammation even after controlling for confounding factors. An hs-CRP cut-off point of 2.0 was found to give a sensitivity of 58% and a specificity of 80% for a TG: HDL-C ratio of 3.0.
Previously, Hannon et al. showed that a cutoff point of TG: HDL-C ≥3.0 had a sensitivity of 61% and a specificity of 82% for identifying overweight individuals in the lowest tertile for insulin sensitivity, despite having percent body fat comparable to those subjects with values below the cut-off point [16]. However, the study was not powered to determine the sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of lipid markers for clinical prediction of insulin resistance. Also, Dhuper et al. found that HOMA-IR had a correlation with TG: HDL-C ratio, but, the correlation was not controlled for FM [23]. In contrast, Quijada et al. observed that the TG: HDL-C ratio correlated with all markers of obesity and mean blood pressure, but not HOMA-IR [24] suggesting that the expression of insulin resistance in obese pediatric subjects is heterogeneous. However, we observed that TG: HDL-C cutoff of 3.0 was a marker for detecting MS.
Sumner et al. reported that the TG: HDL-C ratio is not a reliable marker of insulin resistance in AA adults [25] since AA subjects tend to display higher lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity with resultant lower TG levels in this ethnic group compared to C cohort [26]. Hence, insulin resistance leads to an impairment of LPL levels and high TG levels in C, but not in AA subjects [27]. While the TG: HDL-C ratio ≥3.0 failed to predict insulin resistance in all three ethnic groups, it predicted MS in our cohort. Our observations differ from those of Sumner et al. which may be attributed to genetic variants and age-related changes in the effects of LPL within individuals over time [28].
It has been shown that hs-CRP is a major player in the atherosclerotic process at all stages [29,30]. The evaluation of CMR factors in Young Finns Study showed that the correlation between hs-CRP and carotid intima-media thickness is driven by the effects of adiposity [31]. This interaction between hs-CRP, TG and HDL-C could be mediated by different cytokines of adipose origin, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The hs- CRP levels are elevated in some genetically predisposed individuals in relation to greater abdominal adiposity [32]. In our study, hs-CRP correlated with TG: HDL-C ratio while controlling for FM. While the association with most CMR factors appears to be due to the confounding effects of adiposity [33], our finding is unique in that it shows the presence of low grade inflammation during childhood prior to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease [34].
In adults, an hs-CRP value >1.0 has been shown to be an independent predictor for future cardiovascular events [34]. In children, however, there is a lack of evidence for defining critical cut-off points for hs-CRP. Guren et al. found that an hs-CRP > 1.04 mg/L had 58% sensitivity and 92% specificity of identifying children with coronary heart disease risk factors [35]. However, the relationship between hs-CRP and CMR factors was not adjusted for FM especially since the increased levels of hs-CRP were likely the consequence of underlying adiposity rather than the atherosclerotic process. In our study, we observed that a hs-CRP cut-off point of 2.0 gave a sensitivity of 58% and a specificity of 80% for a TG: HDL-C ratio of 3.0. Recently, Di Bonito et al. reported that TG: HDL-C ratio ≥2.0 was associated with several CMR factors and preclinical signs of cardiac abnormalities in a group of Caucasian children and adolescents [36]. However, they did not examine the relationship between TG: HD-C ratio and hs-CRP. Therefore, prospective studies with larger multi-ethnic population are needed to investigate the progression of hs-CRP values, their association with cardiovascular events, and the influence of hs-CRP lowering therapy.
There are well-documented differences in hs-CRP concentration distribution among different ethnic groups. The NHANES 1999-2000 showed that hs-CRP levels were higher in H than in C and AA groups after adjusting for age, BMI percentiles, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, and total cholesterol concentration [37]. In our study, C and H groups displayed higher hs-CRP levels than AA group. Hs-CRP levels were also higher in C than in H subjects, but this did not reach statistical significance.
Numerous studies have linked measures of adiposity to measures of inflammation in children without gender differences. Syme et al. showed that excess intra-abdominal fat was associated with higher hs-CRP levels in both female and male adolescents [38]. Similarly, the correlation between hs-CRP and FM was not significantly different across gender in our cohort. Contrary to our findings, Khera et al. showed that the quantity and distribution of body fat and sex-related differences in the inflammatory response to adiposity may influence hs-CRP levels to a greater extent in women as compared to men [39]. They used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal magnetic resonance imaging to quantify regional adipose tissue distribution. Finally, our cohort included children and adolescents in varying stages of puberty which may account for lack of gender differences in hs-CRP.
Also, there are also well-documented ethnic differences in HbA1c concentration distribution among diabetic and healthy children. Similar to data from the Third NHANES [40], we observed higher HbA1c levels in AA than C. Our study also showed that HbA1c was higher in AA than H. Both findings suggest that physiologic or genetic factors may contribute to racial differences in HbA1c glycation [41] independent of glucose concentration, but its impact on long- term complications is unknown.
Limitations to this study include lack of oral glucose tolerance data to assess glucose homeostasis and β-cell function in relationship to the TG: HDL-C ratio, particularly since HbA1c values were higher in AA group compared to C and H groups. The possible presence of impaired glucose tolerance among some of the participant cohort may have influenced our results [42]. Another limitation to the study is that there was no age- and sex-matched normal-weight controls for each ethnic group, and controls having children with impaired glucose tolerance and T2DM. Finally, a prospective study will be needed to further address the hypothesis that markers of dyslipidemia and other similar markers can identify overweight youth with decreased in vivo insulin sensitivity and inflammation.
The TG: HDL-C ratio can be utilized not only as a reliable independent marker for insulin resistance and inflammation, but also for identification of atherosclerosis risk in obese children and adolescents. Furthermore, defining insulin resistance is difficult since no clear guidelines or cutoffs exist for either HOMA-IR or fasting insulin concentrations. In addition, the use of glucose clamps method for diagnosis of insulin resistance, which is invasive, time consuming, and not practical in a clinical setting. Thus, surrogates of insulin resistance, which would be more practical and reliable in clinical settings, should be proposed. Our study demonstrates that the pro-inflammatory state likely tracks from childhood. The TG: HDL-C ratio could prove to be a useful, readily available biomarker of CMR in obese youth that could provide opportunities for prevention of atherosclerosis in adulthood.
This study was funded by the Diabetes Research Fund, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Ola Kawadry contributed to data collection and writing the manuscript. Jessica Kichler contributed to data analysis and writing the manuscript. Raymond G. Hoffmann contributed to data analysis and editing. Mahua Dasgupta contributed to data analysis. Ramin Alemzadeh contributed to data collection, data analysis, and writing and editing the manuscript.
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Figure 1: TG:HDL-C ratio ROC curves at different hs-CRP cutoffs
Caucasians (C)
Hispanics (H)
African Americans (AA)
13.9 ± 2.3
Gender (% female)
Tanner Stage
BMI-z
Fat Mass (%)
Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
127 ± 14
Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg)
68 ± 9
69 ± 10
Glucose (mmol/L)
Insulin (pmol/L)
211.0 ± 112.0
197.1 ± 98.6
HOMA-IR
HbA1c (%)
5.4 ± 0.4a
Cholesterol (mmol/L)
LDL-C (mmol/L)
HDL-C (mmol/L)
1.06 ± 0.3
TG (mmol/L)
1.45 ± 0.8a
TG:HDL-C
hs-CRP (mg/L)
2.5 ± 1.3b
Metabolic Syndrome (%)
Data are expressed as mean ± SD
ap< 0.05; AA vs. C and H
bp< 0.01; AA vs. C and H
Table 1: Clinical and biochemical characteristics of subjects based on ethnicity
Caucasian (C)
Hispanic (H)
African American (AA)
KW p-value
TG: HDL Ratio
3.5 ± 2.9a,b
hsCRP (mg/L)
5.4 ± 0.4c
Data are expressed as mean ± SD; Mann-Whitney Wilcoxon Test has been used for each pair
ap<0.05, AA vs. C
bp<0.01 AA vs. H
cp<0.001 AA vs. C
Table 2: Kruskal-Wallis (KW) test for Ethnicity
hs-CRP
HbA1c
ap<0.05
bp<0.01
cp<0.001
Table 3: Bivariate correlations controlling for FM, gender, and ethnicity
hs-CRP Cut-off
Table 4: TG: HDL-C ratio ROC curves at different cut-offs for hs-CRP
Kawadry O, Kichler J, Hoffmann RG, Dasgupta M, Alemzadeh R (2016) Clinical Utility of Triglyceride: HDL-Cholesterol Ratio as a Surrogate Marker of Inflammation in Pediatric Obesity. J Obes Overweig 2(3): 302. doi: 10.15744/2455-7633.2.302
Kawadry O, Kichler J, Hoffmann RG, Dasgupta M, Alemzadeh R, AA, African American, BMI z, Body Mass Index z score, C, Caucasian, CMR, Cardiometabolic Risk, FM, Fat Mass, HbA1c, Hemoglobin A1c, hs CRP, Highly Sensitive C Reactive Protein, H, Hispanic, HOMA IR, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance, MS, Metabolic Syndrome, ROC, Receiver Operating Characteristic, TG, HDL C, Triglyceride, HDL Cholesterol Ratio,


