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text:
Gyo (ギョ, "pescado"), cuyo título completo en Japón es Gyo Ugomeku Bukimi (ギョ うごめく不気味, literalmente "peces: retorciéndose espantosamente") es un manga de horror seinen escrito e ilustrado por el mangaka Junji Ito. Originalmente fue publicado como una serie en la revista semanal de manga Big Comic Spirits de 2001 a 2002. La editorial Shogakukan reunió los capítulos en dos volúmenes recopilatorios que fueron publicados entre febrero de 2002 y marzo del mismo año. La historia se desarrolla alrededor de una pareja, Tadashi y Kaori, quienes pelean para sobrevivir a una horda de peces que han revivido encima de patas metálicas que son propulsadas por un olor conocido como "el hedor a muerte". La obra también incluye un par de historias extra tituladas "La triste historia del pilar central" y "El misterio de la falla de Amigara".

La editorial VIZ Media publicó una traducción al inglés de ambos volúmenes en Estados Unidos entre septiembre de 2003 y marzo de 2004, y publicó un relanzamiento entre octubre de 2007 y enero de 2008. Una adaptación al anime fue realizada por el estudio Ufotable y fue publicada el 15 de febrero de 2012.

En Latinoamérica, la editorial Panini bajo su sello Panini Manga, publicó una traducción al español entre septiembre y noviembre de 2018.

Argumento

Trama
Gyo inicia con una tripulación de pescadores en un arrastrero capturando en sus redes un gran número de peces de aspecto extraño. Al intentar inspeccionar a las criaturas, descubren que los extraños peces parecen tener patas. Los peces entonces comienzan a escabullirse regresando de nuevo al océano.

Mientras tanto, en Okinawa, un joven llamado Tadashi, junto a su novia Kaori, llegan a la isla para disfrutar de sus vacaciones. Al encontrarse uno de los peces con patas, Kaori, quien posee un sentido del olfato muy sensible, se asquea por el olor y le pide a Tadashi que se deshaga de él. Él lo trata de colocar en una bolsa pero el pez logra escapar. Al siguiente día, una gran cantidad de vida marina con patas invade Okinawa, incluyendo un enorme tiburón blanco, que amenaza a los protagonistas. Tadashi y Kaori logran regresar a Tokio, aunque Kaori se pone paranoica, asegurando que continúa percibiendo el olor de los pescados. Ambos se encuentran al pez que Tadashi había embolsado y se lo llevan a su tío, el Doctor Koyanagi.

Un poco después, Tadashi regresa para encontrar que el Dr. Koyanagi ha perdido un brazo. Él le cuenta que mientras examinaba a detalle la máquina, esta utilizó cuchillas y tubos para adherirse a su brazo, forzándolo a amputárselo. La máquina entonces se escabulle en la habitación llevando el brazo del Dr. en vez del pescado. El Dr. Koyanagi se encuentra maravillado por el descubrimiento y revela que el pez es el resultado de una investigación de un virus por el Ejército Imperial Japonés durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial en un esfuerzo por darle la vuelta a la guerra, el cual causa que su hospedero produzca un hedor mortal y repulsivo. Su padre había desarrollado una "máquina caminante", que bombeaba el virus dentro del hospedero y causaba que éste liberara el gas, el cual propulsaba el movimiento de la máquina. Las máquinas fueron construidas para acarrear a los hospederos, permitiéndoles acercarse y enfermar a las tropas enemigas. Sin embargo, la fuerza aérea enemiga hundió el barco que llevaba los prototipos para las máquinas.

Pronto, Kaori y Tadashi descubren que las hordas de animales marinos con patas están invadiendo Tokio, habiendo invadido ya la a región de Kanto. Kaori, quien se encontraba infectada por el gas, se deprime por su hedor e intenta suicidarse. Tadashi la detiene y la lleva con el Dr. Koyanagi en un esfuerzo para salvarla, pero se sumerge en un canal donde se desmaya después de ser lastimado por cientos de pequeños peces. Tadashi se despierta un mes después y descubre que el Dr. ha colocado a Kaori en una máquina que él construyó, pero al prender la máquina, es herido de gravedad por Kaori, quien escapa del lugar.

Tadashi sale en su búsqueda y nota que la mayoría de los peces se han podrido y que las máquinas ahora llevan personas infectadas. Al recorrer Tokio, se encuentra con un circo donde el maestro de ceremonias le dice que el gas parece estar vivo y toma una apariencia de alma cuando es quemado. Tadashi encuentra a Kaori y la rescata de uno de los actos del circo para llevarla al laboratorio de Koyanagi. Allí, la asistente del Dr. la Srita. Yoshiyama le informa que su tío ha muerto. Cuando intenta remover a Kaori de la máquina, Koyanagi aparece, mutado por la infección y ensamblado a una máquina modificada que le permite volar. Kaori ve a Tadashi y a Yoshiyama juntos e intenta atacarla y durante la pelea, Koyanagi captura a Yoshiyama y escapa.

Grandes grupos de máquinas atacan a Kaori y Tadashi se pierde en su intento de salvarla. Al continuar su búsqueda, se da cuenta de que la gente del circo está atacando la máquina voladora de Koyanagi, quien escapa rápidamente. Tadashi se encuentra con un grupo de estudiantes de la Universidad de Kioto, quienes le explican que ellos son inmunes y que el virus fue el que creó las máquinas a partir de los escombros del barco hundido. Tadashi entonces se une a los estudiantes en su investigación para vencer al virus y salvar la humanidad.

Personajes

 Tadashi (忠): Es un hombre joven aficionado al buceo. Tiene una novia llamada Kaori y un tío de apellido Koyanagi. Al final de la historia se une a un grupo de universitarios que son inmunes al hedor para crear una vacuna contra la enfermedad. en la versión OVA es Tadashi en vez de Kaori quien se infecta y se acopla a la máquina de Koyanagi.
 Kaori: (華織): Es la novia de Tadashi. Tiene un sentido del olfato extremadamente sensible y se vuelve muy celosa cuando Tadashi está cerca de otras mujeres. Debido a su olfato sensible, es capaz de detectar cuando las criaturas se encuentran cerca. Sin embargo, posteriormente es infectada causando que su cuerpo se hinche y expulse el gas fuera de su cuerpo. Debido a esto, comienza a pensar que es desagradable y que Tadashi ya no la amaría debido a que ya no es hermosa. Esto, junto con el hedor, la llevan a intentar cometer suicidio. Tadashi inmediatamente la lleva con su tío Koyanagi para intentar ayudarla, pero Koyanagi la coloca sobre una máquina construida por él y termina convirtiéndose en una criatura más, excepto que ella posee voluntad propia. Como máquina caminante, es finalmente destruida por una horda de otras máquinas que la ven como una aberración por haber sido creada por alguien diferente a quién las creó a ellas. En la adaptación al OVA, Kaori es la protagonista principal en lugar de Tadashi y posee una inmunidad a la infección.
 Dr. Koyanagi (小柳教授): Es un inventor y el tío de Tadashi. Su padre, quien murió de un ataque al corazón en una fábrica durante un verano caluroso, fue el responsable de la creación de las patas mecánicas. Al diseccionar una criatura que le lleva Tadashi, las patas mecánicas se clavan en su brazo, dejándolo sin opción más que cortarlo para prevenir que la infección se extienda al resto del cuerpo. Él se encuentra fascinado por la máquina al grado de no importarle perder su brazo. Entonces crea su propia versión de la máquina y coloca a Kaori en ella. Es herido de muerte debido a una puñaladade la máquina de Kaori. Entonces se traslada al laboratorio #2 donde su padre murió para colocarse sobre un prototipo de máquina que es capaz de volar. Cuando nota que Tadashi y la Srita. Yoshiyama están juntos, él los ataca y la captura. En la versión del OVA, Koyanagi es mostrado como el antagonista que se volvió loco y conecta a un Tadashi infectado a las máquinas.
 Srita. Yoshiyama (芳山): Es la asistente del Dr. Koyanagi, quien se encarga de ella. Es atacada por Kaori al verla cerca de Tadashi, posteriormente, es capturada por Koyanagi en su máquina voladora. No aparece en la adaptación al OVA.
 El citrous circous: Es una compañía circense establecida en Tokio después de la epidemia del hedor. Mientras que la mayoría del circo junto con los animales han sido infectados con la enfermedad, el maestro de ceremonias, aparentemente inmune, utiliza a los infectados para realizar espectáculos acrobáticos. Probablemente se volvió loco como resultado de conocer la verdadera naturaleza del hedor.
 Los estudiantes: Son introducidos casi al final de la historia. Tadashi se encuentra con ellos después de que el circo intenta atacar la máquina voladora de Koyanagi. Después de explicarles su inmunidad, los estudiantes le revelan a Tadashi que la bacteria responsable por el hedor está construyendo máquinas a partir de los restos del barco que originalmente las transportaba y que ellos están investigando una vacuna capaz de detener la epidemia. Tadashi entonces se une a ellos para terminar la vacuna.
 Tsuyoshi Shirakawa  (白河剛): Es un camarógrafo freelancer que aparece únicamente en la adaptación al OVA. Kaori se encuentra con él en el avión a Tokio. Él sigue a Kaori hasta la casa de Koyanagi para obtener información sobre su investigación. ES infectado al final del OVA después de enviar a Kaori con un grupo de sobrevivientes.
 Aki (アキ): Amiga de Kaori. Aparece únicamente en la adaptación al OVA. Es sumisa y tiene sobrepeso, por lo que se siente poco atractiva. Es molestada por Erika. Al final del OVA es convertida en una criatura.
 Erika (エリカ): Amiga de Kaori. Aparece únicamente en la adaptación al OVA. es una chica extrovertida y atractiva que no tiene dificultad para atraer a los hombres, suele molestar a Aki. Se infecta casi al inicio. Durante una pelea, es golpeada hasta la muerte por Aki con un cenicero pero se le ve viva después.

Historias extra
Dos historias no relacionadas son incluidas como parte de un extra, colocadas después del final de la obra principal. Aunque ambas son completamente diferentes y no están relacionadas (ni entre ellas ni con Gyo), son juntadas como un capítulo único en algunas ediciones. La primera historia, "La triste historia del pilar central", es la más corta, de sólo cuatro páginas, comparada con  "El misterio de la falla de Amigara", que consta de 31 páginas.