Square foot naples mansion magnificent gated is one images from 24 mansion home for a stunning inspiration of Home Building Plans photos gallery. This image has dimension 1030x773 Pixel and File Size 98 KB, you can click the image above to see the large or full size photo. Previous photo in the gallery is carberry tower mansion house estate. For next photo in the gallery is mediterranean mansion houston amazing foyer. You are viewing image #13 of 24, you can see the complete gallery at the bottom below.


The Drone Machines are now on display together with videos by Gretchen Mercedes until September 17th, 2009 at Compact Space Gallery in Los Angeles, CA. There will be Dub Machines (newer machines, not displayed) performance outside on the closing night of September 17th between 7 and 9pm. These are 3 new devices I have made and composed new music on.


text:
EPIC JOURNEY
This blog continues the discussion that we began with Epic Journey: The 2008 Elections and American Politics (Rowman and Littlefield, 2009).The latest book in this series is Divided We Stand: The 2020 Elections and American Politics.
Divided We Stand
New book about the 2020 election.
Donald & Vlad
Aaron Blake reports at The Washington Post:
Donald Trump is very bad at making the case that he's not Russia's favored candidate in the 2016 U.S. election.
It's not just the fact that he publicly called for Russia to hack into and obtain the emails Hillary Clinton deleted from her private email server. No, Trump actually said something else at his bizarre, fact-challenged news conference Wednesday that could bring a smile to Russian President Vladimir Putin's face.
Here's the exchange, via a transcript:
QUESTION: I would like to know if you became president, would you recognize (inaudible) Crimea as Russian territory? And also if the U.S. would lift sanctions that are (inaudible)?
TRUMP: We'll be looking at that. Yeah, we'll be looking.
Mark Hensch reports at The Hill:
GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump says Russian leader Vladimir Putin is "doing a better job" than President Obama.
"I said he's a better leader than Obama because Obama's not a leader," Trump said in an interview aired Thursday on Fox News's "Fox & Friends." "He's certainly doing a better job than Obama is, that's all."
Josh Rogin writes at The Washington Post:
In their zeal to portray Donald Trump as a dangerous threat to national security, the Clinton campaign has taken a starkly anti-Russian stance, one that completes a total role reversal for the two major American parties on U.S.-Russian relations that Hillary Clinton will now be committed to, if she becomes president.
The side switching between the parties on Russia is the result of two converging trends. U.S.-Russian relations have gone downhill since Russian President Vladimir Putin came back to power in 2012, torpedoing the Obama administration's first term outreach to Moscow, which Clinton led. Then, in the past year, Trump's Russia-friendly policy has filled the pro-engagement space that Democrats once occupied.
And now, for mostly political reasons, the Clinton campaign has decided to escalate its rhetoric on Russia. After Trump suggested Wednesday that if Russia had indeed hacked Clinton's private email server it should release the emails, the Clinton campaign sent out its Democratic surrogates to bash Russia and Trump in a manner traditionally reserved for Republicans.
Caroline Kelly writes at Politico:
For Harvard law professor Laurence Tribe, not only do Donald "Trump's "jokes" about Russia amount to "inviting an adversary to wage cyberwar against the U.S.," but they also "appear to violate the Logan Act and might even constitute treason," he tweeted Thursday.
Russ Choma reports at Mother Jones:
On Wednesday, Donald Trump angrily told reporters that he had no connection to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "I have nothing to do with Putin," he said. "I've never spoken to him. I don't know anything about him other than he will respect me."
But those comments contradict what he said in 2014, when he spoke at an event at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. During this appearance, he discussed US-Russian relations and claimed that he had talked to Putin during a recent visit to Moscow, where Trump held his Miss Universe pageant. Here's what Trump told the Press Club audience:
Russia does not respect our country any longer. They see we've been greatly weakened, both militarily and otherwise, and he certainly does not respect President Obama. So what I would do—as an example, I own Miss Universe, I was in Russia, I was in Moscow recently and I spoke, indirectly and directly, with President Putin, who could not have been nicer, and we had a tremendous success. The show was live from Moscow and we had tremendous success there and it was amazing, but to do well, you have to get the other side to respect you, and he does not respect our president, which is very sad.
Posted by Pitney at 4:39 PM
Labels: foreign policy, gaffe, government, political science, Politics, Russia, Trump
Order After Hope and Change from Rowman and Littlefield
Order Epic Journey from Amazon
Trump Does Not Understand What Happened in Crimea
What a Jerk -- Continued
Democrats to the Left
Sanders Lost the Nomination and Won the Party
DNC Emails
Trump and Russia
Clinton is Sounding a Lot More Like Reagan Than Tr...
Trump and Nixon
Thought for the Night
Another Trump Day
Bad First Day for GOP Convention
Trump Does Not Read or Write
Trump Solicits Illegal Foreign Contributions
GOP Botches
Trump Does Not Care About the Senate GOP
Newt and Muslims
The Evangelicals' Faustian Bargain
Veep Leaks
Scandalabra Is Weighing on Clinton
Democrats Head Left
About Gingrich
Choosing Between Liars
Bush Continues to Weigh Down the GOP
No Trump
Outsiders on the Hill
Trump Met Congressional Republicans. He Did Not D...
Trump and Rape
Scandalabra: No Clinton Indictment, But No Rousin...
Trump and the Alt-Right
International Views of Clinton and Trump
Chaos Syndrome

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


ASAD AL AKBAR worked in company BLUESHORE INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP LIMITED	as DIRECTOR.
ASAD AL AKBAR was from 2006.06.20 to 2009.07.28 at BLUESHORE INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP LIMITED employed as Director.
ASAD AL AKBAR Score for ASAD AL AKBAR is 3 stars.


The Throw command explicitly issues an exception from within a block of code defined by a Try command. Issuing a Throw transfers execution from the Try block to the corresponding Catch exception handler.
Throw is used to issue an explicit exception. Caché issues an implicit exception when a runtime error occurs. A runtime error generates an exception object which it throws to a Catch exception handler.
Argumentless Throw transfers error processing to the corresponding Catch error handler. No object is pushed on the stack, but the %New() method is called.
Throw oref specifies a user-defined object reference, which it throws to the Catch command, pushing it on the execution stack. The calling of the %New() method is optional.
A user-defined object reference (oref). For example, Throw ##class(%Exception).%New(). The creation and population of this exception object is the responsibility of the programmer.


text:
The Second Time Around
Beverly Sweigart, the producer and promoter of Palm Springs CRAVE events is back in town for the second time. She first lived in Palm Springs in the late 70's where she celebrated her 21st birthday. While here, she translated her love of dancing and meeting people to working as a deejay and bartender.
Fast forward to 2015 and Beverly is back in the desert both older and wiser – having spent the intermittent years as an executive in a Fortune 500 company. However, in spite of her busy corporate life style that kept her moving around the country, she never stopped doing what she liked most – creating a space where she could dance and meet new people. When she moved from L.A. – her home town – to the East Coast, she started producing gay parties in various cities – from New York to Philly. By the time she returned to Palm Springs, Beverly was a seasoned producer ready to add her touch to the women's scene here.
Beverly produces two of the Valley's most popular events here in Palm Springs. One – The Players Golf Tournament – which for years was called The Linashore. This event happens over the Dinah Shore Weekend and this year the name will change to the Palm Springs Crave Golf Tournament. For more information about this event: https://www.palmspringscrave.com.
Her second very popular events are dances for charity fundraisers held on the patio at Wang's. These dance parties donate all the proceeds to an LGBTQ Charity. The L-Fund has been the recipient of the proceeds from these events on more than one occasion. Beverly produces these parties with her own money and gives 100% of the take to the designated non-profit. She feels a great deal of satisfaction in helping non-profits fulfill their missions.
Beverly is passionate about helping the Lesbian community in the Valley grow and develop a strong presence. Her personal motto for women is, "Strength in Numbers." She has already reserved a space in the 2019 Pride Parade for lesbians to march together under that banner.
Beverly Sweigart is another woman with a mission to make this a place for women to thrive and grow and to support one another. Welcome Back.
Beverly Sweigart
BeverlySweigart.png 8 months ago


text:
World's Future Energy Needs: Which Solution Can Meet? Alternative Energy Sources
Engineering Hits: 4347
We have become very much dependent on fossils for obtaining energy to meet our everyday's energy needs. How long can these fossils remain and survive to serve our needs? Is renewable energy not the perfect alternative to fossil energy?
Worldwide Energy Requirements
People and today's scientists seem to have a lot of knowledge and enthusiasm about the growth and increased production of our worldwide energy requirements from alternative energy sources. We have alternative energy sources available with us in abundance in form of wind, solar and water. These are conventional sources of alternative energy that are becoming very common in use. The everyday research, development and increased enthusiasm that everyone has today for the alternative energy has already created a feel of complacence that our future energy needs
In our global society, alternative energy is an interesting concept, which simply means energy that is extracted from sources other than the usual and primary energy supply such as oil, coal and natural gas. At this age, we all very heavily depend on these three kinds of fossil fuel. We heavily rely on fossil fuel as the principal source of energy for heating, transportation and other necessities. would easily be met.
Even though, a lot of progress has been made and is still being made for the promotion and advancement of renewable energy, it is providing only seven percent of the world's energy production (Source: Energy Information Agency). On the other hand, the fossil fuels, along with nuclear energy (provides six percent of the world's energy supplies) are providing 94% of the world's energy resources. It is not likely that nuclear energy will become a major source of world energy in the future. It is because of public insistency and the dangers associated with letting loose the power of the atom. Despite that, many nations see its huge potential and are pressurizing for the further promotion of nuclear energy.
While fossil fuels are capable of fulfilling our daily life needs very efficiently, there is also a problem with them, that is, the fossil fuels are non-renewable and that the available amount of them are decreasing very fast. The bitter truth is that one day; this limited available fuel will be depleted.
Fossil fuels are formed from animals and plants that existed billions of years ago and became buried deep below the earth's surface where their remains conjointly transmuted into the combustible materials we use today for fuel. The earliest fossil fuel remains are estimated to be 500 millions years old, this is supposedly when the animals and birds first appeared on Earth. The later fossil deposits began forming about five million years ago. The fact is that with the rate the fossil fuel is being consumed today, their formation can not happen quick enough to satisfy our today's and future demands.
6 Alternative Energy Solutions for Homes.
Things You Can Do To Reduce Co2 Emission
Wind Power: Facts & Advantages.