La triste historia del pilar central
La historia comienza con una familia celebrando su nuevo hogar. Después de darse cuenta de que falta el padre, la hija lo escucha llorando de dolor y lleva a toda la familia hasta el sótano. Allí encuentran al padre, que de alguna manera quedó prensado bajo un enorme pilar que sostiene la casa. La madre entonces trata, en vano, de salvar a su esposo pero se da cuenta de que el pilar que lo atrapa es la columna principal de la casa y, si se mueve, la casa colapsará. Él entonces le dice a su familia que no hay manera de que lo salven y que se sacrificará para que ellos puedan vivir en ese hogar. Esa tarde, el hombre fallece debido a sus heridas y muere y su familia coloca un altar en el pilar. Pasa el tiempo y el esqueleto permanece atrapado debajo del pilar, junto con el misterio de cómo quedó atrapado allí en primer lugar.

El misterio de la falla de Amigara
Un enorme terremoto arrasa con una prefectura sin nombre, dejando al descubierto una falla en la montaña de Amigara (el nombre Amigara significa "cascarón vacío"). Personas de todo Japón, incluyendo un equipo de científicos, llegan a la montaña para presenciar la extraña vista por sí mismos.

Dos escaladores, Owaki y Yoshida, se encuentran al escalar, con la misma intención de ver la Falla. Dicha falla es rodeada por un aura de misterio. Tiene huecos con forma de humanos en los laterales de la montaña. Dicha falla ha captado el interés nacional y diversos intentos para examinar qué tan profunda es han sido en vano. Las personas discuten los orígenes de la falla, diciendo que los huecos definitivamente no son naturales y debieron ser cavados desde el interior de la montaña, pero también cuestionan quién pudo haberlos hecho o con qué tecnología se hicieron.

Owaki nota que Yoshida busca algo, a lo que ella responde que busca un agujero que se parezca a ella. Owaki rechaza la idea, diciendo que es ridícula, pero otro escalador, Nakagaki, escucha su conversación y se alía con Yoshida, diciendo que él ya ha encontrado su agujero. Él los lleva a su agujero y después de quitarse la ropa, desaparece en el hoyo antes de que lo puedan detener. Los científicos no encuentran rastro de Nakagaki dentro del hoyo y un equipo de rescate lo suficientemente pequeño para escabullirse dentro del hoyo intenta buscarlo pero se retira después de llegar apenas 5 metros dentro. Esa misma noche, Owaki tiene una pesadilla donde ve a Nakagaki atrapado dentro del hoyo que ha sido deformado por el terremoto.

Él se despierta y Yoshida le cuenta que ha encontrado su propio hoyo, cerca de las faldas de la falla. Mientras tanto, Nakagaki aún no ha sido encontrado. Otro hombre clama que hay un agujero hecho para él y desaparece dentro de él, causando un disturbio que lleva a otras personas a adentrarse en la montaña ante el horror de los científicos que observan la escena. Esa noche, Yoshida siente que el hoyo la llama y la atrae a su interior, pero sabe que si va allí, quedará atrapada. Owaki la intenta calmar rellenando el hueco con piedras y pasa la noche con ella.

Owaki vuelve a tener una pesadilla, esta vez, se encuentra en un tiempo remoto, en el que ha cometido un crimen horroroso y es sentenciado a entrar en un hoyo en la montaña que ha sido cavado para él. La pesadilla se vuelve peor cuando Owaki entra en el agujero. Después de un tiempo de haber entrado, siente su cuello y sus extremidades siendo estiradas y distorsionadas pero permaneciendo vivo y en agonía. Se levanta gritando y se da cuenta de que Yoshida ha desbloqueado su hueco y ha entrado en él. Se queda sentado en frente del hueco de Yoshida y deja caer su linterna para descubrir su propio agujero cerca del de Yoshida. Hipnotizado, se desnuda y entra en el agujero.

Varios meses después, los científicos son informados de otra falla del otro lado de la montaña, esta también tiene agujeros pero no tienen forma humana, sino que las formas son largas y difusas. Un trabajador examina uno de los agujeros y al apuntar su linterna allí, nota que un horrible ser desfigurado lentamente sale de allí.

En otros medios

Manga
Gyo fue escrito e ilustrado por el mangaka Junji Ito. En sus propias palabras, la inspiración vino de la película de Steven Spielberg Tiburón: "Él [Steven Spielberg] capturó magistralmente la esencia del miedo en la forma de un tiburón que come humanos. Yo pensé que sería incluso mejor capturar dicha esencia en un tiburón que come humanos y que anda igual de bien en la tierra como en el mar". El manga, publicado por Shogakukan, se publicó en la revista semanal de manga Big Comic Spirits de 2001 a 2002. Shogakukan compiló posteriormente los capítulos en dos volúmenes recopilatorios que fueron publicados de febrero de 2002 a mayo de 2002. En Estados Unidos, la editorial VIZ Media publicó los volúmenes compilatorios de la serie de septiembre de 2003 a marzo de 2004. En 2015 se anunció la salida de una edición omnibus de la misma editorial. En Latinoamérica, la editorial Panini publicó ambos volúmenes en 2018.

OVA
Una adaptación a OVA fue producido por el estudio Ufotable. Fue dirigida por Takayuki Hirao mientras que el diseño de personajes estuvo a cargo de Takuro Takahashi. La OVA estuvo planeada originalmente para durar sólo 30 minutos pero a través de la producción la duración se extendió a 75 minutos. Originalmente su lanzamiento fue planeado para el 14 de diciembre de 2011 pero fue aplazada hasta el 15 de febrero de 2012. En comparación con el manga, existen algunos cambios como el protagonista, que en el OVA es Kaori en vez de Tadashi.

La película fue proyectada en Londres en el Prince Charles Cinema del 12 al 15 de abril de 2012 como parte del Terracotta Far East Film Festival. Terracotta posteriormente lanzó el OVA en DVD el 3 de septiembre de 2012. Tanto las versiones de DVD como Blu-ray fueron lanzadas en Australia en marzo de 2014 por Hanabee y en Norteamérica fue lanzada sólo la versión en DVD el 9 de julio de 2013 por Aniplex of América.

Recepción
En Francia, Gyo fue nominada al trigésimo séptimo Angoulême International Comics Festival. Katherine Dacey de Mangacritic.com colocó al manga en el #1 de su Favorite Spooky Manga list.

Para el primer volumen, Carl Kimlinger de Anime News Network elogió el arte y la extraña relación entre Tadashi y Kaori. Josephine forune de Mania calificó el manga con una A, exaltando el arte, especialmente el detalle de los escenarios. Fortune también celebró el ritmo de la historia a pesar de que señaló que el argumento se contradice.

Referencias

Ufotable
Seinen
Anime y manga de horror
Manga de 2001

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


NORTH CAROLINA ZOO ASHEBORO, NC | Sunshine Tours, Inc.
The North Carolina Zoological Park is a place of wonder and discovery. It is the country's largest and finest natural-habitat Zoo. Among the Zoo's more popular animal attractions are its Polar Bears, Seals, Sea Lions, Seabirds, River Otters, Bison, Lions, Tigers, Alligators, Elephants, Rhinoceros, Chimpanzees, Baboons, Giraffes, Zebras, Ostriches and Tropical Birds. There are dozens of other species as well.
The Zoo has Trams and Buses that will take you to different locations in the Park. So, put on your walking shoes and join us for a very informative and fun day at the Zoo. This would be a great trip for children or grandchildren, as well as yourself!


After our message about the recognition by the IOC WAKO has been overloaded with congratulations and wishes from all over the world. However, this congratulations message received from young boys at Zaatary camp in Jordan means a lot for us.
This is what sport is about and it is with great pride to see children and youth who can practice our great sport as a tool to create peace, harmony and friendship.
Sport has no borders and our Live Together Programme in this Syrian refugee camp is exactly what sport is about. We give these boys hope, pride and confidence and we are truly grateful to our coach Ali Hussein Alkhadi.
This message sums up the importance of our sport.
Thank you to Peace and Sport that gives WAKO the opportunity to make a difference.


text:
Spring Safety Flier
Parent Help Info
Parent Volunteer
Gift Wrapping Sign Up
Bake Sale Donations
Winterfest Sign Up
DESTINATION: DEEP SPACECountdown
Emily Johnson '16
Joining robotics is probably the best decision I've made for high school. I always thought robotics was for the nerds and that people got made fun of because I use to tease my best friend about being on robotics the year before. I was the star soccer player with A's in all the advanced class, so being classified as nerdy worried me. I was afraid when starting high school people would judge me if I joined and think of me differently because I was "that super smart kid". But instead, robotics has changed my entire outlook on the ideas of engineering and made me soon realized how much I love it. It's helped me be myself and not care so much about the names people are called. Robotics makes me excited to have our team meetings or work on the robot for that year's game at the end of the day. I think of this team as family and have never felt like a misfit like I do at school sometimes in class. Even though I knew absolutely nothing about building a robot, code or even what FRC and STEM stood for, everyone was very patient and helped and taught me. I have a lot to learn as this year approaches but I accept every challenge with determination.
Last year was a huge eye opener for me. I was on the drive team as a human player and was only a freshman. We had one of the youngest drives team at the competitions but excelled because of our determination and wanting to show that we were not like every other team. The best moment was when we qualified for the world championships in St. Louis. I never knew how much of a big deal it was until I was actually there to see it for myself. Being able to see all the teams from around the world and being in the stadium was mind blowing to me. Even though I am no longer a rookie, I have a lot to learn as this year approaches but I accept every challenge with determination.
Big MO Team 314 will compete this season at:
March 8 - 10, 2018
April 11 - 14 2018
April 25 - 28 2018
FIM - Kettering District Competition #2
FIM - Livonia District Competition
FIM - Forest Hills District Competition
FIM - State Championship Competition
FIRST Championship - Detroit
Big MO is now recruiting students to join our team!
Do you know anyone who will be in grades 9-12 this school year and lives in Carman -Ainsworth School District who would be interested in joining? Now is the best time to join! Our off season activities are now underway and teams are forming.
Learn business, fundraising, communications, marketing, graphic design, CADD, programming, electrical, mechanical, project management, social media, writing, film making, the possibilities are endless!!
Contact us here, or stop by a meeting at Atlantis Alternative High School Mondays & Wednesdays from 6:30pm - 9:00pm or Saturdays 12:00pm - 3:00 pm.
FIRST STEAMWORKS, the 2017 FIRST Robotics Competition game, invites two adventure clubs from an era in which technology relied on steam power to prepare their airships for the ultimate long distance race.
Each three-team alliance prepares to take flight in three ways:
1. Build Steam Pressure. Robots collect fuel represented by green balls. They score it in high and low goals in their boiler. As fuel is scored steam pressure in the tank on the alliance's airship builds – the high goal builds pressure faster than the low goal.
2. Start Rotors. Robots retrieve and deliver gears to pilots on their airship who then install them on the appropriate rotor. Once a gear train is complete the rotor can be started.
3. Prepare for Flight. Adventure clubs want their robots to climb aboard their airships so they can assist the pilots during the race.
Autonomous Period: Robots operate independently from preprogrammed instructions for the first 15 seconds. Adventure clubs score points by:
• Reaching their baseline
• Delivering gears to the airship
• Scoring fuel into the boilers
Teleoperated Period: Operators take control for the final two minutes and fifteen seconds. Adventure Clubs continue to score points by:
• Collecting and delivering gears to their airship
• Scoring fuel in the boilers
• Climbing the ropes on their airship to prepare for flight
• Populating gear trains to start rotors
• Defending against other Adventure Clubs The adventure club with the highest score at the end of the match is best prepared for the race and wins
Countdown to KickoffCountdown
Team 314 has become a leader in the FIRST community and has received many awards, including:
2017 World Qualifier, World Championship in St. Louis, MO
2017 Innovation in Control Award Sponsored by Rockwell Automation, MI State Championship - Ford Division
2017 State Qualifier, Michigan State Championship, Ford Division, Saginaw, MI
2017 District Event Winner, Livonia District
2017 Excellence in Engineering Award Sponsored by Delphi, Kettering University District #2
2015 State Qualifier, Michigan State Championship, Ypsilanti, MI
2015 District Winner, Lansing District
2015 Excellence in Engineering Award Sponsored by Delphi, Great Lakes Bay Region District
2015 District Winner, Great Lakes Bay Region District
2015 Quality Award Sponsored by Motorola, Kettering University District
2015 District Winner, Kettering University District
2014 Regional Champion, Michigan State Championship, Ypsilanti, MI with Team 33 Killerbees & Team 27 RUSH
2014 District Chairman's Award, Lansing District
2014 District Finalist, Lansing District
2014 District Winner, Livonia District
2013 Judges Award – Kettering University District
2013 District Finalist, Detroit \ Center Line High School District
2013 Engineering Inspiration Award, Detroit \ Center Line High School District
2012 Johnson & Johnson Gracious Professionalism, Detroit Regional
2009 Website Excellence Award – Traverse City District
2009 Website Excellence Award – Kettering University District
2007 Woodie Flowers Regional Award, Detroit Regional
2006 UL Industrial Safety Award, Midwest Regional (Chicago)
2006 Website Award, Midwest Regional (Chicago)
2004 Winner, Southern California Regional
2004 National Qualifier, World Championship in Atlanta, GA
2003 Finalist, Chesapeake Regional
2002 Semi-Finalist, Greater Toronto Regional
2001 Johnson and Johnson Best Sportsmanship Award
2000 Motorola Award for Best Team Play
1999 Finalist, Philadelphia Regional
1999 Finalist, Great Lakes Regional
1999 Semi-Finalist, Chief Delphi Invitational
Who: Anyone and Everyone
What: An off-season competition where we play last season's
When: September 15, 2017 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
September 16, 2017 8:00 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: Kettering University Recreation Center
Why: BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!
This is a free event
Come see us!!!
Big MO will be competing at Kettering Kickoff 2017!
The 2017 Kettering Kickoff will be September 15-16.
3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Load in and Open Pits
4:00 p.m. Team Arrives in Gray Team Shirts
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Team Social & Game Night including Open Swimming, Wally Ball, Games
4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Open Practice (First Come, First Serve)
4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 p.m. Kettering University Campus Tours (Sign up at Kettering's booth)
8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Mentor Matches
9:00 p.m. Pits and venue closes for the night
9:00 p.m. All Team Members Must be Picked up at 9
6:30 a.m. Team Arrives in Blue Team Shirts
7:00 a.m. Pits Open
7:30 a.m. Driver's Meeting
8:00 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
8:30 a.m. – Noon Qualification Matches
Noon – 12:30 p.m. Lunch Break
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Qualification Matches
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Alliance Selections
4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Elimination Matches
7:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony
7:30 p.m. Event Ends
7:30 p.m. – 9:00(?) p.m. Event/Concessions tear down. Students will call/text when done
Highlights from the 2016 FIRST Championship
Join us July 22 for ROBO-CON 2017!It's FREE!
Join us for the ROBO-CON Festival of Robotics and STEM Learning this summer,
10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 22, 2017 at
the Center for Innovation on the Lapeer West Campus,
170 Millville Rd.,
Lapeer MI.
Festival of Champions and Encrypted Game ManualWritten by Frank Merrick.
Festival of ChampionsBy now, many of you have probably seen the announcement by FIRST Senior Management about the Festival of Champions to take place in New Hampshire on July 28th and 29th, 2017. We're very excited to be hosting the Chairman's Award winning team and the teams on the Winning Alliance from each FIRST Championship location for a two-day celebration. We've got several activities for the teams planned, including a special dinner with Dean at his home (so cool!), along with a competition between the winning alliances, to be webcast to the world. See the link above for more info. We still have many details to finalize, including all those pesky rules that will need to go along with this, but we wanted to pass along this news as soon as we could!
Encrypted FIRST® STEAMWORKS™ DocumentsYou want your encrypted game manual? You got your encrypted game manual. Download it now here. The paint may still be a little wet, so be careful.
For folks new to this, here's the deal: Download the encrypted manual now to your iPhone/Android/PalmPilot/whatever (pdf apps like Foxit PDF or Adobe Acrobat are helpful). At the end of the Kickoff broadcast, we'll reveal the code that will unlock the file so you can immediately start devouring all that FIRST STEAMWORKS goodness.
The Kit of Parts checklists, which will let you inventory your Kit of Parts, have also been encrypted and posted. You can find them here.
We're still working on finalizing the drawing package that goes with the game. That likely won't be ready for download before Friday, but we'll let you know. It, too, will be encrypted.
All files encrypted prior to Kickoff use the same password, again to be revealed at the end of the Kickoff broadcast.
More news soon!
ROBO - CON Festival of Robotics and STEM Learning
Please join Big MO 314 and other teams from around the state as we support Teams 1684 The Chimeras and 5460 Lapeer Strike Zone Robotics at the third annual Robo - Con Festival of Robotics and STEM Learning July 23, 2016 from 10 am - 4pm at
Lapeer Center for Innovation,
Lapeer West campus,
170 Millville Rd.
Lapeer, MI 48446
FREE ADMISSION!
Get your ROBO Driver's License!
Build & compete catapults, paperplanes, & microbots!
Play with circuits!
Get your hands on lots of LEGOs, courtesy of Brick It Up of Clarkston!
Drive an underwater robot!
Win great prize packages!
Tour the solar system with your Passport to the Planets!
Drive a real competition bot on a full-sized field!
Try out Virtual Reality with Google Cardboard Goggles!
Watch robot vs. robot action in the medieval-themed game!
Mouthwatering Woodchips BBQlunch items for sale!
Make and pop cloud-filled bubbles!
Take apart machines!
And more!
Also: Invite educators to find out what robotics is about -- from teachers who know!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Free Library opens in Pamplin, Harvest Sale plans underway
Published 10:54 am Thursday, September 24, 2015
By Edwina Covington
Jazmine Klinedinst, fourth grader at Appomattox Christian Academy, accepts from the global Little Free Library organization Pamplin's first free book exchange box, located in the gravel square beside the entrance to the Pamplin Depot Community Room.
"My name is Jazmine [Klinedidinst] and I am in 4th grade and I think we should put a little library at Pamplin City Depot. I first saw it because my mom's friend has one in her community in Florida. They are all over the world. The kids don't get to read a lot of books since the library closed. I hope you agree with me."
Jazmine, with the help of the Pamplin Area Legacy Supporters (PALS), made an appeal to the Pamplin Town Council for approval of sponsoring a free library in the town.
Just hours later in Washington, D.C., Todd Bol, executive director of the Little Free Library organization, via the Internet, read an article in the Lynchburg News & Advance about the young girl's wish to have a free library. In an email to Shelby King, office and executive manager, he said he "would love to donate a Little Free Library to Pamplin City – to be cared for by the 9 year old girl." On his way back to the main office in Wisconsin, he dropped off the multi-colored book exchange box in Pamplin.
Last Monday afternoon, members of PALS joined Mayor Billy Horton and Jazmine for the unveiling of the library. With a beaming smile, Jazmine said, "Thank you to all the people who helped make this happen."
Pamplin Town Clerk Paulie Johnson reminded those in attendance, " When children talk to us their visions come out. She saw her vision come true."
Jazmine, an avid reader, is donating almost 50 books from her own collection to help start the Little Free Library. Assistant Mayor Bob Mitchell added to the collection and encourages others to do the same.
The Little Free Library is located in the gravel square beside the entrance to the Depot Community Room.
There are plans to add two more free libraries to the community. PALS wants to sponsor a train-shaped library while Appomattox Christian Academy is making plans to build a library as a shop class project.
Jazmine is the daughter of Sherry and Keith Klinedinst, of Appomattox, and granddaughter of Minerva Venable of Pamplin.
There were over 70 participants in the inaugural Ralph M. Hamlett Memorial 5K Run Walk. Top finishers male were Sam Dangc, R.B. Carter and Robbie Stephens; top female, Hannah Murphy, Natalie Cheyne and Haleigh Tweedy.
According to the organization's website there are 32,000 Little Free Library book exchanges around the world. Stop by and take a book to read. Return it and/or donate a book or books in its place. There is a constant exchange of free books at all of the bookshelves.
Community Communiqué
Prospect United Methodist Church is hosting its monthly Cowboy Church this Saturday. The trail ride begins at 2 p.m. with the chuck wagon meal at 6 p.m. Cowboy Church around the campfire with music and an inspirational message by Pastor George Schaefer will begin at 7 p.m. You do not need to have a horse to enjoy the chuck wagon and Cowboy Church. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The Pamplin Town Council will meet this Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Town Office.
The Prospect Volunteer Fire Department's 55th Annual Harvest Sale will be held Saturday, October 3. The bake sale is 7 a.m. until with the yard sale running from 7 a.m. until noon. The auction will begin at 1 p.m. Food will be served all day, with the BBQ supper beginning at 4 p.m. Please call 547-8830 or 574-6625 for more information or to have donated items picked up. Consignments are accepted.
Frances Anderson accompanied her daughter Paula and her husband Bob Card to Spring Hope, N.C., on September 12 to attend the second birthday celebration for her great-grandson Robert Thomas Card, IV.
Julian and Edwina Covington spent Saturday afternoon enjoying the local musicians at Celebrate Pamplin.
Please keep the following people in your thoughts and prayers: Carolyn Wood, Bob Card, Martha Whitehead, Kenneth Brisentine, Dorothy Womack, Betty Jean Bolt, Gary Fiscus, and Vicki White.
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples' money." – Margaret Thatcher
If you have any news, call Edwina Covington (574-6576).
EDWINA COVINGTON is a retired teacher and columnist from Elam. Her email is ecovington@centurylink.com.
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Three Ways District CFOs Can Directly Improve Academic Outcomes
By Daarel Burnette II — November 26, 2019 3 min read
District chief financial officers are under a tremendous amount of stress today. Despite a surging economy, districts still struggle financially as they lose students, as state spending fails to keep up with inflation, and as pension and health-care costs climb. Teacher strikes have put stagnant teacher pay back in the headlines, and some states are increasing minimum wages, putting pressure on the bottom line for schools with many lower-paid employees.
Keeping districts afloat and answering the questions lobbed at them by school boards, state education departments, and the feds has taken up vast amounts of CFOs' time. But a new white paper from Education Resource Strategies and the Broad Center suggests some ways CFOs can think and act more strategically to improve academic outcomes.
While ERS, a school finance consultant group, was looking to put on paper many of the lessons it's learned from working with more than 40 school districts across the nation over the last decade, the Broad Center, a training center for district administrators, sought to put together a guide for new CFOs entering the field.
Citing conclusive research that money can improve academic outcomes, Jonathan Travers, a partner with Education Resource Strategies, said in an interview that it's incumbent on CFOs to make sure the district's human and capital resources are being spent in a way that has the most impact on the classroom.
Here's a brief description of some suggestions the organizations have for CFOs.
Look Forward: CFOs are often tasked with charting out historical spending patterns so that school board members and superintendents can decide whether to continue to invest in a program. But the two organizations suggest CFOs should also anticipate costs coming down the pipeline. For new initiatives, the paper says, CFOs can help district and school leaders think of all the costs associated with a new academic program to make sure it has the most impact.
Travers said CFOs can help the public understand where the district has discretionary spending and help facilitate discussions about how best to invest that money.
Reach Outward: While CFOs often sit on superintendents' cabinets and present frequently to school boards, the authors say they also are perfectly situated to build trust in communities about how taxpayers' dollars are spent. The authors encourage CFOs to take their presentations on the road, talking with parent and advocacy groups about how the district receives funds and how it decides to spend the money.
"The CFO who is trusted by the board and community can help the district focus community engagement around academic strategy and how to best serve students, instead of on basic financial management issues," the authors wrote.
Be Strategic About Budget Cuts...and New Investments: When it's time to slash the budget, CFOs sometimes tell every department director to cut a certain percentage from the budget, leaving it up to other administrators to figure out which programs to shutter and which staff members to lay off. But this sort of "across-the-board" cutting can undercut districts' academic goals. The authors encourage CFOs to be more strategic in their spending and cost-cutting by connecting spending initiatives with district goals. They should help community members and other administrators see the big picture and frame budget cuts as tradeoffs to allow for district leadership to grapple with the decisions they make, the authors write.
As states start reporting school-by-school spending data, required under the Every Student Succeeds Act, Travers said CFOs have an opportunity to talk more broadly about why the district spends how it spends.
"CFO's chief responsibility is to explain, not defend," Travers said. "I think the most strategic CFOs are going to help districts understand why school spending numbers are what they are."
Read the entire report here.
Daarel Burnette II
Daarel Burnette II is an assistant managing editor for Education Week.
A version of this news article first appeared in the District Dossier blog.