text:
Old Is New Again as HouseZero Focuses on Natural Ventilation and Light
Lloyd Alter
Lloyd Alter is Design Editor for Treehugger and teaches Sustainable Design at Ryerson University in Toronto.
©. Snohetta/ HouseZero
The HouseZero project is an extreme retrofit of an existing building, the home of The Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). According to the press release it will "demonstrate how to transform this challenging building stock into a prototype of ultra-efficiency that will use no HVAC system, no electric light use during the day, 100% ventilation, almost zero energy, and produce zero carbon emissions, including embodied energy of materials."
"Before now, this level of efficiency could only be achieved in new construction," said Ali Malkawi, professor of architectural technology at the GSD, founding director of the Harvard Center for Green Buildings and Cities and the creator of the HouseZero project. "We want to demonstrate what's possible, show how this can be replicated almost anywhere, and solve one of the world's biggest energy problems — inefficient existing buildings."
Now I like this project and do not want to be an argumentative curmudgeon but really, lots of people have achieved this level of efficiency in renovations. But let's leave that for now.
© Snohetta/ HouseZero
The subhead of the press release online says it " requires no HVAC or electric light", corrected on the PDF version to say "requires no HVAC or daytime electric light. Instead,
The HVAC system will be replaced with thermal mass, and a ground source heat pump for peak (extreme) conditions. A solar vent will instigate buoyancy-driven ventilation and triple-glazed windows will employ natural cross ventilation through a manual and automated system that monitors for temperature, humidity and air quality....Rather than approaching the house as a "sealed box," the building envelope and materials of HouseZero are designed to interact with the seasons and the exterior environment in a more natural way. Much like a layered approach to clothing, the house is meant to adjust itself seasonally, and even daily, to reach thermal comfort targets.
This looks like a fascinating project, with TreeHugger favourite Snøhetta as lead architect; they designed the remarkable Powerhouse in Norway and certainly have the experience.
© HouseZero
There is not a huge amount of information available about this house, but I have a few problems with it. Certainly, the house is full of ideas and principles that we promoted on Treehugger, from putting on sweaters, to celebrating thermal mass to using natural ventilation- ten years ago.
Let's start with the subhead: Extreme retrofit of its headquarters requires no HVAC or daytime electric light.
HVAC is an acronym for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning and of course it requires this, and it has it. There is a ground source heat pump connected to piping in the floors, providing radiant heating and possibly cooling. Radiant heat is what just about every house in Europe and many older houses in America have with radiators. It doesn't have a conventional North American ducted heating system, but that is really not unusual.
The heat or cooling from the heat pump is supplied to the radiant floor which has a lot of thermal mass, "thereby slowing thermal inertia to buffer both daily and seasonal changes in thermal conditions." But this is Boston, which doesn't get huge swings between day and night, which has cold winters and hot summers. And, the thermal mass is inside an improved envelope with insulation and reduced air change, so there's almost no swing.
And there is a ventilation system, exactly the kind I have promoted for years, using natural ventilation, "maintained through smart window technology which uses internal and external monitoring to automatically open and close windows as needed for a healthier interior environment."
But it can get hot and humid in Boston. Can natural ventilation cut it in the summer? It can get cold in winter. Can you open the window in January? There are many questions about ventilation that I am sure will be answered in greater detail, but as shown on the sketch, I am doubtful that it can work.
There is the question of it's 100 Percent Daylight Autonomy. "no artificial light is required during daylight hours on non-cloudy days." (hardly 100% autonomy) Roof and window treatments are custom shaped to allow maximum light admission during the winter and limit direct sunlight during summer."
Again, 10 years ago, in the days of incandescent and crappy compact fluorescent bulbs, I would have thought this is wonderful. But is it today, when we have super-efficient LED bulbs? With every window that is providing light, there is also heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter. At what point does that actually consume more energy that the LED bulb?
Don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful project, testing out all the ideas that architects and builders promoted in the seventies and that I promoted ten years ago. It's what was known in the seventies as "mass and glass". And as building expert Joe Lstiburek noted,
We were here in the late 1970s when 'mass and glass' took on 'superinsulated.' Superinsulated won. And superinsulated won with lousy windows compared to what we have today. What are you folks thinking?
That's when I had to write that Everything I ever knew or said about green sustainable design was probably wrong, and the real epiphany, Should we be building like Grandma's house or like Passive House?
I quoted Martin Holladay of Green Building Advisor and concluded:
...high thermal mass floors are not particularly comfortable, that south facing windows as an energy source are counterproductive and "should be limited to that necessary to meet the functional and aesthetic needs of the building." That careful orientation doesn't really matter any more because nobody needs that extra solar gain.
Alex Wilson has also complained about in-floor radiant heating, noting that..
..it's a great heating option for a poorly designed house.... A radiant floor heating system also has a very long lag time between when the heat is supplied to the floor and when the slab begins radiating heat....If there is a component of passive solar heating in the home, it will cause overheating because you can't turn off the slab when the sun comes out.
© Peter van Dresser, 1977
There is also the Solar Vent, "that uses sunlight to draw air from the basement spaces offering robust ventilation at times of higher levels of occupation". It really is That Seventies Show all over again here, a complicated system that works only when the sun shines. We learned long ago that really simpler is better.
Finally, there is the complexity and cost of the stuff going into the HouseZero project that makes me question whether it is actually viable. Ali Malkawi says "We want to demonstrate what's possible, show how this can be replicated almost anywhere, and solve one of the world's biggest energy problems — inefficient existing buildings."
But it is really difficult to retrofit old houses with concrete radiant floors, I have tried it. It cannot be replicated almost anywhere; between the additional loading, the concrete finding its way through every crack and the huge amount of moisture that is driven off as it cures, it was an expensive mess. Automating windows is also expensive, especially since replacing windows has the worst bang for the buck of just about anything you do in renovation. And ground source heat pumps? Not many people are doing them anymore in efficient houses, because they are so expensive and air source heat pumps have got so efficient.
I want this house to work; it is a high-tech version of Grandma's house. I am hoping that as more information comes out that all my concerns will have been addressed.
But I worry that it is too expensive, that it is not really replicable, that it doesn't scale, and that people are not willing to put up with the discomfort of natural ventilation in summer, and the need for ventilation in winter. And really, we know how to renovate houses to be energy efficient and net energy positive, it is not a wheel that we have to reinvent again, we do not have time. We have watched this movie before and know the ending: improve the thermal envelope.
I would love to write once again that Everything I have learned about green building in the past ten years was wrong. But I do not think it is going to happen.
Windows Are Hard
Beat the Heat: How Design Can Keep You Cool
Musings About Martin Holladay's Musings of an Energy Nerd (Book Review)
How Do You Sell the Idea of Passive House?
After the Coronavirus, We Have to Throw Out the American Way of Building
In the Face of a Changing Climate, Our Buildings Need Thermal Resilience.
What's the Best Way to Heat Your House?
Everything I Ever Knew or Said About Green Sustainable Design Was Probably Wrong
The TH Interview: David Arkin of Arkin Tilt Architects
Lean Urbanism Is the Next Big Thing
Are Geothermal Heat Pumps Overhyped and Overrated?
Tiny Home Renovation Pushes Every TreeHugger Button
There's More to Comfort Than Just Picking a Furnace or an Air Conditioner
Invisible Sustainability Meets the Disappear Retreat
Should We Be Building Like Grandma's House or Like Passive House?
Rocky Mountain Institute Study Shows That With Heat Pumps and Smart Thermostats, We Can Live Better Electrically


A day later, the KBI announced that she had been found dead in rural Barton County and Stephens was in jail in connection with her death.
An obituary for Iviona Marae May Lewis' death states that she died March 18, 2018. She was the daughter of Devonte Lewis and Annissia Houp.


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Baltrušaitis, Jurgis, II
Kirk Ambrose
(b Moscow, May 7, 1903; d Paris, Jan 25, 1988).
Lithuanian art historian, scholar of folklore and Egyptology, and diplomat of Russian birth. Son of the celebrated Lithuanian Symbolist poet of the same name, Jurgis Baltrušaitis II studied under Henri(-Joseph) Focillon at the Sorbonne and earned the PhD in 1931. The concerns of his mentor are evident in La stylistique ornementale dans la sculpture romane (1931), which reprises and extends arguments for the 'law of the frame' in Romanesque sculpture. Accordingly, the shapes of architectural members, such as capitals and tympana, determined the articulation of sculptural forms. This theory could account for the genesis of a wide array of monumental carvings, from foliate capitals to narrative reliefs, but ultimately it had a rather limited impact on the field of Romanesque sculptural studies. In a scathing critique, Schapiro argued that Baltrušaitis's book—and by implication Focillon's methods—robbed Romanesque sculptors of agency and neglected the religious and expressive meanings of this art form....
Lanckoroński, Count Karol
Karolina Lanckorońska
[Karl Anton Leo Ludwig]
(b Vienna, Nov 4, 1848; d Vienna, July 15, 1933).
Polish archaeologist, writer, collector and patron, active in Austria. As an archaeologist his main interest lay in the architectural ruins of the late Roman Empire in Anatolia. In 1884 he organized an expedition of which he later published an account, Stadt Pamphyliens und Pisidiens. Sketches made by Jacek Malczewski (e.g. Warsaw, Royal Castle; mainly watercolours) are also records of the expedition. Lanckoroński and Malczewski later toured Italy and travelled to Munich together. Other artists patronized by Lanckoroński included Antoni Madeyski (1862–1939), Henryk Rodakowski and Hans Makart. During 1888 and 1889 Lanckoroński made a round-the-world voyage and subsequently published a diary of this trip, entitled Rund um die Erde. He brought back to Vienna various works of art, mainly sculptures and textiles. Between 1890 and 1895 a Baroque Revival palace was built for him in Vienna to designs by Ferdinand Fellner and Hermann Hellmer (1849–1919). In it Lanckoroński installed paintings, mainly Dutch and French, that he had inherited and Italian paintings he had purchased (e.g. Masaccio's ...
Noémie Goldman and Kim Oosterlinck
Term for the return of lost or looted cultural objects to their country of origin, former owners, or their heirs. The loss of the object may happen in a variety of contexts (armed conflicts, war, colonialism, imperialism, or genocide), and the nature of the looted cultural objects may also vary, ranging from artworks, such as paintings and sculptures, to human remains, books, manuscripts, and religious artefacts. An essential part of the process of restitution is the seemingly unavoidable conflict around the transfer of the objects in question from the current to the former owners. Ownership disputes of this nature raise legal, ethical, and diplomatic issues. The heightened tensions in the process arise because the looting of cultural objects challenges, if not breaks down, relationships between peoples, territories, cultures, and heritages.
The history of plundering and art imperialism may be traced back to ancient times. Looting has been documented in many instances from the sack by the Romans of the Etruscan city of Veii in ...