Through this course, students will acquire a solid foundation in algebra and trigonometry. The course concentrates on the various functions that are important to the study of the calculus. Emphasis is placed on understanding the properties of linear, polynomial, piecewise, exponential, logarithmic and trigonometric functions. Students will learn to work with various types of functions in symbolic, graphical, numerical and verbal form. THE SIGNATURE TRACK OPTION Signature Track is an optional path you may choose for this course. By signing up and paying a nominal fee (financial aid can be provided), you can add a higher level of identity verification to your Coursera coursework. If you achieve the threshold score, you have the opportunity to earn a Verified Certificate. For each assignment, your identity is confirmed through your photo and unique typing pattern. If you earn a Verified Certificate, you will also be given a personal URL through which your course records can be shared with employers and educational institutions. Click here for more information on the Signature Track option. LICENSE The course videos are licensed Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike-NonCommercial 3.0. The course videos can be found at UC Irvine's OpenCourseWare site.


Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen invites all residents to the Annapolis 4th of July Parade on Thursday, July 4, 2013. The parade will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Amos Garrett Blvd. and proceed down West Street, around Church Circle, and down Main Street.


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Луи (Людвиг) Браун (; 23 сентября 1836, Швебиш-Халль, Вюртемберг - 18 февраля 1916, Мюнхен, Германская империя) — немецкий живописец, педагог, профессор искусств Мюнхенской академии художеств. Один из самых известных немецких художников-баталистов.

Биография
Обучался в инженерной, а затем в художественной школе в Штутгарте.

В 1859 году отправился в Париж, где учился под руководством Орас Верне, оказавшего большое влияние на его дальнейшее творчество. В 1860 году продолжил образование в Мюнхене.

Был военным художником австрийской армией во время австро-прусско-датской войны 1864 года, создал несколько батальных картин для императора Австрии Франца Иосифа I.

Сопровождал прусские войска во время франко-прусской войны 1870—1871 годов, в результате были выставлены его картины
 «Вступление Мекленбургских войск в Орлеан»,
 «Капитуляция Седана»,
 «Битва за Седан» (позже картина выставлялась во Франкфурте-на-Майне и в других городах в виде панорамы),
 «Немцы в Версале»,
 «Вступление прусской армии в Париж»,
 «Битва за Марс-ла-Тур» (1884),
 «Панорама немецких колоний» (совместно с Петерсеном, 1885),
 «Битва при Люцене» (1892).

Большой успех имело его панорамное полотно «Битва за Седан». За него Л. Брауну в 1902 году было присвоено звание профессора академии Мюнхена.

Работал профессором искусств Мюнхенской академии художеств.
Среди его известных учеников Карл Танера, баталист.

Галерея

Ссылки
 The New International Encyclopædia/Braun, Louis

Родившиеся в Швебиш-Халле
Художники-баталисты Германии
Участники Франко-прусской войны
Преподаватели Мюнхенской академии художеств


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VIFF 2013: ALL IS LOST is Pure Win [Review]
Zack Mosley [Celluloid 09.30.13] thriller adventure
Robert Redford, four bits of dialogue and 187 quintillion gallons of Pacific Ocean. That's about all you need to know about All is ALost going in, but I need more words for this to count as a review.
Our Man is napping aboard his 39-foot sailboat when he awakens to torrents of noise and water, and discovers a hole in the side of the ship. He heads topside and sees that his boat has randomly collided with an ugly red shipping crate, inexplicably free-floating in the middle of the Pacific. Our Man is a man of action. He deals with the problem intelligently and efficiently, freeing the boat from the crate, angling the hole so that the waves won't lap in, patching the hole, pumping the water out of the cabin, salvaging what he can of his electronic equipment, learning to navigate without electronics, getting through the ordeal on pure piss and vinegar. I'm no seaman, but to my eyes, he appears to do everything right. But then there's a storm. And bad turns to "fuuuuuucccccckkkkk!"
Robert Redford is of course Robert Redford. To no one's surprise, the same guy who was killing it in BUTCH CASSIDY & THE SUNDANCE KID, JEREMIAH JOHNSON and THE STING 40+ years ago is still killing it today. His nearly wordless performance is fraught with depth and emotion. His character is revealed not through exposition or dialogue but through action. With each crisis he conveys a new level of resourcefulness, patience, endurance. The writing is smart. Fate continues to deal difficult hands, and Our Man is forced to respond with pure will. He exhausts every avenue of survival available to him, until he clings to life with the very last of his being. We're expected to keep up with this entirely visually, to sometimes bear with nautical esoterica until the purpose behind a sequence of events is revealed. It's powerful stuff, and I was riveted.
Between this film and MARGIN CALL, writer/director J.C. Chandor is proving a talent for small, economical stories with large implications. There is a subtle environmental/economical/social message here that is left to the viewer to extrapolate. Late in the movie, Our Man spots a commercial vessel with stacks upon stacks of the crates, identical to the crate that sabotaged him. He lights flares, but the ship passes him by, like a ghost ship with no living souls aboard. There's no specifically preachy message here, just a potent visual symbol of the alienation and dehumanization that is characteristic of the relationship between corporation and individual.
I'll keep this one short and sweet. This film is tiny, but huge. Robert Redford is a legend, and this is one of the finest performances of his storied career. Go see it.
Speedy (8 years ago) Reply
Hmm, was expecting the container to have people or things in it... How is this PA?
Jeff (8 years ago) Reply
Perhaps more of a 'Personal' Apocalypse than Post. Looking forward to seeing this.


Brenda Bell is a practicing Diabetes doctor in Lincoln, NE.
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Natural wood in your Tampa home can make it the jewel of your neighborhood. Hardwood floors, cherry wood furniture, or exposed wood beams are hallmarks of a handcrafted, luxurious home. And if you want to take it even further, you should match the wood in your home with the highest quality Tampa wood shutters. Sunburst will teach you how.
A misconception about using natural wood in interior design is that you need to exactly match the wood types across your home. That's not the best idea for a couple of reasons. The first is because it can be hard to match the exact wood types: your elm floor, oak furniture, and teak wood shutters are going to naturally vary in tone. Another reason is that if all of the wood in your home matches, everything runs together and it doesn't look very interesting.
The more important thing is to match the tone and the grain of the wood in your interior. That's what will give your place a great sense of style without it getting too "samey".
Matching wood grains is fairly simple. If your hardwood floors are smooth, go with a smooth finish for your wood shutters to match. If your wood floor is textured, a similar textured grain to your wood shutters keeps that natural style flowing all through your space.
Try to keep within the same "family" - but you don't need to perfectly match the species of wood, keep in mind which wood types are more formal or casual. Oak, cherry, and mahogany are all a bit more formal, whereas maple and pine are a little more casual.
Walls give you white space – matching wood furnishings to wood flooring is hard since one is directly on top of the other. Your wall offers a natural break between the floor and your shutters, giving you wiggle room to play with differing styles.
Stay Warm or Stay Cool - Most wood species will be naturally warm or cool in tone. Make sure your shutter stain choice complements the tone of the room in addition to the texture.
All of this discussion about matching tones and styles may seem daunting, but once you see it in action it will probably make a lot more sense. Get a free in-home consultation with your Tampa shutter experts today by calling 813-580-7288 and we'll walk you through the steps from start to finish.


Pacific Commercial Realty Advisors, PACCRA, is a member of the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance. This initiative expands Cushman & Wakefield's service distribution channel for clients in certain strategic markets. Alliance members are best-of-class independent companies, all having a history of successful partnerships with Cushman & Wakefield. Members of the Alliance are carefully screened and agree to rigorous qualifications, operating requirements and ongoing performance measures in order to provide consistent, high quality services to clients. Clients benefit from the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance through shared access to Cushman & Wakefield's practices, standardized research methodologies and strategic approaches in providing client solutions.
PACCRA is the 35th member of the Cushman & Wakefield Alliance.
This alliance is an accolade to our offices in Idaho, Bakersfield & Fresno, and service areas of the Southern San Joaquin Valley, North Los Angeles County and the Central California Coast. There isn't a major business in the world that isn't aware of Cushman & Wakefield. Having a local Cushman & Wakefield office will prompt decision makers to take a fresh look at their real estate needs for possible expansion and relocation. PACCRA plays a crucial role in the economic development of the markets we serve.
Clients of PACCRA will have access to professional resources in valuation & appraisals, client consulting and asset services.
Expertise from Cushman & Wakefield will help PACCRA offer a new service line: facilities management.
Operating as a unified team, Cushman & Wakefield and the Alliance firms integrate the strength of local talent, relationships, and market intelligence with the full capacity of Cushman & Wakefield's resources and platform.
Cushman & Wakefield's integrity, values, services and client focus have long exemplified the best of what the commercial real estate industry has to offer. Together our clients receive unparalleled service and support.


The 229 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head from Manfrotto has a load capacity of 26.5 lb and can be attached to tripods or other support systems that feature a 3/8"-16 mount. It includes an integrated RC0 quick release cam lock and a 030-14 Quick Release Plate. RC0 compatible quick release plates such as the 030-14 can removed from the head by pulling the cam lock's spring-loaded lever, which also allows the plate to be instantly reattached.
Cameras or accessories that are compatible with a 1/4"-20 mount can be connected to the 030-14 Quick Release Plate, which measures 2.6 x 2.6 x 0.4" and has a rubberized, non-slip surface. The head can be rotated 360°, tilted 90° forwards or 25° backwards, as well as 30° sideways for portrait orientation. Each of these three movements function independently of each other, have dedicated control handles, and can be locked into place by twisting each corresponding handle's rubberized grip.
To promote fast, repeatable, and accurate device positioning, the 229 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head also includes dedicated angle scales for its rotational and sideways tilt movements that are designed for easy visibility.
Box Dimensions (LxWxH) 8.0 x 4.9 x 4.6"
229 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head with 030-14 Quick Release Plate is rated 4.8 out of 5 by 48.
Rated 4 out of 5 by bruto from This head is adjustable I have the older 3039 head, which is similar, and if you are not aware of this, you should know that all the tensions on this head can be adjusted. It is similar to the old 4047 three way head, but it uses a different handle arrangement with adjustable tension. Under the handles for pan and tilt you will find 13 millimeter nuts, and on the back side of the horizontal tilt, another nut. Changing the tension of those nuts will set the drag for that axis when the handle is released. If one axis is stiff or loose for your purposes, you can tune it to how fast you want your equipment to move. It's ideal for big heavy lenses that flop on other heads, though it is too slow to follow action well. For the horizontal tilt you will need a very thin walled socket. The others can be done with a wrench.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mountain Man from I wouldn't buy anything else!!! I purchased this for my digital camera over 4 years ago and I'm now getting ready to use it on my new L.F. Walker 4X5 Field Camera. This thing is rock solid. When you tighten the knobs in any position, they stay locked with no slipping. It works just as good as the day I purchased it. I've used other light weight tripods and heads and they just don't stand up to the high winds and harsh conditions I encounter like this does. A little on the heavy side and a little awkward to carry, but the 229 Super Pro Head is the one I always choose even on longer hikes.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Utah Jake from Great all around head I've shot pro video and stills for 30 years and this is the head I'm using on 90% of my work now. With the price of so called pro equipment the way it is, I would expect to pay double the amount for this quality. I mounted it on my old 3046 tripod thats been in the corner for 10 years and it is now my main tripod for my Nikon D300 and DX2.
Rated 5 out of 5 by John T. from Weighs a ton, but worth it..... I do macro and landscape photography (including time lapse & stars). A sturdy tripod and head is essential. I prefer a 3-way head rather than a ball. This head is fantastic.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Anonymous from Love this piece of equipment! We have three stations with this ball head that are used daily for 8+hours and they never loosen or get off kilter. I would buy 10 more of the same if needed! Highly recommend.
Rated 5 out of 5 by EQ dude from Great head! This head is a workhorse at my place of employment. We've used these for years and they only occasionally break (usually from being dropped). They are pretty heavy duty and hold medium format cameras easily. They even hold large format cameras (Sinar) with ease. The only negative thing, which isn't really a negative, is that they're are pretty heavy. If you're looking for something to travel with, I wouldn't recommend this one. Too big and bulky. Other than that, this is a great one.
Wes,If you still need this, contact me, and i will save one down for you.
Does this fit an Induro Carbon tripod let set? Thank you.
Hi Collin,I purchased this head to go on a Manfrotto 058 tripod ,A good heavy solid head for a good solid heavy tripod.This is great for studio or location where not to much moving around.For location I recently bought a Gitzo GT2542T with a Arca swiss monoball Z1 head , amazing especiallyfor interiors where head is very fast and precise to use.
I have a Bogen 3205 will this fit?
I'm not sure if the Bogen top plate has a 1/4-20 or 3/8 screw. The based of the Super Pro Head is 3/8 . If your tripod is 1/4-20, you can add a bushing to convert it to 3/8 . However, if what you're mounting on the Super Pro Head is truly heavy, like a 600/4, you are going to put a lot of strain on that 1/4-20 screw. So it depends on what you're going to use the Super Pro Head for.
Does this come with the hexagon plate?
Yes, mine came with one. It's a great product.
In the normal position, you cannot. However if you mount it backwards and have the tilt control pointing directly away from you, you will be able to point straight up. The gear handle will now just be on the far side of your head, pointing away from you. Although maybe slightly awkward at first, it would be something you would quickly get used to and it would be fully functional.


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Meg Dowell
12 Reasons No One Is Reading What You're Writing (Yet)
It's frustrating but YOU GOT THIS.
Aug 3, 2019 Aug 2, 2019 Meg Dowell
1. They just haven't found it yet.
2. You're still finding your voice and developing your style. I know everyone says this, but they say it because it's true.
3. You're trying to write content you're not passionate about just because it's "popular."
4. You're not putting things out there consistently. Unfortunately, the less you publish, the easier it is for people to forget you — or never discover you at all.
5. You're not promoting it! Or you're promoting it too much! Find a happy medium, whatever that might look like for you.
6. You're just starting out. Instant gratification in the publishing world does not exist. Don't expect it.
7. You're in an oversaturated genre. That doesn't mean you can't break through, it's just going to take time — and a LOT of effort.
8. You're only writing about yourself and ignoring people who want to read about themselves. It's weird, I know, don't question it, just accept it.
9. No one cares about you (yet). By that I mean to most internet people you're just a random stranger saying words. Figure out a (good) way to convince people your words are worth listening to.
10. Your ascension to recognition is the slow, quiet, stealthy kind. My favorite kind!
11. You've locked yourself inside a set timeline when success doesn't have one.
12. You're almost there. It doesn't feel like it, but you're close. So close that the best and only thing you can do is to work harder than you ever have before. Don't give up. Keep writing.
Meg is the creator of Novelty Revisions, dedicated to helping writers put their ideas into words. She is a staff writer with The Cheat Sheet, a freelance editor and writer, and a 10-time NaNoWriMo winner. Follow Meg on Twitter for tweets about writing, food and nerdy things.
Help Novelty Revisions become a more valuable resource for aspiring writers. Join us on Patreon.
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An electronic hydra
Lapsus is a cultural platform founded in 2004 by Albert Salinas, focussing on cutting edge electronic music, creativity and technology. Within its sector Lapsus is a rare breed that stands out for its many facets that include: event production, radio contentgeneration, a record label, the curatorship of installations and exhibitions, and the regular programming of artists from the local and international music scene across a diverse range venues in Barcelona. An irreverent spirit that mixes experimentation and the exploration of forward thinking music, with a carefree philosophy, aesthetic and somewhat punk attitude, represents the collective's brand.
A boutique
LITW has partnered with the Lapsus Festival since its inception in 2014, in the creation of a communication strategy, shaping its identity and discourse todifferentiate it from other festivals. The festival takes place every year at theContemporary Culture Centre in Barcelona, offering a unique alternative to Barcelona's many overcrowded musical events. Each edition is complemented by thecollaboration with the Basra studio, responsible for the art direction of the festival.
Lapsus Radio is a program that breaks with traditional radio formulas, commonplacecadences and hoarse tobacco styled voices, in the form of a weekly party on air. Over the years it has invited a host of producers, artists and electronic music scene influencers to take part in the show, while broadcasting tracks that make up an authentic musical zeitgeist. After a successful stint on Catalunya Ràdio (2013/2014), itis now completing its fourth season on the Radio3 network, with LITW providing adigital voice and generating a community of followers that span all Spanish speaking countries.
Vinyl AND
Lapsus Records is undoubtedly the genesis of the brand, a label that has a growing discography that is distributed internationally, with a rapidly expanding market. LITW is responsible for the label's marketing, communication activities, releases and its artists. In 2017 Lapsus also launched a new sub-label focused on club music, for which LITW created the C.E.E. (Club for Electronic Excursionists) concept comprised of a group of 'electronic folklorists' that aim to climb mountains and forage into the club environment in equal measure.