OKD offers container native storage (CNS) storage, which makes it easier for OKD users to fulfill their storage needs. With CNS, solution users and administrators are empowered to have storage and application pods running together on the same infrastructure and sharing the same resources.
See Container-Native Storage for OpenShift Container Platform for configuring CNS as part of an OKD cluster.
Building environment storage can influence the time it takes for an application to start. For example, if the application pod requires a persistent volume claim (PVC), then extra time might have to be considered for CNS to be created and bound to the corresponding PVC. This effects the build time for an application pod to start.
Creation time of CNS volumes scales linearly up to 100 volumes. In the latest tests, each volume took approximately 6 seconds to be created, allocated, and bound to a pod.
All tests were performed on one trusted storage pool (TSP), using hardware configuration for CNS per the Container-Native Storage for OpenShift Container Platform guidelines.
Dynamic storage provisioning and storage classes were also configured and used when provisioning the PVC.
When you delete a PVC that is used by an application pod, then that action will trigger the deletion of the CNS volume that was used by the PVC.
PVCs will disappear immediately from the oc get pvc output. However, the time to delete and recycle CNS volumes depends on the number of CNS volumes. In the latest tests, the deletion time of CNS volumes proved to scale linearly up to 100 volumes.
Deletion time does not affect application users. CNS deletion behavior serves as orientation for CNS storage administrators to be able to estimate how long it will approximately take for CNS volumes to be removed from a CNS cluster.
The recommended memory requirements are 32 GB per OKD node hosting CNS pods.
Follow the planning guidelines when planning hardware for a CNS storage environment to ensure that you have enough memory.
You can also dynamically provision volumes in a dedicated Red Hat Gluster Storage cluster that are enabled by Heketi. See Managing Volumes Using Heketi in the Red Hat Gluster Storage 3.3 Administration Guide for more information.
See the Persistent Storage topic for details on the OKD PV framework in general.
See the Red Hat Gluster Storage 3.3 Administration Guide for more on GlusterFS.
Red Hat Gluster Storage installations must adhere to the requirements laid out in the Red Hat Gluster Storage 3.3 Installation Guide.
Red Hat Gluster Storage installations must be completely up to date with the latest patches and upgrades. Refer to the Red Hat Gluster Storage 3.3 Installation Guide to upgrade to the latest version.
All OKD nodes on RHEL systems must have the glusterfs-fuse RPM installed, which should match the version of Red Hat Gluster Storage server running in the containers. For more information on installing glusterfs-fuse, see Native Client in the Red Hat Gluster 3.3 Storage Administration Guide.
1 This name must be defined in the endpoints definition. If using a service, then the endpoints name must match the service name.
GlusterFS does not support the 'Recycle' reclaim policy.
7 The volume reclaim policy Retain indicates that the volume will be preserved after the pods accessing it terminates. For GlusterFS, the accepted values include Retain, and Delete.
Endpoints are name-spaced. Each project accessing the Gluster volume needs its own endpoints.