text:
Julian Assange: Denied Lawyer Access and Failure of Transpareny Internaional — Rise Up Times
"Julian has not been able to see his lawyers for seventeen weeks. The computer supplied to him after over a year of asking has its keys glued down and the typing function is disabled." Popular Resistance July 27, 2020 Julian Assange's Next Hearing On Monday, July 27 By Don't Extradite Assange. WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson […]
via Julian Assange: Denied Lawyer Access and Failure of Transpareny Internaional — Rise Up Times
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized | Leave a comment
The week in pandemic, climate, and nuclear news
It's hard to know what are the most important news items of the week, or the day. The Pandemic Really Has Changed The World Forever. Here's what we know so far about the long-term symptoms of COVID-19. Nurses and other healthcare workers open up about 'terror' of catching coronavirus. We underestimate the long term effects of the pandemic.
Climate emergency is 'a danger to peace'. In 100 days, the climate emergency may be even more serious. Latest climate study predicts disaster for oceans, coastlines and life as we know it.
The global sweep of coronavirus and climate news makes nuclear issues seem minor, or at least fade into the background a bit. But nuclear threats are always there. This week the corruption that is rife in the global nuclear industry has been highlighted in the legal case in Ohio – a huge criminal racketeering conspiracy that orchestrated the bailout of nuclear power stations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBx56QyrUjY&t=3s
Some bits of good news – The economy usually recovers quickly once pandemics end. House Democrats just put out the most detailed climate plan in US political history.
Coronavirus update: US, Brazil and India lead world tally of 16 million COVID-19 cases . Global surge in Covid-19 infections, over 600.000 deaths.
World must act now to protect wildlife in order to stop future virus crises. With loss of biodiversity will come new pandemics.
Global heating will mean that many areas become too hot for human activities. New research: global temperature increase will surpass 2.6 degrees Celsius: the role of clouds. How Facebook fosters climate denial. Crucial need to fix air-conditioning: it causes billions of tons of greenhouse gases. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brtog4AABBg
Clear evidence of excess cancer risk from low dose ionizing radiation. New CT scan method lowers radiation exposure . The global scam: nuclear energy and the industry surrounding it.
In the event of a nuclear bombing, electromagnetic pulse would be the least of our worries. Space archaeology, space junk and weapons, and long-lasting radioactivity.
Humans are blanketing the Earth with plastic.
Earth's Human Population Is Not Sustainable.
ARCTIC. Arctic heatwave: temperature reach possible all time high. Arctic fires and sea ice melt, show need for urgent climate action. Alaska's permafrost degrading as summer rainfall increases.
ASIA. Global heating means more rain for Asian monsoon regions. South Asia floods displace millions and kill 550. Millions of children affected by devastating flooding in South Asia, with many more at risk as COVID-19 brings further challenges. A critical situation': Bangladesh in crisis as monsoon floods follow super-cyclone. Flooding in Assam and Nepal kills hundreds and displaces millions .
MIDDLE EAST Nuclear power in the Gulf.
GREECE. Greece wildfires rage out of control .
USA. US tops 1000 coronavirus deaths four days in a row, as experts urge the country to shut down. Pacific Islanders in US hospitalised with Covid-19 at up to 10 times the rate of other groups.
Update on wildfires in northeast California. Number of wildfires has soared in Maine in 2020 . America's choice – environmental and climate catastrophe under Trump, or some hope under Democratic rule.
Ohio's tainted House Bill 6 likely to be repealed. Ohio House Republicans introduce legislation to repeal controversial bailout of nuclear power plants. Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder arrested in $60 million bribery case. As FBI investigates nuclear bribery, environmentalists call for review of controversial Ohio nuclear bailout bill. What now for the nuclear power plants? USA's nuclear woes highlighted by Ohio corruption case.
Guilty plea by former SCANA executive – who will be a valuable witness to prosecutors in South Carolina nuclear scandal. Settlement for ratepayers over failed VC Summer nuclear project. UK will fund its nuclear power with the same schemes used by bankrupt US nuclear financing practices! Nuclear power: Still a rip-off after all these years
USA wants nuclear power stations on the moon and on Mars.
Funding for nuclear weapons tests is blocked in U.S. Congress. Union of Concerned Scientists, nuclear watchdogs and environmentalists push for elimination of funding for nuclear testing. Opposition to nuclear testing is led by Utah's present and former Congressmen.
Trump administration plans vast expansion of military budget. Trump uses fear of China to drum up hostilities, and diminish arms control.
September 3 and 4 – new sentencing dates for Kings Bay PLowshares 7 anti-nuclear-bomb activists.
770-ton nuclear reactor pressure vessel completes trip to Utah.
Tory MPs angry about China's involvement in British nuclear power plant. EDF denies that China has increasingly big role in UK's Hinkley Point nuclear project. China takes a bigger role at Hinkley as nuclear reactor pressure rises.
Bradwell B new nuclear project probably doomed, -on fragile shore subject to flooding. UK public has been misled over plans for nuclear reactors in Essex.
A series of accidents and near misses between surface vessels and submarines in the waters round Scotland. Plan for Scotland to be free of nuclear weapons.
JAPAN. Robot to use brush to retrieve melted fuel at Fukushima plant. Plutonium Particles Scattered 200km From Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Site, Scientists Say. The Fukushima Daiichi Accident Chain, Part 6.
Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki 75 years ago are still claiming lives and causing suffering. Virtual tours planned at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Arms Control Today interviews Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui .
FRANCE. France's Flamanville new generation nuclear reactor "is a mess" – Energy Minister Barbara Pompili. Takeover of UraMin – a scam linked to incompetence of leaders in the nuclear industry.
NETHERLANDS. Why the nuclear whistleblower exposing AQ Khan was ignored.
CHINA. Floods. Will China change its policy on dams? China's government-run nuclear institutions are experiencing a brain drain.
CANADA. Problems in planned nuclear waste dump at Chalk River.
IRAN. Does Iran Really Want to Build Nuclear Weapons at Any Cost? Maybe Not. Cause of blast at Iran nuclear site – still shrouded in mystery.
RUSSIA. Wildfires in Siberia have burned down an area larger than Greece . Russian navy to get hypersonic nuclear weapons: Putin.
SAUDI ARABIA. Saudi Arabia could become a pawn in a proxy nuclear war.
NORTH KOREA. North Korea declares emergency over suspected Covid-19 case. North Korea continues policy -no denuclearization talks until the US withdraws its "hostile policy".
AUSTRALIA New Federal radioactive waste agency flawed from day one Spinbusting the extraordinarily inept nuclear waste media release from 3 Australian MPs. Coronavirus cases aren't coming down despite Victoria's lockdowns. Experts seek to explain why.
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Christina's notes | Leave a comment
World must act now to protect wildlife in order to stop future virus crises
Cost of preventing next pandemic 'equal to just 2% of Covid-19 economic damage' https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/23/preventing-next-pandemic-fraction-cost-covid-19-economic-fallout World must act now to protect wildlife in order to stop future virus crises, say scientists, Damian Carrington Environment editor @dpcarrington, Fri 24 Jul 2020 The cost of preventing further pandemics over the next decade by protecting wildlife and forests would equate to just 2% of the estimated financial damage caused by Covid-19, according to a new analysis.Two new viruses a year had spilled from their wildlife hosts into humans over the last century, the researchers said, with the growing destruction of nature meaning the risk today is higher than ever.
It was vital to crack down on the international wildlife trade and the razing of forests, they said. Both bring wildlife into contact with people and their livestock. But such efforts are currently severely underfunded, according to the experts.
Spending of about $260bn (£200bn) over 10 years would substantially reduce the risks of another pandemic on the scale of the coronavirus outbreak, the researchers estimate, which is just 2% of the estimated $11.5tn costs of Covid-19 to the world economy. Furthermore, the spending on wildlife and forest protection would be almost cancelled out by another benefit of the action: cutting the carbon dioxide emissions driving the climate crisis.
The key programmes the scientists are calling for are: much better regulation of the wildlife trade, disease surveillance and control in wild and domestic animals, ending the wild meat trade in China, and cutting deforestation by 40% in key places. There was a clear link between deforestation and virus emergence, they said, with forest bats the likely reservoirs of the Ebola, Sars and Covid-19 viruses, and tropical forest edges a "major launchpad" for new viruses infecting humans.
"It's naive to think of the Covid-19 pandemic as a once in a century event," said Prof Andrew Dobson at Princeton University in the US, who led the analysis. "As with anything we're doing to the environment, they're coming faster and faster, just like climate change."
Prof Stuart Pimm at Duke University in the US, part of the research team, said: "Investment in prevention may well be the best insurance policy for human health and the global economy in the future. We could stop future pandemics before they start."
The UN's environment chief welcomed the analysis. "The science could not be clearer," said Inger Andersen. "As we emerge on the recovery side of Covid-19, we cannot afford a piecemeal approach to tackling diseases [from wildlife]. Irrespective of the final bill [for coronavirus], we can say with certainty that action now will save us billions in future costs, and avoid the tremendous suffering that we continue to see around the world."
The analysis is the latest plea from experts for governments to address the destruction of the natural world and help prevent future pandemics. This month, a UN report said the world was treating the health and economic symptoms of the coronavirus pandemic but not the environmental cause. In June, experts said the pandemic was an "SOS signal for the human enterprise"; while in April, the world's leading biodiversity experts said more deadly disease outbreaks were likely unless nature was protected.
The analysis, published in the journal Science, was carried out by experts in environment, medicine, economics and conservation. In particular it noted that wildlife enforcement networks are acutely underfunded. The network in south-east Asia has an annual budget of $30,000, while the global wildlife trade body Cites gets $6m a year.
"The wildlife trade is deeply corrupt," said Dobson. "Some politicians would much rather that it not be stopped in many countries.
The researchers said indigenous peoples who rely on wildlife for food must be protected from any restrictions.
Ending the wild meat trade in China was key, the researchers said, and would require almost $20bn a year. "I was shocked at the number of people employed: it's several million," said Dobson. He said there were also very few wildlife veterinarians in China: "The troops in the frontline trenches are missing."
Akanksha Khatri, head of the World Economic Forum's nature action agenda, said: "Covid-19 has shown us that human beings and our economic activity depend on the planet's ecological balance. If we continue to push against this delicate balance, we do so at our peril."
Stéphane De La Rocque, a veterinary expert at the World Health Orgazisation, said the analysis was much needed and that, after Covid-19, leaders were starting to understand the issue: ""It is the first time that we really have had a discussion about wildlife [and disease] and realised we have no surveillance system for wildlife."
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, environment | Leave a comment
Nuclear power in the Gulf
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | MIDDLE EAST, politics | Leave a comment
"..clear evidence of excess cancer risk from low dose ionizing radiation….."
DCEG 13th July 2020, An international team of experts in the study of cancer risks associated with low-dose ionizing radiation published the monograph, "Epidemiological studies of low-dose ionizing radiation and cancer: Summary bias assessment and meta-analysis," in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute on July 13, 2020. It is well established that ionizing radiation causes cancer through direct DNA damage. The general public are exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation from medical exposures like computed tomography (CT) scans, naturally occurring radiation (emitted from bedrock with the earth's crust and cosmic rays emitted by the sun), and occupational exposures to medical, aircrew and nuclear workers.
A key question for low-dose exposures is how much of the damage can be repaired and whether other mechanisms, including inflammation, also play a role. This critical question has been long debated for radiation protection standards. After combing data from 26 epidemiological studies the authors found clear evidence of excess cancer
risk from low dose ionizing radiation: 17 of 22 studies showed risk for solid cancers and 17 of 20 studies showed risk for leukemia. The summary risk estimates were statistically significant and the magnitude of risk(per unit dose) was consistent with studies of populations exposed to higher doses. https://dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2020/low-dose-monograph?s=09
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, radiation, Reference | Leave a comment
Global heating means more rain for Asian monsoon regions
Wetter than wet: Global warming means more rain for Asian monsoon regions EurekAlert, Large-scale simulation reveals how Asian monsoons will transform with climate change TOKYO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY 26 Jul 20, Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University studied how the weather will change with global warming in Asian monsoon regions using a high-resolution climate simulation. The region is home to a large population, and the monsoons are a major driver of global water cycles. They explicitly simulated cloud formation and dissipation, and found significantly increased precipitation over the monsoon "trough," with tropical disturbances such as typhoons and concentrated water vapor playing key roles.
As the world braces itself for the impact of global warming, it is now more vital than ever to have an accurate, detailed picture of how exactly the climate will change. This applies strongly to the Asian monsoon regions, where vast amounts of annual precipitation make it an important part of global energy and water cycles. As home to a large proportion of the world population, detailed, local predictions for the scale and nature of monsoons and tropical disturbances such as typhoons/cyclones have the potential to inform disaster mitigation strategies and key policymaking. ………. https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/tmu-wtw072220.php
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | ASIA, climate change | Leave a comment
Humans are blanketing the Earth with plastic
A Billion More Tons of Plastic Could Blanket Earth by 2040, Wired, 26 July 20, Even with immediate action, 710 million metric tons of plastic will enter the environment in the next two decades, scientists show. Welcome to Plastic Planet. IMAGINE YOUR FAVORITE stretch of coastline—whitesand beaches, rocky tide pools, the cliffs of Dover, what have you. Now transport yourself ahead two decades, after plastic production and waste have continued to skyrocket. Humanity is now unloading 29 million metric tons of bottles, bags, and microplastics (little bits smaller than 5 millimeters) into the oceans annually. That means for every meter of your favorite coastline, 50 kilograms—that's 110 pounds—of plastic is entering the sea every year."Now imagine that's happening for every meter of coastline around the world," says Richard Bailey, who studies environmental systems at Oxford University. "That's the amount we're looking at—it's a colossal amount."
Over the past few years, scientists have been exposing the hazards of microplastics—or ground-up particles that easily blow around the world and work their way into plants and animals. But all the while, macro-plastics like bottles have been accumulating in the environment, shedding microplastics as they degrade. Writing today in the journal Science, Bailey and his colleagues are publishing the alarming findings of their comprehensive review of the cycle of all this plastic. If we as a species don't collectively take action, they warn, 1.3 billion metric tons of plastic will flow into the sea and tumble across the land between the years 2016 and 2040. Even with immediate and drastic action, that figure could be 710 million metric tons—460 million of them on land and 250 million in the water. Making matters worse, throughout much of the world people burn the plastic they can't easily recycle, to the tune of perhaps 133 million metric tons of waste by 2040. That spews dangerous toxins and CO2 (plastic is made of oil, after all), further warming the planet.
To model the plastic waste ecosystem, the researchers created eight "geographic archetypes," instead of picking apart the dynamics of how individual countries handle trash. "We didn't want it to become a blame game," says the study's co-lead author, Winnie Lau, senior manager of the Pew Charitable Trusts' project on ocean plastic pollution. "What we wanted to do was to understand the problem and how it came about, rather than pointing out specific countries."…………
Without drastic and immediate measures, the fight against plastic pollution will follow the same path as the fight against climate change: We've waited far too long to stop CO2 from accumulating in the atmosphere, and we're in danger of waiting far too long to turn off the plastic spigot. "What this paper makes clear is, really, any future scenario for a healthy planet is going to require that this kind of year-over-year growth in plastic production has got to stop," says Leonard. "It began in 1950, and it continues to accelerate. And there's really no viable solution that doesn't result in bending that curve." https://www.wired.com/story/billion-more-tons-of-plastic-could-blanket-earth/
Ohio's tainted House Bill 6 likely to be repealed. What now for the nuclear power plants?
Ohio's nuclear plants face new uncertainty as HB 6 comes under attack, Crains Cleveland Business, DAN SHINGLER 26 Jul 20, So what happens to Ohio and its nuclear plants now?
It's becoming apparent that 2019's House Bill 6, the now-tainted law that provides about $150 million a year in subsidies primarily to Ohio's two nuclear plants, likely will be repealed.
But will it be replaced? And if so, will the plants, which Ohioans were told would close without the subsidies, be saved?
Those are questions now causing angst from Columbus, where state lawmakers are grappling with the issue, to the Toledo area and Lake County, where the affected Davis-Besse and Perry nuclear plants are respectively located. The companies involved, FirstEnergy Corp. of Akron and its former subsidiary, Energy Harbor, which owns the plants, have yet to say how they might address the matter and have declined interview requests.
Legislators, economic developers and others across the state expressed their disgust with the situation — which already has become one of the largest scandals in Ohio's history and resulted in the July 21 arrest of House Speaker Larry Householder and four others for what federal officials say was a $60 million bribery scheme to pass the law…….
Cirino said he would like to see HB 6's subsidies remain in place, but he's resigned to the bill likely being repealed. A number of lawmakers have already announced legislation to undo HB 6, and Gov. Mike DeWine, who said he supported keeping the law in place when the scandal broke, had reversed course by July 23 and joined calls for it to be repealed. ………
some GOP lawmakers working to repeal HB 6 are expressing support for renewables.
"Renewable energy in the long run will save the consumer a lot of money, in addition to the job development," said Rep. Laura Lanese, R-Grove City, who is working on legislation to repeal HB 6. She and other lawmakers, from both parties, are calling for Ohio to start over on a new energy policy.
"We need to start afresh with any new energy legislation going forward," Lanese said at a July 23 news conference. …………. https://www.crainscleveland.com/government/ohios-nuclear-plants-face-new-uncertainty-hb-6-comes-under-attack
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, USA | Leave a comment
A series of accidents and near misses between surface vessels and submarines in the waters round Scotland.
The National 26th July 2020, IN a crowded field for shocking headlines this past month, readers may not
have noticed news of an alarming near-miss between a Royal Navy nuclear
submarine and a ferry on the Belfast-Cairnryan crossing.
The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch's recently published analysis of this
incident makes for worrying reading and follows on from a series of
similarly dangerous accidents between surface vessels and submarines in the
waters round Scotland.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18607663.scots-deserve-free-nuclear-sub-risks/
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | incidents, UK | Leave a comment
Takeover of UraMin – a scam linked to incompetence of leaders in the nuclear industry
Le Media 25th July 2020, Son of resistance fighters, Marc Eichinger was a trader for several banks before leading his investigation and security company, APIC, which protects companies in hostile terrain. With the Areva affair he becomes a spy, specializing in financial crime.
Since I opened the Areva file in February 2010, at the request of Admiral d'Arbonneau, I have the feeling that the
takeover of UraMin is not only a scam linked to incompetence or lightness of the leaders of the nuclear group in the treatment of this acquisition. A certain number of clues suggest that it goes beyond …I tend to think that the UraMin file will eventually come to light and become a historical benchmark in the area of international corruption. Yet at no time did we receive the slightest support from an elected politician. In this area, it is obvious that everyone sticks together. There is nothing to expect from politicians: the soup is too good, as they say.
https://www.lemediatv.fr/articles/2020/lex-agent-secret-qui-en-sait-beaucoup-trop-9-connivences-et-procedures-baillons-les-grands-groupes-contre-la-liberte-de-la-presse-L6D5euhaTROqLLqh65ceRg
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | France, secrets,lies and civil liberties | Leave a comment
Alaska's permafrost degrading as summer rainfall increases
Alaska is getting wetter. That's bad news for permafrost and the climate. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER EurekAlert 26 Jul 20, Alaska is getting wetter. A new study spells out what that means for the permafrost that underlies about 85% of the state, and the consequences for Earth's global climate.
The study, published today in Nature Publishing Group journal Climate and Atmospheric Science, is the first to compare how rainfall is affecting permafrost thaw across time, space, and a variety of ecosystems. It shows that increased summer rainfall is degrading permafrost across the state.
As Siberia remains in the headlines for record-setting heat waves and wildfires, Alaska is experiencing the rainiest five years in its century-long meteorological record. Extreme weather on both ends of the spectrum–hot and dry versus cool and wet–are driven by an aspect of climate change called Arctic amplification. As the earth warms, temperatures in the Arctic rise faster than the global average.
While the physical basis of Arctic amplification is well understood, it is less known how it will affect the permafrost that underlies about a quarter of the Northern Hemisphere, including most of Alaska. Permafrost locks about twice the carbon that is currently in the atmosphere into long-term storage and supports Northern infrastructure like roads and buildings; so understanding how a changing climate will affect it is crucial for both people living in the Arctic and those in lower latitudes. ……… https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-07/uoca-aig072420.php
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | climate change, USA | Leave a comment
Tory MPs angry about China's involvement in British nuclear power plant
UK China threat: MPs demand answers on Beijing's role in British nuclear power plant, CHINA'S role in Britain's Hinkley Point C nuclear facility should be urgently reviewed amid claims its involvement in the plant is much deeper than previously thought, according to MPs. Express UK, By SIMON OSBORNE, Sun, Jul 26, 2020 Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith claims ministers were misled when they gave the green light for Beijing-controlled China General Nuclear (CGN) to become a stakeholder in the £22.5billion reactor. Sir Iain said Theresa May's government was assured the energy firm would only be a financial partner when it took a 33.5 percent stake in the Somerset plant with French energy giant EDF in 2016. But insiders claim CGN role goes beyond financial support, with EDF heavily reliant on Chinese technical expertise.
Sir Iain told the Sunday Telegraph: "It was obviously never just going to be a financial partnership.
This information tells you everything you need to know to back the call to have an independent, strategic review into our dependency on China."
Nick Timothy, Mrs May's top adviser when the deal was struck four years ago, said he tried to block the Chinese approach.
He said: "Hinkley Point was supposed to involve French expertise and Chinese investment, and even then it was a bad deal on several fronts."……. https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1314458/uk-china-hinkley-point-nuclear-power-plant-iain-duncan-smith
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK | Leave a comment
USA wants nuclear power stations on the moon and on Mars
U.S. eyes building nuclear power plants for moon and Mars https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/u-s-eyes-building-nuclear-nts-fpower-plaor-moon-and-mars Nation Jul 24, 2020 BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. wants to build nuclear power plants that will work on the moon and Mars, and on Friday put out a request for ideas from the private sector on how to do that.
The U.S. Department of Energy put out the formal request to build what it calls a fission surface power system that could allow humans to live for long periods in harsh space environments.
The Idaho National Laboratory, a nuclear research facility in eastern Idaho, the Energy Department and NASA will evaluate the ideas for developing the reactor.
The lab has been leading the way in the U.S. on advanced reactors, some of them micro reactors and others that can operate without water for cooling. Water-cooled nuclear reactors are the vast majority of reactors on Earth.
"Small nuclear reactors can provide the power capability necessary for space exploration missions of interest to the Federal government," the Energy Department wrote in the notice published Friday.
The Energy Department, NASA and Battelle Energy Alliance, the U.S. contractor that manages the Idaho National Laboratory, plan to hold a government-industry webcast technical meeting in August concerning expectations for the program.
The plan has two phases. The first is developing a reactor design. The second is building a test reactor, a second reactor be sent to the moon, and developing a flight system and lander that can transport the reactor to the moon. The goal is to have a reactor, flight system and lander ready to go by the end of 2026.
The reactor must be able to generate an uninterrupted electricity output of at least 10 kilowatts. The average U.S. residential home, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, uses about 11,000 kilowatt-hours per year. The Energy Department said it would likely take multiple linked reactors to meet power needs on the moon or Mars.
In addition, the reactor cannot weigh more than 7,700 pounds (3,500 kilograms), be able to operate in space, operate mostly autonomously, and run for at least 10 years.
"This may drive or start an international space race to build and deploy new types of reactors requiring highly enriched uranium."
– Edwin Lyman, director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists
The Energy Department said the reactor is intended to support exploration in the south polar region of the moon. The agency said a specific region on the Martian surface for exploration has not yet been identified.
Edwin Lyman, director of Nuclear Power Safety at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit, said his organization is concerned the parameters of the design and timeline make the most likely reactors those that use highly enriched uranium, which can be made into weapons. Nations have generally been attempting to reduce the amount of enriched uranium being produced for that reason.
"This may drive or start an international space race to build and deploy new types of reactors requiring highly enriched uranium," he said.
Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates launched an orbiter to Mars and China launched an orbiter, lander and rover. The U.S. has already landed rovers on the red planet and is planning to send another next week.
Officials say operating a nuclear reactor on the moon would be a first step to building a modified version to operate in the different conditions found on Mars.
"Idaho National Laboratory has a central role in emphasizing the United States' global leadership in nuclear innovation, with the anticipated demonstration of advanced reactors on the INL site," John Wagner, associate laboratory director of INL's Nuclear Science & Technology Directorate, said in a statement. "The prospect of deploying an advanced reactor to the lunar surface is as exciting as it is challenging."
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | space travel, USA | Leave a comment
Plan for Scotland to be free of nuclear weapons
The National 26th July 2020, SCOTLAND could see the end of nuclear weapons on the Clyde within three
years of a Yes vote under radical new plans be put to the SNP annual
conference. A resolution is to be submitted to the event this October
setting out the time frame for the first time.
https://www.thenational.scot/news/18607658.snp-debate-three-year-timetable-axe-trident-yes-vote/
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, UK, weapons and war | Leave a comment
Robot to use brush to retrieve melted fuel at Fukushima plant
Robot to use brush to retrieve melted fuel at Fukushima plant, Asahi Shimbun, By KEITARO FUKUCHI/ Staff Writer, July 27, 2020 FUKUSHIMA--A robotic arm under development in Britain will use a brush and vacuum vessel on its end to collect melted fuel in a step toward retrieving debris at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
Details of the device, which will start collecting debris inside the No. 2 reactor on a trial basis next year, were announced on July 2.
The government and plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. plan to retrieve melted fuel at the No. 2 reactor ahead of two other reactors because radiation levels are relatively low……..
Training is expected to reduce the time required for workers to put debris into the transfer vessel near the fuel.
Other measures to lessen workers' doses will be taken, such as introducing panels to block radiation. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13529394
July 27, 2020 Posted by Christina Macpherson | Fukushima continuing | Leave a comment