text:
Is the US Government Preparing for Political Violence in Puerto Rico?
By: Monxo López
Beyond John Oliver's and Lin-Manuel Miranda's poignant commentary on Puerto Rico's debt crisis on Oliver's Last Week Tonight (HBO), lies the hard and unfunny truth that the economic situation in the island is not only an economic crisis, but primarily a political one.
In fact, this political crisis is unveiling for many the trappings of the colonial status of the "unincorporated territory," the perceived general indifference of the federal government to the well-being of Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans, the rapacious economic relationship between the mainland and the island, and the need on the island and the diaspora to take drastic action to avert the worst from a crisis that has already provoked the greatest exodus of people in the island's history.
This is a political crisis that has all the built-in ingredients to turn violent: a fact that has not escaped to the federal authorities.
On April 22 a federal judge in Puerto Rico (un)surprisingly ordered three pro-independence former political prisoners —Juan Segarra Palmer, Orlando González Claudio and Norberto Cintrón Fiallo, whose sentences were commuted by President Bill Clinton— to take DNA tests. This was the imperial thing to do, but very little is actually known about why the federal judge ordered these tests, and the federal government has neither denied nor confirmed if the three were involved in any kind of conspiracy.
The general feeling among those who favor Puerto Rico's independence from the United States (and many others who don't support independence) is that this action by the federal government amounts to a warning shot to those that are actively critical and unhappy with how the current situation is unfolding: a very clear "Big Brother is watching you" move. After all, these three former political prisoners, who were arrested in the 1980s for "conspiring to overthrow the U.S. government their fight for independence" and for the spectacular no-deaths no-injuries 1982 robbery in Hartford of $7 million from a Wells Fargo depot, are widely considered to be already under constant monitoring. And they have mostly remained out of the public's view (and definitively out of trouble) for more than 20 years.
What led to this forced DNA tests?
Is the U.S. government preparing for political violence in Puerto Rico?
By now, most readers have a rough idea of the situation in the island. After decades of irresponsible and unsustainable management, the government owes billions of dollars in debt to predatory vulture-fund investors that are demanding their returns take precedence over the payment of retirement pensions, the island education's budget (10% of schools have already being closed), healthcare and other essential services. These investors have also advanced the idea of reducing the applicable federal minimum wage in the island. On its side, the island's government has no ability to pay, and in fact has already defaulted on millions of dollars.
In the last decade alone, a significant share of the population has left the island for the mainland as economic refugees (mostly to Florida). Congress is also seriously considering an unelected Fiscal Control Board with broad oversight over the elected government of the island. What is not fully grasped on the mainland is that sizable portions of the island's residents feel betrayed by the U.S. government, while others are simply having schadenfreude fits because they always "knew" that the colonial status of the island was (and is) unsustainable. Many of the economic refugees did not want to leave the island, and feel they were forced out. A few politicos who previously supported statehood for the island, have publicly declared independence from the U.S. Local elected officials in the mainland have openly mused about the possibility of engaging in civil disobedience actions. A protest march on the island recently condemned the Fiscal Junta and the proposed austerity measures.
Yet, this is just the beginning.
It is in times like these that euphemisms stop working, when political correctness seems incorrect, when apolitical people get politicized, and when small groups of already politicized people decide to turn to violence. For us engaged Puerto Ricans (American citizens since 1917), the main problem as a polity is how to get there (solve the debt and political crisis) without going there (political violence). For Americans on the mainland, the task is to ponder the real possibility that the debt crisis in Puerto Rico could morph into an unstable political situation that will "require" the unseemly deployment of undemocratic and security measures that will negatively impact fellow American citizens living in the island, and that could affect large groups living on the mainland, mostly in the heart of some of America's largest cities.
I, like the overwhelming majority of Puerto Ricans, despise violence—but I know history. And the history of Puerto Rico is grimly clear in its repetitive cycles of political violence. Mostly suffered by innocent Puerto Ricans.
The story has been roughly the same both under the grip of imperial Spain and U.S. control. In 1511, the native Taíno Indians engaged in a bloody rebellion to end the genocidal abuses of Spanish conquistadors. The rebellion was ultimately crushed, but a year after the King of Spain did pass a law to somehow soften the burden of the Taínos. El Grito de Lares, another armed rebellion planned in part from New York City, occurred in 1868 as a demand for independence from Spain, but primarily calling for the abolition of slavery. Guess what? slavery was abolished five years later, in 1873.
During the 1930s and 1940s the criminal abuses of American sugar interests on the island created widespread misery, hunger and migration to the mainland, and was met with violent armed resistance from well-organized local nationalists. The American response was shameful when in 1937, 21 civilians were murdered during a peaceful march by orders of the local American jefe during what is still remembered as the Ponce Massacre.
Image from Ponce Massacre (Public Domain)
Undaunted, in the 1950's, these very same nationalists —involved with federal authorities in a vicious unending cycle of violence, unjust jail sentences, extrajudicial executions and reprisals— attempted to assassinate President Truman in the heart of Washington, D.C., while simultaneously rebelling in the mountainous region of the island. The rebellion was ultimately put down (this time with the help of U.S. air power) but, guess what? During the mid 1950s, the iron grip of American imperial control was somehow softened when Puerto Ricans were allowed to write their own constitution and obtained some measure of self-government.
Puerto Rico National Guard troops in Jayuya, Puerto Rico, during the 1950 Jayuya Uprising. (Public Domain)
In 1954, nationalists attacked the U.S. Congress, to protest what many then (and still) see as the colonial status of the island. It bears underlining that from the 1950s onward, political action and political violence was not confined to the island: the attack on Congress, the attempt against Truman, the actions of the Young Lords Party on behalf of Puerto Rico's independence and the welfare of the Puerto Rican diaspora, a series of bombings and armed attacks (including the 1982 Wells Fargo heist), were organized and put to action in the heart of some of America's largest cities.
Not all Puerto Ricans are revolutionary nationalists, not by any stretch of the imagination. Many in fact want to be a state of the American Union, but an overwhelming majority of them, including many of the most pro-American ones, deeply respect these men and women that fought for the dignity of their homeland. Schools, streets, cultural centers, public housing projects, civil society organizations —both in mainland America and the island— are named after them.
Readers can come up with their own conclusions, but let me chime in. Congress is grossly overplaying its hand, and unfairly so. Among many other things, Puerto Ricans have fought in all American wars since the U.S. took control of the island in 1898, including the disastrous wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, were we died (proportionally) in greater numbers than most other groups.
It seems clear that the very complex crisis in Puerto Rico will take time to be sorted out. Yet all Americans have a moral and political responsibility today for the welfare of their fellow citizens—even towards those that do not welcome American control over the island. They should call their representatives in Congress and demand swift, humane and fair action to ameliorate the human crisis in the island.
As this election cycle has made painfully clear, mainland America is in some sort of political turmoil itself, and if those forced DNA tests are any indication, the federal government knows its actions and inactions, Congress's protection of vulture funds investments over the interests and welfare of its own American citizens, could very well create more chaos, instability and even violence to an already wounded polity.
The U.S. government seems to be preparing for the worst in Puerto Rico. Are the American people ready for the ride?
Monxo López tweets from @MonxoLopez.
Puerto Rico's Governor Unveils Budget Priorities Amid Crisis
Boom and Bust in Puerto Rico
Why I Don't Support the Puerto Rico…
5 responses to "Is the US Government Preparing for Political Violence in Puerto Rico?"
FulanoDeTal says:
A federal judge has issued 16 warrants to force Pro independence fighters to submit to testing
None have been notified prior and the names on the remaining
warrants are unknown. The 3 detained so far have been stopped while on
the road with heavy FBI presence. The 3 are known totally committed to
the Liberation of Puerto Rico and known not to be vulnerable to
intimidation and for this reason it is widely understood that the
tactics used by the FBI are aimed at attempting to intimidate people in
Puerto Rico to not support Puerto Rican Independence.
It is evident that a US government operation is once again at play in Puerto Rico.
Wilma Reveron, the National Hostos Independence Movement (MINH)
The orders are being carried out by the FBI. They are identifying when people are completely alone. They do not allow them to call relatives or lawyers. They are told that the order says they are authorized to use necessary force to comply with the court orders.
MINH stated that this is the beginning of a wave of repression against
the independence movement for their militancy against imperialist plans
to impose a board of federal fiscal control, the refusal to recognize
territorial power that can be exercised upon our nation by a
foreigner and our rights to use civil disobedience, resistance and
non-cooperation with the US foreign power. They call for the use of
civil disobedience, resistance, non-cooperation and struggle.
Tests were done in a Medical Center.
former president of the Bar Association and spokesman of the Committee
for Human Rights, Eduardo Villanueva Muñoz, said that once the DNA tests
were made at the Medical Center in Rio Piedras, he was freed.
"I do not know whether to say freedom. It
must be said that the state has laid eyes on him … The action
represents who have laid eyes on it," said Villanueva, referring mainly
to the case of González Claudio.
very worried that these actions are to intimidate and deter the people
of Puerto Rico, not only the independence movement, because there are
many sectors that are becoming aware of the fiscal control board, which
is a dictatorship legitimized byAmerican
law, not by the people of Puerto Rico, and people have been talking
about organizing resistance against the junta, according to Villanueva.
noted that "the fundamental right such as association and expression,
are violated when state power is used to frighten and intimidate people
being searched in front of others and made to take samples without being
charged.
colonial regime has fueled the fear inspired by federal agencies like
the FBI and its allies in Puerto Rico," said Sen. Santiago.
denounced the persecution, imprisonment, marginalization and "carpeteo"
(creating of files) on the separatists to ensure the persistence of the
system of political repression.
https://abcmelb.wordpress.com/2016/04/29/fbi-arrests-2-independentista-fighters/


We all know that all the Chevrolet 2500/3500 Express vans have been super neglected over the years when it comes to suspension upgrades and lift kits.
For those of you with a QUIGLEY 4x4 we built you the ultimate coilover suspension system.
For those of you that have a 2 wheel drive your time is coming! We have been hard at work designing a new lift kit that will improve the ride.
We are still working on pricing and look forward to this kit being available in March 2017. We are currently making a list for those of you who are interested in these suspension upgrades.
Is there no 2 wheel drive van guys hanging out here?
No, there's just not that many Chevy guys, as options have long been limited for lifts and 4x4 conversions.
One other thing you should look at Jeremy is a lift kit for the factory AWD Chevy/GMCs.
I'm here, Jeremy...but you're already helping me out.
If anyone is ever in SD and wants to swing by i would love to peak at it.
Here is an update on the 2 wheel drive kits.
These are the the main structure of the spindles which the hub bolts to on the 2 wheel drive units.
i would probably go for the smaller lift.
i don't really need to go too big.
Here is a look at the Chevrolet van with the 3" spindle installed and 2" blocks in the rear.
How about more pics of the Chevrolet Express 3" lift spindles for the 2500/3500 vans. I know there is not to many of you guys here with 2 wheel drive chevys but we figure you still might like seeing what we are building.
Once all of the parts are machined it goes into the fixture to be welded.
After hours of TIG welding it looks like this.
Yeah, look great. Thanks for posting and providing support for the GM vans.