text:
"Hollywood is a place where people from Iowa mistake each other for stars." -Fred Allen
When his father dies, Nicholas Nickleby (Charlie Hunnam) is a 19 year old in early 19th century England left with no income and a sweet sister Kate (Romola Garai) & mother (Stella Gonet) to protect and provide for. His uncle Ralph (Christopher Plummer) is the only option, but Ralph is a venal, selfish brute who send Nicholas to Dotheboys in Yorkshire, run by the cruel, one-eyed Wackford Squeers (Jim Broadbent) and his wife (Juliet Stevenson). The abominable conditions trigger Nicholas' moral outrage and after beating Squeers he runs off, taking his new and best friend, the abused young Smike (Jamie Bell). Kate has had equally bad luck at the hands of Ralph and his awful group of dirty old men, but Nicholas rises to the occasion and defends his family, managing to also snare the heart of Madeline Bray (Anne Hathaway), moments before her father's debts ensnare her in a horrid marriage.
There he is, this impossibly good natured, kind hearted and sensitive young man with a backbone and the readiness to whip beastly people into shape, physically if necessary as well as morally. Remember his name? Nicholas Nickleby, a figure from Dickens, created at a time when heroes of this kind were sorely needed in a social swamp which allowed men like Squeers and Ralph and women like Mrs Squeers to go about their nasty business.
Of course, this no longer is the case, so it's an irrelevant subject. Right? No, I didn't think so either. I woke up as soon as the film started, realising why it was so acutely relevant. Not only does Nicholas forge himself and his family a new life after the death of his father, he does so with the vigour of a man whose morality remains intact. He is the model of the good man who won't avert his eyes from the evil some men (and women) do. He doesn't let the ill fortune of his fate become an excuse for doing harm to others. More of him are badly needed all around the world today. Then there's the venality of his uncle Ralph; as Christopher Plummer portrays him in all his nasty glory, he is almost recognisable in our daily news reports. Squeers these days has moved up a notch to be a sadistic little shit working in several outer suburbs of the world's cities. But luckily, the good folk of this tale are also with us today.
Still, part of me finds the film anachronistic – but maybe that's because the language is sufficiently stilted to be 'period' to go with the costumes and the scenery – and another part of me enjoys the simple pleasure of moral decency espoused in comparatively subtle terms. (As distinct from the barrel of a gun, say.) The collection of famed older thesps is a delight equal to the work of the younger cast, and it's especially great to see Jamie Bell hobbling into a terrific characterisation as the crippled Smike, a big change for the boy actor who soared into prominence as a ballet dancer. There is a symbolic bit of casting for you.
Filled with exquisite craftsmanship bringing the Charles Dickens' classic to life, Nicholas Nickleby is an intricate and absorbing saga about the triumph of goodness over evil. In the context of the importance of family, this is the story of an honourable man who shoulders responsibility and upholds everything that is good and right. Of course, the words that Dickens' penned in the 19th century may have been in the context of a time when carriages were drawn along the cobbled streets, bonnets were the height of fashion, and etiquette and social graces were ultra conservative. But although the language we speak may be somewhat different and women's place in society may have altered dramatically, Dickens' story is absolutely relevant today.
The very essence of man's struggle has changed little over the years, and writer/director Douglas McGrath has created a splendid reality for the story. Sophisticated production design, costumes and a pleasing lyrical score envelop us as we journey with the Nickleby family through their trials and tribulations. And with its superlative cast of seasoned thesps, plus a handful of up and coming stars, we are indeed surrounded by richness of talent as well as that of a literary nature. Charlie Hunnam is wonderfully charismatic in the title role (think a young, blonde idealistic Brad Pitt) and our hearts are with the young Nickleby as he develops from young man floundering from the recent loss of his father, to a self-reliant, confident and good human being. 'Weakness is tiring, but strength is exhausting,' is one of the classic gems.
After all, the pursuit of happiness is no easy task, and we eagerly watch as the dashing young Nickleby strengthens by the day, while his nemesis uncle (magnificently played by Christopher Plummer who exudes evil with every breath) becomes more and more evil by the minute. It's a joy to dip in and meet all these brilliant characters – from Nathan Lane's joyous Mr Crummles, Barry Humphries as his Edna-like wife, Edward Fox's lecherous old fogey, Jim Broadbent's hideously cruel one-eyed teacher and Juliet Stevenson as his pathetic excuse of a wife. Our hearts go out to Jamie Bell's tragic crippled Smike: his relationship with the young Nickleby develops into the most moving of the film. We warm to Tom Courtnay's double-crossing right hand man and Alan Cummings' hilarious effeminate actor, and I like Romola Garai (I Capture the Castle) who is perfectly cast as Nicholas' sister. Nicholas says: 'We are born in strange times,' while Smike adds the postscript: 'but wondrous times.' Nicholas Nickleby is a wondrous film, filled with all the minutiae of emotions that are familiar to us all. It's a real treat for anyone who is interested in the detail. Yes, the devil may well be in the detail, but never fear, where goodness prevails, the devil doesn't get a look in.
NICHOLAS NICKLEBY (M)
CAST: Charlie Hunnam, Romola Garai, Christopher Plummer, Jamie Bell, Tom Courtenay, Anne Hathaway, Jim Broadbent, Juliet Stevenson, Nathan Lane, Barry Humphries, Alan Cumming, Timothy Spall, Edward Fox,
PRODUCER: Simon Channing-Williams, John Hart, Jeff Sharp
DIRECTOR: Douglas McGrath
SCRIPT: Douglas McGrath (novel by Charles Dickens)
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Dick Pope
EDITOR: Lesley Walker
MUSIC: Rachel Portman
PRODUCTION DESIGN: Eve Stewart
AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTOR: Palace
AUSTRALIAN RELEASE: November 20, 2003
VIDEO DISTRIBUTOR: MGM
VIDEO RELEASE: June 9, 2004