text:
25 Little Things She Does That He Actually Finds Irresistible
by Vanessa
There's no universal list of traits that are unarguably irresistible. Different things make different people's knees go weak, and everyone has a different idea of what's attractive and what's not.
A complete turn-off for one person might be the most irresistible thing ever for someone else. That said, we did some research and gathered a bunch of different opinions from the web about what some people do find out-of-this-world attractive.
She'll never be totally tantalizing to absolutely everyone in the room, but by adopting one or two behaviors on this list, there's bound to be someone out there who won't be able to take their eyes off her!
First and foremost, we believe that confidence is always an alluring and admirable quality, so it's probably not the best idea to do anything that makes us feel uncomfortable, even if we think it will impress the guy we're seeing. As cliché as it sounds, it's always better to act in ways that feel natural to us. That might not be irresistible to every single man you come across, but it will be to the right one.
Check out this list of little things that real guys have admitted makes them go nuts for a girl!
25 She Cracks (Bad) Jokes To Break The Ice At Parties
Studies have shown that one of the most attractive qualities in a potential partner is a strong sense of humor.
Naturally, many guys find it adorable when girls make jokes because it feels good to laugh.
The atmosphere is always more relaxed when you're with someone who knows how to make a good joke and doesn't take themselves too seriously. You don't have to pretend to be a goofball if you're not, but don't be afraid to crack a joke if it comes to you.
24 Taking Risks And Being Daring
Courage is another admirable quality in a partner. A scan of numerous dating and lifestyle websites shows that lots of guys find it irresistible when a girl takes risks and pushes herself outside her comfort zone. This doesn't have to include huge risks that could land you in jail (or worse) by the way. Just showing that you do have an adventurous side will hook the interest of a lot of guys who are looking for an escape from their day-to-day lives.
23 Using Manners When She Doesn't Have To
Interestingly enough, a few guys have admitted online to finding it attractive when a girl swears like a sailor. But far more confess that they like it when she's polite.
It's even more admirable when she doesn't have to do it but keeps her attitude humble anyway.
For example, being polite to your boss is no big deal, because your alternative is probably getting fired. But using manners with strangers on the street or your server at a restaurant shows you're doing it because you want to, not because you have to.
22 Going Bare-Faced Every Now And Then
Again, we're not here to tell any girl that she needs to be wearing more or less makeup. Your aim in life isn't to impress men, so regardless of what they like, stick to what you feel comfortable with.
But if you are interested in what the majority of men online seem to think, going without makeup is a good look.
Most men won't notice the flaws you cover with foundation or that your eyelashes aren't as long as normal. So wear makeup for you, not for them.
21 Swapping The Uncomfortable Dress For Some Sweats Or PJs
The same applies with clothes. Some gals feel amazing when they get dolled up and put on an expensive dress that is kind of uncomfortable, and we say all the power to them! A lot of guys don't seem to be too bothered by that kind of thing, though. So again, don't do it just for them! An overwhelming number have commented that a girl is totally irresistible when she's in her sweats or her PJs and is comfortable enough to just be herself.
20 The Face She Makes When She Eats Something She Loves
Many girls believe that eating in front of guys is an unattractive thing to do. Ha! We're more than happy to debunk this myth. It's understandable that this can be daunting, especially in a society that puts so much emphasis on body size.
But interestingly, most guys admitted that they like it when a girl feels comfortable enough to eat or drink what she loves in front of them.
Seeing someone else in a state of pure bliss is always pleasant to watch.
19 Showing That She Can Think For Herself
There are endless solid reasons why you shouldn't dumb yourself down. Sure, some guys are looking for a girl who can't think for herself and can easily be swayed in any direction, but is that the kind of guy you're really looking for? Instead, many guys have admitted to finding it totally attractive when a girl proves that she's got some brains. Simply being yourself and being witty will do the trick, or being able to talk about real and deep topics.
18 Ranting About Something She's Passionate About
You might not have noticed this in yourself, but you've probably seen it in others. When we focus on something that brings us happiness, it lights us up from the inside out.
By talking about things that you're passionate about, you're actually making yourself shine.
Even if you think you look like a crazy woman talking about your secret Game of Thrones theories, it makes you stand out from the crowd and reminds him that you're a person with passions and feelings.
17 Remaining Mysterious By Covering Up
Opinions seem to be pretty divided on this one. While some guys find that it's irresistible when a gal shows off some skin, others have admitted that there's a sense of mystery when she leaves parts of herself covered. So we'll leave this one up to you! Women's rights are about choice, and in our opinion, nobody should have to cover up or strip down to appeal to anyone else. The world can't agree on this, so you do you.
16 Being Nice To Little Kids (Future Mom Material)
This one goes back to the days of the cavepeople! For many guys, a woman is very attractive when she's doing things that let him know that she'd be a good mother, like being nice to small children.
Even if he's not looking to get married and start a family now (or ever), it's just an evolutionary thing.
In the same way, women tend to find guys more attractive when they subconsciously show that they'd be good providers and protectors.
15 Standing Up For Herself And Knowing Her Worth
Sadly, some men are attracted to girls who don't have a high self-esteem, who don't understand what they deserve, and who are too scared to stand up for themselves. But most men are more impressed with a girl who does speak up when she needs to and doesn't accept less than she deserves. Knowing your worth doesn't have to involve being arrogant or looking down on people, but rather simply being assertive and respectful of all people, including yourself.
14 She Owns Up To Her Mistakes
Rejoice: perfection isn't actually irresistible! Well, not to everybody, anyway. So stop beating yourself up for not being a robot.
Our research shows that some guys find it attractive when a girl messes up, gets embarrassed and then owns it.
Perhaps it has to do with the fact that she's just human, and she's not taking herself too seriously. Plus, the ability to admit it when you do make a mistake is pretty impressive, because honestly, not everyone is capable of that.
13 Playing With Her Hair
Hair seems to be a big thing for a lot of guys. More than one confessed that it's a huge turn-on when a girl plays with her hair, whether she's twirling the loose strands or flicking it over her shoulder. We guess there's just this weird fascination guys have for hair. Spraying perfume in your hair is also said to weaken knees. Some guys also admitted that they like a girl's hair best when she first gets out of bed and it's totally messy.
12 Showing How Independent She Is
All guys are different, but our research showed that a fair few like a girl to be independent and not rely on him for every little thing. It might come down to reverse psychology—if she doesn't act like she needs him, he'll wish she did. We all know from watching the now-classic How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days that most guys don't find it attractive when a gal is clingy and dependent, so this makes a lot of sense.
11 Asking Him For Help When She Needs It
At the same time, guys usually don't like to feel like they're useless. There's a big difference between completely relying on him for every little thing and simply asking for help when you really need it.
Letting him know that he's needed makes him feel valued and appreciated.
Which is why it's such a powerful thing to do (even if it feels like you're giving up your power). So never be afraid to yell out for help if you need it.
10 She's Quick To Laugh And Smile
They say that smiling and laughter are contagious, and there are at least a couple of guys out there who agree! Although Victoria's Secret models would have us believe that we're more attractive with a pout and sultry stare, it's not always best.
Many people actually find it irresistible when a girl laughs, or even when she just smiles.
In the case of meeting someone new, this behavior lets a guy know that you're happy and fun to be around. Plus, smiling is a science-backed way to feel good.
9 Keeping The Conversation Flowing
Humans will never agree on what's irresistible, but most of us can agree on what's a downright turn-off, and that's awkwardness. When a conversation is awkward and uncomfortable, most people are reluctant to go back and have another one with that same person. So of course, it's attractive to most people (men and women!) when someone knows how to keep the conversation flowing without any effort. This skill takes practice if it doesn't come naturally to you, but it's not impossible!
8 Having A Bunch Of Energy, Positivity And Infectious Enthusiasm
Positivity, enthusiasm, and energy are infectious. When people give off these vibes, they make those around them feel good, and as a result, they're usually quite popular. '
So it makes sense that a lot of men reported that they find it irresistible when a girl has a lot of energy.
You don't have to be bouncing off the walls to have energy; it can simply be agreeing to go on dates, paying attention to the conversation, and having a good attitude.
7 Blushing After Accepting A Compliment
Knowing your self-worth might be an irresistible thing to do, but being a snob usually has the opposite effect. It seems that a lot of guys like it when a girl blushes after they compliment her, and this is most likely because it shows that she's not so arrogant that their compliment means nothing to her. We guess that this is where songs like One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" come from. That said, you don't have to decline compliments to be humble.
6 Strutting Perfectly In Heels
Some guys like it when a girl throws on her sweats and lets it all hang loose. And then there are others whose hearts beat for high heels. There's no denying that heels have a certain allure about them when they're worn and walked in correctly. A confident walk in a good pair of heels might send some guys over the edge! But again, you'll never please everybody, so the best thing to do is what you feel comfortable with.
5 Regular Old Stretching
We bet you've never thought twice about this! According to some guys, a girl stretching is the cutest thing ever. This could be because doing so reveals more skin (maybe, if her top rises up) or gives off a vibe of total relaxation.
Since you do this anyway, it might be worth trying it out in public to see what kind of reaction you get.
The stretches that were mentioned as being particularly irresistible were the back arch and the arms above the head.
4 Glancing At Him When She Thinks He's Not Looking
Everyone has been caught staring at someone before. Sometimes it's painfully embarrassing, but some guys actually love to catch a girl staring at them. Staring suggests interest or even fascination, so it acts like an ego-booster. When a guy finds out that a girl has been staring at him, it might make him feel like she's letting him know with her eyes that she wants him. There's also a difference between creepy staring and subtle glances—we're guessing the former is less irresistible!
3 Making The First Move
Traditionally, the pressure has been placed on men to get up and make the first move in a romantic setting. Society has always seen them as the pursuers or the chasers, so they're almost always expected to initiate contact.
A girl making the first move defies societal expectations and takes a lot of courage.
Which is probably why a lot of guys confessed that this is totally attractive. Making the first move might scare off some guys, but others go crazy for it.
2 Chasing Her Dreams, Whatever It Takes
A girl with ambitions who is prepared to chase her dreams to the end of the earth is irresistible, according to quite a few men out there. This says a lot about her character, including that she is a motivated and driven person, and she cares deeply about the goals she sets for herself. These are admirable qualities, and naturally, make someone all the more attractive in a romantic situation. So never be afraid to get real about what you want in life.
1 Emitting A Confident Vibe
We said it before and we'll say it again: confidence is key. And it looks like we're not the only ones who hold that opinion.
Our research showed that plenty of guys find it irresistible when a girl is confident and shows that off.
Being confident is about being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself. It's not about having no flaws, but about accepting that you're not perfect and rocking it anyway. Confidence always shines and makes a girl impossible to resist.
Source: Thought Catalog
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Computer Science Students Connect to Build Internet Phone Venture
Caleb Devany (left) and Luke Escude are computer science students at UT Dallas who have teamed up at PrimeVOX Communications, a local Voice over Internet Protocol business. Escude, CEO and founder of PrimeVOX, launched the business seven months ago, and Devany is the company's sales representative.
From the time Luke Escude and Caleb Devany first met in a computer science class in the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science at UT Dallas, they experienced a creative synergy that drew them from a classroom friendship to a joint business venture.
Seven months ago, Escude launched PrimeVOX Communications, a Voice Over Internet Protocol business that provides companies with custom-tailored phone services over the Internet. He brought on Devany as his sales rep in December.
Escude developed the specialized software in response to a customer who asked him to develop the best possible phone service. Devany sells companies their Internet-based telecommunications products, which are just a fraction of the cost of a regular phone service.
They're about to hire a third employee, a director of operations, to handle their company's FCC compliance and regulation, legal work and internal operations.
PrimeVOX Communications already has more than a dozen clients, from private schools to call centers. Escude and Devany are leasing office space in Addison and have joined the Plano Chamber of Commerce. They are optimistic their business will draw $1 million a year within five years.
What makes their business unique, Escude said, is that they offer an encrypted phone message system, which automatically scrambles voice messages. The messages are later unscrambled on PrimeVOX Communications servers.
"Luke is one of those students who stands out in the crowded field of smart UT Dallas students. He has the drive and knowledge to be highly successful as a computer scientist. More importantly, he has the drive and leadership skills necessary to make a startup successful. His knowledge, drive and determination provide a strong foundation for the company."
Dr. Stephen Perkins,
computer science lecturer at UT Dallas
Because the phone service is cloud-based, clients can retrieve calls through an app on their mobile phone.
Escude hopes to patent his software product in the next year.
Being an entrepreneur is nothing new for Escude, who began developing software at age 14 and launched his first business at 15. Although he was not yet old enough to drive, Escude began offering his computer networking and server management abilities to companies within walking distance of his home.
"I'd go in and say, 'Hey, do you need a better IT guy?' No one would take me seriously until they saw what I could do," Escude said.
Devany also had sales experience before he linked up with Escude. He became customer-savvy by working in retail service from the time he turned 16.
"Talking to people is not as much a problem for me as it might be for some computer science students," he said.
The two computer science juniors agreed that their UT Dallas courses have helped to finesse their self-taught skills. Escude has refined his software design processes, and found entrepreneurial mentors in faculty members such as Dr. Stephen Perkins, who co-founded NetMass Inc., a cloud-based backup and archiving service provider company.
"Luke is one of those students who stands out in the crowded field of smart UT Dallas students. He has the drive and knowledge to be highly successful as a computer scientist," Perkins said. "More importantly, he has the drive and leadership skills necessary to make a startup successful. His knowledge, drive and determination provide a strong foundation for the company."
Because the culture at UT Dallas encourages initiative and creativity, becoming entrepreneurs has not conflicted with the students' full-time studies, Devany said.
"It doesn't interfere with my schoolwork. It feels integrated with what I'm doing," Devany said.
At 21, Escude said he already recognizes he wants to leave a legacy.
"I want to change the world, and be remembered for it," he said. "But I also want to redevelop what it means to be the next Bill Gates. It doesn't take a Bill Gates to be a Bill Gates. I was just a middle school kid when I started."
Media Contact: Robin Russell, UT Dallas, (972) 883-4431, [email protected]
or the Office of Media Relations, UT Dallas, (972) 883-2155, [email protected].
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